Translator: Nox

Chapter: 7

“Uwaaah!”

Claude Velet, the master of the Black Crow Castle, jolted awake with a scream.

“Claude, are you back with us?”

Seeing the familiar face of his friend D, Claude began to sob.

“D, I had a terrible dream. A kid who looked exactly like Changroe showed up and said she was Lilith’s daughter.”

Changroe—the sworn enemy of all vampires.

The Blue Judge, Son of Nightmare, the Butcher, Wings of Death.

He was known by many names, a figure of terror, but very few vampires had ever met him.

Because meeting Changroe usually meant death.

Claude was one of the rare survivors. So when he saw Ella, he had nearly fainted.

Her radiant golden hair and angelic face were a perfect match for Changroe—only her violet eyes were different.

“She was so horrible I yelled at her to get lost, and then she threw a wine glass at me. That’s when I woke up.”

Claude sighed in relief, mumbling about how lucky he was it was just a dream. A nightmare he never wanted to relive.

But D, watching him with a strange expression, said calmly, “Claude, I’m afraid that wasn’t a dream.”

“…What?”

“The girl you met is really Lilith’s daughter. We’ve already confirmed it.”

“Don’t be ridiculous! How can a brat who looks like *him* be Lilith’s daughter? I refuse to accept it!”

Claude, once a candidate to be Lilith’s fiancé, couldn’t accept this no matter what.

“Are you saying you’ll reject her just because she resembles Changroe?”

Claude hesitated, then nodded.

D’s eyes darkened.

“Then that’s fine. I plan to take Ella to the Emperor.”

“…What?”

Emperor Iblis had fallen into a deep sleep from the shock of losing his twin sister, Lilith. Recently, he hadn’t even opened his eyes.

While many believed his era was over, D had been trying to wake him.

“The moment I saw Ella, I knew. She’s our last hope.”

“You… You’re not thinking of offering her blood to the Emperor, are you?”

D was silent. Which was answer enough.

The source of vampire power was blood.

Offering the blood of Lilith’s daughter could revive the dying Emperor.

“Why would you go that far? Things have been fine without the Emperor!”

“That’s only because he’s still alive. The moment he dies, chaos will break out. Everyone will start fighting for the Empire.”

But Claude couldn’t feel the same urgency.

Vampires always fought. Humans always died. Was sacrificing an innocent child really the only way to stop that?

And though he hated to admit it, that child was the only legacy Lilith left behind.

“I know you won’t understand. No matter what I say, this is a despicable act. But I’ve made up my mind.”

“…Still…”

Claude tried to argue, but D rested a heavy hand on his shoulder.

“Claude, you don’t know what I’ve already sacrificed. Just do what you’ve always done—look the other way.”

Claude could only stare blankly at the unfamiliar face of his old friend.

---

When Sion selfishly broke off the deal, I was furious. I swore to myself that once I got free, I wouldn’t let it slide.

But now I was sitting beside him, staring at a spiderweb.

— You… You’re planning to offer the kid’s blood to the Emperor?

The web’s vibrations carried every word of their conversation to us.

I hadn’t caught the beginning, but it was clear enough: D was planning to betray me.

— Just pretend you didn’t see anything.

As the vibrations faded, Sion smiled with satisfaction.

“Perfect. Now D will take us to the imperial palace quickly and safely.”

“…Sure, because I’m a sacrifice, right?”

A fresh and neatly delivered one, at that.

“Don’t worry. As long as I’m here, you won’t be anyone’s sacrifice.”

He said that like it was obvious—as if using betrayal as a tool was completely normal.

I groaned. “Sion… Did you know from the start that D would betray us?”

“Yes. D is a very selfish man.”

That didn’t match the character from the original novel.

Seeing my confusion, Sion added, “D acts righteous, but really, he just wants to preserve his own comfortable position. He can ignore the pain of others if it benefits him.”

He scoffed, mocking D without hesitation.

“I’m more shocked that you trusted him. You were so suspicious of me.”

His reproachful look made me nearly choke.

“What, are you jealous?”

“Am I not allowed to be? I give you everything, and you trust a stranger more than me.”

He was teasing at first, but then turned serious.

“If I’d told you D would betray us without proof, would you have believed me?”

“…No.”

I answered honestly. I would’ve assumed Sion was plotting something.

He hadn’t told me I was Lilith’s daughter or that the Emperor wanted me dead because I wouldn’t have believed him anyway.

“Princess, I’m not your enemy. Please trust me more.”

He’d said it so many times before, and I never believed it.

But now I was starting to realize: my knowledge of the original story might be flawed.

‘Maybe the novel only showed one side of the story—just the protagonist’s perspective.’

If that was true, then maybe I could give Sion a chance.

Maybe there were reasons for his actions I never saw in the original.

After a long pause, I nodded. “Alright. I’ll trust you from now on.”

Sion smiled brightly. It was dazzling.

“Great. Then let’s start plotting together.”

…Can I really trust him?

---

The Imperial Capital, the Palace.

Dante, the knight guarding the Emperor’s chambers, greeted a familiar visitor.

“Glory to the Moon. Sir Dante, I hope you’re well.”

A girl in a wheelchair greeted him with refined grace.

Her obsidian-black hair and bright red eyes revealed her noble vampire lineage.

“Lady Luna.”

Dante bowed with his usual emotionless face.

Her name was Luna.

At ten years old, she was the youngest daughter of the Draugr bloodline.

Five years ago, when she first arrived at the palace, everyone had been shocked—she looked so much like Lilith.

The Emperor cherished Luna like a daughter, and she had since lived in the palace, treated like royalty.

“Forgive me for visiting so often. I just wanted to know if His Majesty could see me today.”

“His Majesty is still resting.”

Dante was the only person in the palace who didn’t treat Luna with deference.

Luna’s smile faded as she pleaded gently.

“Just for a moment. I only want to make sure he’s alright.”

“I’m sorry. No one is allowed in without permission.”

“Oh…”

Luna began coughing harshly. She covered her mouth with a handkerchief and apologized weakly.

“I must have asked for too much. Please forgive me.”

“I am unworthy of your apology.”

Even as she looked ready to collapse, Dante remained unmoved.

Feeling like she’d hit a wall, Luna bit her lip slightly.

“Sir Dante, please tell His Majesty that I’m very worried about him.”

“I will, without fail.”

“May Lyl be with you.”

“And may the Night bless you.”

Luna’s maid gave Dante a sharp glare as she turned the wheelchair around.

---

Far from the Emperor’s chamber, Luna let out a secret sigh.

‘Please, never wake up…’

She trembled at the memory of the Emperor’s collapse.

She didn’t know what had caused it, but she knew he’d seen her secret.

She prayed the Emperor would sleep forever, taking that secret to his grave.

And on that very day, Ella’s carriage arrived at the capital.