My Blood Legacy: Bloodlines

Carmilla was sitting on the main room’s sofa with the invitation open between her hands, rereading some of the formalities printed on the thick paper. The Valentine Family seal occupied the lower portion, accompanied by a list of instructions regarding attire, arrival time, and guest introductions.

After a few seconds, she let out a quiet laugh and handed the card to Scarlet.

"It’s funny that they still keep these gala events around nowadays."

Scarlet took the invitation and ran her eyes over the text, one of her tails swaying slowly behind the sofa.

"Apparently vampires like maintaining the appearance of noble aristocrats. Castles, titles, dresses, balls, and all that bullshit." She turned the card over to check the back. "The funniest part is that nobody actually goes to enjoy themselves. It’s just political games with expensive food in the middle."

Victor was sitting in a nearby armchair, finishing cleaning Lilith after that morning’s training. He did not even raise his eyes when he answered.

"Then I’m not going. I have no reason to waste an entire night listening to rich old men talk about bloodlines, territory, and marriage."

"You’re going."

The voice came from the entrance.

Serafall crossed the room wearing only a dark robe, her long black hair still wet from the bath. A few drops ran down her neck, but she seemed unconcerned with her appearance.

She walked behind the sofa, glanced briefly at the invitation in Scarlet’s hands, and continued toward the table.

"Take that woman with you. Show power."

Victor finally looked up.

"That woman?"

"Rakshasa."

"Why?"

Serafall looked at him as though the answer were obvious.

"Aren’t you focused on getting stronger?"

"I am."

"Then start understanding that strength does not exist only in muscles." She picked up an empty glass from the table and began pouring blood from a bottle. "The more political power you have, the more power you can obtain. Information, resources, techniques, access to territories, people who owe you favors. You can hate politics, but that does not make it disappear."

Victor rested his head against the armchair.

"I’d rather just get strong."

"And then what do you do when twenty families decide to block something you need?"

"Break twenty families."

Serafall took a sip.

"That is exactly the kind of answer proving you need to go to the gala."

Carmilla crossed her legs and looked at Victor.

"She’s right about taking Rakshasa. Until I recover all of my power, presenting someone of her level as your partner is probably the most efficient political display possible."

Victor gave her a suspicious look.

"You’re actually encouraging this?"

"Politically." Carmilla raised one finger. "Do not confuse that with my personal opinion."

Scarlet laughed.

Carmilla continued without caring.

"Besides, once I fully recover my powers, we can simplify this entire political structure."

Victor already knew that expression.

"How?"

"I kill Vlad and put you on the throne as King of the Vampires."

The room fell silent for several seconds.

Scarlet slowly nodded.

"That really would simplify things."

Victor looked at both of them.

"I don’t have time to be king."

"You can delegate."

"I also don’t want some decrepit old man’s throne."

Serafall placed the glass on the table.

"Finally, something sensible."

Victor pointed at her.

"Don’t start."

"But you do want power," Serafall continued. "And appearing at this gala will be useful. The Valentine Family has become too comfortable. Too many branches have started believing that the family name alone is enough to guarantee respect."

"After everything that happened over the last few months?"

"Especially because of it. Once a crisis passes, people start believing they survived because they were better than they actually are."

Carmilla agreed with a subtle nod.

Serafall continued.

"I want you to appear after spending six months practically vanished and remind everyone that there is a difference between having talent and actually continuing to evolve. Maybe that will make some of the younger ones train more and talk less."

Victor raised an eyebrow.

"And the captains?"

"They’re getting comfortable too."

"Like Natasha?"

Serafall immediately looked at him.

Victor hid a small smile.

"Just asking."

"Natasha is the only one who is always improving. The rest are too busy trying to show off, fighting over influence, or pretending they have already reached their limit."

Victor did not seem surprised.

"Figured."

Serafall narrowed her eyes.

"You brought up her name on purpose."

"Maybe."

"Don’t mess with Natasha."

"I haven’t done anything."

"Yet."

Scarlet rested her chin on the back of the sofa.

"So does he really need to take Rakshasa?"

"It would be better," Serafall replied. "She walks in with him, and nobody needs to ask what Victor’s position is that night. The answer will be walking beside him."

Carmilla looked at the invitation again.

"That’s going to irritate a lot of people."

"Exactly."

Victor sighed, stood from the armchair, and stretched his arms above his head.

After several seconds, he seemed to finally accept that he would not be escaping the event.

"Fine. Then I need a suit."

Serafall raised an eyebrow.

"You have one."

"I do?"

"You do."

Victor looked at Carmilla.

She shrugged.

"Don’t look at me."

Serafall pointed toward the upper floor.

"Go to the wardrobe in my room. Your decent clothes are there."

Victor stood still.

"What?"

"Your clothes."

"In your room?"

"Yes."

"Why?"

Serafall looked genuinely confused by the question.

"Because you grab whatever clothes you find and use them for training. I knew that would eventually become a problem."

Victor looked down at his own shirt.

There was a small cut in the sleeve, two old stains near the waist, and part of the collar was slightly burned.

He looked back at his mother.

"You bought clothes for me and hid them?"

"Obviously."

"How many?"

"I don’t know. A lot."

"That’s weird."

"You’re my son."

"That doesn’t make it less weird."

Serafall picked up the glass again.

"I also left gold in my room. If you don’t like anything, go into the city and buy something."

Victor frowned.

"You say that like I’m just going to take your money."

Serafall stared at him in silence.

Victor understood the expression.

"Right. Your money is my money."

"Finally learned."

Scarlet started laughing.

Carmilla stood and placed the invitation on the table.

"I want to see those clothes."

Victor looked at her.

"Why?"

"Because if your mother chose them, there is a very high chance you’re going to show up dressed like the perfect prince she imagines."

Serafall did not deny it.

Victor noticed.

"Mom."

"What?"

"You chose them personally?"

"Some of them."

Victor ran a hand over his face.

Scarlet was already standing.

"Now I want to see too."

Victor looked at the three women.

"I’m starting to feel like this gala is going to be a problem."

Serafall drank the rest of her glass.

"It will."

She smiled.

"That’s why I want you there."

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