Vlad withdrew his gaze, blinking tiredly before turning to the eight-foot-tall girl who was still kneeling in prayer.
A flicker of doubt crossed his eyes.
When he listened more closely, he realized the girl wasn't reciting a prayer at all—she was talking to the statue in front of her.
The scene made Vlad raise an eyebrow in surprise.
This girl is truly strange…
But after hearing her whispered words from beginning to end, he understood: she suffered from a deep sense of inferiority because of her unusual height and physique.
Because of this, she had very few friends. Even those who befriended her often kept their distance, alienating her for looking different.
Her insecurity ran so deep that she rarely left her room, fearing hostile stares or strange looks from others.
That explained her snow-pale skin… and why she spent her time speaking to a lifeless statue.
Hearing all this, Vlad sighed quietly, a touch of pity forming for her.
"Who's there~!" a faint, weak voice suddenly called out.
The girl's face turned pale as she looked toward the window.
Given that she lived in the third-floor room of a castle—more than ten meters above the ground—it should have been impossible for anyone to be outside.
Vlad glanced at the trembling girl. Her voluptuous figure shook with fear, and she clutched the demon statue tightly, holding it aloft as if it could protect her.
He said evenly, "Girl, haven't you been talking to me this whole time?"
At his words, she startled and dropped the statue.
When the fallen sculpture began to emit a faint glow, the eight-foot-tall girl froze in place, her panic fading into hesitant realization.
"You… are you speaking to me again?" she asked in a trembling voice. Her arms instinctively crossed over her chest, as though to contain the curves that strained against her clothes, making her white peaks seem even more prominent.
Vlad's gaze lingered briefly; her proportions were near the limits of human beauty.
"Girl, I am a god born of blood and fire, the one who brings both rebirth and destruction to the world. Your devotion has moved me. I pity you, and I grant you the power to banish the darkness."
Vlad's tone was smooth, confident—without asking for a thing in return, he spun a tale for the clearly innocent girl.
She looked at the glowing statue with awe. Her imagination filled in the rest, and she believed his every word.
Hastily, she lifted the statue and set it back upon the table as if it were a sacred treasure.
Her eyes glimmered with hope. "Can you really help me fulfill my wish~?"
"Of course. I am an all-powerful god. Serve me with all your heart, believe in me, and I will make any wish of yours come true."
A strange red light passed through Vlad's eyes, his voice rich with temptation.
As he opened the window, a wisp of cold night air drifted inside.
The girl suddenly saw a handsome man standing before her.
She gasped, ready to scream—but the stranger spoke in a familiar voice.
"Girl, don't you recognize me so quickly~?"
At that moment, she understood.
"You… no… you're the God of Blood and Fire!?" Her lips parted in shock.
"Yes. I am the God of Blood and Fire, Vlad Dracula. And as my most loyal believer, I have come to you in person."
"Oh my God… I am truly your most loyal believer. I'm so happy!" She covered her mouth, hardly able to believe it.
This time, Vlad wasn't lying. Out of his hundreds of followers, her thread of faith shone brightest.
Perhaps it was because she was so pure-hearted, with almost no worldly distractions.
She was like a giant among the small in spirit as well as stature.
Watching the way her chest trembled with excitement made Vlad feel momentarily lightheaded.
"Tell me your name, girl."
Believing that her devotion had touched her god, she answered without hesitation, joy shining in her eyes.
"My name is Aqina Dimitreku. I just turned seventeen, my god."
Then, nervously twisting her fingers, she continued,
"Can you… make me an ordinary girl? My body has always been a burden. It makes me feel depressed, afraid, as though I can't breathe."
Standing taller than Vlad had expected, she awaited his response.
Instead, he asked, "Girl, you are beautiful and unique. Are you sure you want to become an ordinary, unremarkable girl?"
"You… you think I'm beautiful? But… but…" she stammered, struggling to accept his praise.
"But the way others look at you frightens you. It makes you feel small… excluded… unwanted. Isn't that so?" Vlad pressed gently.
Her gaze fell, voice tinged with sadness. "Yes. They look at me as though I'm a monster. It terrifies me… and makes me feel worthless."
"Aqina… squat down."
She obeyed at once.
The moment she moved, her breathtaking figure was revealed in full. Beneath her graceful waist, her hips strained against her white nightgown, the fabric threatening to tear at any moment.
Vlad reached out, placing a hand on her head.
Meeting her anxious yet hopeful gaze, he said,
"Aqina, there's no doubt about your beauty—but the world does not know how to appreciate it.
If you truly wish to overcome your troubles, you must have the courage to break through your own limits."
Seeing confusion in her eyes, he continued,
"I can give you the power to shatter any obstacle, even change your physique—but in exchange, will you serve and believe in me for life?"
Her answer was immediate.
"I, Aqina, am willing to become the God of Blood and Fire's most loyal servant. I will dedicate my life to you."
Vlad watched as her spiritual thread brightened and grew stronger.
If faith could be measured—casual believer, true believer, devout believer, fanatic—Aqina was now on the cusp of fanatic devotion.
Even among all his followers, including Cinderella, only a handful had reached such a level.
Feeling the sudden surge of strength from her belief, Vlad realized he had found another path to greater power.
Looking at her pious, determined face, he smiled.
"Very good, Aqina. You will be proud of the choice you've made today."
Lifting her chin gently, he bared his sharp fangs and sank them into her white neck.
From her perspective, it felt as if her god was kissing her.
A wave of rapture crashed over her—one moment she floated among clouds, the next she drifted upon gentle waves.
When he finally withdrew, the bliss ebbed away, leaving her lips parted in a soft moan.
A flush of color spread across her pale skin.
Then came the sound of water dripping.
Aqina looked down, and a sudden coolness spread beneath her skirt.
Her face turned crimson. She didn't fully understand what had happened, but the fact it occurred before her god filled her with a sense of shame.
Mustering her courage, she raised her head, eyes hazy, and whispered,
"Lord God, I am guilty. I don't know why this happened. Please forgive me."
Seeing her pitiful expression, Vlad said, "Tell me—how should I punish you?"
"I… I don't know. But I will accept any punishment, if only you forgive me," she said, voice trembling yet resolute.
Vlad sighed inwardly at the strength of her faith.
"Aqina, I know you couldn't control yourself. But since you committed an act of blasphemy, you must still be punished."
He smiled faintly. "Your punishment is to become my priestess—to spread my gospel in my name."
She froze for a moment, then her eyes lit with understanding.
"Lord God, I accept your punishment. I know you only wish me to break my own barriers, and for that I thank you for your kindness."
Kneeling before him, sincerity in her gaze, her faith deepened even further.
Such a simple, trusting girl…
Her belief had given her the courage to take a step she'd never dared before.
Vlad could not fully judge the merits and flaws of faith—but for him now, its advantages far outweighed its drawbacks.
Seeing the devotion in her eyes, he smiled devilishly and gestured toward the large bed.
"Remove your shackles, and I will grant you the power to overcome any obstacle."
She hesitated, but his gaze left no room for refusal.
Slowly, she slipped off the silky white restraints. Her smooth, pale skin glowed faintly in the moonlight.
Shyly covering herself, she turned toward the bed. Her hips swayed with each step, as though beckoning him closer.
In the shadow, Vlad's lips curled upward as he followed her.