Episode 63

Rosanna raised her glass filled with aperitif. Everyone seated around the table followed suit, even Henry, still pouting at Rosanna, lifted his glass of juice.

“Let’s toast to celebrate Kyle’s discharge and to welcome a new member into the family.”

Everyone gently clinked their glasses in the air and sipped their drinks.

Kyle held the liquor in his mouth, savoring it. It was the kind of taste that stimulated appetite. Having eaten only hospital food for so long, it tasted even better.

“Is it okay?”

Rosanna was watching Kyle quietly.

“The aperitif?”

“You said you didn’t like alcohol. Before you lost your memory, I mean.”

“…Really? But I like this.”

“Good. Now dig in.”

Kyle looked across the table. Each dish was filled generously, to the point he wasn’t sure where to start.

“Eat the meat. You looked like you were low on energy.”

Following Rosanna’s glance, a maid brought over a whole oven-roasted ribeye and carved it thickly onto Kyle’s plate.

“Ah, thank… That’s enough, thank you.”

It was the first time he’d ever been served before the host. Vlad gave him a look as if to say Rosanna was being over-the-top, and Tanesia quietly jabbed her husband with her elbow.

The maid diligently served the food before stepping back. Meanwhile, Henry was helping himself to cutlets on another plate. As Kyle chewed on the meat, he watched a small dispute between the boy and his mother over the importance of not eating only fried foods. It was a heartwarming family scene.

Then Rosanna spoke up.

“Is it good?”

Kyle had just swallowed and answered a moment late.

“…It’s really delicious. I think this might be the best meal I’ve ever been served.”

“It’s not ‘being served.’ This is just a normal meal. We’ll be eating together like this every day from now on.”

“This isn’t normal. This is a feast. Mr. Mason, our everyday meals aren’t usually this extravagant.”

Vlad pointed out the truth with a straight face. Irritated, Rosanna shot him a glare.

“You make it sound like I can’t afford to do this every day.”

“Why cause trouble on a lovely day like this? You’re making Mr. Mason uncomfortable.”

Tanesia, trying to get Henry to eat a balanced meal, speared a piece of meat with her fork and all but shoved it into her husband’s mouth. Then she turned to Kyle, offering reassurance.

“Those two bicker all the time. It’s not just today, so don’t let it bother you, alright?”

Kyle couldn’t help but laugh out loud at the rowdy dinner table. All eyes turned to him for a moment, but it was impossible to hold it in.

“Sorry. It’s not that I find it funny—it’s just… I’m happy. Really.”

When the laughter subsided, Kyle looked around at Rosanna and her family.

“Rosanna told me she didn’t have any family. That’s why she said I had to come live here… Hearing that made me feel strangely lonely, even without my memories. I felt a little isolated back in the hospital. But seeing this—this image of an ideal family—it made me happy. I’m really glad I get to live with you all.”

Under the table, Kyle clasped his hands together. Though embarrassed, he felt relieved after finally saying something he truly wanted to express.

“Thank you for taking me in.”

Tanesia stared at him in surprise before clapping her hands. She was someone whose warmth showed in both words and actions. Henry followed with his own applause, and even Vlad eventually joined in. Though he seemed reluctant, it was clear he was just awkward about it.

Kyle leaned toward Rosanna and whispered.

“Your family is wonderful. You must be happy.”

“I’m happier when I’m with you.”

Rosanna had a way of making people blush with a single line. Kyle cleared his throat.

“So eat lots of meat. You’ll need energy to do something happy tonight.”

“That really ruins the mood…”

They had just been talking about beautiful family moments, but Rosanna seemed entirely uninterested in keeping that tone.

“Rosanna, everything about you is wonderful… but you really need some restraint.”

“Then you teach me.”

A mischievous smile curved on her lips as she looked at Kyle. The meaning behind it became obvious very quickly. Her toes slid up along Kyle’s calf. It couldn’t have been anyone else’s foot.

The tablecloth hung down to the floor, hiding her subtle seduction from sight—but for Kyle, it was shockingly bold. Rosanna’s actions seemed like a rebellious challenge, as if to say, “What’s restraint?”

From that moment on, dinner became a test of patience, and Kyle, in the end, upheld perfect self-control.

* * *

Rosanna ultimately broke Kyle’s resolve to just sleep on the first night. After being tormented by her all night, he finally passed out. A few extra bites of meat weren’t nearly enough to match a vampire’s stamina.

The next day, after such a passionate night, Rosanna looked fresh and energetic from the morning. In contrast, Kyle wore the pale complexion of someone who hadn’t slept well. He looked visibly exhausted from the lack of deep sleep.

“Maybe I overdid it.”

“You have to promise. No more going overboard…”

Kyle covered his mouth with a yawn. Rosanna watched him through the mirror.

“It’s your fault too. You’re just too cute.”

“So that’s why you chewed up my neck.”

“…Guess I’ll have to keep it covered for a while.”

Rosanna had seated Kyle in front of the vanity while standing behind him. She’d meant to show him the marks she’d left as proof of affection, but instead, she got a quiet reproach.

Rosanna leaned down and wrapped her arms around Kyle’s neck.

“I only did it because I love you.”

“We are intelligent beings, after all. Restraint is a virtue.”

“That’s so weird. You seem to remember all the boring, old-fashioned stuff.”

Kyle fell silent for a moment.

“I just wish I could remember something—anything. Even if I don’t have family, someone out there must know me. Isn’t anyone looking for me…? You said none of my acquaintances ever reached out, right?”

Rosanna closed her eyes instead of replying. The reason no one had contacted Kyle was because she had intervened.

She remembered the letter she sent to Ingdberry Cathedral at dawn the day after Kyle was hospitalized. The recipient was Bishop Johann.

Kyle Mason is under my protection.
Please don’t worry and do not try to find him.
P.S. Kyle will not be returning to the seminary, so please proceed with expulsion.
—Rosanna Enache—

A reply arrived the very next day. When she didn’t respond further, Bishop Johann even sent someone in person. His pleas grew more earnest with time. At first, he demanded an explanation, and then he simply begged—asking if Kyle could at least graduate, or if he could see him just once to make sure he was safe.

Rosanna turned him down, claiming Kyle was in a fragile state and needed rest. She said Kyle had suffered memory loss after a carriage accident on his way to meet her after evening prayers. Meeting anyone now would only confuse him more. To make it more convincing, she even enclosed a medical certificate from his attending physician.

She thought that would be enough to make them believe her. Even if Bishop Johann suspected her, he wasn’t a real threat. If he raised an issue based only on suspicion, it would just make things harder for Kyle. She didn’t think he would publicize that his beloved seminarian had suddenly vanished.

As expected, there were no further messages from the bishop. Instead, letters began arriving with the Liber & Tea logo on the envelope—clearly from one of Kyle’s friends. The sender asked to be called Mateo, trying to bridge the gap and filled his letters with concern about Kyle’s health and requests to visit.

Rosanna sent back the same reply she’d given to Bishop Johann. Mateo reacted strongly to the mention of “memory loss” and insisted all the more that he had to meet Kyle. He even came to the townhouse once before Kyle was discharged and ended up waiting in vain. He was more persistent than the bishop.

After Rosanna warned him—implying that if he kept pushing, he might not be allowed to see Kyle at all—he finally quieted down.

Rosanna opened her eyes. Reflected in the mirror was Kyle, looking hopeful.

“I didn’t hear much about your acquaintances. So I don’t really know.”

“…I must’ve been a private person.”

“That’s not it. We just spent so much time focused on each other that there wasn’t time to talk about other people.”

Still embracing Kyle’s neck from behind, Rosanna lowered her hands. They slipped beneath the neatly tied front of his robe.

“Mm… Your hands are cold.”

“Looks swollen. I should examine it.”

As she started gently touching his chest, Kyle’s breath grew hot.

“You’re the one who left all those marks…”

“I gave you the illness, so I’m giving you the medicine too. I’ll apply something cold.”

Rosanna rubbed her fingers over a sensitive bump. She framed the intimate gesture as a medical act, leaving Kyle unable to resist.

“Was last night not enough for you?”

“Hmm? No, it was. But once you do it once, you want to keep doing it. If we’d met earlier, I could’ve found out how good it was a lot sooner.”

Rosanna recalled the years when she had only known the pleasure of feeding on blood, unaware of the ecstasy of intimacy. She licked the flushed marks on Kyle’s neck. Kyle flinched.

“I’m sweaty!”

“It’s fine. You taste good.”

“Please don’t say things like that… It’s embarrassing.”

“What good are thoughts if you don’t say them out loud? That’s how you know I love you.”

“…I’m relieved. I’m glad this isn’t just a relationship based on sex.”

“Why would you think that?”

“Well, since I woke up… that’s basically all we’ve been doing.”

“Oh… I guess that’s true.”

Only now did it hit her. While Rosanna had many memories with Kyle, all of Kyle’s memories of her started after he woke up. It wouldn’t be strange if he thought she was just some woman constantly throwing herself at him.

“Let’s go on a date today!”

“Out of nowhere?”

“Just somewhere close, like the park. Let’s make some new memories. By now, the bath should be ready. Wash up, and we’ll head out. We’ll eat outside, too.”

Rosanna pulled Kyle to his feet and nudged him into the bathroom. After telling him to bathe first, she rang the servant bell. A maid arrived at the bedroom shortly after.

“Do you need anything, ma’am?”

“We’re going on a picnic. Get the food ready, and let the coachman know.”

“Understood. Lord Vlad just asked for sandwiches too, so the kitchen’s already making some. It’ll all be ready soon.”

The maid left right away to prepare for the outing.

Once the door closed, Rosanna walked to the window and squinted up at the sky. Clear blue and bright sunlight. It was a perfect day for a picnic.