Chapter 32 : Vampire Snake (1)

Michaelis crossed his legs while looking at the man in front of him.

The man took a seat across from him on the coach. The dark-green-haired male imitated his action by crossing his legs.

"So, what do you want to talk about before I do my deed as always?"

Michaelis frowned.

"What are you?"

"Shouldn't you introduce yourself first before asking someone else? It was just a simple manner, don't you think so, Imperial Crown Prince?"

Michaelis internally scoffed.

"Oh, I don't know that you have not been aware of my identity this whole time when you know my title, bloodsucker."

"It's just a simple act of courtesy to greet someone, am I right? Or is it that the Imperial Crown Prince did not know the simple gesture?"

This man is so full of himself. Based on his way of talking, Michaelis knew this snakeman was not an ordinary man. His tone, his gesture, and his overall demeanour exuded the impression of someone who is always associated with high status.

'Is he high-ranking in his own clan? Or is he just used to this kind of imitation?'

"Well, you have asked so nicely, even though you have barged into my room without permission and unannounced several times."

The snakeman cleared his throat with the statement.

"Greetings, I'm Michaelis Kristafall, the first prince and crown prince of the Dradgim Empire. A pleasure to meet you, sir."

The snakeman squinted his eyes before a smile bloomed on his face.

'He introduced himself with his full title. I see what you want to do, kiddo.'

"Leviathan is my name."

They made eye contact for a moment until the snakeman, Leviathan, spoke first.

"You have a question, don't you?"

"So are you."

Michaelis threw the bomb back towards Leviathan. Leviathan is trying to figure out what Michaelis is trying to do.

Is this a trap? Is there someone listening to this conversation? What is the motive for this crown prince talking to him? What is even this crown prince's goal?

Those questions are lingering in Leviathan's mind, but he won't ask anything right away.

"Do you want something to consume other than my blood right now? Maybe a glass of water managed to cool your system down a bit."

Michaelis' lips rose upward.

"You're kind of sweaty right now."

Leviathan smiled, showing his fangs.

"So are you, Imperial Crown Prince."

"I have gotten used to such things, but you seemed not to."

Leviathan chuckled slowly. His slit golden eyes looked at the hazel eyes of Michaelis, which shone slightly. He could see that Michaelis was activating his aura right now. Full of guard since the beginning.

"Is that so? That's not good. You would find it hard to breathe if this continued. Your wound is also not fully closed yet; that must hurt so bad."

Michaelis touched the patch on his neck. Indeed, the wound has not closed yet, even though it has been two months. He suspected that the wound could only be closed by this man.

"No worries. I have gotten used to it. I used many honey ointments to reduce the pain. Surprisingly, it worked."

Michaelis smiled happily.

"Honey?"

"Yes. It smells good, too. It even smoothed my skin, so I changed my soap to one made with honey. And my perfume also changed into a honeylike smell."

Leviathan's eyebrows twitched slightly, and that did not go unnoticed by Michaelis. By this point, Michaelis was confident about this man's identity. It was not a waste of time for him to do research these past two months.

"That's why it smells.... good." Leviathan hesitantly said.

"Hm? Do you like honey too? Should I go get tea and honey for you right now? Ah, but someone might get suspicious. Oh, I have honey candy. Want one?"

Michaelis brought out one honey candy from his pyjama pocket with an innocent smile.

"No, it's fine."

"Eh, it's just candy."

"I don't really like sweet candy."

"But you like honey?"

"That is an exception."

"How so?"

Michaelis tilted his head. Leviathan's eyes twitched again at Michaelis' faux curiosity right now.

'He knew.' Leviathan is not amused.

"Ah, too bad. I would like to share all my honey candy with you if you ever come. I have also prepared a jar for our meeting. Oh, right, I also wanted to give you some honey oil. It is good for your skin."

"Why would you give something to your intruder? No, I don't need that. What if you tried to poison me?"

"But poison won't work on you, and no, this oil is harmless. You should not reject someone's kindness. Here."

Michaelis stood up and walked towards Leviathan, who was panicking.

"No... no. I don't need it. Put it down. Poison is better!"

"Why? You said you like it, and poison is not good for your body."

"Get away from me!"

Michaelis smirked. Leviathan wanted to run away, but Michaelis was suddenly in front of him with the opened honey oil. He could smell the oil from a distance. Leviathan scrunched his nose.

"Put the damn honey away from me! What do you want, brat? I'd do anything!"

Leviathan put his hands in front of his face to shield himself. Michaelis stopped his harmless attempt. Not so harmless, though.

"Pfft, such a coward towards honey, even though you are from a vampire snake clan."

Leviathan put his hands down slowly when he saw that Michaelis had already closed back the oil.

"You, brat!"

Leviathan hissed at Michaelis. Michaelis just smirked and tossed away the candy and oil.

"So, ready to talk now?"

Leviathan hissed again and crossed his arms.

"What do you want? Why did you want to talk to me anyway?"

"State your reason for all your actions."

Leviathan pursed his lips.

"Or you want to continue sulking here and die of hunger."

Hiss.

Leviathan glared at Michaelis.

"I know your weakness now, Leviathan. Better open your mouth before I bring out something you hate more than honey."

"You don't dare."

"You bet."

Hiss!

He didn't back down easily. He won't easily obey whatever Michaelis tells him to do. But he suddenly felt suffocated. The air felt distorted like oxygen was being sucked out of his lungs. He looked at Michaelis to see this kid's eyes shine. Cold sweats formed on the back of his neck.

'Just like at that time, whatever this power is.'

Leviathan huffed once before he finally opened his mouth to answer Michaelis.

"You have sweet blood, that's all."

"That's not the answer I am looking for."

"What else should I say? I am interested in you because your blood is delicious, sweet, and tasty. I want to devour you and make you my blood slave. Is that what you wanted me to say?"

Michaelis cringed.

"Pedo."

"What?! Watch what you call me, brat!"

Michaelis sighed and sat back on his couch.

"Since when?"

"After you activated your aura, you are the only one that exudes such a sweet smell after managing to use your aura. I want to get to you before anyone else."

"Are there more of you?"

"What? Pfft, records say that we are already extinct? Sure, that's better."

Leviathan rolled his eyes.

"So you mean you marked me?"

That sounded wrong in some ways.

"Yes."

Michaelis sighed again. What stupid get-up is this? Is that why he would feel hot and shake every once in a while? Is that why this snakeman needs to drink his blood? Is this the drawback of the sealing process he read about with the vampire snake?

This is suck!

"You idiot."

"Don't call me an idiot!"

"Tell me now. If you don't get my blood, you will die. And if I didn't give my blood, I would need to feel the same way you do. What the hell is that?"

What kind of bullshit is this? Does this snakeman lose his mind just because of his blood?

"I got stronger by drinking your blood!"

"And not if you did not get my blood occasionally!"

"I can get your blood by force!"

"Oh yeah, sure, I'll rub my entire body with honey then. Get a taste of your most hated food! You'll die either way."

"You don't dare. You would continue to shake and feel hot like now!"

"I don't care. The seal would be gone anyway if you died!"

Leviathan opened and closed his mouth, but nothing came out.

"What the hell is wrong with you? Are you a toddler who doesn't even know how the sealing process works?"

"I...."

"You should already know that the sealing process is beneficial for me. You are my slave now and not the other way around, idiot."

The vampire snake clan that was supposedly extinct 300 years ago. The records about them are almost nonexistent anymore. But Michaelis managed to find information about them in some of the books about vampires.

The sealing process occurs when a human or any other creature makes a life contract with the vampire snake. The snake is like a divine beast and can be ordered around by its owner. The exchange is blood, and if the vampire snake is not given enough blood, they will die. The owner would have a backlash but would be fine after the vampire snake they sealed with died.

It's easy to say that Leviathan is an idiot who does the sealing process without knowing the consequences. Michaelis is the boss in this case.

"Did you never hear of this?"

"I... don't know."

Leviathan suddenly became timid.

"You said there were more of you. How old are you? You must be older than me to know what the sealing process is, but not knowing the other details is ridiculous. Has someone ever told you about this? This is a 'basic' thing for the vampire snake clan."

Leviathan looked down.

"There's... no one anymore."

He said it in a whisper. Michaelis has a hard time catching on to what he said.

"I can't hear you."

"I am the only one left in my clan."

Leviathan said it louder this time. Michaelis widened his eyes. Oh, so he is lying about there being more of him. Leviathan actually acts on impulse with zero knowledge about his clan. Now, Michaelis is more knowledgeable about the vampire snake clan than someone from the clan itself.

Michaelis sighed when looking at the now pitiful Leviathan.

'What should I do about him now?'