Chapter 2
748words
He was gentle then, catering to my every wish and desire.
I loved him deeply. From the moment he took that fatal blow for me, I knew he was the companion I wanted by my side for eternity.
I firmly believed we would walk this endless journey together.
And he gave me enough security to believe that… except for Lorelei.
From our very first meeting, I sensed something off about her relationship with Karen.
They shared a kind of "friendship" and unspoken understanding that I could never break through.
I was shocked not just by how casually she drank my boyfriend's blood, but even more by Karen's silent acceptance of it.
When I tried to probe him about it, he claimed it was a responsibility he couldn't shirk—some debt he owed to Lorelei.
We'd been together for barely a year then. He treated me well, and I didn't want him thinking I was just another cold, controlling Pureblood Noble.
I convinced myself I was overthinking things.
For a long time after that, Lorelei behaved properly enough, and I gradually pushed my concerns aside.
Until my family's master alchemist crafted a pair of soulmate rings capable of establishing a deep Mental Link.
"These are one of a kind," he told me with pride.
I fell in love with those rings instantly and kept urging Karen to establish a link with me.
I'd suggested similar things before, but Karen always claimed his power wasn't stable enough, that establishing a deep Mental Link would be too dangerous. Since those had been passing whims, I'd always let it go.
But this time was different. This time I truly wanted it.
When we met that evening, I said, "Karen, your mental state is perfectly stable now. We can establish a link, right?"
He still insisted it was too risky.
"Why?" I teased. "Could it be you already have a Mental Link with someone else?"
We were each other's Embrace, after all. I meant it as a joke to lighten the mood.
"Don't be ridiculous," he snapped. "It's Lorelei who needs my protection."
Lorelei?
My heart dropped. It had been just a joke, but I'd accidentally stumbled onto the truth.
A sick feeling crept through my veins.
I closed my eyes, extended my pureblood perception, and probed into his mental domain.
And there it was…
A faint but incredibly resilient Mental Link connecting him and Lorelei.
This kind of connection would be imperceptible to most, but to a high-ranking vampire's perception, it glowed like a spider's thread caught in moonlight.
He froze like someone caught in an affair, anger flashing across his face to mask his embarrassment. "What the hell are you doing?"
Unlike other nobles, I'd never forcibly examined my partner's mental domain before. I believed in trust.
And my reward for trusting him? Finding out he maintained a Mental Link with another woman.
"You have a Mental Link with her?" My voice turned to ice. "Is this why you're unwilling?"
I stared him down, my expression glacial.
"It's just a protection link!" he protested. "It's too much trouble to disconnect, and she'll definitely get into trouble again!"
He ran his fingers through his hair in frustration and stepped forward to embrace me, but I turned away.
"Alicia, don't be like this," he pleaded. "Fine, fine, fine! I'll disconnect it, okay? I'll do it right now!"
He closed his eyes, making a show of great effort.
Watching the link dissolve, my expression softened slightly. "You're afraid she'll get into trouble? Aren't you afraid of breaking my heart? Who exactly is your partner here?"
"She's just so fragile," he said with a weak smile. "Our Alicia is the strongest."
Buzz…
Right on cue, Karen's phone vibrated. He checked it and smiled helplessly.
Suspicious of his reaction, I snatched the phone and saw a message from Lorelei's servant.
"Why did Lord Karen cut off the protection link? Miss Lorelei's power is becoming dangerously unstable."
Under my watchful gaze, Karen replied: "Alicia wanted to try the soul-bonding rings."
Lorelei grabbed the phone: "Why does she need to try those? This link is the only way I can feel safe now. Is she angry?"
"Hmm." Karen responded glumly.
"I'm sorry, I didn't know she was so controlling. I just feel this link keeps me alive."
"It's fine."
She clearly had no idea the phone was on speaker.
My rage became unbearable.
