Free Web NovelChapter 18: Chapter 18: Jealousy Drives Him Mad
’So she’s the K family’s most treasured guest of honor.’
’Was our pleasure in the church because she’d seen through my identity and had some other goal?’
’Or perhaps...’
’She just enjoys the thrill of wrapping males around her little finger?’
’Either way, she dared to provoke me. She’s dead!’
After receiving the guests, Yu Zhizhi took a break from her duties and headed to the lounge.
There were still three hours until the start of the banquet...
Lifting her dress, she entered the spacious lounge. It was furnished with a writing desk and a sofa that looked incredibly comfortable.
However, the deep red curtains in front of the floor-to-ceiling windows were drawn shut, obscuring the view outside.
After the door closed,
all the noise was shut out, leaving the room in a rare state of tranquility.
Lisa had gone to get her some fruit juice.
Yu Zhizhi, holding the hem of her formal gown, stopped in front of a bookshelf.
’So many Ancient Books...’
She picked one up and began to leaf through it carefully.
The sound of a door opening came from behind her.
She turned around happily. "That was fast, Lisa—"
Yu Zhizhi’s voice died in her throat.
The person who entered was tall and slender, dressed in the solemn, sacred black robes that symbolized an inviolable faith.
"...Godfather?"
Coming to her senses, Yu Zhizhi turned to face him and gave a slight curtsy.
He returned the gesture.
He raised his right hand and, with a CLICK, shut the door.
The lighting in the lounge was soft and dim.
When she heard the lock click into place, Yu Zhizhi instantly grew tense.
’The Godfather came to the lounge...’
’Why did he lock the door?’
"Ms. Zhi Zhi." The Godfather’s voice was deep and gentle, as reassuring as it had been when he made his announcement outside.
"What are you reading?" he asked. freeweɓnovel.cѳm
"Er, I just grabbed one. I think it’s about the Beastman culture of the Valoran Empire."
Yu Zhizhi held the vintage book in her hands. Its leather cover gave it an aged look.
"Oh?" He came to stand before the little female and lowered his gaze. "I too have always been fascinated by the culture of the Valoran Empire’s Beast Land. Would you be so kind as to read a passage, Ms. Zhi Zhi?"
Yu Zhizhi blinked. "I would have thought the Godfather only enjoyed reading the Bible in his spare time."
The man before her had a solemn yet gentle expression. A sharp, heavy scent of sandalwood emanated from his spacious clerical robes.
Yu Zhizhi began to read in a slow voice—
"To the south of the Valoran Empire lies a region of hot rainforests that nurtured an ancient civilization. Even today, two thousand years later, one can still find miracles left behind by the Beast God."
The little female’s voice was soft and sweet, just as it had been in the church, and just as captivating.
Dracula stared at her intently.
Outside, she had stood under the gazes of all the Beastmen, praying for the newly hatched Beast cubs.
Dressed in a long, lavender formal gown, she had prayed with her eyes closed, looking utterly holy—a beauty to be admired from afar, not touched.
To his eyes, however, she always brought to mind the little maid from the church, whose voice had been filled with both pleasure and the verge of tears. He remembered her soft waist in his broad palm, and how, in the heat of passion, she had arched her pale neck, inviting him to bite.
—And he had indeed bitten down.
Leaving a dense cluster of red marks.
When she fled, she had even dropped the white lace headband she always wore.
Yu Zhizhi read on with concentration:
"Silan City is a city with a long and storied history. Legend has it that the first City Lord of Silan City was a direct descendant of the Beast God."
’Today, the little female has donned a noble’s gown and a dazzling Diamond crown, transforming into the K family’s most important guest. And she even bore Don Locke K four wolf cubs...’
At this thought, Dracula’s jaw clenched so hard his molars ached.
Leaning against the bookshelf, Yu Zhizhi continued to read softly from the book, completely unaware of the murderous glint that had appeared in the Godfather’s eyes.
Her voice suddenly stopped.
This was the first time Yu Zhizhi had ever read aloud to someone.
She looked up, a little embarrassed, into the man’s gentle, profound eyes. "Godfather, am I reading okay?"
"You’re reading very well. Continue."
Dracula’s voice was soft, yet it carried a hint of authority that was impossible to refuse.
Yu Zhizhi lowered her head and continued reading.
As she lowered her gaze, her eyelashes fluttered like a butterfly’s wings over her lively pupils. The tip of her small nose was delicate and translucent, and her cherry-red lips were an invitation to be plucked.
Yu Zhizhi was reading melodiously when she suddenly felt a broad hand land on her shoulder.
She turned her head to the side and looked at the hand, which wore a green jeweled ring. The man’s fingers were long and broad, resting on her smooth, fair shoulder, his thumb gently caressing her delicate skin.
The scene was exceptionally intimate.
’The Godfather...?’
Yu Zhizhi’s mind stalled. ’Is the Godfather... caressing me?’
Her off-the-shoulder lavender gown left her shoulders exposed to the air.
The broad hand resting on her skin created a stark contrast.
"There was... a bit of dust here."
Dracula’s thumb stroked the little female’s shoulder blade, his gaze solemn and serious.
Yu Zhizhi froze for a moment.
She quickly felt ashamed of her earlier thoughts.
"...Oh."
Blushing, Yu Zhizhi turned back to the page. She took a few breaths to compose herself and continued reading.
’This is just how little females are.’
’Soft voice, soft waist, soft everywhere.’
Dracula was contemplating—
’What would be the least painful way for her to die?’
’Should I just snap her neck?’
’Or tear out her heart?’
’Or maybe...’
"Ms. Zhi Zhi," Dracula said, his voice low.
"Could you please tilt your head to the right? During the blessing earlier, I noticed a rather ominous mark on the left side of your neck."
’A mark?’
’Ominous...’
’Does that mean it’s something bad?’
Yu Zhizhi paused, then tilted her head to the right. "Can you see it clearly now?"
She felt an intense gaze on her. The next second, the man before her took her chin in his hand, forcing her head up.
Dracula carefully examined her slender, snow-white neck. fɾeeweɓnѳveɭ.com
The little female’s scent—a mix of jasmine and milk—wafted over him again. It was exactly as he remembered.
He felt a moment of daze.
’It would be a pity to kill her just like this.’
’This little female rabbit... she still doesn’t have her guard up at all.’
’Hasn’t she realized...’
’that she’s completely under a male’s control?’
"Godfather, can you see it?"
Yu Zhizhi couldn’t help but ask in a small voice.
The eerie silence was making her imagination run wild. ’Could it be a really troublesome mark?’
Dracula replied, "It’s a Curse Mark. It seems someone in the banquet hall wants you dead."
He had just made the name up.
The little female’s face instantly turned pale.
"A curse...?"
’That sounds terrifying.’
Yu Zhizhi bit her lip, not daring to move.
"Godfather, can you remove it for me?"
"Of course." Dracula’s lips curved into a slight smile. "Clearing a curse mark is my duty."
He then caressed her neck, sending a shiver through the little female.
THUD.
Her hand went limp, and the Ancient Book fell to the floor.
"I’ve heard that removing marks can be very painful..."
Yu Zhizhi’s voice was thick with a nasal tone. "I... I’m afraid of pain."
’Yes, the little female is terrified of pain.’
Dracula knew that better than anyone.
’Don’t worry—’
’it won’t hurt once you’re dead.’
"You have to be gentle..." Yu Zhizhi closed her eyes and whispered his name, "Dracula."
