Translator: Nox

Chapter: 5

Chapter Title: The Patron Candidate Is... a Drunk?

“Aren’t I livestock to vampires? And you want me to make one my patron?”
“Don’t worry. He won’t hurt you.”

Zion’s cryptic words suggested he knew something I didn’t.

I scowled at him. “What if something goes wrong and the vampire attacks me?”

“I’ll make sure not a hair on your head is harmed.”

After a moment’s thought, I decided having a patron wasn’t a bad idea. Relying solely on Zion was risky.

“Fine, let’s do it.”

I tried to sound confident, but standing at the castle gates, my back was drenched in sweat.

Zion turned to me. “Princess, would you knock?”

“What? Me?”

“Yes, please.”

What’s he saving his perfectly fine hands for? Soup-making?

Pouting, I knocked hard on the door.

A thin crack spread from the spot I hit, and something shattered.

—Ding-ding-ding-ding!

A loud bell rang out.

“The barrier is broken!”
“Fetch the butler immediately!”

From the commotion inside, something had definitely gone wrong.

I turned to see Zion smiling serenely.

‘I’ve been tricked!’

As the realization hit me, the massive gates opened.

*

Unexpectedly, we were warmly welcomed.

The reason was ridiculous: I had shattered the barrier on the gate. A barrier supposedly only high-level vampires could break.

With it in pieces, they were too stunned to question me and just watched nervously.

Of course, I didn’t have the power to do that. This was clearly Zion’s setup.

‘No wonder he insisted I knock.’

I glared at the devious mage.

“I’m terribly sorry. My hand slipped.”

“I-I see. Welcome. May I ask the reason for your visit?”

Feeling sorry for the sweating butler, I quickly stated our business.

“We’re here to see the master of the castle.”

“Pardon? The master?”

The butler looked about ready to faint.

Regaining composure, he forced a smile. “My apologies, but you need an appointment to see him.”

Zion, receiving my cue, pulled out his Mage Tower insignia.

The butler, trembling, checked the seal, then bowed deeply.

“Very well. Please, follow me.”

I followed him, observing the surroundings.

Contrary to its gloomy exterior, the castle’s interior was stunning.

Rose patterns were intricately carved into the walls and pillars, and the decorations looked ancient and expensive.

‘Vampires really are rich.’

As I admired the place, I spotted a man sprawled in the middle of the hallway.

Sticky, seaweed-like black hair, rumpled clothes, and an overwhelming smell of alcohol.

The very picture of a drunk.

“M-my lord!”

The butler ran to him like he’d seen a ghost.

“Oh dear, not again. Please get up.”

“Ugh, what is it?! My head hurts, don’t bother me!”

The man shoved the butler aside and picked up a fallen bottle, drinking straight from it.

His eyes—blood-red.

The mark of a vampire.

‘That’s a vampire?’

Perhaps feeling my distaste, he suddenly threw the bottle at me.

“What are you staring at?! Go get me more booze!”

Zion raised a hand and the bottle crashed to the floor.

“No, sir! These guests are from the Mage Tower—”

“I said booze! Get it now!”

Shoving off the butler, the drunk screamed.

I instinctively covered my ears.

This guy? As my patron? I’d rather ask a stray dog.

“Claude! What is this disgrace?!”

A powerful voice echoed through the hall.

A towering man approached. Gray hair like a lion’s mane, a chiseled face like stone—he radiated authority.

“Causing trouble again? Get over here!”

“Eek!”

The drunk—Claude—flattened himself to the floor but was grabbed by the giant.

I noticed the man also had red eyes.

‘Another vampire?’

The butler clung to him.

“Please, D-nim! Forgive him just this once!”

‘Wait, D?! That’s D?!’

A vampire known only as “D.”

A fierce rival to the protagonist through the mid-story and a symbol that even vampires could be just.

The second major character I’d met, after Zion.

Zion stepped forward as if waiting for this moment.

“A pleasure to meet you, Lord D. I am Zion from the Mage Tower.”

D, shaking Claude by the collar, turned.

“A mage from the Tower. What brings a guardian of balance here?”

“I believe you already suspect the reason.”

“…Hmm.”

D glanced at me.

Was it just my imagination, or did his eyes waver?

“Mage, is that child… his offspring?”

Do I look that much like the Emperor?

“I don’t think that’s a question I need to answer,” Zion replied vaguely, irritating me.

Maybe he’d die if he admitted I was the Emperor’s daughter.

“We should discuss this elsewhere. Follow me.”

Hoisting Claude over his shoulder, D strode off.

The butler trailed behind, crying, “My lord!”

I tugged Zion’s sleeve.

“Zion, is D the one I’m supposed to make my patron?”

“Who knows? With your charm, Princess, I think you could win over both.”

He said that like it had nothing to do with him.

Zion smiled sweetly at my pout.

“I mean it. Trust me.”

*

“Sorry for the wait.”

D returned after a long while, dragging a cleaned-up Claude.

Surprisingly, Claude had a delicate face. Shoulder-length black curls and a sickly poet vibe.

“Let go of me! Who even showed up that—”

Claude grumbled—then spotted me.

He froze, pointing at me with a trembling finger.

“You, you, you—”

Oh no. Did he have a stroke at his age?

Zion ignored the broken Claude and brought me forward.

“Let me formally introduce Her Highness Princess Ella, the only daughter of Lady Lilith.”

What?! Lilith?!

I thought I was the Emperor’s daughter?!

“Shut up!”

Claude exploded before I could respond.

“How dare you sully Lilith’s name in front of me?! What nonsense is this?!”

His furious eyes locked onto my face.

Suddenly he grabbed a wine glass and hurled it.

“Get out! I don’t want to see you!”

“Claude!”

D roared, but the glass was already flying.

Before Zion could intervene, I leapt up and caught it.

A cold silence followed.

Zion’s stare stabbed my cheek—he was silently asking, *Why did you catch that?*

‘To do this.’

I hurled the glass with all my A+ strength.

Whack! It hit Claude square in the jaw.

He slumped onto the chair, eyes unfocused.

And I? I felt glorious.

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