[Unknown Location]
The room was filled with the stench of rotting flesh.
Crimson liquid was trailing down the weathered stone walls, flowing into the pool of blood that seem to stretch on forever.
–Drip
–Drip
The only sound that could be heard in the suffocating silence was the sound of blood dripping into blood.
If one raised one's head, one would find that the source of the dripping came from the countless amount of bodies hanging from the ceiling.
They were bodies from a variety of races, a variety of ages and of genders. From a old human lady, to a middle aged dragon and to a young elven child.
The one's responsible for this was killing without discrimination or prejudice.
Some bodies were fresh with blood still dripping from them, while others were old with maggots and flies eating at them and some bodies were skeletons.
–CREAK
The worn wooden door swung open with a groan and a hunched over figure walked in. Their facial features cloaked by the red robe they wore.
The figure made their way towards the endless pool of blood, their steps slow and unsteady. They would've tumbled if it wasn't for the cane that supported them.
The figure stopped at the edge of the pool of blood, the cane clattered to the ground and they shed their robe revealing a boney figure.
They were devoid of any muscle, bones were jutting out of their wrinkled flesh. Their cheeks and eyes were completely sunken in, making it impossible to tell their gender. Long white hair fell over their aged face.
The figure leaned forward and the fell into the pool of blood face first making the blood splash in every direction.
The figure was unmoving as they drifted to the center of the blood pool.
The figure started levitating, their arms spread wide and their head fell back as if gazing up into the heavens.
The blood from the pool started to float and moved to the figure in relentless waves. The figure was absorbing the blood in the pool and even from the corpses hanging above.
The blood flowed into the figure through all seven orifices. The figures boney and hunched frame straightened. Their wrinkled skin smoothened.
Their brittle legs changed to smooth and long ones. The gained a tiny waist, wide hips and ample chest.
Their sunken cheeks turned plump and had a slight pink blush. They grew long lashes and thick brows. The long white hair gained their luster and turned a shiny black.
The figure opened their eyelids, revealing pitch black pupils and irises.
The figure–no, the woman–was breathtakingly beautiful, she was sure to struck the emotions of the most hardened Buddha's.
The woman's naked form landed soundless into the empty pool.
"Confessor." A figure dressed in red robes appeared and kneeled in front of the woman. "The last two pieces appeared in the Vampire Continent."
"Hmm?" The woman's voice was like poisoned honey. "Bring them to me, before the others start making their moves."
The kneeling figure disappeared the moment the order was spoken.
"Just in time." The woman clenched her fist, testing her newfound strength, a smile that split from ear to ear spread across her face.
********
The dining hall was just as elegant as the rest of the castle.
In the middle of it was a long black table with 5 chairs on each side of it. The chairs was made from black wood and had soft cushions on the butt– and backrest.
On the table was a spread of exquisite pastries and two red dishes with utensils neatly placed next to them.
There was a contingency of maids standing on attention on both sides of the hall, ready to please every need.
The castle was previously empty of personnel when we got here. That was because Father dismissed them since he had no need for them and because he was away.
But with the two of us here they have been called back.
Isadora was seated at the table with her empty dish in front of her, patiently waiting for me. She was dressed in a black imperial gown.
I entered the dining hall, freshened up and the earlier encounter with Nala already placed behind me.
Isadora's face lit up when I entered, a beautiful smile on her lips revealing sparkling white teeth.
"Took you long enough." She said.
"Good morning to you too, sister." I went over to her side and patted her head, for a short while, careful not to activate the curse. "Hope I didn't make you wait too long."
"Mmh." She hummed in satisfaction at my touch. "I would've waited forever if I had to."
"Liar." I said, taking my seat opposite her. "1 more minute and you would've gotten impatient and left."
"Hehe." She let out a cheeky laugh. "You know me too well."
A maid behind the both of us instantly sprang to action and dished up for us.
"Thank you." Isadora and I said once they were done.
"How is your day looking?" Isadora asked, slicing through a steak.
"I have a meeting with the people who will help with our building plan, they are waiting in my office as we speak." I swallowed the food that was in my mouth. "Shouldn't take too long. And after I'm done I'll come looking for you so that we can go level up."
"And you?" I asked in turn.
"I'll be in my office. There is a skill of mine I'd like to test out." Isadora said. "I'll inform you when I've made enough progress."
"Mhm." I nodded and the two of us chatted while feasting on the spread of food laid out for us, seamlessly falling back into old patterns of conversation.
I drank the last remaining blood in my glass and stood up, Isadora followed soon after.
"See you later." I said to Isadora when you exited the room.
She nodded and we went our separate ways.
My feet carried me all the way to my office where Nala was patiently waiting in front of the door.
"Your Highness." She opened the door for me.
I entered to the sight of six vampires–four male, two females–standing in a half circle in front of my desk.
"My Prince." They dropped to one knee in unison.
'Common vampires.' I noted their standing in the Vampire hierarchy.
"At ease." I took my seat and crossed my fingers.
The vampires obeyed my words and stood on their feet.
"All of you are architects of sorts, so you must have guessed the reason I had you gather here must align with what you do." I began, making eye contact with each of them in turn. "You are going to help me rebuild the capital."
Their eyes widened at my words, but not because the news of the capital being rebuild is a big deal, but because this is an opportunity for them to make money.
"Pardon me, Your Highness." A middle-aged woman with short hair and calculating eyes stepped forward. "That's good news and all, but the cost–"
"Don't worry about the cost." I cut her off. "I'm going to tell you what I want build, where I want you to build it, and how I want it to look. All you need to do is get it done and not worry your heads about the money."
The woman nodded her head and stepped back into line.
"What is your name?" I asked her.
"Rana, Your Highness." She bowed her head.
"Rana." I rolled her name on my tongue. "If you had everything at your disposal, how long will it take for you to take down the inner wall?"
The six of them was stunned.
The inner wall has been there for centuries, effectively divided the nobles and the commoners. The thought that it will be removed never crossed anyone's mind.
"At least a year, Your Highness." Rana replied after gathering herself.
"That's too long, Rana." I sucked air through my teeth. "I need it gone as soon as possible."
I stood up from my seat and walked over the tall windows and looked down at the capital. The large wall blocking my sight from seeing more of it.
The architects stood in silence, none of them daring enough to speak out of turn or interrupting my thoughts.
I opened my status and added all the stats I got from killing the Froghemoth to Willpower.
[Willpower: 146->386]
[Unallocated Stats: 240->0]
The change was immediate. I felt my mind and my resolve sharply increase. It felt as if I was invincible, unbreakable and unbending in any circumstance.
I shrugged the thoughts of and walked over to the desk and rolled out a aerial map of Drucalis.
'[Identification].' I activated the skill in my mind. 'I want a city plan that will perfectly fit with all the buildings and transportation systems I wrote down last night.'