Martial Emperor of Blue Star, Turned into a Blood Slave Girl by a Vampire Princess

Degrienne hugged her knees, sitting on the cold stone floor.

The chamber, already grim and oppressive, suddenly felt unbearably vast and empty.
She absentmindedly twirled a strand of silver hair around her finger, her chest swelling with an emotion she couldn’t name.
“I’m losing it…”

She murmured, face buried between her knees. “I actually wanted her to stay longer…”
The thought startled even her.
She shook her head violently, as if trying to fling the absurd notion out of her mind.

She told herself it was just the darkness, the silence, and the unease from that shadow in the corner—
A temporary weakness caused by a lack of security.
Like a drowning person clutching any piece of driftwood, even one lined with thorns.

There was no way she could ever feel attached to that vampire.
That demon with bloodstained hands… the one who turned her from Martial Emperor into this fragile little girl…
“Absolutely impossible,” she muttered through gritted teeth.

But when she recalled what Catherine had said before leaving, her eyes once again drifted to the corner of the room.
The shadow was still there. Motionless. Watching.
Catherine had said there were no ghosts in the chamber, and yet—there it stood.

“Whatever. It can’t hurt me anyway,” Degrienne muttered, resigned, and slumped onto the floor.
The post-feeding drowsiness crept up on her, and soon she curled up and drifted off.
The dream struck her fast and hard.

In it, the shadow moved.
It slid silently across the floor, inching closer… and closer…
Until it stopped, less than ten meters away.
Then, it began to lift its head.
That was when Degrienne saw it—
A face without features, slowly… growing them.

First, a slit of crimson tore open, revealing jagged fangs smeared with raw flesh.
Then, two blood-red eyes appeared. No pupils. Just swirling, nauseating red.
“Ah—!” Degrienne screamed awake, her back soaked with sweat.

She snapped her head toward the corner—and her heart nearly stopped.
The shadow had moved.
It was closer now—exactly where it had stood in the dream.

The contours were still vague, but the sensation of being watched was sharper than ever.
Degrienne trembled uncontrollably, her breath ragged.
She stared at the shadow, suddenly realizing something terrifying:

It was slowly getting closer with time.
If it kept approaching like this—
“No. I can’t just wait to die.” She forced herself to stay calm and began observing the shadow.

The features were still unclear, but the shape… something about it seemed familiar. Tall, slightly hunched—
Wait. Why the hell would this thing look familiar!?
A wave of helplessness crashed over her.

She knew she couldn’t just sit here doing nothing, but with her powers sealed, what else could she do but stare?
“When that old witch comes back…” she muttered, “I’ll make her see it with her own damn eyes.”
But when she thought back to how casually Catherine had brushed her off last time, something bitter welled up in her chest.

She had told her there was something in the room. And that woman hadn’t even looked.
“All that talk about caring for me… It’s all bullshit, isn’t it?”
Degrienne laughed bitterly. She sat back on the tall chair, kicking her small feet idly.

Maybe Catherine had locked her in here on purpose, just so that thing…
The thought chilled her to the bone.
But then again, hadn’t she already made peace with death the moment she crossed worlds?

Every extra day was a bonus.
Still… this powerless, submissive little girl body… the humiliating silver collar around her neck…
Her nose burned. Her eyes welled up with heat.

She didn’t even know what made her feel this way. Was it realizing Catherine didn’t care?
Or just how weak and helpless she’d become?
Right as her tears were about to fall—

The door to the chamber slid open without a sound. A sweep of dark red silk crossed the threshold.
Degrienne’s lashes quivered. A jolt of joy bloomed in her chest—only to be drowned in a tide of shame.
She was happy, again, to see that enemy?

“…Heh.” She tugged at the corners of her mouth bitterly and buried her head lower.
Catherine’s high heels clicked as she approached. Each sharp tap echoed inside Degrienne’s chest.
She felt the woman crouch in front of her. Cool fingers lifted her chin.

“What’s wrong, my little Degrienne?” Catherine’s voice was gentle. “Who made you upset?”
Degrienne bit her lip hard, stubbornly refusing to lift her head.
She didn’t want Catherine to see her red eyes. Didn’t want to admit her fear, or the anticipation.

“Speak.”
Catherine’s fingers tightened slightly, forcing her to look up.
Their gazes met—and Catherine’s crimson eyes narrowed sharply.

The silver-haired girl’s eyes were rimmed red, a single tear clinging to her lashes, yet she stared back defiantly.
Catherine’s breath hitched for a moment.
“So cute…” she murmured. Then leaned in and licked the tear from Degrienne’s cheek.

“Y-You—!” Degrienne jerked away, but Catherine held her head in place.
Her tongue traced the eyelid, making Degrienne’s whole body shudder.
And then the dam broke. The tears spilled freely.

Catherine blinked in surprise at the reaction. “Why are you crying, baby girl?”
Without waiting for an answer, she pulled Degrienne into her arms, tucking her face against her chest.
“Who bullied you? Hm? Tell me.”

Degrienne’s voice was muffled. “Don’t act like you care… you’re the one who sent that ghost to scare me!”
“Ghost?” Catherine raised an eyebrow. “What ghost?”
“Over there!” Degrienne pointed at the corner. “That shadow, ten meters out!”

Catherine followed the direction of her finger. Her crimson eyes flashed with something unreadable—but it vanished quickly.
“There’s nothing there.”
“No way!” Degrienne whipped around to look—

And froze.
The corner was empty. Not a shadow in sight.
Was it… really just her imagination? Hallucinations from being trapped in the dark too long?

Catherine’s lips brushed her ear, warm breath teasing her skin.
“I’m sorry, my little Degrienne. If I hadn’t locked you in here…”
Her heart skipped a beat.

This Catherine… was so strangely gentle…
“Th-Then let me out!” she blurted. Her face flushed against her will.
“No can do~”

Catherine chuckled as she unfastened the silver chain from Degrienne’s neck. “You snuck into the chamber, remember? You still have a punishment to finish.”
She took Degrienne’s hand. “But since you’ve reflected so well, I’ll let you soak in the blood pool today as a reward.”
Degrienne froze—the blood pool! The one she had…

Catherine didn’t seem to notice her panic. She walked toward the pool as if nothing were wrong.
Degrienne’s heart leapt into her throat. She stammered, “O-On second thought, maybe I’ll pass…”
“Shy, are we?” Catherine looked back with a smile. “I’ll soak with you, of course.”

Degrienne’s face turned beet red. Her ears burned.
She watched as Catherine untied the sash of her gown. Those long legs lifted gracefully. Her toes dipped toward the surface—
“Wait.” Catherine pulled her foot back, frowning.

Degrienne’s heart seized. Cold sweat broke across her back.
Had she been caught!?
“I should’ve asked Isabella to ★ 𝐍𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 ★ bring wine…” Catherine muttered, tilting her head. Then she waved it off. “Oh well. Maybe next time.”

Degrienne exhaled in relief.
Thank god. She hadn’t noticed.
Catherine lifted her foot again. Degrienne’s heart climbed straight back into her throat.

Then—Catherine turned toward her, crimson eyes locking onto hers.
“Why haven’t you undressed yet, cutie?”
Her lips curled. “Need Mommy to help you?”

“Who—Who needs your help?!” Degrienne turned away, flustered, fingers trembling as she unfastened her buttons.
By the time her last undergarment fell, she was blushing all the way down to her chest. She scrambled to cover herself.
Catherine nodded in satisfaction and turned back to the pool.

Degrienne silently prayed, Please, please, don’t let anything go wrong this time…
But the heavens were cruel.
The instant Catherine’s toes touched the blood, she recoiled sharply.

Her expression darkened. The atmosphere plummeted.
“Degrienne…”
The silver-haired girl went rigid. The color drained from her face.

“Your reaction just now was adorable~” Catherine’s voice was sweet—too sweet. “I was going to tease you a little longer…”
Her hand shot out and clamped Degrienne’s face.
“But the thought of you peeing in my blood pool…”

Degrienne felt like lightning struck her spine. Her silver eyes constricted in horror.
She… she’d known all along?! All those earlier hesitations had been a game!?
Before she could react, Catherine scooped her up and sat down by the pool.

Degrienne was pinned face-down across those long, pale thighs, her bare bottom fully exposed to the cold air.
The chill made her toes curl in shame.
“Y-You old witch! Let me go!” Degrienne thrashed, silver hair flailing. “I was wrong, okay! I admit it!”

Catherine’s cool hand traced her trembling skin, her voice curling with danger:
“Now you know you were wrong? Too late.”