The vampire prince's tone was calm and composed, his certainty unwavering, as though the door had indeed inexplicably broken down.
Yu Deng was fooled, blinking as he looked at the lavish and intricate door, dazedly murmuring an "Oh." It wasn't until he was carried back into the deeper part of the bedroom and placed on the bed that he belatedly felt something was off.
The naive little vampire voiced his doubt: "Wait, but when they brought the things earlier, the door was perfectly fine."
The silver-haired vampire pretended to think seriously: "Is that so? Well, maybe it just happened to break now. These enchanted objects always have small malfunctions after prolonged use."
Yu Deng: "?"
Yu Deng pondered for a few seconds, then, guided by the butler's serious and confident gaze, chose to believe his explanation.
System 01: [.]"Foolish host."
It was precisely because of these men that such actions were taking place—jealousy driving them mad, doing things that bordered on imprisonment, yet still being careful to coax and not dare to say anything that might make him angry.
"Then hurry up and fix the door. I still need to go out," Yu Deng said, sitting on the newly moved bed and looking out at the darkening sky. Suddenly, he had a brilliant idea. "Wait, I have wings, so I can just fly out, right?"
With that, small bat wings fluttered behind him.
"..." Ronald reached out and gently pressed down on the little vampire. "You can't go out through the window. My room has a magic circle, and you'll get hurt if you try to fly out."
"Oh..." Yu Deng hesitated, then reluctantly sat back down.
Ronald reached over and picked up something from beside them, placing it gently on Yu Deng's head.
"Hmm?" Yu Deng, confused, reached up to touch it. The sensation felt familiar. When he took it off and looked at it, he realized it was the small crown that the little bat had once given him when his identity was questioned.
This small crown was exquisitely crafted, and rather than silver, it was made of a rare silvery magical crystal. The gemstone embedded in it was clear and sparkling.
"How did you get this crown?" Yu Deng poked at the central gem.
The vampire prince placed the crown back on Yu Deng's head, adjusting it carefully. "I found it at your bedside."
He had a vague memory—perhaps before he had fully awakened, a fragment of consciousness had delivered this crown to the little vampire.
"Baby, do you know what this crown is?" Ronald asked softly.
Yu Deng, of course, didn't know, so he guessed, "A piece of jewelry collected by the vampire clan?"
"Indeed, it's a treasured item, but it's also the crown for the consort of the prince."
This crown had appeared alongside Ronald's ascension to the position of vampire prince, emerging with his inheritance of power. However, he had never had a partner, so the crown had been sealed away for centuries, to the point where he nearly forgot about it.
Yu Deng gasped. "Consort...? In that case, I'd better not wear it."
After all, the prince was just his guide.
Ronald stopped Yu Deng from removing the crown, his touch gentle yet firm. "Baby, even if it's not now... this crown is yours. It will always be yours."
His broad, cold bat wings unfurled, almost enclosing Yu Deng in the corner of the bed.
Yu Deng, still sore and stiff, couldn't maintain a graceful sitting posture for long. He slouched into Ronald's arms, using the mighty vampire prince as a cushion. He didn't mind the prince's subtle gestures.
[Ding——Energy fluctuating intensely. Player Yu Deng, please be aware, all four special mission targets in this instance have developed destructive intent. Please complete your tasks as soon as possible.]
Yu Deng jumped in surprise at the sudden voice from the main system and muttered in his mind.
"Why did you suddenly pop up? I didn't hear any noises... and weren't Wen Luo and the others behaving? Did you misjudge something?"
[?]The main system replied, [It's impossible.]
The commotion today nearly shook the castle apart, and this player didn't sense anything??
System 01 responded calmly: [Host, the main system issued 19 warnings while you were resting. I blocked them for you.]
Yu Deng understood, then turned to speak to the main system. "I've been working hard on the tasks. I've tried every target."
The main system remained silent.
"But I'm just a weak vampire. You've seen my targets—most of them are at the prince level. It's no use hurrying me."
[...]
The main system's static sound seemed like a deep breath, but Yu Deng didn't think that was possible—after all, it was silicon-based.
[You may reasonably utilize the items you've obtained.]
[I remind you that if your special mission is not completed, it will be considered a failure of the instance.]
Failure to complete the instance means being erased.
Yu Deng lowered his lashes, responding with a tired, listless tone, "I know. Just stop bothering me about the mission."
The main system remained silent.
Meanwhile, the prince, who had become a silent cushion for Yu Deng, seemed displeased. He gently lifted Yu Deng's face by his jaw, pressing a soft kiss near his lips.
"Baby, why are you lost in thought?"
Yu Deng pouted slightly. "Just thinking about some annoying things."
"Then don't think about them," the prince murmured, but Yu Deng didn't quite catch his meaning. That is, until the next moment, when he understood fully.
The soft, still-swollen lips were gently taken by the prince's, tenderly pressed and caressed. The breath exchanged between them was slow and deep, the sound of soft moisture barely audible.
Learning from his previous experience, the prince's kiss was gentle and lingering.
Yu Deng truly had no time to think about the tasks the system had given him. He was practically enveloped in the prince's embrace, feeling the firmness of his muscles, and he couldn't help but notice certain reactions.
The vampire prince's breathing grew heavy, and the air between them grew hot.
Yu Deng immediately sensed something was wrong.
"Y-You're not allowed to touch me..." He stammered, his head spinning slightly from the kiss.
"Why can others do it, but I can't?" Ronald's red eyes were cold, yet his tone remained gentle, tinged with a hint of sadness.
"Do you like Agnes that much?" he asked. "Like enough that only he can do this?"
Yu Deng blinked a few times before realizing Agnes was the butler's last name.
"He's obedient," Yu Deng said, justifying the affection for the "obedient puppy," which was perfectly normal.
The prince's massive bat wings drooped down, revealing his sharp fangs, barely hidden. "I'm very obedient to you, baby. Can't you like me just a little?"
His voice was almost pleading. Any other vampire witnessing this would surely be shocked by the prince's vulnerability.
"I've never built a close relationship with anyone else, only you."
Though he didn't understand how he and Yu Deng had become so intimately connected.
Ronald lowered his head, speaking slowly, "Everyone else fears me, seeing me only as a tool and weapon for the vampire race. They've never brought me any joy. You're the only one who's different."
Yu Deng, listening to the prince's lament, blinked slowly.
That sounds so pitiful…
"Alright, fine. But I'm in so much pain and exhaustion right now..." Yu Deng pursed his lips. "What do you want me to do?"
The silver-haired vampire smiled softly, taking Yu Deng's pale hand into his own.
"I don't want to tire you out, baby. So… could you just help me a little, please?"
---
Meanwhile, the other players were far from idle.
After Qin Jun fought with the young vampire and the man who was secretly eating the blood, he attempted to break through the castle's final boss barrier, but had no immediate success. Frustrated, he reverted to his previous strategy—triggering tasks frantically, sabotaging the instance.
As for the other players, the chubby wizard and the female player, Xiao Gao, were unfortunate enough to be caught by a brutal non-human NPC. They almost lost their disguises, but fortunately, they didn't turn on each other. They worked together, using their combined effort to shake off the NPC after a long struggle.
The appearance of the vampire prince wasn't necessarily a bad thing; at the very least, his presence helped suppress the arrogance of the non-humans around them.
Just look at today—after the prince and the butler had finished their fight and disappeared, these non-humans started to stir.
The chubby wizard lay exhausted on the ground, looking up at Xiao Gao. "Thanks for helping me earlier, you're the only sister I have."
Xiao Gao sighed. "Alright, alright. Looks like it's almost time for the banquet again."
No sooner had she spoken than the instance made its routine announcement.
[Ding. Tonight is a special game mode. The game is about to begin.]
[Since the player participated in the game yesterday, they may choose whether to participate today.]
They exchanged glances.
The instance actually did something human-like? Did this mean they could take the night off?
"Sis, what do you think?" the chubby wizard asked.
"I feel something's off," Xiao Gao replied. "If you trust my intuition, then we should continue tonight."
After confirming, they were transported back into the game.
Xiao Gao opened her eyes and found herself facing the legendary witch, Edith. The elderly witch smiled at her.
"Child, I need to entrust you with something," the witch said meaningfully. "Please deliver this to him. I know you're not just an ordinary werewolf; you possess some unique abilities."
---
The sixth night in the castle began, and the banquet game started again.
Yu Deng was still in the prince's room. His hand was being held by Ronald, and it gently descended.
"Eh? What are you going to do?"
Before long, Yu Deng found out how he was supposed to help the prince.
His soft palm was guided under the fabric, and the prince's large hand pressed down on the back of his hand.
The little blood prince's guide was showing him how to seek pleasure.
The little wings were gently stroked by the prince, ticklish and causing a wave of comfortable heat.
"Thank you, baby." Ronald guided for a while, then let go, giving the initiative to Yu Deng.
Yu Deng continued to mimic the previous movements, his hands gradually became sore, and there was a burning pain. He refused to move, muttering, "You're a baddie... you only care about your own pleasure, this is tiring for me too."
"My fault." The prince immediately reflected on himself, diligently serving his little blood race, not only making the little wings comfortable, but also making other parts comfortable.
Yu Deng no longer had the energy to reprimand him, his movements became intermittent, not so much rubbing as stroking.
But the stimulation to the prince was even greater.
Yu Deng's vision was blurred by physiological tears, and he only then saw that the prince's finger was adorned with a ring.
The smooth and cool jade, rubbed against him, felt so strange.
"..."
By the time it ended, Yu Deng's hands were so sore that he didn't want to move at all.
He ordered the prince, "So dirty... go clean it."
The powerful and noble blood race prince didn't mind doing such a thing at all, carefully wiping the little blood race clean and refreshing before turning to take care of his own clothes.
Yu Deng, drowsy, half-closed his eyes, suddenly heard a prompt.
[Ding. A player has used an item to send you a magic scroll, would you like to view it now?]
Yu Deng: "Ah?" He didn't understand what was going on, but he chose to view it immediately.
The contents of the scroll immediately appeared in Yu Deng's mind.
It was a short conversation of only a few tens of seconds. The voice of the speaker was talking about the function of the holy artifact.
"...Anyway, just remember, this holy artifact holds the power of the Pope, it can strip that terrible guy of his princely power and force him to abdicate. As long as he abdicates, everything will be solved."
Yu Deng took out the small box from his personal space. The voice in the scroll said, could this be the cross? Was it really that useful?
The crack in the holy artifact seemed to be a little bigger, it felt like it could easily break apart on its own. Yu Deng fell into thought, deciding to give it a try.
He had no idea about the mission anyway, but the mission had to be completed, he could give this cross a chance.
After all, the holy artifact was only to make the prince abdicate, it shouldn't pose a threat to life.
On the other side, the vampire prince cleaned himself up, returned and hugged Yu Deng again, skillfully massaging Yu Deng's fingers and wrists. He was like a large beast that was lazy and satiated after being full, completely unguarded.
"I have something to tell you, it's a serious matter." Yu Deng took a mental preparation, pulling on the vampire prince's fingers.
System 01: [.]
How can the host warn people before threatening them... but, it's a bit cute.
"Hmm, go ahead."
Facing the vampire prince, Yu Deng showed his little fangs, holding the holy artifact in his hand, he said nervously, "Ronald, you, shouldn't you be abdicating?"
Abdicate?
The tall and handsome vampire prince's gaze fell on the cross, his mind replaying Yu Deng's words, he froze for a few seconds, his palms cold.
The brief, beautiful tenderness just now was instantly shattered by these words.
His little blood race was so soft, because of the tenderness just now, his eyes were still stained with red, but now the words he said were so heartless. As if he had just had a luxurious dream.
"Yu Deng, Deng Deng." The silver-haired vampire's voice was slightly deep.
Yu Deng tilted his head.
This seemed to be the first time the prince had called his name, being called out by the prince, there was a strange rhythm.
Ronald asked softly, "Do you really want me to abdicate? Or, do you want to seal me too?"
The mission requirement was indeed to seal such a boss... but why was the look in his eyes so terrifying?
Yu Deng didn't know how to describe his special mission, so he just made up an excuse, "You are not allowed to be the prince anymore. You're too bad, look, my hands are almost broken!"
Even at this time, Ronald was caught off guard by Yu Deng's cuteness. But he also understood Yu Deng's meaning. He lowered his eyes, and actually reached out to the cross.
Yu Deng had been burned by the cross, seeing the prince's action, he subconsciously pulled the holy artifact back a little.
But the prince's goal was clear, he directly pinched the cross, the next second, this so-called holy artifact, was actually crushed, turning into powder and falling to the ground.
Really... crushed...
Yu Deng was stunned: "??" What kind of broken holy artifact is this! Is this quality really okay!?
The prince's fingertips crushed the offending thing, then went into the little blood race's mouth, stroking the cute little fangs. The huge bat wings quickly spread out, then wrapped around Yu Deng, the edges of the wings lewdly playing with his waist.
Yu Deng had just been comfortable, the heat all over his body had not dissipated, he could not withstand such teasing at all.
He looked up into the prince's red eyes, finally feeling a hint of the terrifying aura of a dungeon boss.
The vampire prince looked at his initial embrace and said lightly.
"Perhaps, before you make me abdicate, baby should call me Father first?"
Yu Deng's head was dizzy: "?!"
The vampire prince's words made Yu Deng's cheeks flush red. His little wings were still being pinched, and when they were pressed against the base of the wings, they trembled suddenly, and he unconsciously called out, "Father..."
Ronald heard this, his fangs fully exposed, the veins on the back of his hand tensed, his bat wings contracted further.
A certain hidden, almost immoral sense of excitement stimulated his nerves.
But not long after, Ronald saw Yu Deng's confused and unfamiliar appearance, and that excitement became extremely unsatisfied, as if they could only be confined to this relationship.
The sense of oppression that belonged to superiors and elders only lasted for a moment, and the vampire prince returned to his previous appearance.
"No, no... baby, just call me by my name."
It was fine to be impolite. The delicate little blood race didn't need to revere him, nor did he have to be afraid to disobey him.
Yu Deng raised his watery eyes and looked at his guide.
They didn't notice that after the holy artifact shattered, a dark red light flashed across the ground, extending outward from the coffin as its center.
[Drip - Drip - Dungeon data detection... parameter restoration...]
[Ding. Player Yu Deng, please note that you have triggered the dungeon's hidden core, and you are about to enter special mode: Old Days Phantom. ]
Yu Deng's eyes went black: "???"
What Old Days? Ah?? Was he going to go into this special mode alone??
The red light suddenly brightened, and a complete magic circle appeared beneath their feet.
Yu Deng's figure suddenly became a bit ethereal.
The prince was stunned for a moment, grabbing Yu Deng's wrist, "Baby, where are you going?"
Yu Deng repeated the dungeon's broadcast a few times, and came to a bewildered conclusion.
"I don't know... but it seems like I'm going somewhere else."
The silver-haired vampire's gaze fell on the center of the magic circle, his eyes cold as he crushed the coffin.
As the coffin shattered, Ronald's complexion also turned pale, and bloodstains oozed from his arms.
But Yu Deng still appeared ethereal. Clearly, this magic circle couldn't be disrupted.
Pure power surged like a hurricane, tearing through the room and even the entire castle into chaos. This power was enraged, yet it carried such panic. The castle trembled under the frantic warnings of the main system, on the verge of collapse.
The vampire prince lowered his head, looking like a large dog who had finally earned its master's affection, only to be abandoned once again.
Yu Deng was affected by his emotions and inexplicably felt a bit sad.
"Ronald," Yu Deng watched him for a few seconds before speaking slowly, "If you had met me a long time ago, would you have protected me?"
—The little vampire's words seemed to imply that he hadn't entirely let him go, and perhaps still needed him.
The vampire prince's eyes brightened slightly, and he replied solemnly, "I would, of course, I would."
He would do it better than anyone else, regardless of whether his little vampire needed him.
He would be the most loyal and obedient dog.