“She is a teacher at Holy Blood Academy. You want me to do *that*…”
Samuel was afraid.
He talked big, it was true, but for Samuel to have survived in noble circles this long, it was impossible for him to be completely ignorant. He knew Catherine’s status was anything but ordinary.
“If you can’t do it, then I’ll just find someone else. It’s just a shame…”
Crassus seemed truly disappointed. She paused deliberately, her eyes sweeping over Samuel. “It’s a shame the grudge from when she humiliated you all those years ago will never be avenged in this lifetime.”
She turned to leave.
“Wait.”
Samuel remembered Catherine’s cold eyes and her biting insults from back then. The scales in his heart began to tip.
Crassus stopped in her tracks, the smile at the corner of her lips deepening. If this succeeded, she would obtain the Blood Jade. If it failed, she lost nothing; Samuel and his people would clean up their own tracks. When the time came, Catherine would just have to suffer in silence.
“I’ll do it.”
Samuel’s gaze turned predatory.
“A deal, then.”
Crassus picked up the porcelain bottle and handed it to Samuel. “Remember, do not give it to her directly. It’s best to mix it into her blood wine. The drink area near the dance floor is crowded and chaotic, making it easy to pull off. Also, move quickly. The effects only last for 4 hours. That is enough time for you to get the Blood Jade I want, and enough time for you to have your way with her.”
“I know what to do.”
Samuel didn’t waste words as he took the porcelain bottle.
“I’ll keep watch for you outside. Good luck.”
Crassus nodded with satisfaction and turned toward the door. Once outside the suite, the smile on Crassus’s face vanished instantly, replaced by a mask of coldness.
“Plan in progress. Target: Catherine. Expected action in 1 hour.”
She took out a communication blood crystal and sent a quick message.
—
Meanwhile, in the center of the dance floor…
“No, no… that’s enough, Madam.”
“Just hold on a little longer. It will be over soon.”
Because Lorevil was unskilled with the dance steps, she had collapsed into the older woman’s soft embrace several times. Her exquisite, pretty face grew increasingly flushed.
“Madam, it seems like it’s almost over. I’m truly sorry.”
“It’s alright. This is your first time dancing, Lorevil. You’ve done quite well to manage this much.”
Madam Sharon gently comforted the guilty-looking Lorevil. As the music reached its end, Madam Sharon seemed somewhat reluctant to let go of Lorevil’s hand.
‘Samuel isn’t on the dance floor. It seems he’s been stabilized for now.’
Based on past experience, Samuel would usually wait on the dance floor and then come looking for trouble. Madam Sharon was a bit surprised but didn’t think much of it. It was possible that Lorevil’s status had actually worked.
Lorevil, for her part, didn’t consider anything else and simply breathed a sigh of relief. ‘Tonight is more or less over.’
Aside from that, she was feeling a bit hungry now and wanted to find something to eat and drink at the buffet table. A Vampire’s blood-drinking instinct still had to be suppressed by regular feeding; otherwise, there was a high chance of ending up clinging to someone and draining them. Just like her deep exchange with Mahina on the first day—because she hadn’t eaten, she had become addicted to sucking on the other girl’s neck.
After telling Madam Sharon she wanted to find something to eat, Lorevil sat down at a dining table. Looking around, she realized that not only was Samuel gone, but Catherine was missing as well. Without overthinking it, Lorevil used her fork and knife to cut a small piece of medium-rare blood steak and put it into her small mouth.
‘It’s not as tasty as the food Noxia makes.’
Left with no other choice, Lorevil took a few shallow bites, focused on finishing a piece of bloodberry cake, and drank a bit of blood wine. Just then, Lorevil suddenly felt the urge to use the restroom, likely because she had drunk too many pre-dinner fruit drinks earlier.
She glanced at Madam Sharon and saw her talking with three or four noblewomen.
‘Sorry, Madam Sharon, but I have to go to the restroom. I won’t be gone long.’
With that thought, Lorevil quickly left the hall and headed down the corridor toward the restroom. The corridor was covered in a thick carpet. Some dark red spots looked like spilled wine. Perhaps someone had drunk too much.
Just as she reached the door of the women’s restroom, Lorevil heard a suppressed sound of heavy breathing coming from inside.
‘What’s going on?’
Filled with doubt, Lorevil pushed the door open gently. She saw a woman with exquisite features leaning against the sink. Fine beads of sweat covered her forehead, and her ice-blue eyes were unfocused, carrying a strange, watery shimmer.
Her black evening gown was somewhat disheveled, clinging to her full figure. A small patch of fair skin at her collar was flushed red, looking as though it had been painted with rouge. She looked very familiar. After a brief moment of daze, a name she didn’t dare think of popped into Lorevil’s mind.
It was definitely Catherine.
“Lori… Lorevil?”
Lorevil, who had intended to pretend she hadn’t seen anything and close the door, stopped in her tracks. ‘I was recognized!’
Her expression changed as she turned back, only to see Catherine nearly losing her strength and falling forward.
“Professor Catherine!”
Lorevil rushed forward to support her swaying body. “What happened to you?”
Catherine looked up, appearing slightly more lucid. When she saw who it was, a flash of panic crossed her eyes, which was immediately replaced by an intense, burning heat.
Damn it…
“Don’t touch me… I’ve been drugged,” Catherine gritted her teeth, a touch of pink surging onto her face as she spoke in a hoarse voice.
To think she would be seen in this state by her own student, Lorevil. The situation made Catherine feel utterly humiliated. The effects of the drug, which were already uncontrollable, erupted again, causing her slender legs to tremble.
‘Professor Catherine was drugged by a Vampire at the ball!’
Lorevil’s heart sank. A faint, strange fragrance lingered at the tip of her nose, emanating from Catherine. That scent, mixed with the aroma of wine and Catherine’s natural body fragrance, was intoxicating. The drug seemed extremely potent. Catherine’s body had begun to shake involuntarily, and her gaze was becoming more and more blurred.
“Who did this?” Lorevil asked in a low voice, helping her sit down while checking her condition.
A Vampire’s constitution was unique. Any drug that could affect Catherine had to be exceptional. Furthermore, the ball was filled with nobles. Who would be bold enough to drug a teacher from Holy Blood Academy? Lorevil couldn’t even imagine such a thing happening on such an important occasion.
“I don’t know… I drank too much blood wine. I only realized something was wrong just now…” Catherine shook her head, trying to speak in a complete sentence, but her consciousness had completely dissipated. By the end, even her words were a blur.
Lorevil knew she probably wouldn’t get any more answers. Just then, the sound of footsteps came from the end of the corridor. Her heart jumped. If she was seen with Catherine in this state, it would certainly cause an uproar. Even if a sober Catherine could explain things later, both of their reputations would be ruined. The story would spread through the noble circles and might even affect Lorevil’s position as an heir.
She didn’t have time to think. She could only haul Catherine up, hide in the furthest stall of the restroom, and quickly lock the door. The footsteps grew closer and stopped at the restroom entrance. Lorevil held her breath and peered through the crack in the stall door.
She saw a woman with light brown hair standing at the entrance, her amber eyes scanning the room.
‘Who is she?’
Full of suspicion, Lorevil wanted to see what the woman would do, only to hear her suddenly speak.
“Professor Catherine, are you in here?” Crassus asked with concern. “I saw that you weren’t feeling well, so I came specifically to check on you.”