I swallowed.
"Sorry?" I said carefully.
The Queen leaned back against her throne, resting her chin in her hand again as though the entire conversation was mildly disappointing.
"That blade," she continued, her gaze drifting toward the weapon, "has waited centuries for someone worthy of it."
The torches flickered again as if reacting to her words.
"Kings have sought it. War-lords have died for it. Entire clans have fought to claim it."
Her eyes returned to mine.
"And yet… it answered a human."
A faint metallic tremor ran through the sword again.
Almost like it was listening.
Lilith crossed her arms beside me, clearly irritated.
"Mother," she said sharply, "he just saved the entire court."
The Queen raised a single brow.
"I am aware."
Her voice remained calm.
Unbothered.
"But that does not make the situation any less… unfortunate."
She gestured lazily toward the blade behind her.
"Crimson Death was forged for conquerors."
Her gaze hardened slightly.
"Not confused boys who accidentally stumble into legends."
A quiet ripple of nervous laughter moved through a few younger vampires.
I rubbed the back of my neck.
"Good to know the sword has high standards," I muttered.
Lucien coughed beside me, trying very hard not to laugh.
The Queen watched us both.
Then she sighed softly, almost tired.
"Still…"
Her eyes flickered briefly with something ancient.
"Whether I approve or not…"
She nodded toward the trembling blade.
"…it has already chosen."
The sword hummed again.
Low.
Patient.
Waiting.
The Queen's crimson eyes lingered on the trembling sword behind her throne.
"Unfortunately," she said, her voice calm and cold, "it chose you."
Her fingers tapped lightly against the arm of the throne, the faint sound echoing through the silent hall.
"And once that blade chooses its master…" she continued slowly, "it cannot simply be given to someone else."
The words hung heavy in the air.
Several vampires exchanged uneasy glances.
Behind her, Crimson Death gave another faint metallic tremble, the low hum vibrating through the chamber like a restless heartbeat.
"Then take it from him."
The voice cut sharply across the room.
All eyes turned.
Veltheryion—one of Lilith's brothers—stepped forward, his expression tight with irritation. His dark cloak shifted as he moved, the sound of leather and metal faint against the marble floor.
"If the sword chose poorly," he said, his gaze fixed on me, "we simply take it back."
The temperature in the room seemed to drop.
The Queen slowly lifted her head.
Her eyes settled on him.
"Interrupting me," she said quietly, "is already a mistake."
Veltheryion stiffened instantly.
Even the air seemed to freeze.
She leaned back into her throne, studying him like a predator deciding whether something was worth the effort.
"Tell me," the Queen continued softly, "how exactly do you plan to take a bonded blade from its master?"
Veltheryion hesitated.
Just for a moment.
Behind the throne—
clang.
The sword trembled again.
As if it had heard him.
Veltheryion straightened slightly, clearly trying to recover from the Queen's chilling stare.
Then he spoke.
"Why don't you simply engage him to Lilith?"
The words fell into the silent hall like a stone into still water.
A ripple of murmurs spread through the court.
My brain stopped working.
"…What?"
Veltheryion continued calmly, folding his arms behind his back.
"He already carries vampire blood."
My stomach dropped.
My thoughts slammed into each other.
Lilith gave me that.
How the hell does he know that?
My eyes snapped toward Lilith.
She looked just as surprised as I felt.
Veltheryion noticed the reaction and smirked faintly.
"You didn't think the court physicians wouldn't notice," he said. "The scent of it is still in his veins."
A few vampires nearby leaned closer, their crimson eyes studying me like I was suddenly a very interesting specimen.
Great.
Fantastic.
Now I was apparently part vampire gossip.
The Queen remained silent for a moment, her fingers slowly tapping the throne again.
Tap.
Tap.
Tap.
Her gaze moved from Veltheryion…
to Lilith…
and finally to me.
Then she sighed softly.
"An engagement," she murmured.
The word rolled slowly off her tongue, as if she were testing its taste.
Behind her, the cursed sword gave another low metallic hum.
Almost approving.
Lilith stiffened beside me.
"…Mother," she said cautiously.
But the Queen raised a single hand, silencing her without even looking.
Her crimson eyes locked onto me again.
Calm.
Ancient.
Dangerous.
"Well," she said quietly.
"That would certainly solve several problems at once."
My brain finally rebooted.
"…Hold on," I said quickly.
No one listened.
Lucien leaned slightly toward me and whispered under his breath:
"You might want to start practicing your wedding vows."
I turned my head slowly and glared at him.
"Shut up, teacher," I muttered under my breath.
Lucien placed a hand dramatically over his chest as if I had just stabbed him.
"How rude," he said in an exaggerated whisper, shaking his head. "I was merely teasing you."
His eyes sparkled with amusement, completely ignoring the fact that we were standing in front of one of the most dangerous beings in existence.
I groaned quietly and dragged a hand down my face.
"Yeah, well," I muttered, "this is the worst time for jokes."
Lucien leaned back slightly, still smiling like the entire situation was a stage play written for his entertainment.
Around us, the vampire court remained tense and silent, their crimson eyes shifting between the Queen, Lilith… and me.
Like I had suddenly become the most interesting problem in the room.
Behind the throne, Crimson Death gave another faint tremble.
The metal hummed softly.
Waiting.
Listening.
And for some reason—
It felt like it was enjoying the chaos