Reborn as a Vampire in a Dying World: Blood, Power, and Pleasure

"And what is that?" Corven replied with practiced grace, keeping his tone light but his posture alert. He had no choice but to project confidence—any hesitation here could be used against him.

"Simple. Where do you come from, then?" the Baroness asked, her voice casual but her eyes sharp, dissecting him piece by piece. "While my territory may be more isolated than most, that hardly explains why a high-ranking vampire would wander in unannounced, does it?"

Her gaze lowered briefly, inspecting his stance, his breathing, the tension in his shoulders—looking for any cracks in his composure.

A battle of bluffing.

But Corven wasn't new to this kind of game. Living as a broke archaeologist meant getting comfortable with deceit—faking permits, bluffing your way past guards, sneaking into ancient ruins under false names. He'd lied to survive, and now, survival was once again on the line.

"I'm not from anywhere," he replied smoothly, giving a slight shrug. "I move around. Nomadic, you could say. I explore, feed, and grow stronger as I go."

It was just vague enough to sound believable.

"I envy you then. Such a carefree life," the Baroness responded with a soft, sultry laugh. It was sudden, and Corven couldn't quite place the reason. Was she genuinely amused, or just toying with him?

Before he could say anything more—

KNOCK. KNOCK.

The sound echoed through the room, breaking the tension for just a moment.

"Looks like they've arrived," the Baroness said, motioning lazily toward the door.

It creaked open, and Lilian stepped in, escorted by Alexander. The latter gave Corven a brief, subtle nod—a silent gesture of support, or perhaps a wish of good luck. Either way, it was more than he usually got.

"I greet you, Your Majesty," Lilian said formally, offering a practiced bow. That alone said enough about the power the Baroness held here. The authentic version is on M|V|LEMPY_R.

Lilian already knew the gist of what had happened. Alexander had filled her in on the way—efficient and to the point.

The Baroness tilted her head slightly as she studied Lilian, a flicker of curiosity mixed with distaste flickering in her eyes. "You have the same blood as that man over there." Her voice was amused, though there was an underlying edge. "Was there really no other way?"

It wasn't revulsion at the idea of shared blood—it was the headache she foresaw in dealing with the politics it entailed.

"No," Corven answered casually, "it was close enough already. We got out by the skin of our teeth."

But while the Baroness and Corven kept up their verbal fencing, Lilian looked at Corven—her expression shifting the moment she got a proper look at him.

There was something different. Stronger. Sharper.

"Whe—when did you get so strong?" she blurted out, blinking. Not long ago, she could overpower him. Now… they stood on equal ground, maybe even tipping in his favor.

Corven chuckled. "I'll explain later, when the time's right."

Then, the Baroness made a small hand gesture—subtle, graceful, two fingers crossed and lowered. Corven didn't understand the meaning, but Lilian did.

She bowed once more.

"Let's meet again soon, Corven." Her voice was calm, though her eyes lingered on him a moment longer than necessary before she turned and walked out.

CLICK.

The door shut behind her.

"So your name's Corven?" the Baroness repeated, this time with a tinge of personal interest, like she was savoring it.

"Do we have anything else to discuss?" Corven asked, raising a brow. "Or can we talk about rewards now?"

It was clear she was dragging things out, enjoying herself a little too much. Even after his evolution, she still held the reins of this conversation—fierce, confident, and utterly composed.

"It's been a while since I've spoken with someone where I didn't have to choose every word like it's a chess piece," the Baroness mused aloud. "At least let me have a bit of fun."

Then she raised a finger to her lips, as if pondering. A mock gesture, clearly theatrical.

"But as for the reward…" she hummed, tapping her lips once, then smirked. "How about me?"

She said it like she was offering him a glass of wine. Casual. Routine.

Corven's expression cracked instantly.

"Excuse me?" he said, blinking, his poker face momentarily slipping.

He had been hoping for an alliance—not... whatever this was.

The Baroness laughed, the sound melodic and sweet, but unmistakably victorious. "Let me explain quickly. To be precise, I want you to rule beside me."

And then, as if reading his thoughts, she laid out the reasons without needing prompting.

She wasn't a full-blooded vampire—she was a dhampir, born of both human and vampire lineage. Her position was powerful, but unstable. The paladins and her silver-clad knights kept her throne intact, but not out of loyalty—more out of fear and duty. True respect among vampire circles? That was still lacking.

Leywin's assault was proof enough of that. Whatever pact had once protected her rule was now null and void.

Corven didn't know the exact details of the pact—and right now, he didn't care to dig. But her intentions were clear.

Having a full-fledged noble vampire beside her—especially one like Corven, without territory or clan—was an opportunity. He wasn't aligned, which meant no political blowback. If she could convince him, the rest of Underzen's fractious clans would think twice before making a move.

It was less about romance and more about power. Legitimacy. Leverage.

"You wouldn't even have to actually rule," she added, stepping forward and dismissing the fan in her hand with a wave. "Just act as a figurehead. Or a more… special kind of bodyguard."

She extended her hand toward him, elegant and deliberate.

"Will you accept?" she asked, voice playful, but there was steel beneath her tone. "You stand to gain more than I do."

At that exact moment—

[Core Quest Triggered]

[Objective: Obtain territory]

[Reward: ???]

The notification blinked across Corven's vision, invisible to anyone else. His jaw tightened slightly.

'A core quest, huh…' he thought. 'Just my luck. Looks like I don't really have a choice here.'

He sighed inwardly and took her hand, offering a reluctant smile.

"Next time," he muttered, "please use better wording."

The Baroness's smirk deepened. "Why? Did such a powerful and composed vampire like you get flustered by a juvenile joke?"

And just like that, Corven realized—he hadn't climbed the ranks in the way he planned. He'd been drafted into a civil war he didn't even see coming.