Chapter 99: Task to pursue the princess

Vladimir remained in the room to speak with Nikolai, his eyes fierce eyes glaring at the injured man with a sharp gaze."Your actions are inexcusable," Vladimir spoke.

Nikolai held a tense gaze as Vladimir stood over him. "What will you do? It's not like you can stop it, right?"

Vladimir's eyes narrowed as he turned to the window, staring down at the city with a distant gaze. He placed a hand on the wooden frame of the window, the other one pressed against his forehead as the veins pulsing and throbbing visibly.

He remained quiet for several minutes. 'This damn brat is just like his father! Ah... stressful.'

Nikolai watched as Vladimir who seemed lost in thought, his muscles relaxed after Vlad's immense aura faded. He wasn't sure if he would get a punishment or not, but it was best not to speak.

[Vlad really hasn't changed. He's so pretentious and stingy.]

The voice in his head spoke, Nikolai's brows creasing in frustration as he tried his best to remain quiet and not laugh at his mother's voice.

Vladimir was silent for several minutes, his eyes were distant as his mind seemed elsewhere. The older vampire then turned his gaze back at the injured Nikolai, his sharp gaze causing Nikolai to straighten up and sit up properly. "This can be forgiven if you can make Selene happy."

[Eh?!]

'What?'

Nikolai's eyes widened in shock.

"But... you know the rules of our race. You cannot be weak unless you grow strong enough to protect her... I cannot fully support you both being together." Vladimir's voice was colder than ice, yet somehow, in Nikolai's ears, it sounded like the opposite, and the aura around Vladimir wasn't one of hatred or anger but worry and concern.

'So he loves Selene more than she realises. Maybe he's a very awkward man? I mean, my dad is no better...'

[Who is this fraud?! How can Vladimir the heartless be so gentle?] Nikolai could hear his mother screaming in his head.

Nikolai coughed, clearing his throat as he tried to keep his expression neutral. "I can promise that I will do my best to make her happy, and as I grow older, I can protect her from danger, no matter what."

"Not enough. You must prove to me your determination and sincerity. Enter the dungeon in the Nexus and bring me the heart of an elder beast."

'He wants the heart of an elder beast? Is that something strong? Well, elder makes it sound old, so then it must be rather powerful.'

[Elder beast... I've never been to the tower, but they linger on the tenth floor usually. It's normally the first task that a clan heir would be given to slay upon reaching adulthood.]

'So he's not just making things difficult?'

"What is your answer, Son of Ivan?"

Vladimir's words made Nikolai want to scoff at him, but he didn't. For now, the man seemed serious and very proud of traditions, so he didn't want to offend him by being disrespectful. Instead, he sat up in front of the vampire, his voice steady as he spoke with determination.

"I will bring you the elder heart. However, that is not enough for your complete support and acceptance, right?"

'An elder beast is for a clan heir's adulthood. However, he wants me to protect Selene. There is no way he simply wants such a thing in order for him to trust and accept me.' Nikolai's thoughts ran through his mind while locking eyes with Vladimir as the room became quiet.

A small smirk crept onto Vladimir's lips, and his eyes grew slightly colder. His fangs gleamed. "Yes. The second part is something much harder."

Nikolai felt his heart beat faster. The tension in the air grew as he felt the older man's gaze bore holes in his head.

"However, you do not need to achieve everything in a rush. I will give you time and a fair chance to prove yourself, though I have no doubt you will succeed. You are his son, after all."

Despite Vladimir's sour face, his lips trembling and forming a wide grin, while his cold eyes seemed to gleam with a flicker of expectation.

'The boy lacks finesse and noble air, but those can be trained and improved. He is far better for my daughter than those prideless dogs that call themselves noble vampires.' His thoughts were solid, as if he had already decided Nikolai's fate.

Meanwhile, Nikolai could feel the expectation and curiosity from Vlad's aura, but it made him feel a little nervous and the fact he wasn't punished or treated like dirt as the other vampires have done so far. It made Nikolai feel respect for Selene's father, who showed him the same.

'I can see why my father would have been friends with him. As for his expectations... I don't know if that is a good thing for me or not...' Nikolai felt an impending headache and the need to sigh.

"Of course. I shall do my best to prove my worth to both of you—No, I will surpass your expectations so no other can bring any doubt to me in the future."

Nikolai turned away after speaking, rolling his body to the edge of the bed and preparing to leave for the Nexus the first moment he could.

However, he missed the stunned look on Vladimir's face that lasted briefly. 'This boy is truly that arrogant yet trustworthy wolf's son... Is this why Elizabeth chose Ivan back then? I feel envious, but also... I want to see it! The moment this boy steps on those annoying flies.'

The room went quiet. Nikolai was lost in his thoughts about his future and mother while getting dressed. Vladimir had calmed himself, but his aura regained its cold and intense state.

With a slight smirk on his face, his eyes gleaming with anticipation. "You must grow strong and endure many tribulations, Nikolai." Sёarᴄh the ηovelFire.ηet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

A sudden gust filled the room, causing Nikolai to turn back only to find himself alone.

Vlad opened the window, then turned into a dark mist, his body vanishing before appearing on the roof above the Scarlet Group. The evening wind was calm, with grey clouds dancing across the moonlight. The king of vampires looked quite enchanting.

"Well... Let's find that idiot and discuss the future." With a long sigh, Vladimir took out his smartphone and opened the contacts, typing the name Ivan. 'If you've changed your number, I will beat your son in retaliation.'

"I should also contact Dmitri and discuss the three children in detail..."

Meanwhile, in the second room of Selene, she was sitting on a chair in front of her two mothers, the beautiful and sharp Claudia, mother to Anya, and her father's first wife.

Then, her mother, Selina, the fluffy yet fierce woman who brought her into this world, both were powerful women, but right now, their faces were filled with curiosity and the desire for gossip.

"So you did the deed?" Claudia asked with a wide smile, her eyes sharp. She was wearing a silk black gown, her hair braided, which was different to the usual ponytail she wore during the day.

"Yes... we had... well... not all the way."

"Oh my~ when did my little Selene become a naughty girl?" Selina's soft, fluffy voice felt like a fairy queen to Selene's ears. However, she was blushing too hard to look at her mother, who wore a simple yet cute purple gown.

Selina had her long silver hair tied into a long braid but matched Claudia's as if they were mirror images of each other—her eyes were just like Selene's but were softer and sparkled. Claudia's fierce and sharp eyes were closer to the eye shape of Selene.

Despite having no blood, this was the reason she adored both of their daughters because either could pass as their children.

Selene's gaze drifted between both her mothers, her mind racing with the memories of her time in the bedroom. She couldn't help but blush. "We were interrupted, so he only used his mouth..."

Somehow, she couldn't hide things from her mother, from being a small child to even now when making deals for the company; if the pair of them became interested, they would use their superpowers as her mother's.

Claudia's smile was wide, and she let out an amused chuckle. "Well, at least he knows how to treat you~ how envious." The woman then turned her head to look at Selina, and her smile grew wider. "If it were the opposite, he would have been a dead man."

"Mmmm~ but I wouldn't mind if he were a little naughty, hehe. He seems to be very blessed; congratulations, Selene, fufu." Selina was a mischievous fairy queen, and it took Selene and Claudia a few moments to understand her fluffy words that never seemed to be laced with filth.

"Mother?!"

"Fufufu~ I am so happy you are growing up into a wonderful woman. It's such a shame your father has to ruin things, that clueless idiot!"

Claudia chuckled, shaking her head. "Well, Selene, what do you plan to do now? I am sure your father just gave Nikolai a task, so you won't be able to spend time alone now easily. He already asked me to send Anya and both maids to live here, likely to stop you two from doing things."

Selina puffed her cheeks, looking very annoyed. "So mean. He should just leave his daughter alone. She is growing up. Why won't he just accept it?"

Claudia nodded her head in agreement but then smirked. "Well, we both know he's like that; remember how long it took for him to finally kiss us both~ Vlad is a late bloomer, haha."

Both women giggled at Claudia's words.

"So, what's the plan, young lady?" Claudia asked, raising an eyebrow. "I can't keep my daughter from growing up forever, so what do you want to do about your father? Want me to convince him to let you two do what you want?"

Selene looked at Claudia, a strict yet loving mother who tried her best to maintain the dignity of the Tepes clan despite the other members being weird. 'Mother Claudia always works so hard, I don't want to make her work even harder...'

"Mother, I will believe that he can complete the tasks Father set." Selene gave a polite bow to Claudia before Selina's body flew across the room and hugged her daughter by the neck—a loud bang sounded as they landed on the floor.

"Kya~ my daughter looked so cool, like a mini-Claudia!"