The afternoon sun streamed through the tall windows of my room, golden and warm. I sat in the center of the room, completely nude, my flawless skin bathed in light. Cross-legged, I closed my eyes and slowed my breathing, meditating in absolute silence.
A moment passed. Then another.
But something felt... off.
Not physically. Not magically. Something deeper. An intangible piece still missing from this strange, eternal life of mine.
I opened my eyes.
Stillness lingered in the air as I rose from the floor and walked to the sofa, my bare feet gliding across the marble. I sat, crossing one leg over the other with practiced elegance, and lifted a glass of rich, dark blood wine to my lips. The taste—familiar, but unsatisfying.
I sighed.
Something within me hungered—not for blood, not for violence... but something else.
A new thrill?
A different pleasure?
Or perhaps, a balance I hadn't yet found?
I dressed in a flowing, sapphire-blue gown with silver embroidery that shimmered as I moved, and stepped out of my room to walk the estate.
Soon, I came across a group of my guards in the training grounds, practicing hand-to-hand combat under the sun. Most of them were shirtless, sweat glistening on their toned bodies. I paused, observing them from a distance. Their movements were precise, their discipline admirable.
Then my eyes caught something else.
High above, on the mansion balcony, I saw Liza and Emilia standing together, their gazes clearly focused. Curious, I looked where they were staring.
Gaim.
Tall. Lean, but muscular. Dark-haired, blue-eyed, exuding quiet strength. And from the way his training pants strained at the front—well, I could understand the fascination.
I smiled.
Soundlessly, I ascended the stairs and approached my two girls from behind.
"Enjoying the view?" I asked, voice smooth like silk.
Both of them startled.
"We're just observing the training!" they said in perfect unison, flustered.
"Oh?" I raised an amused brow. "Well… if you like him, perhaps we should bring him into our harem."
Emilia blinked. "Wait, seriously? You can do that?"
"Of course," I said. "I'd do anything for my girls. Nothing wrong with inviting a strong rod into the family now and then. Variety makes eternity more bearable."
Liza blushed. Emilia chuckled.
Perhaps… this might be the missing piece I sensed earlier. Not love. Not dominance. Just a balance. A fusion of power, beauty, and pleasure—shared equally.
"We'll discuss this later," I said with a sly smile, and turned toward my private office.
---
Later, in my study…
Kane stood before my desk, holding several scrolls of reports.
"We've received troubling news," he said, adjusting his glasses. "People have been going missing across several villages in our territory."
I groaned softly and leaned back in my chair. "Vampires again?"
"We're not certain. There's no consistent evidence. The patterns are erratic—men, women, the elderly, even children."
I closed my eyes, exhaling slowly.
"Only at night?"
Kane nodded. "Yes, every incident took place after sunset."
"What about local patrols?" I asked, fingers brushing my brow.
"Barons Sigmund, Kelis, and Armand have all dispatched their guards for nightly sweeps. But the disappearances continue."
I clicked my tongue. "Am I going to have to patrol the countryside myself now?"
Kane offered no answer. He knew better.
Damn it. All this chaos while I'm trying to live a peaceful, luxurious life with my beautiful companions.
If this is the work of vampires again, I swear…
I will tear down their lairs.
I will sever their heads one by one.
No one disturbs the peace of my domain.
I rose from my chair, turning away from the window's glare.
"I'll retire to my chambers," I muttered. "I need to calm down… and perhaps indulge in some stress relief."
Kane simply bowed. "As you wish, my lady."