The Failure Marquis Is A Genius [EN]: Chapter 111

14. Selection: The Impudent Brat

Princess Rebecca became a vampire.

With incredible reflexes, she lunged at me.

It was a movement unimaginable from a typical woman confined to her room.

“Kyaaak!!”

“Young Master! Be careful!”

Crack!

Rebecca, leaping like a frog, bit into my bleeding forearm.

I let her bite me on purpose.

According to the research in the library, if they don’t drink a certain amount of blood, they remain in a frenzy for a long time.

A sharp pain ran through the bitten area.

Simultaneously, a system window appeared before my eyes.

[A mutated virus has infiltrated your body.]

[The virus is attempting to alter your genetic makeup.]

[Skill: Self-Purification activated.]

[Immune to all status ailments.]

[Genetic alteration is nullified.]

As expected, my prediction was correct.

Even if Princess Rebecca was an Alpha Vampire, she couldn’t change me.

That’s how overpowered the Druid skill was.

“That’s enough blood for now.”

With a light flick of my arm, Princess Rebecca, who was clinging to my forearm like a rabid dog, tumbled to the ground.

However, she quickly rose, glaring at me with crazed eyes.

“Woah! That’s intense. Vice-Captain, are you alright?”

“I’m fine.”

Having tasted blood once, Princess Rebecca seemed to want more, lunging at me again.

Of course, I wouldn’t let her get me so easily this time.

[Wood Control]

[Bind]

Tree roots burst from the ground, tightly binding Princess Rebecca.

Having become a mid-to-high-level Druid, the upgraded tree roots could not only bind but also tear apart with thorns sprouting from the roots.

However, since the goal now was suppression, not hunting, I used the weaker Bind to merely restrain her.

“Kyaaaak!!”

Rebecca, struggling against the roots, began to grow long nails.

As she wildly swung her crimson nails, the sturdy tree roots were sliced apart like paper.

“Impressive.”

That was genuine admiration.

Just a moment ago, she was a powerless girl.

Yet, becoming a vampire had made her nearly as skilled as a top-tier Sword User.

Rebecca, having broken free, shrieked and charged at me, seemingly enraged.

Swish!!

Her vertically descending nails cleaved me from head to toe.

My bisected form wavered, then vanished like a mirage.

“That was just an afterimage, wasn’t it?”

I had long since used footwork to position myself behind her.

Alpha Vampires were quite strong, but they were still lacking compared to me, who had experienced so much.

Grabbing the back of her neck and lightly tossing her, Rebecca soared through the air and rolled across the ground.

“Kyaaaa…”

Rebecca, rising again, didn’t readily attack this time.

Even in her frenzied state, she recognized that I was a formidable opponent.

Then, her target changed.

Instinctively, her gaze locked onto Andre, the weakest among our group.

“Princess, why are you looking at me? I don’t taste good. Eek!!”

Rebecca pounced on Andre this time.

Sion wouldn’t stand idly by.

“I apologize, Princess.”

Sion blocked Rebecca’s protruding fangs with a dagger and punched her exposed lower abdomen.

Thwack!!

“Sion! Easy!”

“My apologies.”

Rebecca staggered, having been struck hard in the solar plexus.

Then, a massive shadow loomed behind her.

Turning around, she saw a huge man looking down at her.

At this point, I almost felt sorry for the Alpha Vampire.

“When else would I get to hit a princess? I’m glad I followed the Vice-Captain.”

Campbell, gripping his bastard sword like a baseball bat with both hands, struck Rebecca with the broad side of the blade.

Clang!

With a clear ringing sound, Rebecca’s frenzied eyes cleared.

After flying for a while, she crashed into a tree in the garden, snapping it in half before collapsing on the ground.

Frankly, it was too much.

Sion scolded Campbell.

“You’re unbelievably barbaric. Did you have to show off your strength on a princess of a nation?”

“Hehe, sorry. But you hit the maid hard too, right? Unlike me, it seemed like you put some emotion into it. Or was that just my imagination?”

“It was your imagination.”

Unlike our carefree selves, Andre was fidgeting anxiously.

“This is a disaster. How could you beat up the princess like that? What if she gets a scar on her face right before the selection ceremony?”

“You underestimate a vampire’s healing ability. This won’t even leave a scratch on her.”

Indeed, as I said.

Princess Rebecca, getting up from the ground, was unharmed, though her clothes were a mess.

Instead, her eyes were clear, unlike before.

Though the red energy still flowed, her focus was proper.

The frenzy had ended.

“Oh my! I really am a vampire. I still can’t believe it, even after awakening.”

She clenched and unclenched her fists, looking at her body with wonder.

“Are you in your right mind?”

“Yes.”

“Do you remember the frenzy?”

“It’s hazy. It’s like when you drink too much and your memory disappears, you know?”

“Didn’t you say you were seventeen? You’ve drunk that much before?”

“I tried it alone out of curiosity before.”

Anyway, that’s what she said.

She had lost her memory of the frenzy.

But she remembered the last part clearly.

“You.”

Rebecca glared at Campbell.

“You hit me with that huge sword, didn’t you? How could you do that?”

“Uh… uh?”

“Did you think you could take advantage of me because I’m a powerless princess?”

“No. It’s not that… it wasn’t just me…”

“Just you wait. I’ve remembered your name.”

Oh dear.

Campbell had earned Rebecca’s displeasure, following Sion.

Come to think of it, Coco also dislikes Campbell.

I wonder when someone who likes Campbell will appear.

I was secretly curious.

Anyway, the commotion subsided.

I checked her condition.

“So, you don’t need to drink blood anymore?”

“No. It’s become my staple food. I can eat regular meals, but I still need to drink blood to feel energized.”

“If you’re starved for blood, will you go into a frenzy like before?”

“That depends on the choice. I can stay sane, but I’ll slowly wither away instead.”

I felt like I understood.

From now on, Princess Rebecca would be a vampire who periodically needed to drink human blood.

It was a good thing, in a way.

Rebecca would have awakened someday, even if not today, and if someone else was by her side then, a major disaster would have occurred.

“But I’m still a bit hungry.”

Rebecca put her finger to her beautiful lips.

Then, she twisted her body, looking at me.

Sion, who had been watching, stepped forward sharply.

“Princess, I’ll draw my blood for you.”

“Hmm… it’s alright.”

“No. Young Master has already shed enough blood today. I’ll give you my blood.”

Sion didn’t wait for Princess Rebecca’s reply, bringing a glass and cutting his palm with a dagger.

Soon, a glass was filled with blood.

“Please, have a taste.”

“I won’t refuse.”

Rebecca downed the blood-filled wine glass in one gulp.

Clicking her tongue, she tilted her head.

“It’s sweet, but… something’s missing.”

“Maybe everyone’s blood tastes different?”

“Of course. You can think of it as a completely different food.”

Intrigued by those words, Campbell and Andre also gave their blood to Rebecca.

Her reviews were as follows.

First, Andre.

“I’m sorry to say this, Andre, but it’s too bland. It feels like drinking lukewarm stew.”

Andre collapsed in despair.

Next, it was Campbell’s turn.

Frankly, I thought she would say it tasted bad since Campbell had done that to Rebecca.

But an unexpected result came out.

“It’s better than I thought. Of course, it’s not as sweet as the maid’s blood, but… the blood is rich. The concentration is thick, and it’s full of energy.”

It seemed that the taste of blood wasn’t determined solely by appearance.

Not only appearance but also the individual’s gender, age, unique qualities, and contained energy seemed to affect the taste of blood.

“But still, no blood tastes as good as Lord Lloyd’s. I drank the highest quality blood from the start.”

“What does my blood taste like?”

“What should I say? It’s refreshing. Clean and clear. But it’s also full of energy. The first taste is cool, but the aftertaste is sweet… Ah! Just thinking about it makes me happy.”

Princess Rebecca was actually drooling.

Saliva dripped down her chin in a line.

“Slurp! What an unsightly figure.”

“It’s alright. It happens.”

It seemed that Rebecca, being an Alpha Vampire, was sensing the Druid factor in my blood.

If so, it made sense.

Sasha, who was a High Elf, also showed infinite trust in me because of the Druid scent.

“I’ll give you more blood.”

“Thank you.”

“Young Master!”

“It’s alright, Sion. Don’t worry.”

[Tenacious Vitality activated.]

[Increased health recovery.]

With the passive skill activated, the blood volume in my body had already returned to normal.

As a Druid, I was essentially an infinitely replenishable blood reservoir.

The blood supply problem was solved.

Now, it was time to confirm the ultimate purpose of awakening her as a vampire.

According to the data I found in the library, Alpha Vampires could infect others while drinking blood.

The infected vampires were called Betas and could never defy the Alpha.

When I asked Rebecca about this, she thought for a moment and replied.

“It’s hard to explain, but I feel like it’s possible.”

“It’s an action based on instinct, right?”

“That’s right.”

I wanted to do a simple experiment, just in case.

To see if Beta Vampires really were loyal to the Alpha Vampire, Rebecca.

When I told my companions about this, everyone, including Princess Rebecca, agreed.

“Where can we find a suitable test subject?”

“I don’t know. Would there be any crazy person who would willingly become a vampire? They’d have to drink blood for the rest of their lives.”

“Still, you can become stronger if you become a vampire. Life will be much more convenient than for ordinary people.”

“Anyway, the maid and I are strong without that kind of help, right? Not to mention the Vice-Captain. It seems like it’ll be hard to find.”

As everyone was deep in thought.

Someone cautiously raised their hand.

“Is it alright if I become a vampire?”

Everyone’s gaze turned to one man.

The person who raised their hand was Andre.

“What? Are you serious?”

“Yes. Seeing the princess become stronger just now, something inside me moved me.”

“Andre, this isn’t something to decide lightly.”

“I’ve thought about it enough.”

I could see a firm resolve in Andre’s eyes.

“Actually, I’m just a normal nobleman’s son with nothing special. Then, I happened to meet Lord Lloyd and came this far.”

“Andre…”

“I’m going to go all the way. I’ll become a vampire following Princess Rebecca and serve her until the end.”

It was a good thing for us.

Andre was talkative, so we were worried that he might reveal secrets after drinking alcohol.

If he became a vampire, he would be bound by fate, so he would zip his mouth shut.

I sent a silent signal to Rebecca.

Understanding, she stood before Andre.

“It’ll be over soon.”

“I’m in your care.”

Crunch!

Princess Rebecca bit Andre’s neck.

Red energy began to settle in Andre’s eyes as well.

Andre’s frenzy wasn’t as strong as Rebecca’s, but the frenzy time was longer.

Certainly, the Beta showed an inferior version of the Alpha in many ways.

Still, he had become quite strong.

A nobleman’s son who had no mana in his dantian instantly showed the skills of a lower-tier Sword User.

“Andre, how do you feel?”

I asked Andre, who had become a vampire.

Andre, who was sending a dreamy gaze, replied to me.

“I think I know what the princess means. I’m thirsty. But it’s not unbearable.”

“Can you defy Princess Rebecca’s words?”

A red light flashed momentarily in Andre’s gray eyes and disappeared.

“I think… it’ll be difficult. It feels like… the moment I reject the princess, I’m denying my very existence. It’s like being completely erased from the world.”

As recorded, it seemed that a vampire who became a subordinate could never reject the host vampire.

Princess Rebecca stepped forward.

“It’s a joke, but if I told you to take a knife right now and go back and kill a member of your family, would you do it?”

Andre’s expression frowned.

But the hesitation was short.

He slowly nodded.

“It would be very painful, but if that is truly the princess’s will, I will do so.”

Princess Rebecca froze as if she had been splashed with cold water.

Looking at Andre, she hurriedly waved her hands.

“Never do such a thing. Understand?”

“I will keep that in mind, Princess.”

I spoke to Rebecca, who was trembling.

“Do you realize how terrifying your power is? You have to use it well. You’re smart, so I’m sure you’ll figure it out.”

With Andre becoming a vampire, we had obtained almost all the necessary data.

Now it was time to act based on the information we had obtained.

“Rebecca, move according to the plan we made in advance. Got it?”

“Of course.”

She nodded and was about to turn around when she paused.

“Just a moment, Lord Lloyd.”

“Is there anything else you need?”

“No, it’s not that… there’s been something strange since earlier.”

“Tell me.”

“Why do you keep speaking informally to me?”

That’s right.

Why was I speaking informally to Princess Rebecca?

She was a princess of a nation.

I guess my internal sense of closeness was too high.

“I apologize.”

“Puha! I’m just kidding. It was more comfortable to be treated without formality. Please continue to do so in the future. It feels like I’ve made a friend.”

Indeed, royalty was royalty.

They knew how to play with people.

“Then I’ll treat you comfortably, Rebecca.”

“Good. I look forward to it, Lord Lloyd.”

“Call me Henon.”

“Okay, Henon.”

Rebecca and I shared a light hug.

Sion’s eyes seemed to spark for a moment as he watched from the side, but it was probably just my imagination.

It must have been my imagination.

* * *

The day after Princess Rebecca’s birthday party.

The royal relatives were summoned and entered the royal palace.

All of them had watched the selection ceremony live yesterday.

The reason the relatives were gathering at the royal palace was to choose the final consort candidate.

In principle, the final consort was decided with the consultation of the King, the relatives, and Princess Rebecca.

Among the relatives was Duke Arnold, the King’s younger brother and Princess Rebecca’s uncle.

Duke Arnold, riding in a moving carriage, perked up his ears at the unexpected news brought by his confidant.

“Is that true?”

“Yes. Princess Rebecca briefly visited Duke Andre’s house last dawn.”

“You didn’t see it wrong?”

“I definitely witnessed it.”

A frown formed on Duke Arnold’s brow.

After pondering, he asked in a puzzled tone.

“Andre… he’s part of the anti-aristocratic faction, but wasn’t he a useless weakling?”

“That’s right. Duke Andre is not worth worrying about, but there’s another problem.”

“Speak.”

“Currently, Lord Henon Lloyd is living with Duke Andre in his house.”

This changed the story.

Duke Arnold’s mood plummeted.

Unlike Andre, Henon Lloyd was not someone to be taken lightly.

Especially his words and skills at the last banquet were shocking.

‘It’s fortunate that he’s from a concubine’s line. Otherwise, he would have threatened the pro-imperial faction.’

He might have kept neutral.

Duke Arnold had already completed a behind-the-scenes deal with Earl Hilton, involving significant interests.

‘As long as Alfonso and Rebecca exist, there’s no chance for me to become king.’

Of course, there were methods such as poisoning or coups, but such extreme measures were too much of a burden for Arnold, who was already old and timid.

Besides, wasn’t the current royal family a toothless tiger that was meaningless to eat? [A figure of speech for something that appears powerful but is actually harmless.]

It was enough to simply hand over the entire royal family to the Empire and receive a large reward for the contribution.

To do so, this consort selection ceremony was very important.

Frankly, it was a smooth situation for Charlie Hilton to become the consort.

Except for the intrusion of one person.

“Lord Henon Lloyd. What could he have plotted with Princess Rebecca? Did you overhear their conversation?”

“The security of the mansion was tight, and Earl Hornet was nearby, so I couldn’t find out that far.”

“Tsk~! Useless thing.”

“I apologize, Duke.”

After pondering for a moment, Duke Arnold let out a hollow laugh.

“Goodness. What unnecessary worries am I having?”

Henon Lloyd had dominated the banquet hall, but that was it.

In the end, the decision was made by the King, Princess Rebecca, and the relatives, including himself, and he had already won over all the relatives.

Even if the King, who was dying of consumption [tuberculosis], and Princess Rebecca opposed it, it would be useless.

If the relatives unanimously pushed for it, the two father and daughter alone would not be enough.

‘Today, I will confirm Charlie Hilton as Princess Rebecca’s consort and withdraw from this matter.’

The carriage entered the royal palace.

As he entered the conference hall, the relatives who had been waiting in advance rose up to greet Duke Arnold.

“Duke, how are you?”

“You look radiant today.”

“The authority of the royal family is being established thanks to you, Duke.”

As Earl Hilton and Duke Arnold formed a close relationship, the relatives’ attempts to get on the Duke’s line were blatant.

“Haha, why are you all like this? Don’t dare to do that in front of His Majesty.”

“Princess Rebecca is entering!!”

Everyone stood up to welcome the princess.

The consort selection meeting began.

With one seat empty.

“His Majesty is not feeling well today and will not be attending. He has entrusted the selection results to the Princess and the relatives present here.”

Duke Arnold wondered if the situation could be this good.

The only person who could challenge him in this place was the King, but even the King was absent.

This meant that he could manipulate the entire conference hall alone and fabricate the results without anyone saying anything.

Anyway, Princess Rebecca was just a girl who wasn’t even twenty years old, so he could coax her a few times and control her.

Duke Arnold, having finished his calculations, rubbed his hands with a bitter smile.

“Well… then…”

“Uncle.”

Princess Rebecca suddenly interrupted.

“What is it? Princess.”

“Before starting the meeting, I would like to have a conversation with you alone for a moment.”

Why was this woman suddenly doing this?

Frankly, it didn’t matter even if she had ulterior motives.

The trend had already tilted as much as it could.

“Alright, Princess.”

“I’ll guide you to the royal garden. Let’s have a light cup of tea there.”

“I will follow as the Princess leads.”

They arrived at the garden.

The chirping of birds made him feel refreshed, as if foreshadowing his bright future.

Princess Rebecca, who had been walking ahead for a while, stopped abruptly.

“Princess, if you have anything you want to say, please tell me now. I’m old, so I’m tired of being here for a long time, so please finish quickly.”

The princess opened her mouth with a serious expression.

“I’ll ask you just one thing.”

“Please speak.”

“Why are you trying to hand over the royal family to the Empire?”

It was more direct than he thought.

Duke Arnold shrugged his shoulders.

“You seem to not know well because you’re still young. The world is not that simple.”

“You are my uncle and a member of the same royal family. You’ve been privileged since birth, so what more greed do you have that you’ve joined hands with Hilton?”

He heard she was confined to her room.

She wasn’t a complete idiot.

She was a woman who knew the situation.

But she was just a woman.

“Princess, it’s difficult if you do this now that the selection ceremony has already taken place.”

“No. I’m asking you now. Whether you are really a member of the royal family.”

“I am the Princess’s uncle and His Majesty’s brother. I know what the Princess is worried about. It’s the age when you’re full of energy. You’ll understand everything with time.”

Princess Rebecca showed a rather sad reaction.

Duke Arnold, thinking she had given up, offered words of comfort.

“The Princess should stop worrying about such complicated things and just be loved by her consort and continue the family line.”

Princess Rebecca lowered her head.

At the same time, a strange man’s voice was heard from behind.

“I told you. It’s useless to say anything to someone who has already closed their eyes and ears.”

Duke Arnold, startled, turned his body around.

Right nearby, a man was leaning against the wall with his arms crossed in a crooked posture.

The Duke, recognizing who the man was, felt goosebumps all over his body.

A tall man with black hair and green eyes, scattering mesmerizing eyes that seemed to suck him in.

The next leader of the anti-imperial faction.

Lord Henon Lloyd.

The person who shouldn’t be here the most was smiling deeply.

“How did you get here!!”

“Greedy old man. It’ll be over soon. It won’t hurt much, so count a hundred sheep.”

“What do you mean…”

“I’m sorry! Uncle!”

Suddenly, a strong impact struck, and Duke Arnold collapsed.

The last memory before losing consciousness was the sharp fangs that popped out of Princess Rebecca’s mouth.