Felix stared at her.
"…Oh."
He paused.
"…Wait. Then why are you hugging me?"
Lilith's lips trembled into a small, emotional smile.
"Because," she whispered, "you saved me… when everyone else was afraid of me."
Felix scratched his cheek awkwardly. "Ah… that." "Hey… do you want to go back to your home?" Felix asked softly.
"Yes," the girl replied without hesitation. "I want to."
Lucien's eyes widened. Then, slowly, a relieved smile formed on his face.
"That's… great news," he said. "If the Vampire Princess returns safely, the war between empires can finally stop."
Felix nodded decisively. "Then let's go."
Without another word, Lucien raised his hand and activated teleportation.
They reappeared in the garden of Felix's villa.
"—You're back," Arven said, turning toward them.
Felix nodded. "Yes, Dad."
The girl was still clinging to Felix's clothes, holding onto him as if letting go might make everything disappear. She stood close—too close—clearly already attached.
Arven noticed immediately.
"…And who is she?" he asked carefully.
Before Felix could answer, Queen Cassandra stepped forward, her sharp gaze settling on the girl.
"This is the one you saved?" the queen asked. "Hmm."
Felix spoke calmly, as if stating a simple fact.
"The important thing is… she's the key to stopping the war."
Silence.
The air itself seemed to freeze.
"…You're joking," someone muttered.
Felix shook his head. "Nope."
The girl lifted her head slightly.
Felix continued, voice steady.
"She is."
He paused for effect.
"The princess of the Vampire Empire."
The villa erupted.
"What—?!"
"A vampire princess?!"
"Here?!"
"In this house?!"
Guards stiffened instantly, hands moving toward weapons. Mana surged as mages instinctively prepared spells.
Queen Cassandra's breath caught.
Arven's eyes widened sharply.
Rose instinctively pulled Felix closer.
Princess Celestine stared, stunned, her lips parted in disbelief.
The vampire girl shrank slightly under the sudden pressure, gripping Felix tighter.
Felix frowned.
"Hey," he said, annoyed. "She's not dangerous."
The room froze again.
Felix looked around, his red velvet eyes unwavering.
"She trusted us. She trusted me. And because of that, millions might stop dying."
Lucien exhaled slowly, rubbing his temples.
"This child…" he muttered. "He just dropped a political bomb in the middle of a peaceful dinner."
The vampire princess whispered quietly, her voice trembling but sincere.
"…I want to go home. And I want the war to end."
Another heavy silence followed.
Arven finally spoke, his voice low but firm.
"…Then we will hear her out."
Felix relaxed slightly.
Mission complete—
The real trouble had only just begun.
"So," Lucien said, folding his arms, "let's discuss what we do next."
"It's too late to move tonight," Queen Cassandra said firmly. "We depart tomorrow."
She turned to Arven. "Sir Arven, you will escort the Vampire Princess."
Arven bowed slightly. "As you wish, Your Highness."
"I'll come too," Felix said immediately.
"No, you won't," Rose said without hesitation.
"But Mom—"
Lilith suddenly spoke up, clutching Felix's sleeve.
"I'll only go if he comes with me."
Rose's eyes narrowed.
"No," she said flatly. "My order stands. He will come—but only with him. Not with some stinky old man."
For a moment—
Silence.
Then—
Lucien burst out laughing. Several guards followed, barely holding it in.
"She called him a stinky old man—!"
Arven slowly drew his sword, his killing intent flaring.
"You have a death wish?"
The guards froze instantly.
Lucien, however, laughed even harder.
Arven's eye twitched
Rose sighed. "Fine. But promise me you'll protect him. Both of you."
Lilith nodded eagerly. "Okay, Mother-in-law."
"…What?"
Everyone froze.
Felix choked on air.
"C–Cough—WHAT?!"
Princess Celestine's expression darkened instantly.
Arven blinked. "…Does she know what that means?"
Lucien wiped a tear from his eye. "My student is pulling girls at this age, and look at me—still single."
Smack.
Rose struck Lucien across the head.
"Don't say things like that in front of children!"
"S–Sorry!" Lucien yelped.
Rose turned serious again. "Arven. Lucien. Take care of my child."
Both men nodded. "We will."
Felix frowned. "Mom, I'm not that weak."
Rose crossed her arms. "You're still just a child."
Queen Cassandra stood. "Prepare yourselves. We leave at dawn."
Everyone began dispersing. Lucien returned to the Mage Tower to make preparations.
Felix's Room — Night
Felix lay stiffly in his bed.
Lilith was curled on his left.
Princess Celestine on his right.
Felix stared at the ceiling. "…Why are you both here?"
Celestine tilted her head. "Why not?"
"And why are you sleeping in my room? There are plenty of other rooms!"
Lilith spoke softly. "We're scared of being alone."
Celestine nodded. "And you're strong. Reliable."
Lilith added calmly, "And we trust you."
Celestine looked away, blushing. "We know you're too awkward to even look at us properly."
Felix opened his mouth to protest—
"I don't understand why you're so nervous." Lilith added innocently.
Felix clamped his hands over his ears. "I—I'm not hearing this."
Lilith tilted her head. why?
Smack.
Celestine threw a pillow at Felix's face.
"H–How indecent!" she shouted, face burning red.
The moment the pillow hit him—
Pain exploded in Felix's head.
His vision shattered.
Dream
A railway track.
Cold steel beneath his feet.
He didn't know where he was.
Didn't know who he was.
Two women stood before him.
One with familiar eyes.
Yuri.
Another beside her—Park Seo-ah.
They were fading.
"No—wait!"
Felix reached out desperately.
His hands passed through them.
The sound of a train screamed—
Felix jolted awake.
Morning light streamed through the window.
Both girls were sprawled on top of him, their faces tight with worry.
"Are you crying?" Celestine asked softly.
Felix touched his cheek.
It was wet.
"…What was that dream?"
It felt too real.
Too heavy.
A memory that didn't belong to him.
Or maybe—
It did.
High above, beyond the world—
A man watched silently.
He sipped his drink.
"So… fate has brought you together again, Han Seo-jun."
He smiled faintly.
"No… Felix."
"Let's see how interesting this becomes."
He winced suddenly, touching his jaw.
"…Damn. Still hurts."
Chapter End