RE: LORD OF TIME

William and Liam returned inside the mansion.

As they entered the dining area where Vivian and Alicia were, both of them couldn’t help but pause for a moment, looking at the scene before them with weird expressions.

”Alicia... Why do I feel like she is about to cry?” Liam asked in a low voice.

William’s mouth twitched slightly as he stared at the girl who seemed to be on the verge of crying for some reason and shook his head.

’Leaving her alone with Vivian wasn’t a good idea after all.’ He thought before walking toward them.

Hearing the sound of footsteps, Alicia quickly looked back, and when she saw them returning, she almost cried out in joy, looking at them with resentment for leaving her alone.

When they left, everything was fine at first, and she talked to Vivian.

But as their conversation progressed, Alicia noticed that all the things Vivian asked her about were in some way related to William.

When she met William?

How she met William?

How she became friends with him?

Things were fine at this point, but then her questions became a bit weird, like—

How many times did they usually meet?

How long did they talk after meeting?

Did he ever give her a gift?

Did he invite her for dinner?

Hearing those questions and seeing the faint smile on Vivian’s face, Alicia felt like she was sitting on needles, and one wrong answer might invite some kind of disaster upon her.

’Wrong... I was completely wrong. She is not keeping William simply because he is handsome and a good boy toy, but because she is blindly obsessed with him.’

Alicia sweated as she cautiously answered her questions, but as time passed, even she found it hard to stay calm.

That’s why when she saw William and Liam returning, she felt like crying tears of joy, feeling that she was finally saved.

”Are you teasing her? Look, she looks like someone who is about to cry.”

William walked over to Vivian and spoke helplessly.

Vivian shook her head and answered innocently.

”What teasing? We were just talking about some girl things. If you don’t believe me, you can ask her.”

As she spoke, she looked at Alicia with a smile.

Seeing her smile, Alicia nodded like a chick.

”Yes, yes, we were just talking about some random stuff.”

William was speechless when he saw this.

Knowing Vivian’s personality, how could he not guess what they had been talking about?

But seeing that she hadn’t done anything out of line, he didn’t say anything and decided to ignore it.

”It’s already been quite late. We should head back now.”

Alicia said and stood up, as she just wanted to run away from this obsessed woman.

”Leaving so early...” Vivian raised an eyebrow. ”Why don’t you guys stay for dinner?”

”Thank you, Lady Vivian, but we still have to handle some matters in the academy...” She nudged Liam, who was standing beside her.

”Huh?” Liam was confused and looked at Alicia.

”What’s wrong?”

Veins throbbed on Alicia’s forehead when she saw his clueless look, and she wanted to give him a good beating.

Seeing Alicia’s dark gaze, Liam was completely bewildered and didn’t know what he had done wrong.

William and Vivian easily noticed their obvious movements, and they were also speechless at Liam’s confused look.

”Let’s plan dinner for another time.” In the end, it was William who spoke for them.

”Since you have something to handle, you should head back.”

”Yes.” Alicia immediately nodded and looked at William in gratitude, feeling he was indeed a brave guy who could handle an obsessed woman like Vivian.

”But I don’t ha—” Liam hurriedly tried to speak, as he still hadn’t tasted the Deep Earth Fruit.

But before he could speak, Alicia picked it up from the table and stuffed it into his hand.

”You can eat it while walking.” Liam looked at the fruit in his hand and didn’t know what to say.

”Victoria.” Vivian called out softly.

”My Lady.”

Victoria, whose crashed mind had finally begun to operate normally, stepped inside the dining room and bowed.

”Prepare a carriage and send them back to the academy.”

”As you command, My Lady.” Victoria looked at Alicia and Liam.

”Please come with me.”

”We will be going back first.” Alicia said and immediately followed after Victoria.

Liam looked at William and, after nodding, also went out.

”So... How was it?” Vivian asked once they left.

William looked at Liam’s departing back before speaking softly.

”He refused... at first.”

”Hmmm?” Vivian raised an eyebrow and looked at him in confusion, waiting for him to explain.

William recalled what had happened earlier and chuckled.

”After I told him he would turn into a Vampire and lose his human identity, he refused without hesitation, saying he didn’t want to turn into a monster.”

”A monster?” Vivian’s eyes twitched slightly upon hearing his words.

William nodded and laughed.

”That guy thought that once he stopped being human, he would look similar to monsters like orcs, goblins, or something similar.”

”Did that guy come from a remote village?” Vivian couldn’t help but ask. ”Don’t tell me he never heard about Vampires and doesn’t know what they look like.”

”He knew about Vampires, but the things he had heard about them were quite weird. Like they are just blood-sucking bats with half human bodies and dangerous teeth that would scare even an inauspicious creature late at night.”

As William spoke, he barely held back his laughter.

”This guy...” Vivian didn’t know what to say after hearing this.

”Then he agreed after you told him he wouldn’t change much after becoming a Vampire.”

”Not really.” William shook his head.

”I had shown him my Vampire form before I asked him if he wanted the Vampire Bloodline. After telling him he would also look somewhat similar after becoming a Vampire, his aversion lessened, but he was still conflicted about becoming a Vampire.”

”Then?” Vivian looked at him in confusion.

William smiled slightly and looked out through the window.

”I just told him something, and he agreed.”

”Told him something?” Vivian frowned and waited for him to explain.

But William just looked at her and shook his head.

”It’s a boys’ secret. Little girl like you shouldn’t ask.”