Episode 9: Secrets of the Vampire

The non-human figure that she saw inside the carriage was reflected in Fiene’s line of sight.

　She――Elsie shows her true appearance for a moment, then closes her eyes and returns to her soft expression.

“Hehe, surprised?”

“Y-yes.”

“But you know Oz is a vampire too, right? So am I.”

While saying this, she takes a bite of pudding, joyfully displaying a childlike, innocent face.

“Lin! This pudding is the best!!!”

“Thank you; I’ll let the chef know.”

Despite the somewhat eerie atmosphere, the strange feeling of not being afraid is probably because neither he nor she directs hostility toward Fiene. Fiene had a question.

(Vampires shouldn’t be such commonplace beings. What about these people…)

As if understanding those thoughts, Oz interlocks his fingers on the table and begins to talk about themselves and vampires.

“Fiene, in this mansion, only Mother and I are vampires. And the only ones who know about it are us, Lin, and you.”

“Only four people…”

“Yeah.”

Fiene places her hands on her knees and quietly listens to his words.

“Vampires usually live quietly in a certain forest, forming a village. And only the royal family knows about their existence.”

“Only the royal family.”

“But you see, our carefree mother ventured out of the forest when she was a girl.”

“Yeah! I accidentally fell in love with a human there! That’s Oz’s father♪”

(I see… She has been carefree since then.)

Oz continues the story with a wry smile.

“Well, that’s how I was born…”

“I think vampires have quite a long lifespan, but Oz-sama, are you around 300 years old?”

“No, actually, vampires grow to look almost like humans until they’re 20 to blend into human society. So, I’m still 21.”

“I see… Then?”

Fiene glances at Elsie. In response, Elsie retorts with a pouting expression.

“Geez! Don’t try to guess a lady’s age! I’m only 39!”

“S-sorry!”

“Fiene, it’s just a joke, so don’t worry about it. Besides, it’s about time for my mother to return to the vampire forest.”

“Huh?”

“Vampires, as Fiene mentioned earlier, have a longer lifespan than humans. about 1000 years. So, it’s unnatural not to age, and she has to return to the forest around 40.”

“Well, you can secretly live here, but it’s a rule.”

(Such a rule…)

Fiene had one more thing she was curious about and asked a question.

“Um, Oz’s father, the former Duke?”

At those words, Elsie remains silent, and Oz, seeing her expression, answers in her stead.

“He passed away last year.”

“Eh?”

“Due to an accident during an expedition, it’s early, but I succeeded him.”

“I see…”

“He was a wonderful husband. Truly wonderful…”

Elsie’s gaze, as if reminiscing about the past, looks into the distance, and Fiene senses that she truly loved him.

“My father was a great man, so I’m honestly anxious to see if I can handle the job, but I’ll do my best to surpass him.”

“Yes, I’m cheering for you.”

Lin quietly observed the family’s situation—