Before the powder moved closer, a rock was thrown at Prince Silas's hand. The powder scattered and dissipated at the sudden, unexpected interference.
"Brother, stop it!" Prince Damien shouts, eyes flashing red with disgust and abhorrence at his elder brother's actions. His emotions, complicated by familial love and respect for the other, had straightened out seeing the silver-haired vampire's actions and intentions. "This is, this is, it's not befitting of us as royalty, no, as vampires!"
Prince Silas narrows his eyes and sneers while he lightly shakes the hand that had been hit. While Prince Damien's powers had been sealed and a lot of his natural vampiric abilities suppressed, it didn't mean it was gone entirely. Prince Damien was still someone with the body of a royal vampire, and his physical capabilities had the potential to be better than Prince Silas, who generally relies on his powers for strength. Even weakened, he could still cause some pain for the other.
Really… troublesome.
"You, of all vampires, cannot possibly speak about what is 'befitting' for a proper vampire, brother." Prince Silas smiles, but the sneer in his tone was obvious to all. Damien flushes, biting his lips and clenching his fists in anger, shame and disappointment.
To him, Prince Silas was lazy before, yes, but he had great power and genius that allowed people to look up to him no matter his apathetic behaviour. In Prince Damien's eyes, this sort of personal freedom was really envying. In his heart, he also wanted that sort of ability, just so no one could question or stop him when he wanted to pursue his interests. He was sure his younger brother, Prince Kieran, also felt the same way on some level.
But now that he has experienced many things and reflected a lot, he suddenly feels that such a thing is not necessarily worth admiring. Having the power to do things freely was really beautiful, but at a certain point, it can only be called selfishness. Damien didn't see it before because Prince Silas only used his privileges fairly passively, and was usually willing to help when he had to. Still, now that he had become aggressive and his personality became more active for all the wrong reasons, the young prince could finally see the tyrannicalness of his brother.
Don't say that Prince Silas had a personality that allowed him to be above desire and ambition; in fact, it was because he was the most used to having this constant respect and admiration, as well as the benefits that came with it, that allowed him to seem desireless of it.
So, if you think about it, it wasn't that he didn't have ambition; it was just that he was already more or less satisfied from birth.
There was nothing wrong with that other than being extremely enviable, but once such a person was provoked, their thirst for more may even be more extreme than that of the average politician.
"At, at least, can still take a hint and can tell when I'm not w-wanted!" The younger vampiric prince shoots back, stuttering a little at the end. After all, while he was a 'black sheep', he wasn't one to get into big fights or arguments. The young vampire was not a very hotheaded male lead. He could even be said to be a little passive. After all, in the plot, it was the female lead who paved the way for the plot with her halo, curiosity, sense of righteousness, and a series of well-timed coincidences.
Over time, the male lead becomes stronger but more silent and brooding, so even later in the story, the male lead would be more likely to fight with his fists than his words. it wasn't a bad characterisation but it was inevitable that despite being the male lead, Prince Damien tended to blend into the background a bit more, especially in later non-romance related scenes.
At his younger brother's words, Prince Silas' handsome face darkened. Suddenly, Prince Damien went flying back, hitting the tree behind him, and a frightening cracking sound was heard. At this point, it was unknown whether the sound came from the tree or the male lead.
"You!" Jia Hyson's eyes widen, and he looks at Prince Silas in disbelief and anger. "This is fratricide!"
"It's merely disciplining." Prince Silas coldly replies, dark eyes staring intensely into Jia Hyson's blue ones as he once again produces a small swirl of powder from his hand, "But I'm reluctant to be so hard on you, Alaric. So… please don't force me to that point."
Eying the powder, Jia Hyson can't help but instinctively try to lean back despite how futile the action would be. Looking at the other, beautiful, obsessed and full of dark desires, Jia Hyson's gaze turns dark momentarily as various calculations flash through his mind. However, once he blinks, such an appearance flits away like the shadow of a flapping moth's wing in the corner of your eye, and in its place is a soft and teary appearance.
"I…" A tear rolls down Jia Hyson's cheek, the rims of his eyes reddening, contrasting with his pale skin. "Okay." He whispers softly and shakily, like a frightened lamb voluntarily entering a wolf's den, the smaller body trembles but leans into the white-haired prince's chest. "Okay, Silas, I, I will be good. Just no powder… okay?"
Prince Silas, genuinely not expecting this sudden turn of events, felt his heart shake and the powder in his hand once again dispersed. He didn't even register it, only focusing on the soft and obedient body of the vampire he loves leaning into his embrace, weak and dependent and willing.
It was like a dream.
And just like a dream, Silas couldn't focus on the details or use his brilliant mind to consider the cold, logical facts and the strangeness of this behaviour. His head was dizzy with excitement, blood was boiling in his ears, and his vision almost felt blurry.
Jia Hyson, who could feel the nervousness and stiffness in the other's body, nuzzles his face further into the other's chest, hiding his ruthless and mocking smile. Some people will think this sort of twisted and possessive love should not be called love but obsession or some other word. However, in Jia Hyson's opinion, love has such a broad and comprehensive definition. If you believe it to be so, why can't it be called love? A flimsy love, a warped love, a disgusting love- it was all a sort of love, just not a very beautiful one.
After all, the weight of a simple liking alone was not heavy enough to turn most people into fools like this.
"You'll really..?" Silas murmurs, voice low and soft as if a small creature had walked into his hands and he was trying not to scare it off. "Are you serious?"
"Mhmm.." Jia Hyson hums shyly, but the sound is unmistakably affirmative.
Prince Silas swallowed heavily. His hand, which once threatened the other with the powder, was now hesitating whether to rest on Alaric's lower back or not. "…Even if you're lying as long as," the white-haired vampire's voice was a little hoarse, as his lips turned upwards in a faint, bitter curl. As long as you keep lying to me like this, I'll let everything go."
As he admits this, his hand finally rests on the slender vampire's body, embracing the other tightly.
"Heh." Jia Hyson could naturally feel this embrace and wants to scold this vampire in his heart. It seems it's really too true that no matter how powerful and smart they are, vampires have a slow maturity period. The emotions are passionate but the sense of empathy is pretty low, resulting in many strange vampire love stories that involve stalking or forceful themes. This at least meant some of the sadomasochistic tropes can be used effectively.
If Jia Hyson liked the person, such a development would naturally not be a problem and could even be a source of excitement. Unfortunately, he had someone else and currently had no intentions for others, so this only served to bring a sense of annoyance and disgust to his heart.
Behaviour he would have been amused and charmed at, he secretly scolded as pretentious and stupid in his heart. 'Bebe, do you hear him? Clearly, he's lying, and even if he's telling the truth, how can he be such an idiot? Tsk, he's acting so pitiful, but in the end, he's just emotionally blackmailing me to pretend to love him.'
'Yes, yes, yes.' Bebe agrees excitedly, its tone dripping with sarcasm and disdain, 'It's really disgusting! Just because he has a good face and even better appearance that can come with its own romantic BGM, with a handsome voice that can spout flowery, sweet words, holding status, power and one of the more popular genius yandere personality types- doesn't mean he can hide the fact that he is running to be a shameless third party! Peh!'
Jia Hyson: '…' Honestly, I can't tell if you're insulting him or flattering him right now.
"I understand." Jia Hyson answers the prince softly, "Just.. please let the people around me go then."
As he says this, he raises his head and blinks frantically at Prince Damien, signalling him to take this chance and leave immediately.
The younger vampire prince hesitates, his handsome features full of worry and his eyes filled with complex emotions as he looks at Alaric, who is sacrificing his body to save him. However, even if it was unsightly, Prince Damien was in no situation to complain or judge. After all, it was also extremely effective—so effective that he almost felt embarrassed for his elder brother, who took this critical hit.
The eldest prince of the Golden Rose Coven's eyes darken. He pushes Alaric slightly away so he can grip the other's chin with his fingers, lifting it up so his blue eyes look deeply into his own black ones. "You like Darrian Garth so much?" Prince Silas sneers. "Fine. I'll do as you wish and let him go."
His other hand caresses Alaric's pale face. "As long as you look only at me, I will also only look back at you. And maybe, one day, you'll find that even if you glance elsewhere, you'll still only see me." Prince Silas smiles softly at the thought. "Just like how I do now."
Prince Damien, still in the distance, clutching what may be some broken ribs: '…' Brother, I didn't expect the poet in the family to actually be you all along.
As he looked at such a scene, the younger prince's face was extremely complicated. He had often read many romantic stories and poems, fantasising about meeting someone he could woo in such a dramatic fashion. He likes the image of a kiss in the rain, the deep and emotional monologues, beautiful imagery and a struggling love.
But now, maybe he's experienced too much in the past year that's brought his head back down to earth. Or perhaps it's because he met someone who's straightforward, strong and bright and just so different from the demure, sweet image of his ideal girlfriend, that it's cut his rather superficial fantasies and expectations away. Either way, he suddenly felt that this sort of dramatic, heart-pounding scene was…
…A little bit cringey. ఠ_ఠ
Prince Damien covers his face with one hand, unsure if he is ashamed of his brother or his past self.
Jia Hyson, who can see Prince Damien's actions: '…' No, if you get embarrassed, I'll be embarrassed too, you know?!
Even if he didn't like Prince Silas, to the extent that anything he did had a negative filter, objectively these sort of domineering words were still really a little stimulating to him- but that was under the premise there was no third-party.
It was like doing role-play with your parents watching, no matter how well it suits your kinks, as long as there's unrelated eyes are on you, the only hole you would be interested in at that moment is the six feet deep grave you want to climb into.
The thick-skinned in private, thin-skinned in public Jia Hyson lowered his eyes, feeling if he looked at Prince Damien this ungrateful vampire, his acting would really collapse. However in the eyes of Prince Silas who was fully immersed in the drama, this action made the other seem guilty and disgusted, unwilling to even look at himself, and reminding the crown prince who Alaric's heart really belonged to.
Infuriated, Silas' black eyes turn red with emotion, "Don't feel guilty now." He sneers, "Even if you are still resistant at heart, you've already agreed. You're mine now."
He strokes Jia Hyson's hair like a doting master to his beloved pet. "So do your best to push any more thoughts on Darrian Garth away, lest I be forced to take… more extreme ways to convince you."
Jia Hyson: '...' Bro, this is not what you said before. Even scam artists don't change faces this fast.
The face, like a noble archangel, was now no different to that of a tyrannical but alluring devil. The voice was seductive and deep, full of addictive possessive obsession. The words were also domineering enough. And even the lighting was perfectly setting in the mood.
If only there was not a certain vampire prince male lead in the background behind Silas, making a disgusted and nauseated face as if he had eaten cow shit.
Jia Hyson: '…' I beg you. Please, at least give the scene some dignity.
Otherwise, it's really difficult for him to play along!
Also! In the original story, it was you who fucking had these sort of dog-blooded lines! What right do you have to judge!? ლಠ益ಠ)ლ
Not to mention, even though the expression was bad, Damien's eyes were still eagerly glued onto them hotly. Jia Hyson who was no stranger to worldly things could immediately recognise this familiar look of melon-eating.
To be more specific, this was the sort of melon-eating look where one would watch a particularly bad show and loudly go, "Tsk, tsk, this is garbage, absolutely shameful, disgusting. How can they even do this? My eyes are blind and need to be washed clean from this trash- where is the next episode?"
Bebe: 'To be honest, Bebe empathises a little bit with this too.'
It didn't like Prince Silas who was interfering with it's true love CP of it's host and Mr Garth, and it wasn't a fan of the route the story was heading… but the system couldn't lie and say it wasn't slightly invested in seeing how far things would go either. _(:3」∠)_
Um, how to say it? It was the excitement of watching two scumbags perform against each other?
Scumbag Jia Hyson: I suddenly feel that the whole world is against me.
Fortunately, if one protagonist fails to live up to expectations, the other protagonist is usually competent enough to compensate.
Hands from the foliage behind Prince Damien reached out, immediately covering the young vampire's mouth to stop him from making a noise. Damien's eyes widen and instinctively wanted to struggle but he quickly noticed something and immediately relaxed. Jia Hyson couldn't see the other party's face, but it wasn't hard to realise the owner of those hands should be Jessica Fang.
After all, given the situation, only the female lead's presence and inexplicable connection with the male lead could let the youngest prince of the Golden Rose Coven calm down so quickly.
However, even with the protagonist's aura, Prince Silas' overpowered golden thigh aura still could not be dampened too much, and it was normal for him to hear the movement. Fortunately, Jia Hyson was a walking distraction and quickly reacted.
With a humiliated expression, Jia Hyson pushes Prince Silas away with his strength and bites his lip, angry but helpless. Clenching his fists tightly, he tries his best to cry on the spot. While it didn't work, the rims of his eyes reddened a little, which was still good enough. "I already agreed to be with you, okay?!" He frantically shouts, "Do you really have to rub it in like this?? I- you also promised, I don't, I don't understand- wu.."
Sniffling he rubs his eyes fiercely as if trying to furiously hide his tears and overwhelming emotions. In reality, of course he was indeed rubbing his eyes fiercely- fiercely enough to irritate his eyes and cause them to tear up.
Bebe: 'Bro, what sort of character setting is this?' The elegant and competent, if uptight, Alaric Jia Hyson had constructed was now a little shattered with this sort of naive, weepy and dramatic appearance.
Feeling his system's judgement, Jia Hyson curses and mentally gives it the middle finger. He was a writer, not an improv master! This sort of split-second decision, with a lot of pressure and urgency, naturally makes people panic and become a bit befuddled. All he could think of was getting Silas to refocus his attention on himself, and this sort of frantic energy was easy to bleed over into his subsequent reaction.
Jia Hyson had subconsciously entered a poor white lotus being bullied by the rich capitalist CEO mentality at that moment, but the problem was while there were parallels, they were simply not the same situation. Because he currently did not have the privilege of being so defiant, and his situation was more in line with a blackmailed housewife NTR plot than anything else. This meant, according to the usual setting of this sort of plot, he probably can be emotional, but it's really not good if he explodes, otherwise the subsequent reaction of Prince Silas will definitely not be good.
"…so it turns out even you know how to act like this." The vampiric crown prince sighs emotionally after a brief pause, clearly a little blindsided by the outburst. "Then again, I suppose it isn't surprising you're quite skilled. After all," A breeze blows gently between them, and while it was a warm day, Jia Hyson couldn't help but feel the air was chilling him.
"You can even confidently crossdress and act so coquettishly online."
Jia Hyson's eye twitches and chest tightens. His first reaction is looking over the white-haired vampire's shoulder before feeling slightly relieved in his heart. Fortunately, the two protagonists had already left. Though it's unknown if they still heard it, Jia Hyson can only believe that at least the chances of Alaric's hobby being revealed were still comparatively much lower.
Even if the two leads of this story had changed a lot and Jessica Fang no longer seems like the sort of person to discriminate so viciously, it's better not to risk it. While he wasn't obsessed with the job results currently, if he could still win the beauty and the money, Jia Hyson would do it. Secondly, regardless of earning points, if his secret was revealed and the protagonists didn't react favourably, it would make almost any consequent plans much more difficult to accomplish.
After all, if Jia Hyson had learned anything from his world-hopping adventures by now, the protagonist halo is real, and people who were on the opposite of the protagonists rarely get good endings.
Of course, the more time he's been living in this world, the less he could see himself having much of a good ending these days. Just a lot of regrets all around.
Seeing Prince Damien and Jessica Fang are no longer present, his attention naturally goes back to the biggest threat toward himself. With a confused squinting gaze, Jia Hyson looked quizzically and suspiciously at the crown prince. "What are you talking about?" He asks annoyed but not outraged, as if such a statement was really unrelated to him at all. "Crossdress online?
He laughs a little disbelievingly, before sneering, "It's true my outburst was fake and hard to believe but it's at least better than your accusations, your highness."
Jia Hyson said it with such self-righteous confidence that even Bebe, who had personally helped build the fucking crossdressing site, momentarily believed him. Unfortunately, Prince Silas was written as one of the most OP characters in the story with almost cheat-like stats and his practically bullshit ability, with his only limiter being his lethargy. Even if Jia Hyson was a skilled liar, he couldn't escape his use of micro-expressions or the crown prince's sensitive intuition, which was entirely focused on himself.
Prince Silas blinks and laughs lowly at Alaric. "Little liar." He calls fondly, "Don't bother, I've even seen the livestreams." The prince's dark eyes gaze up and down the other vampire's body so intensely that Jia Hyson could feel it physically. He couldn't help but shiver slightly, making Prince Silas chuckle again. "Though I'd rather see it in real life instead."
Clenching his fists, Jia Hyson silently communicates with Bebe. 'I want to buy a Minor Event Stimulator.'
'It won't be enough.' Bebe immediately replies, 'Even if the vampire leopard came back and raw-dogged the teacher three feet away from you guys, given Prince Silas' concentration and motives, Bebe determines he still would not be distracted enough to stop the current situation. At most, he'll use his powers to wave them away or take you away. Therefore it would only be wasting p if you buy it.'
Jia Hyson: '…You know, I've not really questioned it, but what the fuck counts as a Minor Event to you guys?'
'….Bebe isn't the item developer, so don't look at Bebe.' Bebe defends, "Anyway, getting a Substantial Event Simulator is better. It costs a lot more though at 3500p; however, the chances of success are much higher as it should also incorporate more target-specific events in its probability.'
For example, if the target was a CEO, a Substantial Event Simulator may be more likely to pull events that will happen to the CEO's company, increasing the likelihood that the other has no choice but to drop everything to go take a look. A Minor Event Simulator is usually something that occurs around the target's area such as maybe a beehive falling nearby or a couple suddenly loudly getting into an intense fight.
'What about a Major Event Simulator?' Jia Hyson can't help but ask curiously.
'That shit can range from suddenly walking into a gunfight to an earthquake.' Bebe clicks its tongue, 'Don't bother with that one unless you want to disrupt, like, a small war or something.' The system pauses before adding thoughtfully, 'It also costs 10,000p. It's really better to just throw money into the Substantial Event Simulator item to try improve your chances, or better yet, buy a different item if you want a specific effect. It's pricier than the event stimulators, but they're not randomised, at least.'
Unfortunately, even if the conversation in his head was only a second, Jia Hyson really didn't have the time to keep talking much less peruse the shop for better items. It was already considered pretty good that he even remembered the name of Minor Event Simulator.
At this point, he has already ticked off most of the dialogue options one could have when faced with this situation- submitting, lying, being hysterical, crying, anger... and in retrospect, the order in which it was done was not very well played.
On the top of his head, he couldn't think of any other way out by himself that didn't involve stripping down and getting fucked by the other at this point. And if he chose to run now, that would only serve to anger Prince Silas and lose any and all trust they had left of each other. Not to mention, with the other's royal vampiric constitution, the other vampire would probably be able to catch him anyway.
The best thing was to rely on an outside force now.
Jia Hyson really felt quite tired. Next time, he really only dares to play with people weaker than him!
Bebe: '...' No, what scum idea is that?!
'Buy the Substantial Event Simulator.' He mentally commands as continue to stare back at Prince Silas.
The white-haired prince lifts his chin up and looks down at the blue-eyed vampire lazily, full of confidence that wasn't unwarranted. "What are you trying to think of now, Alaric?" He asks with some curiosity. "Or are you finally deciding to give in now?"
"Hey, woah. If I recall correctly, I'm pretty sure I did give in." Jia Hyson's mouth twitches, "In fact, I did such a good job giving in; you even were like, 'Oh~ Even if you lie to me, I'll forgive you as long as you keep lying to me,' but then who was it that immediately got jealous right after and threw everything they said like literally seconds ago out the window?" Blue eyes widen as he claps in mock realisation, "Oh right, it was you!"
Jia Hyson shakes his head with a sarcastic chuckle, "My, my, you accuse me of changing face fast, but I'm just doing my best to catch up with a genius like yourself."
Prince Silas: '…'
Sensing the taller vampire faltering slightly, Jia Hyson's eyes gleamed as he finally found a temporary advantage in the conversation. Walking forward cockily, he contemptuously gestures to himself, "Look, I already agreed to be by your side… Not that I had much choice in the matter. And all you could do in the short time I agreed to be with you was piss me off."
Jia Hyson smirks as he watches Prince Silas's expression become angry and embarrassed. "It's no wonder you couldn't make me willingly want to be with you after so long," he observes bitingly.
"Alaric, don't go too far!" Prince Silas growls as he fiercely grabs the other's thin wrist, his relatively calm and arrogant demeanour shaken under the harsh words.
Jia Hyson winces slightly at the pressure. Royal vampires were really something. Even though he knew it already, their strength was really no joke. Just a little loss of control, and it was enough to make his bones feel like they were going to crack under the force.
However, this amount of pain was not enough to ruin his satisfaction at a successful taunting. If anything, this proof of lost control, of agitation, made Jia Hyson unable to stop smiling wildly. It made him realise something that he had overlooked.
No matter how powerful or intelligent Prince Silas was.
He was still an immature vampire. A sheltered flower in a greenhouse.
And with less experience, that meant it was not submissiveness that was necessarily more effective but aggressiveness!
However, it was difficult to uncover a fleshy, sensitive spot to poke at. After all, Prince Silas really… had nothing to be very insecure of. And the stuff he probably could be insecure on, the other was too lazy to worry about.
But now it was different. Prince Silas has been provoked by love ,and as the love interest, Jia Hyson has more cards to play than he initially thought. If he kept going the passive route, eventually, he would be cornered and tied up to be eaten, but if he takes a more active stance, then maybe…
'Set a timer for five minutes, and after that, use the Substantial Event Simulator.' He mentally commands his system.
"Me? Too far?" Jia Hyson smiles softly, "Isn't it you who's going too far? You threaten me, you want to drug me, and even when I say I'll be yours, you want to take a mile from an inch and even demand me to stop thinking about Darrian despite the fact it's only been a few minutes? Do you think love and affection is so cheap???"
He pauses slightly before sneering, "Oh, you should really think so. Otherwise, how can you only resort to these sort of shitty tactics?"
The prince's handsome face was contorted yet he had nothing to retort with.
"If you had just accepted my love.."
"Why should I?" Jia Hyson clicks his tongue dismissively. "You're not my mum. You didn't push me out of your vagina. I'm not obligated to love you like I'm obligated to initially love my parents for bringing me into this world. Just because you like me doesn't mean I have to like you, okay? Don't delude yourself; forcing it is just harassment."
These sorts of domineering, forceful words are only handsome when you're handsome… Which is why it works so well with Prince Silas. However, once you ignore the high appearance value of the person and only look at the dialogue script, the speech is really a little disgusting. After all, most people will have a bad reaction when being blamed unjustly, or being emotionally manipulated to do something.
If you like it, you like it. If you don't, you don't. Sometimes there is no why or how to it. This is the freedom and fickleness of the heart!
Prince Silas really didn't expect the gentle and law-abiding flower in his heart to speak such vulgar words at him. Alaric has scolded him before, but it was with good intentions. His voice was never raised too high, the words were fairly mature, and while he was stern and firm in tone, he always explained his reasoning clearly, which only made him feel annoyed but not uncomfortable.
But now? Now he was extremely fucking uncomfortable!
Little Theatre:
Jia Hyson: In a sadomasochistic relationship there is a sadist and a masochist. If your tears and begging don't work, then that means you can't be the masochist in this relationship, you can only be the sadist!
Bebe: EnthusiasticSealClapping.gif