Niki followed Alucard, his mind creating various scenarios. He didn''t know what the old vampire would ask or tell him. Yet the feeling of interest definitely grew stronger when I learned more about the former head of the Nosferatu family.


    "Ahem, you seem a little stiff. Is there something the matter, young vampire?"


    Alucard''s voice echoed through the quiet hallway, pictures of various vampires and battles, with the signature bald and ugly faces of the n.


    "I can''t say I am not confused with the kind greeting, other vampires have only insulted me, or called me a dirty wolf."


    "Hmmm, I see..."


    However, Niki noticed several paintings of a young, handsome male with ck hair and red eyes, his skin pale, yet hecked the features of other Nosferatu vampires.


    ''Is this the younger Alucard?''


    Niki followed slowly, gazing at the picture in detail, the date written in cursive and causing him to gasp.


    ''Holy shit, this painting is from 500 years ago!''


    "Those vampires were truly foolish, unable to see the desire we have all chased for millennia in the flesh!"


    Alucard''s statement made Niki feel a sense of shock, but the words used made him feel good.


    Despite knowing that he should be humble and hide his origins, this man wasn''t some random vampire and knew the truth. Even his mother couldn''t pull one over this old man.


    Thus, as they walked in silence along the purple carpet, Niki didn''t intend to lie to the ancestor vampire but would try to hide what he could.


    "In reality you are the first to greet me like this."


    "Well, if they knew your mother and that you inherited her bloodline. Those fools would flock to you with their daughters, haha!"


    Alucard''sugh was raspy and dry, not a show of his delight but more a mockery of their idiocy.


    "Forgive me for being blunt with you, Niki..." For a moment, Alucard turned back, causing the blood in Niki''s body to almost freeze. With narrowed eyes and a sharp aura, he observed Niki in silence for a moment before opening his lips.


    "But could you tell me something? Do you n to marry the daughter of d and Dimitri?"


    ''Huh?''


    ''Why does he want to know this... think Niki. Is he against it, or does he feel threatened?''


    ''No that''s stupid... calm down and be honest!''


    Niki''s inner turmoil revealed itself as a cold sweat dripping down his back, yet he looked Alucard in the eyes, feeling the pressure. Yet he withstood it and took a deep breath.


    ''This pressure is beyond anything I''ve felt...''


    "Since they have epted me and given me their body and heart. I will not forsake them."


    The moment Niki''s slightly rough and shaky voice echoed through the halls, Alucard''s lips trembled before touching the doorknob behind him. "I see..." his voice trailed off before opening the door with a loud ck.


    "I am d you could answer me so honestly, Niki. Pleasee inside, we have much to discuss."


    "Huh?"


    From behind, he felt two hands pushing him forward. It was Mika who looked at the young vampire with a wide, beaming smile as she mouthed. "Good job! You answered correctly!"


    Niki felt confused, but then he remembered the mansion and how old-fashioned it felt, even for someone who had read a lot of fantasy novels in the past.


    ''I see...''


    ''Is my thought right, let''s find out.''


    With this, he stepped into the room and found an enormous portrait of two people above a ck wooden desk.


    ''It''s Mika and a young Alucard!''


    This scenery is in this calm and quiet office with a crackling wooden firepit behind him. Niki realised Alucard might be someone who ced a great deal of honesty, devotion and the marriage of vampires.


    ''No maybe he is the same with any marriage or partnership?''


    "Are you surprised?"


    Alucard sat on his ck leather chair with a slight creak while gazing at Niki. He seemed amused at the young male who observed the cosy and elegant office space with shining eyes.


    Meanwhile, Niki feltfortable as the golden mes added a flicker of light to the dark brown wood along the lower walls and a burgundy wallpaper across the upper wall.


    "Very, it''s like something out of a movie or novel... Yet I feel so at ease."


    "Haha!"


    "Well I am probably someone old enough to be from one of those novels or stories used for them."


    Niki found Alucard to be quite interesting, his strange atmosphere but clear dominance and power. The warm and cosy office and mansion are weing ces.


    Yet outside, it looked cold and gloomy.


    "I see..."


    "Come on, sit down would you like ss of scotch...? it''s voured with the blood of a virgin from 1669!" Alucard''s lips curled into a bright smile. His white fangs were on disy as Mika sat across the room on a ck L-shaped sofa away from them with a round table filled with various letters and documents.


    ''Should I ept?''


    Pop—!


    The moment the old vampire opened the bottle, a thick scent of caramel and tobo filled the room, followed by the creamy, sweet scent of the blood mixed in.


    ''That kind of alcohol sounds delicious... the scent is so sweet!''


    "It looks like you''re interested!" Alucard seemed happy, his face and aura calmer than before as two crystal cups nked together.


    "Here, it''s quite strong so be careful. This is one of the few drinks that can even effect me, an ancestor vampire, so you should pace yourself, Niki."


    ''Somehow it''s like meeting with my grandfather all of a sudden.''


    Niki took the ss while taking a sip of the sweet yet crisp scotch. He suddenly tasted the vibrant vours that mixed with his saliva, making him want more.


    Then, a slight burning followed,fortable and with the aftertaste of the creamy blood.


    "Look at your shining eyes—you liked it, right?" Alucard beamed. While he took arge swig, his eyes also glowed for a moment, and his tongue brushed along his teeth.


    "I haven''t opened this bottle since Ist drank with that old fool. Your grandfather Alphonse, that damn fox drank half the bottle!"


    ''Oh?''


    ''Somehow it feels like the dots are connecting.''


    "It''s delicious—I appreciate the opportunity to taste such a valuable nectar."


    "Hoho!"


    For a moment, Alucard seemed to be a typical old man you might find anywhere, but then he suddenly ced the ss down and closed his hands, folding them together.


    This instant was the moment Niki gulped down his drink and prepared.


    ''It''s time for the true discussion to begin.''


    "Ah... Niki, though I would love to keep remembering my past with your grandfather, it''s about time I told you the truth and purpose of inviting you here."


    "No, it''s obvious you treated me well. Don''t worry, Lord Alucard."


    "Hmmm, goodd."


    "Ahem!"He cleared his throat while gazing at Niki.


    Heaviness filled the room, and the only sound was Niki''s hastened breathing and the scribbling of quill on parchment from the other side of the room.


    "Mika, I can tell him right?"


    As if to make sure and not say anything wrong, Alucard asked his wife once again.


    "Of course, darling... do not worry. I trust you with what you have decided."


    The pair seemed to be in the same ce and extremely close as Mika looked at the two males for a moment before giving a faint smile. "It''s fine." Then, she returned to writing on the parchments on the table and began to hum an old song to herself.


    "Niki... what I am about to say is rted to the entire Nosferatu family, but it also affects you. Because of your mother''s current state and situation."


    "This might be a tough conversation for you, but do you ept and understand that?"


    Alucard showed his wisdom and ability to deal with younger people, giving them both a stern warning and lightfort.


    Niki didn''t see any issue with what Alucard asked him and nodded.


    "I understand, though tough it might be the only help I can find, right?"


    "Hoho, correct."


    "Though, I don''t know how I can help...I''ve only just begun to learn of my vampire heritage, but I''ll do whatever I can."


    "That''s good to hear..."


    Alucard raised his head as he took a slow breath, calming himself.


    "I need... we need your blood. As a hybrid, that also carries the cursed blood of the Volkov n."


    "Can you tell me why?" Niki tilted his head—curiosity bloomed within him. What could it be that they desire?


    The idea sounded farfetched, but Niki thought back to the legends of vampires, and another issue appeared in his mind. He thought maybe it rted to his ck blood.


    "Of course, it is rted to your blood and that body of yours that can use various powers from other races."


    ''It''s the ck blood...''


    "I regret to tell you, but your Aunt and thedy whom you fought in the arena shared the same blood. Yet her purity and the power of that bloodckspared to yours."


    Suddenly, Niki felt a sense of confusion. ''How did he know?''


    All sorts of thoughts flooded his mind as Alucard began to exin more about his Aunt Anastasia. She was born with special blood, but only a small portion, and thus, it didn''t bloom or awaken as they expected.


    "... Then of course, the idiotic Faust family seems to have faked her death, and kidnapped her."


    Niki listened quietly to the elder''s words—he felt knowledge and wisdom from each sentence and couldn''t help but feel the depth between his thoughts and Alucard''s.


    "It seems that they used her blood to create artificial life, a homunculus. However, from what they showed at the annual meetings and in the arena, The Faust family haven''t been able toplete the perfect creation."


    Your journey continues at m v|l-e''-NovelBin


    ''I see... they were filled with undeath energy because of the ck blood... thus life, the main goal for them couldn''t take root in their bodies.''


    "Continue, Lord Alucard."


    "Mmm, your eyes are wise. Like your mothers, then let''s discuss the difference between my wife Mika a corpse bride and that false human you killed in the arena Mira was it?"


    "Yeah..."


    Memories he now epted, but the mention of her name made him feel regret for never being able to understand her suffering.


    ''A poor doll...''His mind wandered while thinking about that day when he took her life. Yet Alucard''s words drew his attention as he returned from his thoughts.


    "...Well, the artificial way they created this homunculus caused instability in their undeath powers and abilities to eat away at their bodies and cells. Because, the blood of Anastasia couldn''t reproduce the bloodline of a human, or monster."


    ''Oh...''


    ''My blood can copy both a human, royal vampire and even improve the bloodline of those I exchange bodily fluids with.''


    Niki tapped his fingers, listening and remembering everything that he had experienced since his awakening as a hybrid.


    "Then... are you asking me to donate some of my blood for research?"


    "Smartd, but that''s not the only thing... I will not ask you to sit here like ab rat... instead if you help me save Mika from her slow, demise. I will give all efforts to using this research to create a living body, one that functions like a vampire, a true vampire with the help of your grandfather Alphonse..."


    "I will help you to create a body for your mother''s soul."


    "!!!"


    The sudden revtion was more than he imagined—the death of Mika felt minor, but Alucard knew his goal, his n... to create a body for his mother.


    ''Yet what do I have to lose? What will I pay for this method?''


    Niki brooded over it, gazing toward Mika, who seemed frail and pale despite appearing healthy. She smiled at Niki while raising a quill pen to him and shaking it around. He realised that from the moment he met her... this was all part of their maniption.


    She is his mother''s friend, and he wants to save his mother but keeps her secret from his father.


    ''Alucard Nosferatu... an ancestor who used his knowledge and powers... all to this point, to corner me into epting.''


    ''Even though I want to reject this sweet deal...''


    ''I can''t.''


    Niki didn''t have that chance. Because to save his mother, there was nothing else in the world that would make him give up this chance.


    He would do anything to save her.


    "I didn''t truly have a choice in the first ce, right..." Niki''s low, begrudging voice filled the room, causing Alucard''s warm and gentle smile to twitch slightly.


    "No, from the moment you showed your cards. It was toote, however I only seek to help Mika, nothing else."


    "So, you won''t reject my idea, right?" A sinister smile, his eyes narrowing as the heavy aura of a vampire ancestor filled the room, crushing Niki''s body and freezing him on the spot.


    "Make the right choice, Young Báthory n heir."