The silence did not last long.
A tall vampire stepped forward from the crowd, his long dark robe brushing against the polished black stone floor.
His face was pale and sharp, eyes burning with reverence as he lowered himself to one knee before Cornelia.
The sudden movent broke the fragile stillness like glass shattering under pressure.
"Madam Cornelia," he said, his voice loud enough to echo across the vast hall, yet trembling with emotion. "Please forgive my-no! our boldness... Please..."
His forehead nearly touched the ground.
"You possess a princess level bloodline lineage," he continued, his tone rising with awe. "From the mont the Bloodline Test Tower shone for you, we understood. You are not rely talented. You are chosen. Your blood carries the future of the Moonshade family. It carries the hope of our ancestors, the pride of our lineage, the dream that we may one day stand equal among the ancient clans."
Murmurs rippled through the hall.
"You are a jewel," he went on, lifting his head slightly, eyes shining with sothing close to worship. "A jewel that cannot be buried in dust. A fla that must not be dimd. Your bloodline has already surpassed expectations. If nurtured properly, if guided correctly, you may even break through into realms our family has not seen for generations."
Cornelia’s hands tightened against Cain’s clothing.
The vampire’s voice softened, almost pleading.
"But such brilliance cannot be chained, restricted, shackled, contained or be held down."
The air grew heavier.
"A princess level bloodline deserves a partner of equal standing. A husband whose lineage will not drag you down. A companion whose strength matches yours. Madam Cornelia, your future is vast. The Moonshade family’s future rests upon your shoulders. You cannot... you must not... tie yourself to soone whose bloodline has fallen beneath even our servants."
He did not look at Cain directly, but the aning was unmistakable.
"Please understand," he said carefully. "This is not trying to say he shouldn’t be shunned, this is not about emotion. This is about survival. About prosperity. About ensuring that the Moonshade na does not fade into diocrity. We beg you... consider divorcing him."
The word hung in the air like a blade suspended by a thread.
For a heartbeat, nothing moved.
Then, as if guided by an unseen command, another vampire stepped forward.
He knelt.
"Madam Cornelia," he echoed, "your bloodline is a blessing. We cannot allow it to be tainted."
Another knelt.
"And for the future of the Moonshade family..."
Another.
"For the honor of our ancestors..."
Soon the sound of knees striking stone filled the hall in waves. One by one, dozens of vampires lowered themselves until the once towering assembly was reduced to a sea of bowed heads.
"Please divorce him."
"Please think of the future."
"You deserve better."
"The Moonshade family deserves better."
Their voices overlapped, rging into a chorus of pressure disguised as loyalty.
Cornelia felt as though the ground beneath her feet had vanished.
No.
No, no, no.
Her heart pounded so violently she thought it might burst from her chest.
Don’t pressure . Don’t say that. Don’t force . You don’t know what you all are talking about!
You’re all going to die. Including ... None of us will survive! I can sense it from my connection with . So please... Don’t beg ... Don’t!
The thought scread inside her mind.
You’re all going to die if you push him.
Her lips trembled, but no sound ca out.
How could she explain it? How could she tell them that the man they saw as weak, as insignificant, was sothing beyond their comprehension? That his calm was not helplessness but calculation? That his silence was not sha but amusent?
They would laugh.
They would think she had lost her mind.
He is an Overgod.
The words felt absurd even inside her own thoughts.
He will turn you into pills just to sleep peacefully.
Imagine that... just for a single good night’s sleep?
The whole Moonshade family, becoming a single blood pill.
How could she say sothing so unbelievable?
Tears blurred her vision.
"Madam Cornelia," the first vampire repeated, his voice cracking now. "We beg you. Do not let sentint cloud your judgnt. A princess level bloodline must not be wasted. You need a husband who can protect you, who can support your growth, who can match you, who can be worthy of your future, who can give birth to heirs worthy of your lineage."
More voices rose.
"You deserve a better life."
"You deserve a partner who stands beside you proudly."
"For the Moonshade family’s future!"
"For our survival!"
The hall felt suffocating.
Cornelia’s tears fell freely now, sliding down her cheeks without restraint.
Cain watched her quietly.
Inside his mind, he tilted his head slightly.
My lady Cornelia, why are you crying?
His inner voice was soft, almost mocking.
Is this not what they wished? To free you from a husband who embarrassed you? Co on now! Don’t resist. I have a low level talent, why the need to run to ?
He lifted his hand again and gently wiped another tear from her cheek.
"It’s okay, Madam," he said aloud, his voice calm and subdued, perfectly playing the role of a resigned man. "I understand my position."
The kneeling vampires stilled slightly, listening.
"We must think of the Moonshade family’s future," he continued quietly. "If my presence burdens Madam Cornelia, then perhaps... it is best."
His tone carried no resentnt, no anger.
Only acceptance.
But inside his head, his thoughts were far from gentle.
Looking at Cornelia now, I feel a little sorry.
His gaze lingered on her trembling lashes.
Back then, she hated .
He rembered clearly.
In his previous life, when humiliation piled upon humiliation, when nobles mocked him openly and servants whispered behind his back, he had found release in cruelty. He had bullied weaker vampires. Blood slaves. Blood servants. Those who could not fight back.
He had vented his frustration on them.
Cornelia had seen it.
She had confronted him once, eyes blazing with disgust.
"Is this how you prove your worth?" she had asked coldly. "By stepping on those beneath you?"
He had lashed out then, shouting, defending himself, blaming everyone else.
She had never tortured him. Never frad him. Never publicly humiliated him.
That had been Ivira.
The vixen Ivira was as cold as ice.
However, Cornelia had only grown distant, disappointed with his character. That’s why she avoided him.
Now, watching her cry like this, coming to him despite knowing the lowly bloodline he manipulated, was actually very touching.
It seed that even in my past life, this girl had feelings for , he thought slowly. Otherwise, she would have shown disgust toward . Worse, I can only see in her eyes was fear—fear that they might hurt . How touching.
Now, he couldn’t help but feel a little guilty about how he had ssed up their last life together.
He rembered chasing after her attention. Trying too hard. Acting pathetic. Clinging to small gestures and mistaking them for affection.
He had been weak in every sense.
A faint smirk curved his lips.
Oh well.
Don’t worry, my little lovely wife.
I won’t turn you into a pill.
His eyes glead faintly.
I’ll let you live your life.
As for being with you?
His thoughts grew colder.
You are not worthy.
I, the Overgod, stand far above everyone.
His thumb brushed against her cheek again, slow and deliberate, wiping away another tear as if committing the sensation to mory.
I can ask you to divorce directly, it would have been perfect and peaceful, he thought idly.
But I have grudges.
His gaze flickered briefly toward the kneeling crowd.
When the Moonshade family fell, although I am happy, I feel unsatisfied.
I cannot let them go so easily. I cannot just let the rest of the Moonshade family go like that... I must watch how they turn to ashes.
My claws should be the one to end their lives! Now that I have another chance... I swear I will not miss this thing!
The vampires continued to plead.
"Madam Cornelia, please!"
"Think of your descendants!"
"Think of the Moonshade na!"
"You must not hesitate!"
Their voices grew more desperate, more insistent.
anwhile, Cornelia was not crying because Cain would be targeted, she’s crying because she felt so helpless.
She felt trapped between two storms.
On one side, the weight of her family’s pressure pressed down like a mountain. She’s now the pride of the Moonshade. The one with boundless potential. The one destined to elevate them.
On the other side stood the man she barely understood anymore.
He could have asked to divorce him...
The thought slipped into her mind slowly.
But inside him...
She felt it faintly through the blood pact.
Grudges.
Cold, simring grudges.
So that’s it...
He could have chosen the easy path.
But he wanted sothing else.
If only I could change that, she thought desperately. If only I could make them treat him differently. If only they had not bullied him. If only I had stood up for him more clearly.
Maybe then things would not have beco like this.
She looked at the sea of kneeling figures.
Her family.
Her clan.
They were not perfect. They were pragmatic. Ruthless in protecting their future. Blind to what they did not understand.
They believed they were doing the right thing.
And yet, every word they spoke felt like a step toward a cliff they could not see.
"Madam Cornelia," the first vampire said again, his voice hoarse now. "Please. Make a decision."
Her chest tightened painfully.
What can I do?
If she refused them, they might attempt to eliminate Cain imdiately.
She’s sure about it. She can feel it.
Right here... right now...
Right now, she’s too weak to do anything about it.
Once they did, this would free him from the blood pact and unleash sothing far worse!
Her mind felt tangled, thoughts colliding without resolution.
She opened her mouth, but no words ca.
Cain’s hand still rested lightly against her cheek.
He looked at her with calm red eyes, unreadable.
The hall waited.
The ancestors remained silent, observing.
Cornelia’s heart trembled.
What should I do?
User Comments
0 comments from readers