"It's done, Arthur," Lucy spoke in a low tone, devoid of any emotion. "I've turned her into my kin."
Hearing Lucy's voice, the girl's body jolted. It seemed like she recognized the name the vampire girl had spoken.
Slowly, that girl raised her face, revealing pale skin with a pair of red blood eyes. The area around her mouth was covered in blood, still fresh and dripping to the ground.
She was about to say something when she saw my face, but no words came from her small, beautiful lips.
So I took a step forward with the same kind of smile I showed her that day when we met in the church.
"Hello."
My voice echoed, bouncing around in the brick room. The door behind me was closed, and Melissa kneeled in front of it beside Beatrice.
The girl trembled as I approached her. I could see recognition in her eyes. Trembling, she squeezed her voice out of her throat.
"Arthur Vainglory?! What is a Paladin doing in this place?"
"That's a strange question," I replied, stopping in front of her. I looked down at her pitiful appearance and grinned. "That should be my question. What are you doing in this place, Princess Carissa? This place isn't fit for a Princess like you."
The Princess became speechless.
My words implied that I knew everything she did and planned for, so I used this place as bait to get her.
When I got the news about the Princess visiting Border City, I had already guessed that no one knew the Paladin had taken over that city yet. It was then my plan could be actualized.
"I don't know what you're planning, Princess Carissa."
I crouched in front of her, ignoring the blood that stained my white shoes.
My smile dropped, and I looked at her coldly.
"But you have made a mistake. I didn't care if you wanted to take over the kingdom or something. I also didn't care if you wanted to fuck your father or something."
It was funny how her expression turned into realization just after I told her about fucking her father. Did she think I didn't know about that?
Maybe. Because she was secretive about it. She probably only thought I wasn't a problem because I didn't stop or do anything against her when she tried to get my attention. And she just assumed I knew about her plan to coup d'etat the current reign and chose not to interfere.
But she was wrong. I just didn't care about who led the Virtue Kingdom. It would make no difference with Goddess Lilith still in control over this world. They would still follow the same routine and the same flow.
"Yes, I don't care about it."
My life wouldn't be different. Maybe I would just need to attend a few meetings to accompany someone from the church side to talk about the future with the new ruler, whoever that was. In fact, people in the Virtue Kingdom wouldn't care either if the Princess said that King Cassius was a Sinner.
They would be happy to get a new Ruler who was just and smart.
Without Adam, the one who would become the Princess' puppet might be her younger sibling.
"That's until you decided to influence and kidnap the nuns under me. Do you think I don't know about it, Princess?"
Princess Carissa bit her lips. It was like she was trying hard to stick her tongue out and bite it but was unable to.
I glanced at Lucy, and she nodded.
"As my kin, she's unable to suicide or defy my simple order. But I can't influence her too much." The vampire girl explained.
"Did you hear that?" I turned back to the Princess and smiled gently. "It seems that this would be the end of your journey, Princess. Feel free to show me your real face instead of that fake expression."
Princess's expression fell, and she looked at me with hatred. Her blue eyes were no more. They were replaced with red blood ones that were shining in the dark.
Every bit of her characteristic that showed she was the Virtue Kingdom's Royalty couldn't be seen. The graceful smile, cute face, flowing blue hair like the sky, and shining eyes like a sea reflecting the sunlight.
They were gone. What was left in her was her desire to get her father and her hatred against me for being a few steps ahead of her.
"You will regret it! The Kingdom will notice my disappearance, and those two gentlemen will report it to the King once they are revived in the Royal Capital city!"
She was shouting with her saliva flying out of her mouth. At one point, she tried to jump at me but was unable to because Lucy pulled her hair hard.
Thud!
"Argh!"
Princess Carissa fell to the ground, head first, and let out a pained grunt.
Seeing her pitiful appearance, I shook my head.
"I thought you would be smarter than this."
No, it was maybe my fault for being too passive against the Royal family too. I just didn't want trouble against them and enjoyed my life with my nuns.
If Princess…
'I should stop calling this bitch a Princess.'
If Carissa didn't try to influence Mia and make her kidnap Milea, I would probably even help her to get King Cassius' pants. But she just poked my precious someone and turned herself red in my <Presence Detection> radar.
"Headmistress won't forgive you for this!"
As a last resort, it seemed like she decided to bring Alesia's name. I looked at her with interest, wondering what she would say next, and gestured for Lucy to release her.
With a regained confidence, Carissa smiled.
"I met the headmistress Alesia once and made her promise me. That she will help me when I am in trouble. I have the strongest Mage and many nobles, even Royal Guard, on my side! The rebellion will be successful. So if you join me, I can make you the new King!"
"Ah." I let out an understanding voice. "Hmm, that's troublesome."
"You know her strength too, right? That's why, release me. I will forget this and won't interfere with you anymore. I just want to get him! My beloved! I just want to li–"
"How pitiful." I cut off her rambling with a cold tone as I stood up.
I wasn't interested anymore. The one who deserved to punish her had arrived, and I'd had enough of her too.
So I turned around and walked away, ignoring her shocked gaze.
"Wait! What's your answer, Sir Paladin!"
Carissa shouted from behind me. I stopped for a second and looked over your shoulders.
"I refuse."
Then, I looked at the primordial Succubus who had regained her normal appearance. She was stuck in her young body for so long because I didn't allow her to cum.
"Master." Beatrice bowed as she greeted me. "Please order me! And then please reward me!" She exclaimed with an energetic spirit.
"Follow me." I just said so and walked toward the door without answering her.
Melissa, who kneeled beside Beatrice, stood up and opened the door in a hurry for me. A girl wearing classic Castitas Church nun clothes was standing behind it. She looked shy and lowered her head, covering her face with her regained dark green hair.
"U-Umm…"
Fidgeting, she didn't know what to say now that we met. Now that she was sane, she felt guilty for creating trouble and even attacked me.
"Mia," I called out her name softly, showing that I wasn't mad. Approaching her, I patted her shoulder, and she raised her head. "I forgive you," I said.
At that moment, the dam she created to stop her emotion was broken, and tears overflowed from her eyes. She jumped at me, hugging my body close as the two Succubi stood behind me, closing the door tightly and erasing Carissa's disturbing shout.
"Sir Paladin!! Waaaa… Sorry! I am sorry!!"
"It's okay. You were just confused."
"Sob… Sorry… sob sob…"
