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As the saying went, Lucy was born weak. She couldn’t easily step out into the sunlight. Considering that high-ranking vampires could move about during the day, it was hard to believe that she was truly a Menorah.
According to Strigon, it was due to her unstable magical power.
'Maybe... my mother abandoned me because of that. Even though I’m a Menorah, it’s only natural I turned out this weak…'
Why was I born like this?
It was a despairing thought, but still, she could endure it. Because Lucy had Strigon.
“I’m both your brother and your father now. So, as someone still weak and young, you must obey me.”
He would say this gently as he stroked Lucy’s head. Her purple hair slipped between his fingers.
Feeling the texture, Strigon let out a sigh-perhaps one of pity, or perhaps of satisfaction.
Whenever he did that, Lucy couldn’t help but feel a strange discomfort.
She didn’t know exactly why. In fact, she thought it was presumptuous of her to feel that way about Strigon.
'Strigon treats me so well…'
Though cold and ruthless toward his own kin, Strigon was always incredibly kind to Lucy.
They appeared to be a caring brother and sister, and at times, even looked like a beautiful couple.
Because of his special treatment, Lucy often felt her heart flutter. Sometimes, she even felt superior knowing she was different from other vampires.
But that feeling didn’t last long.
Strigon was frequently away from the castle.
Left alone, Lucy would sit quietly, waiting day after day for his return.
Even when Strigon came back, not much changed. He spent most of his time in the underground ritual chamber.
Lucy wanted to spend more time with him. But she also didn’t want to bother him.
'Then maybe I should help Strigon with his work!'
Her magical power might be unstable, but she felt she could at least assist with a few minor rituals.
She was sure Strigon would be pleased if he knew she had such thoughts.
Just imagining it made Lucy happy, and with a shy smile, she went off to find him.
And then Strigon said.
“What? No. You don’t know the first thing about rituals.”
“But you could teach me. It’s not like I’m trying to do something difficult from the start. If I just help with little things…”
“No.”
Strigon cut her off firmly. For the first time, a hint of cynicism flickered in his eyes as he looked at Lucy.
“All you need to do is stay by my side and smile prettily. Don’t try to do anything unnecessary. Got it?”
His gaze was cold-shockingly so-but his hand caressing her cheek remained as gentle as always.
Only then did Lucy start to sense that something was wrong.
Until now, she had thought that Strigon cherished her because she was weak and lacking. But his attitude now…
'It’s like... he wants me to stay weak.'
It seemed Strigon didn’t want her to become strong or useful.
Why?
While Lucy was caught up in these tangled thoughts, Strigon ended up being away much longer than usual.
“Take good care of the castle while I’m gone.”
As he embraced her tenderly before leaving, his affection made it hard to reconcile with his earlier coldness.
'Right… maybe Strigon was just worried about me then. He didn’t want me to help because he didn’t think I was ready yet.'
Lucy tried to convince herself of that.
'Come to think of it, I’ve never really proven myself to Strigon. But I’m a vampire too. If I become stronger by the time he returns... then maybe he’ll acknowledge me.'
Reaching that conclusion, Lucy impulsively left the castle.
The first time, she didn’t get very far before turning back. But that one act of rebellion soon turned into a second, and then a third.
On her second outing, she went farther than the first. By the third time, she had reached the city.
Most cities were guarded by the 'Star of Lamphas,' which would reveal her true identity as a vampire, so she couldn’t enter easily.
But there were a few cities where the protective star had fallen into disrepair.
Those were the cities Lucy sought out.
During one of her visits, she happened to find out about an art exhibition being held at a gallery.
Having only ever seen the world through books and paintings, Lucy was naturally drawn to the idea.
And so, she went to the gallery.
There, she came face-to-face with Laurus’s painting.
His artwork completely captured her gaze, she couldn’t look away. And Lucy found herself wondering. What kind of person could create something like this?
“I saw your painting. You’re talented.”
That’s what she had said when she first met Laurus.
And when Lucy met Laurus like that. She saw a reflection of herself in him.
The way Laurus paid attention to every word, every glance, reminded her eerily of how she once reacted to Strigon.
It was as if she were looking in a mirror.
Because of that, Lucy found she couldn’t be cold toward Laurus.
Even after learning that Lucy was a vampire, Laurus wasn’t afraid in the slightest.
Instead, he worshiped her, claiming that Lucy was the center of the world, the master of his life.
Strigon had always been kind to Lucy, but he had never truly respected her.
What he gave her was only ever what he wanted to give.
Whatever he forced upon her, Lucy had no option but to quietly accept and nod with a smile.
So it was a strange feeling when Laurus paid attention to everything she liked-down to the smallest details.
But Lucy quickly grew used to that sweetness.
Soon, she became completely immersed in playing the role of Laurus’s patron.
By day, she would visit his studio and admire his artwork.
By night, she’d eliminate anyone or anything that stood in the way of his fame or caused him distress.
And Laurus, as if proving Lucy’s eye for talent, spread his wings and soared almost immediately once she cleared his path.
The more Laurus was revered in the human world, the more Lucy felt like she too was ascending.
Every moment spent with Laurus was pure joy.
Time flew by before Lucy even realized it.
Then one day.
A sudden and unexpected pain struck her. It felt as if her heart had been torn apart, her breath caught in her throat.
“Ah—!”
Lucy yanked open her top and looked at her chest. A fang-shaped mark, like a brand over her heart, was glowing and burning.
Only then did Lucy realize.
'Strigon is back.'
He was calling to her. If she delayed even a little longer and Strigon came to find her himself, things would be bad.
In the end, Lucy couldn’t even explain anything to Laurus. She was forced to return to Strigon’s castle in a hurry, without a word.
Up until that moment, Lucy believed that Strigon-though likely worried about her sudden disappearance-would understand once she explained everything.
“Now that I have a follower, surely he’ll praise me for finally becoming a respectable vampire…?”
But Strigon’s reaction was nothing like what Lucy had hoped.
When Lucy finally faced Strigon again after so long, he erupted like a volcano spewing lava, furious and violent, unleashing his wrath without restraint.
“Did you enjoy sneaking out on your own like that?”
With glowing red eyes, Strigon stormed up to her and, without warning, grabbed Lucy by the throat.
“Ghk—!”
“You act so meek in front of me, wagging your tail like an obedient pet… But behind my back, this is how you betray me!”
Lucy wanted to explain, but she couldn’t say a word with his hand crushing her windpipe. Only after he hurled her to the floor did she manage to gasp for air.
What followed was wave after wave of violence and oppression from Strigon.
Lucy was trapped inside his castle, a place that was now no different from a birdcage, no different from a prison. There, she had no choice but to endure his cruel rage and brutality.
More than fear or pain, what Lucy felt was shock. The man who was tearing her down like a madman…
This wasn’t the Strigon she knew.
Or maybe...
Maybe the Strigon she thought she knew had never been real at all.
Even as he vented all his fury onto the imprisoned Lucy, Strigon’s anger showed no sign of waning.
He interrogated her obsessively, as if he couldn’t rest until he uncovered every last detail of what she’d done outside the castle.
And so.
Lucy desperately hid the truth about Laurus from him. Because if Strigon ever found out about Laurus…
He would undoubtedly kill him.
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