Translator: Nox
Chapter: 1
I finally stood at this place.
The Eternal Moon Ball.
The stage where I would be acknowledged as the Empire’s one and only princess.
“Your Highness, are you nervous?”
At my partner’s whisper, I shook my head firmly.
“No, I’m not. I’ve waited so long for this day.”
That’s right. I’ve run all the way here for this moment. Failure is not an option!
Seeing me open my eyes wide, the attendant mistakenly thought I was ready and shouted loudly.
“Her Highness, Princess Ella Luminous, is entering!”
Before I could even take a deep breath, the doors burst open.
Crystal chandeliers scattered dazzling light, and people dressed in noble finery filled the hall.
With their pale faces and blood-red eyes, these were the vampires who ruled the Empire.
From their faces looking up at me atop the stairs, I could feel pure shock and rage.
“She’s really a dhampir.”
“A half-blood as a princess…?”
Dhampir.
The word, meaning a half-human, half-vampire, echoed throughout the hall.
Ignoring the murmurs, I descended the stairs defiantly.
If you have complaints, take it up with Dad!
Or Mom!
It’s not like I chose to be a half-blood, so save your nonsense!
When I stomped down on the final step, the room fell silent.
My partner, half-dragged down the stairs, burst out laughing.
‘Seriously! What’s so funny right now?’
While I glared at him, the nobles who had been frozen began hastily stepping aside.
Like the Red Sea parting, the way cleared, and a man standing in the center was revealed.
Black hair flowing to the floor, ruby-red eyes like embedded jewels, and skin pale enough to appear translucent.
Even his magnificent cloak and gem-studded ceremonial robes couldn’t hide his ephemeral, desolate aura.
But he was more noble than anyone else here.
The Emperor of the Empire.
The Emperor, gazing at me with red eyes, spoke.
“What are you doing? The princess stands before you.”
Those who had been dazed froze. The sharp ones quickly dropped to their knees.
Like dominoes, the rest followed suit.
Some gritted their teeth, some hid their anger, some forced bitter smiles.
Their expressions varied, but they all spoke in unison.
“We pay our respects to Her Highness, the Princess!”
Seeing my flustered reaction, the Emperor frowned.
“No need to hesitate. This moment is for you alone.”
His low voice pressed down on the kneeling crowd. As they flinched, I opened my mouth.
“Everyone, please rise.”
At my words, they awkwardly got to their feet. Some staggered, perhaps from the emotional blow.
Then, the Emperor reached out to me. It was time for the opening dance of the ball.
My partner, catching my eyes, smiled and stepped back.
Left alone, I took a deep breath and stepped forward.
The moment I took the Emperor’s hand, memories of everything I’d been through flashed before my eyes.
All the way back to the day I reincarnated.
* * *
That night, on my way home, I received a strange text.
[Web Message]
Congratulations!✧*.◝(˘ᗜ˘)◜.*✧
You’ve reincarnated into the last book you read.
Enjoy your new world and adventure to the fullest!
“What the heck? Spam?”
The moment I deleted the unpleasant message, a sharp screech rang out.
A car had veered onto the sidewalk and was speeding toward me.
“Huh?”
I thought I should dodge, but I didn’t have time. With a huge impact, my body was thrown into the air.
That was my final memory of my previous life.
When I opened my eyes again, I had already reincarnated.
"The King of Blood and Thorns."
A fantasy novel where a boy suffering in the Empire of Evil takes revenge on the vampires who killed his mother.
Nicknamed “BloodThorn King,” I really liked this novel. It was gratuitously brutal and full of plot holes, but incredibly entertaining.
‘But that doesn’t mean I ever wanted to be born into it!’
[You’ve reincarnated into the last book you read.]
Yes. I’d reincarnated into a chaotic novel where vampires ran rampant and half the cast died.
Luckily, I was born in a tiny country on the far western edge of the Empire.
In other words, I was cosmic dust—too irrelevant to appear in the main story.
‘Even better!’
Considering how badly the characters were treated in the novel, this was a relief.
If I’d been born a vampire, I would’ve lived in fear of death every day.
Knock knock knock!
I jumped at the sound of pounding on the wall. Dust rained from the attic ceiling.
“Ella! You lazy girl, worse than a pig! Are you still sleeping? If you don’t get up now, I’ll break your legs!”
“I’m coming down!”
I quickly got up from the pile of straw.
Carefully climbing down the ladder to avoid hitting the low ceiling, I saw my furious aunt.
Before I could say a word, her hand flew toward me.
“Ow!”
With a loud smack, I clutched my cheek and teared up.
It didn’t hurt at all, but it wouldn’t help to let her know that.
“Get down and start cleaning! If you laze around again, you’ll go hungry until tomorrow!”
“…Yes.”
With my head lowered, I replied in a crawling voice.
My aunt stormed off down the stairs.
Only once she disappeared did I raise my head.
“Whew, thank goodness she didn’t notice.”
My reincarnated name was Ella. An eight-year-old orphan with no home, no money, and a miserable life.
But I did have one special thing.
[Web Message]
Angry Cleaning Time ₍₍ ᕕ( ᐛ )ᕗ ⁾⁾
Clean harder the angrier you are!
-Reward: EXP 20
Maybe it was because I died holding my phone. One day, a small window like a phone screen appeared before me.
I named it “Spam.”
Spam was my only conversation partner and my closest friend.
‘Without Spam, things would’ve been way harder.’
I reached out and swiped Spam to the side. My information window popped up.
[Name: Ella (Dhampir)]
Title: Master of Inn Cleaning
Stamina: A+
Intelligence: F
Agility: E
Willpower: B
Luck: C-
Level: 29
Points: 0
Yes, it was just like a game system.
By washing dishes and cleaning, I earned bits of experience from Spam, eventually leveling up.
Each level gave 1 point to allocate to stamina, intelligence, agility, willpower, or luck.
Every time I leveled up, I chose stamina.
Work was hard and food was scarce—at least stamina helped me survive.
Now that my stamina was A+, even when my aunt hit me with all her strength, it only stung a little.
I had to act like it hurt just to fool her.
‘If I’d known, I would’ve raised intelligence instead…’
I regretted my dirt-low intelligence.
Other stats grew a little on their own, but intelligence remained stuck.
‘Next time, I’ll raise intelligence first.’
Firmly resolved, I looked up at the top of the status window.
[Name: Ella (Dhampir)]
“Spam, when are you going to tell me what being a dhampir really means?”
- ……
Spam never answered this question.
It was a little annoying, especially since it was always so chatty about everything else.
I pouted, then jumped again at the sound of pounding footsteps on the stairs.
My aunt, looking flustered, rushed up and grabbed my arm.
“Hurry! Your father sent someone to fetch you!”
What? I’m an orphan—now I have a father?!