I stood on top of a tower, nestled into the wall of my home. I looked over the landscape, towards Shulk. The road looked much nicer even further off—a testament to Mother’s work. Some of the gate guards smiled at me as I walked next to Yumi.

Descending some stairs towards the guard barracks, I sighed. This was my last day before I’d be sent to the magic academy. The comfort provided by my new life and position would leave me. There was a small win in that Janie would also be joining me. Of course, Yumi would be allowed to accompany as the personal maid of a princess.

I walked out of the barracks before people would be able to call out to me. The sun shined against the white road. Another brief thought entered my mind for the uncounted time in this life.

Vampires sure were a strange race here. Even as a vampire myself, admitting that was easy. For one, we could freely walk in the sun, and there was no consequence. The only thing noteworthy seemed to be my fangs and penchant for drinking blood. Perhaps my unique colored eyes and hair also served as a reminder?

I did sometimes wonder what would happen if I drank directly from a source, but Mother told me it wasn’t a good idea. She told me a lot more than that. In these past couple of years, I’d grown even more in the etiquette department.

Of course, while I had that thought, I tripped on the sidewalk. Yumi’s hand caught me before I hit the ground.

“Be careful, little princess.”

My cheeks flushed with heat. I nodded and moved along, hearing something about cuteness under her breath.

We passed food stands where the people smiled at me. One particular beastkin here had become my favorite for noodles. I walked up to the cat woman’s stand, and she grinned at me.

“Good afternoon, Your Highness,” the brown haired woman said. “Are you having lunch here today?”

I smiled back at her. “Yes! I was walking around the city for the last time before I have to leave.”

The woman’s eyes widened. “Oh, you are getting to be that age, aren’t you?”

I nodded, and Yumi pulled out a coin pouch.

The cat put her hand up. “I can’t possibly charge for the last meal. Instead, I could come up with a different proposition.”

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I tilted my head at that and put my finger to my chin. “I’m not sure. If there’s something valuable in the castle, I’d probably have to ask Mother.”

The woman giggled and shook her head. “No, there’s nothing like that I want. I just have a simple request.” She looked towards the castle before settling her eyes back on me. “When you get back here, I want to hear a nice tale.”

Yumi’s tail wagged as she spoke. “I am glad we are so like minded. Little Princess has no idea what her departure means to the people here.”

The cat chuckled, her eyes settling on me. “I’m sure. So, what do you say?”

“Your request is an easy one,” I said with a smile.

“I’m glad to hear it. Now, what’ll it be!?”

I got my personal favorite rice noodles and ate them together with Yumi. Lunch and food in general was always better eaten with people. The longer the day dragged on, the more I wished it would last.

Visiting the paint shop was a delight, and I got to say goodbye to the elf. The pizza man in that restaurant even greeted me outside. All of that led to me arriving back at the castle gates.

Roland greeted me with a bow before we entered the castle. The hallways reminded me of running from Yumi. The courtyard reminded me of my efforts to practice swordsmanship.

Adelisa stood there, looking distantly towards the clouds. The moment she noticed me, she sprinted over and bear hugged me.

“You don’t have to hug me so tight,” I said with labored breath. When she finally released me I continued. “It’s not like you won’t be going with me.”

“That’s true, but is there any reason I can’t hug you now?”

Before I could answer, I caught Mother and Father in the corner of my eyes and quickly ran to them. They both hugged me together.

I wanted to tell them that I couldn’t leave, but I knew that it would only send pain into my chest. The tighter they hugged me, the more my heart pounded, and I had to choke down my tears. I had to tell myself I’d see them again over and over. But looking up into their faces, I saw their own eyes moistened.

“It’s not fair,” I said.

“I know,” Mother said, “you don’t have to go if you don’t want to.”

I looked up at both of them in shock. There was Endeed a world where I could stay in this castle. I’d be sheltered from the outside, and Mother and Father would always be there for me. They’d still be there for me if I was gone. Mother made it clear she would visit me every day, but I wasn’t sure on the logistics of that.

All of the random thoughts were meaningless when confronted with reality. Despite my claims of not crying, the tears were already flowing—even as they both stroked my hair and kissed my forehead. No, perhaps that was compounding the feeling.

But I knew that if I made the choice to stay, I’d never grow. Even if I was barely an adult in my last life, I knew nothing. No, I never had a chance to learn anything. That was all until I came to this place. Surrounded by these people, I had learned of love.

I took a deep breath and steeled myself. “I have already decided I will go.”

Both of them nodded in understanding.

The only thing I could do before leaving was create another memory together, so the day completed with the painting of my whole family together. If I had this while I left, I’d never be alone.