He regarded Mirena with curious eyes.

Mirena met his dangerous crimson gaze without flinching.

She knew this frivolous man possessed immense power.

But Mirena had always despised handsome, flippant men like him.

Her heart brimmed with nothing but revulsion for his type.

"So you’re the Blood Slave Lady Hestia bought? Truly exceptional quality. That intoxicating Blood Fragrance clinging to you… makes me want to sink my fangs deep into your neck."

"..."

Hearing such a depraved remark, goosebumps rose on Mirena’s skin. How could he say something so vile?

She ducked behind Luce.

Luce shielded her like a guardian spirit.

"I’ve warned you: no sexual harassment. And stay away from this child. Or I’ll summon Lady Hestia right now to make you wish you were dead."

"Lady Hestia? How terrifying..."

His words dripped with mock fear, but his face showed no trace of it.

Before Mirena could react, his body went flying.

"Huh...?"

A confused sound escaped her lips.

He crashed into the wall, shattering stone. Dust rained down from the gaping hole.

Yet not a speck reached Mirena—

—he’d been kicked hundreds of meters away.

Mirena glanced at Luce’s face. Only disgust lingered there.

No doubt she’d done it.

To kick a full-grown male Vampire that far, at speeds Mirena couldn’t even see...

But this didn’t surprise her.

Before her powers were sealed, she’d known Luce’s strength.

Level 300. A high-ranking Vampire.

"Tch. So this won’t finish you off?"

"Oh dear, I’d love to die—but Heaven wouldn’t take me anyway."

"A creature like you belongs in hell."

The flippant man rose from the rubble as if nothing happened.

He brushed dust off his snow-white cloak.

"How annoying. My clothes are ruined..."

"Consider that kick a warning," Luce hissed, stance rigid, icy glare locked on him. "Harm Lady Hestia’s Blood Slave again, and I won’t stop at one kick. I’ll let *her* deal with you."

He waved a gloved hand.

"Fine, fine~ I’ll back off. Causing trouble on Lady Hestia’s turf is suicide."

"You can’t die anyway, can you?"

"True. But when Lady Hestia gets angry? She turns into a demon. Ah well, little Elf—we weren’t meant to be."

*As if I’d ever want anything to do with a creep like you.*

Mirena shuddered. Just imagining his touch made her want to scrub her hands with disinfectant powder.

As he sauntered away, both Luce and Mirena exhaled deeply, tension melting.

"What a repulsive man... Avoid him. His danger exceeds your imagination."

"..."

*I understand that feeling perfectly.*

Mirena silently marked the Vampire as a threat.

Yet her admiration for Luce swelled. She hadn’t expected such power—or that cool, heroic aura.

*Exactly the opposite of what Luce wanted.*

Mirena followed Luce onward.

Through courtyards. Down castle corridors. To the rear garden.

True to its name, blooms crowded the space.

A back gate stood there—but guarded even more fiercely.

Three barriers blocked freedom:

First, the castle’s outer wall, swarming with guards.

Second, the town’s inner wall, separating noble districts from slums.

Third, the outer town wall, shielding against outside threats.

Only two castle gates existed—front and back.

Both choked with Vampire sentries.

Escaping as a mere Blood Slave? Nearly impossible.

*—What should I do?*

Mirena bowed her head, thinking hard.

Alone, her chance was zero.

She had to wait for Hestia’s guard to drop. To gain a meeting with her mother.

Then—intelligence. The location of the remaining Elvenfolk forces.

But hope for that meeting felt paper-thin.

Lowering Hestia’s guard? That meant enduring months—three, four—with her.

Waiting that long would drive Mirena mad.

She might not even recognize herself by then.

So she pinned her hopes on the Royal Guard.

The very unit fighting to survive itself.