After returning, Avril was so excited that she couldn't sleep a wink all night. She hugged her pillow, giggling and rolling around in bed, dreaming of a happy future. Like Annie, she was extremely pleased with her fiancé, Norton. It wasn't because of Norton's mastery of martial skills or his superior command techniques, but because she was infatuated with his talent, his elegant demeanor, and his striking appearance.
In Avril's mind, it was clear that Norton liked her too. The piano piece he composed specifically for her was proof, so she wasn't worried about Norton's feelings.
She envisioned a life of harmony between husband and wife, filled with songs, dances, drama, and art. Every day at the castle would be a parade of garden parties and tea gatherings, followed by grand balls at night. She and Norton would naturally be the stars of these events. This lifestyle would continue for thousands, even tens of thousands of years, endlessly.
This was the life Avril longed for—a life of luxury, enjoyment, and art, as befitting a noblewoman of the Lamia family. But of course, this was entirely her own wishful thinking.
The night passed, and Norton's life returned to its normal state. He attended classes and studied diligently, then engaged in evening studies. After dinner, he'd either head to the arena to hone his martial skills or visit the alchemy lab to conduct experiments. Even on holidays, he seemed to know nothing of rest, either summoning his human subordinates, meeting classmates for discussions, or involving himself in the governance of the Castine domain.
This left Avril feeling quite disappointed.
No matter how much Avril puzzled over it, she couldn't understand why things had suddenly changed when they seemed to be in her favor. As she couldn't work it out, she decided to seek advice. Fortunately, there was another member of the Lamia family married into the Castine House. Naturally, Avril turned to her.
Lady Windsor explained, "Because he’s a man of the Castine family, he's destined not to be satisfied with ordinariness. A peaceful life doesn't suit him. He yearns for armies, battles, power, and honor... If you can’t keep up with him, he definitely won't stop for you. That's how those in the Castine family are. Of course, if they weren't like that, we wouldn't be so captivated by them."
Avril fell silent at Lady Windsor’s words.
"Of course," Lady Windsor continued upon seeing Avril's silence, "if you don't want to change but still wish to stay by his side, that's possible too. When he's tired or needs rest, he'll still come to you. For listening to music, dancing, entertainment... treating you as a way to relieve fatigue, used and then cast aside."
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"I won't become like that!" Avril couldn't help but shout.
"Then, starting tomorrow, follow me and learn how to manage the estate," Lady Windsor nodded with a pleased smile, adding, "You’re much luckier than I was... It took me a long time to understand this, but by then, it was too late..."
"Too late?" Avril began to question but quickly realized what Lady Windsor meant. The one she was too late for must have been the previous Count of Castine, Norton's father.
"I won't let that happen to me," Avril vowed silently, determined to avoid the mistakes of her predecessor.
Of course, Norton knew nothing of this. After having resolved things with Avril, he threw himself into his most compelling pursuits. Though it might seem like a jumble of activities—training in martial skills, conducting magical experiments, liaising with subordinates, or engaging in commercial and political events—each with different goals and tactics, to Norton, they all meant one thing.
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That was gaining strength.
Personal martial skills equate to strength, magical capabilities are strength, recruited subordinates are strength, wealth from commerce is strength, and political capital and experience from political activities are also strength. Everything Norton did was to gain greater strength to... protect Sylvania?
Yes, to protect Sylvania. Norton wanted to safeguard this united and friendly society. At least outwardly, this future vampire count felt honor and pride like any other young vampire. As for the private desires hidden within his sense of honor and pride, he kept them well concealed.
Though all these pursuits aimed at the same goal, prioritizing them was unavoidable. They could not all be pursued equally. In fact, Norton thought in terms of phases. Six years ago, he prioritized his personal prowess; two years ago, he focused on resources under his control. Today, his focus was on the Castine domain.
Prioritizing himself meant studying magic and martial arts to enhance his strength. If his subordinates and classmates were the focus, he'd develop his faction's power. When it came to the Castine domain—a territory neither large nor small—his focus was on revolutionary political and economic systems, as well as more advanced technology and techniques.
This was Norton’s vision.
If taken to the extreme, magical civilization would not fall short of technological civilization. The world was rich in magical technology's potential, a great treasure trove. Norton was certain that after thousands of years, magical civilization had accumulated sufficient depth, needing only a catalyst for revolutionary leaps and bounds. In a few decades or centuries, this stagnant world, unchanged for millennia, could be transformed completely.
"Just a catalyst, a small catalyst, like a vampire count named Norton von Castine or a vampire maiden named Lilia von Nirakoci. In any case, we'll make this world different, wouldn't you agree?"
Speaking with Norton was Lilia, a vampire maiden from the Nirakoci family and Norton's third fiancée. She had arrived with Avril and had a personality vastly different from Avril’s. From the moment she arrived, she had headed straight for the alchemy lab, not even emerging for dinner, unlike Avril, who was eager to impress Norton and leave a good impression. To Lilia, her magical research and alchemical experiments were far more important than any betrothed.