I am Dracula With My Three Beautiful Vampire Brides

Vlad also turned toward the direction of the sound, sharply sensing a dark and violent aura lingering in the air—it had just flashed by.

"Let's go check it out."

As soon as he spoke, the two of them sprinted forward, turning into phantoms in an instant. A large swarm of bats followed as they soared through the air toward the source of the sound.

"Creak~"

Two figures suddenly appeared on the tree branches, silent as ghosts.

"Master, look over there," Verona said in surprise, pointing to several massive claw marks on a distant cliff wall.

"Hoo~" Vlad's figure flickered, and the next moment he was standing before the towering rock face.

The deep scratches climbed up the rock wall until they disappeared into the height above.

Glancing at Verona beside him, Vlad said:

"It looks like whatever made these went to the other side of the valley. Do you know what's over there?"

Verona stared at the marks, quietly marveling. That kind of power… it might even surpass hers.

"Hmm~ Ah, Master, I remember now. There's a remote village on the other side," she replied after thinking for a moment.

"A village?"

"Yes. Since it's across the mountain, they're always the last to deliver taxes, so I remember them clearly," Verona said with certainty.

"Why would werewolves go there? That village must have something special," Vlad murmured.

This was the first time he had encountered the legendary werewolves, and it naturally sparked his desire to investigate.

He lifted his chin slightly, signaling Verona. In a blink, the two followed the trail toward the village.

Across the valley lay another vast and verdant jungle.

As soon as they arrived, Vlad could feel the darkness in the air thickening.

"This doesn't feel right," he muttered.

Verona noticed it too. Her expression grew tense.

Suddenly, her expression changed. She turned to Vlad and said, "Master, I just remembered a rumor about this village!"

"Oh? What kind of rumor? Go on," Vlad said with interest.

"Hundreds of years ago, the village practiced an ancient tradition. Every year, on the night of the full moon, they would offer animals or other creatures as sacrifices to protect the village.

And on that day, the villagers would lock themselves indoors. It's said they've kept up this tradition for centuries."

"When my father told us the story, we all laughed. After all, nothing ever really happened in that village.

I always thought it was just a backward superstition."

Vlad nodded knowingly. There were many similar customs and rumors scattered across different lands.

And it was often difficult to distinguish truth from legend.

Without wasting more time, Vlad and Verona quickly followed the trail and arrived at the village Verona had mentioned.

They stood atop high branches, surveying the area below.

Smoke curled up from kitchens, and the sounds of laughter and chatter filled the air. The scene was one of peace.

The two exchanged a glance, then descended and headed into the village.

It wasn't a small place—likely home to hundreds of families. It was one of the larger villages in Transylvania.

As they entered, villagers began casting curious glances their way, clearly intrigued by the sudden appearance of strangers.

"Who is that girl? She's beautiful. I've never seen her before."

"Probably not from our village."

"…"

"Hey sis, look at that guy—he's so handsome!"

"Don't be silly. He's not that special. Henry's is good-looking!"

"Aha! So you do like Henry. I knew it!"

Listening to the steady stream of whispers, Vlad realized how rare outsiders were here.

Their arrival quickly drew a crowd of curious onlookers.

Verona seemed unaccustomed to such attention. Although slightly tense, her composure never faltered.

She quickly adjusted, holding herself with poise and confidence.

After all, she was a princess—she knew how to present herself.

"May I ask where you two have come from?" a voice asked politely.

"Oh! I forgot to introduce myself. I'm the village chief—Old Ward, you may call me," said a gray-haired but sturdy man as he walked toward them and offered a polite bow.

"Hello, Village Chief. We're travelers who lost our way, and we were hoping to stay the night," Vlad said, stepping forward and speaking with gentlemanly grace.

"Of course. Our village welcomes you."

"It's just…" the village chief hesitated, his lips moving as if uncertain whether to continue.

"Is there a problem, Chief?" Vlad asked calmly.

"Oh, it's nothing serious. You're welcome to stay—but you must not go out at night," the chief said at last.

Vlad nodded immediately, agreeing to respect the village's rules.

He was about to ask for the reason, but the chief simply shook his head, unwilling to say more.

Seeing that, Vlad didn't push. He had other ways of finding out.

As the villagers watched with curiosity, the village elder began asking who had a spare room. Suddenly, a young girl jumped forward.

"Will you pay for the room?" she asked with a mischievous smile.

"Ahaha, Valerie! Stop causing trouble!" another girl, a little older, rushed forward. She smiled apologetically and quickly covered the younger girl's mouth.

The villagers around them chuckled warmly at the scene.

Vlad smiled, amused by the child's boldness.

"Don't worry. We'll pay the room fee, little sister," Verona said with a smile. Clearly, she found the girl charming.

Breaking free from her sister's grip, the girl looked up and said enthusiastically:

"Big brother, big sister, my name's Valerie!

This is my sister Lucie—she's just one year older than me."

The girl looked about thirteen or fourteen, full of youthful energy and friendliness.

Vlad paused, looking at the girl's bright, innocent face. He smiled graciously.

"This beautiful young lady, you may call me Vlad."

"I'm Verona, little sister," Verona added kindly.

"Come with me—we've got an extra room at our house," Valerie offered, tugging her sister along as she led the way.

"Valerie, you should have talked to the family first before bringing guests," Lucie said softly, sounding a little exasperated.

"Don't worry, I've got this," Valerie whispered back, shooting playful smiles over her shoulder at Vlad and Verona.

Though the sisters spoke in hushed tones, Vlad's sharp hearing caught every word.

"Master, I didn't expect the villagers to be so warm and welcoming," Verona whispered to him.

Vlad nodded, but his gaze lingered on Valerie, a thoughtful look in his eyes. No one knew what he was thinking.

Verona noticed his unusual expression and also looked at the girl, but saw nothing out of the ordinary.

Valerie skipped ahead cheerfully, her golden hair fluttering in the breeze. She radiated innocence, sweetness, and a charming purity.