And here I thought they hated me for it but judging from their expressions that might not be the case. But the case may be me overthinking things again.
But now that I think about it, isn't this situation quite unbelievable? Now, it's not only just me who is a vampire here but Sun and Night as well. They've been turned due to my careless actions. Indeed, I'm mostly at fault for this but I'm blaming Lacorte for not informing me beforehand that vampires can do stuff like this.
Now, what do we do? Vampires are weak to sunlight, or so I've heard and from what the village chief had said, these two became unstable and need to be detained so they must have left them in here while I was gone. Assuming that the time they became unstable was the same time I left the village to search.
Then if so, I could assume from that that they've never set foot outside nor have they felt sunlight hitting their skin since there's a cloth covering the window all the while when they're detained.
I'm still unsure if whether they're immune to sunlight like me or they're regular vampires.
Well, there's only one way to test it out.
"Lilia. Roosevelt."
As soon as I've called for them, they immediately turned their heads towards me expectantly.
So I beckoned them to come towards the window and grabbed Sun's hand first. I made a small opening in the window and placed Sun's finger at the area where the ray of light is shining through.
"Do you feel anything?"
"No? Nothing in particular. I'm hungry though."
Ignoring the last remark, it seems like this isn't enough to cause a reaction then. So for that, I slowly moved her hand through the ray of light up until her whole palm was exposed to sunlight and Sun didn't feel anything when I asked her.
And in Night's case, it's the same. No reaction from her as well.
I let out a relieved sigh. Thankfully they've somehow inherited my resistance. It'll be incredibly difficult for them if they didn't and I would feel really guilty about it even if they said they're fine with it.
"What's this all about, Snow?"
Night asked me in slight confusion. Certainly, they might find this testing weird since they didn't know what a vampire is.
But now that they are one, I guess I shouldn't keep it a secret to them then.
We sit back again on the bed and proceeded to tell them everything I know about vampires. But since I know so little still, it didn't take too long.
"—and that's it. Since it's my fault that you two have turned, I'll take responsibility for you two."
"As we said, Snow, we're not dissatisfied about all of this. But really, the way you said by taking responsibility for us, it feels like you [married] us…"
"[Married]?"
"Haha… you don't have to worry about that~."
Sun's cheek had become awfully red when she said that word. It must be something embarrassing then.
Though, I certainly am glad that they feel that way. I don't know what'll do when they said that they absolutely hate being a vampire.
But I guess it's to be expected of them? Or maybe my bite has something to do with it? But nonetheless, I'm glad they're not angry at me. And because of this vampire thing, the talk had deviated away from my earlier worry.
Though I still feel guilty about it, I decided to forget it. They don't seem too troubled by it now since I'm here already.
*Knock knock*
While I was having that thought, I heard a knocking sound from the door. It must be either Celidonia or the village chief who did that. Probably to confirm if the situation here is fine or not. This knocking was accompanied by a female human voice calling out my name, then someone knocked again on the door.
I should go out and ease their worries then.
But the moment I stepped off of the bed, Night suddenly stopped me.
"Oh, you don't have to get it. I'll go."
"No, it's fine. They're calling for me."
"But—"
"It's fine."
Ending that exchange there, I went to the door and opened it.
It revealed the worried faces of the village chief and Celidonia, as well as the other two whom I don't know the name of.
"Is everything alright?"
Celidonia asked while lowering her eye level to meet mine.
The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings.
"Yes. Fine."
"Really?"
"Yes."
We continued to stare at each other for a while with quite an uncomfortable air around us until Celidonia spoke again.
"Can I come in to meet them, your mothers?"
"Why?"
"I felt like I needed to apologize to them for bringing you with us."
If she wanted only that then I guess it's fine.
With that, I gesture her to enter. The village chief, sensing that this is meant to be private, left with the two others.
How considerate of him.
"Snow, who is…. So you're the priestess?"
As soon as they saw her, they're brows furrowed. Other than suspicious, I think they're also quite upset about this. And with them being like that, the mood here became pretty bad that it's hard to move. Celidonia is quiet herself as well.
I'll have to say something here.
"She's Celidonia. She accompanied me back."
They briefly glanced at me when I said that then shortly continued to glare at Celidonia. Seems like my words were ineffective.
"Did she now?"
Night continued to glare at her along with Sun. She then turned her eyes towards me before returning it to Celidonia. Now even more menacing.
"Could you explain the hole on the back of Snow's clothes?"
Oh… my…
Needless to say that I and Celidonia freezes up from Night's unexpected statement.
"...When?"
Apparently, I unconsciously muttered that question in an audible way that Night was able to hear it. Then again, I muttered. Celidonia didn't even hear it.
But regardless, Night heard it and I'm guessing Sun too, to which she answered with a tone completely contrary to how she glared at Celidonia a few seconds ago.
"It's when you went to open the door, Snow. The cloth fell off when we're in bed. Oh! But don't worry! I'm not blaming you for it. Since Snow gets troubled by us being such worrywarts after all. Blaming you for it would just seem unfair when I'm sure that it couldn't be helped. We can't let our emotions affect you again, Snow. I promise you that, right Lilia?"
"Of course~."
After speaking in such a kind and soft tone to me, she then returned her gaze towards Celidonia who is standing there, skin so pale that I thought she's a vampire herself.
"But what I'm angry about is the fact that when Snow is accompanied by what? Five adults and Snow still received an injury? That's simply unacceptable. This is exactly why I'm against Snow going."
With every word that Night spoke out, I felt the ground tremble and the temperature in room plummeting to the point that it's making me shiver.
Of course, that didn't happen. It's just my imagination. But Night's anger is most certainly not.
While being faced with such pressure, Celidonia could only whimper.
"That's right! Weren't you all supposed to protect her when she up and helped you in this? That's simply it and all of you didn't even do a great job on that!"
"T-that's… well… at the time, it couldn't be—"
"It couldn't be helped!? Like hell! It could be helped! Then one of you should've gone and blocked whatever attack Snow received then! Your worthless lives should be capable enough with just that!"
Ah… Sun got furious as well… But what she said is just going too far. It's unfair of her to say that when she's not even there.
"Lilia. It couldn't be helped."
"B-but Snow! You've been injured because of their incompetence! They don't deserve to liv—"
"No. I did that to save Celi."
"S-Snow, you shouldn't have—"
"!?"
"!?"
Yeah… I think I shouldn't have said that. Celidonia was right. Still, she should've said that to me earlier. Even if she's being pressured by their glares…
Yeah, it's not my fault… entirely.
But whoever fault it is, it doesn't matter now as the consequence to saying that has already happened. Now, I could feel as if there's a dark and nasty aura being emitted from them. It's somehow suffocating as well to the point that I couldn't even speak.
"… If it is due to Snow's whim then it couldn't be helped..."
Night began to mutter to no one in particular. Her expression, quite dark.
"… right… that's right... It couldn't be helped..."
Sun muttered as well.
Then after a few seconds later, unexpectedly, the two breathe in and out audibly. Because of that, the air around us has become a little lighter. Somehow.
After that, the two once again looked at Celidonia. Though they didn't say anything immediately.
Because of that, Celidonia must have felt that she should start the conversation and spoke first.
"W-what is it…?"
"... Since Snow saved you, shouldn't you be saying something to her?"
As Sun asked that sudden and unexpected question, she looked at Celidonia as if she's stating the obvious and assuming the Celidonia knows this as well.
"Oh... Um, Thank you very much for saving me..?"
"Not just that! You should be devoting yourself to Snow!"
Celidonia glanced at me for a short while before answering.
"Huh? Um… I'm certainly thankful but—"
"You can't say no to this now, miss Celidonia."
The one who interjected was Night and after she said that, she got up and approached Celidonia. To this, Celidonia backed away and Night continued her approach until Celidonia eventually had her back hit a wall, leaving her with no way to go to.
Once Night is a single step away from her, she reached out and placed her right hand on Celidonia's shoulder and proceeded to slowly move Celidonia's clothes down the shoulder, revealing her collar bone.
Night then moved her head to Celidonia's ear and whispered something.
"After all, Snow has already feed on you, didn't she?"
"!?"
"... Roosevelt, how did you know?"
I found myself asking her that. As far as I know, I didn't leave a bite mark on her. I even saw it heal with my very own eyes. Unless Night could somehow sense something like me leaving a trace on Celidonia or something then that's completely understandable since they possess the powers of a vampire now but the thing about that is, I don't see or smell anything that would suggest me feeding on her.
I know my own smell, both my mouth, my saliva, and my blood. Those smells on Celidonia when I bit her had already faded away until it's unnoticeable for me.
So… why?
Hearing my question towards, Night turned her head towards me and smiled softly, all the while keeping close to Celidonia.
Celidonia as well looked at me. Her eyes seem to be asking for help but I can't really do that right now.
"It's simple actually. Since Snow didn't seem to be begging for blood when you've arrived, I've assumed that this girl here would have provided you with sustenance. And looks like my assumption is correct."
Oh, is that it? I guess she knows me too well.
With that end until there, Night looked at Celidonia once more and continued.
"I'm sure you have felt it. The euphoria of having been bitten by her, having your blood drank. It's exhilarating. I've never felt so good before in my entire life when I have... I'm sure you can understand that. And I'm sure you would ask for her to bite you again. And when that happens, you'll want to devote your entire being to her as well."
Then Sun approached Celidonia as well and continued where Night left off.
"It's certainly such a scary thought at first but once you've accepted it, and you will for sure accept it eventually, you'll feel very liberated~."
"…"
Suddenly being told such a thing, Celidonia became speechless and just stood there, looking troubled while constantly glancing towards me with mixed messages of either asking me if what they said was true or asking me for help to get her out of this situation. At least that's what I assumed her glances towards me say.
It feels strange being treated like this but it's not like I hate it. In all honesty, it feels oddly exciting.