"Hahaha... It's our greatest honor to serve Lady Mariette!" A man with crimson hair and gray eyes spoke, his voice filled with nervous laughter. It was none other than Esdeath's father, Baron Nyx Crimson, the ruler of Swann.

He stood outside a large countryside house, nothing like the grand mansion it would one day become. Back then, it was just a sizable but simple home—modest in luxury, yet far better and bigger than the other villagers' houses nearby. Despite its size, it was still a humble abode compared to the grandeur Lortell Mariette was accustomed to.

Esdeath's father continued rubbing his hands together, a wide grin plastered on his face, unable to contain his excitement and anxiety.

In front of him stood the head maid Lorraine, and beside her, Lortell Mariette herself. Lorraine had brought Lortell directly to Baron Nyx Crimson's home. Lortell, as usual, wore her expressionless face as she took a clear glance at the house in front of her.

"It's nowhere near as big as my palace," she thought, her eyes briefly scanning the building before turning to the lush greenery surrounding the land. "But I suppose it's not actually a bad place. I can live here for at least a week."

The countryside's quiet charm and natural beauty softened her usual indifference, if only slightly.

Behind them were large boxes filled with clothes and other essentials, showing that they were prepared to stay at Esdeath's house for some time.

"I'm going for a walk," Lortell declared, her voice leaving no room for discussion. It wasn't a question or a request; it was an order. She had only just arrived, but she didn't bother to even step inside the house. Not that anyone would dare to scold or oppose her decision.

She turned on her heel, ready to head out for a walk, but as she took her first step, Nyx Crimson's voice hesitantly called out.

"Umm... If you don't mind, could I say something?" His voice was filled with concern and nervousness. "Actually, I have a daughter. She doesn't get along well with others. She might be somewhere nearby, and if you meet her... could you play with her?" He forced a laugh, scratching the back of his head. "She has red eyes, just like you. I think you both might get along well."

Nyx intentionally left out the detail about his daughter's black hair, worrying it might leave a bad impression on Lortell.

Lortell paused, turning her cold gaze toward Nyx, her thoughts simmering. "Play? What am I, a newborn child? And with his daughter? Do they think I'm some sort of babysitter?"

She stared at him in silence for a few seconds, her expression unreadable. Without a word, she turned back around and continued walking, her steps as deliberate as ever. She didn't feel the need to respond to such a suggestion, nor did she care to entertain the idea.

As she walked away, the air around her seemed to chill, leaving Nyx standing there, unsure whether to be relieved or worried.

This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.

.....

In a quiet corner of the garden, a little girl, no older than six or seven, knelt on the ground. Her flowing black hair framed a face marked by striking dark red eyes, each eye patterned with multiple rings, adding an eerie depth to her gaze. This was Esdeath. Her small hands, trembling with fear, clutched a book much too large for her tiny frame. She held it tightly against her chest as if it were a shield against the world. Her breaths were shallow, almost gasping, a mix of fear and hopelessness etched across her delicate features.

"I said give me that cursed book!" a boy's angry shout broke through the air as he lunged toward her, trying to snatch the book away.

Other children, both boys and girls, crowded around Esdeath, their faces twisted in cruel determination. They all reached out, eager to take the book from her, but Esdeath held on with all her might, refusing to let it go.

Summoning all the courage she had left, Esdeath took a deep breath and cried out, "If you become my friend, then I'll give you this book!"

For a moment, silence fell over the group. The children exchanged glances, and then, as if on cue, they burst into laughter.

"Hahahahaha..." Their cruel laughter echoed through the garden, taunting her.

"Who would even want to be your friend?" sneered one of the boys. "You don't have the strength or stamina to play any games, and you're not smart enough either. Just because you can read and write doesn't make you better than us!"

As the boy continued to mock her, a voice suddenly cut through his insults, calm yet commanding. "Umm... excuse me, your voice is irritating. Do you mind going home?"

The boy stopped mid-sentence and turned around, only to be met by the sight of a girl with pale, almost vampire-like skin, silver hair, and eyes as red as blood. It was Lortell.

"Now who are you? The witch's big sister?" he sneered, trying to sound tough.

Without a word, Lortell's hand moved swiftly, and the sound of a sharp slap echoed through the garden. The boy didn't even have time to react before he crumpled to the ground, unconscious from the force of her blow. Lortell remained expressionless, her face a mask of cold indifference.

The other children gasped in shock, their eyes widening as they stared at Lortell. Fear gripped them as they realized who stood before them.

"Lortell... My name is Lortell Mariette," she said calmly, her voice chillingly devoid of emotion.

The mere mention of her name sent waves of terror through the group. One of the kids gasped, "Arch-duke's daughter Lortell?"

The recognition struck them like a bolt of lightning. Without another word, they turned and fled, racing away as fast as their legs could carry them, leaving the boy unconscious on the ground.

Esdeath, still clutching her book tightly, looked up at Lortell with wide, astonished eyes. The fear that had gripped her moments ago began to melt away, replaced by a mixture of awe and a small flicker of hope.

"Ummm... Thank you so much for saving me!" she said, her voice soft and innocent, filled with gratitude.

As the words left Esdeath's mouth, Lortell finally noticed the little girl before her. She hadn't even realized she had saved someone from those bullies. But now, as she looked down at Esdeath, something strange struck her. The girl's dark red eyes and pale skin sparked a thought in Lortell's mind: "A vampire?"

To clarify her suspicion, Lortell stepped closer and placed her hand on Esdeath's head. She closed her eyes for a brief moment, sensing for any signs of power. But there was nothing—no trace of an awakened person, no hint of anything extraordinary. Lortell realized that she had been mistaken. "Nope, not even an awakened person. I guess that's what they mean by not judging people by their appearance. Even I was fooled by her features," Lortell thought to herself, her hand still resting on Esdeath's head.

To Esdeath, however, it felt like Lortell was gently patting her head. A bright smile spread across her face, and her cheeks turned a rosy shade of red. It was a simple gesture, but it meant the world to her.

As Lortell's thoughts shifted, she remembered what Nyx had said earlier: "Red eyes... Oh, so she's his daughter. And if I'm not wrong, this black hair must be the reason everyone avoids her. Hmph, what idiots, as expected of humans—they only believe what they see!" Disdain filled her mind as she thought about how shallow people could be. With these thoughts, she withdrew her hand from Esdeath's head, turned around, and began walking away.

But before Lortell could take more than a few steps, a small voice called out from behind her, "Does that mean we're friends?"

Lortell stopped and turned her head slightly, taking a clear look at Esdeath, who was staring at her with hopeful eyes. After a brief pause, Lortell spoke, her voice cold and indifferent, "Don't get full of yourself. I only scared them away because their voices were irritating."

With that, Lortell turned back around and continued walking away, leaving Esdeath standing there, still holding her book.

Esdeath watched her go, her heart sinking a little. Yet, the faint warmth of Lortell's touch lingered on her head, and though Lortell's words were harsh, Esdeath couldn't help but feel that something had changed. For the first time in a long while, she didn't feel completely alone.