Chapter 133:

“Tell me, how did a commoner like me, who doesn’t even have a surname, suddenly become the Crimson Regent of Kadman City? And I even got a baroness title and territory.”

Miriam, who had just experienced the ups and downs of life, stared at the Crimson Regent’s seal in one hand and the baroness appointment letter in the other.

For a moment, it still didn’t feel real, even though these two items existed tangibly in her hands.

From tonight onwards, the Morland Village where she was born, along with five nearby villages, would be her territory.

Perhaps some people would be unhappy about this, but the appointment letter bearing the Blood Vulture Clan’s great seal held considerable sway in the Transia region. As long as the Blood Vulture Clan remained here for a day, that place would be under her jurisdiction!

Thinking of this, Miriam couldn’t help but tighten her grip on the appointment letter.

A surge of excitement welled up within her.

At the young age of 24, she had already outpaced her peers’ career paths by at least forty years, if not an entire lifetime or two.

It was a pity that with her parents deceased and few friends, Miriam didn’t know who to share this joy that had fallen from the heavens.

“Tsk, I can’t help but feel like I’ve sold myself by the pound just for these two broken things.”

In the quiet night of the city, Miriam evaluated her decision earlier with a touch of sarcasm.

Afterwards, she took a deep breath, retrieved a plain small box from her spirit bag, and took out a somewhat dull silver-white bracelet, holding it before her eyes.

“Mom, I did it!”

Miriam stared at the bracelet, the only thing left by her mother, as it reflected a beautiful halo in the moonlight. After a few seconds, she pressed it to her forehead and said with a hint of weeping:

“I’ve finally made a name for myself! Although I haven’t risen to great heights, I’ve achieved half of the wish you had before you passed away. If you could see this, please share in this joy with me.”

“I say, do you Transians worship your ancestors by just praying anywhere you feel like it? Miss, would you mind looking around to see if anyone’s nearby before conveying your heart to your mother next time?”

A rather familiar voice, tinged with a hint of awkwardness, sounded from beside Miriam, causing the red-haired girl, who had been shedding tears, to start.

As she turned around, her hand now held a crimson hand cannon.

This was the weapon Murphy had previously obtained from Adele and given to her for self-defense.

With the gun barrel pointed at him, Lieutenant Frayzer raised his hands in resignation. Ignoring the danger before him, he calmly explained:

“I have to leave here tomorrow afternoon, so I must finish writing my investigation report tonight. But your celebration was quite noisy, so I had to find a quiet place to write it up. By rights, I found this spot first.

So, the one being disturbed isn’t you, Miss Miriam.”

“Sure enough, the Goldflower Kingdom is teeming with sneaky types like you.”

Miriam snorted, lowered her gun, then bent down to retrieve what had fallen to the ground. Lieutenant Frayzer politely stepped forward to help.

But when he saw that bracelet, the lieutenant’s brow suddenly furrowed.

That style... it felt somewhat familiar.

As an intelligence officer, Lieutenant Frayzer didn’t show his surprise.

He picked up the bracelet from the ground, carefully examined the style, committing it to memory, then returned it to Miriam, along with the Crimson Regent’s seal in his other hand. He joked:

“It seems that Lord Murphy has seen your potential and decided to promote you. If I’m not mistaken, you’re holding a peerage appointment letter there. It’s an ancient style. I vaguely remember our family library containing similar letter samples from around 400 years ago.

So, what should I call you now? Lady Miriam?”

“Whatever, I’m in a good mood today, so I won’t make a fuss with you.”

Miriam had no goodwill towards this man who had once tried to cause trouble in the camp she was managing, but her status as a fellow student prevented her from lashing out, so she could only respond coldly.

However, perhaps due to his impending departure, Lieutenant Frayzer seemed quite enthusiastic about conversing tonight. He politely gestured with a “please” motion and said to Miriam:

“I’m heading back to the camp. Why don’t we go together? It’s unbecoming for a lady to walk alone in such a night. I’ve heard that vampires are the race that values etiquette the most, but my observations these past few days seem to contradict that rumor.”

“That’s only because you’ve been observing the wrong subjects.”

Miriam replied casually:

“Lord Murphy and Lady Tris are not ‘normal’ vampires, but Miss Femis is the most well-mannered lady I’ve ever seen, a true model.

It’s a pity you came at the wrong time.

Speaking of which, Lieutenant, you’re not the type of man who can’t walk properly when he sees a lady, yet tonight you’re being so attentive towards me.

Is it because you’ve noticed my change in status and realized that I will be taking on more important responsibilities under Lord Murphy, so you’re trying to get on my good side in advance to make it easier for you to extract information from me in the future?”

“You are a most discerning lady, and I will not deny my intentions,” Frayzer chuckled lightly.

He glanced at the peerage appointment letter in Miriam’s hand and said:

“There is another reason, although the Carpe family has been rooted in the Anju region for over three hundred years, our ancestors were once a count in the Transia region, one of the 134 nobles during the founding of the Portia Federation.

No need to laugh, but our family still holds the land deed to a small forest bordering the northern Transia region and the Ice Bay region.

For this reason, the Carpe family is quite sensitive to changes in Transia’s nobility lineages. If nothing unexpected happens, you may see a representative from my family in the next few months.

I hope you’ll put in a good word for me then, and not give them too much embarrassment.

This does not represent any political intentions, merely a friendly liaison between families.

During the Blood Vulture Clan’s 400-year rule over these lands, the Silan nobles have maintained ties with this land in the shadows, an ancient tradition.

“Your analysis of your situation has shown me the formidable ability of Shaldor Academy’s alumni from the School of Administration. Perhaps I should suggest to my Sovereign to recruit more talents like you.

But I must pose a new question, why did you get involved in this series of events?

A gifted scholar-in-waiting and an ambitious vampire lord seem like people from two different worlds.”

“The answer to that question is quite mundane,” said Miriam as she exited the city ruins.

She stood on the city wall she had helped Murphy’s warriors establish during the Astral Realm disaster, gazing back at the silent ruins behind her.

With a sense of silent reminiscence and mourning, she said softly:

“Half a month ago, while I was preparing for final exams, my village chief father, a vampire worshipper, summoned me home with a letter arranging for me to marry the son of a wealthy merchant in Kadman City.

As I boarded the steam train leaving Shaldor Port, all I could think about was how to escape this cursed fate. But the unpredictability of life prepared a surprise for me that I could never have imagined.

It took away everything I was familiar with!

And then, through Lord Murphy’s hand, it generously bestowed upon me everything anew.”

“How fortunate,” Lieutenant Frayzer marveled.

“Not only for you, but equally so for that wealthy merchant’s son who perished in the disaster.”

“Hmm?” Miriam eyed Frayzer suspiciously.

The latter shrugged and said softly, with a morbid sense of humor:

“I don’t believe an ordinary merchant’s child could suppress a remarkable lady like you in marriage, just as I don’t believe a blood servant village chief living in the Transia region could have nurtured such an outstanding character as yours.

Your mother must have been an equally remarkable lady.

A pity I couldn’t pay her a visit.”

The lieutenant’s gaze inadvertently fell on the familiar silver bracelet in Miriam’s hand. He narrowed his eyes, then smiled and said:

“I look forward to the day when all your potential is uncovered. I believe by then, you will have made a name across the continent! Although you have chosen Transia to showcase your talents, please do not forget that in the not-so-distant Anju region, you have a friend like me who may not be very close, but at least can converse with you.

Of course, if you have a second plan for your life, then I can guarantee you on behalf of the Carpe family that the Goldflower Kingdom can provide for you.”

“No need, thank you for your kindness, regardless of what reasons prompted your invitation,” Miriam politely nodded to Lieutenant Frayzer.

But she unhesitatingly declined:

“I have chosen my sovereign, and his ambitions and will shall shape the direction of my future life, just as you have your king, and I have my lord. Lord Frayzer, you are a true gentleman.

Therefore, when your life requires a second choice, do not forget that you also have a friend like me in Transia who can generously arrange a security job for you.

I believe, with your talents, you would undoubtedly become the finest security personnel on these lands.

Second to none!”

“Hahahahaha!”

Such a biting response left the lieutenant dumbfounded before bursting into laughter. Miriam let out a light chuckle, preparing to bid farewell.

But in the next moment, Lieutenant Frayzer made a unique gesture. He took out his masterwork dwarven trench gun and solemnly offered it to Miriam with both hands, saying:

“The ancient nobles of the Transia region had this custom before the first Black Disaster, they would present weapons capable of protecting their friends as a starting point for friendship with those they valued.

You and I are both aware of the impending Black Disaster. Lady Miriam, I believe you will need this ‘Iron Sentinel’ more than I do.”

“I do indeed need it. My homeland has left me without much sense of security until now. But to take without giving would be rude.”

Miriam did not refuse, but instead took out the crimson hand cannon from her spirit bag and offered it to Lieutenant Frayzer.

She said softly:

“Putting politics aside, you are indeed a decent alumnus. May it protect you as it has protected me.”

Lieutenant Frayzer accepted the exquisite six-shot vampire-style hand cannon with an odd look in his eyes.

Inspecting the fine weapon, he said:

“In the past, my juniors would blushingly give me roses. Now my juniors solemnly give me guns. Hmm, it seems the students of my dear Shaldor Engineering Academy remain abundant in martial virtue.

Does it have a name?”

He asked.

Miriam rolled her eyes, turned gracefully and mounted the warhorse brought by the guards, saying:

“It’s just a weapon, it doesn’t need a name. Lieutenant, read fewer third-rate knight novels, the romantic style of knights is no longer suitable for this era.

Good night.

And may you have a smooth journey home.”

With that, Lady Miriam departed under the escort of four camp guards, disappearing into the night.

Lieutenant Frayzer watched his remarkable and dashing junior depart. He glanced at the exquisite hand cannon in his hand, shrugged, and said to the ornate and somberly elegant weapon:

“Well, I shall entrust my safety to you from now on, Miss Miriam.

Allow me to borrow the strange Lord Palanno’s catchphrase to end our conversation tonight. Hmm, what a beautiful rose blooming on these dark lands.”