Chapter 5
690words
We'd been together for so long, practically living as one, and I'd been supplying all his development resources.
His potential as a Fledgling was decent, though not exceptional. As a Pureblood Noble, my family's resources were virtually limitless.
I never held back in nurturing him. Whatever he needed, I provided the best. This generosity was entirely one-sided, but I didn't mind.
After all, we would be eternal companions—what was mine would be his, and what was his would be mine.
I readily granted him access to the treasury, casually asking what he needed it for. He vaguely mentioned having problems with his development and needing Elder's Blood to stabilize his core.
I never questioned him, even telling him to come back if he needed more.
But a few days later at a family banquet, I overheard some young vampires from branch families gossiping: "Have you noticed how dramatically Lorelei's power has increased?"
"God, yes. I heard she's bragging to everyone that Karen would do anything for her—treats her like his precious treasure."
"She's been flaunting it for days, calling it 'a gift from her dear Karen.' They must be sleeping together. That bottle of Elder's Blood would save a Fledgling at least a century of struggle!"
Karen? Lorelei? Elder's Blood?
I felt like I'd been struck by lightning. In a daze, I walked to Lorelei's department—I'd deliberately assigned her to a marginal division to avoid seeing her.
I stood at the doorway, where I could see her desk with one glance.
Indeed, the aura surrounding her was completely transformed from just weeks ago—now powerful and complex.
That was the unmistakable signature of someone who had forcibly enhanced their power with Elder's Blood.
A white-hot fury ignited in my chest, and I nearly laughed from the sheer absurdity.
So he had stolen my family's treasure to help his "dear sister" increase her power?
I felt suddenly adrift, unsure how to confront him or where to even begin.
I couldn't let this slide, yet I didn't know how to resolve it.
Did this mean the end of our relationship? Deep down, I still felt a touch of reluctance.
As fate would have it, my father needed someone to inspect our territories for a month. I volunteered, thinking I could use the time away to cool down and decide how to handle things.
It's too easy to act irrationally when angry.
I sent Karen a brief message saying I was leaving for inspection duties, mentioning nothing else.
I returned much earlier than expected, bringing two bottles of fine Elven wine, hoping for an honest conversation with Karen that evening.
Perhaps he had some explanation I hadn't considered. Since his transformation, we hadn't really had an honest heart-to-heart in ages.
I didn't want to give up on our relationship too easily, but I refused to remain a fool kept in the dark.
The moment I opened the manor gates, I sensed blood in the air—blood that belonged to neither of us.
It was Lorelei's scent. I would recognize it anywhere.
My face went cold, but I tried to reassure myself. Karen wouldn't do this. It couldn't be that bad. Perhaps she was just visiting.
I checked the reception room. Empty.
It was midnight.
I walked stiffly to my private chamber. Before I could open the door, it swung open from inside.
It was Lorelei.
Strange runes were carved across her naked body, and the scent of mingled blood hung thick in the air.
"Karen, I can feel the power flowing—oh!"
She saw me and hurriedly covered herself, though there wasn't much panic in her eyes. "Oh! Alicia… you're back…"
I recognized those runes from my family's forbidden texts—the ritual of the Eternal Blood Covenant.
I ignored her and looked directly into the chamber. Karen was frantically dressing, his body similarly inscribed with the matching half of the ritual runes.
"Let's end it here," I said with eerie calm, discovering that when anger reaches its peak, it transforms into perfect stillness.
There was nothing left to struggle with anymore.
