The Red Garden was the nickname for a separate palace attached to the Roinoke royal palace.

If you ride a carriage south from the central palace, you can see a row of massive columns made from a combination of marble, agate, and pale obsidian.

Irregular patterns swirl upwards like a whirlwind towards the triangular roof tiles, and as you approach, the beautiful columns that are translucent enough to reflect your face extend all the way to the path leading to the corridor.

Light-reflecting glass and hard mother-of-pearl decorations were hung like pinwheels at each corner, and mechanical devices were installed underneath the corridor floor to artificially create wind, producing a faint tinkling sound.

If you follow the gently curved corridor to the end, from there an endless poppy field appears along the wide flatland and gentle ridges.

Beneath the ground of this seemingly peaceful garden lay mechanical devices meticulously created by the kingdom’s engineers.

Using steam and geothermal heat, they created an environment suitable for poppies to grow year-round, and if moisture was lacking, groundwater was drawn to directly water the roots to maintain a fresh state.

The pinnacle of Roinoke’s mechanical engineering was concentrated in this separate palace’s garden, which was both King Lyuen Vandrop’s most cherished place and a restricted area not open to just anyone.

“Ah!”

Benent, the Crown Prince’s son who was playing with the Second Prince Adonian, spotted Matiel approaching from a distance and smiled brightly.

The three-year-old, who believed the world was full of only beautiful and wonderful things, busily moved his short legs to run towards Matiel.

“Duke Matiel!”

Matiel quickly and safely caught Benent, who was hopping like a rabbit, and said:

“Your Highness Benent, I believe I told you it’s dangerous to run around.”

“Not dangerous, it’s okay!”

Benent giggled, rubbing his soft cheek.

The Second Prince Adonian, who had been crouching down to play with his nephew, took out gold-rimmed glasses from his pocket and put them on, smiling.

“There’s probably no one as gruff as you, yet Benent seems to like you more than his uncle, me.”

“That can’t be.”

Matiel smiled faintly.

As Benent was busily chattering about something while fiddling with a small toy, a man could be seen approaching along the path between the poppy fields.

He looked identical to Adonian except for not wearing glasses.

“I greet Your Highness the Crown Prince.”

Matiel nodded lightly while holding Benent.

Adonian also smiled lightly as he made way for his elder brother.

Unlike his twin brother who always wore a gentle and amiable smile, Largo Vandrop, the Crown Prince of Roinoke, had an arrogant and cold impression.

“Somehow it feels like I haven’t seen you in a while.”

“I’ve been away.”

“Were you busy?”

“Not particularly busy, but…”

A barely perceptible smile appeared and quickly disappeared from Matiel’s lips.

Benent, sandwiched between his father and Matiel, turned his small head back and forth, then stretched out his short arms towards the most approachable Adonian, whining to be held.

“Alright, alright. Our dear nephew. Let’s leave these two intimidating people and go make airplanes with uncle.”

Adonian joked as he took Benent away.

When Largo gestured with his chin, Matiel lightly bowed his head before starting to follow him.

“Did you come to see His Majesty?”

“Yes, is he here?”

“Periera has a bit of a fever today. He’s inside but not in a very good mood.”

“Thank you for the advice.”

Periera was King Lyuen’s youngest daughter born late in life, fourteen years younger than her twin brothers who were twenty-nine this year.

Even though fifteen was old enough to prepare for her social debut, in King Lyuen’s eyes she was still seen only as his young and small daughter, so he continued to overprotect her.

“Is the Princess alright?”

Largo’s shoulders shrugged lightly.

“Well, it’s the usual illness. She’s always had a weak constitution.”

“I’m glad it’s nothing serious.”

“To Mother, it’s more serious than anything. Well then, go ahead.”

Matiel exchanged a glance with Largo at the entrance of the separate palace.

The interior of the Red Garden’s separate palace was also decorated in bright and cheerful colors.

Perhaps because it was Periera’s favorite place, colorful stained glass, crystals, and jewel decorations were noticeable everywhere, and it was always warm.

There was even a rumor that flowers bloomed here even in winter when the kingdom’s largest river froze over.

“Please inform His Majesty.”

Hearing Matiel’s words, the attendant immediately went inside. Soon he came out, bowing at the waist and saying:

“I will escort you to the reception room, Your Grace.”

Crossing the golden living room and passing through several closed doors, a reception room decorated with silk and exotic paintings appeared.

The windows were open, letting in a gentle breeze, and the room was filled with a sweet fragrance.

As Matiel sat down on the sofa to catch his breath, King Lyuen made his appearance.

Perhaps because he had heard about Periera being sick, Matiel thought he looked much more tired than when he had seen him yesterday.

“Welcome, Duke.”

“I greet Your Majesty. How is the Princess?”

“She just fell asleep. It’s nothing serious, just a slight fever due to the fluctuating weather, according to the court physician.”

Though he said that, Matiel knew that King Lyuen wouldn’t sleep properly until Periera was completely well.

It was Matiel’s private opinion that being so overprotective of the now grown princess wouldn’t be of much help to her, but he never spoke such words aloud.

King Lyuen was a person who never compromised when it came to Periera, no matter what else.

An attendant quickly brewed tea, and Matiel savored it along with the sweet fragrance in the reception room.

King Lyuen seemed to have no intention of drinking tea, briefly holding the cup handle before letting go and sighing shortly with a faint smile.

“I wonder what brings the Duke to see me first?”

Matiel briefly looked at the king’s face over the teacup and soon straightened his posture.

Except when working as an investigator, he actually rarely had audiences with King Lyuen.

The glory of the Elinak ducal family originally came from secretly serving the royal family.

It was a family on a completely different level from other nobles who had to actively show their faces and build relationships with the royal family in order to gain power.

So it was not unreasonable for King Lyuen to be curious about his sudden visit.

“Is there a problem with the investigator work?”

“There is no problem, Your Majesty. However, I did visit to discuss something related to the investigator work.”

“Tell me about it.”

Matiel briefly pondered where to start before taking a light breath.

“It’s about the serial killings in the western region that Your Majesty ordered to be investigated.”

For a moment, King Lyuen stared at him without moving before nodding. It meant for him to continue.

Matiel said:

“In my opinion, those serial killings don’t seem to be the work of humans.”

“Not the work of humans? Then what is your thought?”

“I believe Your Majesty may have had similar thoughts. Reckless newspapers have published unedited photos of murder victims more than once or twice. I’ve collected all those photos. And I started to think something was strange.”

King Lyuen lowered his chin slightly, repeating his words as if to confirm:

“You thought something was strange.”

Matiel nodded.

“That’s right. Everyone is talking about ‘bizarre murder cases’ and ‘mysterious incidents’, but there’s usually a reason for such a commotion. In fact, this serial murder case has some peculiar aspects. Last time, after three murders occurred, Your Majesty summoned the investigators. At that time, Count Scrapster said:”

‘Not only is the method by which the perpetrator killed the victims unclear, but the motive is also completely unknown.’

King Lyuen tilted his head and nodded.

“That’s right. So?”

“Look at this.”

Matiel handed over the newspaper he had brought from the mansion to Charlotte’s pharmacy and then to the palace.

Although the victim’s photo was blurred from Charlotte rubbing it with her hands, the two black dots on the neck were still clear and had neither disappeared nor faded.

“Look at the victim’s neck, Your Majesty. Do you see the marks?”

King Lyuen, who had been examining the photo, suddenly smiled awkwardly.

“Duke, surely you’re not suggesting this incident is the work of a magical beast?”

“A magical beast that leaves marks like this is not just any magical beast, Your Majesty. I believe you know.”

King Lyuen’s smile became more ambiguous as it faded.

She slowly traced over the blurry photo with her finger that bore no ring.

“Two marks on the neck… Hole-like bite marks. A magical beast that makes such marks once drove Roinoke into terror long ago. The vampire Malebranque.”

Matiel’s eyes quietly shone.

“That’s exactly it, Your Majesty. That’s what I wanted to say.”

King Lyuen frowned and smiled.

“Duke, surely you don’t think this incident is the work of a vampire?”