Mirena followed Luce all the way to the courtyard.

She took in the ever-expanding scenery before her eyes.

Stone-brick walls, a grassy courtyard, and colorful flowers blooming nearby.

Truly a breathtakingly beautiful place.

Yet the stairs descending from the upper floors had felt unnaturally long and narrow.

“Ohhh. This is quite a lovely spot…”

Mirena’s eyes sparkled with interest as she scanned her surroundings.

But the place was simply too vast.

Escaping would require careful planning.

The towering stone walls offered no nearby structures to climb—and even with Data Alteration, her fragile body would shatter on impact.

If only she had high-yield explosives to blast through the walls.

But obviously, she carried nothing of the sort.

“This is the courtyard. Miss often strolls here, so I accompany her sometimes—even at night…”

“Huh?”

“Didn’t you hear? I said I escort Miss for evening walks too.”

“Oh, right. Got it.”

Luce’s jaw tightened at Mirena’s distracted air.

*Just a pampered pet, yet daring to ignore my words?*

She couldn’t lay a finger on Mirena—Miss’s orders forbade even a scratch on the Blood Slave.

But…

*No scars didn’t mean no punishment.*

Plenty of ways existed to break her without leaving marks.

Before Luce’s shadowed glare could fully settle on Mirena’s back, a chill of fear crept up Mirena’s spine.

Though daytime meant fewer vampires, dozens of hungry stares pinned her in place.

Beastly desire burned in their eyes.

“That’s the Elven Princess, isn’t she?”

“I smelled her blood from afar…”

“Right. Bought by our Lady Hestia for a fortune. Hence the Collar…”

“Better keep quiet. If Her Majesty hears us…”

“True…”

Their whispers slithered into Mirena’s ears.

Beside her, Luce spoke sharply:

“Rest easy. You’re here with Miss—not some random escort like me. Within this castle, Miss’s word is absolute. No one dares covet what’s hers.”

“Hah…”

Mirena wondered just who this “Miss” was—to terrify vampires so utterly.

Yet Luce’s tone treated her like an object.

*Because that’s all I am.*

—A walking blood bank purchased by that vampire heiress, Hestia.

She just refused to accept it.

Foolishly clinging to some shred of dignity.

“What’s wrong?”

A mere sigh had caught the cold beauty’s attention.

“N-nothing…”

“Fever? Illness?”

“No… just sighing…”

“Good.”

Luce visibly relaxed.

“You worry so much about my health?”

“Naturally. Your duty is to supply Miss with blood daily. If your blood turns impure due to sickness? That falls on me.”

“…”

*So professional. Yet… not a single thought for me.*

Walking side by side down the corridor, nearly every passing vampire froze at Mirena’s presence.

Her Blood Fragrance alone—intoxicating enough to draw them from miles away—made ignoring her impossible.

Only the Collar around her neck and Luce’s vicious glare kept their eyes averted.

At the corridor’s bend, they met a golden-haired man in refined attire—far more tasteful than most vampires’ garb.

*Sniff sniff.* “Ah, such intoxicating Blood Fragrance… I followed the scent and found you, Luce. Still radiant as ever. And you—” His gaze locked onto Mirena. “This aroma… Elven royalty? You must be the Elven Princess.”

Before Mirena could reply—

“We’re busy. Kindly step aside.”

Luce shoved Mirena behind her, voice icy. Her glare promised violence.

“Don’t be so cold. Aren’t we betrothed?”

“Betrothed? I don’t recognize frivolous men like you. Lay a finger on Miss Mirena, and I won’t hold back.”

“Such a terrifying face… Did climbing into Lady Hestia’s bed make you forget your place?”

The closer he leaned, the stronger Mirena’s Blood Fragrance overwhelmed him.