Demonic Dragon: Harem System

The tall man, with a neatly trimmed goatee and bright red eyes, walked slowly through the ruined hall of his castle. His immaculate black suit contrasted with the chaotic scene around him, while his red tie stood out as a mark of authority and power. He stopped in front of the rubble and ran his hand over his chin, analyzing every detail with sharp eyes.
Your next chapter awaits on My Virtual Library Empire

"So... what was stolen?" His voice was deep and firm, cutting through the silence like a sharp blade.

Elizabeth, his daughter, walked beside him, her hesitant steps betraying her anxiety. Even with all the pride of being a Tepes, the situation put her at a disadvantage. After all, the theft had occurred under her watch.

"A kind of statue," she replied, trying to maintain her composure.

"Which one?" He turned his eyes toward her, his expression serious.

"The obsidian statue," Elizabeth explained, avoiding her father's gaze. "An artifact that seemed worthless. At least, it hadn't been cataloged as magical before being locked in the vault."

The man let out a heavy sigh and turned toward the site of the robbery. He crouched down among the debris, inspecting the marks on the floor. Partially covered footprints in blood caught his attention. With a quick movement, he scooped up some of the dark red liquid with his fingers, examining it with clinical interest.

"Well, looks like Scarlet's boy isn't so useless after all. At least he left plenty of clues to find the thieves," he stood up, still holding the blood between his fingers.

"Strax?" Elizabeth frowned, confused.

He didn't answer immediately. Instead, his red eyes flashed intensely for a few seconds as he activated a unique ability, tracking the essence in the blood. A tired expression took over his face, and he wiped his fingers with a handkerchief pulled from the inner pocket of his suit.

"Position the Royal Guard, I want them to search for four humans, two men and two women," he ordered authoritatively, without even looking at his daughter.

Elizabeth hesitated, but curiosity got the better of her. "Father... what exactly did they steal?"

The man turned to her, his eyes softening slightly as a bitter smile curled his lips. "Something they apparently knew was here... and that they knew your mother."

Elizabeth blinked several times, confused. "Mother? You never talk about her. I hardly remember having a mother."

"Liza Tepes," he said in a lower tone, almost nostalgic. His gaze drifted toward the shattered door, the debris scattered across the floor. "She died many years ago. And today is exactly the anniversary of her death."

The revelation hit Elizabeth like a cold wave. She had never heard her father mention her mother's name in all these years. Whenever the subject came up, he quickly buried it, as though it was something that shouldn't be unearthed.

He sighed once more and adjusted his suit, as if trying to regain his usual composure. "I was absent because I went to her grave. And while that was happening..." He gestured to the rubble. "This happened. Despite everything, Elizabeth, you were incredibly careless."

She flinched slightly under the weight of her father's words. "I... I got carried away," she muttered, rubbing her arms in discomfort.

"Carried away?" He raised an eyebrow, his tone skeptical.

"She didn't want to leave any openings," Elizabeth answered, almost in defense. "I knew it would be difficult to face her... but..."

The man let out a low, rasping laugh, somewhere between amusement and exasperation. "Elizabeth, you knew you didn't stand a chance against her. She's not an ordinary vampire who can be defeated by someone young like you." He paused and gave her a more direct look. "Although you're my daughter, which in itself places you far above others."

Elizabeth gritted her teeth, her pride wounded. "I was trying to protect what was ours!"

"I know," he replied, this time with a softer tone. "But protecting something requires more than brute strength. You need to learn to assess your limitations. Your mother..." He paused, his red eyes briefly darkening as if recalling something painful. "She knew that better than anyone. That's why this artifact was hers."

A chill ran down Elizabeth's spine. She finally asked, her voice hesitant, "Why... why is this so important? What is this statue?"

"A reminder," he answered enigmatically, turning his gaze back to the ruins. "A fragment of her life that I tried to preserve. But it seems someone believes it's more than just a memory."

Elizabeth's eyes flashed with determination. "I'll find out who did this. I'll bring back what they stole."

The man smiled faintly, a mix of pride and skepticism. "We'll see. For now, focus on understanding your enemies better. This world is full of people smarter and more dangerous than you realize, my daughter. Use this as a lesson."

Elizabeth nodded, trying to absorb the advice, though her ego was bruised. "I won't fail next time."

"I know you won't," he replied. But the expression on his face said he knew Elizabeth's learning journey was far from over. He then turned and began walking toward the exit of the hall. "Now go. And make sure the Royal Guard is ready for any eventuality."

"Yes, Father," Elizabeth replied, determined.

As she walked away, the man paused for a moment, looking at the rubble once more. "Liza... seems like even in death, you still keep secrets." His voice was low, almost a whisper to himself, before he disappeared into the shadows of the castle.

He turned slowly, observing the castle, half in ruins, the other half on the verge of collapse. The wind cut through the air as he floated out of the wreckage, his red eyes watching with evident weariness. He sighed, feeling the weight of the situation, and muttered to himself:

"I'm going to have to build a new castle..." The idea of rebuilding something so grand, and at the same time the cost of it all, left him exhausted.

Before he could think further on the matter, a familiar voice echoed behind him, interrupting his thoughts.

"You look tired, old man." The voice was clear, irreverent, and he didn't even need to turn around to know who it was. Scarlet's mischievous grin always announced her presence before her words.

Vlad didn't change his stance. "I thought you'd be busy with your new husband, Scarlet," he replied indifferently, not even looking at her.

"Ah, I've been working too much lately," Scarlet answered, smiling with a touch of amusement in her eyes. She didn't seem the least bit remorseful. "And, to be honest, I'm working now. Just... need a little help from you, Vampire King." She approached with a gleam of interest in her gaze. "Could you give me permission to bring two elves into the Kingdom? They are... necessary for something I'm organizing."

Vlad finally turned, a look of distrust crossing his face. "Funny you'd come asking me for something, considering you always do whatever you want," he said, his expression neutral, but his eyes sharpening like blades.

"Well, I wouldn't be coming to you... if you hadn't been robbed, of course," Scarlet replied with a lightness that bordered on theatrical. She placed her hands on her hips and made a dramatic face, as if feeling guilty. "I feel so responsible for not helping Vlad..."

"Tsk," Vlad muttered, closing his eyes for a moment, clearly irritated. "Liar. What are you plotting this time?"

Scarlet maintained her mischievous grin, not intimidated by his coldness. "Well, nothing major, just asking for permission so these two elves can enter the Kingdom without the risk of being attacked by your Royal Guard, of course." She winked, as if it were the simplest thing in the world.

Vlad watched her for a moment, his eyes narrowing even further. "Ah, of course. You're trying to please your husband, is that it?"

"Exactly!" Scarlet smiled, as if it were perfectly normal. "Finally, you understand me, Vlad. Life is about sacrifices, right?"

Vlad let out a dry laugh, his eyes reflecting weariness. "I wonder how we got to this point... The strongest, most immature, and fearless warrior... smitten..." He slowly shook his head, a faint smile escaping his lips, but it was nothing that showed joy. Just the accumulated exhaustion over time.

Scarlet made a face of mock indignation, moving a little closer to him, her smile still playful. "Well, that's life, isn't it? Even you were once very much in love, right?" She teased, adding an ironic tone to the end of the sentence, as if provoking him.

"Of course..." Vlad murmured with an empty expression, as if he had distant memories of a time he preferred not to revisit.

Scarlet studied his expression for a moment, almost analyzing him, and then moved even closer. "So, what do you say? Will you allow the elves' entry, or do you want me to convince your Royal Guard to handle them on their own?"

Vlad kept his gaze fixed on her for a second, his thoughts drifting to the chaos of the situation he had just endured. The theft, the loss of the artifact, the pain of the still-open wounds in his soul... He forced himself to take a deep breath, trying to shake off the exhaustion weighing on him.

"I am the King of the Vampire Kingdom," he said in a firm tone, though his voice carried a slight weariness. "And you know I don't make concessions without a good reason. But, since you're so keen on pleasing... go ahead. Bring the elves. But don't expect me to buy your good Samaritan story."

Scarlet smiled broadly, satisfied, and leaned in a little toward him. "Ah, as always, Vlad. So difficult, but so... predictable."

Vlad rolled his eyes, but his gaze softened for a moment. "Don't start, Scarlet. I'm already tired of all your games."