Only ten days left before departure. Sylvia curled up on the soft cushion by the window, clutching the Imperial Culinary Compendium.
Outside, a cacophony of noise filled the air. The servants dragged luggage down the stone steps with clattering sounds.
Craftsmen hammered and inspected equipment, while officers shouted orders to coordinate the personnel.
Everyone was running around busily preparing for this diplomatic visit.
Sylvia sighed and closed her book.
“By the way, what are we taking to get there?”
She suddenly remembered the question, setting the book aside as she walked toward the door.
“Your Highness, are you referring to the mode of transportation?” the head maid asked, pausing for a moment.
“Yes, like a carriage,” Sylvia nodded, a faint glimmer of hope in her eyes.
“The smaller, the better. Enclosed, opaque—the kind that doesn’t let any light through.”
Her idea was simple.
Since there was no escaping, she might as well pretend to sleep the entire time.
Once they arrived, her mother and sister would handle everything; she just had to lie low.
Preferably a worn-out little carriage.
A bumpy ride didn’t matter; as long as it could completely hide her.
“I understand! I’ll report this immediately!”
The head maid’s eyes lit up, and she dashed out excitedly.
As she ran, her heart stirred wildly:
“Oh my! The princess is truly unfathomable!”
“‘Small, enclosed, opaque.’”
“That can’t be literal!”
“It’s a test!”
“She’s hinting with the simplest words that what she really needs is a carriage that ‘hides’ her noble status and manifests greatness silently!”
“Ordinary luxury just won’t do!”
“I get it now—this tests our insight as her servants!”
Satisfied, Sylvia returned to the window. A small carriage would be perfect. She could curl up inside, cover her head with a blanket, and no one would see her.
It’d be even better with some small snacks and tea. Eat, drink, and sleep all the way—before she knew it, they’d have arrived.
Thinking of this, Sylvia’s mood brightened a little.
Half an hour later, Avira burst into the room.
“Sis! I heard you want a carriage?” Avira’s blood-red eyes burned with excitement.
“Yeah, a small one,” Sylvia nodded with anticipation in her voice.
“Do you think that’s okay?”
“A small carriage?” Avira’s eyes widened, her expression instantly shocked. “That won’t do at all!”
Sylvia’s heart sank with a foreboding feeling. “Why not?”
“Think about it. Besides being bumpy, it’s vulnerable to attacks!” Avira waved her hands excitedly.
“If someone dares to make a move along the way, a small carriage won’t protect you!”
Sylvia wanted to say she didn’t need protection. But the words caught in her throat.
There was no point arguing; her sister would definitely have a whole set of counterarguments.
“Besides, a small carriage is too shabby!” Avira’s analysis grew more passionate. “We’re going on a friendly visit, not begging for alms!”
“Imagine what those humans would think if they saw the vampire royal family riding in a broken carriage?”
“They’d definitely think we’re declining—and get some bad ideas!”
“But I think something simple is better…”
Sylvia made her last plea, her voice growing faint. “Sis, you’re being modest again!”
Avira’s eyes sparkled as if she had discovered a world-shattering secret. “I know what you mean!”
“What do you mean?” Sylvia’s alarm bells rang loudly as she instinctively took a step back.
“You think ordinary transportation isn’t worthy of your status, right?”
Avira analyzed excitedly, practically glowing. “You need a high-class carriage that’s safe, grand, and where you can rest at any time!”
“Yes, yes! It has to be impressive enough that those humans instantly know how formidable my sister is!”
Sylvia opened her mouth to refute.
“Leave it to me!” Avira had already turned and was running out, her voice echoing down the corridor.
“I promise to get you an unprecedented carriage!”
“Wait! I really just want a small carriage…”
Sylvia’s voice was swallowed by the closing door.
She collapsed hopelessly into a chair, clutching her head.
It was over—she’d been misunderstood again.
With her sister’s way of thinking, she was bound to come up with something earth-shatteringly extravagant.
***
After leaving the room, Avira headed straight for the Lazarus clan’s estate.
She planned excitedly all the way.
The Lazarus clan was renowned for necromancy and resurrection magic, the empire’s top skeletal craftsmen.
They could craft powerful magical constructs from various creatures’ bones.
“Is Grand Duke Fenris here?” Avira kicked open the heavy iron door.
The door slammed against the wall with a thunderous bang, shaking the entire estate.
“Your Highness, the Crown Princess!” Fenris Lazarus hurried out.
The tall, slender duke spent most of his time dealing with the dead.
At that moment, his eyes burned with fanatic fervor.
“I need you to make a carriage.” Avira spoke plainly, her voice carrying undeniable authority. “For my sister.”
Fenris’s eyes immediately brightened, his whole body trembling.
“What are your requirements?”
“Unprecedented luxury! Unparalleled grandeur!” Avira gestured excitedly, her blood-red eyes flashing with dangerous light.
“It has to make those humans kneel in fear just by seeing it!”
“Preferably the kind that shocks the entire scene upon appearance!”
“Understood!” Fenris trembled with excitement, his voice changed pitch.
To make a carriage for the little princess was the highest honor!
“Will three days be enough?”
Avira asked, her tone full of anticipation.
“Enough! I’m summoning all our clan’s craftsmen immediately!”
Fenris pounded his chest in guarantee, eyes gleaming with madness.
“I promise you’ll be satisfied!”
Avira left, already eager for her sister’s reaction to the gift.
The Lazarus clan’s workshop erupted instantly. “Summon everyone! Stop all work!”
Fenris shouted through the communication crystal, his voice echoing through the clan.
“We’re making a carriage for the little princess!”
The craftsmen went wild.
This was the highest-level commission they’d ever received.
Everyone dropped their work and rushed madly to the main workshop.
“What bones should we use?”
The head craftsman wiped away excited sweat and asked.
“Obviously the best!”
Fenris’s eyes blazed with fanatic fire.
“Go to the warehouse and bring out the ‘Eternal Overlord’ skeleton!”
The craftsmen gasped.
The Eternal Overlord was a prehistoric giant from ancient times, hundreds of meters long, with bones as hard as legendary metals.
This skeleton was the clan’s priceless treasure.
“Duke, isn’t this too precious?”
The adjutant cautiously reminded, voice trembling.
“Precious?” Fenris shot him a cold glare.
“For the little princess’s carriage, no material is too precious!”
“Start immediately! I want this skeleton reborn!”
The craftsmen began their furious work.
They engraved anti-gravity runes on the giant bones.
Installed spatial stabilization devices and arranged all kinds of comfort and safety magic.
Every detail was meticulously crafted, every rune carefully checked.
“What about the draft animals?”
Someone panted and asked.
“Bone dragons! Twelve bone dragons!”
Fenris waved his hand wildly, voice fanatical.
“The most majestic ones! Their eye sockets must burn with eternal soul fire!”
“Interior decoration?”
“The most luxurious! Use the best of everything!”
Fenris was completely mad, his eyes bloodshot.
“Moonlight pool, study, bedroom, living room—nothing can be left out!”
“And also a tea room, bath, and observation deck!”
***
After three days and nights, a terrifying creation appeared in the palace square. It was a moving palace made from the complete skeleton of an ancient giant beast.
Hundreds of meters of bone shimmered with eerie blue magical light. Every bone radiated ancient majesty.
Twelve bone dragons lined up in front, each the size of a house. Their eye sockets burned with eerie green eternal soul fire. The aura of death surged like a tide.
Inside, the skeleton was transformed into a luxurious suite. The floor paved with moonlight stones gave off a gentle glow. Furniture forged from starlight iron gleamed with silver luster.
There was even a real moonlight pool, its waters shimmering. The study was filled with precious tomes. The bedroom’s bed was ten times more comfortable than Sylvia’s own.
The whole creation exuded an intense deathly aura and royal majesty. Even standing still, it induced suffocating fear.
“Finished!” Fenris proudly reported, his voice trembling.
“This is the greatest work in our clan’s history!” Avira circled the carriage, growing more and more pleased.
“Great! Sister will definitely love it!” She clapped excitedly, her blood-red eyes sparkling.
“Hurry and call her to see it!”
Sylvia was reading in her room when she suddenly heard urgent knocks.
“Your Highness, your carriage is ready!” The head maid reported excitedly, unable to contain her excitement.
“Crown Princess, please come and see!”
Sylvia put down her book. A strong sense of unease surged within her. She walked slowly to the door. Each step heavy and reluctant. Her footsteps echoed through the corridor.
When she saw the terrifying creation in the square, she froze. This a carriage? It was clearly a mobile grim reaper’s palace!
The twelve bone dragons’ eye sockets burned with eerie green flames. Runes on the giant skeleton flickered with ominous light.
The oppressive aura it gave off was a thousand times more exaggerated than the human pope’s holy carriage.
“Sis!” Avira bounced over, excited like a child.
“So? Do you like it?”
Sylvia’s face turned pale, her body shaky. She felt as if her blood was flowing backward; her legs went weak. “T-this… you call this a small carriage?” Her voice was a faint mosquito buzz, filled with despair.
“Of course not a small carriage!” Avira crossed her arms proudly, eyes shining with pride. “A small carriage is too shabby; this is what suits your status!”
Sylvia grasped the doorframe, feeling the world spin. She only wanted a broken carriage to hide inside.
Instead, she got a terrifying moving fortress. If they took this to Dawn City, forget friendly visits.
Humans would think the vampires were launching an apocalyptic war. Just as she was about to faint, warm arms embraced her.
“Don’t be afraid.” Ophelia’s voice whispered gently in her ear, soothing and reassuring.
“These bones are very sturdy.”
“Mother cast an eternal tranquility barrier inside.”
“There won’t be any bumps or noise.”
“And inside, there’s a moonlight pool and study.” Ophelia gently stroked her hair with extreme tenderness. “You can bathe and read on the way. It won’t be boring.”
Avira nodded crazily beside her. “Exactly, exactly! Sis, look!” “Now you can travel in comfort!”
“No more worrying about the hardship of the journey!”
“And you can bathe anytime, how cozy is that!”
Sylvia lay in her mother’s arms. Listening to her sister’s words, her heart screamed in despair.
I beg you… I really just want to ride in a small broken carriage!
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