Lortell sat alone in her dimly lit room, her fingers delicately holding three clear, round stones and two small, square, grey stones that resembled little cement blocks. The weight of her thoughts seemed to match the stones in her hands as she studied them closely, her brow furrowed in deep contemplation.
"I have two 'Week Eraser Essence Stones' and three 'Liar Essence Stones,'" she murmured, her voice tinged with dissatisfaction. "But this isn't enough."
She sighed heavily, the sound filled with frustration. The Week Eraser Essence Stone was a rank D stone, appearing as a crystal-clear orb that could erase the memory of someone for the past seven days. The Liar Essence Stone, a rank C stone, was small and grey, resembling a tiny brick of cement, capable of making someone believe any lie told to them. Both were expendable essence stones, meant to be used once before vanishing into nothingness. The advantage was that they required no refining; a simple infusion of mana would activate them.
"If I merge two Week Eraser Essence Stone with one Liar Essence Stone, I'll get a Rank C Brainwash Essence Stone," Lortell calculated, her eyes narrowing with a mix of ambition and unease. "With that, I could brainwash Esdeath's parents, make them forget they ever had a daughter, or even convince them to send her to my palace... Yes, that should do it."
But doubt flickered in her mind, casting a shadow over her determined thoughts. "But what about Esdeath?" she whispered, her heart suddenly heavy. "I haven't even told her that I love her. Does she love me too, or is she just being nice? She's barely eight years old…"
Her mind raced with conflicting emotions. She could feel the obsessive pull tightening around her heart. "I'll have to make two Brainwash Essence Stones," she decided, her tone resolute. "One for her parents, and one for Esdeath herself. That way, she'll belong to me and only me." A satisfied smile curled her lips as she envisioned the future she desired.
But the smile faded quickly as another problem presented itself. "I'll need another Week Eraser Essence Stone for that... Where do I get it?" She frowned, realizing the limitations of her resources. Being the daughter of an arch-duke had its perks; she had access to these rare mind-manipulating essence stones that most politicians used to control and deceive others. But finding another stone would be difficult, especially one that could protect against similar manipulations. But that wasn't the main point, Main point is she isn't at palace anymore, if she wants another essence stone then she'll have to get by herself, Of course she can't tell anyone about this either.
Her thoughts darkened as the most challenging question arose. "Lorraine..." Lortell whispered the name with a mix of dread and irritation. "What about her? She's a B-rank Awakened. This Rank C Brainwash Stone or the Rank D Week Eraser won't work on her. And if I try to kill her, I might cause a ruckus... I can't afford that."
The room seemed to close in around her as Lortell considered her options. Her mind was a storm of fear, obsession, and ruthless calculation. Every plan had its risks, and every risk brought her closer to danger. But the thought of losing Esdeath, of not making her entirely hers, was unbearable.
Lortell exhaled deeply, feeling the weight of her thoughts fade away as she stretched her arms above her head. "Let's forget it for now," she murmured to herself, letting the tension in her muscles release. "I'll think about it tomorrow."
At that moment, the door creaked open, and Esdeath stepped inside, carrying a tray of food. Lortell hadn't bothered to go for breakfast, lunch, or dinner today, so it had become routine for Esdeath to deliver her meals directly to her room. Esdeath's gaze was fixed on the ground, her steps hesitant and nervous. She had recently discovered that Lortell was a vampire, a revelation that would terrify even the bravest warrior. But while Esdeath hadn't screamed or run away, the fear still lingered in her heart.
Esdeath stood there, unsure of how to start. The silence between them was thick with unspoken words, her mind racing to find the right thing to say. But before she could gather her thoughts, Lortell made the first move.
Lortell got out of bed, her movements graceful and deliberate. She walked over to Esdeath, took the plate from her hands, and set it down on the nearby table without a word. Then, without warning, she wrapped her arms around Esdeath from behind, pulling her close. Lortell leaned in, her breath warm against Esdeath's ear, sending a shiver down her spine.
"I don't need to eat that," Lortell whispered, her voice low and filled with a strange hunger. Her crimson eyes glowed faintly in the dim light. "Today, my meal is you."
Before Esdeath could react, Lortell leaned in, her breath brushing against Esdeath's skin. She slipped her right leg between Esdeath's thighs, closing the distance between them even more. Her mouth opened, and two sharp fangs gleamed under the soft glow of the lantern. Without warning, she bit into Esdeath's neck.
"Ahh..." Esdeath let out a soft moan, her body trembling slightly. A strange sensation rushed through her — her skin felt hot, like it was burning, and at the same time, a chill spread down her spine. Her heart beat faster. She didn't understand what was happening, but she couldn't push Lortell away.
Lortell sucked slowly, her lips pressing deeply against Esdeath's neck, tasting the warm, rich blood. She finally pulled back with a sharp gasp, panting like someone who had just taken a breath after drowning. Her lips were stained red, and her face looked flushed with pleasure.
"S-So good..." she breathed out, her eyes dazed. "You are the best, Esdeath!"
With sudden strength, she wrapped her arms around Esdeath's waist and lifted her up gently, carrying her like a princess. Esdeath's small arms hung loosely, her body feeling strangely light as Lortell placed her carefully onto the bed.
For two long years, Lortell had been fighting her vampire instincts. She hated blood. Every time she tried to drink it, no matter who it came from, it made her sick. The taste, the smell—it all disgusted her. But Esdeath's blood… it was different. Sweet. Addicting. Like a forbidden fruit she never wanted to let go of.
Lortell brushed Esdeath's hair away from her face and looked into her half-lidded eyes. "You have to keep this a secret, alright? Can you do that for me?"
Esdeath blinked slowly, her lips pale. She nodded weakly. "I don't know what's going on… but it's my lady's order. I'll try my best."
Lortell's lips curved into a soft smile. She climbed on top of Esdeath, her hands resting beside her head. "Good… But don't call me 'my lady' anymore. Call me Lortell. We're lovers now."
"Lovers…?" Esdeath whispered, her voice barely a breath.
"Yes," Lortell replied, leaning close to her ear. "You are my most precious person now. I'm never going to let go of you."
Then, without waiting for an answer, she leaned in again. "Don't worry. I'm going to heal you. Just let me suck your blood… until I'm satisfied."
She bit down once more.
Esdeath's body jerked slightly as the fangs sank in again. Her little hands gripped the bedsheets tightly. Warmth left her body with every pull of blood, and even though Lortell used her healing magic from time to time, the pain never truly stopped.
Minutes passed. Maybe more. Esdeath's soft moans turned into low groans. Her lips were dry. Her cheeks lost color. Her breathing was shallow. Her eyelids fluttered like they were too heavy to keep open. It felt like all the strength, all the energy inside her, was slipping away.
Still, Lortell didn't stop. Her eyes were glazed with desire. Her hands trembled, but she held Esdeath tightly, lost in her hunger. She didn't hear Esdeath's groans. She didn't see the tears forming at the corners of her eyes.
Right now, she was no longer a noble lady. She wasn't even a vampire who hated blood. She was a monster, and Esdeath was her prey.
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Lortell had lost track of how long she'd been ravaging Esdeath, but finally, she stopped. They both collapsed onto the bed, their bodies exhausted. Lortell lay back, her breathing steady as she looked at Esdeath, who curled up beside her like a helpless child. Esdeath's eyes fluttered shut, her face peaceful, as she nestled close to Lortell's chest, the two of them wrapped together in the same milky white sheets, almost like a husband and wife.
"I should make this day memorable," Lortell thought, a wicked smile playing on her lips. She raised one hand, murmuring, "Photo-Audio Magic."
"Chtick..."
A small sound echoed in the room as a magical photo was taken, capturing the intimate moment. Lortell made a playful pose, sticking out her tongue and licking Esdeath's cheek, a silent declaration that Esdeath's body now belonged to her, completely and utterly.
Just as Lortell thought everything was going perfectly, she saw the photo that she took herself and was shocked to the core.
Because, Lortell had blood dropping down from her mouth like a blood sucking monster.
The photo wasn't showing a bond between her and Esdeath but a bond between a monster and prey.
Lortell's eyes widened as she finally came to realisation and remembered what exactly she done. She looked at unconscious esdeath and at her hands, Who were also in bathed in blood became of just how much blood she sucked.
"N-no, What have I done?",
And at that moment her luck suddenly ran out. The door swung open with a loud crash, and there, standing in the doorway, were Esdeath's mother and father, with Lorraine, the head maid, beside them. They had followed the sounds of moaning, curious and concerned, only to find their daughter lying in bed, ravaged by none other than Lortell, the Archduke's daughter.
For a moment, the room was filled with a heavy, suffocating silence. The shock on Esdeath's parents' faces quickly twisted into something far darker. Rage. Pure, unfiltered rage.
Esdeath's mother's eyes burned with fury, her hands trembling as she took in the sight before her.
Esdeath's father clenched his fists, his knuckles white as he struggled to contain the anger boiling inside him. His daughter, his precious little girl, had been defiled in a way that no parent could forgive easily. The trust they had in Lortell, in the Archduke's family, was now broken. How could she do something so reckless, so selfish?
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