Demonic Dragon: Harem System

Strax raised an eyebrow, studying the predatory expression on Elizabeth's face. Her smile was both intriguing and dangerous, and he knew that refusing her would not only be rude but could also be seen as a sign of weakness — something he definitely didn't want to show, especially in front of a powerful figure like a vampire princess.

"Putting a price on my head for turning down an invitation… That sounds a bit extreme, don't you think?" Strax said with a sarcastic grin. "But I suppose it would be rude of me to refuse someone as... persuasive as you."

Elizabeth laughed, a low and melodious sound that seemed to echo through the market. "Excellent choice. Follow me." She began walking gracefully, drawing gazes from all around. Her mere presence commanded the space, and Strax, by her side, was no different.

The two walked through a few streets until they reached a more discreet area, where a stone table sat in a small garden adorned with nocturnal flowers and ancient-looking trees. It was a secluded place, almost like a refuge within the chaos of the capital.

Elizabeth sat with elegance, placing the burgers on the table and gesturing to the seat in front of her. Strax accepted the invitation and sat down, his eyes never leaving hers.

"So, Strax," Elizabeth began, taking a bite of her burger with the same grace she did everything, though there was something predatory about the scene. "You're interesting. Few men would have the courage to carry on a conversation with me without stumbling over their words or trembling in my presence. That makes me want to know more about you."

Strax shrugged, taking a bite of his own burger. "I could say that I'm not easily frightened, but I think you've already noticed that. Besides, reciprocity is important, don't you think? You don't seem like the type who accepts rejection either."

Elizabeth laughed again, her eyes sparkling with something between amusement and curiosity. "You're right. I'm not the type to accept 'no' as an answer. And I confess, someone like you is rare to find. Not just because you're with Scarlet, but because you have the audacity to challenge and provoke."

Strax took a bite of his burger, noting the exotic and unique flavor. It was strange but surprisingly good. "You talk as if you've already decided something about me, even though you don't know who I really am."

"I'm a princess. It's not my job to know everything about someone before deciding what I think of them." Elizabeth rested her chin on her hand, observing him attentively. "But you... have something different. Something even Scarlet couldn't completely hide."

Strax kept a neutral expression, but inside, he was alert to every word. This woman was sharp, perhaps even sharper than he would have liked. "And what exactly do you think is 'different' about me?"

Elizabeth didn't answer immediately. Instead, she took a sip from a crystal goblet the waiter had brought, probably filled with some kind of blood wine. "That's what I want to find out. Consider this meal... the beginning of our mutual curiosity."

"Mutual curiosity, huh?" Strax crossed his arms, a slow smile spreading. "Well, Princess, I'm not known for backing down from challenges. Let's see how far this 'curiosity' takes us."

Elizabeth tilted her head, satisfied. "Excellent. Now, tell me, Strax... how did someone like you get involved with Scarlet and her sisters?"

Strax let out a low laugh. "That's a long story. Let's just say fate has a funny way of playing with us."

After a few hours of conversation, the atmosphere between Strax and Elizabeth had shifted. The weight of the initial tension had given way to a more relaxed, almost friendly interaction, if not for the constant gleam of curiosity in the vampire princess's eyes.

Elizabeth let out a soft, melodic laugh as she listened to Strax finish a tale about his first wife. "Let me see if I understood this correctly," she said, resting her chin on one hand and looking at him with an amused smile. "She locked you in a mine... By someone else's orders? And yet, you accepted her as your wife?"

Strax shrugged, a faint smile on his lips. "It was more complicated than it seems. She was manipulated, her insecurities were used against her. And despite everything, when it was all revealed, she deeply regretted it. I saw something in her... something worth forgiving."

Elizabeth raised an elegant eyebrow. "You're more tolerant than I expected, Strax. Most men would prefer to rip her head off rather than take her back."

"It's not tolerance," he replied, leaning back in the stone chair and crossing his arms. "It's strategy. Forgiving someone who truly wants to change can be more powerful than punishing them. Besides, she proved her loyalty since then. And I value loyalty."

Elizabeth laughed again, this time with a mischievous gleam in her eyes. "What an interesting man you are. You forgive betrayals, yet command respect in a way that even high-ranking vampires tremble before you." She took another sip of her blood wine, evaluating it. "That makes you dangerous... and fascinating."

Strax tilted his head slightly, his gaze remaining firm on hers. "You speak as if you've already analyzed me completely, but I'm sure there are still many layers of me you haven't seen, Princess."

"Oh, undoubtedly," she replied, a smile exuding confidence. "But I have time. Besides, you don't seem like the type who cares about being analyzed."

He let out a short laugh. "As long as I have the right to do the same with you."

Elizabeth stared at him for a long moment, her red eyes gleaming intensely. It was as if she were weighing his words, considering what it meant to allow someone like Strax to get closer to her. Finally, she gave a slight nod. Discover stories with empire

"Fair enough. But remember, Strax... Getting to know a princess like me can be both a privilege and a curse."

"Then let's see which side of the scale it falls on," he retorted with a challenging smile.

"You seem to be having a lot of fun," a female voice cut through the air, nervous and tense, breaking the charged atmosphere. Before Strax could react, he stood up abruptly, a sudden chill running down his spine.

"I didn't—" he began, but was interrupted.

"Quiet." Scarlet's voice was cold and relentless, without even looking at him. She turned to Elizabeth, a piercing glare on her face, her voice now laced with venom. "For a noblewoman, you're a slut, don't you think? Trying to seduce another woman's husband?"

Strax, stunned by the situation, quickly turned to Elizabeth, the tension in the air almost palpable. Before she could respond, he gestured exaggeratedly with his hand, pointing at the vampire princess's face with a provocative smile. "So she's a failure at seduction, then. And don't even try to tell me you were trying to seduce me, because honestly, you're a terrible attempt at it, I'll guarantee you that."

"Well," she said, taking a small sip of her blood wine, her voice soft but carrying latent power. "If that's how you see me, Strax, maybe I truly underestimated your... perceptions." She paused, clearly savoring the moment. "But honestly, I wasn't trying to seduce anyone. Contrary to what you might think, I'm not in the business of stealing other people's husbands. I was just curious."

Scarlet, however, didn't seem at all willing to let the provocation slide. She crossed her arms, her sharp gaze never leaving Elizabeth. "Curious, huh? That sounds more like a lame excuse to act like a bitch in a meat market." Scarlet's tone was sharp as blades, and she took a step closer, now so near Elizabeth that the tension between them seemed almost palpable.

"I don't need excuses, Scarlet," Elizabeth replied without hesitation, her smile holding a calmness that only fueled the irritation of the vampire. "I am who I am, and I don't hide behind masks of morality. But you, you seem to get awfully bothered by any sign that someone might... interact with your husband."

Strax felt the atmosphere thicken, a game of glares and sharp words between the two women. He was never one to get easily entangled in disputes, but he knew this situation was far from normal. Scarlet was watching him with an intensity that almost made him question whether he was truly in control, while Elizabeth continued to look at him with a silent challenge.

"I get bothered," Scarlet said, responding directly to Elizabeth. "When someone like you starts playing games with things you have no right to touch." She didn't take her eyes off Elizabeth. "Strax is not a toy for you to amuse yourself with. He is my husband."

Strax, who had remained silent until now, observing the exchange of barbed words, finally moved. He stepped forward, interrupting the growing tension between the two women.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

"Stop," he said, his voice low but heavy with authority.

"The one thing you all seem to be forgetting here is that, in the end, I'm the one who decides what to do and with whom." He looked directly at Elizabeth. "It doesn't matter how much you want to have fun, or what Scarlet thinks."

Elizabeth raised an eyebrow, genuinely intrigued by Strax's stance. "Ah, so this is how you play? Alright. I like men who know where they stand." She gave a half-smile, as though she had tested a piece on the chessboard and liked the response she got.

Scarlet, on the other hand, didn't seem any more relaxed. She kept her gaze fixed on Elizabeth, but now, there was something more in her behavior, as if she had decided she no longer cared to hide her dissatisfaction. "Are you looking to die, princess?" Scarlet's eyes struck her for a moment, and Elizabeth felt the lethal pressure from Scarlet.

"Of course not... because you can't kill me, can you?" She provoked.