Three days later – Kingdom of Leer
As the distant silhouette of Segovia Castle faded from view, Vlad sneered.
"Ravenna… prepare to receive the gift I've prepared for you. I do hope you'll like it~."
With that, he urged the carriage forward, taking the little girl toward the Centaur Secret Realm.
His reason for coming to the Kingdom of Leer was simple—it was the stage for the tale of Snow White.
Familiar with the story, Vlad knew Ravenna would arrive here soon. During the puppet army's invasion, she would disguise herself as a harmless woman to get close to the king, then seize the kingdom's inheritance.
But Vlad had been away from Wallachia long enough. He had no intention of simply waiting here for her.
Instead, he arrived ahead of time… with a "surprise" prepared.
And while he was at it, he decided to play the part of a wandering charlatan and trick the young Snow White.
Segovia Castle – Kingdom of Leer
In a quiet room, a little girl knelt before a slightly sinister statue.
She had bright, starry eyes, red lips, and skin as pure as the first winter snow, faintly flushed with life. A sky-blue dress draped over her slender frame, her dark brown hair flowing neatly down her back, giving her an air of natural purity.
Her holy, innocent beauty contrasted sharply with the aura of the statue before her.
Long lashes trembled gently over a serious expression. Her childish voice whispered:
"Great God of Blood and Fire, who represents rebirth and destruction, thank you for healing my mother. I will pray to you day and night and be your most loyal believer."
This was Snow White—but at the moment, only eight or nine years old.
When she finally opened her bright eyes, a black magpie landed on her shoulder with a cheerful chirp.
"It's you again, little magpie," she said with a tender smile.
The bird was one she had rescued when its wing was injured. Now, it hopped about on her shoulder, chattering as though telling her all about its recent adventures.
Snow White listened intently, her lips curved in gentle amusement. It was almost as if she could understand the little creature, her natural, unspoiled charm shining through.
She was so focused she didn't notice the man standing nearby—her father, King Lyle.
A broad-shouldered, bearded man with the air of a seasoned warrior, he stared at the statue with solemn respect, a faint awe in his eyes.
Watching his daughter's warm interaction with the bird, he smiled softly.
"Snow White, have you finished praying for today?"
Startled, she turned. "Father, you're awake!"
"Yes. Thanks to the gift of the God of Blood and Fire, I was able to foresee the crisis ahead—and gain the strength to face it."
"Snow White, you must always pray devoutly. The great true God will watch over us," he said with fervor.
"Mhm~" She blinked her starry eyes and nodded.
She didn't notice the faint movement of his throat… or the strange red light that flickered in his eyes.
Centaur Secret Realm
Upon entering the realm, Vlad immediately sensed a faintly oppressive atmosphere.
The forest at the entrance bustled with movement—centaur warriors flashed past now and then, proof that the last large-scale invasion still weighed heavily on them.
"Brother Vlad, Mother, Sister—Brother Vlad is back!"
Leia, practicing outside, spotted him at once.
At her call, a beautiful centaur girl rushed from the house. Her eyes lit up when she saw him, but shyness quickly tempered her excitement.
"B-Brother Vlad… you're back. We… we missed you." Her cheeks flushed, gaze drifting away as she fidgeted with her fingers.
Vlad smiled, giving her a teasing look that made her blush even deeper.
Her mother, Luanna, soon appeared. Seeing their interaction, she paused briefly before greeting warmly, "Vlad, you're back."
The tone carried the warmth of a wife greeting her husband home. Realizing the implication, her face pinked slightly, her composed smile stiffening—yet her eyes betrayed her unrest.
"Well, I'm back," Vlad replied easily.
They went inside, where Vlad shared his recent experiences, mentioning he had a meeting soon with the centaur chief. In turn, he learned of the changes in the realm since his last visit.
Since it was still early, Luanna stood. "Let's go to the chief now, before it gets late."
She led the way, and Vlad followed with quiet amusement—her mood made him suspect she might be a touch jealous. He kept his tone light, chatting with her until a smile returned to her face.
Soon, a dilapidated house appeared ahead.
"We're here," Luanna said.
One glance was enough for Vlad to see how dire the centaurs' situation was, which only gave him more confidence in his plan.
The meeting with Chief Otis and the other leader lasted until nightfall.
When Vlad emerged, the satisfaction in his smile said everything.
As they left, Luanna still looked at him in disbelief.
"Something on my face?" he asked.
Shaking her head, she asked, "You truly mean to give us food, weapons, and armor?"
"Of course. Didn't you hear me earlier?" Vlad shrugged.
"But your terms are so generous. All you ask is for us to become your people and be loyal to you, and we get everything?"
To her, it felt like a gift.
But Vlad knew better.
The agreement was sealed by a magical contract binding the centaurs to him for life. Breaking it would bring consequences they could never bear.
Though the terms seemed generous, Chief Odysseus understood—they were pledging their tribe's future into Vlad's hands.
Yet he had no choice. Food shortages had plagued the centaurs for three years, newborn numbers falling year after year. Hunting grounds were nearly exhausted. Without help, they would face ruin.
Vlad's offer, sweet as it seemed, was the only way forward.
Luanna didn't see the depth of the bargain—at least, not yet.
Under the moonlight, her silver-tinted hair caught Vlad's attention. Curious, he reached out, brushing his fingers over it.
Her slender body trembled slightly, and the air between them grew subtly charged.