Chapter 230: Unexpected Twist
Elder Achilor’s gaze did not waver as he looked at Elder Rivik, his expression calm yet heavy with expectation, as if he was weighing every word that had just been spoken.
"...They truly like him?"
The question was simple.
But the weight behind it was not.
It was not merely curiosity.
It was judgment.
It was evaluation.
Because what was being discussed was no longer just a private matter of affection, but something tied directly to the future of the vampire race itself.
Elder Rivik did not hesitate.
He nodded once.
"...They do."
His voice remained steady, but there was something deeper behind it now, something that even he could not completely hide.
"And not just in passing... not just in temporary affection..."
He took a slow breath, his eyes lowering slightly as if recalling past events.
"...They are attached to him in a way that cannot be easily undone."
The surrounding elders of the Moonshade family stepped forward as well, their expressions serious, their tone no longer uncertain.
One of them spoke next.
"...There were many who tried to question it..."
Another continued.
"...Many who believed it was not appropriate..."
A third elder added, his brows tightening.
"...We ourselves had doubts..."
The admission caused a ripple of attention among the surrounding vampires.
They were not hiding it.
They were not pretending that everything had always been accepted.
"...But..."
Elder Ghurn spoke this time, his old voice carrying a quiet strength.
"...Every time the topic was raised..."
"...every time someone tried to intervene..."
His eyes narrowed slightly.
"...they would not allow it."
A pause followed.
Not out of hesitation.
But to let the meaning sink in.
"They stood their ground."
"They made it clear."
Another elder clenched his fist slightly, remembering.
"...They did not argue with words alone..."
"...They used their presence..."
"...Their blood pressure..."
"...Their will..."
Elder Rivik nodded again, his tone firm.
"...There were instances..."
"...where those who pressed the matter too far..."
"...were forced to retreat under their pressure."
A murmur spread through the crowd.
"...They protected him?"
"...To that extent?"
"...All three of them?"
The disbelief was obvious.
Because this was not something ordinary.
Not even among vampires.
To go against family pressure.
To go against expectations.
And to do so not once, but repeatedly.
Elder Ghurn exhaled slowly.
"...They made it clear that this was not something they would give up."
"...No matter who opposed them."
The silence that followed was deep.
Heavy.
Because now—
It was no longer a question of whether the marriage existed.
It was a question of how strong their feelings were.
Elder Achilor stood still, his eyes unreadable, his thoughts moving behind a calm exterior.
Then—
He closed his eyes briefly.
Not in frustration.
Not in anger.
But in thought.
A long pause followed.
Long enough that the entire arena held its breath, waiting.
And then—
He opened his eyes.
"...If that is the case..."
His voice was calm.
Measured.
"...Then it is as you say."
He looked toward the three cocoons, his expression softening slightly.
"...They have chosen him."
He turned his gaze back toward the Moonshade family.
"...And they have defended that choice."
His tone carried no judgment now.
Only acceptance.
"...Then that alone..."
"...is enough reason not to interfere lightly."
Lord Vord, who had been silent during the exchange, nodded slowly.
"...Indeed."
His voice carried a hint of approval.
"...To earn such devotion from three individuals of this level..."
"...Whether he is strong or not..."
"...that is a form of strength in itself."
A few of the surrounding Emperor level vampires nodded as well, their earlier skepticism fading into something else.
Something closer to curiosity.
"...A man who can capture the hearts of three such talents..."
"...He must have something..."
"...Something beyond what we can see..."
The tone shifted.
Completely.
From doubt—
To intrigue.
From dismissal—
To admiration.
And then—
It spread.
The vampires outside the Moonshade family began to speak among themselves, their voices growing louder, filled with a strange mix of envy and amusement.
"...That guy..."
"...What kind of seduction did he use?"
"...Three at once..."
"...And not just any three..."
"...Those three..."
A few even laughed, shaking their heads in disbelief.
"...He must be a master..."
"...A true master..."
"...To bind them so completely..."
The words were no longer insults.
They were praises.
Strange.
Unbelievable.
But undeniably real.
"...If only I had that kind of ability..."
"...Forget power, that alone is enough..."
"...He is lucky beyond reason..."
Cain stood among them.
Silent.
Still.
And completely stunned.
"...What..."
His thoughts stalled again.
"...This is not how this is supposed to go..."
He stared ahead, his mind struggling to process what was happening.
He had expected rejection.
He had expected criticism.
He had expected resistance.
But instead—
"...They are praising me...?"
His lips twitched slightly.
"...Are you serious...?"
A faint, almost bitter thought slipped through.
"...This world is broken..."
Because this—
This was not part of his plan.
"...If they hate me..."
"...It would be easier to break the blood pact..."
But now—
"...They are accepting it..."
His gaze flickered briefly toward the three cocoons.
"...Then how am I supposed to get out of this..."
For the first time—
A hint of frustration crept into his thoughts.
And then—
A voice cut through everything.
"Wait!"
It was loud.
Sharp.
And filled with urgency.
The entire arena turned.
Every gaze shifting toward the source.
Pam.
She stepped forward, her expression firm, her eyes locked onto the center, her presence drawing attention immediately.
Lord Vord blinked in surprise.
"...Pam?"
His tone carried confusion.
"...What are you doing here?"
Pam did not hesitate.
She stepped forward again, her voice steady, her gaze unwavering.
"...I need to say something."
The atmosphere changed instantly.
Because her tone—
Was not casual.
It was serious.
"...Cain..."
She said his name clearly, her voice echoing through the arena.
"...is in a blood pact marriage."
The words landed like a stone dropped into still water.
Ripples spread.
Fast.
"...Blood pact...?"
"...What did she just say...?"
"...Is that true...?"
Confusion surged again, replacing the earlier admiration.
Pam continued.
"...And that bond..."
Her eyes hardened slightly.
"...is not something that was formed freely."
She took a breath.
"...It binds him."
"...Restricts him."
"...Controls him."
The words grew heavier with each sentence.
"...And more importantly..."
She clenched her fists slightly.
"...It is standing between him..."
"...and his true path."
The crowd was stunned.
Even Lord Vord frowned.
"...Daughter..."
He said slowly.
"...What exactly are you trying to say...?"
Pam turned toward him briefly, her expression unwavering.
"...I am saying..."
She looked back toward Cain.
"...that he is not free."
The words struck deep.
And then—
She took another step forward.
Her voice grew stronger.
"...And I refuse to accept that."
A pause.
A breath.
And then—
"...Because I..."
Her gaze locked onto Cain.
"...like him too."
The words echoed.
Clear.
Unmistakable.
"...I want him."
The silence that followed was absolute.
Heavy.
Unmoving.
"...And I demand..."
Her voice rose.
"...that the blood pact marriage between him and the three sisters..."
"...be broken."
The declaration hung in the air.
Unshaken.
Unchallenged.
And at the center of it—
Cain stood.
Still.
Silent.
And inside—
"...YES."
His thoughts erupted.
"...YES YES YES—"
A wave of excitement surged through him.
"...FINALLY—"
He clenched his fists slightly, though outwardly he remained calm.
"...SOMEONE IS SAYING IT—"
His heart raced.
"...BREAK IT—"
"...DESTROY IT—"
"...THIS IS MY WAY OUT—"
Outwardly—
He only smiled faintly.
Even adding a few words.
"...Ah... this..."
"...This is quite something..."
But inside—
"...PAM YOU ARE A GENIUS—"
"...KEEP GOING—"
"...DON’T STOP—"
For the first time—
Since everything began—
Cain felt something close to relief.
Pure.
Unfiltered.
Happiness.