My Blood Legacy: Reincarnated as a Vampire

The Eastern continent was alive with colors, sounds, and a unique energy. The streets were filled with red lanterns floating in the night sky, casting a soft glow over the surroundings. The aroma of spices, flowers, and street food blended in the warm, stuffy air, while the sound of drums and traditional music filled the atmosphere. It was the annual festival celebrating the harmony between the worlds, a time for joy, fun, and celebration. And, of course, it was the perfect setting for Dante and Strelitzia to meet.

Dante was undoubtedly having fun. He blended into the crowd easily, a mischievous smile on his face as he watched people dancing, laughing, and fully immersing themselves in the festivity. The environment seemed perfect for him: noise, colors, joy—everything he needed to avoid feeling bored. He was far from the seriousness of battle, and for some reason, that made him even more excited. But what he truly wanted was to see if he could pull Strelitzia out of her comfort zone.

She was at his side, visibly uncomfortable, her golden eyes scanning the place. The Queen of Angels, with all her imposing aura, clearly felt a bit out of place. She had never been one to lose herself in a crowd or let herself be swept away by fun. Her gaze was fixed on Dante, who appeared more animated than ever.

"Do you think I'm going to have fun here?" Strelitzia asked, her voice lower than usual but still filled with sarcasm. She crossed her arms, watching the traditional dances happening around them, while Dante's ever-present smile never faded.

"Of course you will," Dante replied with a mischievous grin. He knew exactly what she was thinking. To her, all of this was a distraction. But to Dante, it was a chance to do something different. "What's the problem? You're a Queen. Don't you think you can have a little fun? Relax a bit. You're always so stiff."

Strelitzia shot him a piercing look, but he knew she wouldn't snap right there. Instead, she remained with her arms crossed, clearly dissatisfied with the idea of mingling with the people.

"I am a Queen," she emphasized. "I'm not a mere mortal to get lost in festivals." She glanced at the dancer in the center of the street, dressed in traditional red and gold silk, her movements graceful and swift, like a wave in the wind.

Dante laughed, stepping closer to her with a playful gleam in his eyes. "Oh, but I've seen you handle much more than this. You're not going to tell me you've never thought about having a little fun, are you? Or is your Queen's heart always so heavy?"

"I am a Queen, Dante," she repeated, but this time there was a tone of something else, perhaps a hint of curiosity she couldn't deny.

"So what?" Dante shrugged, unfazed by her seriousness. "You're still a person, aren't you? Come on, let's try some of these treats. I bet you've never had anything like this before."

Strelitzia glanced at the food stalls lining the streets. It didn't seem like anything she was used to, and her expression clearly showed distrust. But Dante, not waiting for an answer, already pulled her toward one of the stands, where a smiling woman was preparing rice and fish cakes, drenched in both sweet and spicy sauce.

"These are the best in the city," Dante said, keeping his eyes on her. "You're going to tell me you've never had them?"

Strelitzia hesitated, but Dante's challenging eyes made her not want to seem like someone who would shy away from simple fun. She glanced at the cake, still suspicious, but eventually picked one up with the tips of her fingers, bringing it to her lips.

The flavor exploded in her mouth. A shock of sweet and spicy, the crunchiness of the fry combined with the softness of the rice. The expression on her face was one of surprise, but not disgust.

"Hum..." she said, a bit incredulous, "This isn't bad."

Dante smiled, knowing he had won. "See? I knew you'd like it. Now, how about a little dance?"

"Dance?" She raised an eyebrow, clearly reluctant.

Dante approached her, gently touching her arm. "I'm not going to force you, of course. But come on, just see if you can resist. I bet you've got more rhythm than you think."

Strelitzia opened her mouth, but before she could retort, he pulled her into the center of the street, where a group of people was forming a circle. Music played, drums, flutes, and a steady beat that invited anyone to join and have fun.

She tried to resist. She was a Queen. She shouldn't be here, doing these things. But Dante held her with a persistent smile, and it was clear he wasn't going to give up. The joyful atmosphere around her began to affect her, and although it was hard to admit, something inside Strelitzia was giving way. She had always been so serious, so full of responsibilities, but here, in this moment, maybe she could simply... lose herself for a moment.

Without more words, Dante began to dance, his body moving with ease and grace, adapting to the rhythm of the music as if he had been born for it. He twirled, leapt, and laughed as he moved, the mischievous gleam in his eyes. He wasn't just good at fighting, but also at making others let loose.

Strelitzia watched him, still hesitant. But slowly, she found herself immersed in the rhythm of the music. Maybe it was the energy of the place, or more likely, it was the way Dante seemed to enjoy himself without caring about anything around him. He was there, in that moment, just enjoying life.

With a sigh, she gave herself over to the flow of the dance, her body moving more lightly than she had imagined possible. Her feet followed the beat, a bit hesitant at first, but soon, she found her confidence. She looked at Dante, who was beside her, smiling and making exaggerated gestures, as though he were just playing.

"See? I knew you had this in you," Dante said, laughing as he did a bolder step. "You're getting good at this, Queen."

She shot him a fiery look, but the fun in her eyes was undeniable. "You pulled me out of my comfort zone. Don't think I'm enjoying this, Dante."

"I know," he replied with a wink, "but we're already here. Let's enjoy it. Would you mind relaxing a little? I never thought I'd see an Angel Queen dancing in the middle of a festival."

"You're mistaken if you think this is fun," she replied, but now her voice was softer, more playful. She really was starting to have fun, even if she refused to admit it.

They danced for a while, moving from step to step, blending in with the others participating in the festivity. The music enveloped them, and Dante's laughter seemed to be the fuel that kept the fire of fun burning. Slowly, Strelitzia started to lose some of the rigidity that always accompanied her, allowing herself to flow with the energy of the environment.

As the dance began to slow down, Dante stopped next to her, still smiling irreverently. He took a step back, observing her more closely.

"I knew you had this in you," he said again, a satisfied smile on his face. "I guess I was right. You really know how to have fun, even if you won't admit it."

Strelitzia looked at him sideways, still out of breath from the dance, but now with a genuine smile on her lips. She couldn't help it. Dante had done something few could: he had pulled her out of her own shell, away from her infinite responsibilities. For a brief moment, she was just Strelitzia, a person, not a Queen. And that, as difficult as it was for her to admit, felt... good.

"I..." she started, but didn't finish. She smiled softly, a smile she had never shown before, genuine and light. "You're not as unbearable as I thought."

Dante laughed, looking at her with a gleam of satisfaction. "Ah, you're starting to like me, aren't you?"

"Don't you dare think this means anything," she said, but her tone was softer than before.

"Of course, of course," Dante replied with a laugh. "I just knew you had more in you than that Queen facade. And I'd love to see more of that."

As the festival continued around them, the lanterns danced in the night breeze, and the sound of music spread through the air. Strelitzia and Dante were amidst the fun, far from the seriousness that always followed them. For her, that moment was new, something she hadn't expected, but for Dante, it was exactly what he had sought: to make the Angel Queen loosen up, even if just for a moment.

[Hell, 9th Floor]

Hell, once a place of pain, suffering, and chaos, now stood as a vibrant and complex civilization. Morgana and Alice stood on a high iron platform, looking out over what was once a burned and ruined land, now transformed into an infernal metropolis. In the distance, the flames still lit the sky, but they were no longer the wild, uncontrollable flames of the past. Instead, a golden-red glow tinged the horizon, reflecting a strange mix of destruction and progress.

The city that stretched before them seemed almost impossible. Buildings made of black stone, with golden and red details, rose from the ground as though they were part of Hell itself. Some buildings were as tall as mountains, their twisted and serpentine shapes, but they followed an order that was something new to that realm.

Vast squares were filled with demons—some majestic in appearance, with imposing horns and black wings, others with humbler forms, but all moving with purpose.

They worked tirelessly, carrying materials to build more and more structures, while others gathered in small groups, talking and even laughing.

In certain corners of the city, one could hear the sound of music coming from bars and squares, and even demons dressed more casually strolling the streets. Hell, which had once been a place of eternal damnation, now resembled a growing city, with its own culture blossoming in a way that defied all expectations.

Morgana, with her penetrating gaze, could hardly believe what she was seeing. She watched the scenes below with a mixture of incredulity and skepticism.

"I... never imagined I would see this," she murmured, her voice filled with surprise and doubt. "Hell... a continent? Demons working, living, having fun?"

Alice, by her side, crossed her arms, her expression as serene as ever. She looked at the city with an enigmatic smile, more focused on what it meant than the surprise of seeing it before her.

"Yes," Alice said softly. "It's strange, isn't it? But perhaps it was inevitable. All a being needs is a chance to start over, even Hell. The suffering was necessary to shape the foundation of all this, but now... they are rebuilding."

Morgana looked at Alice, doubt evident in her gaze. "Rebuilding? This isn't rebuilding, Mother. They're creating an empire. They're creating... a new life here, as if Hell had never been what it was. As if the suffering and pain were just... a distant story."

"All because of Dante..." Alice murmured with a smile.