"Here, put strength in your waist."

"Slowly, squat down."

Pricis's flushed cheeks resembled a ripe apple as she squatted down following the instructions.

She occasionally glanced back secretly at Viktor behind her.

"M-Mage sir, is this enough?"

"I can... barely hold on anymore."

Pricis squeezed these few words from her throat, as if using all her strength, with great difficulty.

The next second, a hand rested on her shoulder, patting it gently.

"That's enough."

Pricis hurriedly stood up, twisting her neck.

She rubbed her sore waist while pounding her aching legs.

This soreness was almost unbearable.

The horse stance was just too exhausting.

Pricis panted heavily, leaning against the pillar behind her, weakly stretching.

Listening to her bones cracking, it seemed as if all the fatigue in her body dissipated at once.

Viktor stood behind Pricis, looking at the pocket watch in his hand, letting out a light sigh.

"Forty-eight seconds, three seconds longer than before. That's progress."

Pricis's cheeks were still flushed. Hearing she had made progress, a smile climbed onto her face.

Her crimson eyes looked expectantly at Viktor, as if waiting for praise for her improvement.

"But you're still the worst performer."

Hearing this, Pricis immediately lowered her head in disappointment.

She did want to compare herself with others, but her physical condition wouldn't allow it.

She tilted her head to look beside her.

Two tiger people stood with their hands on their waists, legs straight, forming a 90-degree angle, holding the horse stance firmly on the ground.

Their breathing was steady, and not even a drop of sweat could be seen on their faces.

Pricis was a bit confused.

Could it be possible that because they were tiger people, they didn't sweat on their foreheads?

However, these two tiger people had been maintaining this posture without moving since early morning.

It was already noon, and they were still maintaining their current position.

At this point, Pricis secretly glanced at Aurelianne on the other side.

After training, she could also endure for a long time.

However, she naturally didn't need to train in horse stance exercises.

After all, their styles were different.

At this moment, Aurelianne was repeatedly practicing sword swings.

From morning until now.

Repeating over and over again.

Sweat continuously sprayed from her body, even soaking through her thick clothes.

Sticking to her body, it seemed almost transparent enough to see through.

Pricis dared not continue looking carefully, hurriedly turning her head back to look at Viktor's calm face:

"M-Mage sir."

"Why do I have to practice this?"

Viktor glanced at Pricis's crimson eyes and began to explain:

"To make you a warrior."

"A warrior?"

Pricis was stunned by this term.

It was her first time hearing about this... profession?

Viktor's gaze wandered over her, examining Pricis's body.

Although Pricis's mentality remained that of a seventeen-year-old minor girl.

Over the years, her body hadn't stopped growing normally.

Her body had already matured fully, with nothing lacking in places that should have developed.

She could already be considered a legal young woman.

So becoming a warrior at this point was rather difficult.

However, she was the most perfect vampire created from a million fresh blood sacrifices by Laurien's death.

As a result, her body was extremely powerful, even to an unbelievable extent.

But she had a major flaw, which was exposed at the bottom level of Guanta Prison.

That was insufficient endurance.

Her bloodline was too perfect, giving Pricis powerful strength and self-healing abilities, but her body couldn't fully bear it yet.

This prevented her from fully unleashing her power.

She needed to take it slow, gradually guiding out her body's power through constant fighting and practice.

Viktor's original intention was to have Pricis interact more with warriors for joint training, to enhance her somewhat fragile endurance.

Among countless professions, warrior was undoubtedly the most suitable for her.

Because any warrior needed to practice 'qi cultivation' daily.

Absorbing life energy from the natural environment to nourish oneself and maintain blood supply.

For Pricis, a vampire, the warrior profession that could replenish blood energy was most suitable for her.

It could also train Pricis's endurance at the same time.

Pricis asked in confusion:

"Then... what level do I need to train to?"

Viktor pondered her question briefly:

"About the level of those two would be sufficient."

"Huh?"

She looked at the two tiger people who remained unmoved, maintaining their posture, showing fear on her face, unconsciously keeping distance from them.

Pricis regretted it.

Let alone a whole morning, even forty seconds made her feel sore all over, wishing she could collapse onto a bed the next second.

Training to the level where the two tiger people could stand all morning, how long would that take?

But that wasn't all; Viktor continued to add:

"Of course, what you need to practice isn't just this."

He continued calmly,

"I'll leave one of the tiger people behind. She will protect your safety and serve as your teacher, supervising your daily practice."

As his words fell, the female tiger person who was in the horse stance stopped her movement and walked to Viktor's side.

She stood in front of Pricis, clasped her hands, and bowed to her.

Pricis opened her eyes, slightly stunned, her thoughts scattered.

She hurriedly raised her head to look at Viktor:

"Mage sir, are you... leaving?"

Viktor nodded calmly.

"I am from the Empire, naturally I cannot stay in the kingdom for long."

Pricis instinctively moved closer, hurriedly saying:

"Then can I follow you..."

Suddenly, Viktor raised his hand, his fingertip gently pressing against her forehead.

Pricis looked at him in confusion, but the next second.

Bang!

A crisp sound rang out as Viktor maintained his flicking gesture.

"Ow."

Pricis felt extreme pain, covering her head, her eye sockets turning red.

Even tears flowed out due to the pain.

A question flashed through her mind.

How could Viktor, who was clearly a mage, have such strength...

Before she could react, Viktor calmly said:

"Now you know it hurts?"

Pricis endured the pain without speaking, her mouth puffing up in a pout due to her sulking.

"First, even setting aside your kingdom identity, you are still a lord."

"The people of Shulbon need you. If you leave, who will continue to manage Shulbon?"

"All the efforts your father made in his lifetime would be wasted."

Pricis listened, still covering her head, her eyebrows lowered, her expression dim.

At the mention of her father, Pricis would become silent.

Her parents were her lifelong pain; she couldn't ignore their sacrifice.

That was love solely to keep her in this world.

"Princess, Count Viktor."

At this moment, a voice came from behind Viktor.

He turned to look, and a group of people were walking towards them.

Leading the group was Gwen, with twelve diplomatic envoys behind her.

They called out to Viktor, reporting to him and the princess:

"The magic train arrives tonight. If we want to leave today, we need to head to Shulbon now."

Hearing the diplomatic minister's words, Aurelianne put down the blade in her hand.

Her finger gently traced through the air, accompanied by the flow of magic, a cleansing spell wiped away all the sweat from her body and clothes.

Since she could control necromancy well, Teacher Viktor no longer stopped her from using magic.

The remaining tiger person also recovered from the horse stance state and bowed to Viktor.

Vanilla also carried heavy luggage, following behind Aurelianne.

Finally, Viktor looked at Pricis, who was lowering her head, and slowly spoke:

"Let's go."

"You and I, we should both go home."

...

At this time, the night was deep, stars adorning the sky.

In front of the train platform, twelve ministers gazed at the kingdom's night, immersed in reflection.

This time they left the kingdom, no one came to see them off.

Yesterday, the diplomatic ministers had already said goodbye to the kingdom's nobles.

They still remembered when they first arrived at Kanter Kingdom this year, the lively welcoming party, including Count Laurien.

Especially lively.

But now, they were leaving.

In just a month's time, everything had changed.

Count Laurien had left this world.

Who could have imagined?

Count Laurien was actually a vampire.

Inevitably, everyone's heart carried a bit more worry.

But more than that was happiness.

The annual business trip was finally over, and they could rest for a long time afterward.

Hiss—

A sound of steam bursting came from in front of the platform, and magical tracks of unusual color appeared under the night sky.

The train doors slowly opened, bright light emanating from the carriages, illuminating the people shrouded in darkness.

The knights and the non-human guards Viktor brought were all arranged in two lines, boarding the train one after another.

The last few knights were leading horses towards the last few carriages.

Gwen slowly turned her head, glancing at Viktor and the young woman with the same blood-colored eyes.

Then, she turned and boarded the carriage first.

Pricis stood in front of Viktor, and behind her, the female tiger person obediently stood.

"Hold out your hand."

She was stunned for a moment, seemingly reluctant, but still obediently extended her hand.

Then, a brilliantly golden card appeared in her hand.

She looked at this gold card with surprise.

Because it was engraved with the 'Casidra Guild' logo.

"There's a hundred million in here, kept with you."

"Bishop Mikaela has a group of non-humans that need support, and with her economic resources, she can't raise those non-humans."

"One can't do it alone. Remember, they will be your strength."

Pricis listened to Viktor's instructions, nodding slightly, gripping the gold card, watching Viktor gradually leave.

That black coat reflected in her blood-colored eyes, seeming particularly distant.

Pricis opened her mouth:

"Fath..."

She wanted to ask if they would meet again.

However, in the end, she couldn't call out these words.

The card in her hand seemed to still carry Viktor's residual warmth.

Until Viktor, as the last person, boarded the train, and the train slowly began to move.

Below, the magical tracks began to extend again, filling the air with a path of unusual magical energy.

The train emitted a white steam, and the long train followed the tracks, wheels rolling, gradually ascending into the sky.

Pricis looked towards the sky, her eyes reflecting the unusual light.

Suddenly, a breeze stirred beside her.

Pricis keenly noticed it and turned to look.

She was startled.

"Grand... Grand Duke."

Grand Duke Balo was standing beside her, leaning on his cane.

When did the Grand Duke arrive?

So, he also came to see them off?

At this moment, the Grand Duke's cloudy eyes trembled slightly as he gazed at the train.

As if reminiscing, yet silent.

He slowly spoke again, asking Pricis beside him:

"Why didn't you say those words?"

"Those words...?"

Pricis pondered briefly, then shook her head.

"I felt a bit reluctant."

The breeze stirred, lifting Pricis's silver long hair,

The starlight in the night sky twinkled, seeming to illuminate her hair with extraordinary brilliance.

The unusual light in her crimson eyes gradually faded away, the bright moon reflected in her eyes, very peaceful.

Stars hung above everyone's heads, gradually shifting with the breeze.

"And a bit unwilling."

"""

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