Academic gathering with a lich-Chapter 494 - 456 Seal

A marriage contract? A term that had never been mentioned gently tangled Raymond’s nerves.

Beatrice had never spoken of this matter, and Raymond’s sidelong glance shifted to his knowledgeably understood sister-in-law standing beside him, her expression concealed by darkness, making her complexion invisible.

"Indeed, my child, during the lifetime of your father Alvis, he and I set this marriage contract in place: the contract between you and Joshua," Duke Delaries helped his child to stand and looked over to Beatrice’s silhouette, "We had agreed that the two of you would unite in marriage at a suitable age, making the bond between Naslan and Loshutar even closer. Child, even now that we have all become vampires, and Alvis has departed, I am still very willing to see the fulfillment of that past agreement."

"What do you think, Beatrice? My child."

Irritated since the moment Joshua spoke, each syllable, each action, was compressing Raymond’s nerves, and the pungent stench of blood filled the whole room. Raymond felt he had also turned into a vampire, craving for bloodshed and violence. 𝕗𝐫𝐞𝕖𝕨𝐞𝗯𝚗𝕠𝘃𝐞𝚕.𝐜𝗼𝚖

How curious, if only calling Mr. Raymond right here, could Delaries and Joshua escape this disaster?

Raymond’s thumb slowly caressed his own ring, allowing holy light to devour everything, seeking Karen in the ruins, it was the same for me.

Now, just a single word from me could end this damn situation.

"Ray..."

Two supple arms encircled his hand like a noose, the soft touch colliding with his triceps, and the sudden impact left Raymond momentarily stunned, and the next moment, he was completely lost.

"Since it is a promise made by our fathers, I am willing to follow through with the marriage contract." The bell-like laughter lit up the dim hall, making the atmosphere bright and plunging Raymond’s heart into an abyss. Beatrice gripped Raymond’s wrist tightly, her vampire strength sealing his movements as her face bloomed with a joyous smile, "Raymond is my brother-in-law, the only man in Naslan now. A brother as a father, he can perfectly stand in for my father to witness it all. I am pleased, Lord Delaries."

A smile, a merry and pure smile appeared on the duke’s face, his expression warming like a loving father’s. "My daughter, Beatrice, your wedding will take place in ten days, synchronizing with Joshua’s ceremony. You have chosen the most perfect partner, lucky child."

"Your fiancé, in ten days, will become the leader of the Blood Clan, the Antichrist."

"The ceremony?"

The question posed by his most cherished daughter and future daughter-in-law was quickly answered by Delaries.

"Yes, the Antichrist ceremony research is complete, and we have recently acquired all the necessary materials. In ten days, after the baptism ceremony concludes, my child, you will become the exclusive leader of the Blood Clan," the duke said with a smile, "and your husband."

Raymond heard none of it; he numbly watched as Beatrice tightly clasped his hand, fingers intertwined, with Andrey’s ring, covered tightly by her fingers.

When he came to his senses, Beatrice had already led him out of the hall. The wedding was decided just like that; in ten days, he would be holding Beatrice’s hand like this, giving her away to become a part of Loshutar.

"Why?" Raymond suddenly felt his hand was grasped too tightly and wanted to break away from Beatrice’s embrace.

Raymond felt his helplessness anew as Beatrice, like an ornament, leaned on his shoulder, matching his stride, yet in reality, he was the one being forcibly dragged along.

The low growls of the blood servants covered the silence on the way, grating on Raymond’s ears.

He was dragged by Beatrice into a guest room, utterly baffled by the minds of the Blood Clan – they had arranged for him to spend the upcoming vampire new year with Beatrice.

Upon entering the room, this strange coercion didn’t end, but Raymond’s mind had already cooled. He began to observe Beatrice’s profile, trying to discover her eyes behind the tangle of her hair.

Beatrice pulled him onto a bench, and the two sat side by side in this awkward posture, silent as if time had stopped.

A frivolous voice followed a deep breath, Beatrice’s eyes gleaming with mockery.

"I thought you would react more passionately."

"If you had let go earlier, you would have seen a more passionate me."

"When did you realize?"

"On the way back, when you gripped my arm tightly, it went numb. I think the lack of blood supply combined with the numbness caused my annoyed brain to lose focus for a moment. Then, I felt that you were not interested in Joshua." Lyle looked into those eyes, the blood-red pupils clear as gems, "But why would you do that?"

Beatrice pinched Lyle’s arm, kneading the numb muscles. While Lyle enjoyed the sour and refreshing sensation, he noticed her fingers trembling; Beatrice was scared.

"Call out Nia, you bastard."

Lyle raised his right hand and looked at the shadows on the edge of his cuff.

"Nia."

There was no response; the silence made Lyle look like a madman talking to himself.

Nia had disappeared, and unease crawled up Lyle’s spine.

"My power is gone!" Lyle understood Beatrice’s concern.

"To be precise, it has been sealed," Beatrice held a white wooden carving in her hand, the stiff Medusa; Lyle had completely failed to notice her transformation. "Any form of power, possession mediums, summoned beings, have all returned to their original state."

"Try your ring again."

No need to try; Lyle looked at the ring of Andrey in his hand, with the imprints of Scholar Mister, Raymond Mister, and the Cup of Luxury, all dull and lustreless.

"Loshutar does not have the ability to erase mystical powers, so my guess is it’s a wide-ranging Seal that has silenced our abilities."

"Yet, your strength is still great."

"That’s the innate strength of a vampire; I realized this back in the hall." Beatrice spoke with residual fear, "A moment ago, we were utterly helpless like meat on a chopping board, at the mercy of others. If you had directly summoned Andrey just then, it would not only have been ineffective, but it would also have provoked an attack from the Blood Clan."

"Loshutar has avoided the Seal by unknown means while we have been reduced to a mere human and a vampire."

"We can only preserve ourselves by virtue of Delaries’ own etiquette."

"So you complied with the marriage agreement and made me the female representative." Making both Beatrice and Lyle crucial and untouchable figures in the wedding.

"What else could I do? Do you really think you hold the same place in my heart as my father does? You bastard." Beatrice scratched her head, complaining, "Listening to that beast talk about the so-called marriage agreement, I couldn’t wait to tear his tongue out."

Lyle looked at the gritting Beatrice; although their current situation of being under house arrest was worrying, he couldn’t help feeling a sense of joy in his heart.

"Your charm has saved our lives, Beatrice."

"Joshua is not some maggot that would be attracted to beauty," Beatrice’s eyes filled with disgust, her palm stroking the pure white gemstone at her chest, "What he covets is my Blood Artifact, the Blood Right Blood Oath. Do you get it? I’m just an add-on, this thing is his true bride!"

Pfft, Lyle ultimately couldn’t hold back.

Lyle and Beatrice looked at each other.

"You seem very angry, Beatrice."

"You seem very pleased, you bastard."

Silence once again fell between the two, but this time it was filled with a shy sweetness.