Chapter 33 - I Refuse To Submit Until… [1]
"...Excuse me," I said, blinking in confusion.
"I think I heard something wrong."
For the first time since appearing, the woman’s flawless expression cracked.
A faint blush spread across her pale cheeks, as though she had only just realized what she had said.
The embarrassment lasted only a second.
Then she suddenly clutched her head.
"...Ngh."
The pressure filling the chamber fluctuated violently.
Two elegant black horns slowly emerged from her forehead, curving backward like a crown.
At the same time, her crimson eyes gradually shifted into a deep violet.
"..."
I could only stare at her blankly.
A moment ago she had looked like vampire royalty.
Now, she looked like a demon.
The woman lowered her hand and frowned.
"Ah...! I remember."
Her gaze slowly swept across the shattered place and the broken magic circles around the coffin.
The instant she understood what had happened, her expression turned cold.
An overwhelming pressure flooded the room.
And even I was forced onto one knee.
"So those bastards were farming me for elixirs." Her voice was calm, but every word carried terrifying anger.
"How dare you?!"
She casually pointed a finger.
Pop.
Patricia’s younger brother’s head exploded.
His body dissolved into blood mist before disappearing completely and the blood merged with her making her stronger.
Then she looked toward the berserk vampire.
He suffered the same fate.
The giant bat followed immediately after.
Neither of them had the slightest chance to resist.
Silence filled the chamber.
Only three of us remained alive.
Me, the guard and the other vampire.
The woman turned toward the remaining two.
"From this moment onward, you are my slaves for eternity."
The words weren’t loud, yet they carried absolute authority as both of them instantly fell to their knees.
Their expressions became vacant before changing into complete devotion.
"Yes, Your Highness."
My scalp tingled.
She had not even hypnotized them, it looked like she had simply overwritten their will.
Then she appeared in front of me.
I did not even see her move.
Her violet eyes carefully examined me, as though I were some priceless treasure she had unexpectedly discovered.
"Hm... such potential. You really are a special one." A small smile appeared on her face.
"I won’t make you my slave."
That didn’t reassure me at all.
"W-Who are you?" I asked.
Inside, I was already cursing.
’That damn novel was completely unreliable.’
There had never been any mention of someone like her.
The coffin was supposed to contain a corpse.
Not whatever this existence was.
She smiled, seemingly pleased by the question.
"I’ve been waiting for you to ask that, your first question was rather strange."
She let out a soft laugh before straightening her posture.
"I am the noblest among the nobles, the bearer of three supreme bloodlines." Her voice carried effortless pride.
"My name is Ysvéra d’Arvonne Beaumonté."
The name sounded strange yet powerful.
I forced an awkward smile.
"If you’re truly the noblest among nobles, then surely someone as generous as you can spare an insignificant human like me?"
She laughed.
"What are you talking about, human? Didn’t you hear me earlier? I said I wouldn’t make you my slave."
Hope rose for a brief moment before she continued.
"But that doesn’t mean I’ll let you leave."
She slowly walked closer until barely a step separated us.
"You possess an extraordinary potential to become a star, it would be a terrible waste not to take you for myself."
She leaned toward my ear.
I was waiting for that moment as I swung my sword.
There wasn’t a shred of hesitation.
If there was even the smallest chance.
I would take it.
But the blade stopped halfway, not because she blocked it.
But because my body simply refused to move.
She glanced at me as I stood frozen before smiling.
"A rebellious one, how cute~" She giggled.
’Damn it!’
Every plan I had made over had already fallen apart.
First it was the bat and now this monster.
She lightly brushed a finger across my hair.
"Don’t worry. I will give you everything a human could desire – wealth, power, knowledge and even the greatest of pleasures. After all, you will need to become much stronger for my sake."
She looked directly into my eyes.
"But I’m not unreasonable. I’ll even give you a chance."
Her smile widened.
"Tell me, do you dare wager your life on it?"
Instead of answering immediately, I glanced toward the corridor.
"P-People will be here soon. The fighting and explosions definitely alerted the rest of the mansion."
She looked completely unconcerned.
"As though they could threaten me."
After a brief pause, she smiled mischievously.
"Perhaps I should make you my slave after all."
"I will do it, I will bet my life." I answered without hesitation.
"Great."
I wanted to curse my past self.
Everything had gone exactly according to plan.
Until reality face slapped me once again.
’Damn this unpredictable world!’
Ysvéra raised her hand and cut her palm with a fingernail.
Dark crimson blood floated into the air and instead of falling, it formed an intricate magic circle.
She began chanting in an unfamiliar language.
The crimson circle slowly split into black and white halves.
"Place your blood on the white side and you will have an equal chance," she said with complete confidence.
The confidence in her voice told me everything.
Either this was a trap, or, whatever lay ahead was something she believed I had almost no chance of overcoming.
I didn’t have much of a choice.
Become her slave.
Die.
Or gamble everything.
’Fuck!’
I felt like crying but there was no point now.
I lightly cut my palm with my sword and let a single drop of blood fall onto the white half of the magic circle.
The formation immediately lit up.
My consciousness rapidly faded.
The last thing I saw was Ysvéra smiling as she wrapped an arm around my shoulder.
Then, her fangs pierced my neck.
And everything went dark.