Vance and Sevette stopped at the sa ti.
It was subtle, but everyone felt it. The faint shift in the air, the way Sevette’s fingers loosened slightly around Vance’s hand, the way Vance’s steps halted as if the ground itself had asked him to wait. Both of them turned their heads, eyes settling on Cain.
Sevette tilted her head, curiosity blooming openly on her face. "What do you an by that?" she asked, her tone light but attentive.
Vance did not speak at first. His gaze sharpened, assessing Cain from head to toe, as though trying to decide whether this was arrogance or ignorance.
Cain took a breath. He knew he was walking on a knife’s edge, but there was no turning back now.
"I an exactly what I said," Cain replied, his voice steady, louder than before so that everyone could hear. "By Moonshade family law, entry into the inner grounds requires lawful bonding or recognized marital status when it cos to escorts. You and Lady Sevette are not married."
A ripple passed through the gathered blood guards.
Cain continued before anyone could interrupt him. "And as far as I know, Moonshade law is very clear about relations before marriage. No official union, no consummation. No consummation, no shared privilege."
He lifted his chin slightly, eyes locked on Vance. "So why are you allowed inside?"
The silence thickened.
Cain took one more step forward, his voice dropping into sothing sharper, edged with deliberate provocation. "Unless," he added slowly, "you two already did it. And if that’s the case, then I must congratulate the Moonshade family for allowing their laws to bend so easily. Or perhaps marriage is no longer required at all."
Ti seed to freeze.
Sevette’s eyes widened, then narrowed, her lips parting slightly. Not in anger. In surprise.
Cornelia sucked in a breath.
The blood guards stiffened, so of them exchanging alard glances.
For a heartbeat, no one spoke.
Then one of the senior blood guards stepped forward hastily, his voice loud and authoritative, clearly trying to defuse the situation before it exploded.
"Young Master Cain," the guard said, bowing slightly, "there is a misunderstanding. Young Master Vance is different."
"Different how?" Cain asked imdiately.
The guard straightened, pride creeping into his expression as though he were announcing sothing glorious. "Young Master Vance hails from a Viscount household. His bloodline traces directly to the Crimson Court of the Upper Dominion. His family has produced three Dukes in the last four centuries, and his uncle currently commands an elite legion stationed at the border between the Night Expanse and the Dawn Territories."
Another guard stepped in, unable to hold himself back. "Not only that, Young Master Vance awakened his Blood Crest at the age of fourteen. He entered the sixth stage of Blood Infusion before he was twenty. His reputation alone grants him special recognition."
"Yes," a third guard added eagerly, "the Viscount family holds authority far above a Baron territory like ours. Their favor is not sothing we can afford to lose. Allowing Young Master Vance entry is not a violation, but a courtesy extended between noble houses."
They spoke over one another, voices overlapping as they listed achievents, bloodline honors, political alliances, and military strength. The words poured out in a long, reverent stream, painting Vance as a figure far beyond reproach.
Cain listened without interrupting.
When they finally stopped, breathing a little harder, Cain laughed.
It was a short laugh, dry and sharp, cutting through the reverence like a blade.
"A courtesy," Cain repeated. "So that’s what we’re calling it now."
He raised his voice, turning slightly so everyone could hear him clearly. "Moonshade family law does not say ’unless the guest is powerful.’ It does not say ’unless the bloodline is impressive.’ It does not say ’unless offending them would be inconvenient.’"
He looked directly at Sevette. "You said it yourself. Family law is family law. Not when it is convenient. Not when it feels good. Always."
The guards shifted uneasily.
Cain continued, his voice gaining weight with every word. "If Moonshade law bends today because a Viscount walks through the gate, then tomorrow it will bend again. And the day after that, it will shatter. Laws that only apply to the weak are not laws. They are decorations."
A murmur ran through the crowd.
Cain took another breath and pressed on, unrelenting. "If I am denied entry because I lack status, then so should he. If law is enforced on , it should be enforced on everyone. Otherwise, do not call it law. Call it favoritism."
He turned his head slowly and looked at Cornelia.
Their eyes t.
In that instant, Cain understood exactly how this usually went. He knew the Moonshade family. He knew the unspoken hierarchy that ruled vampire society. A Baron territory offending a Viscount family was suicide. Political pressure, economic strangulation, military intimidation. All of it would follow.
If Cornelia sided with him, she would be inviting trouble.
And if trouble ca, it would be blad on him.
Cain waited.
He told himself he did not care. He told himself this was perfect. If she gets angry with him here, publicly, if she chose privilege over principle, it would plant another seed of resentnt. Another crack. Another step closer to being hated.
Inside his head, he was already preparing to accept it.
anwhile, Cornelia’s fingers curled slowly at her side.
She inhaled deeply.
Then she stepped forward.
"I agree with him."
The words landed like thunder.
Cain’s eyes widened despite himself.
The guards stared at her in disbelief.
Cain couldn’t believe it.
"Did I hear that wrong?! What the hell!? Aren’t you supposed to be angry with if I cause trouble for the Viscount family? After all, it would spell danger for the entire Moonshade family!"
Cornelia snorted. "With you here, I’m sure we’ll be safe."
Soon, she spoke, "I agree with him."
Her voice was calm, but there was steel beneath it now. "Moonshade family law exists to protect the dignity of our house. If we make exceptions based on fear or flattery, then we undermine everything our ancestors built."
She looked at the guards, her gaze sharp. "Do not confuse courtesy with submission. We are a Baron territory, yes. But we are still nobility. We still have laws."
She turned toward Vance, her expression unyielding. "Young Master Vance, your background is impressive. Your bloodline is honored. But that does not place you above Moonshade law."
Vance’s jaw tightened.
Cornelia continued, her voice growing firr. "If Cain is denied entry because he does not et the requirents, then the sa applies to you. If the law is enforced, it must be enforced completely. Otherwise, we admit to the world that our house kneels to power rather than principle."
The crowd erupted.
So knights cheered, voices loud with approval. Others gasped in shock. A few looked terrified.
Sevette watched silently, her eyes gleaming with interest. She glanced between Cain and Cornelia, a slow smile forming on her lips.
Vance’s expression darkened.
"You would insult a Viscount house over this?" he said coldly.
Cornelia did not flinch. "I would uphold my family’s law."
That was when Vance moved.
He did not shout. He did not warn. His body blurred, mana surging violently as he lunged forward, his hand slicing through the air toward Cain’s throat with lethal precision.
The crowd scread.
But Cain saw it.
Every muscle, every shift of intent, every ripple of hostile mana was painfully clear to him. His irritation exploded into fury.
This bastard dared to attack this Overgod!!?
Before Vance’s fingers could even graze his skin, Cain stepped in.
His hand shot up.
And closed around Vance’s head.
It was effortless.
Like grabbing a ball.
The impact sent a shockwave through the air.
Everyone froze.
Mouths hung open.
Eyes went wide.
Cain stood there, expression dark, fingers wrapped firmly around Vance’s skull as if it weighed nothing at all.
Inside his head, a single thought echoed, sharp and alard.
Oh fuck.
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