Chapter 197: Chapter 197 - A New Legacy
"My Lord, may I come in?"
It was Edrik’s voice.
"Yes, come in."
Atlas sat up as the door opened, revealing Edrik’s figure. The man stepped in, bowing slightly before closing the door behind him. Then, he walked over to the chair in the middle of the room, seating himself across from Atlas.
Atlas raised both eyebrows, his expression questioning.
Edrik, often dubbed "Flat Face" by Mira, remained as expressionless as ever as he spoke in his usual monotone.
"Do you need more rest? I have something important to say."
Atlas chuckled, shaking his head. "It’s okay, Edrik. Just say it."
Edrik gave a slight bow before continuing. "But I believe what I’m about to tell you will actually help you recover... and make you even more motivated."
"Oh, really?" Atlas was intrigued now, sitting up straighter.
Edrik hesitated, eyes flickering with uncertainty. A rare sight from someone usually so composed.
"Actually, I can’t say this for certain... It’s just a theory."
Atlas let out a low chuckle. "Edrik, I know you always know more than you admit. But fine, let’s hear it."
Edrik exhaled slowly, then said, "I think you should check on Morganna."
Atlas tilted his head. "And?"
"You might’ve missed something... with everything you’ve been handling lately."
That made Atlas pause. "Morganna? Is she low on blood after that long battle?"
It would’ve made sense. As far as he could remember, the Vampire Queen always demanded her share of blood from him after every war. Yet, when they’d returned to the island, she hadn’t said a word about it, she hadn’t even looked fatigued.
Had he overlooked something?
"If she needed blood, she’d have come straight to me. Are you sure something’s wrong? I’m pretty certain she fed well enough during yesterday’s battle. Why don’t you just say it outright instead of making me guess?"
"That..." Edrik faltered, another odd moment of hesitation. "That’s why I think you should go to her directly. I’m not entirely sure what’s happening myself."
"You’re joking, Edrik," Atlas muttered, eyebrows knitting as his mind raced. Still, he pushed off the bed with a quiet sigh. "Alright then. I’ll go check on her."
"Thank you, My Lord," Edrik said, dipping into a slight bow.
Just as Atlas was about to turn away, Edrik added quietly, "I... suggest you check more closely."
Atlas frowned. "What do you mean?"
Edrik’s expression stayed unreadable. His voice, however, held just enough weight to stir unease. "Her belly."
Atlas squinted, the corners of his mouth twitching in disbelief. "Why? Did she overfeed and give herself a stomachache?"
Edrik, still wearing his infamous flat expression, offered no further clarification.
Atlas didn’t press further. Instead, he turned and left the room, stepping into the open air where the sounds of laughter and chatter filled the island once more.
His subordinates had regained their spirits. Some were relaxing, others were already bathing in the large pool on one side of the island. The weight of war seemed to have finally lifted off their shoulders.
Atlas quickly made his way toward Morganna’s hut, which conveniently stood right next to his own. Standing before the wooden door, he knocked gently.
This was actually his first time visiting Morganna’s place directly.
Silence. No answer.
Would she be furious if he entered uninvited?
With a small sigh, he pushed the door open slowly. Still, there was no response. So, he stepped inside, his eyes immediately landing on Morganna, who sat cross-legged in the center of the room, a glass of deep crimson liquid in her hand.
She turned toward him with her usual sharp, cold gaze.
"Who said you could enter my place without permission?" she said icily.
Atlas closed the door behind him and strode forward with a calm demeanor.
Permission? Right. As if the Vampire Queen herself hadn’t done the exact same thing, barging into his room, even when he was asleep.
Atlas stood close, noticing how the Vampire Queen deliberately avoided making direct eye contact with him.
Even now... even after everything, he still couldn’t claim to truly understand her.
Just how complex was the mind of a vampire who had lived for thousands of years?
Well, considering her immortal existence, his own age must have seemed utterly insignificant in comparison.
Still, nothing about her demeanor seemed off. Then what was Edrik trying to hint at when he told him to check on her?
His gaze instinctively shifted downward, toward her stomach.
"Who said you could inspect me like that?" Morganna’s voice cut through the silence.
Ignoring the hostility, Atlas pulled out a chair and sat across from her.
He studied her face. Pale, sharp, and unreadable as always. Yet her crimson-red lips stood in stark contrast to her ivory skin, like blood against snow.
Morganna... something was different.
Her stomach, normally toned and flat—wasn’t as it usually was.
Had he missed this detail before?
Atlas fell silent, thoughts racing through his mind, though a part of him seemed to reject what was forming in his head.
Was this even possible?
His thoughts collided with countless possibilities. Yet, there was one particular answer that he needed to confirm immediately.
Hell...
They had done it. Countless times.
And under normal circumstances, doing that would lead to.... Atlas felt his throat tighten, nearly choking on his own breath as the realization slammed into him.
But her?
She’s a vampire.
Could that even happen?
"Morganna. Tell me... Is that in your stomach,"
Before Atlas could even finish his words, Morganna’s sharp gaze pierced through him.
"Shut up."
Her voice was cold, almost cutting.
She moved as if to stand from her chair, but Atlas instinctively grabbed her right wrist before she could.
Morganna’s crimson eyes burned into him, her fingers clenching into a tight fist.
"Don’t test my patience," she warned.
Still, Atlas didn’t let go. As Morganna rose to her feet, he followed, still gripping her wrist.
"Tell me, are you pregnant?!"
For a moment, she didn’t answer. But her pupils glowed a deeper red, the same deadly shade they took on when she was ready to kill.
Like hell... Had he been too direct?
But Atlas couldn’t shake off the thought now that it had settled in his mind.
Could it be?
Right? That was possible, wasn’t it?
But he didn’t know!
Why the hell hadn’t he asked Edrik first? Could vampires even conceive from being with a human?
"Please, tell me. Is that my child?" he pressed again, his grip tightening.
Morganna’s expression remained unreadable, but her voice cut through the air like a blade.
"Do you think I have become weak just because I let you do as you pleased?"
The way she reacted. So sharply, so aggressively, only confirmed it for Atlas.
If it weren’t true, she wouldn’t have responded like this.
She wouldn’t be this defensive.
And that was all the confirmation he needed.
Without another thought, Atlas pulled Morganna toward him.
Surprisingly... She didn’t resist.
His left arm wrapped around her waist, drawing her close, pressing her against him.
There was no struggle, and resistance.
For a few moments, neither of them moved.
Atlas could feel it. Her warmth, something utterly unnatural for a vampire. A warmth that shouldn’t exist.
Yet, here it was.
The silence stretched between them, heavy and uncertain. When Morganna still didn’t respond, Atlas exhaled softly, his voice turning calmer, quieter.
"Tell me. Please... is it true? Are you carrying my child?"