Chapter 18: Objects in the Bag
Vlad looked down at Elena, cradled gently in his arms. She wore a nun's habit, her long chestnut-red hair cascading over her shoulders, and her tear-streaked face was like a pear blossom in the rain. Speaking in a soft voice, he gently soothed her distress.
Once Elena had calmed down, Vlad began to piece together what had happened.
It was his fault.
Back when he had been in the Sultan's court, he encountered Elena by chance—she was passing near the palace, on her way back to the monastery.
Unable to resist, he approached and began teasing her. At first, the innocent girl was wary and tried to leave.
But Elena, who had grown up in the monastery with little contact with the outside world, was no match for Vlad's charm.
Not only did she fail to walk away, but after just a few casual exchanges, her wariness melted, and she found herself close to him.
Unfortunately, the scene was witnessed by the old nun, who became furious. After returning to the monastery, she punished Elena for violating doctrine—which led to the scene now before them.
"When I first came to the monastery, I heard awful rumors about the abbess. I didn't believe them then… I never thought…" Alyssa said, choking up and starting to cry again.
Of course. Anyone who had experienced such a humiliating event would be deeply shaken.
Vlad quietly held the trembling girl, offering comfort as her emotions slowly calmed.
When Elena stopped crying and looked up, her pale face still wet with tears, she blushed suddenly.
She had just realized how impulsive it was to throw herself into Vlad's arms like that.
Her heart pounded uncontrollably.
Will he think I'm the kind of girl who just throws herself at someone? she thought, face burning.
Vlad saw her expression—shy, confused, eyes hazy with emotion. He thought she must have been moved by affection but too embarrassed to admit it.
In that moment, considering himself a gentleman, he didn't want her to linger in awkward silence.
So, he leaned down and gently kissed her.
Elena's eyes widened in shock. Her body stiffened. Before she could process what was happening, she felt his warm breath against her cheek.
He… he kissed me! We just met. Isn't this going way too fast?!
Her mind reeled. But before she could resist, Vlad's skilled kiss had already taken her breath away.
Time seemed to stand still. Just as she thought she might suffocate, Vlad finally pulled back.
A thin thread of saliva stretched between them as they separated.
Elena blushed so deeply that even her ears turned red.
Burying her face against Vlad's chest, she didn't dare look up. Vlad chuckled softly at the sight.
Then a sudden sound interrupted the moment between them.
"What's wrong with Dean Martha?" Elena asked, noticing the old nun curled in the corner, trembling and weeping in fear at nothing.
The scene was bizarre and deeply unsettling. Elena instinctively pressed herself against Vlad's chest, seeking the safety of his presence.
"She just relived the most terrifying moment of her life," Vlad said calmly.
"The most terrifying?" Elena blinked. She wanted to ask more, but didn't know how.
Noticing her hesitation, Vlad answered plainly, "Yes. I did it."
Elena opened her rosy lips in shock.
Vlad looked at her stunned expression, amused, and gently closed her mouth with his finger.
Snapping out of it, Elena awkwardly wiped the corner of her lips, even though there was nothing there. Then she realized what she was doing and blushed again, lightly punching Vlad several times in embarrassment.
Her gestures were smooth, natural—like a girl in love. It was clear: she had fallen for him.
In a strange twist of fate, the old nun's outrage had helped bring them together. She hadn't wronged Elena after all.
But clearly, the old nun wasn't someone who strictly followed the doctrine either.
At this point, Vlad told Elena that he had placed the nun under a mental illusion—forcing her to relive her most traumatic memory.
"Elena, would you like to possess this kind of extraordinary power?"
"A power to protect yourself… so no one can bully you again."
Vlad leaned close, gently biting her earlobe. His voice was low, laced with temptation.
Elena shivered, as though a spark had shot down her spine and spread through her entire body.
Listening to her heavy breathing, Vlad smiled knowingly.
He lifted her flushed face. She didn't resist.
"Then let me show you."
He pulled her into his arms again, beginning the prelude to their first embrace.
As her face turned bright red and her body slowly responded, Vlad shifted positions.
Looking at Elena, now dazed and barely able to think, he grinned.
His pants were wet.
Where did that come from? Vlad blinked.
For a moment, he was genuinely confused. Then his eyes drifted to the girl in his arms, and everything became clear.
Moonlight spilled through the window, illuminating Elena's soft and delicate features—like a fairy tale painting. She looked like a sleeping princess, and even Vlad's cold heart softened at the sight.
"The moon is beautiful tonight," he said.
He glanced at the full moon in the sky, then turned to Elena—who was pretending to sleep beside him—and added,
"Don't you think so, Elena?"
She stayed still, but her long lashes fluttered, and her eyes clearly twitched beneath closed lids. Vlad couldn't help but laugh.
"If you don't get up, I'm going to leave now," he teased, rising to his feet.
"No!" Elena shot up, wide-eyed and panicked.
Seeing Vlad's playful smile, she instantly realized she had been tricked.
Embarrassed and annoyed, she glared at him. Vlad leaned in with a smirk and whispered,
"Don't be shy. I really… like that side of you."
Before Elena could respond, Vlad walked to the window, transformed into a swarm of ghostly bats, and flew off into the night.
Startled, Elena glanced at the still-shaking old nun, then turned into a cluster of bats and chased after Vlad.
When she caught up with him, she noticed he was holding a package.
"Take it. Follow me," Vlad said.
"What is it?"
Curious, Elena took the package. When Vlad didn't answer, her curiosity got the better of her, and she slowly opened it.
Inside, she found a hemp rope that looked familiar, a leather whip, a small white ball with a hole in the center, and a piece of black gauze.
Why… why do these seem so familiar?
Then she felt a warm breath against her ear. Jolted, Elena suddenly came to her senses.
"You… you don't mean—?" she stammered, her lips trembling, her eyes looking at Vlad with helpless watery surprise.