“Hello, Madam. I am the student sent by Master Jerwen to help check the condition of the rooms.”
Lorevil bowed slightly and said politely, “You can call me Lorevil. Please feel free to give me any instructions, and I will do my best.”
‘The madam’s hairstyle and outfit are truly dangerous!’
Madam Sharon looked at Lorevil with delight.
“That is wonderful. I appreciate the help. I am sorry for bothering you.”
Lorevil captured a piece of information from the original host’s memory. Since the Duchess passed away, Madam Sharon had remained chaste and had never been involved with any other Vampire.
Lorevil did not know what Madam Sharon was thinking. With her Level 4 strength, the madam should have been more than capable of handling any danger herself. So why would she contact Master Jerwen to arrange such a task?
And why, of all people, was it her?
It was definitely not a coincidence. It was likely that Master Jerwen and Madam Sharon had agreed upon Lorevil as the candidate long ago.
‘Does this lady… crave my body?’
Lorevil stared intently at the madam’s face and figure, a hint of wariness rising in her heart before she scoffed at her own ridiculous thoughts.
‘A toad wishing for swan meat—I am really full of myself.’
Madam Sharon led Lorevil around the house. Her watery eyes held a hint of excitement as she introduced her collections and the decorations in the hallways.
“What do you think of this place?” Madam Sharon asked expectantly.
“The collection looks very precious, and the layout of the entire building is very suitable for you, Madam.”
Lorevil followed the woman’s lead, scouring her limited vocabulary for compliments. “I quite like it as well.”
“You like it too? Then… have dinner at my home tonight.”
Madam Sharon’s face lit up with joy, her tone slightly excited. “I think you should taste my blood wine, and my handmade blood berry mousse. The flavor is quite good; you must stay and try some.”
Lorevil froze, staring blankly at Madam Sharon for a long time without speaking.
Glimpsing Lorevil’s confusion, Madam Sharon paused and added, “There is an aristocratic ball in Holy Blood City the day after tomorrow. I am still missing a dance partner. I wonder if you would do me the honor?”
Lorevil could not help but say, “Madam, there is no need to go to such trouble. I should head back if there is nothing else…”
Her original intention was simply to complete the task.
“It is no trouble.”
Madam Sharon interrupted her, taking a step forward. Her fingers, adorned with red nails, lightly grasped Lorevil’s wrist.
Lorevil was forced to take two steps back. The madam’s fragrance was almost pressed against her body.
“I have lived alone for so long that I have grown used to the silence. It is rare for a little one who catches my eye to come and accompany me. Just stay with me for a while, all right?”
As Madam Sharon spoke, she looked up slightly at Lorevil, her expression carrying a perfect touch of vulnerability and anticipation.
Lorevil swallowed hard and stood her ground.
In university, she had almost no interaction with girls; at most, it was just swapping seats. She could not withstand the madam’s gaze or this posture.
Madam Sharon’s wine-red eyes were so clear. “…Please?”
With that frail appearance, no one would have the heart to refuse.
Lorevil’s heart skipped a beat for some reason. Looking at the charming woman before her, a thought could not help but pop into her mind.
‘Fini was right. Madam Sharon is indeed a peerless beauty.’
More importantly…
Even though it was their first meeting, she saw a black and white health bar above the madam’s head, just like the one Mahina had.
‘What does… this mean?’
‘Does it mean that if I do not agree to the madam’s request, something dangerous will happen?’ Lorevil hesitated at the thought.
‘Does this mean I cannot refuse Madam Sharon or Mahina’s requests from now on?’
‘What a joke!’
‘Even though it is quite thrilling!’
“It would be my honor to accompany you for dinner, Madam. As for the ball… I look forward to it.”
Lorevil eventually folded under the expectant gaze of the gentle, mature woman and agreed.
‘But if I stay the night, what about my fiancée?’
If she counted the night spent with Mahina, this would be two consecutive nights away from home.
‘Things have already come to this; I might as well eat first.’ Lorevil could not think of a better way to handle it.
Madam Sharon smiled joyfully and released Lorevil’s wrist.
Perhaps the charming madam knew that her request had put Lorevil in a difficult position, so nothing unexpected happened during the meal.
By the time Lorevil finished eating, she noticed that the sky had already darkened like black ink.
“I have already told your servant that you are staying the night to ensure my safety.”
Madam Sharon guessed what Lorevil was about to say and spoke first, a triumphant smile appearing on her pretty face.
“…”
Lorevil was speechless.
She had been thinking about struggling a bit more and leaving after dinner—at least to give her fiancée an explanation. She had not expected the beautiful madam to deny her the chance. It seemed the woman truly wanted her to stay the night.
‘What is she after?’
Lorevil did not mention leaving again. Instead, she asked, “Then where will I be staying?”
Madam Sharon clapped her hands. A woman dressed in a black and white maid uniform walked in respectfully. Madam Sharon pointed to a room on the second floor and said, “That place has already been prepared. You will stay next to my bedroom tonight so I can call for you immediately if anything happens.”
Lorevil knew this was Madam Sharon’s way of reminding her.
The implicit requirement of the mission was to protect the madam’s safety.
Afterward, the maid slowly walked forward, and Lorevil followed behind.
Entering the room arranged by the madam, Lorevil slumped onto the soft bed, her mind drifting to her fiancée.
Although Mahina was her fiancée, she was timid to the point of being cowardly. Despite having the face of a beautiful and elegant older sister, she suffered from deep self-esteem issues.
Furthermore, because she had been selected by Lorevil’s family, she was completely obedient to Lorevil.
As Lorevil slowly absorbed these memories, she felt more and more regretful about coming to the madam’s house and agreeing to stay.
Lost in thought, Lorevil gradually drifted into a dream.
—
In a daze, a piercing coldness spread across her wrists and ankles.
“Lady Lorevil… Did you not say…” A familiar voice sounded in Lorevil’s ear, carrying a hint of innocence mixed with an indescribable eeriness.
“That you would take responsibility for me?”
The young girl’s familiar, pure, and beautiful face came into view.
‘Did I transmigrate again?’
Lorevil looked around. ‘Is this not Madam Sharon’s guest room?’
“Mahina?” Lorevil called out softly.
“Mm-hmm.”
Mahina traced circles on Lorevil’s chest with her finger.
Lorevil tried to move, only to find herself chained down.
The iron chains were fixed to the four corners of the bed, forcing her limbs apart and leaving her unable to move. The pure-looking girl was lying on top of her.
She seemed like a complete stranger.
Lorevil thought of a terrifying scenario, and her voice trembled with fear.
“What are you doing? Why did you tie me up?”
“Is Lady Lorevil asking me?”
Mahina confusingly extended a slender white finger and pressed it against her vivid red lips. With the innocence of a child, she smiled.
“After my parents left me, everyone bullied me. The workshop foreman bullied me, the female workers excluded me, and the whole world abandoned me.”
Her voice grew lower, filled with deep grievance.
“Only you, Lady Lorevil, gave me a place to stay and gave me hope to live.”
“But now… you want to leave me too, right?”
Lorevil’s expression changed drastically. What did Mahina’s words mean?
“Lady Lorevil,” Mahina’s smile gradually vanished, and her clear eyes seemed to seek an answer from Lorevil’s body. “What should I do…”
“What do you mean, leave you? That is impossible!”
Lorevil was so anxious that cold sweat poured down, soaking her back.
“Mahina, do not overthink things. Were we not perfectly fine last night?”
‘The current Mahina is dangerous!’
Only then did she notice the health bar above Mahina’s head. It was now completely filled with pure black. The black was so thick it looked like undissolved ink, nearly overflowing from the bar and dripping through the air.
‘It is over…’
‘Did this crisis happen because Mahina saw my actions?’
The moment that thought emerged, Lorevil’s heart pounded so hard it felt like it would burst from her chest.
Mahina stared fixedly at Lorevil and laughed miserably. “But… I saw with my own eyes that you left me. You went to another woman’s house. Who is she?”
“Why would you choose her?”
“Is she prettier than me?”
After Mahina finished speaking, the warmth in her eyes was replaced by a stubborn madness. “Or… can she satisfy you more than I can?”
She could not accept that an older woman had stolen Lorevil’s heart!
Lorevil forced herself to calm down and said in the gentlest tone possible, “Mahina, let me explain. That was a task assigned by my teacher. I came here to protect Madam Sharon. It is not what you think!”
“Untie me first, and I will explain everything to you slowly, all right?”
“No.”
Mahina refused without a second thought. Her eyes held no warmth; they were terrifyingly cold.
“Mahina…” Lorevil was stunned.
“Lady Lorevil is very cunning,” Mahina said as she slowly crawled off Lorevil and stood up. “The moment I let you go, you will run away. You will discard me like a useless object and leave me behind forever.”
Lorevil looked at Mahina in horror because the girl had stepped on her chest. This was something the Mahina in her memories would never have done.
Mahina retracted her foot and walked away from the bed. “Since Lady Lorevil wants to be unchained, since she wants to leave…”
“Yes, unchain me first.” Lorevil’s eyes flashed with a hint of joy. “We can sit down and talk slowly.”
“Then I…” Mahina curled her lips into a smirk and murmured to herself, “Then I… will just have to separate Lady Lorevil’s parts and put them in my boxes. That way, you will never leave me.”
‘Separate me and put me in boxes… does she mean?’
Lorevil froze.
What kind of gruesome ending was this? Lorevil had done zero things wrong so far.
She definitely did not want something like this to happen!
Lorevil wailed internally.
She tried desperately to break free from the shackles while attempting to explain things to Mahina.
But at this moment, Mahina could no longer hear anything she said. She was trapped within her own twisted logic.
*Tap, tap, tap.*
Her slender legs moved across the room. Her bare feet made a crisp sound as they hit the cold floor.
Mahina seemed to be urgently searching for something important.