"Your Highness!"
Fraulein’s words threw the entire great hall into a stir.
"Please think it over, Your Highness!"
"Yes—if you leave, the castle..."
Fraulein turned, faced her subordinates, and spoke softly: "The castle wouldn’t have lasted much longer anyway. We can’t hole up here forever.
I’ve known that for a long time. You should, too."
The vampires in the palace looked at one another, at a loss for words.
"You depend on me, and you’re willing to give everything to fight for me. I’ve always been grateful for that. But the truth is, there’s nothing I can do—nothing I can protect.
One day, the Supreme King’s army will send a real force, or the Supreme King himself will come and end these days of living in fear. It’s only a matter of time.
From the very beginning, we’ve only ever had one way out."
A brief hush fell over the vampires.
"So that’s why you’ve decided to face the Supreme King?" asked the Vampire’s Curse.
Fraulein nodded.
"On my own, I have no chance of winning. And I don’t want to... and I can’t bring you along to die a meaningless death with me."
She paused, turning to glance at Kira and Jaden.
"But these two—travelers from another world, extraordinary duelists... I can feel something different about them.
It might be the faint hope we need to defeat the Supreme King. I don’t know. But I’m willing to bet everything on it—and offer up all of myself."
Jaden, confident as ever, grinned: "Don’t worry. This ’Supreme King’ guy? We’ll knock him flat without breaking a sweat. We promise—he’ll be picking his teeth up off the floor."
Fraulein bowed politely to him in thanks, though her delicate face remained unreadable. The red moonlight, filtering through the lattice, lit her profile; that pale face looked almost translucent.
The bloodkin looked at Kira and Jaden, then back at their young lady. The turn of events was too sudden: Her Highness had decided, without warning, to run off with two men of unknown background and origin. Naturally, everyone felt it was unwise, but no one could think how to dissuade her.
Only the Vampire’s Curse—who had experienced Kira’s power firsthand—seemed, after an inner struggle, to step forward slowly.
"I understand. If that is your decision—if this is the only way you see... then do what you believe is right, Your Highness.
But remember this, at all times: No matter where you are or what choices you make, we are always with you."
"Thank you," Fraulein nodded. "From now on, the castle is in your care. And if I don’t come back..."
"That won’t happen."
The Vampire’s Curse shook his head and cast a meaningful look at Kira.
"I don’t know why... but I think I believe in this warrior from another world."
Jaden planted his fists on his hips, clapped a hand on Kira’s shoulder, and laughed: "Right? I told you—You can always count on Kira. He’s the invincible Duel King!"
Kira shot him a look and slid two steps sideways to slip out from under his hand.
Invincible is a debuff—he wanted no part of that.
"Rest assured. I’ll hold this castle until you return. And although I cannot accompany you..."
The Vampire’s Curse stepped forward and briefly closed his eyes. Blood-mist gathered in his hand—as if splitting from his body—Solidified into the form of a card.
He offered the card up, went down on one knee, and placed it in Fraulein’s hands.
"Then at least allow me... to become your strength."
"Okay."
She nodded and took the card.
Then she turned, and her own figure briefly closed its eyes as well. Her body became translucent amid a surge of black haze, faded into mist, and finally condensed into a card that dropped into Kira’s hand.
Kira caught the two new cards that had appeared.
Vampire’s Curse—original-text-only effect; an undying ability to revive and power up infinitely.
Vampire Fraulein—a hand-trap and blood-for-attack capability. More importantly, it’s a card housing a real spirit.



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