Champion Of Lust: Gods Conquer's Harem Paradise!

The realization struck like lightning.

A noble from the Human Empire hesitated. "W-Well, they must have… at some point…"

"But no one can prove it."

Rowlen gritted his teeth. "This is dangerous speculation—"

"No, Duke." Cavendish's smirk returned, sharper this time. "It's the truth." The Human Empire's entire strategy was built on a single, unconfirmed claim.

That Pyris and Lekiza were involved.

But if Pyris had never actually met her, then everything—their leverage, their political standing, their so-called connection to House Obsidian—meant absolutely nothing.

And worse?

If Pyris learned of this manipulation, the Human Empire might lose more than just a potential alliance. They might make themselves his enemy. For the first time, Duke Rowlen looked genuinely uneasy.

And the other nobles?

They smirked.

Countess Veyna set her glass down with a slow, deliberate motion, her crimson eyes gleaming with sharp amusement. Lord Ashenford chuckled, swirling his wine lazily. "That's where you're wrong, Countess."

The table turned to him.

Veyna arched an eyebrow. "Oh?"

Ashenford's smirk deepened. "Pyris has a connection to the Human Empire. Just not with Lekiza."

Silence.

"Alexa," Rowlen muttered.

"Exactly." Ashenford's eyes gleamed. "Pyris might—could ignored Lekiza, but his bond with Alexa is undeniable. The pther daughter of the Human Emperor—his cast-aside, unwanted child—is one of his women."

The tension in the room thickened.

Veyna exhaled sharply. "That complicates things. But come on we've already talked about this. We all know how this is going to end. Why bring back old news? What do you think about Alexa Cavendish?"

The vampire noble, Lord Cavendish, tapped a finger against the table. "More than you think. The Human Empire is desperately clinging to Lekiza's rumored connection with Pyris, but the reality? Alexa hates her own empire. She's never hidden it. In fact, if Pyris ever takes a stand, she'll be the first to oppose her father."

"And that," another Dragon Empire noble interjected, "guarantees conflict."

Rowlen frowned. "Between who?"

"The Human Empire and House Obsidian," the noble said darkly. "The Emperor won't accept Pyris having control over his daughter. And Pyris? He won't tolerate Alexa being treated as disposable. Given his temper… how do you think that ends?"

The table fell silent.

They already knew the answer.

If the Human Empire pushed too far, they wouldn't just lose House Obsidian's support.

They'd make them an enemy.

While the human nobles gritted their teeth, unwilling to admit how dangerously accurate the discussion had become, the vampire nobles were enjoying themselves far too much.

They sipped their wine with amused smirks, chuckling at the predicament unfolding before them. One of them, a rather arrogant but well-informed count, leaned forward with a knowing glint in his crimson eyes.

"Vampires are already in good terms with Obsidians," he said smugly, "Why are you all acting so surprised?" he mused. "Pyrris and Dracula are practically family. Haven't you heard? Apparently, Pyrris calls Dracula his uncle."

A few gasps followed, but most of the vampire nobles simply nodded in agreement, as if it were common knowledge.

"So what?" one of the human nobles scoffed. "It's just a title—"

"Is it?" Another vampire noble cut in, swirling his glass. "Because from what I hear, they have a deal. Something big." He leaned back, clearly enjoying the attention. "In fact, there have been multiple sightings of vampire envoys arriving at the Obsidian Tech Towers back a few days ago before the launch. Don't tell me you dragons didn't know. Ah~ how uninformed can you get!"

That bit of information sent ripples through the gathered nobles.

A deal? A real, solid alliance?

If the vampire royal family and House Obsidian were truly working together, then that meant Obsidian Tech wasn't just a rising power—it was a giant that now had the backing of an ancient vampire dynasty.

While the vampire nobles basked in their smugness, the human and dragon nobles were locked in their own heated arguments.

"This is a disaster," one dragon noble muttered under his breath.

"Disaster?" A vampire noble laughed, flashing his fangs. "I'd call it an opportunity. The Dragon Empire has played the role of a fool, making enemies of the Obsidian family right when their influence is exploding across the world. Meanwhile, the rest of us?" He smirked, glancing at his fellow vampires. "We'll just sit back and carve out the biggest share for ourselves."

Discover hidden content at My Virtual Library Empire

The human nobles scowled, clearly hating the truth in his words.

But the dragon nobles?

They were silent.

Because, as much as they despised the smug arrogance of the vampires, they couldn't deny it.

The Dragon Empire had royally screwed up.

At a time when Obsidian Tech was revolutionizing the world, they had chosen to alienate it instead of securing their place at its side. Now, the vampires—and likely other opportunistic factions—were about to swoop in and take everything the Dragon Empire had forfeited out of sheer arrogance.

And there was nothing they could do to stop it.

Countess Veyna sat in her place, her fingers delicately wrapped around the stem of a crystal glass filled with fine bloodwine. The grand eating hall buzzed with political chatter, but she remained unbothered, her deep crimson eyes watching the nobles bicker with an amused smirk.

The tension in the room was almost suffocating. Discussions about Pyrris's connections had already shaken the nobles, and Veyna knew exactly how to make it worse.

She tilted her head, swirling the liquid in her glass before speaking, her voice smooth yet sharp as a blade.

"You're all so focused on his ties with the vampires, but have you considered the other noble families in his pocket?" She let the words hang in the air, baiting their curiosity. Some leaned in, others scoffed, but all were listening.

She placed her glass down with a soft clink before delivering the next blow.

"Pyrris isn't just on good terms with House Dracula," she mused, tapping her nails against the polished table. "He also has a close relationship with the Seranova family."

The effect was immediate.

A wave of murmurs spread across the hall. Some gasped, others stiffened in their seats, their expressions shifting between disbelief and intrigue.

The Seranova family.

The most powerful family in existence amongst the Fallens and in the Demon Empire. Even the Demons Of Beginning respected this family so much. As rumoured—a house of priests, divine scholars, and untouchable elites who rarely involved themselves with any worldly powers.

And Pyris had ties with them?

Veyna allowed the silence to stretch, savoring their stunned reactions before she leaned back with a knowing smile.@@novelbin@@

"If this is true—" one noble finally spoke, his voice laced with skepticism but also unease, "—then Dracula isn't just gaining power through Pyris and House Obsidian. They're tapping into the wealth and influence of the entire Seranovas too as long as he keeps up the good relationship with House Obsidian?!"

The weight of that realization settled over them.

House Seranova didn't just hold divine-like status; they owned the largest business empire in Argos. Their reach extended far beyond politics—into commerce, realm-wise influence that not even the Vampire or Human Empires or other empires could ignore or mess with.

To align with them meant access to resources beyond imagination.

A Dragon Empire noble clenched his jaw before speaking up. "I—I've heard rumors," he admitted, hesitating. "There have been sightings of Madam Seranova herself attending the launch."

More gasps followed.

The Seranova matriarch was a ghost. A shadow. A woman so powerful yet so elusive that she had never been seen at public gatherings, much less something as a corporate launch.

And yet—she was here?

Veyna raised her glass once more, her smirk deepening. "Oh, it's not just a rumor."

Silence.

She sipped her wine, savoring the way the entire room had fallen into stunned, uneasy quiet.

Because at this point, it was no longer a question of whether House Obsidian was powerful. It was a question of whether anyone could still afford to stand against them.