Chapter 18: Bloodbound Judgment (3)

Unbothered by the dynamics between Jeanne and Tsufaame, he knew that the Devil Princess had a prideful and arrogant personality, but deep down there were some semblance of 'good' emotions since she did what he told her.

Either because she was his contracted Devil or other reasons he couldn't care much, she did the bare-minimum in helping out Jeanne not get hurt by the Lasombra Vampires, and in his books this was a green flag that would count in the long journey they might have in the future.

Still, he had other business to attend with the Vatican and just approaching Xenovia and Irina he could hear their heartbeats increasing, sensing their nervousness and involuntarily taking in a wind of their alluring essence.

They were young beauties for certain. No wonder so many people would have a crush on them.

The young Exorcists could only see his villainous persona, and couldn't gauge what his true intentions were by walking to speak directly with them, but before he could even open his lips, Irina who was looking up and down at Carl and reminded of the handsome man she saw in the passing five days ago, took out her Rosario Amulet.

Instantly in contact with Carl's demonic aura it flared up in a deep red light, pulsing according to the danger she was facing.

"It's the same color. I was right all along, it was you who we passed by in the past," Irina muttered to herself, her voice barely above a whisper.

Xenovia just gave Irina an annoyed look, while taking a step forward to meet Carl head-on.

"It's really him, Xenovia," Irina confirmed, her voice tinged with uncertainty. "Hmm, this feels a bit tense, Xenovia. Are we going to fight against him?"

"Hey, you, can't you just smile a bit to put us at ease if you're not an enemy?" Irina continued, her violet eyes pleading for some form of reassurance from Carl's emotionless expression, but she just received a look from his icy crimson eyes.

"I really had a tiresome night, and also feel bad for not winning my fight."

"Irina, quiet. We don't know yet if he's hostile or friendly. Follow the teachings of the Mentor," Xenovia interjected, her voice firm and commanding.

"Well, I would like to believe what I see with my own eyes, instead of following some biased teachings," Irina retorted, her tone defiant.

"Wow, you broke the brainwash of your indoctrination? So, what do you think? Should we get ready for a clash?" Xenovia countered, her sarcasm dripping with disdain.

"No. That lady said we should judge him based on his actions instead of the stigma his demonic race puts him under," Irina responded, her voice holding a hint of conviction.

Listening to those girls bicker about even if a possible danger in him loomed over their heads. This exchange between them reminded him of the DxD and how close those girls were, even in the future where Xenovia would become a Reincarnated Devil and Irina would join the Angels as a Reincarnated Angel.

'I wonder, how old are they? Based on that I might figure out a bit about the Timeline of the story and how long I would have to wait and predict the future Supernatural timeline.'

'I'll ask them after I reach a conclusion on what they want with me. Should be related to the Holy Ward, but it is better to pull their tongues on this.'

Carl was far taller than Xenovia and Irina who were in the 155-160 cm range, and even though his body looked handsome with the appearance of someone in his early 20s, there was his Vampiric Charm that made the girls more nervous to be around him.

They might descend into sin if they continue basking in his presence.

His crimson eyes shifted towards the Rosario Amulet that reminded him of an entire different genre. Because of his silence this whole time, their bpm raised a little bit once more.

"Come on, you don't know English? Don't Vampires have similar magic spells like Devils that allow them to speak and understand the universal language tongue?" (Irina again, for some reason, she felt attracted to this older bad boy)

Carl only smiled a bit, he didn't know such a spell yet, and was looking forward to learning it so he wouldn't be constrained by the language barriers in his future travels. To alleviate the tension, Carl also turned off his Armor along with Sacred Gear, revealing his casual clothes that made him seem to be exiting from a magazine page since it fit him perfectly.

"Wingless Angel, why are you wasting your time on such questions with me?" Carl replied smoothly, his tone dripping with amusement. "Instead of preparing your speech to compel me not to punish you for pestering me with this obstruction of my freedom, you keep on with your childish talk."

Irina's eyes widened in alarm, sensing the shift in Carl's demeanor. She hastily tried to backtrack, her voice tinged with worry. "Wait, wait, you don't mean those words, right? Do you want to beat us? We didn't do anything bad, it was you who stepped foot onto Vatican territory."

Sensing the tension escalating, Xenovia intervened, pinching Irina's arm to silence her. "This must be a misunderstanding on our part," she said calmly, meeting Carl's gaze head-on. "First, let me express my appreciation for assisting us in defeating those Stray Vampires for intruding into the Human World."

Carl's expression remained impassive, but a glimmer of interest flickered in his crimson eyes as he listened to Xenovia's explanation. "Misunderstanding? Ohh, I see. You have my attention. Continue," he prompted, his tone cold and indifferent.

Xenovia continued, her voice steady and composed. "You might have your reasons for arriving in Graz, but because of an old pact between the Vatican and the Vampires of Austria, the entry of Vampires into controlled points of the Church is strictly forbidden."

"In this case, you would be deemed a Stray Vampire, just like those Lasombra guys," she added, her tone matter-of-fact. "The Vatican doesn't take any blame for executing them since it's a breach of the Ancient Pact."

"I presume you have your own reasons for walking into Graz, and I can empathize with you if the reason is you've been chased away by your people," Xenovia continued, her words carefully chosen. "We've read the reports of the Graz Branch, and apart from the unintended activation of the Holy Ward, there haven't been any supernatural-related murders."

Carl regarded Xenovia with an aloof expression, his crimson eyes betraying nothing as he listened to her words. Despite the casual nature of her investigation, he kept his guard high, unwilling to give room to interpretation that would lead to the Vatican pestering him with their chase.

It was enough he had most Vampires of the Carmilla Faction and Lasombra Clan chasing after him, it was self-sabotaging to incur the fury of the Zealots of the Church. However, this didn't mean he would give any ground to the young Exorcist in Xenovia.

"We only want to know if your only reason for coming to Graz was to evade your pursuers and not just to hunt for blood like how most cases of Vampire entry into the Human World happen," she persisted, her tone firm.

Hearing this inquiry, he paused for a moment, his crimson eyes scanning over the blue-haired girl with a piercing gaze. He began, his voice cool and composed, "Ah, the age-old assumption that all Vampires are nothing more than bloodthirsty predators," he remarked, his voice tinged with amusement. "How quaint."

"You seem to have a rather simplistic view of the situation."

"It's not as if I simply strolled into Graz on a whim to evade my pursuers. Why probe me when you know my answers? I'm a fugitive of the Vampire Society. Escaped my prison sentence, drained of my powers. I have done what anyone in my situation would do to survive."

"I have no obligation to disclose more than I have already done so far. From the get-go, it wasn't my intention to disturb anyone, it's mainly the fault of whoever is in charge of the Cathedral for activating the Barrier without further investigations."

"Just because you receive a signal doesn't mean you should pull the trigger on it."

Xenovia's frown deepened at Carl's cryptic response, but she refused to back down. "Mr. Vampire, this doesn't help your case."

Carl met her gaze head-on, his crimson eyes gleaming with a hint of amusement. "And what, pray tell, would help my case in your eyes, Wingless Angel?" he countered, his voice laced with a touch of mockery. "Your investigation seems to be based on assumptions rather than evidence."

Xenovia bristled slightly at Carl's remark, but she refused to let it deter her. "We only seek the truth," she insisted, her voice unwavering. "If you can justify your entry into Graz and prove that you pose no threat to the city, then we will have no reason to pursue this further."

Carl's smirk widened at Xenovia's determination, though he made no move to concede any ground. "Just because you receive a signal doesn't mean you should pull the trigger on it," by this point he made sure his tone dripped with disdain. "Perhaps it would serve you well to remember that."

Xenovia's brow furrowed in frustration at Carl's enigmatic response, but she remained undeterred. "If you have nothing to hide, then you have nothing to fear," she stated firmly, her voice carrying a note of authority.

Carl regarded her with a cool detachment, his gaze unwavering. "I fear nothing, Wingless Angel," he replied, his voice tinged with a hint of amusement. 'Apart from Satan-level guys that might appear from nowhere and squash me, but that's unlikely to happen'

"Least of all your misguided attempts at investigation."

Xenovia's jaw clenched at Carl's dismissive tone, but she refused to let her emotions get the best of her. "Your stay in the city has already created a lot of disturbance for the Vatican with all of the Vampires pursuing you. If you're such a high-profile figure, why bother hiding in such a small city?"

Carl's lips curved into a faint smirk at Xenovia's questioning, though his expression remained impassive "Well, isn't that unfortunate. Maybe, you should question the churchmen who activated the Holy Ward without even bothering to investigate things."

"While I get that my presence might have scared him, as long as I didn't kill anyone in this city, why act so disrespectful to me?"

"I've created Trouble for the Vatican? Good. You've also dragged me into an unwanted mess. Do I seem to complain about it? No."

Xenovia's jaw clenched at Carl's taunting words, but she refused to rise to the bait. "We seek only the truth and the resolution of this misunderstanding." she stated firmly.

'Tsk, I'm going around in circles with her. She's quite the stubborn girl. Irina probably would have agreed to an easy resolution in an instant if she stood in my presence.'

'We might even have some fun later on. She's eying me like some prize. Poor church girls, they will be stuck with their pent-up sexual frustration.'

'Let's get this done. Better visit the priest in charge of this Cathedral and have him pull the curtains down. This leaves me out with only Karnstein and Lasombra waiting outside.'

'And that's a nasty job. Having to deal with annoying, prideful pricks who think they know better.'

"And what resolution do you propose, Wingless Angel?" he inquired, his tone deceptively calm. "Do you intend to continue this fruitless investigation, or are you open to finding a more amicable solution?"

Carl's demeanor shifted subtly, his once calm facade now giving way to a palpable sense of danger. A predatory gleam flickered in his crimson eyes, sending shivers down Xenovia's spine. The air seemed to grow colder around them, heavy with the promise of impending conflict.

With a low growl, Carl's voice took on a menacing edge, causing even Xenovia's staunch resolve to falter. "Oh, and if you push me into taking some responsibility," he began, his tone dripping with malice as he paused, giving the impression he was thinking of some nasty consequences for the girls.

Even though he shifted gears since he noticed that Xenovia was still the same stubborn gall as she was described in DxD, there was an age gap and he could make use of her weaker state to get his point across and finally get rid of this problem once and for all.

"Sure. I will take responsibility for Karnstein and Lasombra Vampires waiting outside the Holy Barrier. However, you two girls better make sure to remove this barrier, I will soon get bored and maybe I'll make a mistake I will regret later."

Xenovia felt a chill run down her spine at the sheer intensity of Carl's words. His presence seemed to loom over her like a dark cloud, suffocating and oppressive. She could sense the raw power emanating from him, a reminder that all the 'authority' she felt when questioning Carl was only because he allowed her to have her moment.

Irina who looked with curiosity at Xenovia and Carl having a clash of words, where she was mainly attracted by the charming Vampire, suddenly felt that the 'Handsome' turned into a 'Devil' when an aura of crimson light began to discharge from his body.

Her usually composed demeanor faltering in the face of Carl's bloodthirsty aura, while the air crackled with tension,

Despite the fear that gnawed at her, Xenovia refused to back down. Steeling herself against Carl's intimidating presence, she squared her shoulders and met his gaze steeling her heart to show the Vampire she wasn't afraid of him. "We seek a peaceful resolution to this conflict," she declared, her voice steady despite the fear that gripped her heart.

"And if that means meeting with the Bishop of Graz to resolve this misunderstanding, then so be it."

For a moment, it seemed as though he might refuse her offer, but then, to Xenovia's relief, he relented.

"Very well," he conceded, his tone begrudging. "I will meet with the Bishop of Graz and hear what he has to say. But make no mistake, Wingless Angel, you're still in my grasp."

With that, Xenovia turned on her heel and began to walk away, her posture straight but when she approached Irina who followed suit, there was a tremble of relief washing over her body. though the tension still lingered in the air like a heavy fog.

She couldn't shake the feeling of dread that had gripped her during their encounter, the primal fear of facing a creature that she couldn't challenge regardless of what she was doing.

Maybe Durandal would have managed to keep her alive for a brief seconds until she lost control of her powers and succumbed to the Vampire.

As she approached Irina, who had been waiting anxiously, couldn't help but smile at Irina's naivete.

"Phew, that was stressful," Irina murmured, her voice trembling slightly. "I thought he..." She trailed off, unable to voice her fear of what might have happened if Carl had decided to attack them.

"You did well, Xenovia," Irina continued, her voice filled with admiration. "Better than I could have done in that situation. That Vampire, for sure, is scary. The scum Vampires called him Krassius, but the blonde lady called him Carl. Do you know any Vampire going by the name of Krassius?"

Xenovia's brow furrowed in thought at Irina's question. "I've heard the name before, but only in passing," she replied, her voice barely above a whisper. "Griselda has told me about the dynamics of the Vampire World. Among the main factions of Vampires, Tepes and Carmilla, there are monsters that even Purebloods try to avoid."

"For Carmilla is Krassius Bloodriver, while for Tepes is Gasper Vladi."

"Still, let's not talk about it here," Xenovia added, casting a wary glance over her shoulder at Carl, who was watching them with a faint smirk. "He can still hear us."

Meanwhile, Carl watched their retreating figures with a faint smirk, his crimson eyes gleaming with amusement. "I'll see you at the Cathedral, Wingless Angel," he called after them, his voice carrying a hint of playfulness. "Make sure the church dogs have their leash. And prepare the Bishop for a disciplinary beating."

With the figures of the two young nuns disappearing from his vampiric sight, he felt satisfied with how he handled the first impression on those two heroines. It was something worth doing as a villain, because people are much more likely to remember you than someone else who made little or no impression at all.

'Ahh, I didn't get to ask them their age, and come up with an estimation for DxD's timeline.'

'I got too riled up in my role-playing. Well, no biggy, I'll figure it out when I get to the Cathedral.'

'For which I'm looking forward to a lot. Say, mister, should I make most of those pedophiles shit themselves when I approach the church?'

[It would give them reasons to be hostile. Don't lower down to their level, Carl.]

'I figure you would say that.'

Turning around, he could spot Tsufaame distancing herself from Jeanne but watching him with a wide smirk, and the moment he lent her some of his attention, she made sure to tease him for the progress made with Xenovia and Irina.

"Looks like someone's enjoying themselves a little too much," Tsufaame remarked casually, her voice carrying a hint of amusement as she sauntered over to Carl.

Carl glanced at her, a smirk playing on his lips. "Just doing what needs to be done," he replied nonchalantly, though there was a glint of mischief in his crimson eyes.

Tsufaame chuckled, her laughter echoing softly in the alleyway. "Oh, I know you, Carl Krassius," she teased, her tone teasingly accusatory. "Always getting a kick out of putting others under pressure."

Carl raised an eyebrow at her teasing tone, a smirk tugging at the corners of his lips. "And what about you, Tsufaame?" he countered, his voice laced with playful banter. "I seem to recall a certain Leviathan Princess enjoyed herself being put under pressure."

Tsufaame chuckled in a fake manner, while her black eyes sparkled with some killing intent as she was reminded of the humiliating act of her relenting to Carl's shameless negotiating tactics. "Touché, Blood Bat," she conceded, her tone filled with mock indignation. "But at least I'm not two faced to play around with humans like you."

Carl mirrored the devil woman in his fake chuckled, nodding in agreement. "Fair point," he conceded, not wanting to entertain her drama, since he could guess the direction of this conversation going places.

"Just don't get too carried away, or you might end up with more than you bargained for. You'll wake up at one point with those two innocent virgins in your bed. Don't say I didn't warn you for playing them like an asshole."

Carl frowned a bit, but it was brief, not wanting to give Tsufaame the satisfaction of seeing that he was troubled by her remark, instead he faced her with a twinkle of amusement in his eyes. "Noted," he replied, his voice filled with playful mischief. "Any complaints you might want to address me?"

Tsufaame grinned, her eyes sparkling with mischief. "No, not really. I'll tell you at home when we're alone. Fufufu, I like to keep things interesting," she replied, her voice teasing. "And where's the fun in being predictable?"

"Ah-ha"

'I swear, this slut is doing it on purpose. She's trying to sabotage what I've built with Jeanne in the past weeks.'

'She needs some taming to keep her in line.'

As their playful banter continued, Jeanne, who had a small chat with Tsufaame, having an understanding that she was the one who rescued her at Carl's orders because he was tied up by the large number of Vampires attacking him, observed the exchange with mixed feelings.

Amusement, concern, jealousy, maybe envious that she was left out from this playful banter, but those were fleeting emotions that she didn't allow to lead her life. Jeanne stood amidst the banter between Carl and Tsufaame, she couldn't shake the feeling of being somewhat out of place.

Despite the relief she felt knowing that the two young nuns were safe, she couldn't help but feel a pang of jealousy at the image of closeness shared between Carl and Tsufaame. They seemed to have a bond that she couldn't quite comprehend, and it left her feeling like an outsider in their dynamic.

With Carl moving toward her, and now ignoring Tsufaame who scoffed at his cold treatment after she managed to engage with him in some banter, she summoned her courage to address her feelings.

Jeanne turned to Carl, her voice hesitant as she spoke. "Um, Carl," she began, her cheeks flushing slightly with embarrassment. "I-I was just wondering... what kind of relationship do you and Tsufaame have?"

Carl focused on Jeanne's body language, and with her tone turning shy/nervous all of a sudden, a flicker of surprise crossed his features before he offered her a reassuring smile. "She's nothing you should feel threatened about. She's my contracted Devil, think of her like a Servant. No, that's also wrong, how about a partner? Besides, from her story she claims to be quite powerful, but for now she's just a shell of what she used to be."

"When you look at her, she's just like an abandoned shepherd puppy that I decided to pick up, to give a chance to grow strong and work diligently for me in the future."

"Heh, I can taste her hatred, Tsufaame. You got something to complain about my explanation?"

Carl made those statements in such a shameless manner while looking at Tsufaame, that managed to stir all sorts of dark emotions in the Devil Princess heart, who found herself under such humiliating contract with Carl.

Her heart raced, her breathing hitched, and without her realizing, she clenched her fists in anger. The initial cheekiness she owned shattered, revealing her devilish heart that was prone to chaos and destruction.

Those feelings stemmed from her inability to accept such inferior position, as Tsufaame never considered herself anyone's inferior. Yet she found herself contracted as Carl's Devil, allowing him to make decisions for her, even over what sounded like a trivial matter regarding resolving a situation where her precious 'home' was invaded by those pesky lesser vampires.

"I think I understand now," Jeanne murmured softly, twirling a lock of her golden hair around her finger as she tried to absorb the unexpected revelation. "She's like... your employee."

Carl chuckled, shaking his head in amusement. "Well, not exactly. I suppose you could say I'm more like her patron and provider, helping her to recover her strength and fulfill her potential.

In return, she pledges to serve me, to help me achieve my goals and ambitions. It's a win-win situation for both of us."

Carl paused for a moment, his eyes searching Jeanne's captivating blue ones. He could see the curiosity, as well as the jealousy simmering beneath the surface, like any woman finding herself facing her competitor. He knew he needed to be careful with his words, to tread lightly so as not to offend her.

Jeanne listened attentively, her heart pounding as she tried to quell the surge of emotions building up within her. The thought of Carl being so close with another woman, a powerful and alluring woman like Tsufaame, who had her own charms made her stomach churn.

What she didn't know was that the person standing in front of her was just a human vessel she possessed, and in her eyes, she was winning the look contest. Unlike Tsufaame (vessel) she hasn't defiled her body with all sorts of piercings or tattoos.

Now she was questioning if Carl was into women like Tsufaame. Those thoughts continue to flood her, nagging her continuously in the back of her mind, and they persist with ruthless dedication.

Meanwhile, Tsufaame who felt her losing control over the human vessel because of her emotions creating instability in her possession spell, scoffed at Carl's explanation, her expression contorting with defiance.

"Serving at your beck and call? Partner?" Tsufaame's laughter echoed in the alleyway, sending a chill down Jeanne's spine. "Oh, how quaint. But let's not mince words, shall we? We both know I'm not here to play second fiddle to anyone."

"I'm an Ultimate Devil for all that is devilish."

Her words were like venom, dripping with sarcasm and disdain. Jeanne felt a knot forming in her stomach, a sense of unease settling over her like a dark cloud, yet when she turned to check Carl's response to this outburst she could only watch at his impassive indifference.

"Are you done?"

She burned inside, wanting to spit venom at Carl for how he was treating her like some second class citizen not worth even breathing the same air. Since she wouldn't get the reaction she wanted out of him, she decided to withdraw and strengthen her control over the Vessel.

"Is not as if I can disobey you, and I doubt you want to continue our little discussion about the future with your Blood Piggy present here." Tsufaame turned her attention on Jeanne, her smirk widening into a wicked grin. "I'll be waiting for you back home. No need to worry, I know the way back."

Carl's expression remained impassive, but Jeanne could see the tension in his muscles, the flicker of irritation in his eyes. He knew Tsufaame was playing with fire, just so she could mess around with Jeanne.

Was she opposed to her now that she awakened her Sacred Gear? Was she in-check because of her Holy Power? Reading women minds was something not even Nostradamus could pull off.

Jeanne's heart clenched at Tsufaame's words, a pang of jealousy stabbing at her chest.

Carl's gaze flickered briefly to Tsufaame, but he said nothing in response. It was as if her words were nothing more than a whisper in the wind, easily ignored and forgotten.

As Tsufaame disappeared into the darkness, Jeanne was left alone with Carl, who found it necessary that he explained the situation to her before she would get dragged deeper into his mess.

"I feel she opened a can of worms with the name calling. Huh, why do you gals have to be so mean at times?"

"Anyway, let's continue our talk Jeanne. We were supposed on having our date tonight, but fate has other plans in store for us."

Jeanne followed Carl into her house, the weight of the evening's events hung heavy in the air. Nonetheless, the signs of battle or the bloody hallway and living room were missing from her sights.

The marks of combat inside the house were reversed by Tsufaame's spell, giving the impression that everything Jeanne experienced were just an illusion, and in this moment even Carl seemed to be like a fantasy of her mind to escape from the whirlwind of emotions caused by Richard's betrayal.

The dimly lit living room felt suffocating, filled with the remnants of tension and uncertainty, but the smell of the food Jeanne prepared before being turned into disarray still lingered in the air.

Vampires were high-end predators, their senses were stronger than wild beasts such as polar bears or other amalgamation of beasts that had superiority over humanity in terms of acute senses.

Carl's expression tinged with regret as he glanced around the room. "I wish we could've had a more pleasant night." Carl said, his voice low with a bit of remorse. "I always enjoy your company, Jeanne, and even looked forward to your cooking since you bragged about last time."

He moved with familiarity inside the house as he stepped inside the living room, his next action being followed by him taking a seat on the plush couch.

His moves made Jeanne think about his plans for tonight, and while he glanced back at her, she could see his crimson eyes softening at her.

"Come. Take a seat, babe."

Saying that, he patted his thigh, inviting her to sit on his lap which instead perplexed the woman who never had such an exchange with a male partner.

For obvious reasons she hesitated for a moment, her cheeks flushing with embarrassment at the intimacy of the gesture, but she ultimately gave in to his invitation.

"You're not naughty at this moment?"

"Hey, can't a man share this moment of peace with his woman? I like sharing this closeness with you. So why not? There's no strings attached," Carl said, his voice soft but confident as he wrapped an arm around her waist, pulling her gently onto his lap.

Carefully, she settled herself onto his lap, feeling the warmth of his body against hers as he wrapped an arm around her waist. Despite the turmoil swirling inside her, she found solace in his embrace, a sense of security in his presence.

"You asked me what you meant for me? What was our relationship so far?"

"Yes, Carl. Now that I'm also involved in this Supernatural World… I want to know what we are. What do I mean for you?"

"Mhm, I understand. Do you want me to sugarcoat it or be honest?" Carl replied, his tone gentle but direct.

"... Give me the truth straightforwardly. I don't like when people gaslight me. So, please, don't do it with me," Jeanne responded, her voice steady despite the vulnerability in her words.

"Alright. I like this straightforwardness of yours, since you don't expect me to read your mind. For starters initially I was only interested in your body, mainly your blood essence because when we met it was the day I escaped from my prison." Carl explained, his tone serious as he looked into Jeanne's eyes.

"You might have heard it from those Lasombra scum, but I am, well, I was, their Prince, but because of circumstances I'm now hunted by them. Don't put it in mind, it's not your fault they targeted you, instead it's because of me placing the Blood Spider on you."

Jeanne's expression fell at his words, her heart heavy with guilt. "... So you were after my body," she murmured, lowering her head to hide her face against his chest.

"Initially. But over the weeks we dated, I changed my mind. I learned more about you on a personal level, and you have picked my interest," Carl admitted, his voice gentle as he stroked her hair.

"Then… Do you see a future for us?" Jeanne asked, her voice barely above a whisper as she lifted her gaze to meet his once more.

"A future for us? Depends," Carl replied, his tone thoughtful as he met her gaze with a steady gaze of his own.

"Depends? On what?" Jeanne pressed, her heart pounding in her chest as she waited for his response.

"Mainly your choice. As you might have noticed while we were dating, I'm not the type to settle down. I know, maybe I should have made things clear to you from the beginning, but with me forming an emotional attachment to you, I wanted to see where meeting would lead us."

"Am I not good enough for you, Carl?" Jeanne couldn't help but ask, her voice wavering with a mix of vulnerability and insecurity.

"Not at all, you're a wonderful woman, it's just that I'm not the type to settle down with only one woman," Carl replied, his tone sincere as he reached up to gently cup her cheek.

Vampires are selfish creatures, almost bondaring into sociopathy and narcissism. With this in mind, I'm pursuing a polygamous future for myself, because unlike humans who want social peace by pursuing monogamy, I'm chaotic by nature. I'm like Nero watching Rome burning in the background."

'The more people think monogamy is ordained by nature—or God—the more they are likely to think sexual temptation means they are evil people, or that they simply married the wrong spouse.'

Jeanne listened intently to his words, her heart heavy with the weight of his revelation. She couldn't deny the truth in his words, as much as it pained her to hear them

"Humans have filled their number, and scaled down their animalistic tendencies, this doesn't apply in the Vampiric Society. This is why, I say that your choice is important for our future."

"I assume you've only had exclusive monogamous relationships, which is good in all of their aspects. I know women nature, I know you girls are possessive when it comes to your men and hoarding all of his attention to you. Well, I'll stop talking because I feel like I will go into gaslighting you in convincing you that entering into a relationship with me would work."Carl added, a hint of self-awareness in his voice.

"This isn't my place to manipulate your choice. It's up to you," he concluded, his voice gentle but firm as he let the weight of his words settle between them.

Jeanne, who was sitting on Carl's lap, turned to look at his face, surprised and also stunned by his admission which sounded shameless initially. But then, she began processing and rummaging on that information, those seconds of silence as if it was an eternity. She took her time to think things through, and Carl didn't interrupt this process.

Why would he? The fact she hasn't jumped from his lap, screaming and calling him names as he assumed it would be. It was an asshole move to play on the heartstrings of women, especially when you held the handsome privilege card as he was doing with Krassius's features.

She had to admit to herself, it would be weird for a 'dull' woman like herself to have a guy like Alex entirely to herself, and based on what conversation he had with the Exorcist girls, it's clear that Graz is just a checkpoint for him to recuperate and once he sorts out his business here he would depart, leaving everything behind him, and that includes her.

She didn't want to lose Carl, but she was also conflicted about this polygamy relation.

She tried to push the nagging thoughts to the back of her mind, but they persisted. "Do you ... do you like her?"

"...Tell me, is that woman one of your interests?"

Carl furrowed his brow at Jeanne's question, momentarily taken aback. He knew what she was insinuating, but the thought of him having romantic feelings for Tsufaame made him laugh.

"The devil woman? No. Haven't you seen her acting like some Queen. No way in hell, she's such a pain in the ass since I released her from the Prison of my Sacred Gear. She's really ungrateful."

"This is why I'm thinking of placing her under an improvement plan. For now she's playing onto my games, we'll see in the future. However, you shouldn't feel threatened by her."

Carl reached out to caress Jeanne's cheek, his touch warm and soothing, while Jeanne chuckled a bit, gazing with a longing face at Carl's malicious smirk as he thought of Tsufaame and her bullshit.

In the end, Jeanne blushed slightly and averted her gaze from Carl's crimson eyes. She confessed, "Carl, I want to be with you. I don't mind if you want to have a relationship with other women as long as you're honest and sincere with me, but please, don't make me watch you love them."

"I'm not an easy woman… I've been raised in a strict manner."

Carl smiled and gently brushed Jeanne's cheek with his index finger, whispering, "Jeanne, I won't force you to do anything you're uncomfortable with. I promise you, you'll always be special to me. But, I want you to know that this won't be an easy road for us.

My life is far from ordinary, I'm not someone who can settle down just because a woman asks me nicely, especially in the future. My goals are grander than most scenarists in Hollywood can come up with."

"By association you'll be put in danger, but I'm confident that I will be capable of protecting you. And, who knows maybe you, yourself would be capable of holding yourself with the head held high up against those demons."

Jeanne bit her lower lip, her heart beating faster. The thought of being in danger was frightening, but she trusted Carl to keep her safe. She knew he had a dangerous charm that drew her in, and she found herself falling deeper for him each day. She couldn't deny their connection any longer.

Carl's fingers traced Jeanne's jawline, and his eyes softened as he saw the determination in her gaze.

"Are you sure you can handle this, Jeanne? I'll not be able to be by your side all the time, but I'm confident that my love bombing will satisfy you for the missed time." he asked, his voice barely above a whisper.

"I'm sure," Jeanne replied, her voice steady and resolute. She leaned into Carl's touch, her heart fluttering with anticipation.

Jeanne looked at Carl, her blue eyes filled with determination. "I'm not afraid, as long as I have you by my side, I'm ready to face those Vampires trying to hurt you." she said, her voice steady and strong.

Carl smiled, his eyes gleaming with appreciation. He knew that Jeanne was an extraordinary woman, and he felt lucky to have her by his side.

But he also knew that being with him came with risks, and he needed to make sure that Jeanne understood what she was getting into.

Carl didn't want to scare her away, but he believed in honesty above all else.

He had always been drawn to Jeanne's fiery spirit and strong-willed personality, and he knew that she was the perfect match for him.

But he also knew that he couldn't promise her a conventional relationship. He had too much baggage, too many enemies, and too many desires that couldn't be contained by monogamy.

That's why he decided to lay it all on the table from the beginning. He didn't want to lead Jeanne on or make false promises that he couldn't keep.

He had seen too many relationships crumble under the weight of unrealistic expectations. So, he was upfront and honest about his intentions, hoping that Jeanne would be able to make an informed decision about their relationship.

Nonetheless, Carl who awoke in the body of this Vampire had become accustomed to the idea that it was a must he became an Harem King. If some loser like the protagonist of DxD could become one, how couldn't a man who had plenty of experiences from his first life not be able to pull this off.

He had everything a woman could wish for, appearance, status, personality, along with lots of excitement for their lives. For this he had accepted that he would never have a normal life, just as he had accepted that he would always have to look over his shoulder for potential threats.

Jeanne, on the other hand, had fallen hard for Carl. She couldn't resist his magnetic charm and strong personality.

Despite his status as a Vampire, Carl remained humble and respected Jeanne's boundaries, unlike the Vampires she faced who looked down at her as if she was an ant. He had some evil tendencies that she spotted especially when he fought the Vampires, but who could blame him when everyone was against him?

Yet his villainous nature was overshadowed by his charm, making it hard for Jeanne to resist him. She craved his attention and desired to be close to him.

The night they spent together at the hotel left Jeanne feeling satisfied and fulfilled in ways she had never felt before. She wanted more of him, but Carl's confession about his desire for a polygamous relationship made her hesitate.

She didn't know if she could share him with others, but she couldn't deny her feelings for him either.

As they sat on her couch, she couldn't help but feel drawn to him. His smell filled her nostrils, and his warmth radiated through her body. She looked up at him, and their eyes met.

In that moment, a spark ignited between them, and Jeanne knew she couldn't let him go.

"Carl, I want to know something regarding your biting and feeding of my blood. Is something those scum told me about when they came looking for you… you being my Sire." she said, her voice barely above a whisper.

"I need to know… Am I transforming into a Vampire? Will you feeding on my blood lead me on the path of becoming one of you?"

Carl was surprised by this concern, thinking that he sorted it out in the past, whatsmore he even consulted with Nosferatu on this subject, reaching the conclusion that as possessor of the Curse of Vampirism and wielder of Bloodbound Dominion, he had full control over who he embraced.

Still in this moment he smiled calmly at her, his eyes softening as he looked at Jeanne. With a deep breath of air, he responded by questioning her intent in asking her worry.

"Jeanne," he said, his voice gentle yet firm. "Do you want to become a vampire?"

His question hung in the air, and Jeanne couldn't help but feel a pang of fear in her heart. She had never considered becoming a vampire before, and now that the possibility was presented to her, she felt conflicted.

"I don't know," she admitted, her voice barely above a whisper. "I've never really thought about it before. But their words reminded me of a drama on how the lead female was turned into a Vampire.

But now that you've asked me, I can't help but wonder what it would be like," Jeanne said, her voice hesitant and uncertain.

Carl could sense her apprehension and took a moment to contemplate his response. He didn't want to force her into a decision she wasn't ready for, but he also wanted her to know the consequences of her actions.

"Becoming a vampire isn't something to be taken lightly, Jeanne. It's a major life change, and one that comes with certain...risks, if you want to word it like this.

I won't lie to you, Jeanne. Turning into a vampire comes with its own set of challenges, but in my biased view, the benefits outweigh the slight losses.

Initially your social life might suffer a hit because the transition process would first challenge your self-control. The main problem of becoming a Vampire is the need for blood. However, it is not necessary to drink from your prey directly, Blood Packs are Heaven Sent in our world.

Some Dhampirs even drink the blood of animals for psychological reasons. They fear that they lose themselves by seeking human blood, which is bullshit. They tell those lies, thinking that they are more humans than vampires."

"Still following?" Carl asked, his tone probing.

Jeanne nodded again, her lips pressed into a thoughtful line. "Yes, I... I think so," she replied, her voice tinged with uncertainty.

"Good," Carl said with a nod.

He went on to explain the intricacies of vampire transformation, detailing the importance of blood essence and the potential outcomes for humans who underwent the Embrace.

"Good. Usually humans are unlucky with the Embrace process, because instead of becoming full-fledged Vampires, they instead become Thralls and Ghouls which is truly lamentable. This is why our ranks are so small compared to the Devils even if they suffered great losses."

"The rule of thumb is that the stronger your Blood Essence, the higher the chance of the human you Embrace becoming a Vampire is. In your case, if you wish to become a Vampire, you have a 99.99% chance of becoming a Vampire if I embrace you."

"You sound rather excited at the idea of turning me into a Vampire. Are you that lonely?" Jeanne's question cut through the air, laced with a hint of playful skepticism.

"Very," Carl admitted with a small smirk, his crimson eyes meeting hers. "Then let me give you the salesman pitch..."

"Stage is yours, mister," Jeanne quipped, a playful glint in her eyes as she gestured for Carl to continue.

Carl chuckled at her theatrics, appreciating her lightheartedness in the face of such a weighty subject.

"You get cravings for blood, think of it like sugar cravings, nothing uncommon. Once I establish a logistic system in the future, it will become unnecessary 'hunting' for blood. However, with the slight drawbacks, you'll gain strength and longevity that most humans can only dream of."

Jeanne listened intently, nodding along as Carl outlined the perks of vampirism. She couldn't deny the appeal of such life.

"Your girlfriends will turn into frail grandmas while you'll still be in your prime," Carl continued, a mischievous twinkle in his eyes.

Jeanne couldn't help but laugh at his remark, her apprehension momentarily forgotten in the warmth of their banter. "Ahh, soothing to a woman's ego. Quite the salesman, Charlie," she teased.

"How do you think I've got such a handsome face that you fell all over heels for? Your beauty will be enhanced for sure once the transformation is completed. Ahem, apart from those perks, you'll feel like a superhero, the only drawback is that you'll be annoyed by Exorcists and other fools," Carl added, his tone tinged with amusement.

"Want me to continue?"

Jeanne chuckled, feeling at ease being around Carl especially when he reveals his true colors instead of keeping his mask on like he did the first time he was interacting with her. She was attracted to his mysticism, always challenged to discover which mask was his true face.

After a long contemplation, about 15 minutes of silence that made it almost solemn, Jeanne looked up at Carl, her eyes filled with curiosity and uncertainty as she broke the ice between them. "What would I have to do to become a vampire?"

"There should be a catch. After how many times you've bitten my neck, I'm still human. I think? Right?"

"You're human, yet. Don't worry about this. As for the process? It's quite straightforward.

I would need to bite you, drink your blood, and then allow you to drink mine. But it's important to note that you have to really want this, Jeanne. I won't force you into this decision. It has to be your choice." Carl replied, his voice steady and sincere.

Jeanne nodded, taking in his words. She knew this wasn't a decision to be made lightly. Becoming a vampire meant giving up her mortal life, her family and friends, and accepting a new identity that was steeped in mystery and danger.

As much as she desired Carl, Jeanne couldn't help but feel a pang of fear at the thought of turning into a vampire.

"I understand, Carl. I'll not lie, I'm not sure I'm ready to make this decision, yet." Jeanne said, gazing into Carl's eyes, searching for an answer to her unspoken question.

Carl nodded, understanding her concerns. "Who would blame you? And I won't pressure you into making that decision.

But I want you to know that if you choose to become a vampire, I will stand by your side every step of the way. I will teach you and guide you through the new world that you'll be stepping into."

Carl's words were earnest, and Jeanne could sense the sincerity in his voice. She knew that he was being honest with her, and that he genuinely cared for her well-being.

Still, the thought of turning into a vampire was too daunting.

Jeanne had always prided herself on being independent and self-sufficient, and the thought of relying on someone else, even if it was someone as powerful as Carl, was unsettling.

As if sensing her discomfort, Carl cuddled to her. The way Carl touched her, his intimate tone, and his sincerity all combined to create an irresistible allure. Her heart raced, and her body grew hot as she imagined the possibilities of a relationship with a powerful vampire prince.

"Thank you, Charlie," she said, her voice barely above a whisper.

"Heh, that's cute. It's been a while since someone called me that name," Carl chuckled, his fingers tracing gentle patterns on her cheek.

Jeanne looked at him, a hint of confusion in her eyes.

"Well, Carl is something someone dear to me called me in the past, and over the years, it stuck with me. Charles is actually my first name."

"Not Krassius?" Jeanne inquired, her curiosity piqued.

"That one is my Vampire name. Carl-Charles is my human name," Carl explained with a wink, a mischievous glint in his crimson eyes.

From that wink, he initiated without being rejected by Jeanne, as he leaned closer to her face, pressing his lips on hers. Without even knowing when or how, she melted into the kiss, her past worries and uncertainties melting away for the moment as she got embraced in her lap seated position.

She knew that regardless of what the future held, she was exactly where she was meant to be.