As Professor Evelyn quietly recounted her story, Luo Wei realized that her childhood family environment was indeed quite poor.
Among the Vampire Clans, only the bloodlines of the seven Primordial Clans were considered the most noble. Her parents were a typical arranged marriage, and her mother, the former matriarch of her family, was the eldest daughter of the Torredo Family from the City of Cain.
Evelyn had once enjoyed a very happy childhood. Her parents were loving and affectionate, and she was the happiest child in the family. However, at that innocent and carefree age, she had no idea that such a marriage was filled with ulterior motives.
In the Vampire Clans, the older the bloodline, the greater the potential for inherent talent. The direct descendants of the seven Primordial Clans were the closest to the progenitor Cain. Thus, after Evelyn was born and it was discovered that her bloodline powers were not prominent, the Duke quickly lost interest in the eldest daughter of the Torredo Family. Evelyn's mother was neglected.
The Duke soon found a "new love," another eldest daughter from one of the seven Primordial Clans. The talent of their illegitimate child clearly aligned with the Duke's vision of a powerful heir...
If her father's "eternal vows" were nothing but lies, then her mother's actions were even worse, as the eldest daughter of the Torredo Family had come with a mission.
The Vampire Clans had once been incredibly prosperous and powerful in history. However, with the advent of the Church era, the City of Cain was destroyed multiple times. Under such prolonged attacks, the Vampire Clans inevitably declined.
Among the seven Primordial Clans, only the Abraham lineage, the so-called "traitors," maintained relative prosperity by following the rise of Wigner. This, however, inevitably stirred ambitions in the other families.
While the Duke was solely focused on producing powerful heirs for his family, Evelyn's mother secretly coveted the authority of the Abraham family on behalf of her own clan. She schemed behind the scenes, gathering intelligence, planting her own people, and striving to secure a foothold for her family in the Wigner Empire...
When their relationship was good, the Duke turned a blind eye. But when it soured, the conflicts finally erupted, leading to frequent confrontations and arguments. Young Evelyn was caught in the middle, feeling like an outsider in her own family.
Finally, one night over a hundred and fifty years ago, Evelyn's mother left the Abraham family. She not only left the Duke but also abandoned Evelyn.
"There was never any real love..." Evelyn recalled the past, her eyes tinged with sorrow. "When both sides could no longer get what they wanted from each other, the once-strong emotions became so fragile that they turned into hatred, as if they were enemies..."
"Professor..." Luo Wei sensed her growing despondence and tried to comfort her with a smile. "Not everyone is like that, and not every place is like the Abraham family."
In a family built on such complex interests, it would have been abnormal for everyone to get along harmoniously. Of course, this wasn't Evelyn's fault. The blame lay with the Duke, whose acting had been so convincing at first, treating Evelyn like a true princess. But once she was no longer useful, he completely changed his attitude. Such a drastic shift was something no ordinary child could handle.
"That's true..." Evelyn picked up the last piece of golden shrimp ball and stuffed it into her mouth, chewing fiercely as if to vent her frustration. "But no matter what, their actions were still deeply disappointing. That's why I despise traitors the most!"
As she ate, she shot a resentful glance at Luo Wei. "You must never betray me! And you must never leave me! If even you were to do that, I don't know how I could ever trust this world again."
"How could I?" Luo Wei shook his head with a laugh. "Professor, I will always stand by your side."
"Really?" Evelyn narrowed her eyes slightly.
"Words, no matter how sweet or grand, are just that—words," Luo Wei said, smiling at her. "I'll prove it through my actions."
Her emerald-green eyes softened for a moment, but she quickly averted her gaze.
"Hmph! You sure know how to talk!"
"Then I'll just have to show you with my actions. If I fail, no matter where you are, I'll find you, hunt you down, and we'll perish together!"
Luo Wei's heart suddenly skipped a beat. Why did it feel like the professor was becoming a bit of a "yandere"?
For some reason, he was reminded of that moonlit night when Evelyn had first brought him home.
No wonder she was so fixated on that ritual. She had said that only through it could their fates be eternally bound together.
After experiencing the turmoil of her childhood, perhaps Professor Evelyn would never believe in love again. That was why she had resorted to such extremes. But ironically, the situation now seemed to have reversed...
"Let's not dwell on the past anymore..." Sensing her mood growing increasingly unstable, Luo Wei smiled and walked toward the kitchen. "You've finished all the golden shrimp balls. Since you love them so much, I'll make another plate for you."
"Great!" At the mention of food, Evelyn's gloomy expression instantly brightened, and she eagerly watched Luo Wei's retreating figure.
Meanwhile, Helena, who had been silently listening nearby, suddenly pushed a small snack she particularly liked toward Evelyn.
"Here, try this. It's delicious."
"Oh?" Evelyn was momentarily taken aback by her sister's unexpected thoughtfulness. She took a bite.
Her eyes immediately lit up. Luo Wei truly had a unique talent for cooking. The snack's outer layer was crystal clear, thin yet soft, while the shrimp inside was crisp and flavorful. Paired with the specially prepared sauce, it was a novel and delicious treat she had never encountered in any restaurant in Saint Callen.
"This is really good! But that one's also great. Helena, you should try it!"
"I don't want to eat anything sticky or tentacle-like..."
"Uh... then how about this?"
When Luo Wei turned around, he found the two of them happily eating shrimp dumplings together and discussing other delicacies, creating an unexpectedly warm atmosphere.
He suddenly felt that this trip to the south had brought some unexpected benefits. Their relationship seemed to have improved a bit.
Of course, even with their improved relationship, bickering still happened from time to time...
"Vampire... You said your childhood was a hundred and fifty years ago. So, how old are you exactly?"
Helena was genuinely curious. Evelyn's true age was practically the top-secret mystery of the household.
Whenever anyone teased her about it, she would bristle like a cat, refusing to answer and getting angry at anyone who brought it up.
"So that's why you're suddenly being so nice to me..." Evelyn's expression immediately darkened. "I don't want to talk about it! If you're so curious, figure it out yourself!"
"But if we go to your family's place together, wouldn't we find out your age right away?" Helena asked, puzzled.
"Well..."
Hearing this, Evelyn suddenly didn't feel like going back anymore.
"So, you should just tell us!" Helena blinked her eyes. "I promise I won't call you an old woman anymore."
"I don't believe you!" Evelyn glared at her.
"Brother!" Helena decided to turn to Luo Wei for help. "She revealed a lot of information today. You should analyze and figure out her age!"