Translator: Nox
Chapter: 19
Before I knew it, I was back in the familiar drawing room.
From the embrace of Xion, a cool scent mixed with a faint peach fragrance drifted over me.
"You did well. Truly excellent."
Xion gently patted my back and praised me. Somehow, it made me happy and embarrassed at the same time.
"It wasn't a big deal. It wasn't dangerous either, since you were there."
Xion had followed me from a distance, like sending a five-year-old on an errand. We had agreed that if I failed to open a field, he would intervene immediately.
"But you still handled it well on your own."
It felt like the word ‘commendable’ was glowing in Xion’s eyes. Flustered, I avoided his gaze.
“Th-then maybe praise me more.”
I heard a small chuckle from him. But before I could hear any more compliments, the spam arrived.
[Web Transmission]
Congratulations!
You have acquired Shadow Field Lv.1.
You have obtained the title ‘Tyrant of the Moonlit Night.’
You have received the Emperor’s Disappointment.
You have acquired 37 new abilities.
Then something fell onto my head with a soft thud.
“Kyaa!”
Xion quickly shielded my head. Sparkling objects bounced off him in every direction.
‘Did the spam just give birth to something weird?!’
In shock, I stared blankly at the items scattered on the floor.
Xion picked one up and examined it closely.
It looked just like a raspberry made of jewels. Transparent like crystal and glittering, with a bumpy surface and small leaves detailed vividly.
Rubbing the fruit in his hand, Xion let out a wicked grin.
“Oh my, this is going to cause a commotion.”
Wh-what is that?! Why are you smiling like that?!
✦ ✦ ✦
Moonlight Palace.
The Emperor’s knight, Dante, was reporting the results of interrogating the kidnappers.
“They were all elders of the Wolfhedin. They confessed to planning the crime out of rage that their entire bloodline had to submit to a dhampir.”
Dante added with a grim memory of their ugly faces.
“But their real goal seemed to be the dhampir’s blood.”
The blood of a dhampir—said to be sweeter than celestial honey.
And with rumors that she was Lilith’s daughter, it was no wonder the greedy old men lost their minds.
“They were just puppets,” the Emperor said. “The true culprit lies elsewhere.”
Dante hesitated, then confessed truthfully.
“Canis, the one who kidnapped the cat, admitted he was acting on Lady Luna’s request.”
The Emperor furrowed his brow at Luna’s name.
“So it’s Draugr’s doing again.”
Apparently, Ella’s sudden appearance had provoked them.
“Also, confirm if the elders are connected to Draugr.”
“…Yes, Your Majesty.”
Dante bowed his head, hiding his disappointment.
Once again, the Emperor seemed intent on protecting Luna. Thinking of the clueless Ella made his chest tighten even more.
“Dante, when did you start believing that child was Lilith’s daughter?”
Surprised by the question, Dante dropped to his knees. The Emperor sighed at the knight’s inability to offer any excuse.
“I’m not accusing you. I’m just curious—what made you believe she’s real?”
Dante had done everything to protect Ella—shielding her from criticism, standing up for her over the smallest things.
It was Dante’s excessive protection that made the Emperor take an interest in her in the first place.
After a moment, Dante answered honestly.
“The moment I saw her, I knew.”
“She looks nothing like Lilith.”
“She looked at me with pity. Just like Lady Lilith used to.”
The Emperor was briefly taken aback but then nodded.
“Lilith always pitied you. She thought you suffered because of me.”
His face softened at the memory. Noticing this, Dante carefully spoke.
“Your Majesty, please—conduct a bloodline test. I am sure she’s Lady Lilith’s daughter.”
“Don’t be ridiculous.”
Annoyed, the Emperor suddenly burst into a coughing fit. Blood quickly stained the hand that covered his mouth.
Dante rushed to get medicine, but the Emperor turned his head away.
“I don’t need it. It won’t work anymore.”
“….”
Dante bit his lip and brought water to wash away the blood.
Looking at his clean hand again, the Emperor let out a bitter laugh.
His life now was like a candle flickering in the wind—uncertain and fragile.
That’s why he couldn’t acknowledge the girl who might be Lilith’s daughter.
Not even a niece with her mother’s eyes and the pull of powerful blood.
“What’s so good about being a princess, anyway?”
Acknowledging Ella now was the same as pushing her toward death.
If she became a princess, the high lords would never let her live.
“Your Majesty, please take care of your health…”
“Dante, my body cannot recover. It’s time you prepare for the future.”
Unlike Dante, who still clung to hope, the Emperor was already preparing for the end.
Unable to beg further, Dante lowered his goal.
“Even if you don’t acknowledge her, can’t you at least make contact? Perhaps a small gift?”
“…A gift?”
The Emperor thought of Ella storming off in anger.
“She wouldn’t accept my gift.”
“But Your Majesty owes her.”
Dante calmly listed his debts.
Inviting her to dinner, only to cancel on the day.
Getting her kidnapped and thrown into a trap.
“It wouldn’t be strange to send a gift as an apology. If anything, it might feel overdue.”
With nothing to say, the Emperor cleared his throat awkwardly.
“What does she like?”
“I don’t know exactly. But perhaps you could base it on what you gave Lady Luna.”
The Emperor had showered Luna with gifts—pretty clothes, jewels, books, toys, rare food, and cute animals.
Feeling a bit guilty, the Emperor cleared his throat again.
“I’ll think about it.”
But he had no intention of giving her the same things as Luna.
The Ella he imagined was a little tyrant. Punching people in the west yesterday, and kicking people in the east today.
A normal gift would probably just make her angry.
“Would a sword be better?”
“…Excuse me?”
“No… If I give her a sword, she’ll just cause more trouble. Maybe armor would be better.”
Dante, clueless about the Emperor’s reasoning, was left bewildered.
‘Why even gifts are so different for each princess?’
But he had no chance to protest. Someone suddenly knocked on the door urgently.
Dante went out to check and returned with a pale face.
“Your Majesty, the blood clans are gathering to voice their grievances.”
“Grievances? About what?”
Struggling with how to explain, Dante reported what he’d heard.
“They claim the master of the New Moon Palace stole their powers.”
When Ella stormed into the Garden of Silver Moons, it wasn’t just kidnappers hiding there. Many had secretly gathered to observe her.
They were all swept up by her field and collapsed.
Dante had arrested the fallen, but upon confirming their innocence, released them.
Now, thirty of those vampires had returned, crying that they lost all their powers after being caught in Ella’s field.
“For now, it’s just speculation… but her field may have the ability to steal others’ abilities.”
“That troublemaker…”
Cracks spread across the Emperor’s face.
A field that could steal others’ powers—it was just as bizarre as Ella’s own existence.
If the truth got out, it would cause an uproar.
“Throw everyone spreading rumors into prison.”
The Emperor’s first priority was stopping the spread of the news.
“Dante, go to the New Moon Palace yourself. Tell the lady of the house to take control and clean this up quickly.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
After a pause, the Emperor added—
“And make sure the gift is armor.”