Chapter 22: Ambush—Part 2

As if the reply were a signal, several knights wearing knight uniforms who were not from the Kingdom of Tifris came and took her aunt away.

“Is Ricos here?”

“Yes, I’m right here.”

A man kneeling in the darkness came into view.

“Hurry and inform my brother and the king about this matter. I’ll go soon as well.”

“Understood.”

Silently, the man disappeared.

“Now… Eva, why do you do reckless things?”

Whether he was angry or not, Lucas looked down at Eva with a stern gaze.

“Reckless…?”

“Why did you give up on living?”

“…”

After exhaling a deep sigh, Lucas kneeled and took Eva’s hands, frowning as he examined them.

“You’re injured.”

Looking down at her own hands, Eva saw cuts that were likely inflicted when her aunt swung the knife. There were numerous cuts on her hands and arms. Some were bleeding, and there were wounds that had already started to bleed.

Because she had been in a daze, she hadn’t felt the pain until now and hadn’t noticed.

Lucas lifted Eva’s hands to his lips, sucking on each cut.

Eva, taken aback, remained passive, but soon a tingling sensation overcame her.

“Lord Lucas?”

Lucas looked at Eva, but the act didn’t stop. Entwined in their gaze, Lucas continued to drop his lips onto the wounds, sucking on them one by one, creating a somewhat provocative scene.

He probably sucked on most of the wounds. Finally, Lucas released his lips.

The sensually reddened lips on his fair skin looked almost alluring.

“Indeed, Eva’s blood is sweet.”

Saying so, he licked his lips with his tongue.

Sweet?

Does that mean it’s delicious?

Upon inspection, the wounds had closed.

Surprised, Eva opened her eyes wide, and Lucas chuckled mockingly.

“When a vampire sucks, wounds heal quickly.”

Once again, Eva confirmed her hands and arms, and many wounds had either closed or left no visible scars.

Lucas lifted Eva’s chin as she looked down, entangling their gazes.

“Come to my country. I’ll create a place for Eva.”

With shining golden hair swaying and fiery red eyes gleaming, the person looked both arrogant and alluring.

“To the Dacian Empire… you mean?”

“Yeah, I like the roses Eva cultivates. Try wielding your skills in my rose garden. Come with me.”

Eva stared back in astonishment at the stunning face that had appeared. The moonlight, now elevated, reflected off the golden hair, making the figure appear divine.

Looking at Eva with widened eyes, Lucas lifted her chin and, with a slightly raised mouth, extended his hand to her.

“Will you come with me?”

Staring at the offered hand, it was a hand that appeared at the right moment—a hand that had protected Eva when she couldn’t ask for help.

How many times has she been saved by this hand?

─ Can I still rely on this hand in the future?

Gently placing her hand on it, she felt reassured by the familiar warmth transmitted from the tightly squeezed hand.

“It’s okay. You won’t regret your choice.”

The confident words, which might sound arrogant, were filled with assurance, easing the tension in Eva’s heart.

(This person always says the words I want to hear. I can never resist his words.)

“Yes… Thank you.”

Having searched for her place, she had almost given up on finding one, thinking such a place didn’t exist.

Is this person really saying he will create that place for me?

Satisfied with Eva’s words, he nodded and smiled happily.

Seeing such an expression, she almost felt like she was being misunderstood as someone special.

“Believe in me. I won’t betray Eva.”

As she nodded, tears that had gathered in her eyes spilled over.

With a troubled expression, he gently wiped away the tears with his thumb. The expression up close was incredibly soft and gentle.

(Will he continue to show me that gentle expression in the future?)

Feeling a petty desire to monopolize his gentle gaze, she realized,

(Oh no, I have become captivated by this person.)

Once she became aware of her feelings, she felt scared, as if there was no turning back.

Her aunt’s figure came to mind.

Will I, too, become mad with love…?

***

Since the night when she was attacked by Count Burke, Eva has begun to cry and scream in the middle of the night.

She cried out while still asleep, probably having nightmares.

“Eva, it’s okay.”

Lucas called out to Eva, holding her hand, and continued to gently stroke her head with his other hand.

After a while, she seemed to calm down.

Her breathing changed from being irregular and distressed to a calm, rhythmic pattern.

“Greta, I’ll leave the rest to you.”

“Understood.”

He quietly left the room.

After hearing from Greta that Eva had been screaming in the middle of the night, even on the day after the attack, Lucas started comforting Eva before going to sleep.

Why he was doing all this for Eva, he no longer knew.

Was it because she was the first person he felt a bloodsucking impulse toward?

Whether this was the romantic feeling Raymond mocked, Lucas didn’t understand.

Born to a vampire father and a human mother who died shortly after giving birth to Lucas, both his father and brother cherished him. However, despite all his efforts, he was still a Dhampir, inferior in the eyes of the vampire clan. The significant difference in their lifespans meant he could never truly be equal to his father and brother.

This was enough to make Lucas feel inferior.

With a desire to confront the conflicts within him, he immersed himself in the sword. Thanks to his innate physical abilities, combined with his dedication, he eventually became the captain of the knights.

However, it wasn’t until he met Eva that he wanted to use his status and power to protect her.

Is this “charity”?

In that case, the desire to suck blood is inexplicable.

Lucas let himself face his feelings.