Chapter 56: The Earl's Provocation

I ran my hand along the rack of men's clothing, casually selecting a suitable jacket, pants, shirt, watch, shoes, and a scarf. I swiftly removed his pajamas, admiring his toned physique, and couldn't help but whistle.

He chuckled generously, "I'll take your lustful gaze as a compliment, but I'd much rather see such outstanding performance from you in bed!"

"Stop talking nonsense!" I retorted. As if his performance in bed wasn't already enough, how could I dare to act freely? The slightest move and he'd bare his fangs at me.

Perhaps accustomed to being served by Liza, he cooperated like a professional male model, helping me dress him up.

Looking at me in the mirror, he said, "Margie, about the reflection in the mirror..."

"No need to explain, I already know the answer."

"Who told you?" His deep blue eyes sharpened instantly.

I hesitated, unable to say it was Dene William who told me.

I smiled casually, "I read it in a book. Yesterday, I spent the afternoon in the library. The third-generation descendants of the Vampire King only have two, one of whom is the current Vampire King August, born from a union with an elven royal. There are many beautiful stories and rumors. Since Prince Rui Jones's mother is Dalena, the remaining mixed-blood baby must be you!"

As I spoke, I felt a bit panicked, fearing that the secrets of the vampire royal family might not be recorded in books. If so, I'd be in big trouble!

I maintained a calm smile, leisurely adjusting the scarf around his neck.

He remained silent, his handsome face unreadable, his blue eyes still fixed on the mirror, leaving me unsure of what he was thinking.

After I finished dressing him, he glanced at my trench coat, "No need to wear a trench coat at home!"

With that, he casually picked out a lake-blue velvet cheongsam with a bustier design, elegantly tailored with intricate yellow embroidery along the edges, resembling an antique from old Shanghai.

As if engaging in an equal exchange, he insisted on helping me change.

I quickly put on a stern face, protesting vehemently. Anyone could see this wasn't an equal exchange! "I can do it myself... I can do it myself!"

He smirked mischievously, "Margie, this isn't fair. You've already taken advantage of me!"

"No, hey, what are you doing... Stop, slow down, slow down, ah... It hurts, be gentle... There's no need to take off the underwear..."

The dressing room was filled with ambiguous cries. No one would have guessed that a vampire baron was considerately helping his awkward human girlfriend change clothes, especially not Liza, the baron's personal maid.

The dressing room door was suddenly pulled open, and Liza stood at the entrance with a dark expression, glaring coldly at me, who was being held in Lionel's arms, like an evil witch from legend, staring at me venomously.

"Liza, don't you know to knock?" Lionel didn't turn his head, reprimanding her coldly.

She frowned, still glaring at me fiercely, and said, "Sir, breakfast is ready!"

"Mm, go check on Kenneth. Bring him to the dining room later." Lionel loosened his grip on me slightly, adjusting the side button of my cheongsam, and casually draped a white cape over me from the rack.

"Yes!" Liza hesitated, then added as a reminder, "Sir, your outfit... is quite well-matched!"

Compliment? Praise? Disbelief? I could tell she wanted to say that no matter what the baron wore, he looked devastatingly handsome.

"Margie helped me pick it. I also like the combination of lake blue and off-white, hehe... By the way, I've never tried wearing a scarf before. This unique scarf adds a nice touch, doesn't it?"

I snorted lightly through my nose. A hopelessly vain vampire!

Liza didn't respond further, turning sharply on her high heels and leaving.

However, I hadn't expected him to like this outfit.

The classic-style lake-blue velvet suit jacket accentuated his elegant demeanor, his allure still evident, though his wildness was somewhat restrained. Paired with an off-white collarless shirt, he appeared gentle and refined. I tied a distinctive silver-gray polka-dot scarf into a rose, his favorite flower, complementing the gray checkered trousers below, adding an ethereal touch to his noble and sinister charm.

Looking at Lionel Albert like this, I felt he was mine.

Of course, standing beside him in my cheongsam, we made a good pair.

Breakfast was absolutely inhuman torture.

In the grand dining room, the servants stared at me coldly, much like how I looked at the exquisite food before me—pineapple ham egg bagels, apple alfalfa hand rolls, strawberry barley yogurt.

The food was exquisite, but the faint scent of blood wafting into my nostrils completely ruined my appetite.

What was even more unbearable was that Earl Kenneth, sitting to the side, kept staring at me. His dark brown suit made him look eerily enchanting, his strange, icy green eyes resembling those of a wolf.

He leisurely picked up the goblet of blood in front of him, took a sip, and gently curled his lips, "Mm, a quarter elf blood, a quarter infant blood, a quarter virgin blood, and a quarter champagne. The flavor is truly unique!" He smiled at Lionel, "The baron is always so generous to his guests!"

"Kenneth, you're too kind. As long as you like it!" Lionel smiled faintly. Clearly, his glass contained the same mixture.

God, they truly could only be called demons. How could they drink such blood? Aren't they afraid of the vengeful spirits coming for them?

I had no appetite left, only fear and the urge to vomit, feeling on the verge of a breakdown.

I cursed these devils, wishing them a miserable death, amen! I solemnly crossed myself and clenched my fists in anger.

Lionel looked at me with concern, "Margie, what's wrong? Breakfast was made especially for you. Have a little. Such beautiful food, it's a shame not to eat it!"

"I really have no appetite!" My stomach, in spasms, rejected the food. At that moment, I truly missed Dene William's homemade nutritious meals.

"Baron, you really should turn Margie into a vampire. How can you sleep at night holding such a stunning woman?" Kenneth teased suggestively.

Lionel chuckled, "The total time I've slept with her is less than 24 hours, and thankfully, it's always when I want to sleep!"

"If it were me, I would have turned her into a vampire long ago. Such a fiery figure, skin as smooth as porcelain, and especially her blood—it's not just alluring, it's practically calling out to me..."

Seeing his greedy expression, I really wanted to punch him.

Lionel politely reminded him, "Kenneth, watch your words. Having Margie join us for breakfast is merely a courtesy. Additionally, regarding Benson's death, I want Margie to help investigate. Judy, the woman who disappeared from Benson's room, was once Margie's good friend. She knows her well and might be of help."

I hadn't expected Lionel to involve me in the investigation. What was he thinking?

Even if he suspected I killed Benson, there was no need to keep me by his side. If this continued, I'd either die from stomach spasms or sheer terror!

Kenneth laughed coldly, "Baron, having a murderer investigate a murder is quite ridiculous, don't you think?"

Lionel gestured to a servant nearby, signaling for another glass of blood. He elegantly wiped the corner of his mouth with a napkin before saying, "I don't believe Margie is the murderer. Margie wouldn't kill anyone."

"But her brother, the Night Envoy—Bevis Bain—is a murderer!" Kenneth snorted, "I suspect he killed Benson! Such brutal methods must have been carried out by someone with professional training. What's more, Benson didn't seem to put up any resistance, indicating the assailant was stronger than him."

Lionel stared at him coldly, "Kenneth, you serve His Majesty. Please be responsible. If you carelessly pin the blame on someone to cover up His Majesty's orders, it would be a grave disrespect!" He then softened his tone, "Of course, your speculation has merit. If it truly is him, I won't protect him just because he's Margie's cousin. You know my character well."

Kenneth, as an earl, ultimately feared Lionel, the disgraced prince, and now showed respect, "Yes, Your Highness! Your Highness deserves the respect of every vampire! However, His Majesty has always wanted to capture Bevis. His existence has made the vampires of Western Europe uneasy."

"Mm, you handle this matter then."

Damn it, this breakfast not only made me want to vomit but also left me feeling suffocated. Two vampires were discussing how to capture my dearest cousin—my only family in this world.

Fine, if that's how it is, I'll join the investigation. That way, I can keep tabs on their actions and prevent Bevis from being caught.

"Lionel, I agree." Since love is an endless loop, I'll fight to the death!

Lionel, however, curled his lips, "Darling, I wasn't asking for your opinion. I had already decided to include you."

Clearly, this was a trap!

He must have planned this while changing clothes. He thought keeping me close would throw Bevis into disarray? He was wrong. Bevis wasn't that foolish!

I fiercely grabbed a pineapple ham egg bagel from the plate and took a bite, glaring at Kenneth, "Earl, if you keep staring at me with those damn wolf eyes, I swear I'll freeze you here forever!"

"I like fiery women. It shows they can easily find joy in life. Baron, don't you think? Being with Margie must make you very happy, right?" Kenneth deliberately provoked, "I'm starting to like her, hehe... I really want to know more. But I'm even more jealous of her cousin. Growing up with Margie, he must have many interesting stories. Margie, tell us about Bevis's extraordinary abilities!"

"No comment!" I gritted my teeth.

"Margie, you belong to the baron. You should consider his interests!"

"You're wrong. I don't belong to anyone. I am my own person! I will always love my cousin. He is my closest family in this world. If I find out anyone dares to harm him, I'll make sure they suffer a fate worse than death!" I grabbed the knife and fork beside the plate and stabbed them into the tablecloth.

"Tsk tsk... Look, even her anger is stunning! Hahaha..." Kenneth laughed coldly.

Lionel scolded him, "Kenneth, if you truly aren't afraid of death, I don't mind Margie taking action in front of me."

Kenneth raised an eyebrow, "If she has the ability to make someone suffer a fate worse than death, that doesn't rule out her suspicion!"

I stared at the glass of blood in front of him, secretly tampering with it.

He continued to stare at me, even more brazenly than before, smirking as he picked up the glass and took a sip, "Ah—it's burning me! Baron, why is this blood hot?"

"Haha... Isn't boiling blood more flavorful? Kenneth, be careful. Next time, it might be your blood boiling!" I teased, feeling much better.

Over the next two days, I gathered all of Kenneth's information, organized it, and sent it to Bevis and Dene, advising Bevis to be cautious as the vampires were offering a bounty for him.

Dene quickly arranged for Bevis and Catherine to take Judy to South America. Additionally, Bevis had been promoted to deputy commander of the Marcus Organization's South American branch due to his numerous achievements since joining.

Reading the message on my phone, I wasn't happy for Bevis. Instead, I felt he had taken another step toward danger, and my heart grew heavier. I didn't know when I'd see him again, and I didn't even have a chance to say goodbye.

Kenneth had been closely watching me these past two days. Trapped in this underground castle, deprived of sunlight, I was on the verge of a breakdown.

Liza made things even more difficult. During today's breakfast, the tomato sauce clearly had blood mixed in. I only smelled it and didn't take a single bite, feeling nauseous just looking at Kenneth, the thousand-year-old vampire. To make matters worse, Lionel insisted I accompany them. It was psychological torture!