Chapter 7: BPEE

Chapter 7

“Ugh!”

Claude Bellett, the master of Black Swan Castle, opened his eyes with a scream.

“Claude, are you awake?”

Seeing his friend D’s face, he nearly teared up.

“D… I had a terrible dream. A kid who looked exactly like Chang Lei appeared and said she was Lillith’s daughter.”

The man known as the vampires’ greatest enemy.

His name was Chang Lei.

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

He was known by many terrifying titles, but very few vampires had actually met him.

Because meeting Chang Lei meant certain death.

Claude was one of the rare survivors, which was why he nearly fainted the moment he saw Ella.

Her golden hair, shining like the sun, and her angelic face were identical to Chang Lei’s. Only her purple eyes were different.

“I was so horrified I told her to get lost. Then that kid threw a wine cup at me, and I woke up from the dream.”

Claude muttered in relief, thinking it had all been a nightmare. He never wanted to dream it again.

D, who had been watching him with a strange expression, spoke.

“Claude… I’m afraid that wasn’t a dream.”

“…It wasn’t?”

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

“W-What nonsense! How could that kid who looks like that man be Lillith’s daughter? I refuse to accept it!”

Claude, who had once been a candidate to become Lillith’s fiancé, could not accept it.

“Are you saying you’ll reject Lillith’s daughter just because she resembles Chang Lei?”

After a moment of hesitation, Claude nodded.

D’s eyes darkened.

“Good. Because I intend to take Ella to the Emperor.”

“…What?”

The Emperor of the Empire, Eblis, had fallen into despair after the death of his twin sister Lillith and had grown weak. Recently, he could not even open his eyes and remained asleep.

While many believed the Emperor’s era had ended, D had been working to awaken him.

“The moment I saw Ella, I knew. She is the last hope given to us.”

“Don’t tell me… you plan to offer that child’s blood to the Emperor?”

D remained silent, confirming it.

The source of a vampire’s power was blood.

If they used the blood of Lillith’s daughter as a sacrifice, they could revive the dying Emperor.

“W-Why would you go that far?! Even without the Emperor, things have been fine until now!”

“That’s only because the Emperor is still alive. The moment he dies, many will rise to claim the Empire.”

Claude could not understand D’s words.

Vampires always fought, and humans always died in large numbers. Did they really need to kill an innocent child to prevent that?

And that child—whether he wanted to admit it or not—was Lillith’s only remaining daughter.

“I know you won’t understand. No matter how I explain it, this is nothing more than a cruel act. But I have already made my decision.”

“But…”

As Claude tried to object, a heavy hand landed on his shoulder.

“Claude… you don’t know what I’ve given up. So just keep pretending you didn’t see anything, like always.”

Claude could only stare blankly at his friend, who suddenly felt unfamiliar.

When Shion broke the deal on his own, I was furious. I had decided I wouldn’t let him off once I was freed.

But now I was sitting next to him, watching the spider silk.

Through its vibrations, I could clearly hear the conversation on the other side.

Don’t tell me… you plan to offer that child’s blood to the Emperor?

I hadn’t heard everything from the beginning, but it was clear enough—D intended to betray me.

So just keep pretending you didn’t see anything.

As the spider thread went quiet, Shion smiled with satisfaction.

“Good. Now D will safely and quickly take us to the imperial capital.”

“…Right. As a sacrifice.”

I was basically being delivered fresh and straight from the source.

“Don’t worry. As long as I’m here, you won’t become a sacrifice.”

The mage who had calmly exploited someone else’s betrayal said it confidently.

My head started to throb.

“Shion… you knew from the beginning D would betray me?”

“Yes. D is a very selfish person.”

That was completely different from the original story.

Seeing my confusion, Shion added,

“D pretends to be just, but in reality he only maintains conditions favorable to himself. He’s the kind of person who can ignore even the suffering of those close to him for that.”

Shion scoffed as if D were garbage.

“I don’t understand why you trusted him in the first place. Yet you were so wary and defensive toward me.”

I nearly choked.

“What, are you jealous?”

“Shouldn’t I be? I’ve given you my whole heart, yet you trust someone you just met more than me.”

Shion pretended to be hurt, then suddenly became serious.

“If I had told you without evidence that D would betray you, would you have believed me?”

“…No.”

I admitted honestly. I would’ve assumed he was scheming something.

Shion hadn’t told me I was Lillith’s daughter, or that the Emperor might try to kill me.

Because I wouldn’t have believed him anyway.

“Your Highness, I am not your enemy. Please trust me more.”

I had heard that many times already—but never believed it.

Yet now, knowing that the “original story” might not be absolute, I felt something shift for the first time.

Maybe the original story is only one perspective.

If so… maybe I could trust him at least once.

After hesitating for a long time, I finally nodded.

“Alright. I’ll trust you from now on.”

Shion smiled brightly—so dazzling it almost hurt to look at.

“Good. Then let’s plot together.”

…Can I really trust this?

Imperial Capital, Imperial Palace.

Knight Dante, who guarded the Emperor’s chamber, received a familiar visitor.

“Glory to the moon. Sir Dante, I hope you are well.”

A girl seated in a wheelchair greeted him.

Her black hair like ebony and vivid red eyes clearly marked her noble bloodline.

“Lady Luna.”

Dante bowed with an expressionless face.

The girl’s name was Luna.

She was the youngest daughter of the Draug bloodline, turning ten this year.

Five years ago, when she first appeared in the palace, everyone was shocked—because she looked too much like Lillith.

The Emperor had taken her in affectionately, and she lived in the palace as though she were royalty.

“I’m sorry for coming so often. I just wanted to know if His Majesty might be able to see me today.”

“His Majesty is still resting.”

Dante was the only person in the palace who did not soften his attitude toward Luna.

Luna’s smile faded slightly.

“Even just for a moment… I want to make sure he is safe.”

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

“I see…”

As if about to say more, Luna coughed violently. She covered her mouth with a handkerchief and apologized weakly.

“I seem to have asked too much. Please forgive me.”

“That is not something I am in a position to judge.”

Even as she looked like she might collapse, Dante did not waver.

Biting her lip slightly, Luna said,

“Sir Dante, if His Majesty wakes up, please tell him I am very worried about him.”

“I will.”

“May the moon be with you.”

“And may the night protect you.”

Luna’s maid shot Dante an irritated glance and turned the wheelchair away.

Once they were far from the Emperor’s chamber, Luna let out a quiet sigh.

Please… never wake up.

She trembled as she recalled the moment the Emperor had collapsed.

She did not know why he had fallen, but she knew he had seen her secret.

Luna prayed that he would remain asleep forever—so that her secret would stay buried.

That very day, the carriage carrying Ella entered the imperial capital.