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Chapter 19: "Missing Badge Mission 2"
Androsen looked sharply at Kensley.
"In this kind of situation, you actually brought her here to the cocktail party and even left her all alone?"
Kensley met his gaze calmly.
"She originally wanted to help you."
"So I just helped her out. Besides, she truly is the most suitable candidate."
Androsen pushed his hair back, revealing his handsome face.
"That fool—what can she even do? Where is she now?"
"Hm… probably in the main hall," Kensley replied.
Androsen immediately walked off.
"Hey, Androsen, don't mess it up," Kensley called after him.
Androsen shot him a glare. Kensley instantly fell silent and followed behind.
---
Meanwhile, Lucin and Pilea were on the rooftop. The night sky shimmered peacefully with stars, and a smooth breeze brushed across their faces.
Lucin looked at Pilea.
"I am Will. What about you, miss?"
Pilea stared at him, baffled.
"Will? That's your real name?"
Her displeasure was obvious—her brows knotted together, and her green eyes held open disdain.
"It's just the two of us here, so quit the act," she said firmly. "No need for you to hold back anymore… Senior. In the end, Androsen's badge was taken by you, right?"
Lucin slipped his hands into his pockets, expression unreadable.
"Did Androsen send you?"
"No," Pilea replied. "I just believe I have a responsibility to help him recover what belongs to him."
Lucin scoffed lightly.
"Stop wasting your time. Even if he finds the badge now, he can't wash away the stain of his failure. If he can't gain the trust of the blood clan elders, then he has no future anymore."
He stepped closer, gently lifting her chin so she had to look at him. His calm aura and angelic eyes bore into her green ones.
"However," he said softly, "if you're willing to follow me, I might help Androsen by saying a few good words about him."
Pilea immediately shoved his hand away.
"Don't touch me with your filthy hands."
He smirked and grabbed her wrists, pulling her close. Pilea glared at him.
"Don't be so quick to reject me," Lucin murmured.
He leaned in to whisper in her ear, but she turned her face away. His smile grew.
"Aren't you worried about Androsen?"
Pilea struggled, but his grip tightened painfully.
"If you promise me," he said, "I'll return the badge to him. How's that?"
"So it was all his plan…" she muttered.
Lucin grabbed her waist firmly. She tried to move, but it was useless.
"Be obedient. Stop struggling," he whispered, tightening his hold.
"I–I can't move!" she gasped.
Before she could react, Lucin's body suddenly flew across the rooftop and crashed against the ground.
Androsen appeared instantly, catching Pilea before she could fall.
His eyes were icy cold as he glared at Lucin, who held his bruised cheek.
"Don't touch my woman."
He pulled Pilea closer. His eyes were blood-red.
"Are you alright?" he asked in a low voice.
Pilea nodded weakly, shocked by the sudden concern.
Is he… worrying about me? she thought.
"I-I'm alright," she whispered.
Androsen held her gaze, then quickly looked away.
"From now on, without my permission, you're not allowed to go anywhere."
Pilea opened her mouth to speak, but closed it again.
---
One of the elders—Lord Leonard—walked into the corridor. His presence alone was enough to demand attention, and his handsome features, height, and aura only made it stronger. Two muscular guards stood behind him.
"How noisy. What's going on?" he asked.
Lucin, who had been on the floor, scrambled upright immediately.
One of the elders… Lord Leonard… he thought nervously.
"Lord Leonard, you came at the right time. And—"
Before he could continue, something slipped from his pocket and fell to the ground.
Everyone looked down.
It was the missing badge.
Lucin froze. He blinked twice, unable to believe it.
"A-Androsen's badge… but how did—"
His mind went blank. A heavy weight sank in his stomach. Sweat broke out across his forehead.
Lord Leonard's gaze was icy enough to send chills down Lucin's spine.
"Isn't that the Lopez family's badge?" the elder asked, voice no longer calm.
Androsen stepped forward, picked up the badge, and examined it.
"So it turns out it was here," he said, voice low and steady. Pilea and Kensley stood behind him.
"It really made it hard to find."
He narrowed his eyes.
"Mr. Will, can you explain this?"
Lucin opened his mouth, but no words came out.
Lord Leonard frowned.
"Will… you disappointed me greatly."
"N-no, sir—I've been falsely accused!" Lucin stammered.
One of the guards stepped forward and placed a firm hand on Lucin's shoulder. The guard wasn't smiling, and he towered over him.
"Mr. Will," the guard said, "please walk to the Hall of Elders."
Lucin panicked. He pointed at Pilea frantically.
"It's definitely her! This woman purposely tried to get close to me to frame me! Otherwise, how could Androsen's badge be on me?!"
Pilea lowered her gaze. She tried not to blame herself, but deep down she knew she was involved.
Her mind drifted to earlier that evening in Kensley's car.
---
"Right… what was it you wanted me to do?" Pilea asked.
Kensley showed her Androsen's badge.
Pilea gasped.
"But this—this is Androsen's badge! Why is it in your hands?"
"This is what we found in Senior Lucin's room."
Pilea frowned deeply.
"So it was his doing… But maybe he had some difficulties he didn't want others to know. No matter how you see it, he was also harmed by vampires."
She remembered when he saved her and told her about his friend who died.
"His most important friend fell to her death because of vampire bullying…"
Kensley smiled slightly.
"Hm. Don't you know?"
"Know what?" she asked.
"That Lucin is also a vampire."
Pilea's eyes widened in shock.
"He pretended to be human and got close to you just to frame Androsen," Kensley added.
She slowly connected all the dots.
"He originally lived in the North. To run for the next Elder seat, he transferred to the Central Region…"
"If he wasn't a distant relative of Lord Leonard, it wouldn't have been so easy to investigate him," Kensley added.
Pilea swallowed.
"What about me? What exactly do you want me to do?"
Kensley looked at her calmly.
"Get close to him. Then slip this badge into his pocket."
He handed it to her.
"Doing it or not is up to you," he said gently.
Pilea stared at the badge silently.
"Just think it over," Kensley added, noticing her worry.
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High guys just wanted to give a quick check up i hope you are enjoying the novel so far thank you all for your support even when i stopped writing due to my exams for still having so much patients thanks ♡♡.
As you all know Christmas is quick approaching i might give everyone Christmas special with six chapters but you all have to play your own part to.
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