After a few days, news about Charlotte and Lilia had spread throughout the Empire Capital.
Now, everyone’s favorite gossip over tea and meals was just how many respectable young ladies Charlotte had ruined in the past.
As the rumors passed from person to person, the truth inevitably became distorted.
Charlotte’s reputation hadn’t been good to begin with, and now he had become the villain everyone despised—a mischief-maker who, at age three, lifted the skirts of Servants, flirted with girls at seven, abused his fiancée at thirteen, and by sixteen, was said to sneak into the bedrooms of Noble Ladies every night, never repeating the same one twice.
In any case, saying all this wouldn’t cost anyone anything, and Charlotte had never bothered to clarify the rumors.
At this moment, the very subject of all the criticism was leisurely enjoying an afternoon nap in a public residence of the Mistmoon Family in the Empire Capital.
Knock, knock.
Two knocks sounded at the door.
Charlotte was sitting at the study desk in the drawing room, reading a Magic Book under the gentle sunlight.
He replied calmly, “Come in.”
A Servant entered the room carrying a tea tray, walked to Charlotte’s side, and placed the tea in front of him with practiced grace. She bowed respectfully.
“Home Owner, Miss Floleen Weiss has sent a letter. She wishes to meet with you tomorrow afternoon.”
Charlotte had just taken a sip of tea. Whether the tea was too hot or he was too shocked, he spat it all out in one go.
“Pfft… cough, cough, cough!”
Usually calm and composed, Charlotte now finally wore an expression on his face. It was a mixture of awkwardness and embarrassment that gave him quite a headache…
The Servant hurriedly wiped up the tea Charlotte had sprayed onto the floor.
“Sorry… I’ve troubled you,” Charlotte apologized to the Servant, feeling bad for adding to her workload.
“It’s nothing… it’s my duty, Home Owner…”
Floleen Weiss.
The cherished daughter of the Weiss Family, born in the richest territory of the empire, a true Noble Lady.
Although only a Countess, her family’s wealth rivaled that of Dukes. She was also Charlotte’s fiancée.
To put it bluntly, the Weiss Family were basically the Mistmoon Family’s financial backers.
Yet, Charlotte had managed to offend the backers. Now, the heiress herself was likely coming to demand an explanation.
Charlotte sighed helplessly, muttering to himself.
“So it’s Floleen this time? There’s still some time before the Banquet, and Floleen’s coming early… she must be here to question me…”
The Emperor had invited the various nobles of the Kalishi Empire to a Banquet in the near future.
In the past, it was always Floleen’s father who attended such Political Banquets, but this time it was Floleen herself.
Of course, Charlotte understood why. After all, he had made a mistake.
Even though he was already engaged, he had confessed his feelings to a Duke’s Daughter, completely disregarding his fiancée’s reputation.
How could the Weiss Family continue mingling in noble circles after such humiliation? Charlotte’s actions were a blatant insult to them.
There was nothing for it—the trouble he’d caused, he would have to bear himself.
As the Head of the Mistmoon Family, it was his responsibility to deal with the consequences.
The Servant had finished cleaning and now stood quietly to the side, waiting for Charlotte’s instructions.
After much deliberation, Charlotte decided not to meet her.
He was currently at a crucial stage of his plan; nothing could be allowed to go wrong.
As for the aftermath, he would go to apologize in person.
“Please help me turn down the meeting. Just say I’m not here.”
“I understand.”
Charlotte added, “Thank you for your hard work. After this, you can take a vacation, and have the other Servants in the house leave as well. Come back when I notify you.”
The Servant acknowledged his instructions respectfully and left the room to carry out his orders.
Bang.
As the study door closed gently, a clear, melodic voice, tinged with laughter, rang out.
“I knew you wouldn’t want to see me~”
Charlotte’s eyes widened, and he looked toward the window.
A breathtakingly beautiful girl with platinum wavy hair stood outside like a goddess descending to earth.
The only oddity was the pair of massive bat-like wings sprouting from her lower back, their blood-red veins visible even in the sunlight.
“Floleen, you… hurry and come in…” Charlotte anxiously opened the window—if someone saw this, it would be a disaster.
“You big dummy, Charlotte! Here I come!” Floleen flapped her bat wings and dove straight into Charlotte’s arms.
Charlotte caught her, spinning once to soften Floleen’s momentum.
Nestled in Charlotte’s embrace, Floleen smiled, withdrew her wings, and they melted away into tiny Divine Marks on her lower back.
Charlotte was a little upset, “Floleen, do you realize what trouble you’d cause both our families if anyone saw you’re a Bloodfiend?”
Floleen ignored his words and retorted, “Charlotte, what, feeling guilty and too scared to face me?”
“That’s a separate issue…” Charlotte felt awkward, knowing full well he was in the wrong.
He’d decided not to see her, only to be caught red-handed.
The Weiss Family, in truth, were not human; their ancestors were bona fide Vampires. Very few people knew this.
Since Bloodfiends couldn’t hide their pointed ears, the family claimed elven ancestry to outsiders.
“Hmph! Still making excuses? If I hadn’t barged in today, were you planning to avoid me for the rest of your life?”
Floleen narrowed her crimson eyes, greedily inhaling Charlotte’s scent, clinging to him affectionately.
“I planned to come apologize after everything was over… ah…” A sharp pain in his shoulder made Charlotte suck in a breath.
Floleen had just pulled aside Charlotte’s shirt and now bit down with her sharp fangs, drinking his blood.
Normally, Charlotte would stop her, but since he had indeed wronged her this time, he let Floleen have her way as compensation.
“Sigh… in your family, you’re the only true Bloodfiend left…”
In fact, Floleen was the only one in the Weiss Family who still drank blood—because she loved the taste of Charlotte’s blood.
Bloodfiends had long since diverged from their Vampire ancestors.
After generations of intermarriage with humans and Elves, Vampires had become no different from Elves—they didn’t fear sunlight, nor did they need blood to survive.
Some had even lived alongside Elves in history, and a few still wandered the Continent—like the Weiss Family.
But Floleen was different. Ever since tasting Charlotte’s blood in her Childhood, something inside her had awakened.
According to her, Charlotte’s blood was simply irresistible.
Normally she could resist, but whenever she saw Charlotte, she couldn’t help but take a sip or two.
“Gulp… this is… punishment… gulp,” Floleen mumbled as she fed on his shoulder.
Charlotte was used to it by now—his fiancée always had to bite him when they met. Since it wasn’t life-threatening, he just let her be.
“You really are a scoundrel… publicly confessing to a Duke’s Daughter… and while you already have a fiancée,” Floleen said between swallows.
“Swallow before you talk…”
“Hmph, can’t even face it now? Feeling guilty… Charlotte, you…”
Charlotte was helpless; his fiancée seemed to be in a bad mood.
“I know I was wrong, Floleen. I really didn’t consider your feelings.”
Floleen finished feeding, left Charlotte’s shoulder, and licked his wound. Soon, his skin was flawless once more.
“You’re just like you were in Childhood—always biting me…”
“This is my way of showing possession. By leaving a Divine Mark on you, it tells everyone you already belong to someone.”
Charlotte wiped the drool from his body, “Sigh… you win.”
“What’s this? You’re not satisfied with this reward from me?!” Floleen forcefully pushed the disheveled Charlotte against the wall.
Floleen was certain she had Charlotte completely under her control.
As a noble, Charlotte usually stood on moral high ground, but this time he was at fault—so she could do as she pleased.
“It’s not that I’m dissatisfied. I just feel sorry. My dear fiancée, will you forgive me this time?”
Charlotte didn’t like being led by the nose. He put his arm around Floleen’s slender waist and swapped their positions—now Floleen was pressed against the wall.
“I truly haven’t done anything to wrong you. I’ve always believed you are the Answer to My Life.”
Hearing Charlotte’s sudden words of affection, Floleen lost all her earlier aggression.
Her crimson eyes lowered, a hint of pink blossoming on her cheeks.
With her face flushed, she muttered, “Hmph! Just like the rumors say, the Marquis of Stolen Hearts really knows how to win girls’ favor—a real heartless playboy.”
Charlotte lowered the hand resting near her platinum hair. “Who do you think started those rumors…?”
“Hmph!”
Floleen turned away—in truth, she was the one who started it all.
Due to certain circumstances, Charlotte had been in contact with several Noble Ladies to investigate whether their families possessed any Divine Artifacts.
Charlotte, as a dashing noble and a hereditary Inheritance Marquis, was popular in high society and considered a prime candidate for marriage.
As a result, his fiancée became displeased, and soon a multitude of unfounded rumors spread.
Eventually, no noble ladies wanted anything to do with Charlotte.
Charlotte understood—Floleen was jealous. But, to be fair, he had neglected her somewhat.
He knew his fiancée had been patiently enduring her loneliness so as not to disturb his important work.
So, Charlotte tolerated Floleen’s little fits—his own unique way of showing favoritism to her, albeit a somewhat twisted one.