Arthur Mariette

ONE DAY AGO

Lortell said goodbye to Esdeath and left for her real home—her father's palace. She had received a letter from him earlier, saying he wanted to speak with her about something important.

By the time she arrived at the palace, it was already night. As she stepped inside, the grand halls were filled with the soft glow of golden lights. The moment the maids and workers noticed her, they stopped what they were doing and bowed deeply in respect.

"I greet the young mistress!" one of the maids said, her voice filled with formality.

"Welcome home, my lady!" another greeted, smiling warmly.

Lortell, however, didn't even glance at them. Her crimson eyes remained cold and focused as she walked upstairs with graceful but determined steps. She already knew where her father would be.

Pushing open the large wooden doors of his study, she stepped inside. The room was elegant yet simple, with soft lighting and a faint scent of cedarwood lingering in the air.

Sitting on a plush sofa was a man who looked far too young to be her father. He appeared to be in his early thirties, with strikingly handsome features. His sharp jawline, lightly muscular build, and bluish-white hair made him look almost like a noble sculpture come to life. His bluish-white eyes gleamed with a mysterious charm, so similar to Lortell's.

It was clear where Lortell had gotten her stunning appearance from. She was nearly a mirror image of him, except for her crimson eyes, which made her stand out in a way he didn't.

This was Arthur Mariette, her father and the current Archduke. Despite his youthful looks, Arthur was over sixty years old. His aura of authority and power filled the room, even when he was just sitting there.

"Father…" Lortell called out softly, her voice carrying a rare trace of warmth.

Arthur's sharp ears caught her voice immediately. He turned to look at her, and his expression softened into a bright, genuine smile.

"So, you actually came," he said warmly, clearly pleased. He gestured to the chair in front of him. "Come, come… Sit here!"

Though Lortell's face remained calm, She silently obeyed and walked forward, taking the seat he had pointed to.

"I heard you've been causing trouble in the academy," Arthur said, his tone suddenly serious. His face, however, remained calm and emotionless.

Lortell's crimson eyes narrowed slightly, and a faint curl of distaste formed on her lips. "Oh? Now you want to lecture me too?"

But instead of scolding her, Arthur chuckled softly. His usual composed demeanor shifted into something warmer. "No, no… I'm not here to lecture you. I was just surprised by this sudden change in you. Do you remember how you used to be? You barely spoke back then—almost never. At one point, your mother and I even thought you were mute," he said, his voice tinged with both warmth and sadness as he reminisced about the past.

Arthur lowered his head slightly, his shoulders sagging. "I thought it was all our fault… what your mother and I put you through," he said quietly, his voice filled with regret.

Lortell didn't respond right away, but her sharp gaze softened slightly.

What Arthur remembered so painfully was not entirely his fault. It was Lortell's mother who had insisted on conducting experiments on her when she was only a toddler. At the age of two, Lortell was forced to endure things no child should ever face. Her mother made her bathe in dense mana elixirs, the blood of ancient beasts, and other concoctions that burned like fire on her skin.

Her diet was no better. Lortell was made to consume raw meat from monsters in the demon realm—meat so tough it could break steel. It was more torture than experimentation.

Her mother had been cautious and constantly monitored her health, but the process was brutal. Yet, it yielded results. By the time Lortell turned seven, she had experienced her first awakening. At nine, her second awakening transformed her into a Progenitor Vampire—a being of immense power.

While this was a monumental achievement, it came at a heavy cost. Lortell became detached from the world, speaking little and withdrawing from social connections. She had grown strong, yes, but she had also grown distant.

Arthur and her mother blamed themselves deeply for what had happened. Arthur, in particular, bore the weight of guilt for allowing his wife to carry out those experiments on their child.

"I can only hope you'll find it in your heart to forgive me for being such a terrible father," Arthur sighed, his voice heavy with remorse.

Lortell's lips twitched upward into a faint, almost imperceptible smile. She waved her hand dismissively. "No, no. I'm actually grateful for everything. If you hadn't done that to me, how could I have become this strong?"

Her words were sincere. Lortell cherished her strength. It gave her the ability to protect Esdeath and exert dominance in a world that valued power above all else. For that, she truly felt grateful, even if the path to this strength had been paved with pain.

Arthur smiled faintly, leaning back in his sofa. "You really have become livelier than before," he said, his voice warm but with a trace of curiosity. "I still remember the time you came back from that small trip to Swann. It was as if you had become a completely different person. You started talking, socializing… and now, I hear you've been bullying a few girls."

His tone remained casual as he continued, "Not that I care about those minor figures, but what surprised me was the reason. You did it for someone—a girl who's also from Swann."

Arthur paused, studying his daughter with sharp eyes. He was an arch-duke; he rarely paid attention to the names of low-ranking nobles like barons or their children. But he wasn't blind to the connection. "Tell me, Lortell. Is this person the reason for your change and the reason you bullied those girls?"

For a moment, the room fell into an uncomfortable silence. Lortell didn't say anything, but the slight flush in her cheeks.

Finally, Lortell raised her hands to her face, covering her burning cheeks as her crimson eyes glistened with emotion. Her lips trembled, and then, with a voice full of raw vulnerability, she confessed, "I want to marry her!"

An instant confession.

Arthur's calm and collected demeanor shattered for a brief moment. His perfect poker face—a mask he had worn through countless schemes and negotiations—almost broke. His pale blue eyes widened in disbelief, and his usually calm features showed a flicker of genuine surprise.

Lortell's words echoed in his mind. "She wants to marry her?"

Arthur Mariette was not a man who was easily shaken. He was known as "The Perfect Poker Face," a title he had earned during his past life of crime. He had once been a notorious criminal, feared across many kingdoms for his mastery of the transformation path.

Arthur was a man of many faces, capable of changing his appearance and identity at will. Using this skill, he had traveled the world under countless aliases, robbing and scamming his way to infamy. His name became a legend when he even managed to fool and steal from two demon lords, escaping with their precious resources.

His talents went beyond mere disguise. Arthur had a natural gift for manipulation, acting, and plotting. No one could tell if he was lying or telling the truth. His deals were flawless, his schemes nearly impossible to unravel.

But his luck didn't last forever. Five kingdoms eventually allied against him, launching a massive campaign to bring him down. Arthur found himself cornered and gravely injured, with no way to escape the mess he had created.

It was then that he made a desperate decision. He offered a deal to the Kingdom of Anastasia, trading the immense wealth and rare resources he had stolen, along with critical intelligence about his enemies. The king, recognizing his value, pardoned his crimes and made him the arch-duke of Anastasia.

Arthur's past as a criminal was buried, erased slowly from history, and he took on his new role with the same precision and cunning that had once made him infamous.

Because of Arthur being on Anastasia kingdom's side, They benefited greatly.

Arthur's presence always commanded respect, whether in negotiations or within his family. His sharp wit and unshakable demeanor earned him the nickname "The Statue of Sand." He only reveals the emotions he wished others to see, while hiding everything beneath a thick layer of mystery.

But now, as Lortell's confession echoed through the room, his composed exterior cracked ever so slightly. It was as if a tiny hole had appeared in his carefully built statue, and grains of sand were slowly slipping through. For a brief moment, Arthur's shock was evident, but he quickly recovered, regaining his usual calm demeanor.

"Well…" Arthur leaned back against the sofa, chuckling softly to ease the tension. "I must admit, I'm surprised. I never imagined you'd be interested in girls, of all things." His tone was light, and his smile carried a hint of amusement.

Lortell stared at him, her heart still racing from her impulsive confession. "Father, are you… really okay with this?"

Arthur sighed, folding his arms across his chest. "Why wouldn't I be? If that's what you want, just marry her whenever you're ready."

Lortell's crimson eyes widened in disbelief. "What? Really? You're not going to argue?" she asked, her voice filled with shock.

Arthur's lips curled into a knowing smile, his eyes gleaming with brilliance. "Your acting, my dear, is far inferior to mine. You weren't asking for my permission; you were simply informing me of your decision. Whether I said yes or no wouldn't have changed anything, would it?"

His words left Lortell speechless. He had seen right through her, as he always did.

Arthur's expression softened as he continued. "Besides, it's not like I'm in any position to oppose you. In my prime, I was a Rank A awakened, but you've surpassed me in every way. As a Rank S, your strength is leagues above mine. And let's not forget…" He paused, his tone becoming somber. "I'm not the man I used to be."

Arthur glanced at his hands, his fingers trembling slightly as he clenched them into fists. "Ever since that battle with the five kingdoms, my body has never fully recovered. Those injuries, I might look fine on the outside, but my strength is fading with each passing day. I'm not even at the level of a top-tier Rank B awakened anymore."

His voice grew quieter, tinged with sadness. "And truth be told, I don't have much time left."

"Father, don't say such things!" Lortell exclaimed, her voice filled with concern. She stepped closer to him, her crimson eyes softening.

Arthur smiled at her encouragement, though his eyes carried the weight of reality. "That's why I called you here, Lortell." He straightened his posture, his gaze steady and full of resolve. "Out of all my children, I believe you are the most suitable to succeed me. I want you to become the next arch-duke."

Lortell froze, a mixture of surprise and joy flooding her expression. "Me?" she whispered, barely able to process his words.

Arthur nodded. "Yes, you. I know you're not the eldest, nor are you human. But none of that matters to me. You've proven yourself in ways your siblings haven't. You're strong, intelligent, and capable of leading."

For a moment, Lortell's mind raced. Out of all his children, why her? She wasn't even the firstborn. Arthur had five children in total—two sons and three daughters. And beyond that, there was the unspoken truth of their world: she was a vampire, not a human like the rest of her family.

Arthur had five wives, all Rank B awakened, and three hundred lower ranked concubines. It wasn't out of indulgence or preference, but necessity. Awakened individuals, due to their immense power, had heightened physical needs—sexual urges that far surpassed those of ordinary people.

Their libidos were unmatched, thousands of times greater than that of an average human. This wasn't something they could control, nor was it a matter of indulgence. It was simply a fact of their biology. A single partner, especially one who was not awakened or of a lower rank, couldn't keep up with their overwhelming needs.

This was why it was common for high-ranking awakened individuals to have multiple wives and numerous concubines. It was both a necessity and luxury or a sign of greed. In fact, in most awakened societies, it was considered a standard practice.

Lortell Mariette was no exception, she inherited her father's strength but had far surpassed him, becoming a Rank S awakened. This elevated her to a realm of power few could even comprehend. However, with her immense strength came even greater challenges.

Her physical urges were far more intense than even her father's had been in his prime. If Lortell ever decided to abandon all restraint, her stamina and energy could allow her to indulge her needs continuously for months without stopping. It was an aspect of her awakened nature that she chose to control with unwavering discipline, but it was a reality she couldn't ignore.

In fact, if Lortell had been born a man, she could have fathered hundreds of children in a single night, given her Rank S abilities. The thought wasn't something she dwelled on, but it was an undeniable truth of her existence as an awakened being.

Despite these societal norms and the expectations placed on high-ranking awakened, Arthur's decision to name Lortell as his successor to the position of arch-duke was unprecedented. She was his middle child, not his eldest, and she wasn't even human—she was a vampire.

Typically, in noble families, the firstborn had the first opportunity to inherit the title and responsibilities of leadership

And yet, despite these customs, Arthur had chosen Lortell—a middle child and a vampire—to inherit his title.

How amazing was this?

Being the archduke's daughter was one thing, but becoming the archduke herself was on a completely different level.

Her status could tower above most, even surpassing the great Lilith. In the grand hierarchy of the kingdom, she would be second only to the king in terms of authority and influence.

But her power wasn't just about titles. It was built on the unshakable foundation of her father's secrets and contributions to the kingdom—things even the king wouldn't dare challenge easily. Lortell was untouchable in a way that few could ever hope to be.

As for her plans to marry Esdeath? There was no room for doubt. Not a single soul would dare speak against it, not openly, at least. The world they lived in still clung to outdated prejudices—racism, classism, and scorn for same-sex unions.

For many, such a marriage would be scandalous, a blow to Lortell's pristine reputation. But what did reputation matter when you held power? In this world, strength rewrote the rules. Lortell knew it better than anyone.

Rules were made by the strong, bent by the strong, and enforced by the strong. She smiled to herself, her joy uncontainable. "Yes," she thought, her heart fluttering, "no one will dare object. Our marriage will happen in peace, and it will be a grand celebration of fortune and strength."

Her musings were interrupted by Arthur's voice. His tone was calm but carried an edge of seriousness. "But my decision will stir up trouble for your siblings. They won't be happy about this, you know. That will be your problem to handle."

Lortell's expression hardened, her joy replaced by a look of quiet determination. She stood tall, her sharp gaze meeting Arthur's for a moment. "Leave that to me," she said firmly. Her voice carried confidence, unyielding like steel. She gave him a slight bow, a gesture of respect but also one of finality. "I shall depart now."

Arthur raised an eyebrow, a mix of curiosity and amusement flickering in his eyes. "Huh? You're leaving already?"

Lortell turned slightly, glancing over her shoulder with a faint smile curling her lips. Her words were soft yet filled with a heartfelt purpose. "How could I miss my future wife's match?"

And with that, she left.