𝒲𝒾𝓃𝓉ℯ𝓇 𝒲ℴ𝓃𝒹ℯ𝓇𝓁𝒶𝓃𝒹： 𝒯𝒽𝒶𝓌 ℴ𝒻 𝓉𝒽ℯ ℱ𝓇ℴ𝓏ℯ𝓃 ℋℯ𝒶𝓇𝓉

𝐿𝑒𝑡 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝐵𝑒𝑙𝑙 𝑜𝑓 𝑆𝑜𝑙𝑎𝑐𝑒 𝑅𝑖𝑛𝑔： 𝐶ℎ𝑎𝑝𝑡𝑒𝑟 17

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"This burning desire...Is turning me to sin!"

**
Fleur City - Waterway (Night)

"Okay, but like...I kinda think...he was targeting Malleus and Y/n from the start." Idia muttered, hugging his tablet closer.

"Huh? Why us again?" Y/n questioned, tilting her head slightly, her voice quiet but laced with unease.

Malleus frowned deeply, his glowing eyes narrowing at Idia's words. "...Explain yourself."

Isfrid's head snapped toward Idia, his eye twitching as his voice dropped into a dangerous purr. "Go on. I'm curious why you think my sister was his prey from the start."

Noé suddenly gasped, realization sparking in his crimson eyes.

Vanitas pinched the bridge of his nose. "Oh no. I can practically hear the idiocy forming. Go on, Noé—what ridiculous theory have you cooked up now?"

"I think..." Noé leaned forward with all the enthusiasm of a child sharing a discovery. "Rollo wants Y/n's blood all to himself!"

The group collectively froze, staring at him in a mix of shock, confusion, and horror.

"...What do you mean by that?" Riddle demanded, his voice cracking in disbelief.

"It has to be it!" Noé continued, oblivious to the dangerous shift in the atmosphere. "Y/n is so sweet that whenever she gets hurt, I have to fight myself not to taste her again!" His words were accompanied by an almost dreamy look, stars glittering in his eyes as he absently wiped at his mouth.

There was a sharp, heavy pause before Malleus's voice sliced through it, low and vibrating with restrained fury. "You've drunk her blood."

"Indeed!" Noé beamed, unaware of the green lightning beginning to arc faintly across Malleus's fingertips. "It was the most exquisite thing I've ever tasted—better than Vanitas, even."

Idia shrank back, muttering nervously, "Oh good. He's dead. Like actually dead. How does this guy not notice the death flags towering over him?"

Azul stood frozen, his mouth slightly agape as his mind rapidly processed Noé's casual confession.

Vanitas didn't give anyone time to respond—he marched over and slammed his forehead into Noé's with a vicious headbutt. "You absolute imbecile!"

"OW!" Noé staggered back, clutching his head. "What was that for?!"

"Idiotic bloodsucker!" Vanitas snapped, his voice dripping with venom. "Have you completely forgotten that humans don't drink blood?!"

Noé blinked, the thought only now dawning on him. "...Oh."

"Oh?!" the rest of the group echoed, their disbelief reaching new heights.

Y/n's voice was soft, uneasy, almost childlike. "So... Rollo is a cannibal?"

"Or suffering from some deranged form of vampirism," Isfrid growled, his wings flaring as his protective fury spiked. "Either way, I'll tear him apart before he lays a finger on you."