Chapter 286 [You have conquered Scarlet Vermilion.]...What?
The grand hall of the mansion was as magnificent as its inhabitants.
Adorned with luxurious crimson velvet sofas, glittering crystal chandeliers above, and walls lined with tapestries telling ancient stories, the space exuded power and history.
Seated around an elegant coffee table, Belatrix, Daniela, and Cassandra, the vampire daughters of Scarlet, conversed casually while sipping from crystal goblets filled with pure blood.
The metallic aroma filled the air, mingling with the subtle scent of roses emanating from floral arrangements placed around the room.
"Did you hear?" Daniela asked, twirling her goblet between her fingers, her eyes sparkling with curiosity. "Elizabeth Tapes has finally reached Emperor Level. They say she's the youngest cultivator in the world to achieve the Emperor Stage... and she's only twenty."
"Impressive," Belatrix replied with a voice tinged with mild disinterest, as if the feat wasn't as grand as it seemed. She raised her goblet, watching the scarlet liquid dance in the chandelier's light. "But not unexpected. Elizabeth has always been ahead of most. Well... her father is the King. She has every resource she needs to grow stronger. The real question is, what will she do with that power now?"
Cassandra, sitting with impeccable posture, let out a subtle laugh. "What else? Further consolidate her dominance. If she keeps this pace, she'll be a serious contender to lead the kingdom soon. That is, of course, unless someone decides... to eliminate her first."
Daniela arched an eyebrow, a playful smile spreading across her face. "Always so optimistic, aren't you, Cassandra? But I agree. Elizabeth hasn't come this far just to be ignored. She'll be a problem for anyone not aligned with her—especially the princes. The war for the throne must've already begun."
As the three exchanged opinions about the new Empress and the implications of her rise, the air in the hall suddenly shifted. A faint vibration coursed through the room, cutting their conversation short. The three sisters felt an unfamiliar presence, something that seemed to ripple through the very fabric of space.
Then, the message appeared before them, floating in the air like a divine proclamation.
[You have conquered Scarlet Vermilion.]
Silence filled the hall. For a moment, none of them spoke, their gazes fixed on the message glowing with an aura that seemed almost taunting. The name displayed carried a weight they couldn't ignore. Scarlet Vermilion, the matriarch of their family, a woman whose strength and authority were beyond question, had been... conquered?
Belatrix was the first to react. Her eyes narrowed, and she placed her goblet on the table with more force than intended, the sound echoing through the room.
"That bastard..." she muttered, her voice low and filled with disbelief. "He... went after our mother?"
Daniela nearly choked on the blood she was about to swallow, while Cassandra let out a nervous laugh—a reflex more than genuine amusement.
"No, this can't be," Cassandra said, trying to process what they had just seen. "This has to be a mistake. Strax might be bold, but... going after Scarlet? That's insanity."
"Insanity or not," Belatrix said, rising from her seat, her aura intensifying and filling the hall with a palpable pressure, "the message is right here. He did something. And whatever it was, we're going to find out."
Daniela finally regained her composure, though she still looked visibly unsettled. "Do you think he... really accomplished something? I mean, Mother isn't the type to let anyone conquer her. Not even the most powerful vampire."
"Exactly," Cassandra said, crossing her arms and furrowing her brow. "Mother would never lower her guard unless... she wanted to. Which means this wasn't just a coincidence. He challenged her. And somehow, he... won?"
Belatrix ran a hand through her hair, her expression now a mix of frustration and something deeper... perhaps a reluctant hint of admiration. "He survived Mother, that much is clear. But I don't like what this implies. Strax is becoming a much bigger problem than any of us anticipated... He... conquered all of us with this... ease?"
"Ease? Why are you acting like you didn't want this?" Daniela asked, a mischievous grin forming. "Admit it, sister. Part of you is impressed by him."
"Impressed?" Belatrix repeated, her voice dripping with sarcasm. "I'm furious. He's a damned opportunist. I could understand it if it were just the three of us, but with Mother... we don't stand a chance now. She's—"
"Maybe he understands more than you think," Cassandra interjected, her tone serious. "He doesn't seem like the type to just go after any woman. Perhaps it's time we started taking Strax more seriously."
Belatrix turned to Cassandra, her gaze sharp. "Take him seriously? You mean compete for him? Please, sister, we have no chance now that Mother has set her sights on him."
Cassandra shrugged. "If he's clever enough to manipulate Mother, the competition might not even exist anymore…"
"Anyway," Daniela interjected suddenly, "why don't we check on her? I can sense her presence… in the private bath."
"Now that you mention it… you're right," Cassandra said, and the three sisters exchanged glances.
"Let's go," Belatrix murmured.
The three sisters exchanged complicit looks, a mix of curiosity and caution passing between them. It wasn't every day that Scarlet Vermilion, the formidable matriarch of the family, showed interest in anyone—let alone allowed someone into her personal space. But the message they had received, combined with their growing curiosity, was impossible to ignore.
"If Mother is truly… with him in the bath, that's something we can't overlook," Daniela muttered as she rose from the sofa, her expression amused yet determined.
"She must have lost her mind," Belatrix grumbled, adjusting her attire as her aura radiated irritation. "First, she forces us to accept this intruder. Then the intruder claims us. And now, the so-called 'husband intruder' is going after our mother…"
Cassandra, more intrigued than upset, chuckled softly as she walked alongside her sisters toward the corridor leading to Scarlet's private bath.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om
"Oh, Belatrix, let go of the resentment. This is far more interesting than any gossip about Elizabeth Tapes. Besides, it's not every day we see Mother act this way."
Daniela shot Cassandra a playful look. "Do you think she conquered him, or was it the other way around?"
Cassandra smirked but didn't answer immediately. The three moved down the corridor, their footsteps echoing on the gleaming marble floors. The walls were adorned with ancient paintings, many depicting Scarlet in all her glory throughout the centuries. Their mother's presence was almost palpable, every detail of the mansion imbued with her essence.
At last, they reached the dark wooden double doors leading to Scarlet's private bath. Even before opening the doors, they could feel the charged energy in the air—a mix of lingering warmth and something more… primal.
"Do you feel that?" Daniela asked, frowning slightly. "The atmosphere is… different."
"Of course it is," Belatrix replied through gritted teeth. "Mother never lets anyone into this space, much less a man. If he's really in there, I want to know why."
Cassandra stepped forward first, resting her hand lightly on the door and leaning in to listen. At first, silence reigned, but soon the soft murmur of voices and the sound of running water reached her ears.
"They're really in there," Daniela confirmed, her amused expression intensifying.
"What do you think they're doing?" Cassandra asked, trying to suppress a mischievous smile.
"What do you think, Daniela?" Belatrix shot back, crossing her arms. "Mother isn't exactly known for her subtlety."
Daniela raised an eyebrow. "Well, there's only one way to find out."
Before Belatrix could protest, Daniela gently pushed the door open. It creaked just enough for the three of them to peek inside.
The scene before them was as opulent as they had imagined. The floor was made of black marble with gold accents that shimmered under the soft glow of pendant lights. Giant mirrors adorned the walls, creating an illusion of endless space. At the center of the bath stood a monumental tub—more akin to a small pool—surrounded by white marble columns and illuminated by floating candles. Steam filled the air, creating a mysterious and sensual ambiance.
In the center of the tub sat Strax, relaxed, with a goddess draped across his lap, sleeping peacefully. Her flawless skin glistened under the water's reflection, and her crimson hair was tied in a loose bun.
"I don't believe this," Cassandra whispered, her eyes narrowing as she took in the scene.
"She looks utterly defeated," Belatrix commented, trying to stifle a laugh.
"Or perhaps… satisfied," Daniela added, her smile turning wickedly playful.
Scarlet did look exhausted, but there was something about him that caught the sisters' attention. Despite standing in front of Scarlet, he didn't look submissive. On the contrary, there was a glint in his eyes that suggested he knew exactly what he was doing there.
"You've got guts, kid," Scarlet said at that moment, her voice laden with a slight tease as she continued to sit on his lap, completely undressed.
Strax smiled as he looked into Scarlet's red eyes. "I warned you, didn't I? I'm not like the others."
"Indeed," Scarlet replied, with a low laugh. "You're annoyingly stubborn. But... maybe that's exactly what I needed."
Outside, the sisters exchanged incredulous glances.
"Stubborn or mad?" muttered Belatrix, irritated. "How did he get this far?"
It doesn't matter how," Daniela replied, a glint of interest in her eyes. "What matters is that he did it. And that changes everything."
"I agree," Cassandra added, looking at Strax with an expression that oscillated between fascination and concern. "If he's really managed to win Mom over, there's no limit to what he can do."
"Well... let's get going..." Cassandra said, lightly closing the door.
As the three sisters walked away from the bathroom door, discussing in whispers the impact of what they had just witnessed, a deep, amused voice echoed behind them, freezing them in place.
"You should stop spying on your mother's intimate moments, you naughty girls."
Belatrix, Daniela and Cassandra's bodies stiffened instantly, a shiver running down their spines. Slowly, they all turned to face the figure standing in the doorway they had just closed, arms crossed and a wicked smile lighting up his face.
It was Strax, and further back... their mother... completely naked and... Full of hickeys, handprints, and even... Semen pouring from her pussy...
"Holy shit..." Daniela said.