Ascendant Path of a Lustful Vampire

Chapter 496: Bothersome Prince

Many said they spotted mistakes and would have done things differently—more efficiently—but the consensus seemed to be that it had been an entertaining display. Relatively short but quite the spectacle.

However, no one seemed to have a greater appreciation for the duel than the one lying on the ground with a sword at his neck; Duncan Acheron.

Caius lifted his sword and held it loosely at his side while stretching a hand down at Duncan, who he expected to smack it aside. He was thus a bit surprised when Duncan actually grabbed the offered hand with a chuckle and let himself be helped up to his feet.

”That was impressive,” Duncan said with a smile.

”Thank you,” Caius said cautiously, his eyes moving like he was trying to detect what Duncan might be after. His caution didn’t lessen at all when Duncan wrapped an arm around his neck and began to steer him through the crowd that had re-congregated and covered the space they had created for the duel.

”That move you pulled at the end,” Duncan said with some awe, ”Whoo, impressive.”

”Thanks,” Caius said unsure what to say as he was forced to walk by Duncan’s side.

”I mean, one second I had defensive spells up and the next, I was hit anyway. And my spells weren’t destroyed or anything,” Duncan said,

”Simply impressive.”

Caius frowned lightly now but said nothing.

Duncan noticed the frown.

”Oh, don’t be like that,” he said with a little laugh, ”That was a genuine compliment.”

”Can’t fault me for being skeptical,” Caius said with a shrug.

”Oh, because of how I acted before?” Duncan said, and the look he gave Caius made it clear he hoped Caius would just wave it off.

He was out of luck.

”Yes,” Caius said as he grabbed the arm around his neck and lifted it off, ”This turnaround you’re doing is very suspicious. And you’re being overly touchy.”

Duncan raised his hands in placation.

”I get it, I get it. I’m sorry,” he said and he actually sounded genuine,

”We just got off on the wrong foot. I say we try again.”

He held his hand out now and Caius eyed it for a while before letting out a sigh as he took the hand and shook it. When they let go of each other’s hands, Duncan took a Mending Potion from out of his storage ring and downed it.

The action reminded Caius he was bruised as well but he didn’t drink a potion. He had one in his storage ring, made with Blood Alchemy, and decided not to pull it out and drink it in the midst of so many powerful nobles with sharp senses, who might sense something amiss. Besides, the aches were manageable.

Before Duncan dropped the potion vial from his lips, Caius had turned away to return to his Von Helsing Party where Alexia stood waiting. Duncan’s hand grabbed Caius’s shoulder before he could walk too far.

”What?” Caius snapped at him.

Duncan recoiled, the Imperial Guards behind him reacting to his distress but not yet making a move.

”Sorry, sorry,” Duncan apologized, ”Just wanted to talk.”

”About what?” Caius asked, confused.

”Anything really,” Duncan said with a little smile, ”How about you teach me that trick of yours? I’d like to bypass defenses like that too.”

”There was no trick,” Caius said with a shrug, ”I just cast my spell faster than you did.”

Duncan smiled wryly. The inferno had been very wild and blocked him from seeing or sensing things clearly but he highly doubted Caius had cast faster than him. Still, he understood why someone wouldn’t want to tell a stranger their secret techniques.

”Come on,” he pressed, ”You don’t have to hide things from a friend.”

”You’re a friend now?” Caius asked and couldn’t help but let out a disparaging laugh.

”I could be,” Duncan said and wrapped an arm around Caius’s neck again to steer him all about the Hall. It was quite awkward as Duncan was inches shorter than Caius.

”Think about it, Caius Von Helsing,” Duncan said in a grand voice as he waved his other hand in a wide arc like he was painting a picture,

”Having a Friend in the Imperial Family... What could be grander than that?”

”You’re 13th in line for a Grand Duke title,” Caius laughed, ”Please don’t make me laugh.”

”I’m still an Acheron. Whatever title I could one day get—”

”You won’t,” Caius cut in with a mocking tone.

”— doesn’t matter as much as my name does,” Duncan carried on.

Caius just rolled his eyes. If there ever came a time he even considered befriending a member of the Imperial Family, he felt he could do better than Duncan. But the Prince was adamant. He just kept following Caius everywhere.

Caius lost count of how many times he took Duncan’s arm off his shoulder only for the Prince to just put it right back. Acting like they were chums all of a sudden.

It was especially annoying in certain situations. Like when Caius was talking to the other guests in the Hall for instance;

”That was a brilliant display,” said Lady Miranda Alden, representing the Noble Alden Family. She batted her pretty eyes at Caius as her hand seemed to unconsciously touch his chest to brush off nonexistent dirt as she added,

”I think many here could stand to learn a thing or two from you.”

”Some things cannot be taught,” Caius replied with a charming smile that caused the Noblewoman to blush hard as he took a sip of wine.

And then, suddenly Duncan was there.

”Is that why you won’t teach me?” He asked Caius, ”Because it can’t be taught?”

”God,” Caius let out in an annoyed groan that Duncan didn’t seem to hear.

”Hey, Lady Alden,” Duncan greeted with a suggestive smile at her hand still on Caius’s chest,

”How’s it hanging?”

Lady Alden looked sheepish as she cleared her throat.

”Excuse me,” she said and walked away.

Duncan watched her leave.

”You’re quite the ladies’ man, aren’t you?” He said to Caius, ”She’s married, you know. Or is that the appeal?”

”Duncan, stay the hell away from me,” Caius groaned.

Duncan never did.

Anytime Caius struck up a conversation with any of the Noblewomen in the Hall, Duncan was there asking stupid questions Caius was far too irritated to even acknowledge. So many times he had considered just smacking the Prince away, believing that the quick reaction from the Imperial Guards would be more than a fair exchange if he could just knock some sense into the Prince’s head.

The worst part was that he actually got the sense that Duncan wasn’t being particularly malicious. Sure, he might have ulterior motives but the attempt to befriend him seemed genuine. Only Caius didn’t want it. Hell, he preferred when Duncan was standing away from him, glaring in his direction, because at least then, he could just ignore.

Really, the only time Caius got some peace was when he returned to Alexia’s side. Duncan had not yet overcome getting shot down by her and looked nervous to approach her.

”Didn’t look like you were having much luck with your womanizing,” Alexia said then, her blue-painted lips turned up in a smirk.

”Well, you’ve clearly been enjoying seeing me harassed by a bothersome Prince,” Caius said lightly.

”At least the idiot is good for something,” Alexia said, ”Inadvertently making sure you keep it in your pants.”

”I see you’re still very much on this topic,” Caius said with a little sigh.

”What?” Alexia asked, ”You thought turning my emotions into a jumbled mess would get you off the hook?”

She rolled her black eyes at him then and walked away, accompanied by half of the Hellsingers as she mingled with the guests.

Caius just smiled and shook his head as he watched her leave. He knew it wasn’t exactly for his benefit but he did like the way her hips swayed as she walked, accentuating her perfect round ass.