Gospel of Blood

Chapter 411: Albrecht's Legs Gave Out

True Ancestor!

She is the True Ancestor!

Albrecht’s expression was horrified, and a storm of fear surged in his heart.

Almost instinctively, he jumped to the side, swiftly distancing himself from the girl he had just wanted to have a deep conversation with, his entire body trembling with the urge to flee.

But Charlotte’s heavenly voice, like a devil’s whisper, rang in his ear…

“Albrecht, what’s wrong? Are you feeling unwell?”

Charlotte’s voice was still clear and melodious.

She smiled at Albrecht, her expression pure and serene, like an angel.

But Albrecht felt even worse.

Now that he realized who she was, the girl in his eyes was no longer a pure “angel” but rather a “devil” disguised as an angel!

She definitely recognized his identity long ago!

Albrecht was terrified and wanted to run away immediately.

However, with her radiant smile, he felt as if his legs were filled with lead, and even his magic seemed disrupted.

That was from fear…

And thinking about his earlier attempts at small talk and his veiled grievances towards the True Ancestor, Albrecht’s face turned green.

Damn it!

What had he just said in front of the True Ancestor?

Recalling his earlier conversation and complaints, Albrecht felt like a clown stripped naked, wishing he could find a crack in the void to crawl into and seal himself forever!

“N-no… cough, Countess… Countess Castell, I’m fine, absolutely fine…”

Albrecht swallowed hard, forcing out a stiff smile, trembling with fear.

He wasn’t stupid.

Since the True Ancestor hadn’t revealed her identity, even though he realized who she was, he dared not directly acknowledge it.

But he was sure she knew he had realized her identity.

Her earlier words were probably a warning.

Warning him not to run away.

It must be…

It must be because of his earlier complaints that she had noted down a grudge!

Albrecht felt bitter, thinking he was doomed.

In his memory, the True Ancestor was not a merciful God but a vengeful one who repaid grievances harshly, even exacting severe retribution on Gods who offended her!

Not to mention he was a forcibly contracted blood servant who had so blatantly offended her!

Albrecht wished he could travel back to before he left Crescent, giving his past self a few slaps.

Why run here? Didn’t he know that the Roman Duchy was right next to the True Ancestor’s Castell territory?!

He had been so smug, thinking the True Ancestor wouldn’t come here, and now he had run straight into her!

And he had even tried to chat her up…

Complaining, ranting…

He must have been mad, forgetting how to be cautious—this was practically blaspheming a God in front of Her face and badmouthing Her! It was suicidal!

At this moment, Albrecht deeply regretted his actions.

“Is that so? I thought you heard something from Yurst about my identity and got a bit nervous. If not, that’s great. I actually enjoyed chatting with you.”

Hearing Albrecht’s words, Charlotte smiled.

She elegantly took a sip of juice from the tray of a passing waiter and smiled sweetly.

“If possible, you don’t need to take Yurst’s words to heart. After all, right now, I’m not a countess but just a girl looking for some fun and a good story.”

Charlotte’s movements were graceful and dignified, her smile sweet and radiant.

The crystal lights of the banquet hall shone on her, making her look like a cute little angel, her sweet and brilliant smile as warm as spring.

But Albrecht couldn’t be more scared.

He was left with only terror in his heart.

The more she smiled, the more frightened he became.

Just a girl looking for some fun?

What did that mean?

Was it a warning not to expose her identity?

And… looking for fun?

Was this a threat?

A warning?

Was she planning to make him her plaything?

Albrecht’s brain couldn’t process it anymore.

However, he knew that at times like this, he should be as obedient as possible, flatter the big shot, and follow her lead…

Taking a deep breath, Albrecht forced out a smile.

He imitated Charlotte, picking up a glass of fruit wine from the waiter’s tray and bringing it to his mouth.

“Y-you… you said it, I… I’m not nervous, not nervous at all, um… just a bit, maybe…”

“Talking with you… I enjoyed it too, ha ha ha ha…”

Albrecht’s smile was stiff.

He brought the glass to his lips but could hardly drink any of the wine.

It wasn’t that he didn’t want to drink—it was that his hands were shaking too much, spilling the wine everywhere.

No, it wasn’t just his hands. Since realizing her identity, his legs had been trembling.

If someone pushed him now, Albrecht doubted he could stay on his feet.

He wanted to stand firm and control his shaking.

But he couldn’t stop trembling.

Thinking of the real identity of the innocent, sweet girl before him and what he had done to her, his scalp tingled, and his heart ached…

Meanwhile, after multiple conversations with Charlotte, Count Yurst finally noticed the “young noble” beside her.

Albrecht?

Hearing Charlotte call someone’s name, Yurst frowned slightly.

Albrecht wasn’t an uncommon name, typical in the Yunette culture.

But Yurst didn’t like the name.

It always reminded him of a certain Legendary Bloodborne of the Dark Clan.

Due to historical reasons and personal experiences, Yurst despised the Shedite.

No, more accurately, traditional bloodbornes like his Nez Clan looked down on and loathed the lunatics of the Blood Demon Cult.

Even though the “Albrecht” he knew was a high-ranking member of Shedite, a Dark Apostle of the Blood Demon Cult.

Respect aside, he truly disliked them.

Yurst instinctively looked at the person in front of him, examining this “Albrecht.”

Handsome, yes, but with a somewhat kind appearance. He felt like he had seen him somewhere before.

Hmm?

Strange…

Where had he seen him?

Yurst furrowed his brows.

However, he had met too many people over his long life, so he couldn’t immediately recall where he had crossed paths with this individual.

Still, he must not have been anyone important.

Because his presence was too weak.

Just standing next to the young Countess of Castell, this noble named “Albrecht” seemed noticeably nervous, his legs shaking like those of a lightning mouse, and his face so pale he looked more like a bloodborne than the actual bloodbornes.

Was he scared by Countess Castell’s identity?

Yurst’s mind stirred.

He had heard that a young noble had called out Countess Castell when he came to find her.

When he arrived at the observatory and saw the young noble, he knew that this was yet another person attracted by Countess Castell’s appearance, hoping to make a conversation.

Yurst hadn’t paid much attention, knowing that Countess Castell, being the True Ancestor’s proxy, would likely not be interested in these insincere and lowly human nobles.

However, this noble named “Albrecht” had failed so miserably that it even surpassed his understanding of the useless nobles among humans.

This person clearly didn’t know Countess Castell’s identity when attempting to strike up a conversation.

Now that he knew, he was so nervous, shaking while holding a wine glass, that anyone would think a mouse had met a cat.

It was utterly disgraceful.

Yurst shook his head secretly, looking at Albrecht with some contempt and disdain.

Daring to approach in such a setting but being so visibly intimidated upon learning Countess Castell’s identity, such nervousness and loss of composure were characteristics of those lowly nobles who lacked proper upbringing and were used to bullying the weak.

As a Starfall Bloodborne noble, he looked down on such people even more than the bloodborne of Shedite.

Unlike Yurst, Albrecht did recognize his identity.

However, Albrecht couldn’t understand why a Blood Count of the Nez Clan was here and why he had any connection with the True Ancestor.

Fearful and anxious, Albrecht’s mind raced, imagining that the Nez Clan had already been infiltrated by the True Ancestor, and envisioning the entire Nez bloodbornes had collectively submitted…

However, noticing Yurst’s nearly equal tone of conversation with Charlotte, he quickly realized something.

Hmm?

Something’s off…

This Nez brat seemed unaware of the True Ancestor’s identity!

He… he appeared to only see Her Majesty as the Countess of Castell!

This realization made Albrecht’s feelings complex, and he looked at Yurst with a peculiar expression.

But when he caught the disdainful look from Yurst, he immediately felt a blockage in his heart.

This guy… must be seeing him as one of those weak nobles intimidated by a superior identity!

Meeting Yurst’s contemptuous gaze, Albrecht was deeply displeased, yet his hidden identity forced him to suppress it.

Meanwhile, Yurst, noticing his “unhappy” expression, became even more interested.

For some reason, seeing this expression made Yurst feel oddly displeased, as if there was a natural discord when a Nez bloodborne met a Shedite bloodborne.

He chuckled softly, speaking with a somewhat condescending tone.

“Albrecht? This name reminds me of an amusing tale from not long ago.”

“I heard that the Third Dark Apostle of the Blood Demon Cult tried to perform a sacrifice in Lutecia, but his identity was exposed and he was besieged by four Legendaries… nearly met his end there.”

“It’s quite laughable, really, to attempt something in a place like Lutecia. It’s both foolish and arrogant.”

“Oh, by the way, that Blood Demon… was also named Albrecht.”

“It’s funny, isn’t it? A name that has a rather nice meaning, yet those who bear it often turn out to be either fools or lunatics… truly regrettable.”

Yurst sighed.

Hearing Yurst’s words, Charlotte’s eyes twitched.

Those were quite aggressive words.

After all, the name Albrecht was rarely used in Starfall, mostly by Crescent folks.

And Crescent folks hated the Blood Demon Cult the most.

To Crescent folks, such descriptions were extremely contemptuous and insulting.

Clearly, Yurst must have mistaken Albrecht for a Crescent noble, deliberately humiliating him due to dissatisfaction with his earlier attitude.

However, little did Yurst know that the “Albrecht” before him was actually the very person he was talking about.

Thinking of this, Charlotte’s smile grew brighter.

She looked at the haughty Yurst, then at the gloomy Albrecht, finding the situation increasingly amusing.

Noticing Albrecht’s dark gaze, Yurst seemed to sense that the timing was right.

He decided to stop, feigning realization, and then made a slight bow to Albrecht, apologizing with a smile.

“Oh, pardon me… I wasn’t implying that you are the same. It just happened to remind me of a recent anecdote. There’s no way you could be one of those foolish and evil Blood Demon Cultists.”

“Hmm… by the way, which family are you from?”

Albrecht: …

Looking at Yurst’s smug face, Albrecht felt his anger rising uncontrollably!

If the True Ancestor targeted him, he would accept it.

After all, she was the ancestor of all bloodbornes, the source of all bloodbornes, an existence he couldn’t possibly defy… But for a mere Blood Count of the Nez Clan to insult him?

He was beginning to suspect whether it was intentional! For the True Ancestor’s sake!

Is this how she felt when she looked at him earlier?

Albrecht felt a complex mix of shame and anger.

He glared at Yurst with a dangerous expression.

However, when Charlotte’s indifferent gaze swept over, his fury was instantly quenched as if doused with cold water…

Calm down.

He must stay calm.

This terrifying ancestor was still present, he had to remain composed!

Albrecht tried to convince himself to stay calm.

Taking a deep breath, he suppressed his anger, then forced a smile and reported a family name.

“I am from the Mullins family. You can call me Albrecht de Mullins.”

It wasn’t a random name but one that truly existed.

Albrecht knew about tonight’s banquet at the Roman Palace from a young noble of the Mullins family who had received an invitation.

Of course, that young noble had already disappeared.

Albrecht had originally planned to assume his identity.

“The Mullins family of the Violet Duchy? But I recall that the Mullins family had already fallen. They only have a viscount title left, and the Mullins viscount should be quite old by now. It can’t be you.”

“You must be a regular family member, then?”

With that, Yurst shook his head, unabashedly displaying his disdain.

“I don’t know what the royal family was thinking, inviting just anyone to such an event.”

Albrecht: …

Yurst was about to continue his mockery when a servant approached, whispering something in his ear.

He raised an eyebrow, nodded to the servant.

“I understand. I’ll be there shortly.”

Then, he turned to Charlotte with a smile.

“Madam Castell, Prince Henry wishes to see the Starfall nobles. I’m going to check it out. Would you like to join me?”

Charlotte glanced at Albrecht and smiled.

“I still want to chat with this gentleman for a while. You go ahead. I’ll join you shortly.”

Yurst raised an eyebrow, looking at both of them with some surprise.

He didn’t insist, nodding and turning to leave.

However, before leaving, he glanced at Albrecht again, then whispered to Charlotte with a familiar tone.

“Madam Castell, it’s clear this insignificant person isn’t here with good intentions. While I’m sure you realize this, I still feel the need to mention it.”

“He’s not one of us, and engaging too much with such a character might undermine our dignity.”

Albrecht: …