An hour had passed since my meeting with Banatia by the time the familiar silhouette of the manor finally came into view.
I unlocked the iron gates and stepped inside, moving with a deliberate and quiet grace.
Even now, I couldn't help but marvel at the estate's beauty. The way the gardens framed the stone paths always seemed to catch me off guard.
The manor itself was a relic of an older era. It sat perched several meters above the ground, almost as if it were crowning its own secluded hill.
Leading up to the main entrance was a long, ancient staircase that stretched from the earth like a bridge to the past.
While its aesthetic charm might have been average compared to some royal estates, it remained one of the most expensive properties in the region.
The reason lay beneath my boots: the cold white marble.
This marble was a rare treasure. It possessed a unique property—emitting a faint, soothing radiance that calmed the mind and stilled the heart.
Every single room in the house was floored with this precious stone.
The moment I crossed the threshold, my worries and frustrations began to drain away.
It was a blessing that deserved true appreciation, especially since such luxuries rarely last forever.
I often wondered how wealthy my ancestors must have been to pave an entire palace in such a material.
Did they have issues with self-control? Most likely.
My family had always been a collection of walking powder kegs, prone to explosive and unpredictable moods.
The white marble was the only thing keeping our impulses in check.
Despite a creeping exhaustion, I lingered in the corridors, taking in the atmosphere of the home.
The floors were aged and desperate for renovation, but there was no hope for that; my father possessed a stubborn love for "the old ways."
Finding the kitchen and the nearby rooms empty, I turned my steps toward the library.
A flicker of hesitation crossed my mind. I wasn't covered in blood, but the sharp, metallic scent of the hunt emanated from me, trailing after me like a phantom.
I ignored the feeling and pushed open the heavy library doors.
Taking a deep breath, I approached the figure seated in the centre of the hall.
Sera sat there with striking elegance, her fingers tracing the pages of a book with rhythmic calm.
She wore a sophisticated red gown accented by cascading black lines that flowed with her movement.
Her raven hair, dark as spilt ink, was pulled into a neat ponytail, save for a few stray strands that framed her face.
In that moment, she embodied a captivating blend of roles: the graceful mistress of the house, the alluring scholar, and a woman of profound refinement.
I sat down across from her, a smile tugging at my lips. "Hello, Sera."
She raised her crimson eyes from the text, her movement slow and deliberate.
"Hello," she replied softly, before taking a breath. "Was your hunt successful?"
Without a word, I activated my storage bracelet and placed the Moon Deer meat onto the table between us.
As I expected, Sera's eyes widened in genuine astonishment. "Did you actually hunt a Moon Deer?"
Adjusting my posture and letting a thick layer of pride colour my voice, I replied, "Haven't you realised yet?"
"You are sitting before a hunter the likes of whom this world won't see twice."
I stood up abruptly, raising my hands as if to embrace the sky.
Tilting my chin high, I declared with unabashed grandeur, "You should revere me, Sera! For as long as you live, there will never be another like me!"
Sera's expression froze for several seconds, her lips parted in a small, perfect 'O' of disbelief.
Finally, she regained her composure and spoke with a hint of hesitation.
"It... it seems you're slightly misunderstanding the situation. Look, I really don't want to ruin your moment of pride, but..."
She paused, looking at me with a gaze that could only be described as pity.
"The Moon Deer isn't the strongest beast in the forest. It's simply the rarest... because of overhunting."
"And so what if it's just rare?" I countered. "Doesn't that make me a favourite of the heavens?"
"I didn't just hunt the Killing Mantis to prove my strength; I hunted the Moon Deer to prove my luck!"
I stepped forward, my spirits unshaken by her logic.
Reaching out, I placed my hands on Sera's cheeks, forcing her gaze to lock onto mine.
"Yes, feast your eyes on this greatness. Remember that you proved your own luck the day you married this living legend."
At first, Sera's eyes were calm, almost amused by my antics.
Then, they suddenly sharpened into a dangerous edge.
"Are you implying, in your own way... that I am an owl who happened to catch a peacock?"
"No, no, Sera! I was only joking," I said quickly, retreating from the sudden chill in the air.
I took her hand, trying to change the subject.
"In any case, I want you to cook us the most delicious meal. Especially this deer meat—make it something truly unbelievable."
A soft, serene smile once again illuminated her features.
"Don't worry about the food. You know my skills. But... I have to ask."
"Did you really not hesitate when you hunted it? I've heard they are incredibly beautiful creatures."
A sharp sting of guilt pricked my chest as the memory of the kill flashed back.
"You can't imagine," I admitted, my voice dropping as the frustration returned.
"The moment its fur was stained with blood, I felt as though I had desecrated something sacred."
I shook off the gloom, adding firmly, "That's why I'm insistent on this."
"I want to compensate for that desecration by turning it into the finest meal you've ever tasted."
Sera burst into laughter, giving me a playful shove.
"I can never predict what you'll say next, Theo. Your logic is truly bizarre!"
She gathered the meat from the table and headed toward the kitchen, her laughter trailing behind her like a melody.
I swallowed a lingering sense of injustice. My logic wasn't bizarre—at least not to me.
It was the best way to honour the creature. It was dead anyway, so what else was I supposed to do?
What better tribute than to enjoy its flavour and create a lasting memory?
Did she expect me to build a towering monument over its grave?
A shrine to honour a lifetime spent chewing on grass and shrubs?
Ignoring the feeling of being misunderstood, I hurried toward the bath.
My nerves could no longer tolerate the scent of sweat and blood emanating from my skin.
Had it not been for the fact that Sera was a vampire, she likely wouldn't have tolerated that lingering aroma for a single second.
A short while later, I emerged, the sticky sensation finally gone from my body.
Without a second thought, I collapsed onto the bed for a much-needed nap.