What a stroke of luck, Arthur thought. To think the opportunity would arise quickly for him to gain favor from Clair.

“Are you okay, Mom?” Arthur offered his hand to his girlfriend’s mother.

Clair squinted her eyes, “W-What? Mom? Who’s your mom? Dammit, I’m not your Mommy.”

Luciel chuckled, “Well, not yet.”

The woman stood up by herself, glancing at the bandits lying down on the street. She sighed, “But I’m not an ungrateful woman. I let you go this once,” the woman averted her gaze from Arthur, “… And thank you for saving me,” she continued, barely a whisper.

“That’s unfair, Mom! If a beautiful woman acts so cute like that, any man will quickly fall for you,” Luciel protested.

Clair was flustered, “Geez, you’re such a menace, girl!” The woman pinched her daughter’s cheek widely.

Arthur let out a slight smile, seeing the heartwarming bonds of the mother and daughter. However, it left a pang in his heart, knowing that he could never have that warm again. Not after he lost his family.

"So, what are you doing here, Ma'am? This is not the place for a woman to stroll around at night." Arthur asked.

Clair sighed and grabbed her head, "Yeah, I know, right? But the thing is when I was enjoying my time at the festival, I had the feeling that someone followed me. I thought that I could lose them, but instead, I was running straight to their trap."

"Well duh, Mom. You're only asking for trouble, walking to a place like this when you're followed. Remember, next time, you should report to Hwarang and get their protection. Okay?" Luciel scolded her mother.

Clair brushed her hair, laughing awkwardly, "S-Sorry for making you worry."

Suddenly, thunder roared in the sky, followed by a sudden downpour. The heavy rain soaked the ground, and the coldness of the night intensified, causing Arthur to shiver slightly. Clair and Luciel huddled together under the small awning of a nearby empty building, trying to shield themselves from the rain.

"What luck, I left my umbrella at home. Geez, why am I so unlucky today? Did I eat something wrong today?" Clair pouted.

"Ma'am, if you want, we could go to my house," Arthur offered.

"What? What are you planning here, young man?" Clair scowled.

"N-no, no. I'm not planning anything. It's just that my home is close by. Staying too long with wet clothes is not good for health," the man explained, only to be met by suspicion, "I'm just worried about Luciel, that's all. I promise."

"It's a good idea. It's so cold here, Mom, please, let's go!" Luciel begged.

Clair hesitated, still eyeing Arthur with suspicion. The rain was relentless, though, and Luciel's pleading eyes softened her resolve. With a sigh, Clair finally relented.

"Fine," she said, though her tone was still cautious. "But just because Luciel asked. And you'd better keep your promise, Arthur."

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Arthur nodded earnestly, relieved that Clair had agreed. "Of course, Ma'am. My house is just a few minutes away. Follow me."

The three of them quickly made their way through the narrow streets, the rain pouring down on them unforgiving. After taking a few turns, they finally arrived at a small, cozy-looking house tucked away in a quiet corner of the town.

"This is it," Arthur said, opening the door and stepping aside to let Clair and Luciel in first.

Clair cautiously entered the house, taking in her surroundings. The interior was simple but well-kept, with wooden furniture and a small fireplace. At the corner of the room, she found three beds aligned, separated by curtains, and filled with many medical tools and supplies. It was designed to be a small clinic, perhaps used for treating patients. Hmm, that man really was a doctor.

Luciel started the fireplace and hung her coats nearby. She sat down, holding her hands out to the fire. "This is nice," Luciel said, her voice full of relief. "So much better than standing in the rain!"

"You're awfully familiar with this place," Clair followed Luciel and hung her coat beside Luciel's.

"Well, it's my boyfriend's house."

Arthur smiled, closing the door behind them. "I'll get some towels and something warm to drink," he said, disappearing into another room.

Clair took a moment to look around, her eyes landing on a few framed small paintings on a shelf. She walked over to them, looking at the painting that depicted Young Arthur standing beside a white-haired woman. The faces were smiling, full of life and warmth, without a feature of a vampire. Perhaps, that woman was her mother? Clair thought. But then, a sudden idea crossed the woman's mind.

"Luciel, you already know that man is a human?"

Luciel looked at her mother, dumbfounded, "Of course, dummy. He's my boyfriend!"

"And you're okay with that?"

Luciel nodded, "Yup, I don't mind. After all, I'm not exactly a demon myself. A created being like me is usually categorized as a golem. And Arthur, knowing that I'm not a living thing, accepted me for who I am. That makes me... happy, and it's enough for me."

The girl looked at a fire with a warm smile, "The reason why he dressed as a vampire today, is because of how this town treats humans. He didn't want our relationship to cause bad rumors about us. But surely, a real vampire could see through the disguise easily."

Clair took a deep breath. "You love him so much, huh."

Luciel gave her mother a bright smile, "Really lots!"

Clair sat beside her daughter, "But you got one thing wrong." The woman caressed her daughter's head softly, "You're not a thing. You are alive. You are my daughter, remember that."

Luciel chuckled, "I know, I know. Don't worry, Mom."

The firelight danced across the room, casting a warm glow that made the cozy space feel even more inviting. Despite the storm outside, there was a sense of peace settling over her.

Arthur returned with towels and a tray of steaming tea. He handed the towels to Clair and Luciel, then placed the tray on a small table near the fireplace. "I hope this will warm you up," he said, his tone gentle.

Clair accepted the towel, and after drying her hair, she took a sip at her cup of tea. The warmth spread through her, giving her a calm and peaceful feeling. She glanced at Arthur, who was now sitting down near the fire as well.

"Thank you, Arthur, for looking out for Luciel," Clair said.

Arthur choked on his tea. In a panic, he said, "U-uh, d-did I do something wrong? The tea tastes bad perhaps? Or the temperature is not on your liking?"

Clair smiled lightly, "But this doesn't mean I approve of your relationship, understand?"

Luciel chuckled, "Geez, Mom. You're so annoying!"

"Well, annoying IS my last name."

After laughing together, the three of them sat in comfortable silence for a moment. The sound of the rain pattering against the windows created a soothing backdrop. Arthur watched Clair quietly, seeing her solemn expression when looking at the fire. It was only for a moment, but her somber gaze somewhat reminded Arthur of his Mother.

Arthur's thoughts wandered back to the massacre that had taken his family. The image of his mother's final moments haunted him, her last act of love and protection forever etched in his mind. The echoes of that night, the screams, and the terror, still lingered like a shadow that refused to fade. The warmth of family, the laughter, the love—it was all gone in an instant.

Here, with Clair and Luciel, he felt a faint echo of what he'd lost. But despite that, the gaping hole inside his heart... never felt so painful.