Episode 32

Rosanna and Raymond arrived at the restaurant at the end of the beachside path and settled into an outdoor table with a view of the sea. The table, overflowing with dishes ordered from the menu, quickly began to clear as the food disappeared.

Raymond had an enormous appetite. While it was understandable given his muscular build, his ability to endlessly consume food was a sight that could overwhelm anyone. At least he didn’t eat sloppily, so Rosanna had no reason to frown.

As she emptied her second glass of wine, Rosanna stabbed at her plate with her fork, gazing out at the sea.

“To think the first man I’d see the sea with in Britna would be you…”

“Are you dissatisfied? You’re the one who suggested coming here.”

Raymond’s voice, though muffled as he finished the last of his plate, carried an undertone of irritation.

“Not really. I’m just curious.”

She found herself imagining what it might have been like to come here with Kyle. He’d acted like a child, thrilled by simple things like rowing a boat on the lake, so he likely hadn’t seen the sea before. How delighted would he be to see it?

Rosanna mused over the idea of giving Kyle his first experience of the sea, broadening his world, and planting a deep sense of reverence for her in the depths of his subconscious.

If she built affection atop that reverence, she imagined she could become an equal to God in Kyle’s heart. No, she wouldn’t settle for equality. She would rise above God, standing in a superior position. And she was confident she could make it happen.

“Should I start planning a trip when I get back?”

“Thinking about that man again?”

Raymond finished the last drops of wine from the bottle and set his glass down.

“Is he from your clan?”

“No.”

“Then a vampire?”

“A human.”

Raymond’s lips curled into a sneer, dripping with derision.

“That’s the funniest thing I’ve heard recently. They say collecting rare creatures from across the sea is a hobby of the upper class. Is he one of those?”

Rosanna’s mood soured. Kyle wasn’t some ornamental trinket.

“No, Kyle is more precious than that. I treasure him.”

“For now, you mean.”

“Why are you picking a fight?”

“I’m just wondering if I should report you for kidnapping a human. I could earn a nice bounty.”

Rosanna paused to think. Vlad had once mentioned that reporting a vampire who violated the peace treaty to the Senate could earn a reward.

“I’m not keeping him around as food.”

“That’s for the Senate to decide.”

“It’s not the kind of relationship you’re imagining. Kyle will come to me of his own free will.”

Raymond let out a deliberately exaggerated sigh.

“Unless you have a child with him like your brother, you’ll only ever look like a predator keeping prey by your side.”

Rosanna clenched her hands into fists on the table. She couldn’t understand why things were like this. She thought they had grown close, yet Raymond always soured the mood whenever Kyle was mentioned.

“I don’t get why you’re so hostile. You’re a dhampir yourself.”

For him to insist on an impossible emotional connection seemed like self-denial.

Dhampirs were both despised and celebrated as the ultimate proof of love that transcended species. Some romantically inclined youth even lauded them as the epitome of true love. With perspectives on hybrids improving, there was no reason for Raymond to be this sharp.

“Because I’m a dhampir, I know better than anyone. A child isn’t proof of love. You can live together, but once the illusion shatters, it’s over.”

Raymond lightly tapped his glass with his fork, his grin never wavering.

“Do you think the affection between you and that man is the same?”

“He says he loves me. And I love him back.”

Rosanna liked Kyle enough to want him as her “attachment toy,” someone she could comfortably spend the whole day with. So what was the problem? If this wasn’t affection, then what was it?

Raymond’s insistence that it was an illusion or misunderstanding felt baseless.

“You might be saying the same thing, but the meaning is different,” Raymond said.

“…”

“You said you cherish him. Like a child lighting up when they talk about their favorite toy. Does he feel the same way about you?”

Rosanna remained silent, an inexplicable unease rising in her chest, as if a hot stone was rolling around inside her. She vaguely grasped the meaning behind Raymond’s words.

“It’s fundamentally different. Vampires can’t understand human affection, and the reverse is true as well. That’s why it always ends poorly.”

“If it’s affection, it’s just affection. Why analyze it to death?”

Rosanna’s voice carried a note of defiance. Raymond, wearing his infuriating smirk, raised his hands in mock surrender, signaling he wouldn’t argue further.

“I have no intention of interfering in someone else’s business. I’m just saying, the future is obvious.”

Raymond pushed his chair back and stood.

“Let’s leave. As agreed, you’re paying.”

He turned and walked away, his back presenting an increasingly tempting target for Rosanna to punch.

* * *

Several days had passed since their visit to the port town. After their unpleasant conversation over dinner, Rosanna had quickly finished her shopping and returned to the hotel, only to find a porter sent by the butler waiting for her. Not wanting to travel back to the capital with Raymond after such a frustrating exchange, she handed the porter the money for a first-class train ticket and left ahead of him.

Though they hadn’t traveled together until the end…

“Annoying.”

Even after parting ways with Raymond, her mood remained sour. She kept postponing her plans to meet Kyle, knowing seeing him would cheer her up, but she didn’t want to bring her negative emotions into their time together.

“Ugh… overthinking things isn’t like me.”

Rosanna rolled around under the covers before finally stopping. Small, rhythmic footsteps approached. The light, playful steps were unmistakably those of a child.

“Rosanna! Are you still dreaming?”

“Come in?”

She lifted the edge of the blanket, but Henry, who had reached her bedside, shook his head and instead went to the window.

“Lazybones, stop it!”

The blackout curtains were suddenly pulled back, and the midday sunlight pierced through the glass.

“Ugh, no…”

“Wake up!”

Henry climbed onto the bed and started bouncing, his small feet mercilessly trampling Rosanna. She surrendered and got up, only to have the boy leap into her arms.

She noticed then that Henry was holding a decorative ivory piece, convinced of the lie that it was from a dragon. Vlad, ever the rationalist, seemed to have held back from crushing Henry’s fanciful belief.

“Where did we leave off yesterday?”

“You said you went out to sea on a boat.”

“Right. We found a dragon’s nest on an island…”

The lies came so naturally that even Rosanna could have believed them. Henry’s eyes sparkled with wonder.

By the time the story ended, Henry was lifting the ivory piece above his head, shouting a strange battle cry. It seemed he would dream of becoming a dragon hunter for some time. Vlad, upon finding out, would surely clutch his head in frustration.

“Let’s head downstairs. I told you the whole story.”

“No! Play with me!”

“You can play just fine without me.”

“No, I can’t.”

Though Henry was growing more independent, to the point where Rosanna thought her role as his nanny might soon end, he clung to her all the more when she was away. He would demand her attention as if to make up for lost time.

In the end, Rosanna threw off the covers.

“Fine, let’s go.”

Without even fixing her disheveled hair, she let Henry drag her along. As she opened the slightly ajar door, an unexpected face greeted her.

“It’s Mom!”

“Tanesia? What brings you here at this hour?”

“I only had a morning shift. I heard voices, so I came by… are you planning to go out like that?”

Even though they were indoors, Rosanna’s disheveled appearance was a bit much. The implication in Tanesia’s tone was clear.

“I’ll fix your hair for you. Henry, go see the butler. He’ll have cookies for you.”

“Yummy!”

Excited at the thought of a snack, Henry dashed off. Watching him go, Tanesia stepped into the bedroom and stood by the vanity.

“Please, take a seat, honored guest.”

“What’s with the roleplay?”

As Rosanna sat on the stool, Tanesia picked up a hairbrush and began combing through her tangled hair. Unlike Rosanna, who lacked the patience for delicate tasks, Tanesia’s hands moved skillfully.

“You can’t go out looking like this.”

“It’s just family and staff here.”

“You should still maintain the dignity of the household. Gossip always gets out—staff members socialize with each other, you know.”

“Do I really have to care? It’s exhausting.”

“Reputation is important.”

Watching Tanesia brush her hair through the mirror, Rosanna was reminded of the maid who had disappeared. The one who, under someone’s influence, had served Rosanna harmful tea.

“I used to have someone who was great at this. Made excellent tea too.”

“Oh, the one who left suddenly? Why not hire someone new?”

“The butler doesn’t think it’s the right time to bring in a replacement.”

Since Tanesia didn’t know the full story, Rosanna kept the details vague. Fortunately, Tanesia didn’t press for answers or seem suspicious.

“That’s a shame. A maid can be a good companion during grooming sessions. Young staff members, once they’re comfortable, can be great sources of information—about romance, personal matters, all kinds of things.”

Rosanna cast a sly glance at Tanesia.

“Now that you mention it, I’ve never heard about your romance with Vlad.”

“You said you weren’t interested.”

There had been a time when Vlad, unable to keep his mouth shut, was eager to share his love story as if it were a grand tale.

Rosanna, uninterested in her brother’s personal life, had avoided listening. She didn’t even know how they’d first met. All she knew was that Vlad had settled in Britna after being exiled, mainly because it was Tanesia’s homeland.

“Are you asking now because of Kyle?”

Tanesia smiled, a gesture identical to the one Henry had inherited. It was unmistakably maternal.

“Not about me. So, how did you meet?”

“At a golf club. I used to work at the clubhouse.”

“Royal Heather?”

“Yes. We first met as a cleaning staff member and a customer.”

The Royal Heather Golf Club was a golf course near Ingdberry. It hosted events and also operated as a lodging facility, attracting many visitors.

Rosanna pieced the story together. That fool had set off, claiming he was expanding his connections in vampire society, only to meet a woman in Britna, have a child with her, and return. No wonder their parents had been scandalized.

 

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