The Count's Favor – First Embrace

Inside the treatment room, the atmosphere was still tense, with a palpable edge in the air.

Though Lina had followed Luca's advice and suppressed the growing power within her, her gaze towards the Rose Count remained wary and watchful.

In contrast, the Rose Count eyed both Lina and Luca with an oddly amused expression, his eyes gleaming with playful curiosity.

"It seems you've misunderstood my intentions," the Rose Count said, his voice dripping with amusement. "As a refined noble, turning my benefactor into a human blood bank is simply not something a true noble would do..."

He paused, his crimson eyes flashing with a strange, mesmerizing light. "However..." he continued, a hint of amusement still in his voice, "Doctor, tell me, how do you intend to treat my condition?"

It was a dangerous question—one that, if answered poorly, could lead to a fatal outcome.

Luca knew that his blood was a deadly temptation for the Rose Count. The fact that the Count had so casually shoved his finger into his mouth was proof enough of how insatiable the Count's appetite was, even when it came to the psychological aspects of bloodlust.

Treating the Rose Count's illness was easy—keeping him alive was the real challenge. Luca's goal was to ensure that his blood was used in moderation, not drained completely by the Count, and certainly not used as an excuse to be taken back to the Count's castle as a captive blood supply.

Even if the Rose Count had promised not to treat him like a mere blood reservoir, Luca had no intention of losing his freedom.

Taking a moment to gather his thoughts, Luca spoke with careful deliberation, choosing his words wisely. "Rose Lady, instead of calling it an eating disorder, I'd say your noble status has cultivated an appetite so refined that it has become your greatest weakness. Would you agree?"

The Rose Count's expression shifted ever so slightly, as though Luca had just uncovered a well-kept secret.

"There's no denying that my blood holds an irresistible allure for you, wouldn't you agree?" Luca pressed.

"Of course," the Rose Count answered without hesitation.

Luca managed a faint, weary smile. "Where I come from, there's an old saying—'rare things are precious.' What's your take on that?"

"Rare things are precious, you say? Interesting... most times, that's true," the Count mused, intrigued by Luca's reasoning.

"Take food, for example. If you eat the same thing every day, no matter how rare or delicious, it eventually becomes tiresome, don't you think?"

The Rose Count chuckled, a soft, wicked smile curling his lips. "So, all this rambling is just to tell me to be more restrained when I drink your blood, to give you time to grow and escape, correct?"

Luca shook his head, his gaze sincere as he met the Count's eyes. "Not at all. You're a Blood Ruler—one of the strongest beings in the entire Horror Game world, with the backing of the entire vampire clan. As for me? I'm just a victim of this strange game, lucky enough to meet a beautiful, kind lady like Lina who gave me an identity that keeps me safe."

Luca's silver tongue worked its magic once again, weaving words with precision. While negotiating with the Count, he didn't miss the opportunity to throw Lina a flattering comment.

"To be honest, I don't have the strength to survive this world perfectly. But if I can align myself with someone powerful—someone like you—and offer a small amount of my blood in return, why wouldn't I?"

He smiled bitterly. "As for escaping... Lady Count, do you realize how many human players would envy my position right now? Survival or death—it's a simple choice. I choose to live. Even if that means living in humility. As long as there's a chance, even the faintest glimmer of hope, I'll pursue it."

The Rose Count's gaze softened just a bit, an unexpected flicker of emotion crossing her face.

Lina, with her delicate hand, gently took Luca's, offering him silent support. The sincerity of Luca's words, his deep appreciation for life itself, was palpable—and both of them felt it.

"I'm sorry for rambling on," Luca continued, his voice taking a more serious tone. "To put it simply, I'm a doctor, and you are my patient. You pay for the treatment, and I provide it. It's a mutually beneficial arrangement."

"If I can gain even the smallest advantage from you, Lady Count, that would be more than enough for someone like me, a newcomer to this game."

The Rose Count's gaze shifted as she regarded Luca more seriously. She saw something in him—something rare.

"You're clever, and remarkably candid," she said, her tone softening. "But most importantly, you have something few others possess. A resilience that's essential for surviving in this world."

"So, would you be willing to try my proposal?" Luca asked straightforwardly, hoping the words he had spoken weren't wasted.

The Rose Count's attitude was still the key issue here.

"Okay," she said simply, the words light but carrying a certain weight.

Luca let out a long, silent breath of relief, and he could feel Lina relaxing too, her grip loosening just a little.

"But..." The Rose Count's tone changed, a mischievous glint in her eyes.

"But what?" Luca asked, his heart skipping a beat.

"Your potential is impressive. You've earned the trust of a Death Angel, and your survival instincts are unlike any I've ever seen. But..." She trailed off, her voice low and tantalizing, as her tongue traced the edge of her lips.

In an instant, her figure vanished from sight within the blood-red domain.

Luca and Lina had no time to react.

Even with Lina's Death Angel powers, there was no escaping the true power of the Rose Count.

Luca, weakened from blood loss, could barely keep his senses intact. But he felt the press of something soft and warm against his back, followed by a sharp, icy feeling around his neck.

It was the Rose Count again.

Her bite didn't hurt—vampire bites rarely did—but a strange, almost pleasurable sensation washed over him. He felt as though he was being drained dry, though in his weakened state, it almost felt... soothing.

As his vision blurred and the world faded to black, Luca's last fleeting thought was of the strange sensation inside him—something was changing, something was shifting within his body.

Then, he collapsed onto the desk, unconscious.