Chapter 6. Don’t Die, Farewell.

That damn guy… is that even something to say…?

‘I was the one who drank the blood, so why am I the one feeling dizzy?’

Axia slumped down with a resigned sigh and gestured with her hand.

“Yeah, it’s too sweet—I can’t drink anymore. Just recover and go back. You don’t have to worry about anything like treason.”

“Understood. Any message for the estate?”

“…Tell them I need blood. Send two people from the territory every three days, each by a different means of transport. I’ll write a letter if there’s anything else.”

The imperial palace was a place where even the walls had ears. This was never the right place for important conversations.

‘If I feed every three days, that should be enough. Even if one person fails to arrive, the other will make it.’

As Axia finished adjusting the bandage around her neck, Emu spoke up.

“To be honest, I thought for sure you were going to fail, my lady.”

“……”

“I mean, for ten thousand years, all those supposedly unmatched elites tried and failed, right? Assassination.”

“Exactly.”

“But we knew what happened to Lady Anna and Madam. That’s why we just kept quiet and watched as you both made your plans.”

Axia gasped and reached out to cover Emu’s mouth.

“I told you to watch your tongue! Stop talking! If you get accused of being an accomplice to assassination—”

“It doesn’t matter. Didn’t you just say not to worry about treason?”

Emu took a step back, shaking her head.

“You must have made some kind of deal with someone high up—that’s why you’re still here like this.”

“…About that, I still don’t know.”

The so-called “Twelve Labors” the Emperor demanded… she hadn’t even seen the details yet.

Whether she could complete them or not, Axia had no way of knowing right now.

“Oh, really? Then I’ll beg you.”

Emu looked straight at her.

“Please save me, Lady Axia.”

“……!”

“No, wait. Save all of our people in the estate.”

Axia froze.

She was hearing the exact same words she had once said to Grand Duke Arcas—only now, they were being thrown back at her by Emu.

“Th-that’s…”

“I won’t take no for an answer. Did you really think we didn’t know this was a suicide mission from the start?”

“……”

“A commoner, training for just six years, hoping to successfully assassinate an Emperor who has lived for ten thousand years? Honestly, isn’t that just too shameless?”

Emu shrugged her shoulders.

“This world is cruel, but we all still want to live as long as we can. And for that to happen, Lady Axia, you need to stay alive and take responsibility till the end.”

“Just because I survive doesn’t mean I can take responsibility—”

“Shh. Count Thracia and Lady Axia, you two might be able to die however you please, but what about us? The ones who got caught up in all this—what crime did we commit? If we die in vain like this, I swear, I’ll chase you into the next life and take my revenge.”

“……”

“I did a good impression, didn’t I? Didn’t I sound just like a noble lady just now?”

Perhaps it was guilt, but Axia had no words for the cheerful, grinning Emu.

‘Just moments ago… I tried to kill myself in front of the Emperor to escape alone.’

Emu waved her hands playfully and turned away.

“Don’t die. Stay safe. Oh, and thanks—the cake was delicious.”

Click.

As the door shut behind Emu, Ganymede, who had been quietly listening the whole time, let out a small chuckle and spoke.

“She’s a good maid. And a good friend, too.”

Axia lowered her head and replied.

“…She’s incredibly perceptive. She knew everything.”

Maybe the reason Emu had fled to the capital in the first place was because, if things went wrong, she had hoped she could save Axia—just like she did now.

If that wasn’t the case—

‘She wouldn’t have taken a train straight to the capital, leaving such an obvious trail.’

“More than that, I’m surprised. You managed to speak coherently after your first meal while keeping your mind intact.”

Ganymede tilted his head slightly.

“Your self-control is impressive.”

“…Emu’s blood was too sweet.”

“The taste is irrelevant.”

The young man shook his head firmly, denying her words.

“When most vampires drink blood for the first time, they keep feeding until their victim is on the brink of death.”

“…Is that so?”

Axia didn’t consider herself particularly strong-willed, so she tried to figure out the reason.

‘Is it because I drank a large amount of Grand Duke Arcas’ true blood?’

“If your self-control is this strong, it’ll make my job as your adaptation trainer much easier.”

“What exactly does adaptation training entail?”

Did she really need training for this? Her body seemed to be functioning fine, and she felt like she had control over her senses.

“It’s like this. Lugh controls ice, Shad controls blood…”

Whoosh!

“……!”

From Ganymede’s gloved fingertips, flames burst forth, forming a perfect circular ring.

“The ones who inherit the Pyro Clan’s blood wield fire. That’s why we’re superior to the other two clans… because we can burn them both to ash.”

As his languid eyes curved seductively, the previously calm and reserved impression instantly turned cunning and mischievous.

For a moment, Axia felt like she had glimpsed the savage nature lurking beneath the vampires’ refined façade, and she swallowed hard.

‘Did he just summon fire from his hands…?’

She raised her own hand, trying to imitate what Ganymede had done, but she had no clue how to make it work.

“Not so easy, is it? Your transformation isn’t fully complete yet.”

Ganymede chuckled and gently lowered her hand.

“…To be honest, you’re an unwelcome guest.”

“……!”

“The ranks of our clan members will all drop by one, thanks to you barging in so suddenly.”

‘Well, of course. There’s no way they’d be happy to see me.’

So this was how he truly felt.

But even as he spoke, Ganymede kept holding her hand, his voice calm as he continued.

“And on top of that, because you fed on my father… the other clan leaders now see him as weakened. They might try to target him.”

“Well, that’s unfortunate, but I can’t exactly apologize for it.”

Axia muttered as she pulled her hand free from his grasp.

“I was just trying to survive.”

“I know. It’s already done, so I won’t blame you further.”

Ganymede still wore the same easy smile.

“However… since you took that much power from him, you’ll need to contribute something back to the clan. Otherwise, it puts us all in a difficult position. So, as a fellow clan member, let’s start working hard together from tomorrow.”

With a lighthearted expression, the young man gestured toward the bed draped with heavy curtains.

“Get some rest. Someone from the Emperor’s side will come to wake you in the morning. I’ll return after sunset so we can continue our conversation.”

Everyone seemed to want something from her.

Axia thought to herself with a sense of resignation.

‘Fine. Whatever happens, happens… Let’s just stay alive. For now.’

Without any resistance, she stepped inside the curtains, collapsed onto the bed like a puppet with its strings cut, and fell asleep instantly.

* * *

Beep— Beep— Beep— Beep—

A piercing sound echoed in Axia’s ears, pulling her from the depths of sleep.

‘So loud…’

What is that noise?

Beep— Beep— Beep— Beep—

‘An alarm?’

…She wanted to turn it off, but her eyes wouldn’t open.

She tried reaching out toward the sound, but—

Her body wouldn’t move.

Why…?

‘Wait. An alarm?’

Thump—

That shouldn’t—

Exist in this world.

Beep—
Thump—
Beep—
Thump—
Beep—

Come to think of it, the sound… it was perfectly in sync with a heartbeat.

Just like those monitors in an ICU…

Wait.

Thump—

‘I’m a vampire. My heart isn’t supposed to beat.’

Chill—

The realization hit Axia like a bucket of ice water.

No way.

Is this Earth?

She struggled desperately to open her eyes, but—

* * *

“…Hah—!”

When she opened her eyes, an unfamiliar ceiling greeted her.

‘Damn it…!’

A dimly lit room.

Cursing inwardly, Axia finally came to her senses and realized where she was.

‘This must be the imperial residence Ganymede brought me to.’

“Oh, you’re awake.”

As Axia sat blankly on the bed after lifting her upper body, someone beyond the curtains hesitated before stepping closer to her bedside.

“…Who?”

“I was planning to wake you a little later, but it seems you stirred on your own. My apologies.”

“It’s… it’s fine.”

Because of the thick curtains blocking the light, Axia couldn’t see the outside of the bed clearly.

The silhouette of a man approached hesitantly and switched on the bedside lamp.

But more than anything, just now…

‘Was that… a dream?’

She wasn’t entirely sure, but everything about it—the sounds, the sensations—had felt unmistakably like she was lying in an ICU on Earth.

“It’s currently 9 AM. Most of the vampires are still asleep at this hour. After today, I won’t be coming at this time to wake you.”

Axia brushed a hand across her troubled face and pulled the curtains aside to look at the man—

And froze in shock.

“……!”

A faintly shy smile.

Black hair, black eyes.

Aside from the calm demeanor, his face was identical to the Emperor’s.

With a polite posture, he looked directly at her and spoke.

“Good morning. I am your court butler, sent by His Imperial Majesty. Please call me Ayer.”

‘Wait… No way… He’s not even human, is he?’

It was only then that Axia became aware of the faint sound coming from the man.

Click, click—

Instead of the steady thump of a living human’s heartbeat, she heard the rhythmic ticking of winding gears.

“Uh… why…”

‘There are too many things wrong here to even start pointing them out!’

“Oh, this body is an automaton—essentially, a ‘mechanical doll.’”

Seeing Axia too stunned to speak, Ayer immediately offered an explanation, as if he had expected this reaction.

“When humans serve or interact with vampires in the imperial palace, it’s customary to use these bodies instead of our real ones. It keeps both sides safe.”

“…Ah. So then…”

“Yes. My real body is human. Right now, I’m controlling this one remotely from within the palace.”

Ayer gave a crisp nod and rolled up his sleeve, revealing a wrist embedded with mechanical screws.

‘So… the palace staff use automaton butlers? Alright, I get that… but…’

“Uh… your face… it’s…”

“Oh! This was by His Majesty’s imperial decree.”

Ayer rubbed his face with an embarrassed smile.

“As the head steward, I frequently act as the Emperor’s proxy in administrative affairs. His Majesty insisted that if I bore this face, no one would dare treat his representative lightly.”

He chuckled.

“It’s a tradition that has been upheld for centuries.”

‘That… is a tradition?!’

She should have said something in response, but she was too dumbfounded to speak.

“…What a terrible sense of humor.”

In the end, Axia couldn’t hold back and voiced her thoughts.

“You know I’m the one who attempted to assassinate the Emperor, right? And yet, you’re supposed to be my butler while looking like that?”

“Ah, well… I’m sorry….”

Ayer’s shoulders slumped as he spoke in a small, apologetic voice.

“But I’m just an employee. I can’t exactly refuse my boss’s orders… Please, forgive me.”

Axia found herself at a loss for words as she looked down at the timidly shrinking steward.

‘His mannerisms, his speech, even his eye and hair color are different—it really is a completely different person….’

And honestly, what crime did a mere employee commit?

Axia could feel her irritation weakening.

Snapping at him would just be taking out her frustration on the wrong person.

‘Besides….’

When she glanced downward, the butler was looking up at her with the most pitiful expression.

“……”

“……”

That face… that’s cheating.

…Should she just let it go?

‘Objectively speaking, it is a handsome face, after all.’

With a sigh, Axia finally asked,

“Anyway, why are you here so early in the morning?”

“Oh! Yes! I’m here to inform you about the Twelve Labors and the curse, as per His Majesty’s command.”

Ayer perked up as he answered.

“Additionally, I will be exclusively responsible for attending to you. I’ve prepared fresh clothes and a bath for you—”

“…You’ll be my personal attendant?”

A man?

Sensing her distaste, Ayer gave a troubled smile.

“To be precise, I’m the only one who can attend to you. According to imperial law, criminals are not allowed to have personal servants.”

“…Ah.”

Well, that made sense. She was a failed assassin.

‘This leaves me with no argument.’

“However, as the Emperor’s proxy, I am allowed one assistant, and that assistant is me.”

Ayer rose from his chair and gently placed a clean set of clothes on the bed.

“I am well past the age where I would be tempted to ogle a lady’s body, but if it makes you uncomfortable, I can wear a blindfold while assisting you.”

Axia had been about to dismiss the idea, but curiosity got the better of her.

“…You can still do your job blindfolded?”

“Of course. I am the most skilled servant in the imperial palace.”

Ayer confidently nodded as he pulled a spare cravat from his pocket and tied it around his eyes.

“In truth, I’m far more concerned about hygiene than anything else. Just look at the state of your clothes.”

“…Oh.”

‘Come to think of it, I am still in that wedding dress, aren’t I?’

Axia blankly glanced down at the dried blood covering the bodice of her gown.

“It’s unsanitary to stay in bed dressed like that.”

Her dress was torn and caked with blood, the stain spreading across her chest where the fabric had been cut open.

Ganymede had pointed it out earlier, but the mark from where the Emperor had stabbed her was still visible.

“…That bastard.”

“Pardon…?”

“Nothing. I’ll take a bath and change into the clothes you’ve prepared.”

“…? Of course. The bathroom is this way.”

Still looking slightly awkward, Ayer removed his blindfold and gestured toward one side of the room.