Dervin, for the first time in his life, felt truly outplayed.
It was a strange sensation, unsettling yet exhilarating. He was always the one in control, the one orchestrating the game. Yet here stood Emily—a Goddess with a mind just as sharp as her fangs—forcing him into a corner without ever lifting a finger.
With her Blood Analysis ability, she had already set the rules. If he gave her even a drop of his blood, he'd never surpass her. He wouldn't just be a step behind—he'd be permanently beneath her. Inferior.
And that was unacceptable.
He needed power—not just for himself, but to protect what was his. His maids, his future dominion… his right to control his fate.
But before he could make his move, Aisha stepped in.
And what she did next shocked him.
"I refuse," Aisha stated, her voice steady, yet tinged with something deeper. Something dangerous.
Emily raised an elegant silver brow, but her smirk didn't falter. "Oh?" she purred. "Then I suppose our discussion is over."
Aisha's midnight-green eyes gleamed with a determined fire. "I'll change the terms."
Dervin's interest piqued. Aisha was negotiating for him?
"You will not take Dervin's blood," Aisha continued, her voice unwavering. "Instead…"
She took a deep breath.
"I offer you only my blood and… one of my worlds."
Dervin's smirk returned. Interesting.
Emily's violet eyes widened slightly. Now that was tempting.
A world. Not just any world—one of Aisha's.
That was power. That was territory. That was something Emily had always wanted but could never take by force because of Aisha's rebellious nature.
And now, it was being handed to her.
Emily leaned back, studying her younger sister with a gaze that was both amused and intrigued. "A whole world…?" she mused. "You must truly want this mortal to become a deity."
Aisha didn't flinch. "I do."
Dervin watched her closely. Why?
Aisha's obsession with him was undeniable now. Why was she so invested in his ascension?
Emily's smile widened. "Very well," she said, her tone smooth. "But since I'm losing out on such a delicious opportunity…"
She leaned forward slightly, fangs glinting under the ethereal light of her office.
"I have one final condition."
Aisha tensed, her expression hardening. "Name it."
Emily's violet eyes gleamed with unmistakable hunger.
"When your beloved mortal's maids ascend to godhood…"
She licked her lips.
"I will taste their blood."
A silence stretched between them.
Dervin remained still, but inwardly, he was calculating.
His maids… were his.
Their lives, their fates—they belonged to him.
And yet, he would agree.
Not because he was willing to sacrifice them. No. Because he had ulterior motives.
He had already won over five maids. Aisha would soon be his sixth. Emily, whether she realized it or not, had just taken her first step toward becoming his seventh.
This game wasn't over.
This round might've been his loss.
But it was only just beginning.
With an unreadable smirk, he nodded. "Fine."
Aisha turned to him sharply. "Dervin—"
He silenced her with a glance. As though she was one of his maids, Aisha understood the glance.
Emily's smirk deepened. "Oh, this will be fun."
And with a wave of her hand—
The world around them shifted.
The luxurious modern office vanished in an instant, replaced by the familiar room where Dervin's maids were waiting.
The air buzzed with energy, and the moment they appeared, all eyes snapped toward them.
The maids—Theresa, Xanthe, Khaelia, Thalia, Lyraea—had been waiting patiently, but the moment they sensed the new presence, they stiffened.
Emily's aura was… overwhelming.
Even among deities, her lethal beauty was undeniable. The silver-haired goddess exuded power, her violet gaze scanning the room with a predatory amusement.
Theresa, the first of Dervin's maids, was the first to step forward, instinctively placing herself between her master and the unknown threat. "Master," she said cautiously, her brown eyes flickering toward Emily. "Who is this?"
Emily's smirk was almost playful. "Oh? So these are your precious little pets?"
Dervin could feel the tension thickening, but he merely smiled. "Theresa, meet Emily—Aisha's sister and the one who will make you all goddesses."
The room froze.
The maids' eyes widened.
"Godhood…?" Xanthe whispered.
Even Khaelia, usually composed, looked visibly shaken.
Thalia, the one with the sharpest instincts, narrowed her eyes at Emily. She could sense the danger.
Emily chuckled. "They have some fire in them," she mused. "That will make this all the more interesting."
Dervin turned to his maids, his voice smooth. "You all have decided on your wishes, have you?"
They nodded.
"Here is the price for your ascension," he said simply. "Your ascension will come with one condition—Emily will taste your blood after you become goddesses."
Another silence.
Theresa, ever the loyal one, spoke first. "If it is Master's wish, then we will comply."
Lyraea hesitated, but after a moment, she too nodded. "If this is what it takes to stand by your side forever, then so be it."
The other three followed suit, each swearing their loyalty anew.
Emily's smirk grew. "How fascinating," she purred. "To be so utterly devoted."
Dervin met her gaze, his smirk mirroring hers.
"Get used to it," he said. "..."
Emily licked her lips.
"Oh, Dervin," she murmured. "I think I'm going to enjoy this game of yours."
He merely chuckled.
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