Chapter – 06. Hands Off
The servant Harmon stood before a large door, tense and nervous.
This was because behind this door was none other than Pietro Chepesh, the heir of one of the pureblood families, the next head who would lead the next generation of vampires.
Harmon glanced at the envelope in his hand.
The envelope bore the seal of a crimson lily.
It was the crest of the Lilith family.
Harmon hesitated, unsure if it was right to deliver this.
After much deliberation, he took a deep breath and knocked on the door.
“What is it?”
Hearing the voice from inside, Harmon opened the door.
The moment it opened, a sharp scent of strong perfume hit his nose.
Red lamp light mixed strangely with an unidentifiable purple smoke, filling the room.
At the center of the dizzying bed lay a man with platinum hair: Pietro Chepesh, heir of the Chepesh family.
Pietro didn’t even glance at Harmon, instead pressing his lips deeply to a woman dangling from his arm.
The scene was so scandalous that Harmon naturally lowered his head.
“What is the matter?”
“P-Pietro… my apologies.”
Harmon apologized immediately. He had only come to deliver a letter, but judging by the atmosphere, he felt like if he didn’t apologize, a spike might be driven into his body at any moment.
“B-But it’s… a very important matter.”
“Oh, of course it is. It must be important if it’s disturbing my art.”
From Harmon’s perspective, leaving bite marks and hand marks on women could hardly be called art. But for now, not angering Pietro was the priority.
“L-Lilith family sent an invitation.”
At Harmon’s words, Pietro, who had been deeply engaged with the woman, stopped abruptly.
“What did you say?”
“The Lilith family sent an invitation.”
“Give it here.”
Pietro reached out, and Harmon rushed forward, handing over the invitation.
Pietro didn’t open it immediately. He lowered his gaze, scrutinizing the seal carefully.
“Did your father know?”
“Yes, my master has also received the invitation.”
“Two invitations for one family?”
Pietro laughed, a sharp sound of disbelief.
“So even that woman has her charms, huh?”
Seeing that level of courtesy, he decided it must be read. Pietro tore open the envelope and pulled out the letter.
As he read the contents, his expression gradually hardened.
“Pietro… sir? What’s wrong?”
The woman by his side, curious, looked at him, but Pietro said nothing.
The other women clinging to him also remained silent.
“What’s in it…?”
Unable to resist, one of the women reached for the letter.
“Hands off!”
Pietro snapped, shoving her away.
The woman was thrown out of the bed, but Pietro didn’t spare a glance.
“That Camilla dares…”
Unable to contain his rising anger, Pietro crumpled the letter in his hand mercilessly.
“Harmon!”
“Yes!”
“Prepare the carriage immediately!”
“Eh?”
“Are you deaf? Prepare to go to that Camilla!”
“Yes!”
At Pietro’s harsh command, Harmon dashed out of the room.
After the servant left, Pietro rose from the bed.
“Pietro… sir, where are you going?”
“To Camilla. Who is this woman anyway?”
The women, oblivious to the tension, clung to him even as Pietro’s mood clearly soured.
‘This is why inferior beings won’t do.’
Even though he had brought different species for a unique amusement, this was not entertaining. Pietro exhaled a heavy sigh.
“Who is Camilla?”
His dark eyes flashed.
“She’s a woman incomparable to any of you.”
A cold smile followed.
By the time his door reopened, it was no longer the scent of perfume but the thick smell of blood. Pietro’s hands, robe, and face were splattered with blood.
When Pietro arrived at the Lilith estate, the servants were visibly startled, whispering among themselves.
Pietro sensed something was off.
Normally, it would be natural for anyone to be surprised by a sudden midnight visitor.
But Pietro was different.
The Chepesh family was currently the Lilith family’s guardian, and Pietro was the Chepesh heir.
He had the right to visit the Lilith estate at will, and it was expected.
Yet the extreme surprise of the servants indicated they were hiding something.
“Pietro… sir, may I ask why you’re here at this hour?”
Unlike the others, only Ben maintained his usual composure.
However…
“Camilla, where is she now?”
Pietro went straight for Camilla, and Ben fell silent, realizing Pietro already knew everything.
“If you had nothing to hide, you wouldn’t have asked why I came at this hour.”
From the question itself, they were already in the wrong.
“I’ll ask again. Where is she?”
“Well… that is—”
“No, forget it. It’s easier if I find her myself than force the mouth of a loyal servant.”
Without waiting for a reply, Pietro and his attendants began ransacking the estate.
When they reached Camilla’s room, Pietro noticed a strange scent he hadn’t encountered before.
Realizing it was coming from Camilla’s room, Pietro kicked the door open.
Inside, the scene was shocking.
Camilla was on the bed, seemingly attacking someone.
Beneath her was a man, unmistakably human by the scent.
Pietro could not believe his eyes.
Meanwhile, Camilla and Leotiz were displeased by the unwelcome intrusion.
How dare they interrupt such a perfectly timed moment.
“What is this?”
Camilla, clearly angry, spoke first.
Leotiz noticed a slight smile tug at her lips as she adjusted her posture.
“Camilla, explain this immediately!”
“Charging in unannounced—what do you mean by that?”
While Pietro flailed, Camilla remained indifferent, adjusting her disheveled clothes.
“What is that man! And what is this?”
Pietro threw something onto the floor.
It was a crumpled bundle of paper—the invitation Camilla had sent to Pietro.
“What is this? Didn’t you read the invitation?”
She had no reason to, yet Camilla played innocent.
“What’s your scheme?”
“Scheme? It’s just your coming-of-age ceremony. I sent it generously.”
“Don’t lie.”
Pietro wasn’t concerned about the formal invitation; it was the added line on Camilla’s invitation that lit a fire in him:
“I’ve recently taken a subordinate. By the way, they’re very devoted to me, unlike you.”
How dare she act without permission, and he caught her in the act.
“That’s it?”
Pietro nodded, and Camilla glanced at Leotiz, quietly acknowledging.
“Yes.”
“Camilla!”
“Why? Is that wrong?”
Pietro’s anger nearly exploded, but Camilla remained expressionless.
“You said before, even if you have a partner, taking a subordinate or two makes life interesting. I did the same.”
“Are you in your right mind?”
“Why not? I’m the same pureblood. There’s no law saying I can’t. Besides, we have no relationship, so don’t overreact.”
“Camilla.”
“Even if our families are linked, we should avoid interfering in each other’s personal life.”
Looking Pietro in the eye, she demanded this firmly.
Pietro clenched his fists.
“And right now, you’re not in a position to lecture me.”
“What?”
Camilla stepped forward, scanning him head to toe.
Her body bore red marks everywhere—neck, hands, arms, even ankles.
“Interesting… and this smell… are you with a beast this time? Too much perfume, isn’t it?”
Camilla pinched her nose in distaste at the overpowering scent.
“Can you leave now? You have plenty of toys to entertain you.”
Camilla’s taunt made Pietro huff in disbelief.
“You’re the same, though.”
“Don’t treat me the same way. It’s unpleasant.”
“Quite arrogant today, huh? Camilla, is there a reason you’re acting like this—”
Pietro’s gaze flicked to Leotiz.
Camilla noticed at the same time. Her movement was swift.
Just before her claw-like nails reached Leotiz’s neck, something stopped her.
“Hands off.”
Black hair whipped before Leotiz’s eyes.
As before.
“Mine.”
