The purple-haired woman silently withdrew her hand after seeing Hestia’s demeanor.

She seemed to force down some emotion, then lifted the corners of her mouth into a strained smile.

“You truly are punctual, my lord. You arrived without delay.”

“Mm. I came early out of eagerness. Have the other Vampire nobles reached the venue yet, Miss Wendy…?”

Hestia replied with gentle, courteous tones.

Wendy shot a glare at the trembling Elves behind her, then turned back to Hestia with a renewed smile.

“Many nobles haven’t arrived yet. I’m merely here to ‘train’ these pets—they’ve been disobedient.”

Mirena thought she detected emphasis on the word ‘train’.

Mirena peered past the purple-haired woman at the Elven girls behind her.

Their eyes held ashen despair. Tattered rags barely covered their vital parts, exposing smooth skin marred by crisscrossing whip marks.

—*So terrifying.*

A deep chill of fear coiled in Mirena’s chest.

Since the moment they met, Wendy’s gaze had been fixed on Mirena.

Her eyes widened. Waterfall-like hair spilled over porcelain shoulders. An adorable face. But most of all—

The intoxicating fragrance of her blood drifted into Wendy’s nostrils.

It ignited her thirst, sharpening her craving to taste Mirena’s blood.

Yet the one shielding her was the mighty Guardian Deity—a High Vampire whose status eclipsed her own.

“Oh my, may I pat this pet’s head?”

As Wendy reached toward Mirena’s head, Mirena flinched and hid behind Hestia, trembling.

Seeing Mirena’s reaction, Hestia’s lips curled into a faint smile.

*She’s already grown dependent on me.*

Facing an unknown, terrifying foe, she’d chosen Hestia.

—*This reliance on her master.*

Such a response meant the first step of training had succeeded.

Hestia gently stroked Mirena’s blue hair to calm her.

“She’s shy. Don’t touch her lightly. And this is the second warning: lay a finger on her hair, and you’ll regret it.”

Hestia’s voice turned icy with threat.

Wendy flinched at the warning.

“I see… I won’t touch your pet. Forgive my rudeness, Lord Hestia.”

Wendy awkwardly retracted her hovering hand, plastering on a hollow smile. Even a fool would sense the tension between them—and Mirena was no fool.

To ease the awkwardness, Hestia suggested taking Mirena for a walk.

They left the spot together.

Once their figures vanished—

Wendy clenched her fist, frozen in midair. Her power cracked the air around her.

In a blur, she pinned one Elf beneath her, fangs sinking into the girl’s neck.

The Elf on the floor gasped, cheeks flushing with shock.

She lost consciousness as her blood was drained.

“Still… not as exquisite as that one’s. No wonder—royal Elven blood. Why did *she* get such a prize? Disgusting…”

Wendy’s eyes burned with resentment. She hadn’t merely ‘heard’ about Mirena’s three-billion-gold sale at the auction.

She’d been there. Three billion? She could’ve paid it—if not for other purchases.

Yet that treasure had slipped into *her* hands.

One day, Wendy would drag her from the throne.

Mirena disliked wandering these gloomy halls with Hestia.

But staying meant enduring Wendy’s beast-like stare.

So she reluctantly followed.

Inside, the CRACK of whips on flesh echoed from rooms.

“M-Master…”

Terrified, Mirena pressed herself against Hestia.

Elven sobs filled her ears.

“Mirena, do you know what kind of Elves are kept here?”

“W-What kind?” Mirena’s voice trembled.

“Disobedient ones. Those who tried to escape their masters.”

“W-What happens to them after?”

“You’ll see soon enough…”

Mirena’s voice shook.

*They’re torturing my kin.*

—*Only Vampires would do such monstrous things.*

“Monstrous? I’ll take that as a compliment. If you ever run away and get caught, Mirena, I’ll punish you a hundred—no, ten thousand times worse. Until you never dare leave me again.”

“G-Gross… I’d never run, Master!”

The words were hollow.

Hearing the room’s wails, Mirena’s heart quaked.

—*No.*

She’d never join them.

Hestia’s ‘punishment’ meant Dark Cells, whippings—agonies no joke.

Just thinking of the Dark Cell made her knees weak.

She’d never endure that again.

After the tour, Hestia led Mirena into a room.

Mirena resisted fiercely, clinging to the doorframe.

“I won’t go in! No whipping! No Dark Cell—”

“Hush. You’ve been good today. Why would I hurt you? We’re just sightseeing.”

Hestia’s soft strokes on her head eased Mirena’s panic.

“Really?”

“Really. Refuse, and you’ll experience tonight’s punishment firsthand…”

“O-Okay… I’ll go…”

When Mirena released the frame, Hestia yanked her collar, dragging her inside.

The room was pitch-dark.

In the cramped gloom, Mirena choked on suffocating fear.

As her eyes adjusted, the room’s simplicity became clear.

Caged Elven girls bore scars and hollow stares brimming with despair.

Their gazes locked onto Mirena—

Her eyes widened in shock.

She understood that enslaved despair.

A red-haired Vampire stood before Hestia, whip in hand.

“Didn’t expect you so soon, Lord Hestia…”

“No ceremony needed, 17th Prince Doreen Croft. I’m merely showing my pet around.”

“Ahaha! So this lovely child is yours? Excellent taste…”

“Not chosen. Found at auction. Cost me dearly.”

“Auction? They *charged* you? I’ll reimburse you instantly—”

“No need. Formalities can be refreshing. Besides, she’s the last royal Elven bloodline. Worth every coin.”

“Royal bloodline?”

Doreen’s nose twitched, scenting Mirena’s fragrance beneath the dungeon stench.

Royal blood meant power-boosting blood.

“Lord Hestia… old friends as we are, might I borrow her? Take any Elf here in exchange—”

“Guh!?”

—*No no no! Ten times worse than Hestia!*

Mirena tried to flee, but Hestia’s grip on her collar held firm.

She tugged Hestia’s sleeve with trembling fingers.

Hestia stroked her head, refusing to relinquish her Blood Slave.

“Impossible.”

Hestia’s refusal was absolute.

“Mirena is my Blood Slave. No price, no trade—she stays with me.”

“But why—?”

Seeing Hestia’s serious expression, Doreen knew it was hopeless.

Treating the girl like a treasure… how could she lend her?

Still—

“If you want to stop her from running…” Doreen leaned in, whispering.

“What method?”

Hestia’s palm cracked against Doreen’s cheek.

A sharp slap. A cry of pain.

“Ow…”

“Filthy Elves don’t deserve to touch my treasure! Suggest it again, Prince or not, and I’ll cripple you. Understood?”

Hestia’s crimson eyes blazed with killing intent.

Hestia hoisted her up with absurdly immense strength.

The other woman was far taller and bulkier than her.

Yet Hestia ignored her weight and height completely, lifting her high into the air.

The collar dug painfully into her neck.

“Cough… cough cough cough! I was just joking—why take it so seriously?”

“Get lost.”

If not for fearing to scare Mirena, Hestia would’ve snapped her neck long ago.