Scarlet countess.
There wasn't much information about this period in the game, only vague mentions and quick flashbacks. Even if Marcus had all the knowledge in the world, it wouldn't guarantee success. His arrogance had blinded him to the bigger picture.
He had made mistakes. Even with a cursory analysis, he could identify several errors. Leaving his sword embedded in Albert and fighting the rest of the battle unarmed was one of them.
No matter how he looked at it, Marcus had been completely dominated. Albert had only faltered in the early moments of the fight due to underestimating him. Once he got serious, he completely overwhelmed Marcus. If not for the carnicals, Marcus would have been torn apart.
But Marcus's biggest mistake was underestimating the woman in front of him. She stared at his bloodied body, hanging by his wrists in chains attached to the wall, with an amused smile on her lips.
Marcus had been awake for ten minutes, but she hadn't said a word. She just kept staring at him. The silence was torturous, but the fear of what she might do was greater than the discomfort of her quiet presence. He had to muster all the willpower he had left to start a conversation.
"So, Countess, you seem to be enjoying yourself," Marcus said, trying to hide his unease.
At his question, the woman's enchanting smile widened as she responded in a sweet voice:
"Oh, absolutely, little dog. You're so interesting, you know that?"
Marcus merely shook his head in response. Seeing his reaction, the woman smiled again and stood up. She walked over to him and placed a finger on his stomach, slowly tracing it up to his chest, stopping just above his heart.
"I've never seen a vampire like you. Not only did you defy the orders of a superior, but you also killed him."
She paused abruptly before continuing, her tone now faster and more animated:
"You killed him! Damn, it was so cool! The way you ripped his head off… the look on that fat bastard's face was incredible!"
The woman locked eyes with Marcus. He was struck by her beauty. Her appearances in the game hadn't captured even ten percent of what he now saw. However, her supernatural beauty also frightened him. It was as if his mind refused to accept such perfection.
"As if that weren't enough," she continued, "you fought almost evenly with an experienced knight who surpasses your age by at least 380 years. Tell me, Mister Vampire, who are you?"
The woman's gaze shifted from curious to insane, and her raised voice made her seem even more menacing. Marcus trembled. Before he realized it, his lips moved as if he had no control over them.
"My name is Baltazar. I was a journalist in Yorfen before Bartolomeu captured me and turned me into his dog."
The woman smiled, but her sharp eyes revealed that she wasn't pleased with his answer. In a sweet yet mocking tone, she asked:
"You called me Countess, didn't you, little dog? Do you know who I am?"
Marcus nodded and replied in a muffled voice:
"Isabela Bella Fiore, the true mistress of this territory. One of the king's shadows."
Isabela's smile widened, and she leaned in close to his ear. A shiver ran down Marcus's spine as her whispering voice sent chills through him.
"You know, little dog, if you're as clever as you seem, you must realize the current situation isn't good. A blood baron is dead, and a war is about to begin. This forest and Yorfen's ports bring me many resources."
Marcus turned his head, staring at Isabela up close. After a few seconds, he asked:
"If the situation is so bad, why did you provoke it?"
Isabela couldn't help but smile again, almost childishly.
"What makes you think I caused this incident?"
Marcus returned her smile, a mixture of defiance and certainty.
"Because why else would a Countess who spends all her time in Silvânia come to this remote place? And how would you know that I killed Bartolomeu unless you were there? You didn't ask me about the attack on Bartolomeu because you already know what happened."
For the first time, Isabela didn't smile. Her icy gaze pierced through Marcus.
"You're truly arrogant, little dog, to look me in the eye and accuse me of killing my own men. But you're right. The king and I are interested in stirring up conflict here."
She began pacing slowly, her presence growing even more menacing.
"This attack was a major loss for the Church and the Petrovs. But for us, in a week, we can produce a hundred new ghouls and dozens of common vampires. Of course, we lost a knight and a baron, resources difficult to replace. But in the end, Conrad was a necessary sacrifice, and Bartolomeu was useless. I could have used his blood to create a few knights, but then you appeared. I got curious and let the situation unfold. It was an interesting development."
She stopped and gave him a cold stare.
"But now I'm in a delicate position. I could have created three knights or a baron with that fat man's blood. Now, I only have you."
Marcus couldn't hide his bitter expression. He knew full well that if Isabela wanted, she could easily gather thirty new vampire knights. But he had to play along. The recent events had revealed a harsh truth: he couldn't survive alone.
"Can we skip these games, Countess? You kept me alive because you want a new dog, and I can't live without your support."
Isabela gave him a wounded look, as if Marcus had taken something precious from her.
"You're really boring, little dog. Where's the thrill of conquest? But you're right. You could be useful. The world thinks the vampires were the victims here. We were attacked, and not retaliating would show a weakness we can't afford."
She narrowed her eyes, exuding an aura of pure menace.
"I cannot be seen as weak. There's a Petrovs' pack a few kilometers east of Yorfen. I'll give you a week to gather a group of ghouls and strengthen yourself. Kill them all."
Without waiting for his response, Isabela turned and left, like a child bored with a new toy. As she reached the door, she turned her head toward Marcus, her expression as cold as ice.
"One more thing, little dog. If you fail and embarrass me, I'll rip off your balls and feed them to the ghouls."