58 Chapter 57 ~ Preparations

The tapping and neighing sound of horses can be heard.

Outside Vlad's manor were two carriages both larger than the one Carla had used when she first met Vlad. Both carriages are decorated and plated with expensive-looking materials and are both pulled with two horses each. And just beside them, there stood Carla, who seems to be waiting for her clients.

A week had now passed since Carla's last visit, and now, she had come again to get Vlad.

Carla has a large influence in the capital. She's a renowned merchant whose name everyone knows. And her fame equals the range of her business.

Because of her immense talents, she is often getting called by the castle and the royal family themselves to do business. And even sometimes, she would be sent as an envoy and emissary representing the merchants' faction of their kingdom. Needless to say, she was an important figure and a person who receives important tasks.

And right now, as she was also invited for the event, she was asked to convince Vlad to go with her; she would not be paid money for it, but she did it for the sake of her name and relations.

As she waits, she fixed her tie in boredom. She then looks at her servant Gerald and nodded at him, signing to get the carriage and horses ready.

*Creak...

The door in front of her creaks and it opened wide, revealing Vlad Alucard and three of his servants, Shin, Stella, and Ayla.

Vlad is now wearing clothes that have a much lighter color than what he usually wears. But nevertheless, it has the same high-class quality on it. One more thing she noticed most was the sword hanging on his waist. She had never seen Vlad carry any weapons before, it surprised her to see him now carrying one - she thought that it might be a precaution or just fashion.

His servants, too, are wearing clothes she had never seen them wear before.

The maids are wearing dresses with colors in contrast to each other: one was wearing a purple frilled dress layered with black edges while the other one is much simpler and with yellow and orange colors. They were already beautiful in their usual clothes, but they became more attractive as they were their unusual clothes.

Then, she turns her head to the butler, she doesn't remember his name, but she definitely remembers his looks. And as usual, he was bland and the same. He was still wearing his butler clothes and still have his odd-looking face. The only thing that was probably change was the style of his hair, which is now straight on edges and slick.

[ Thank you for coming, Carlo-san. ] Vlad called her made-up name as soon as he gets his distance close to her. He then reached his hand to her for a handshake.

[ No, I'm the one who should thank you for accepting the invitation. I don't know what excuse I would say if I was not able to convince to come, I'm just glad you accepted it. ] she replied as she shakes his hand.

But despite her saying that, it was not that of a big deal for her even if Vlad did not accept. She can always say to them that she did her best but he didn't accept, they will not question her and will think that he did not accept because he really did not want to. That's how trusted she was.

[ I was planning to accept it in the first place. I was actually thinking of visiting the capital for a while now, so this would be a great chance. ]

[ Really? Then, I'm glad that I will be the one to take you there. It would be an honor. ] she bows. Carla has her experience as a knight; she knows how to show respect to people that deserve it.

She raised her head straight again and said:

[ Vlad-san, how about we get going now. It will take for at least four hours to get into the capital with horses, if we go now, we will arrive there just before noon. ]

[ Of course. ] Vlad responded.

***

Vlad looks outside as the carriage rodes inside the city of Altair.

He is now quite familiar with the city for the weeks he had spent living in it. The main cobblestone road is now already familiarized in his mind and there's no way he would get lost walking on it. The houses too are now a normal sight to him unlike when he first arrived in this city.

[ I'm surprised you've bought your butler with you. ] the voice came in front of him, it was Carla.

The two of them are sharing one carriage while the other three are on the other. Vlad is already used to Carla's presence and it doesn't bother him being together with her alone anymore. She always visits his mansion and it became normal to him and his servants to see her sitting - drinking tea in the living room of their mansion.

[ Yes, he is definitely my butler, but he also serves as my bodyguard. He's more reliable than anyone I could find. ] turning his eyes away outside, he replied to Carla.

[ He doesn't look like it, but if you say so. I trust your opinion on everything, honestly, I know when you are lying, Vlad-san. ] she humored with a small smile on her face.

( It really seems she has some kind of trouble with my real face... I guess it is really rare to see someone that has the same face as mine here. ) Vlad thought as she looks at the smiling Carla.

[ But really... I can't believe that you suddenly became involved with the heroes like this... the country itself... You were just a guy having trouble when I first met you, but now... You're more troublesome than I thought you would be, Vlad-san. ] again, she says those words in a playful tomboyish manner.

She is now acting completely different from when she is doing her merchant business. Like Vlad, this is how she acts to those she's close with, and Vlad is one of the few people she feels comfortable with and trusts.

She knows that Vlad is not the same as any noble or any merchant she's been dealing with. Just by seeing how he lacks arrogance and malice, and by the way he treats his servants, she knows that he's a nice person. She trusts him and she knows that she will not be in danger when he's around him, and before she knew it, his presence became normal to her that she starts to sometimes forgot that she was hiding her real identity.

[ Vlad-san... I know you're a nice person, but for you to knock a hero unconscious for almost a month is something you cannot do. This was all because of that. ]

Vlad again turns his eyes on her as he hears her words.

[ Well, I was not able to control my self when we fought... ]

( My Bloodthirst and frenzy for violence in battle might be the one which caused it... )

[ Either way, even if I did not do that to him, my power will eventually be noticed and I will get involved in something like this. ]

[ Well, your strength will definitely not go unnoticeable... ] she replies. She then leaned a little closer to Vlad and asks:

[ You're not yet married, right? Vlad-san? ]

( .. ) her question caught Vlad off guard for a moment.

The word 'marriage' is something he often gets asked back then, and now, he was reminiscent again of his 30 years of experience of not having a single woman looking at him. But then again he realized he was not Kagayami Shiro anymore, he was now Vlad Alucard. He was able to regain his composure.

[ Well, I don't have any plans. ] he replied.

[ Then, I will give you an advice: if you don't want to get bombarded with marriage proposals, you will need a woman with you to introduce as your bride or your fiancee. But if you want to find a partner... I have someone to introduce to you. ]

[ Someone to introduce to me to? ]

[ That's right. All this time, everyone I have ever introduced you to are slaves, well this time, how about someone who has a high position? As I say, I have many connections with the nobles of this country. ]

[ No, I think I will decline. ] as Carla finishes explaining, Vlad immediately replied.

( That sounds something like an arrange marriage... ) he thought.

[ Why though? ]

[ In the first place, a commoner marrying a noble... is that even possible? ]

[ If you have enough fame and wealth to offer, it is. ]

Vlad made a little thought before answering...

[ I don't really worry that much about women... I have Ayla and Stella, two women are already far enough for one man. Furthermore, marriage is something two parties should agree on; and agree not because of wealth but because of their likeness for each other. ]

[ [ ... ] ]

The answer had silenced the two of them.

Carla made a serious expression with a glint of shock on her face as she looks at Vlad with a pause. And Vlad had thought of what he just said as something very out of his character.

[ Well, it seems I underestimated you, Vlad-san... I was sure everyone would agree with me offering them women, but it seems the case is different with you... ]

[ Well, I will think about it in the future... ]

[ Un, anyway, I ask you to prepare yourself because I'm sure you will get many proposals at the party. Introduce one or both of your maids as your partner. ]

[ I will... ]

And so...

The two of them continues to have a chat like this for a while...