Chapter 18: Head to the Demon City.

Silvia’s head snapped to the side from the force of the blow, and she tumbled to the ground.
Her cheek burned with sharp pain, and blood trickled from the corner of her mouth.

Rose stood up, walked over to Silvia, and reached out to pinch her chin, forcing her face upward.

“When you’re by my side, you’re only allowed to think of me. Understood?”

Silvia stared into those eyes so close to her own, seeing her own reflection within them—cheeks swollen and red, lips stained with blood, looking as wretched as a stray dog.

Silvia nodded.

Rose gazed at her for several long seconds.

Then, the coldness in those eyes gradually faded away. She released her grip and raised her other hand, gently stroking Silvia’s injured cheek.

The touch was light and soft, carrying a trace of almost tender pity.

“Does it hurt?”

Silvia didn’t know whether to nod or shake her head.

Rose didn’t wait for an answer. She lowered her head and placed a kiss on Silvia’s swollen cheek.

“Remember,” she whispered against Silvia’s ear, her voice soft and gentle.

“You are mine. From head to toe, every drop of blood, every strand of hair—they all belong to me.”

Silvia stood there, not daring to move an inch.

Rose stepped back, returned to her chair, put on her magic glasses, and picked up her pen.

“Go back now.” Rose said, her tone returning to its usual indifference, as if the earlier fury and caress had never happened.

Silvia turned around and walked step by step toward the door. Behind her came Rose’s voice.

“Don’t forget to take the money. If you can’t exchange it, just keep it. It’ll come in handy someday.”

Silvia turned back, squatted down in front of the pile of glittering treasures on the table, and picked out a few of the smallest gems, tucking them into her bosom.

Silvia walked out of the study and gently closed the door behind her.

The moment the door panels clicked shut, she felt as if she had been released from a sealed cage. She unconsciously let out a breath.

The corridor was still dim. She touched the few gems in her bosom. They were small, yet each one was extremely valuable.

She recognized one of the red ones—it was a blood marrow crystal, produced only when high-ranking vampires were killed. It could be used for cultivation.

Silvia put the blood marrow crystal away. She had originally been an ordinary person with no talent, completely unable to become stronger.

But now things were different. She had become half a vampire and had the possibility of growing stronger. She still hoped to become a little stronger—not too much, just enough to protect her family.

Then she looked at the other gems. She had chosen the smallest ones possible, yet they still couldn’t be exchanged. This made Silvia feel somewhat anxious.

She walked back along the corridor. When she passed a corner, she saw two vampire maids in black long dresses whispering to each other.

The moment they saw Silvia, they immediately stopped talking, bowed slightly, and put on respectful yet distant expressions.

Silvia hesitated for a moment, then stepped forward.

“Excuse me…” she said softly.

“Do you have any small change? I’d like to exchange some…”

She took out the gems from her bosom and held them in her palm.

The two maids exchanged a glance.

“I’m sorry, my lady,” the maid on the left said politely.

“We don’t have that much money.”

Silvia was stunned. “I’m not asking for equal value… Just a few silver or copper coins would do. These gems can be yours…”

“My lady,” the maid on the right interrupted her, a look of alarm on her face.

“We really don’t have any. You should… ask someone else.”

With that, the two maids bowed again and hurriedly left.

Silvia stood in place, watching their backs disappear at the end of the corridor. They weren’t without money—they simply didn’t dare to exchange it. She carried Rose’s scent on her, and she had just come out of that progenitor’s study.

Who would dare accept anything from her hands? What if this was some kind of test? What if that lady became displeased…?

Silvia clenched the gems tightly in her hand and continued walking forward.

In the corridor, she encountered a guard wearing armor. This guard seemed to hold a higher position than those stationed at the entrance; an exquisite rose emblem was engraved on the breastplate of his armor.

“Excuse me…” Silvia approached again.

The guard turned his head and looked at her.

“…What is it?” The guard’s tone was neither cold nor warm.

Silvia took out the gems once more and explained her purpose again. After listening, the guard remained silent for a moment, then shook his head.

“I’m sorry,” he said. “I can’t help you.”

Silvia opened her mouth, wanting to say something more, but the guard had already stepped away, circling around her to continue his patrol.

She stood there, watching the receding figure, and suddenly felt ridiculous. This was the residence of a progenitor.

Everyone who worked here was shrewd. Who would risk trouble for a few gems?

Silvia lowered her head and looked at the small objects sparkling under the blue firelight in her palm. They were clearly very valuable—enough for her and her two daughters to live on for several years.

Yet here, they meant nothing.

Silvia sighed, tucked the gems back into her bosom, and continued walking forward.

When she reached the main entrance, she stopped. The two guards stood there, sunlight streaming in through the open doors and falling on the emblems on their black armor.

A bold idea appeared in Silvia’s mind.

She took a few steps back, not exiting the door, but instead turning and walking along another corridor toward the servants’ quarters.

This time, her luck was better. In the servants’ common rest area, she encountered a flustered servant who had clearly only recently arrived at the residence.

Seeing Silvia approach, the servant looked up, a flash of surprise in her eyes—probably because of the ragged old clothes Silvia was wearing, which looked completely out of place in this mansion.

“You… is there something you need?” The servant put down the needlework in her hands, stood up, and asked somewhat nervously.

Silvia walked over and stopped in front of her.

“I would like…” She carefully chose her words.

“…to borrow a set of clothes.”

The servant was stunned.

“Clothes?”

“Yes.”

Silvia nodded.

“Lady Rose asked me to run an errand, but this outfit of mine… is rather inconvenient.”

She pointed at the ragged clothes on her body. After saying this, Silvia felt her heart pounding wildly. If she were found out lying, she would be finished. But she had no other choice.

She needed clothes from within the residence—clothes that bore the mark of identity.

The servant’s expression changed. The earlier confusion and nervousness turned into reverence and tension.

“An order from Lady Rose…” She quickly stood up.

“Please wait a moment. I’ll find one right away.”

She hurriedly rummaged through boxes and cabinets, pulling out a set of clean clothes. They were black, made of much finer fabric than what Silvia wore. Silver patterns were embroidered on the cuffs and collar, and on the chest was an exquisite dark moon emblem.

Because this was Elena’s residence, the clothes naturally bore Elena’s emblem—the dark moon.

Silvia looked at that dark moon, and her heart stirred slightly. The servant handed over the clothes with both hands. “These are spare everyday uniforms for the residence. Will they fit?”

Silvia took them and felt the fabric—soft, thick, and far better than anything she had ever worn.

“Thank you,” Silvia said gratefully.

The servant waved her hands hastily. “Not at all, not at all. Please take care.”

Silvia carried the clothes and found an empty corner to change.

The clothes were a bit large. Her figure was too petite, so they hung loosely on her. She rolled up the sleeves twice, lifted the hem a little, and tied a belt around her waist.

Then she stood in front of a dusty mirror and looked at her reflection.

Black clothes, silver patterns, and the dark moon emblem on her chest faintly glowing in the dim light.

Thanks to the vampires’ healing, the swelling on Silvia’s cheek had already faded, though dried blood still remained at the corner of her mouth, and her hair was a little messy.

After tidying herself up, Silvia looked at her reflection again. Wearing these clothes had improved her bearing considerably. Combined with her snow-white long hair and delicate little face, she now looked like a true vampire noble—albeit a rather petite one.

She stared at herself in the mirror for a while longer, then turned around and walked toward the entrance with small steps.

This time, when the guards at the door saw her, a trace of respect appeared in their eyes. They even bowed slightly.

Silvia said nothing and walked straight out the main door. Sunlight fell on her body, warm and gentle. She stood on the steps, looking toward the distant street market.

Then she lowered her head and looked at the dark moon emblem on her chest—Elena’s dark moon, the mark of that countess.

In this area, no one did not recognize this emblem. Her authority, her power, her wealth—all were engraved in this small pattern.

After mentally encouraging herself, Silvia headed toward the magic market. The magic market was a place that only allowed demons to enter.

In the past, Silvia had never dared approach it, because she was too weak—weak enough that even the street vendors at the entrance could bully her.

But now it was different. Now she was wearing these clothes. Now she had this dark moon on her chest.

As she walked down the street, she could feel the gazes directed at her. Those eyes landed on her body, on the emblem on her chest, and then became cautious, respectful, and fearful.

Silvia gripped her sleeves tightly, trying to steady her steps and hold her head a little higher. She thought of Elia and Sophia.

She thought of how they curled up together while sleeping, of their tiny breathing sounds, of the tear stains that had not yet dried on their faces.

She needed money—spendable money. Money to buy them food, clothes, blankets, and medicine.

Therefore, she had to succeed in exchanging the gems for money in the dangerous magic market!