Chapter 298 Humble Mansion

Words : 1268 Updated : Oct 7th, 2025

scarlet, cassandra, belatrix, and daniela stood in front of strax, arms crossed and expressions ranging from irritation to frustration. he, on the other hand, was sitting on an improvised chair, calmly eating a blood burger as if nothing was wrong. "do you have any idea what we went through looking for you?!" scarlet exploded, her voice carrying a genuine fury that made even some nearby vampires cautiously back away. "you were gone for hours, strax! hours!" "that's right!" daniela chimed in, pointing an accusing finger in his direction. "do you know how humiliating it was for us to walk around the entire market asking people if they'd seen 'a strange vampire'?!" "i'm not strange," strax commented nonchalantly, taking another bite of his burger. "and it's not like i had a choice. i was, shall we say, compelled." "are you seriously arguing about this right now?" cassandra said incredulously. "the issue isn't whether you had a choice. it's the fact that you disappeared without saying a word and left—with her!" cassandra emphasized the last part, her hands gesturing for added effect. "as if that wasn't enough, you vanished without any of us and went with elizabeth tepes! do you know what that means?!" belatrix asked, her voice more composed but still dripping with disappointment. "um... that i got a discount on the burger?" strax suggested with an ironic smile, clearly trying to lighten the mood but failing miserably. "he's mocking us! he's mocking us!" scarlet exclaimed, her eyes glowing a fiery red as her aura began to flare. "calm down, calm down," strax raised a hand while finishing the last bite of his burger. "i'm not mocking you. i'm just saying it wasn't a big deal. she just wanted to talk, grab something to eat. that's all." "she wanted to talk?" scarlet snapped, her voice dripping with disbelief. "elizabeth tepes, a vampire princess, suddenly decides she wants to 'talk' with you—the man who, i might add, is my husband?!" "and the worst part," belatrix continued, now perfectly in sync with scarlet, "is that you didn't even think to tell us. it's as if we don't matter!" "i knew you were nearby. i didn't think it was a big deal," strax replied with a candidness that only made their irritation grow. "you didn't think it was a big deal?" daniela huffed, crossing her arms. "let me break it down for you, dear. you went off with another woman, without warning, vanished for hours, and left us out of our minds with worry. how is that not a big deal?" "exactly!" scarlet agreed, her aura flaring even more intensely. "and you acted so nonchalantly! it's like we don't matter to you!" those words finally made strax pause. he sighed, realizing the tone had shifted from pure anger to something more serious. he stood up, his previously carefree expression replaced with a more solemn one. "scarlet," he began, his voice firmer. "you all matter to me. more than anything in this world. if you didn't, i wouldn't be here now. i wouldn't be by your side." continue your saga on empire "oh, really? then why did you leave us behind today?" scarlet asked, her voice heavy with emotion, though she tried to mask it. "if we mean so much to you, why did you go with her?" strax ran a hand through his hair, trying to find the right words. "because it was necessary. elizabeth isn't just a princess. she's one of the most powerful beings among vampires. she's not the kind of person you ignore without consequences. when she called for me, i knew it was better to go. not for myself, but to ensure nothing happened." that explanation seemed to calm the women slightly, though a hint of irritation still lingered in the air. "and couldn't you at least have informed us?" cassandra asked, her tone more controlled now, though still accusatory. "i don't do it on purpose, you know," strax said with a slightly embarrassed smile, raising his hands in surrender. "you don't?" scarlet narrowed her eyes, clearly unconvinced. "no, really," he replied, with a smile that only made her more irritated. "well, do us all a favor," daniela intervened, her voice heavy with exasperation but tinged with humor. "next time you want to disappear, at least leave a clue. or give us a heads-up. because if this happens again..." scarlet finished the sentence, her voice low and threatening: "we'll come after you with all our might. and believe me, darling, you'll wish it was elizabeth tepes confronting you again." strax swallowed but kept the smile on his face. "understood. i'll behave next time." he made a zipping motion across his mouth. scarlet rolled her eyes and began walking again, leading the group. "let's go. this day has already been long enough, and i need something to clear my head." cassandra murmured in agreement, while belatrix and daniela shot him looks that were a mix of irritation and relief. strax followed them, smiling to himself. "walking chaos, huh? i think that title suits me." ... when they finally arrived at scarlet's mansion in the capital, strax couldn't help but admire the grandeur of the building. it was an imposing architectural masterpiece, made of polished black stone and adorned with scarlet details, perfectly reflecting its owner's style. large windows with stained-glass depicting scenes from historical vampire battles glowed under the moonlight, while dark gargoyles guarded the surroundings. the atmosphere was both luxurious and intimidating, a true reflection of scarlet's personality. "we've arrived, humble mansion of the capital," scarlet said, her voice dripping with sarcasm as she opened the double doors with a fluid motion. strax whistled softly. "humble, huh? i didn't know 'humble' included crystal chandeliers and golden sculptures." "it's a matter of perspective, darling," scarlet retorted, walking in with the confidence of a queen returning to her throne. as they passed through the entrance, they were greeted by a vast hall, with black marble columns supporting a vaulted ceiling decorated with intricate paintings. a colossal chandelier, adorned with red crystals that glowed like rubies, illuminated the space with a soft and elegant light. silent servants appeared almost immediately, ready to attend to any needs of the group. "i really missed this place," cassandra said, glancing around with a slight nostalgic smile. "it's good to be home," daniela commented, stretching her arms as the servants approached to take their coats and weapons. "scarlet's house, but home," belatrix added with a playful tone, provoking a deadly look from scarlet herself. strax, on the other hand, was more interested in the details. he could feel the strength of the magic that permeated the surroundings. the walls, the furniture, even the floor – everything seemed alive with ancient power. "the entire mansion is a magical artifact, isn't it?" he asked, addressing scarlet. "perceptive as always," she replied, crossing her arms. "yes, this mansion was built centuries ago by my family. it's protected by spells that make it impenetrable to intruders. even if someone were foolish enough to try and break in, they wouldn't get past the entrance." "sounds useful," strax commented, observing the paintings on the walls, which depicted members of scarlet's lineage, all of them with expressions as imposing as hers. "it's more than useful, it's essential," scarlet said, drawing everyone's attention.

Chapter 298 Humble Mansion

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