Chapter 94: Ah? You brought the whole castle?
In the world of vampires, the name "Brunsteid" was not merely a surname, it was a title and a symbol.
Only members of the True Ancestor royal bloodline may bear the surname Brunsteid.
The Queen of the Moon, Arcueid Brunsteid, sealed herself within the "Millennium Castle," and every bloodsucker regarded her as the rightful Empress of their kind.
Yet that overwhelming power, combined with the immortality of the vampire race, led Arcueid to slowly grow bored.
If every day of your life is just a repeat of the last… then what's the difference between a year and a single day?
That's what existence had become for Arcueid.
And it was during one of those endless, dull days that a boy appeared in the Millennium Castle.
Logically speaking, the Millennium Castle was a unique reality marble, a "bounded field" formed through imagined phenomena, and only vampires should be able to step into it.
Yet the boy had entered the castle as a mere mortal, causing a stir among the vampires at the time.
Out of curiosity, Arcueid kept him at her side and even invited him to become her familiar.
But the boy firmly refused.
And so, for a long time after that, he remained by her side.
He said he came from another planet, and would talk about many strange and fascinating things from that world.
Like others, he addressed Arcueid with formality and respect when he first met her.
But human interaction… is ruled by a kind of "presence."
Though he called her "Lady Arcueid" constantly, when they spoke in private, he showed no fear of her, just talking like she was a friend.
…He even dared to look directly at her face.
Arcueid didn't mind the impoliteness.
In fact, she was curious what kind of feelings this boy held toward her, to want to stay so close.
"Vampires live far too long. In this endless life of mine, I'm just a passing traveler. I never asked for anything, but if possible, I'd like to stay by your side until the end."
That was his answer at the time.
"..It sounds touching. But don't forget—I'm a True Ancestor. I can feel how your blood heats up when you're around me. Your upper body and lower body temperature are very different."
"That answer you gave, was it a lie? I've asked the other True Ancestors in the castle… your behavior resembles romantic desire."
Cornered against the wall, the boy could only take a deep breath as two soft, warm spheres pressed gently against his chest.
"..Miss Arcueid, seriously… what kind of hot-blooded young man could stay calm in this situation?"
Just imagine it: a golden-haired vampiric empress slamming you into a wall with a full-body kabedon, leaning in close, her weight pressing against you, and asking.
"Why is your body so hot? Do you love me?"
No one could stay composed in a scene like that.
Hearing the boy's words, Arcueid simply responded with a joyous laugh, then bent down and bit his neck.
"I know you're gravely ill. But if you became a vampire, all your problems would vanish. Consider yourself lucky… I've marked you with the First Embrace."
"If you agree, you will become my very first slave, chosen and turned by me."
To be honest, she had expected the boy to react with delight or at least flustered excitement.
Instead, what she got… was a quiet, tired voice.
"..Sorry. But I know my body better than anyone. If possible, I just want to stay by your side for what little time I have, as a human."
"As for the First Embrace… forget it."
And he kept that promise, staying beside her until his final breath.
…
Snapping out of her drifting memories, Arcueid's crimson eyes flickered in shock, her gaze locked on the young face before her.
That face from her memories—
No… not "almost the same." It was identical.
No wonder she'd felt something familiar when drinking his blood just now.
The divine and draconic elements were unfamiliar, yes, but the "human" part of Alvin's blood… was exactly the same as that boy's, back in the Millennium Castle.
Was she hallucinating?
Could it be… his child?
Or did he never die at all?
While Arcueid's mind raced with questions, Alvin's thoughts had already gone completely blank, consumed by despair.
Little Mo, what the hell are you doing?!
Sure, Mordred was historically known as the rebellious one… but this?
Getting betrayed from behind at this critical moment?!
Well, to be fair, it wasn't her fault.
After all, she wasn't acting of her own free will, she had been compelled by Arcueid's First Embrace.
"So this is what Britain's White Dragon looks like…"
Arcueid suddenly said, her voice icy and cool. "..No wonder you made King Arthur fall for you. I suppose you are quite good-looking."
"..But for some reason, your face feels eerily familiar… like someone I used to know."
Hearing her words, Morgan narrowed her eyes slightly and asked with feigned nonchalance, "..What was your relationship with this person?"
Arcueid's crimson eyes held a faint smile. "..He once said he would stay with me until the end of his life. If we're speaking in terms of vows… I suppose you could call us lovers."
"And what a coincidence—Mr. Alvin looks exactly like my dearly departed lover."
…
...
Deep within the royal palace, Merlin, who'd been eavesdropping and munching on gossip all along, suddenly leaned in with glittering eyes and perked-up ears.
That one sentence had exploded like a nuclear bomb.
The gathered Knights of the Round Table exchanged stunned looks, shock plain in their eyes.
Wait what?!
Alvin… and the UO from the Moon?!
Lancelot's expression shifted from utter confusion to reluctant acceptance.
At first, he thought Alvin had gone off the rails, but come to think of it, Lancelot had only ever seduced girls from normal households…
And Alvin?
Turns out the woman who descended from the freaking moon was his ex?!
Gawain and Agravain wore equally complex expressions.
Meanwhile, Sir Kay, Artoria's brother, was barely holding it together.
Morgan?
Fine, he could deal with that.
After all, they were all family issues.
But this woman?
Was the Princess the Moon descent to Earth all just… for Alvin?
She had arrived with aggression and overwhelming power.
But now…
Was she here for love?!
Could this be… a diplomatic marriage opportunity?
No, calm down, Kay… there's no such thing as two identical flowers.
Maybe Alvin just happens to resemble Arcueid's old flame…
Besides, hadn't Alvin already married the King?
There's no way he's going for a second wife, right?
…
And with that, every eye present slowly turned to Alvin.
The atmosphere suddenly grew strange. The gazes of Artoria and Morgan both turned directly toward the boy.
Alvin appeared calm on the surface, but anyone who knew him well enough could see he was already sweating profusely.
Since her last words, Arcueid hadn't spoken again, she merely continued staring silently at the boy.
If it was just based on the bite from earlier, she couldn't determine whether Alvin was truly the same person from the castle back then.
However.. there was one way to verify it.
Arcueid quickly reined in her thoughts, and for the first time, her usually cold and indifferent voice held a trace of uncertainty.
"..I suppose it was just my imagination. You do look very similar, but the aura you carry is different from his.. He was much weaker than you."
As soon as those words left her lips, the awkward tension seemed to ease somewhat.
Yet not a single person dared relax their guard.
After all, from the moment this woman arrived, she had made her hostility clear.
No one knew what she would do next.
Morgan narrowed her eyes and sneered, "..Moon King, what exactly do you plan to do now? If you're not here to fight, I suggest you leave Britain's territory immediately."
Morgan had always been direct and forceful, and even in the face of Arcueid Brunsteid, she was no different.
"..Don't be so hasty. There's one thing I still need to confirm before I leave."
Arcueid gazed quietly at Alvin.
"..Once I've confirmed it, I'll have my answer."
Confirm something..?
Upon hearing that, not only Morgan but even Artoria and the rest of the Knights of the Round showed puzzled expressions.
The Moon King, that woman, had clearly come to Earth with her eyes on the White Dragon.
Although her goal remained unclear, but it clearly wasn't friendly.
Yet after seeing Alvin's face, her attitude had become strangely vague and contradictory..
What exactly did she want?
While the others were still deep in thought, Arcueid slowly raised her right hand and with elegance, snapped her fingers.
A unique wave of magic rippled through the air like water.
In that instant, even Lancelot and the others felt their breath catch.
BOOM—
The calm of the night was instantly shattered.
From beneath the night sky, a colossal structure descended like a falling meteor, slowly pressing toward the earth below!
It was an enormous castle, its ancient, solemn architecture radiating grandeur, sacred and oppressive.
The moment it appeared, a suffocating, empty aura filled the land.
That obsidian palace stood beneath the heavens. And with it as the center, an invisible wave of pressure began to spread outward.
Alvin's expression changed slightly as if he'd realized something.
—Reality Marble
A unique Authority belonging solely to the Moon King, Arcueid.
As the name implies, it allowed her to create anything she imagined.
And now.. she had summoned the Millennium Castle?!
Suddenly, Alvin felt a faint burning sensation at the back of his neck.
A radiant crimson glow flickered to life.
—The First Embrace mark Arcueid had once left on him!