Free and Unfettered 81 Why Are You Playing With Dolls?

"Think about it," Nine said. "Do you really think Vampires are going to die from drowning of all things?"

Prince Jasper looked stunned. Somehow, the thought that they were still alive had never once crossed his mind. Now that he thought about it, it was indeed inconceivable for Vampires of all races to die from drowning. After all, they could easily run fast enough that they ran on top of the water instead of sinking in.

"Furthermore," Nine continued. "I briefly recall seeing them when I was younger. It was just passing by them on the streets, but I distinctly remember that purple hair and makeup. Next to him was a blonde woman."

There was a stunned silence.

"That's good then," Jasper said speechlessly.

These were really the most carefree parents in the world. To think that they didn't even let them know they were still alive! Not only that, they just sent off Seyton in a basket of all things?? They could have at least sent him to Jasper!

Nine's magic brushed up against Seyton's reassuringly, causing his tense muscles to relax instantly.

Jasper eyed them strangely. "So, little brother. Who are these people?"

Seyton formally introduced Nine to his brother. "May I present to you the Crown Prince of the Cosmos Empire, Nine Destan. My Master." Then, compared to the grand introduction he gave for Nine, he casually introduced Nocturne. "Nocturne, Master's wife."

Jasper, "???"

"Why is he a wife when he's a male?" Jasper questioned without thinking, a baffled look on his face.

Nine glared at Jasper, who wisely shut up, diverting from the line of questioning.

"Oookay. Moving on," he said. "When did you awaken your Royal blood?" Jasper questioned, looking at Nine strangely.

How could he never have heard about a new, upcoming Royal? Once it got out, there was no way that the news would have been suppressed. The news that there was a new Royal would have spread to every inch of the continent, causing an uproar.

Ignoring Seyton and Nocturne's shocked expressions, Nine answered casually. "I only converted into a Vampire roughly three years ago."

The information sent Jasper into a daze. This was also possible? "You mean you've been a Royal ever since you awakened?" Jasper questioned in disbelief.

"Yes."

Prince Jasper quietly cradled his head. So, this Vampire here who was stronger than him…was practically a newborn. Luckily for the rest of the world, Nine didn't seem like the type of person who would lose themselves to an upsurge of power. Not if his brother had deemed the other a suitable Master.

There were so many ways this could have gone wrong without another Royal guiding the newly awakened one. He couldn't help but feel disbelief that the Vampire in front of him seemed even more put together than all the other Royals combined.

Jasper quietly marvelled. He could feel that the other's bloodline was especially pure. He wondered how that came to be, but he never questioned anything related to strength. Not to mention himself, he could somehow feel that even the Vampire King was no match for this Vampire in front of him.

Just standing there alone could cause worship from his heavy gaze alone. Had it not been for the charm oozing out of the other, it would have felt like they were standing in front of a sleeping lion as they went about. Jasper's gaze on Nine slowly underwent a change. The more he looked, the more he felt like this person wasn't simple.

Though his reflexive reaction had been to kill whoever his brother had claimed as a Master, he now felt like his brother had made the right choice in regard to this. They would never be able to find another who held such innate charisma and dominance. It was almost like he had been born to be a king.

The Cosmos Empire made the right choice by choosing this person as a Crown Prince. Though he didn't know what achievements Nine had, it wouldn't have been anything insubstantial just based on his aura. It was regrettable that this Vampire would be inheriting the throne in his human kingdom. Had he been willing, Jasper would have gladly sworn allegiance and help him fight for the throne from the Vampire King.

Nine raised a brow. "I have no need for the throne. Even the one in Cosmos Empire."

Quirking her lips at Jasper's startled look, she took pity on him. "You said that out loud."

Prince Jasper scratched the back of his neck sheepishly. "Sorry. Living alone for too long has its cons as well. I don't really have a filter anymore, and the normal Vampires are too timid to say anything. Other Royals don't really mix together. And," Jasper said, a mix of annoyance and embarrassment, "I avoided that woman at all costs, so I had to talk to myself to stave off the boredom."

The three of them stared at Jasper in bafflement before Nine let out a low laugh at his expense.

Jasper flushed, both at the charming sound and in embarrassment that he was being laughed at.

Nocturne looked at Nine with wonder in his eyes. He had never heard Nine laugh out loud before. Sure, there were the little smirks and smiles, but never a true laugh. He could help but feel like he was losing his soul to every one of Nine's enchanting actions and gestures.

Nine couldn't help but feel speechless whenever everyone around her made these kinds of worshipful expressions. She didn't even do anything noteworthy. It had to be that Vampiric charm working its magic. Though she had already recalled as much of it as possible, it still felt like it leaked from her very pores. It almost felt like she was the only one left sane in the world.

Nine's lips twitched. "So, Jasper. Why are you keeping a bunch of dolls inside your basement?"

Jasper looked at Nine helplessly. Why did he feel like each and every one of his secrets were being dug out from him when standing in front of Nine? For goodness sake, he hadn't even mentioned any of the rumours.

Jasper stood up, intending to bring them to see. "Let's go. It's easier to see it in person than just explain about it."

The four Vampires headed down to the basement of Jasper's castle. He brought them into a large room filled with hundreds of still figures. At first glance, one might think that all of these were people placed in eternal sleep.

The most remarkable thing was that all these bodies had once belonged to real people. Not only that, their beauty was rather stunning even for Vampires. Even when one peered close enough, all of these seemed so lifelike one could see they were still breathing. Indeed, one without prior knowledge would think that Jasper had gone out and procured all of these people, granting them the Red Spider Lily mark.

But Nine could sense that these figures… did not have a soul. Though they existed, it could also be considered as death. Their bodies continued to live on, but their soul was already gone from existence.

Nine walked closer, intrigued. She extended her senses, realizing that they reflected the symptoms of eternal sleep almost perfectly. Or rather, it could be said that the eternal sleep reflected these humanoids perfectly.

"How did you find them?" Nine asked, still busy inspecting the bodies.

Jasper looked discomforted standing in this room. He didn't like to come down here, but he couldn't just leave these bodies be when he felt like there was something very wrong with them.

"I don't know," Jasper said, shaking his head. "It's not like I actively look for them or anything, but whenever one of these people pop up, I just get a feeling deep inside my bones. Something whispers to me to go find them and bring them back."

"It resembles eternal sleep too much to reassure me. I get the feeling that something is wrong. Something big is going to happen, and it's connected to these bodies."

Nine prodded one of the bodies, realizing that it was saturated in the darkness element. Slowly, things started piecing itself together. All the loose links started joining up, forming a whole new theory.

"I see."

Chapter end