Serafall, efficiency personified, immediately excused herself, her energy now focused on mobilizing the deep-cover intelligence network needed to scout for the Vampire peace factions. She stepped back out of the shadowed alley, melting seamlessly into the daytime crowd to begin issuing her complex orders.
Algernon, however, remained where he was for only a moment longer, allowing the silence to settle. He then resumed his deliberate walk out of the alley and into the light of the main street, his pace steady. Issei, following behind him without a word, adjusted his pace to match him.
Issei, ever the man of action, finally broke the silence.
"Your Majesty," Issei asked, his voice low and serious. "Are we going back to the castle now? Are we going to wait for the final reports?"
Algernon didn't turn around, but the corners of his mouth lifted into that familiar, slightly arrogant smile—the smile of a man who never waited for events, but created them.
"Wait?" Algernon scoffed softly, his voice echoing only for Issei. "Patience is a luxury afforded to those who are merely reacting, Issei. We are not reacting. We are dictating the tempo."
He paused at the edge of the square, looking past magical covers.
"No, we are not waiting. We are heading directly to the political heart of the conflict. We are heading to the Castle of the Queen of the Carmilla faction."
Issei stopped dead in his tracks, his eyes wide with surprise and alarm. "To the Carmilla Queen? Your Majesty, she's our enemy's leader! Isn't that too great a risk? We'll be surrounded by hostile pure bloods, without an army."
Algernon finally glanced back, his smile turning sharp and predatory. "Risk is simply a measure of opportunity, Dragon Emperor. I am here to seize a Longinus and destabilize the Khaos Brigade. To do that, I must ensure that when the dust settles tonight, the Carmilla Queen is already prepared to deal with my terms, not her own. We are going to offer her a choice: Submit to me and survive the power vacuum or be crushed by the coming chaos. Now, keep up."
The closer Algernon and Issei got to the Carmilla fortress, the more the atmosphere warped. They moved from the open human streets into a densely built aristocratic quarter, suddenly enveloped by a heavy, cold magic that hid the entire area from outside observation. The air grew thick, carrying the faint, metallic scent of blood and ancient magic.
As they continued to move deeper, they were scrutinized by the residents. Vampires, cloaked in expensive, dark finery, watched from balconies and darkened archways. Their eyes, naturally predatory, were flickering with intense hostility, occasionally turning a warning shade of red as they absorbed the presence of the two trespassing powerful foreigners.
Algernon proceeded without pause, exhibiting utter disinterest in their hostile gazes. Issei, despite the palpable threat surrounding them, maintained a disciplined silence, staying close behind him.
Soon, they reached the colossal, wrought-iron castle gates. They were flanked by a pair of massive, heavily armored Vampire guards whose faces were rigid with suspicion. The guards immediately crossed their halberds, barring the entrance.
"Halt," one guard commanded, his voice a low, guttural rasp. "State your business and identity. This territory is closed."
Algernon didn't bother to speak. He simply glanced over his shoulder at Issei.
Issei understood. Stepping forward, he allowed a controlled, searing burst of his draconic aura to erupt around him, a shockwave of power that made the Vampire guards instinctively recoil, their hostility momentarily overwhelmed by profound fear. Simultaneously, Issei pushed his coat sleeve back, dramatically revealing the fiery red Boosted Gear gauntlet resting on his forearm.
"I am the current Red Dragon Emperor," Issei announced, his voice booming with the authority of a Heavenly Dragon, the gauntlet glowing ominously. "And the one before you is..."
Issei was about to announce Algernon's Imperial title, but Algernon smoothly interrupted him.
"...his friend, and we wish to meet Queen Carmilla," Algernon finished calmly, stepping slightly forward to stand beside Issei.
After a moment of paralyzed confusion, one guard finally broke ranks. He snapped a low bow—a gesture of respect aimed squarely at the ominous red gauntlet—and rushed back through a smaller side door into the castle interior.
The wait was brief.
Soon, the small door reopened, and a single figure emerged. She was a girl with a delicate, almost doll-like appearance, instantly commanding attention. She possessed long, wavy light blonde hair, deep red eyes, and a beautiful face similar to that of a Western doll. Her pale skin tone was pronounced, resembling that of a corpse, emphasizing her pure-blood lineage.
She wore an elaborate red dress worn by princesses. She moved with a measured, aristocratic grace, stepping forward to stand between the two guards.
Her gaze, red and penetrating, swept over the Red Dragon Emperor's gauntlet, then settled with keen, calculating interest on Algernon.
She offered a shallow, formal curtsy. "I am Elmenhilde Karnstein, a key member of the House of Karnstein," she announced, her voice precise and carrying a subtle, inherent arrogance. "I am here on behalf of Her Majesty, Queen Carmilla. You claim to be the Red Dragon Emperor and his associate. You have our attention. Queen Carmilla accepted your request. Now, if you please, follow me"
She turned crisply and gestured for them to enter. The massive iron gates swung inward just enough for them to pass.
Elmenhilde immediately took the lead, her princess-like red dress swishing softly as she guided them through the labyrinthine interior of the ancient castle. The halls were oppressive, lined with dark velvet draperies and ancient portraits whose painted eyes seemed to follow their every step.
They passed numerous other pure-blood Vampires—servants and guards—who stopped their work to stare at Issei and the man accompanying him.
Soon, they arrived in a grand, richly appointed parlor room. It was dominated by heavy, antique furniture and illuminated by tall, narrow windows that cast pale daylight onto the scene.
Seated gracefully on a luxurious, plush sofa was a beautiful, dignified, elegant lady. She had an air of commanding composure, an ageless nobility that defined the true Vampire elite. A low, carved table was placed before her, upon which three delicate cups—presumably for tea or something darker—had already been set out.
Elmenhilde paused at the entrance. "Her Majesty, Queen Carmilla."
Algernon and Issei stepped forward. Algernon nodded respectfully, and without waiting for further instruction, he and Issei took their seats on the sofa opposite the regal lady.
The Queen offered a faint, welcoming smile that did not quite reach her eyes.
"Thank you, Elmenhilde. That will be all for the moment," the Queen said, her voice smooth and melodic, dismissing the Karnstein girl. Once Elmenhilde had discreetly withdrawn, the Queen lifted a hand toward the cups.
"Welcome to my court. I am Carmilla," she introduced herself simply, the name itself resonating with centuries of power. "And I confess, I rarely entertain guests whose identity is confirmed by a Heavenly Dragon. I assume your presence here is a matter of exceptional gravity, 'friend of the Red Dragon Emperor.'"
Carmilla paused, her deep red eyes—eyes that had surely seen the rise and fall of empires—sweeping over Algernon with an intensity that sought to penetrate his secrets.
"However," she continued, her voice soft but the words striking like ice, "as far as I know, the Red Dragon Emperor is formally associated with the new Emperor of the Demon Faction from Azeroth clan."
That line freezed the entire scene.
The air in the elegant parlor became suddenly thick with tension. Carmilla's calm statement had demolished the pretense of "friend".
A slow, pleased smile spread across Algernon's face. He didn't flinch or deny the accusation. He murmured, "Smart,".
Algernon then executed a smooth, deliberate motion. He leaned back into the plush sofa, relaxing into the exposure. Simultaneously, he rested his head on one of his hands, adopting a posture of casual dominance, and crossed one leg over the other, resting one of his legs on the other. He had fully claimed the space and the authority.
In perfect, wordless synchronicity, Issei stood up from the sofa. He immediately moved behind Algernon, taking a defensive and formal position, standing guard with his hand near his gauntlet, leaving the sofa entirely to Algernon—a silent, unambiguous confirmation of his true identity and status.
Carmilla watched the display of hierarchy—the Red Dragon Emperor willingly ceding his seat to stand as a guard behind his Emperor. She accepted the confirmed identity without pause.
Carmilla's serene smile returned, a gesture of polite acknowledgement rather than genuine warmth. She leaned back slightly on her own sofa, maintaining her dignified posture. "So," she asked, her voice smooth and conversational, entirely not minding his actions but rather viewing them as expected, "what honor do I have to personally entertain the famous Emperor of the Demon Faction?"
Algernon maintained his relaxed, dominant posture, his smile remaining fixed.
"Queen Carmilla," Algernon began, his voice dropping to a cool, analytical register. "I did not come for pleasantries."
He raised his free hand and tapped his finger lightly on his temple. "Your situation is precarious, more so than your court believes. You are a genius strategist; you must have felt that the Tepes faction has external help. And you must also know, deep down, that the reason the Tepes have been so resilient is the immense power their new ruler possesses—the Longinus."
This cold, casual confirmation of her worst fears made Carmilla's smile instantly fade. Her regal composure cracked just enough for a flicker of genuine worry to cross her features. Her eyes, fixed on Algernon, hardened.
Algernon pressed his advantage, his voice taking on the tone of a terrifying benefactor offering a desperate lifeline.
"That external force," he continued, leaning forward just enough to underscore the gravity of his words, "I can tell you, is far more terrible than you think. They are not merely allies; they are orchestrating the entire civil war. And the reason you are only maintaining a stalemate with the Tepes faction is not due to your strategic genius alone, but simply because they want you to."
"They are playing you, Queen Carmilla," Algernon concluded, his smile finally receding as he delivered his ultimatum. "And I am here to offer you a way out of the puppet show."
"And what is it you offer," she asked, her voice low and tight, "and what do you demand in return for this... intervention, Demon Emperor?"
Algernon's smile returned, colder and sharper than before. He spoke clearly, outlining an ambition that transcended mere territory.
"I offer you total sovereignty, Queen Carmilla," Algernon stated. "I can prevent the Carmilla faction from being exterminated—a fate that is guaranteed if the Tapes fraction is allowed to continue its current trajectory. More than that, I can make you Queen of all Vampires, not just the Carmilla faction, but the Vampire species as a whole, ruling over a stable, unified domain."
He paused, letting the immense weight of that promise—the end of centuries of civil strife under her crown—sink in.
"And what I want in return," he continued, his eyes turning to icy steel, "is absolute loyalty. You will lead the unified Vampire Faction to submit to me. You will become a Duke under the banner of Athelgard, and your resources and people will be factored into my grand design."
As he spoke the final words of his demand, Algernon consciously, brutally locked his murderous intent on her for a brief, chilling moment. It was not a magical attack, but a sheer projection of his potential power and his willingness to use it—the concentrated, cold focus of a conqueror.
The effect was instantaneous and devastating. Carmilla's face went pale—a truly ashen shade of white against her dark hair and dress. Her composure shattered. She gasped for breath, her eyes wide and fixed on him, entirely unable to speak as the immense, unspoken threat of his power momentarily paralyzed her body and mind.
Algernon held the intent just long enough to ensure she understood the alternative to his proposal was annihilation. Then, he lifted the pressure, his expression instantly returning to calm composure.
He smoothly stood up from the sofa, leaving the stunned Queen grappling for air and dignity.
"I trust you understand the gravity of this decision, Queen Carmilla," Algernon said, his tone now one of polite dismissal. He nodded to Issei, who immediately moved to join him.
As they turned toward the exit of the parlor, Algernon delivered his closing statement, a clear, non-negotiable deadline.
"I will be back here soon, expecting a good answer. Do not disappoint me."
With that, Algernon strode out, Issei following closely behind, leaving Queen Carmilla alone in her opulent parlor, breathing heavily and facing the most significant ultimatum in the history of the Vampire Faction.
(END OF CHAPTER)
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