I’d recently set a small goal for myself: to become an accident in the eternal partnership of the vampire prince, Alexis. The first step of my plan was a letter, penned with a quill, which I quietly left outside the iron gate of the grim castle that overlooked the entire domain. I didn't dare write anything too explicit, opting instead to copy down a sentimental little love poem, hinting at my willingness to offer my warm blood and pure soul. I imagined his pale, slender hand, adorned with a signet ring, breaking the seal. What would his expression be? Would he be amused? Or would he scoff at the audacity of an ant? Unfortunately, the letter vanished without a trace. I suspect one of the castle's silent servants swept it into an incinerator along with the fallen leaves. I wasn’t discouraged. After all, attracting a creature that has lived for thousands of years requires patience. He was a prince of the bloodline, the monarch of this land of eternal night. But I had my own advantages—a young life, fresh blood, and a decent face. Soon, my chance arrived. It was the annual Day of the Holy Feast, when the castle distributed provisions to the nearby townspeople. Under the pretext of collecting alms, I finally managed to get close to the fabled fortress. As my fingertips intentionally-but-not-intentionally brushed against the edge of his carriage—the cold metal carved with his family crest—my heart hammered as if it would burst from my chest. Finally, he impatiently drew back the velvet curtain. In that instant, our eyes met. A flicker of surprise crossed his inhuman, crimson irises—the color of aged blood—shocked that a boy would have the nerve to cross him in a place like this. I quickly fluttered my round eyes and offered him a smile I had practiced countless times, a carefully crafted blend of shyness and innocence. I did my best to look like a harmless fawn that had wandered into a forest of eternal night. To be fair, I knew I was likely his type. I was lean, with slightly downturned eyes, like some kind of puppy. My chin was pointed, and my cheeks still held a touch of baby fat, making anyone who saw me assume I was just a student fresh from the cloisters. But he only furrowed his brow. An invisible force shoved me back, sending me sprawling to the ground. I understood immediately: this attempt was another failure. I bit my lip and lowered my head as his indifferent guards hauled me beyond the castle grounds, my heart filled with humiliation and resentment. I thought it was all over. To my surprise, a dark figure appeared silently in my shabby lodgings that night, stating in a monotone voice that the prince wanted to see me. I was brought into the grand, somber hall of the castle I had only heard of in legends. Alexis sat upon a massive throne carved from obsidian, his tone as cold as if he were judging a heretic. ""State your purpose. Who sent you?"" Panic flared in my chest, but I quickly steeled myself. I had to seize this chance. Forcing my voice into a softer register, I began, on the verge of tears, ""I—I wasn't… Master, I truly… I admire you, I long for you… Please, give me a chance. Taste my blood!"" ""I already have a consort,"" he cut me off, his voice devoid of warmth. ""I know! I—I'm willing to be your most humble blood thrall!"" I blurted out, throwing all caution to the wind. I lowered my voice, continuing my plea. ""Master, I also know you have a taste for young life. I'll never disturb your consort, I only beg you…"" His brow twitched violently, and he looked at me as if I were a buzzing fly. He let out a long breath and waved a hand. ""From this day forward, you are permanently banished. If you take one step into my domain again, you will be executed on the spot."" ""No!"" The words sent a jolt of panic through me. This was my only hope; I couldn't be driven away like this! I scrambled forward and knelt at his feet, clinging tightly to his cold, gleaming leather boots. ""Master, let me stay, please let me stay! My blood flows truly for you! Don't send me away, I'm begging you!"" He seemed startled by my actions. I knelt before him, looking up with tear-filled eyes, and surreptitiously wiped a few of those tears onto the immaculate surface of his boot. My cheeks were flushed from the emotion of it all, the warmth of my life a stark contrast in his frigid domain. I saw him falter for a fraction of a second, his Adam's apple bobbing unconsciously. But his coldness returned in an instant. He kicked me away and summoned the guards. Like a heap of rags, I was dragged from the castle and thrown onto the cold cobblestone road. Chapter 2 It was ruined. Everything was ruined. I sat at the edge of the town farthest from the castle, hugging my pathetically small collection of belongings, my head hanging in defeat. This wasn't how the story was supposed to go! Wasn't I supposed to use my youthful body and sweet blood to seduce him? Wasn't Alexis supposed to be tempted by primal desire and pull me into his arms? Weren't we supposed to spend our nights in passion beneath gothic spires, until I finally achieved eternal life and became his most cherished night-pet? Where did I go wrong? I pulled out the communicator I had hidden away and dialed the number of my ""mentor,"" Samuel. When I’d graduated, orphaned and alone, I was drowning in the massive debt my family had left behind. I had always been vain and lazy, constantly scheming for a shortcut to the top. Honest work? It would take an eternity to escape my impoverished fate that way. ""You could just do what I did and find a powerful blood-drinker to protect you!"" Samuel had said when he heard my troubles, generously sharing his experience. My interest was immediately piqued. ""How do I find one?"" I asked, shameless in my pursuit of knowledge. ""You have to be proactive,"" Samuel told me. ""Those ancient creatures are always curious about new life. Look at me—I'm about to sign a formal contract with the Baron of the Jinghe family."" ""But I heard the Baron already has retainers."" ""What's there to be afraid of?"" Samuel waved his hand dismissively. ""Eternal life is boring. They always need new toys. As long as you can get him addicted to you, he'll do anything for you."" It was a revelation. With his guidance, I pored over the roster of nobles in the domain, finally settling on the one at the very top: Prince Alexis. Before I left, Samuel had clapped me firmly on the shoulder and said, ""Don't forget me when you're rich and famous!"" But now, before my grand ambitions could even take flight, I’d been mercilessly banished. On the other end of the communicator, Samuel listened to my tearful account and offered a new idea. ""Why don't you go directly to his consort? Tell him Alexis has already tasted your blood. Harass him, force him to acknowledge your existence. At the very least, you might get some money out of him to keep you quiet. It wouldn't be a total loss."" That was certainly one way to handle it. I tossed and turned all night on the cot in my dingy inn room, finally deciding to confront the consort, a man named Leander. Before setting out, I carefully researched Leander's life. He was just some ancient vampire who liked to read books. As for his face… I touched my chin, studying a blurry portrait of him that had circulated from who-knows-where. He was about on par with me, I figured. The number of men and women who had confessed their love to me over the years numbered in the thousands, if not tens of thousands, but I hadn't been interested in any of them. After all, entering the world of the bloodline, becoming an immortal being—that was my ultimate goal. My plan was perfect: Leander was a noble of high standing. If I threw my shame to the wind and caused a scene at the antiquarian library he frequented, he would surely compromise to protect his dignity and reputation. Once a crack formed in their relationship, I could slip in. The position of prince's consort would be mine for the taking. The only flaw in my brilliant plan was that I had misjudged myself—I wasn't very good at throwing my shame to the wind. I managed to track Leander’s movements, but after entering the library several times, I just couldn't bring myself to deliver the declaration of war I had prepared. Dejected, I sat in the darkest corner of the reading room, watching Leander explain ancient texts to a few young vampires in a voice as smooth as flowing water. He would occasionally drop a witty remark, drawing pleasant laughter from his audience. ""Lord Leander is so charming!"" a girl next to me whispered. ""How can there be such a perfect vampire in this world!"" ""I know, right? But Lord Leander has been with the prince forever. I hear their bond is unbreakable."" The more I listened, the angrier I got. I couldn't stand it anymore. I shot to my feet, ready to leave. The sound of my chair scraping against the floor startled the girl beside me and caught the attention of Leander at the lectern. ""This… human?"" he asked gently, his violet eyes holding a hint of curiosity. ""Is there a problem?"" I shook my head violently and fled the library like a cat whose tail had been stepped on. Chapter 3 This latest failure struck a deep blow to my fragile little heart. I lay in bed, tossing and turning. At this rate, when would I ever become the prince's companion? A thought suddenly flashed through my mind: I should just kidnap Leander. I was shocked by my own depravity, but the more I thought about it, the more feasible it seemed. No, not kidnap, just… scare him a little. If I couldn't make him break up with Alexis, then at the very least, he had to give me some hush money! No sooner said than done. After scouting for several days, I finally found the perfect opportunity and cornered him on the quiet path leading from the library back to the castle. ""Who are you?"" Leander wasn't panicked by my ambush. He simply raised an eyebrow, looking at me. ""You don't need to know who I am. I came to say something to you."" It was my first time doing something like this, and my heart was pounding. I tried to make my voice sound tougher. The beat of it was so loud in the silent night that I could feel his gaze piercing my skin, ""listening"" to the blood rushing through my veins. Leander must have been laughing internally as he watched me pretend to be calm. He probably saw me as a hissing kitten on the side of the road, utterly harmless. ""I… I want you to leave Alexis!"" I shouted, mustering all my courage. ""Oh?"" He looked at me with disbelief, and then his figure vanished before my eyes. In the next second, an immense force slammed me against the cold brick wall of the alley. A frigid hand clamped around my neck, choking off my breath. ""And why should I?"" The sudden reversal of power terrified me. Leander's strength was immense; the pressure on my throat made it almost impossible to breathe. The fear of death made my brain work sluggishly. I couldn't tell him it was because I wanted to take his place—he might actually snap my neck on the spot. I wanted money, not death! ""Still not talking?"" He saw my hesitation and his grip tightened. ""Should I help you by pulling out your tongue?"" ""Don't! Don't kill me!"" I began to struggle. ""I'll talk, I'll talk! It's because… because I've fallen in love with you! Lord Leander!"" He froze for a moment, and the pressure on my neck eased. I seized the chance to slip from his grasp, gasping for air while backing away. ""That's right. It's because I've fallen in love with you. It was love at first sight, my lord."" I started spouting nonsense, putting on my most sincere face to convince him. He quickly recovered, his brow furrowing for a moment before relaxing into a playful smile. ""A human from which town? What's your name?"" ""I'm… I'm Samuel, from the east side of town."" Sorry, my friend. I had to borrow your name. ""Alright, Samuel,"" he said, and to my astonishment, he believed me. ""As it happens, my lover is out hunting tonight. Why don't you come to the castle for a visit? We can have a nice long talk about your… admiration."" My mind raced. Alexis wasn't there, so my cover wouldn't be blown, and I could finally get inside the castle of my dreams. ""Of course, my lord!"" I eagerly approached him, taking his cold hand and feigning an overwhelmed, honored expression. He actually returned a gentle smile, his long fingers stroking my tousled hair as he led me home. Chapter 4 Leander brought me to his castle in the heart of the eternal night. The moment I stepped inside, I was struck by the enormous portrait of him and Alexis that dominated the grand hall. The aura of absolute power radiating from the two figures in the painting made me involuntarily take a step back. A pair of cold hands steadied me from behind. ""What's wrong?"" Leander asked, a hint of a smile in his voice. ""N-nothing!"" I forced myself to take another step into the room. What's there to be nervous about? I told myself. Don't forget why you're here! With that thought, my confidence returned. ""Lord Leander, your lover looks so… imposing,"" I said, adding a silent, Unlike you, who is both gentle and beautiful. He didn't respond to my comment. ""Samuel, please have a seat on the sofa in the drawing room. I'll get you a… warm drink. I'll be right back."" I sank into the velvet sofa, dazed. The exquisite fabric instantly soothed me, and I melted into it like an eel. Damn, the life of a vampire noble was good. I looked up to see Leander pouring me a glass of warm milk, playing the part of the gracious host. Another thought sparked in my mind: if I couldn't win over Alexis, becoming Leander's servant wouldn't be so bad. He was handsome and gentle, and he could support me with Alexis's wealth. The more I considered it, the more I liked the idea. I decided to offer some pleasantries to my new target. ""Lord Leander, do you need any help?"" ""Why, yes,"" his pleasant voice floated across the vast hall. ""Could you please stoke the fire in the fireplace for me?"" ""Right away!"" I shot up from the sofa and hurried to the fireplace, earning an appreciative smile from him. Just as I was basking in this false warmth, the heavy castle door creaked open, followed by a familiar, cold voice. ""I'm home."" It was Alexis. What? A mouthful of warm milk caught in my throat. I wanted to shove my head into the fireplace. How could he be back? Didn't Leander say he was out hunting and wouldn't return until tomorrow? This was a trap! The two vampires had conspired against me! I was done for. My heart pounded so hard it rang in my ears. I wished desperately for a magic portal to appear and swallow me whole. ""We have a guest?"" The deep, commanding voice I had only heard in legends spoke. Alexis hadn't seen my face yet; he was undoing the clasp of his blood-stained cloak, and the thick scent of iron made my stomach turn. ""A young man who… admires me,"" Leander replied calmly from his seat across from me, as if it were the most ordinary thing in the world. ""Excellent. My hunt was less than satisfying. He can be dessert."" With that, Alexis turned and walked toward me. I buried my head in the sofa cushions. Don't look at me, don't look at me… The footsteps stopped. I felt a gaze as sharp as a knife land on me. More importantly, he had caught my scent. It was over. ""Lift your head,"" he commanded, his tone brooking no argument. What should I do? My mind went blank. I buried my head even deeper. ""Samuel, lift your head,"" Leander's voice was still gentle and pleasant, but to me, it now sounded like the devil's summons. ""Allow me to introduce you. This is my lover, Alexis. Alexis, this is my admirer, Samuel."" A hand like an iron clamp seized my shoulder and yanked me from the sofa. When I saw the mixture of shock and fury on Alexis's handsome face, I knew everything was ruined. ""You?"" His voice rose sharply. My legs gave out, and I nearly crumpled to the floor, but the hand on my shoulder held me fast, the grip painfully tight. Terrified and in pain, I could only stammer out a plea. ""P-Prince, my lord, I didn't mean to… Lord Leander and I met by chance, yes, by chance!"" ""By chance he brought you back to the castle?"" Alexis's glare looked like it could flay me alive. He turned to the other vampire. ""Rio, what in the hell are you playing at!"" Leander, who had remained calmly seated the entire time, watched as if he were a mere spectator. He glanced at me lazily. ""You two know each other?"" ""He's the human from a few days ago, the one who tried to climb into my bed. His name is Rio,"" Alexis explained, dragging me forward like a piece of evidence. ""He was banished after his failed attempt to seduce me. He must hold a grudge and is trying to get back at me through you!"" ""Oh. So your name isn't Samuel,"" Leander said, his gaze settling on me. His eyes were calm, but they sent a chill deep into my bones. He gestured for Alexis to let me go. The moment Alexis released me, I collapsed before them like a boneless snake. All my dignity, all my plans, vanished into thin air. All I wanted was to live. ""I'm not! I wasn't trying to get revenge! Prince Alexis, Lord Leander, please spare my life!"" ""Spare you?"" A hint of amusement entered Leander's voice, as if he'd heard a funny joke. He tapped my inner thigh with the polished tip of his leather boot. ""We're not barbaric demons. Why would we take your life?"" Alexis's brow furrowed even deeper. ""He's tried to sabotage our relationship multiple times. Could he be a spy from a rival clan?"" ""No! No!"" I was scared out of my wits. I lunged forward and hugged Alexis's leg, sobbing uncontrollably as I confessed my entire stupid ""seduction"" plan. Talk about trying to steal a chicken only to lose the rice used to lure it. My gut twisted with regret. I blamed everything on my friend, Samuel. It was all his fault! He was the one who tempted me to seduce a vampire! Otherwise, how could a fine young human like me end up in such a mess? When I finished, a dead silence fell over the room, broken only by my muffled sobs. Finally, Leander spoke. He looked up at his lover. ""Alexis, what do you want to do with this little rat?"" Alexis looked back at him. I saw a complex emotion flash in his eyes—a mixture of desire and fury. Then, I heard the sentence that would decide my fate. ""Drag him to the dungeon,"" Leander said. Chapter 5 ""No! No! Not the dungeon!"" The words pierced me like icicles. My mind instantly flooded with all the horrific tales of vampire dungeons. A face like mine wouldn't last long in a place like that. I just wanted to be rich; I didn't want to be drained of blood and turned into a mummy! My face went pale with terror. I scrambled toward Leander and clung to his leg, smearing tears and snot all over him. ""Lord Leander, Professor Leander! I was wrong, I truly know I was wrong! I'll get out of here right now, I'll disappear! I promise, I swear, I will never appear before you again!"" I cried a river of tears, and through my blurry vision, I could see that both of them wore complicated expressions. Alexis had already summoned the guards, who were preparing to drag me away. In that moment, I felt true despair. ""Don't! Please, don't kill me!"" I shrieked, nearly lunging to bite him. A foot pressed down on my thigh, the gentle pressure sending a sharp pain through me that made me gasp. It was Leander. He had stopped me with effortless ease. ""We don't have to kill you,"" he said, crouching down. His cold fingers gripped my jaw, forcing me to look into his eyes. ""But what will you offer as compensation?"" Alexis waved the guards away. I stared at Leander in horror. I had been completely wrong. This seemingly gentle, elegant vampire noble was far more terrifying than the decisive, battle-hardened Prince Alexis. ""C-compensation? I don't have any money…"" My voice trembled. ""We don't want your money."" A smile I couldn't comprehend played on his lips. ""We want you. Your body, your blood, your everything."""
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