The Shadow of the Crimson Raven
Christina Hailey was a clever woman.
She always kept her eyes gently closed, smiling faintly and exuding an air of kindness. In truth, Christina Hailey was indeed a gentle woman, but the fact that she was kind and benevolent stood in complete contrast to the reality that she was the capable daughter of the Count Hailey family.
She knew how to distinguish between right and wrong, and she was a capable noble.
When she saw the urgent report that had arrived from Tepes, she immediately went to find her eldest brother.
However, as expected, the answer from her stepbrother when she questioned him was exactly what she had anticipated.
“What? Tepes? I don’t know! That’s not your responsibility!”
“But Brother, the acting lord is you…”
“So what? Is it my fault?”
Christina realized that it was pointless to keep pressing the hot-tempered, indecisive stepbrother any further. Instead, she went to find the second brother.
“What? That’s convenient. That way you can get rid of your brother.”
“Even if you attract Tepes’ displeasure, what good will the countship do you, Brother? Please…”
“I’ll inherit the countship and figure it out on my own! Go away, you’re being noisy!”
Although they were twins, the second brother had always been jealous of the first because he had been born just a few minutes later and thus become the successor. So he saw this situation as his chance.
Unlike the stupid and incompetent twin brother, Christina was captivated by the confident look on the second brother’s face, as if he could accomplish anything if he tried. In the end, she gave up trying to persuade him.
Finally…
There was nothing she could possibly gain by going to her little sister. She decided to visit her new mother instead.
The new mother despised her, but Christina believed she would at least not reject her advice regarding the estate. So she went to find the new mother.
But the new mother did not even receive Christina at the door. Having been coldly rebuffed right at the threshold, she turned and walked away alone and desolate.
Her eyes felt as if they might fill with tears, but she managed to hold them back.
Her father’s retainers, who had supported her until now, and all the servants who still remained loyal to the Hailey family were still there.
For them, and for this estate, she swore she would protect it no matter what.
*
The day of the appointment arrived.
Christina and the retainers who had been running around in a flurry for the past few days to welcome Tepes gathered in the garden, their faces tense with nerves.
Silence fell. None of them dared to speak. They all felt the weight of the fact that the future of the Hailey estate hung in the balance.
Finally, the garden gate opened, and a carriage bearing a flag with a red crow against a black background rolled through the gates.
Although he had been loyal for a long time, this was no ordinary nobleman. He stood alone without any common marriage alliance, yet he was the most influential hidden power in the empire—the real mastermind who moved unseen behind the scenes.
Even in high society or among the central nobles, he had never once shown himself. Yet the very presence of the monster whose hand reached across the entire empire made Christina’s legs almost give out. She barely managed to steady herself.
*If I collapse here, it’s all over…!*
It was not only her. The retainers behind her felt the same.
Especially the captain of the Hailey Knights, who possessed the highest martial strength in this place.
*Unbelievable aura…! Even though he’s not even facing me directly, the pressure is this immense. It’s absurd…*
Because he was more sensitive than anyone else to the superiority of power, he forced his legs to hold steady and clenched his teeth until he nearly fainted.
It was possible only because he was a strict knight. If he had been even a little weak, he would have knelt.
With every gaze of the Hailey retainers fixed upon him, the carriage door opened.
And from it—
A shadow flowed out.
Like water dripping, a shadow—one that no one present dared to call anything other than shadow, darkness, or perhaps something even more ominous. With an endless darkness, a single man stepped down from the carriage.
Golden-blond hair, eyes like rubies—infinitely beautiful yet cold and emotionless, skin as pale and bloodless as death, and a sculpted face that could be said to belong to a man of unparalleled beauty.
No one here felt any affection for him.
It was pure, instinctive fear.
The prey facing the absolute predator.
How could any creature feel affection for the beast before it?
Christina could not meet his eyes.
“I welcome you.”
Even though everyone was trembling with fear, the man spoke calmly, as if it were nothing.
At the same time as he spoke, the shadows that had been wildly rampaging around them fell silent and gathered at his feet.
Only then did everyone feel as if they could breathe again…
That it was a being who could kill everything here at any moment, Christina thought, her voice faltering.
“I greet the empire’s greatest seven pillars, the eternal immortal Tepes.”
She trembled, but she acted with composure.
To show fear before this man would accomplish nothing. She had not sacrificed everything up to now just to break here.
So no matter how afraid she felt, she had to find a way to endure…
Fortunately, the man who could not read her thoughts—Lord Tepes—nodded.
“You are Christina Hailey, correct?”
“…Yes.”
Although the fact that such a giant knew her name made her spine chill, it was not an unbelievable revelation. She had learned it through prior investigation before the recent conflict. She bit her lower lip.
*I’m too afraid. Thinking about the meaning in detail only makes it harder for me…*
She forced herself to stay calm, but
“The late mother of the late Lord was a Liberian.”
“…!”
The words that followed struck Christina like a thunderbolt.
How…? Even if she investigated, that level of detail about her? Did she really need to memorize that?
She was the third daughter of the Hailey family and its eldest, neither acting lord nor a great knight, but simply a woman with a little magical talent.
“Why… me?”
The man’s words pierced her thoughts, as if he knew everything.
“That’s… me.”
She was about to answer when the man—someone who clearly knew everything—nodded without a single change in expression, as if he already knew.
“Let us speak inside.”
Christina had no choice but to nod…
*
He must have been terrified.
It was the impression she had gotten since arriving in the Hailey estate.
Not only the welcoming Christina Hailey, but also the retainers lined up behind her—all faces drained of color. The captain of the Knights looked as if he would collapse at any moment, blood trickling from the corner of his mouth as if he had bitten his tongue.
Since staying here would only frighten the others further, they decided to move the venue.
In any case, where were the other children of Count Hailey?
She roughly understood the situation. The Hailey estate was indeed one of the richest in the empire, with vast lands and a large population of citizens.
Thanks to that, branches of the adventurer guild, information guild, and magic tower had all been established here, right after the capital.
Especially the Church, which had built its largest temple outside the Holy Country’s Papal Headquarters as a symbol of harmony between humans and the divine.
Hmm. The highest-ranking temple in a vampire’s territory.
Ironically, vampires were not particularly vulnerable to demonic forces, nor were they known to have bad relations with the clergy, so it was understandable. There had been occasional border conflicts with other races a thousand years ago, but now there was nothing of the sort. Apparently, there was even a vampire archbishop.
Still, she had the memories of her previous life, so she felt a little out of place.
Anyway… The Christina Hailey she was facing now was quite beautiful. She was the kind of beauty one would want to forgive on sight.
Blue-straight hair, beautiful features, and squinty eyes with a voluptuous figure. According to the setting, she would later awaken her talent as a healer and become the next saint of the Church, playing a major role in the war against the Demon King.
Her uncle had already been caught, and her aunt was next… There was no law saying one couldn’t touch Christina.
Moreover, she was a friendly relative of the heroine, so if she could be of help, there was nothing wrong with that.
This was the kind of thing that made you look like a fool if you didn’t touch it.
Receiving guidance from Christina, she finished her self-justification and entered the reception room she had been led to, taking a seat.
The silence continued until the maid, who had brought the tea as if waiting for them, placed the cups in front of each person and left.
“I apologize for what happened this time.”
As expected, Christina spoke first.
Eyes gently closed—originally a squinty-eyed woman—while calmly explaining the chaotic situation of the Hailey family even to someone outside the family, she continued.
It was the beautiful, radiant presence of a woman who had lived with dignity and sincerity, even though she had been abandoned by her family.
“We cannot deny that we bear responsibility for this matter… We will take full responsibility on our side…”
“I have one request.”
“…Yes?”
And I had not come here to hear an explanation of this incident.
To be honest, I didn’t know exactly who Christina Hailey was. All I knew from the roughly 19+ GL novel I had read was her general appearance and setting.
She was just a supporting character who had appeared as the virtuous lead—nothing more.
That was why I had come, thinking that creating some kind of connection would be nice.
Unexpectedly, her bearing was bold, dignified, and composed, yet she looked so fragile and delicate that she might break like a flower—
I genuinely wanted her.
So.
“I will save your father.”
“…!”
“One condition.”
Blood Contract.
In exchange for everything she wanted to protect—her father, the retainers, the estate—she would take everything from her.
+++++
Christina Hailey
Strength ▶ 31 Agility ▶ 24 Constitution ▶ 45 Endurance ▶ 33 Magic Power ▶ 66
Characteristics: 「Noble」, 「Water Blessing」, 「Healing」
Unique Trait: 「Lady of the Lake」