“What… what does that mean?”
“You know, right? Vampires don’t get sick. And whatever problems you’re having with your body now will disappear in the process of becoming a vampire.”
Was it an unexpected proposal? Selina’s resolute expression wavered, as if she had steeled herself for something.
Did she think I would threaten her by saying I’d painfully kill her if she didn’t follow my orders?
“If that were the case, I would have sought out the king or the prince, not the princess.”
Selina Bertica, no matter how positively one might evaluate her, is hardly a significant power in the kingdom.
Just her lineage being directly from the royal family might resonate with the general population, but wouldn’t it be better to use the real powers, the current king or the prince, unless there are special circumstances?
Still, the reason I approached the princess, rather than the king or the prince, was clear.
“Imagine it. Walking through the woods on your two legs, savoring the refreshing forest air and the cool breeze. From now on, you won’t need to borrow anyone’s hands. You also won’t have to worry about when pain will strike.”
Because I had confidence.
I was sure I could persuade her without threats.
The integration of the Bertica Kingdom is a different case compared to collecting Ain slaves.
The scale is considerable, and the Bertica Kingdom is the first force obtained by vampires that is ‘exploited.’
Of course, I had no intention of cutting open the goose that lays golden eggs, and given the overwhelming population of humans compared to vampires, the amount of blood each person would need to provide wouldn’t be that much.
But naturally, there would be some resistance.
Humans instinctively harbor a fear of change. Especially if that change involves collecting their own blood like a tax.
Therefore, for stable governance, it is most effective to continue using those who traditionally ruled the humans.
It’s essential to communicate to the population that with familiar faces at the forefront, there are opportunities for social mobility and that compliance is better than rebellion.
“Plus, they can serve as a cushion for arrows.”
And of course, for the administrative roles necessary to control the humans of the Bertica Kingdom, it’s best to use humans descended from the Bertica royal bloodline.
However, I wasn’t optimistic enough to expect that I could manipulate these seasoned individuals in the political arena like the current king or the influential prince.
Even if I forcibly turned someone into a vampire and imposed restrictions on them, there might still be unexpected loopholes, and I would prefer active, proactive subordinates over reluctant ones who only do what I ask.
Additionally, there were political reasons at play.
The current king and the prince are part of the forces that led the human alliance in the war against the duchy. From the vampires’ perspective, they are figures that must be eliminated.
Keeping them alive would lead to troubles both internally and externally.
In that sense, there was no one better suited than Princess Selina Bertica.
She inherits the direct bloodline of the Bertica royal family and symbolizes royalty, yet lacks a real political foundation or achievements, and holds no direct grudge against vampires.
Furthermore, I was confident that she was the most likely candidate to be swayed, not threatened.
“I know better than anyone the fear and longing for life experienced by a terminally ill patient waiting for death.”
Selina Bertica is in a similar predicament to my past self.
Despite her inability to hide her tension, her attempt to stand up to me was likely the result of weighing the remaining days of her life against her minimal responsibility as a royal.
Yet, if I could clearly see her hesitation and fear directed at me, then there was no need to deliberate – I just had to add more weight to one side of the scale.
“…I-I know vampires cannot function in the daytime. But how can you say it’s freedom?”
“Sure, we can’t walk under the sun, but we can move indoors as much as we want. Right now, you’re trapped in a cramped room 24/7. If you could gain half freedom and the rest with limitations, wouldn’t that be a worthwhile deal?”
I could feel it. This was already halfway there.
I continued my convincing pitch quickly, not allowing her to gather her thoughts clearly.
“Besides, you’ll become one of my kin. You know that those who inherit True Blood are stronger and freer, right? You’ll actually be on equal footing with the vampires of the Grand Duchy. That means stepping out into the sun isn’t impossible. You might be a bit sluggish off the night, but you’d be freer than any other vampire.”
I quickly listed the advantages that would entice Selina.
I could easily read what she feared and what she longed for, like looking at my own palm.
If I could resolve her discomfort at the idea of being a vampire, I could see in her yearning eyes that she couldn’t suppress her desire for life.
“But how can I… drink human blood?”
“If you find the idea of drinking blood repulsive, you don’t have to do it directly. Did you know? There are vampires in the duchy who keep blood in wine bottles. Sometimes it’s for preservation, or simply a preference for cold drinks. See? There’s no need to kill a human. Just think of it as sipping a glass of wine. Plus, vampires don’t need to feed very often. Usually, once every two weeks is enough. For the price of good health and freedom, don’t you think that’s a bargain?”
“You mean… I won’t have to kill?”
Selina was more shaken than ever before.
But even as she showed signs of conflict, she eventually closed her eyes tightly, then shook her head.
“No, it’s not acceptable. I’m the princess of this country. Even as the princess of a fallen nation, I cannot drive my people into a corner.”
Maybe it was due to tension, but contrary to her initially weak demeanor, she showed unexpected resolve.
Shaking, yet standing firm, she made sure to voice her thoughts clearly.
“How enticing.”
As we talked, I began to see what kind of person Selina Bertica truly was.
While my selection was based solely on political reasoning and the possibility of persuasion, now I genuinely wanted to have her.
Even if she lived in isolation, always having to be cautious and responsible for herself, a person like her who overcame fear was a rare breed.
After all, is that not the biggest point of repulsion for any human: the idea of killing and consuming another human?
I decided to concentrate on that aspect more.
“Aha. I need to elaborate on that a bit. You mentioned driving the people into a corner, but that’s a misunderstanding. I have no intention of recklessly taking human lives.”
“…What do you mean?”
“Just as it sounds. We need humans to survive, not to kill them. The fewer humans there are, the hungrier vampires become. Would we really aim for extinction? We’re simply trying to collect a little blood as tax.”
Sure, there might be additional controls, but I didn’t feel the need to mention that just yet.
At the very least, I could guarantee a gentler treatment compared to how I and the other Ain had been oppressed by humans.
In fact, if no reckless rebellions were attempted, it might actually be easier for the ordinary citizens than it is now, aside from the occasional blood extraction.
The exploitative structure, where human lords hoard wealth from their subjects, would likely diminish instead.
Selina’s expression grew serious after hearing this. She was visibly anxious, trying to find a reason to give up, yet unable to.
She struggled for some time without finding a counterargument.
I had to be patient.
I quietly maintained eye contact while waiting for her to speak again, establishing that I was conveying the truth sincerely.
“…Alright. I believe you when you say you don’t have the intention of unraveling age-old grudges against the people. If you had intended that, you wouldn’t have come to me with these talks. But even if we preserve our lives, humans will not be granted freedom. If you keep us alive as your food, there’s bound to be some form of ‘management’, isn’t there? Am I wrong?”
“That’s a fair point.”
Did she pick up on the parts I conveniently glossed over?
I thought I had jostled her enough, but she was sharper than I expected. However, in this particular discussion, I had no need to ponder my response.
The race that bore the most sins in this area was—
“But what of that? At least it’s better than having humans enslave the Ain. Don’t compare us to you. Vampires need blood to survive, and we are not like the humans who oppress another race out of hate and greed.”
Simply because they were human.
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