Was there anything more tantalizing than watching someone succumb to your will?

Rose looked like she was ready to nag me, so I stuffed her finger back into her mouth and watched her gaze widen.

It shocked her, but everybody knew that even an animal would lick its wound, wouldn't they?

I'm not exactly sure if it's sanitizing, safe and whether or not Rose's fingers were clean but as she wiped the blood away with her tongue—I felt both envious and relieved at the same time.

I was more than willing and prepared to have licked—sucked the blood off from her fingers, but I was afraid that if I started it, I wouldn't be able to hold back.

And so all I could do was watch as she did it by herself.

Still enthralling, but I still wished that I had done it myself—or perhaps I was the one who was introduced to her lips instead of the finger.

Maybe it was just the fact that I had been asleep for centuries that made me more susceptible to sexual desire, but even that simple action of licking blood of her pale finger was a tease.

I coughed and turned my gaze back to the rabbit meat, along with the pool of blood drained of it and even placed in the bowl.

That was probably what had made more thirsty than a simple human woman.

Once she was done, Rose must have noticed my gaze on the bowl of blood.

"That is for you... I'm not sure if you liked it fresh or preferred it boiled? But it's still warm." Rose coughed awkwardly.

I bit back a chuckle, fully aware that my nature did often put most women at a state of wanting to offer themselves to me—and it seemed to have finally made its effect on someone even so combative such as Rose.

But ah, her remark about boiled blood? I needed to address that.

"The fresher the better—and while it's true that we do like blood that's not cold, it's mostly attributed to the fact that we drink it from our victim who's still alive."

"I see..." Rose said.

"Yes." I confirmed and redirected my attention back to the rabbit. Its meat was going to be succulent and tender no doubt—and I did enjoy food. But it offered me no nourishment.

Then again, that was the same thing when you accounted for potato chips—potato chips? That was... one of those... another world thing. Another world? Other world? How did that pair with—

"So um, Lord Blackwell," Rose suddenly said again.

"Quitting, 'Master' so soon?" I asked with a smirk.

"Master," Rose said and yet there was a hint of mischievousness in her gaze. "What do you think of blood during a woman's monthly... monthly time?"

I blinked and stared at her.

Despite the fact that she had chickened out near the end—she still ended up bringing that topic up.

Dear heavens above. I stared at her for a couple of seconds more just to increase the awkwardness in the air, and when it had finally reached its penultimate, I finally made a face. "Ew."

"But it's still blood—!" Rose protested.

"And there is a reason why humans are lower in the food chain than us," I shook my head.

I wasn't quite sure if I was supposed to be happy that she could bring such a topic up—it meant that she was comfortable discussing it with me, or it was an attempt to make me vomit.

Regardless, I could easily turn back the situation and chuckled.

"But ah, I do not mind going down below to please a woman if that was what you actually wanted to ask."

Cue the red-faced Rose and her sputter.

"I-I did not want to ask that!" Rose exclaimed and immediately leapt back away from me.

As if the distance could actually be enough to prevent me from approaching her.

I snorted and shook my head. That was what she got for bringing that up—but now it presented an image in both of our minds.

Of us doing it together. And yes, I already thought of that earlier—but now she was probably thinking about it too.

Which wasn't so bad.

The idea of it was not terrible as my gaze lingered across her face and body, but before either of us could break the tension and silence—someone just had to ruin it.

Princess Eleanor of Averon walked into the kitchen with a smile on her face. "Are dinner preparations ready at last, Rose?"

"Ahem."

"Oh, Master Blackwell—I didn't see you there." Eleanor curtsied and then fanned her face with a hand. "I really couldn't see you."

I rolled my eyes. "Then how did you know that Rose was here?"

"Through a vision of possible occurrences, Master," Eleanor said. "It is how I learn how to navigate the world far better, as if I actually have regular vision—though there are some instances where it still fails. Like it failed to show me that you are here."

"Or you just wanted to cockblock me—" I began then cut myself off. I bit my tongue down and tasted my own blood, frowning at my description. "That language is..."

Eleanor looked up and blinked again with her pale blue eyes. "Rather uncouth to leave the mouth of a gentleman such as yourself?"

"Indeed. I said too much, but it does appear that you may be lying—regardless, let's just focus on dinner." My choice of words have started to grow more uncivilized. Despite the fact that I had been teasing Rose with certain ideas to provoke her and see how much she could take before letting it all go, there had been no need for me to complain like a buffoon when Eleanor arrived.

Which certainly added more to what I have feared and denied since I had woken up.

What I continued to deny despite Eleanor and Rose talking about past lives. What I ignored because I chose to see myself as the magnanimous and great Vampire Lord, and not someone who had grown soft.

Yes, something I will continue to put aside until I was willing to sit down and consult with the strange 'screen' I had encountered. It was a stupid choice of action, that much I was clearly aware of since the existence of the Akashic Records were common knowledge in my days... but similar to not wanting to do the work now, when it was clear that you'd benefit doing the most boring work at once, I chose to neglect it.

"So what exactly are you making, Rose?" I asked with a grin. It was much better to focus on the present, and within this situation, I was the one in complete control of the scenario. Neither the Mage or Seer could offer their fuss when the two of them were simply trying to take shelter under my wings.

"Um, I plan to make grilled rabbit." Rose turned to look back at me momentarily, before she glanced back down at the meat on the chopping board. "Though it will be a bit difficult to see if the rabbit is cooked due to its skin color."

"Hmm... while my knowledge of creatures affected by dungeon-core like Skills are a bit lacking, it's quite a boring thing to simply sit around and act like some journalist—I can simply help you with the flames." I snapped my fingers. "[Ignite]"

Dark blue flames erupted from my fingers, the acceptable and desirable color for cooking.

"... You might accidentally burn the entire manor with that," Eleanor said. "I can't see the fire, but it's grown hotter all of a sudden."

I scoffed. "I am completely at ease with fire spells. As long as Rose doesn't make it bigger with her winds."