The promised week arrived. Leah boarded an expensive carriage and set off for Vlad Castle.
'Be careful.'
"Don't worry, I'll come straight back once I find Mother's necklace."
As the carriage jolted along and Eugene's words kept echoing in her ears, Leah fingered the necklace at her throat.
She was on her way to meet Bastian, driven solely by her desperate desire to retrieve her mother's keepsake. Thinking of her aunt, who seemed practically bursting with hope that Leah might choose Bastian, she let out a small sigh.
Bastian had been charming and kind, but Leah's heart kept drifting toward Eugene instead. Yet he was a Duke, and she was an orphan with nothing to her name.
She had to work every day to care for her ailing brother. For someone like her to harbor feelings for him was absurd.
No matter what, she couldn't agree with her aunt's insistence that she seduce a nobleman to change her fate.
Who was she for a Duke to want her? Eugene, though stern, was kind to her—but surely that was only to repay her parents' debt.
Leah kept rationalizing Eugene's kindness, pushing him away in her mind. Otherwise, she felt she might break down crying and cling to him.
Begging him to save her brother and herself. Pleading with him to free her from her aunt's schemes. But... she was cursed, carrying a witch's bloodline.
If her identity as a witch was discovered, Eugene's attitude would surely change. Knowing that his gaze warmed only when looking at her, she couldn't bear to see him coldly cast her aside. That's why she couldn't ask him for help.
As her aunt said, no matter what happened, she couldn't let anyone discover her true identity. Leah shook her head slightly, trying to dispel thoughts of Eugene.
"Miss, we're arriving at Vlad Castle."
At the coachman's words, Leah peeked her head out the window. In the distance, Vlad Castle came into view.
Vlad Castle loomed massive and imposing, but as they drew closer, that grandeur somehow transformed into a chilling, ominous aura. The walls were entirely dark gray, and the pointed spires pierced the overcast sky like the fangs of a crouching beast.
Count Bastian himself greeted Leah at the castle gates. Draped in a black cloak, he was perfect and mesmerizing. His pale blue eyes smiled throughout the welcome.
"Lady Brennan. I'm truly delighted you've come. You have no idea how long I've waited for you."
Bastian bowed gracefully and kissed Leah's hand. The moment his lips touched the back of her hand, Leah flinched at the cold, unfamiliar sensation.
"Th-thank you for inviting me, Count."
Leah quickly withdrew her hand. Watching her reaction, Bastian smiled and led her into the castle. With a nervous heart, Leah passed through the castle's hall. Inside, darkness hung thick, and the air was equally cold.
Leah noticed servants cleaning. If they made eye contact, she intended to greet them. Having worked as a maid in her aunt's house, she'd become quite friendly with servants.
However, the maids and workers cleaning the hall didn't lift their heads as Leah passed. Like clockwork automatons, they mechanically repeated only predetermined movements, utterly lifeless.
'How strange. The people... it's like they're not even alive.'
Leah felt a chill at their hollow gazes and anxiously surveyed her surroundings.
"This way, Leah."
At Bastian's voice, Leah quickly withdrew her gaze from the servants and hurried to follow him. She quickened her pace, trying to pass through the corridor. Then, spotting several women at the corridor's end, Leah slowed her steps.
They wore dazzlingly beautiful dresses and stared at Leah. When their eyes met, Leah flinched, her shoulders trembling. Though the distance was great, the women's eyes were unmistakably crimson.
"Ah!"
At Leah's frightened voice, Bastian followed her gaze. When the women met his eyes, they began smiling seductively.
Their gestures and smiles craved his love, sending chills down Leah's spine. As Bastian's face turned cold and his eyes shifted to crimson, the women startled and quickly vanished.
Bastian swiftly changed his eyes back to blue, then turned to Leah.
"This way, Leah."
Leah followed Count Bastian's guidance into the drawing room. The moment the door opened, overwhelming grandeur took her breath away.
The drawing room was a space dominated by darkness and gold. Along the dark brown wood-paneled walls hung large oil paintings in golden frames, packed tightly to create an atmosphere of luxurious intimidation. Crystal chandeliers on the ceiling held dozens of flickering candles, scattering exaggerated light.
On the floor's vibrant red Persian carpet sat heavy black leather sofas. The golden lion statue above the fireplace silently declared that this was no mere resting space, but a ruler's domain showcasing absolute authority.
In this overwhelming space, Leah realized she was infinitely small and powerless. He seated Leah on the leather sofa, then sat across from her.
"You truly resemble your mother so much, Leah."
Bastian studied Leah's face intently, thinking to himself.
'If only I'd found her a bit sooner, all this tedious process would have been unnecessary.'
Uncomfortable with his stare, Leah turned her gaze away. She wanted to finish quickly and go home.
"Is that so? But where are the keepsakes my mother left?"
As Leah got straight to the point, Bastian smirked.
"You're rather impatient, aren't you, Leah? The keepsakes are over there."
He rose from his seat and walked toward a dark iron table in the corner of the drawing room. As Leah approached the table, Bastian glanced at her sidelong.
Leah passed him and looked at the table's surface. There sat a small box. As Leah reached out to take the box, he swiftly grabbed her wrist.
"Ah!"
As Leah looked up at him in surprise, one corner of Bastian's mouth lifted.
"Rather than the keepsakes, I need to verify the young lady's blood first."
"What? What do you—!"
As Bastian pulled Leah into his arms in an instant, her heart plummeted. A dagger gleamed in Bastian's hand.
"C-Count?!"
The moment she saw the crimson eyes staring down at her, Leah's breath stopped. Terror surged through her like blood rushing backward, freezing her in place.
Meanwhile, at Rasnov Castle.
Eugene stood in his study, gazing out the window. He knew Leah had gone to Vlad Castle today.
His foul mood all day had kept even his brother Hector from approaching him.
"They say the banquet is starting soon, and this time..."
Hector had been trying to engage Eugene in conversation for a while now. He was making every effort to distract his brother, but he knew he was failing.
Hector glared at the broad back that wouldn't listen to a word he said.
'Just because he gave her his blood, does he really need to worry this much?'
Hector didn't understand the concept of emotional connection with a woman. That's why his brother's increasingly strange behavior lately made no sense to him.
"Brother, listen to me—"
"Ugh!"
As Hector started to speak, Eugene suddenly clutched his chest and staggered. Hector shot to his feet in alarm.
"Brother! What's wrong?"
Hector approached and examined Eugene. Eugene's blue eyes had turned red. Seeing his brother like this, Hector was startled.
"Brother?"
"Bastian Vlad...!"
Eugene let out a growl and gripped the desk. As he'd feared, Leah's terror was overwhelming his entire body.
Furious, he released the desk and straightened. He stared at the door with a cold expression.
"What, did something really happen to the woman?"
When Hector asked worriedly, Eugene grabbed his coat and put it on, heading for the door. Startled by his demeanor, Hector followed him.
"Brother, you're not seriously going to Vlad Castle now?"
Eugene looked at his brother in response to the question.
"Leah's in danger."
"How do you know— oh, right. You said you can sense the woman's emotions."
Hector muttered to himself, then grabbed his brother as he was about to leave. When cold red eyes turned toward him, Hector sighed.
"You didn't feed properly at the last full moon. What if something happens to you going like this? Wait."
Hector rushed to the cold storage and retrieved a bottle. He handed it to his brother.
"Drink."
As Eugene looked down at the red-tinted bottle,
"They say human blood can be obtained now. It's called donation, isn't it? Drink that quickly. It'll help at least a little."
Eugene closed his eyes and swallowed the deep ruby-colored blood in one gulp without hesitation.
The moment the cold, metallic liquid slid down his throat, searing tremors erupted from deep within, surging up his spine.
Those tremors then flooded ferociously through every blood vessel.
Fire ignited in his dormant heart, and his muscles hardened like steel, unleashing overwhelming power.
His senses expanded instantaneously—he could clearly hear leaves rolling hundreds of meters away.
Eugene slowly opened his eyes. One corner of his mouth lifted as he looked at Hector. Seeing black veins appear and disappear on Eugene's face, Hector smiled with satisfaction.
His eyes also turned red as he spoke to his brother.
"Shall we go now?"
At his brother's words, Eugene smirked. The two brothers opened the study door and ran down the corridor with hardened expressions.
'Wait, Leah. I'll definitely save you.'
Eugene raced toward Vlad Castle at full speed.
Meanwhile, at Vlad Castle.
"Don't be afraid, Leah."
Bastian looked down at Leah's pallid face and smiled. He touched the dagger's tip with his finger. Leah's frightened green eyes followed the blade.
"C-Count."
Taking a step back, Leah called to him. She knew something was wrong. Was this what Eugene meant when he said the Count was dangerous? Somehow sensing the man before her wasn't normal, she felt fear.
As Leah gradually retreated, Bastian looked at her and smiled brightly. Leah felt another wave of chills at his smile.
Holding a blade while smiling radiantly at her—he looked positively demonic.
"Why are you afraid of me? Ah, because of this blade? But I haven't done anything to you yet. If you look at me like that already, it only excites me more."
"Wh-what are you saying?"
Leah's smooth forehead creased. His handsome face was twisted with madness.
"Ugh!"
As Bastian suddenly lunged forward and seized her hand, lifting it, Leah gasped in surprise. His grip was crushing.
"I need your blood. The pain won't last long, I promise."
"Wh-what... Ah!"
As Leah struggled against Bastian, he sliced her palm with the blade. She cried out in agony.
As red blood flowed across her palm, he quickly brought it to his ruby ring.
The moment Leah's blood touched the dull, lusterless ring, the ruby blazed to life as if set aflame.
As the rich, red color returned to the ruby, fanatical satisfaction appeared on Bastian's face. As expected, Leah's blood was pure witch lineage.
His satisfied, excited expression suddenly began to harden.
"What is this?"
Bastian flinched, seeing a red ring spreading around Leah's deep green irises. The strength left his grip.
Leah struggled desperately to break free from him. But Bastian gripped her hand even tighter and peered at her palm.
Seeing the wound slowly healing, Leah panicked further. Thinking he'd discovered she was a witch, she thrashed in terror.
"Let... let go!"
"Ha, you! You have that man's blood?"
Bastian thrust his excited face right up to Leah's. Meeting his red eyes, Leah recoiled.
Bastian stared at the red ring still circling her green irises, his lips curling coldly with interest.
"Well, well. A witch carrying vampire blood?"
"Wh-what are you talking about?"
Leah couldn't understand a word Bastian was saying. Vampire? Leah didn't realize her irises now bore red rings. So while confused by the man's words, all she could think about was the terrifying fact that he'd discovered her identity as a witch.
"Don't tell me you didn't know vampire blood flows in your body?"
"What are you even saying right now?"
"Can you read that man's emotions?"
"What? What do you—"
"No, wait—that man reads your emotions, doesn't he? Then he's coming to save you right now, isn't he?"
Bastian giggled with delight. Leah thought he'd gone mad. She couldn't understand a word he was saying, and all his actions left her utterly bewildered.
Slicing someone's palm with a knife to spill blood on a ring, then suddenly getting excited and spouting nonsense while looking at her hand.
'He's lost his mind!'
Convinced he wasn't in his right mind, Leah struggled desperately to escape his embrace. Then Bastian gripped her chin and lifted it.
"Look into my eyes."
Leah did as he said and looked into his eyes. The pupils of his pale blue eyes dilated. Leah, who had been struggling, became docile and stared blankly at his pupils.
"Forget everything that just happened. You came to find your mother's necklace, and you've been having a wonderful time here. And you like me. You want to marry me."
"Want to... marry..."
As Leah fell under his hypnosis, she slowly repeated his words, then collapsed with a soft thud.
Bastian lifted her easily. Then he urgently called for Rafael.
"Rafael, Rafael!"
"Yes, master."
"Eugene is coming. Quickly get rid of all the women."
Bastian suddenly remembered—Leah had seen those women earlier, the ones he'd turned into vampires through his bite. Eugene still didn't know his true identity, and he needed to eliminate those creatures before the Duke arrived.
"What?"
"Quickly!"
As Rafael nodded and left the drawing room, Bastian smiled pleasantly, looking down at Leah cradled in his arms.
"Well, well. This is getting quite interesting, isn't it? Hehehe."
Bastian gently lifted Leah and carried her out of the drawing room.
"Time to prepare for my guest."
Bastian's delighted laughter echoed through the corridor.