Translator: Nox
Chapter: 6
‘Dealing with drunks is my specialty.’
With my three years of experience at the inn, I could tell this drunkard was the real deal. If left alone, he’d only get in the way, so I had to get rid of him quickly.
“That child... is Lilith’s daughter?”
D muttered blankly.
Sensing an opportunity, I lifted the hem of my skirt slightly and greeted him.
“Hello, Lord D. My name is Ella. If it’s alright with you, would you become my guardian?”
“Guardian?”
“Yes. I’m currently looking for one. I believe someone as just and fair as you would be someone I could trust.”
I smiled sweetly like a good child, and D frowned.
“You just knocked out my friend, and now you’re asking me to be your guardian?”
“But Lord D didn’t exactly stop me, did you? Maybe you thought your friend was a bit noisy too?”
At my words, D burst into laughter. After a while, he cleared his throat.
“I don’t mind being your guardian, but I don’t think that’s all you’re hoping for.”
How did he know?
Flustered that he’d read my mind, I froze.
Smiling as if he found me endearing, D asked Zion, “Mage. Do you have any proof that she’s Lilith’s daughter?”
“I don’t. But I heard that Lord D possesses a token that Lady Lilith entrusted to him.”
Nodding, D held out his right hand. A snake-shaped bracelet appeared in his palm. The silver snake was intricately crafted, complete with tiny scales, and its eyes were set with red jewels.
“Ella, this is something Lilith gave to me. If you’re truly her daughter, you should be able to wear it with no issue. But if you’re lying... you’ll pay a terrible price. Still want to try?”
Without a word, I held out my hand.
As soon as I took the bracelet, it began to writhe. It transformed into a silver snake and bit down hard on my arm.
But thanks to my A+ stamina, my skin deflected its fangs effortlessly.
After a few more failed attempts, the snake sulked and turned back into a bracelet, fitting snugly around my wrist.
I stared at it in confusion.
‘So... does this mean I really am her daughter, or not?’
I looked to D for an answer. He looked just as puzzled.
“Normally, blood would confirm kinship...”
“...”
The poor snake couldn’t even pierce my skin.
I glared at the useless thing.
“So, does this mean I’m not recognized as her daughter?”
“No, the bracelet changed form. That means it acknowledged you.”
Wasn’t this a little too loose for something as serious as a paternity test?
Unlike me, D smiled warmly.
“Ella, I was a friend of your mother, Lilith. I’ll give you that bracelet. I’m sure Lilith would have wanted you to have it.”
I fiddled with the bracelet, feeling strange knowing it had belonged to my mother.
“Lord D, the truth is, I don’t know anything about my mother. I only learned her name after coming here.”
“What?”
D’s shocked gaze turned to Zion, who just shrugged casually.
...Yeah, I didn’t expect anything from him.
“Can you tell me who my parents are? What they’re doing now?”
Sighing, D stood up. “Come. There’s something I want to show you.”
---
D led us to a hall on the first floor. Dozens of paintings lined the walls.
I quickly realized they all depicted the same person. At the end of the hall, a massive portrait covered the entire wall.
The woman in the painting was stunning.
Waves of black hair shimmered with stars, and a moon floated above her clasped hands.
Her white chiton made her look holy, but her crimson eyes were chilling.
“That’s your mother, Lilith. The emperor’s twin sister, co-ruler of the empire, and its guardian deity. You should be proud to be her daughter.”
Lilith, the shadow empress, co-sovereign of the empire.
D said she was my mother.
‘We look nothing alike.’
Her beauty was sharp like a blade. Her hawk-like eyes exuded a power that overwhelmed others.
“Lilith was incredible. As long as she was alive, no one dared challenge the imperial family’s authority.”
But nine years ago, she was said to have died heroically during a rebellion at the border.
“I don’t know what happened to her or your father. I’m sorry I can’t help more.”
A guardian of the empire, swept away and killed in a rebellion.
Now it turned out she was alive all along—and had a half-blood daughter.
If this got out, it would cause a massive scandal.
‘Would the emperor hunt me down to kill me?’
My mind spiraled into panic.
I asked hesitantly, “...Lord D, could I ever be recognized as a princess?”
“Hm. That might be difficult. His Majesty would never accept a dhampir niece.”
D awkwardly cleared his throat and patted my shoulder.
“Don’t worry. Even if you’re not acknowledged, I’ll protect and care for you.”
But I couldn’t back down. If I wasn’t recognized, we’d all die.
“Thank you for your kindness, Lord D. But I’m here because I want to live.”
“To live?”
“I’m going to die soon. I need to become the empire’s princess to survive.”
“Do you even understand what you’re saying?”
D seemed to think I’d lost my mind.
I met his eyes and smiled.
“Lord D, I’m proposing a deal.”
“A deal?”
“Help me be recognized as a princess. In exchange, I’ll give you the cure for Moonlight Syndrome.”
Vampires of the Blood King are divided into seven clans, each with unique strengths and weaknesses.
D’s clan’s weakness was Moonlight Syndrome.
Under a full moon, they lose their reason and go berserk. Because of this, they were scorned as beasts.
“You can cure that?”
“Not completely. But with the medicine, they won’t suffer.”
I offered this based on the original novel’s information.
D’s eyes trembled like an earthquake.
“Ella, can you take responsibility for your words? If you’re lying, tell me now. I’ll forgive you.”
A terrifying pressure radiated from D.
I had expected this and answered firmly.
“I swear on the name of Lyl, the Supreme God, that I’m telling the truth.”
Lyl, goddess of the moon and darkness. The progenitor of vampires.
Swearing on her name carried great weight.
I didn’t personally believe in her, but it clearly worked on D.
Then—
“What a troublesome person you are.”
White threads shot out and wrapped around me tightly.
They were soft but tough, like spider silk.
The next moment, I was yanked into Zion’s arms.
Wrapped up like a cocoon, Zion held me tightly and declared:
“Lord D, I’m afraid this deal is off.”
What?!
I tried to protest, but the threads sealed my mouth.
“What do you mean?”
D, shocked, asked.
Zion glared coldly.
“How shameless. Seeking to lift your clan’s curse in exchange for mere guardianship?”
“...”
“She’s a young girl who spoke carelessly. Forget it.”
Turning around, Zion walked toward the exit.
Panicking, D blocked his path.
“Mage, name your terms. What do you want?”
Zion stared at him and declared,
“Absolute obedience.”
His voice dripped with contempt.
“You will become her loyal dog. Your entire clan.”
