Chapter 14. Blood Banquet (2)
For purebloods, the most important duty was producing offspring.
Especially the first child conceived after reaching adulthood, as that child was believed to inherit the bloodline most strongly. Because of this, it was considered the most important tradition.
To ensure that not even the slightest impurity mixed into the blood, thorough inspection and verification were conducted.
That was the so-called “purity examination.”
Because it was a tradition passed down for generations, personal will did not matter.
For the sake of the bloodline, this was considered natural and inevitable.
But Camula could not understand it.
Nor did she want to.
Unless someone experienced it themselves, they could never understand.
Even now, remembering those greedy eyes made her teeth grind.
Eight years ago, when she underwent her first purity examination, Camula had desperately wished for death for the first time in her life.
Normally, purity examinations were conducted once every four years, timed with the growth of female purebloods.
But right after her first examination, Camula left her family.
There was only one reason.
She went to die.
But because of the ridiculous regenerative ability of her so-called pureblood lineage, no matter what she tried, she could not die.
She had come close to death many times, but never truly died.
At that time, for the first time, she bitterly resented the fact that she had transmigrated into this body.
Other people seemed to live well after transmigrating into stories, so why had she ended up in a body like this, forced to suffer like this?
Back then, she cursed everything she saw, everything she heard, and everything she felt.
But nothing changed.
Even after leaving and disappearing, she had no choice but to return to the family.
Because the outside world was far harsher and crueler than she had imagined.
So every time the purity examination approached, she would leave the family to live outside for a while, then return again.
She had endured it well so far.
Of all times, why now?
Camula bit her lower lip tightly.
At that moment, the attendant behind her stepped forward.
It was Ben.
“Wait! There’s still one year left until the examination, isn’t there?!”
Ben knew better than anyone how much Camula suffered.
Every time he saw his master tormented by the humiliation she endured during the examinations, his heart ached.
He didn’t want to see it anymore.
So he wanted to protect her as much as he could.
As Ben stepped in front of Camula, the elders moved forward.
“How dare a mere servant interfere!”
“Move aside at once!”
Despite their harsh scolding, Ben did not step back.
“Ben, that’s enough.”
“Lady Camula…”
“It’s fine. We already knew the elders would demand something from me, didn’t we?”
Though she hadn’t expected it to be this.
Camula stepped out from behind him.
“I understand your words well. As a member of the bloodline, I am also well aware of the duties of a pureblood.”
As she stepped forward obediently, the elders looked relieved.
Only Blood still watched her with distrust.
Noticing this, Camula deliberately gave him a faint smile.
“However, considering my current condition and the environment here, wouldn’t it be better to proceed after proper preparations are complete?”
She wasn’t refusing the examination.
She was simply asking for time to prepare.
Honestly, in her current state, Camula was far from the dignity and elegance expected of a pureblood.
After drinking the Moon’s Blood, she had been writhing in agony, drenched in sweat. Her hair had become slightly disheveled when she collapsed.
And when she dropped her glass earlier, the blood inside had splashed onto her formal attire.
A purity examination was supposed to be conducted with utmost sanctity.
Some of the elders nodded, finding her reasoning sound.
But Blood still seemed undecided.
So Camula delivered the final push.
“You would also prefer to examine properly in a bright place, wouldn’t you? As it happens, I have clothing suitable for the examination. May I change into it?”
“Clothing?”
Blood’s eyebrow twitched.
“Yes. I had it specially made to make things easier for you. It’s designed so that if even one button is undone, the whole garment will fall off.”
At her words, the elders were now completely convinced.
But Blood still looked suspicious.
“You ran away every time before, yet you prepared clothes in advance?”
“That is precisely why I prepared them. The me of the past was immature, but now I am a proper adult. As a member of the bloodline, I must fulfill my duty.”
As her excuses continued to sound reasonable, Blood looked around thoughtfully.
The elders already looked full of anticipation.
It was clear they wouldn’t support him if he objected now.
Finally, he nodded.
“Very well. However, preparations will be handled by the purity examination official.”
It was obvious he was assigning his own people to prevent any tricks.
But Camula simply nodded.
* * *
As they left the tower and headed toward the detached palace, Camula glanced behind her.
Far more people were following her than she expected.
Not possible here.
At that moment, a cold night breeze brushed past her.
She suddenly stopped walking.
The maid walking ahead turned back.
“Is something wrong?”
“…No. Let’s go.”
* * *
As expected, when she entered the room, all the maids who had followed her came inside.
She had at least expected some to remain outside.
They really didn’t trust her.
“Lady Camula, where is the clothing?”
“Oh, it’s over there.”
She pointed to a large wardrobe in the corner.
At a signal from the head maid, two maids walked toward it.
Camula watched them briefly, then turned and removed the robe she was wearing.
“Lady Camula, before we begin preparations, I must say something.”
“What is it?”
Camula was still looking out the window.
“Please stop being disrespectful toward Lord Blood.”
“Disrespectful?”
Camula’s movement stopped.
She turned around, their eyes meeting.
But the head maid’s face showed no emotion.
Just calm and quiet.
To speak so boldly to a pureblood and still remain so composed.
Was she not afraid of death?
Or was she that favored by Blood?
Either way, her nerve was impressive.
“Until now, Lord Blood treated you like a daughter and tolerated your behavior, but now that you are an adult, you must act with appropriate dignity and refinement.”
Her words crossed a dangerous line.
The other maids pretended to search for clothes while clearly listening.
They worried the head maid might lose her head at any moment.
But unexpectedly, Camula showed no reaction.
Perhaps because of that, the head maid continued.
“Soon, both Lord Blood and Lord Pietro will grow tired of you. If you fall from their favor, you will never get another opportunity. So…”
“So you’re saying I should get into their good graces and bear a child for the Tepes family?”
So that’s the conclusion of this nonsense?
Camula was dumbfounded.
She had wondered what the point of this arrogance was, but in the end, a Tepes servant only thought about Tepes interests.
Not only should she avoid angering those people who deserved to be torn apart and thrown into flames—
She should also bear their heirs?
How was that any different from selling her body?
“Why should I?”
Her response hit the head maid hard.
Apparently she hadn’t expected that reaction, because her voice rose slightly.
“The Tepes family is the greatest and most noble family in vampire history. Continuing their lineage is—”
Yes, yes, I know. But wouldn’t this speech be more effective if you gave it to Lamia instead?
That girl would probably walk into the Tepes bedroom herself without even being told.
Deciding the conversation wasn’t worth her time, Camula turned back to the window.
But the head maid continued her endless praise of the Tepes family.
“Anyway, for your own sake, please refrain from speaking against the Tepes family.”
“…Are you finished?”
“Yes. I deeply apologize for raising my voice to a pureblood.”
At least she had enough conscience to apologize at the end.
“I see. So you’re finished.”
Camula’s lips slowly curved upward.
At the same time, she picked something up.
Shing—
As she pulled the handle, a blade slipped out, gleaming in the moonlight.
* * *
The attackers who had ambushed Leotiz were extremely confused by what was happening.
They were certain their sword had struck.
Their posture had been perfect.
And yet—
How did he dodge that?
Not only had he dodged, but he had counterattacked.
The human had pulled out the dagger they had thrown earlier from the tree and used it as a weapon, blocking all their attacks.
How could a mere human possess such strength?
“Everyone, don’t lower your gua—!”
Slash!
Before the warning could even finish, a blade cut him.
“Aaagh!”
The attacker whose arm was cut cried out and staggered back.
Leotiz immediately seized the moment, snatched the man’s sword, and kicked him in the stomach.
The kick was so powerful that the man was sent sliding back into his companions.
“I was planning to just stay quiet.”
Leotiz looked toward the remaining attackers.
But the killing intent, pressure, and momentum in his gaze were anything but ordinary.
Leotiz smirked.
“Guess I’ll loosen up a bit. It’s been a while.”
