Chapter 11

A middle-aged man with blonde hair got up from a chair and walked leisurely around Elen and Keith while holding a wine glass. Unknowingly, Elen grabbed Keith's arm to keep his feelings safe.

"We've been waiting for you, Leo! Is she the girl you told me about?" asked the man while looking at Elen from head to toe.

"Yes, it's Sera! As I said, she's under Charles' influence!" Keith said. Elen was shocked, she didn't expect that Keith would tell them about what happened to her.

"Is that so? No wonder I've felt a very dark aura approaching. I almost thought of attacking you guys if I didn't see you!" The man spoke while continuing to stare at Elen. Elen felt uncomfortable, she didn't know what this man was really thinking.

"We don't have time anymore, Claude! We have to clear the curse before all my family members die!" Keith said. Elen was surprised to hear Keith's words, she didn't understand what Keith was really saying.

"Keith, who's going to die?" asked Ellen. He felt very panicked even though Keith hadn't finished his sentence.

"So he doesn't know yet?" asked the man after realizing that it seemed that Elen knew nothing at all.

"I couldn't tell him! I didn't think Charles would move that fast. But he seems to have known that I was coming to destroy his plans!"

"You should already know what he's like since you've known him for three thousand years. Is it because you knew he couldn't beat you that you acted rashly?"

"I miscalculated, I didn't expect him to target Elen because all I know is his goal. I'm really sorry!"

"W-wait! Keith, what exactly happened? Who has lived for 3000 years? I don't understand!" Elena panicked. He felt stupid for not knowing the big problem he was facing.

Keith just remained silent, he seemed resigned to what was about to happen. But this man standing before them was trying to think of a way out.

Meanwhile, none of the people in this room dared to interfere even though they already knew that sooner or later they would get involved in a circle of trouble.

"You're Elen, right? Introducing, my name is Claude Van Der Berg, the leader of this group and Keith is my successor if I die." The man said as he stretched out his hand to shake Elen's hand.

"W-group? What does that mean?"

"Looks like Keith hasn't said anything to you at all, has he? Alright, come here! I'll show you something!" Claude stepped towards a painting on the wall hanging right in the main room.

Elen was stunned to see the painting, an unusual painting and tend to be scary. A painting of a grinning wolf, showing its sharp teeth.

"What do you think when you see this painting?" Claude asked. Elen was stunned, if suddenly asked like that, she didn't know what to answer. It was clear that he shuddered at the sight of a wolf-like beast and the only things he could think about were predators and fear.

"Afraid!" The answer is short. Claude smiled, he didn't expect Elen to answer honestly.

"What if at this time in front of you, a large wolf appeared that showed its sharp fangs to you? What would you do?"

"I'll run!"

"Yeah, that makes sense! Have you ever heard of stories about werewolves, Elen?"

"I've read about it in a novel as well as a movie. But those werewolves, they're just fairy tales, not real!"

"How are you sure?"

"I don't know, it's just that people say that!"

"Okay, how about I tell you a story about werewolves?"

"Is that true?"

"You want to hear it?" Claude asked. Elen shot a glance at Keith who was standing one step behind her. Keith just kept quiet and let this man speak. Elen still didn't understand what Keith really wanted to show her.

"S-well, I want to hear it!" he said. It seemed he had no choice but to let this man tell the story.

"Five hundred years ago, there lived a man from among the slaves who devoted his whole life to a king who was cold and cruel. One day that man managed to save the life of the king who almost died at the hands of an assassin. Thanks to his success, the king made the man a a soldier. After becoming a soldier, everyone began to respect him. He was known to be very strong and intelligent, his good looks made the empress fall in love with him. The empress tried to seduce him, but because of his loyalty to the king, the man resisted the empress' temptation. Heartbroken because his love was rejected, the empress began to plan something where he asked for the help of a magician. The empress said that the man wanted to rape her and had also planned to kill the king. At first, the king did not believe his empress' words until the empress asked the witch to show false evidence so that the king believes that the man had betrayed her. The king sentenced the soldier to death by burning him in the middle of the city, realizing that his death was near, the soldier decided to sell his soul to the devil so that after his death, he could be resurrected with great power, where he could take revenge on the king, empress and everyone involved in her death. After death, the man rose again from the remains of the ashes of his body that had been burned. He was reborn as a werewolf with great power to avenge him!"

"Is the story true?" asked Ellen. He doubted if such a tragic story really happened.

"Do you believe that werewolves exist, Elen?"

"I-I don't know, I've never met any of them!"

"A-are you sure?"

"I-I just thought so!"

"What about vampires, Elen? Do you believe they exist?" Claude kept asking and it seemed that the crux of all the questions he asked had to do with the problem he was facing.

Elen was silent, she who had started to believe in the existence of vampires because of Charlie, little by little began to believe that werewolves really existed. Claude suddenly laughed, he felt that Elen was a very attractive girl.

"Keith, looks like you've managed to hide your true identity for so many years, since your cute cousin is completely unaware of it!"

"W-what do you mean?"

"Elen, me, Keith and everyone here are werewolves!"


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