“Good afternoon, Your Highness!”

 “Mmhh…?”

 Lycoris slowly pulled himself out of bed, his eyes sore as though he were still exhausted, his mind grappling to piece together the nightmare he’d just woken from.

 Though, it certainly ended peacefully, which was more than he could say about the usual nightmares that plagued him. Was he really that desperate to see Lilianna as a kind figure? How’d his mind even cook up such an image?

 Focusing his attention back to reality, he stared at the woman standing before him in a classically styled maid uniform… though it was accented with red rather than black. Her hair was dark blue, and her eyes were bright gold. She was the servant from his nightmare, who’d—

 “You’re real!?”

 He froze in shock. As though hoping to deny the truth of that nightmare, he put a trembling finger inside his mouth to rub one of the sharp little fangs. His hand was clean when he looked at it, but… somewhere inside, he knew that was just denial at work.

 After all, the platinum-blue locket hung from his neck, its chains still warm from being tucked against him under the covers. As the realization that he’d had such an intimate conversation with Lilianna in reality, and that everything she’d said had been in earnest, settled into his mind, his cheeks burned dark purple. What had he been thinking!? Why did he show so much vulnerability to that tyrant!? Did he want to get taken advantage of!?

 But, would she really do that…?

 “Y-Yes, I’m quite real, last I checked… Are you alright, Your Highness? Her Majesty your mother instructed me to make sure you didn’t sleep all day. I must say, it caught me quite off-guard to see such a… different side to her.”

 “She’s not my…” He froze mid-sentence, and ran his hand across his face. The idea of rejecting Lilianna’s selfless love felt unnecessarily cruel; inhumane, even. “Which of us would be the monster, in that case…?”

 “Monster…? Um, Your Highness—”

 “You can just call me Lycoris.”

 “I could never! I-I am but a humble, foolish servant who has caused a drastic upset to Your Highness’ daily routine with my inability to swiftly and silently deal with the intruders on my own! You may inflict any punishment you deem worthy on me afterward, but I must ensure that you are properly dressed and fed, so that you might at least salvage the latter half of your day. Though I know it is presumptulous to declare after causing you such grief with my lackadaisical behavior!”

 A part of him already regretted sparing this woman from Lilianna’s hasty judgment. But, she really hadn’t done anything wrong. She was just an ordinary servant cleaning the halls. He was no stranger to being in the wrong place at the wrong time. And as a true knight, he would always protect the innocent.

 Nevermind that the person he’d saved was technically his enemy. Or, had been—he was no longer a knight in service of the King, and his adventuring companions were but memories. Did he really have an enemy at this point?

 Lycoris wasn’t sure what to believe or think. They were monsters, cast out from the Goddess’ light, worthy of being shunned, loathed and destroyed for devouring the souls of humans. But Lilianna was kind, and he hadn’t lost his sense of humanity despite his purpose being torn away from him…

 His head spun as his thoughts spiraled, finding no exit to the maze despite the key to the door hanging around his neck.

 While he was distracted by his internal struggle, the maid fitted him into an elegant multi-piece dress covered in ribbons and tied at the back with a great big blue bow, complete with a garterbelt and tights tugging on his slender thighs beneath a flared out skirt with several layers of silken cloth.

 By the time he realized what she’d done, it was already too late to object. Not that it looked bad on him.

 There was something like this in that dresser!? You know… I never did ask Lilianna where all these clothes came from, or why they fit me so well.

 He sighed internally as he looked at the elegant image of a noble girl reflected back at him, while the maid dutifully combed his hair.

 “Your Highness, how shall I style your hair? And how do you prefer to wear your makeup?”

 “…My what? Er, listen you don’t have to do all this for me. I can take care of my hair myself.”

 “Oh my! Such a self-sufficient girl already,” the maid tittered, before her expression softened into sorrow, “I’m sure it must have been hard, having to handle everything on your own with Mama so busy all the time.”

 “Please don’t call her that. And for the record I’m forty five years old! You really don’t need to—”

 “Only forty five!?” Athena gasped. “As expected of Her Majesty’s daughter, your intelligence and eloquence are both truly beyond that of any normal child your age! Though I suppose commoner children would learn to take care of their own morning routines by now… But you needn’t worry about such things!”

 Ah, right, he slouched his head and shoulders as the maid began to play with his hair. At least someone seemed to be having a good time. I forgot—or guess I didn’t really believe in the first place—Lilianna’s explanation about relative age. I wonder if it’s a good thing that this maid doesn’t know the truth… I wonder what she’d even say?

 Athena hummed an unfamiliar tune, bundling his hair up in a bun just like his mother’s.

 “What do you think? Makes you look like Her Majesty, right?”

 “Eugh,” he reflexively grimaced. “Pass. Next.”

 “Hehehe, it does look a little too mature, doesn’t it?”

 Maturity isn’t the problem here! I already look too much like her for my own mental wellbeing! He shouted within his heart.

 “How about this, then?”

 Next she styled his hair by pulling it back and twisting the sides up into loose spiraling curls as they flowed together into a single side swept ponytail. It certainly looked… regal, and wasn’t as immature as the twintails—though he did like those flower ornaments Lilianna had picked out.

 Not that he’d ever admit such a thing to any living soul.

 Something about having someone else play with his hair felt far more embarrassing than doing so himself. Maybe it was because she actually knew what she was doing, and was able to bring out some hidden charm he’d missed in his new looks. As a human, he hadn’t shaved it off entirely, but he’d kept it cropped short enough that it wouldn’t get caught on anything or in the way of wearing a helmet; as a result, having long hair and being able to play with it was a novel experience.

 But he felt just as flustered as the first day he spent in this palace all over again.

 “Sure, whatever, it's fine,” he said dismissively, covering up the embarrassment with feigned disinterest. “I’d rather not waste all day on this.”

 “Of course! But first, your makeup!”

 “Is this really necessary?”

 “Mmm… well you are quite the natural beauty, just like Her Majesty. Plus you’re young, so we can go with just a little touch-up~ …Oh, this jar isn’t even opened?”

 She unscrewed the cap and looked at the contents with a frown.

 “I assume Her Majesty never found time to teach you about makeup, Princess Lycoris?”

 “I’m not a— no, thankfully she never bothered. Don’t I look… c-cute enough already?”

 “Heheheh, oh it seems that Your Highness has a charming spot of naivete indeed! Just you wait…”

 A dangerous gleam sparkled in Athena’s eyes. Lycoris wasn’t even given a moment to catch his metaphorical breath before she set to work. His face was powdered, his eyelashes curled, lips glossed, brows styled and even for good measure, she painted his nails with a rather familiar shade of night-sky blue.

 “Whoa…”

 When she’d finished her craft and pointed his face toward the mirror, he could only gasp in wonder. The reflection staring back positively glowed, cheeks accented with a gentle blush, lips glistening in the light, eyelashes starkly contrasting the scarlet glow of his irises. Even the pointed ears and fangs he so detested only seemed cuter—more charming—when paired with the radiantly youthful face.

 “I… look really pretty…?”

 “Of course you do! Your Highness is Exaltare Lilianna’s beautiful daughter after all! Go ahead and marvel at your maid’s handiwork to your heart’s content, while I pour you a glass for lunch!”

 “Lunch?” he cocked an eyebrow, keeping his gaze half-fixed on the mirror as he turned toward Athena.

 As he watched her shuffle towards the cabinet, a sense of dread gripped his heart. The bottle that he’d dropped when he rushed out earlier was still laying on the carpet. She crouched down, picked it up, and turned it over to look at the cork.

 “Hmm?”

 She next turned her attention to the layered rows of bottles, her frown resurfacing as she set the “wine” back in its spot on the shelf.

 The unease spread to his stomach as his gut tightened, his eyes briefly darting toward the scythe still resting against the wall. Could he really threaten Athena if she tried to make him drink blood?

 No, no. That was too extreme of a response; it’d be no better than what Lilianna was going to do to her. He could just… talk his way out of it. In fact, maybe the maid knew something about an alternative! She mentioned lunch after all, there’s no way it could’ve just been—

 “Princess, have you really not… had anything to drink?” Athena shook her head, mumbling to herself as soon as she posed the question, “No, that has to be impossible, what are you thinking Athena? There’s no way she could survive without drinking anything. Her Majesty must be arranging meals together elsewhere… Uhhrm, Does Your Highness have a preferred flavor? Personally I find Oray Reds to be a little heavy for… lunch?”

The tale has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.

 Her voice trailed off as she turned to look at Lycoris, who—without realizing it himself—had backed up against the wall beside the door, his manicured hand fumbling around for the handle.

 Distracted as he’d been by her impressive makeover skills, he’d completely forgotten who he was dealing with—what he was dealing with. The maid who helped him out of bed and fussed over every aspect of his attire and appearance was a vampire too; of course she’d believe that committing such a sinful act was normal.

 But he wouldn’t do it, not again.

 It was only a brief lapse in willpower that caused him to lose his self control before; after that, he knew better than to let his guard down. It would’ve been so much easier if he could simply give up and drown himself in that hunger, but that would truly be the death of the man Mizar had entrusted the fate of humanity to.

 Lycoris wasn’t sure if he could actually live up to that expectation. Maybe he couldn’t save humanity by slaying the Exaltare, but he could at least save his own soul. That much would keep Mizar’s wish alive in his heart.

 “Your Highness, what—”

 Lycoris’ hand twisted the door knob, and he wrapped his other around his scythe, rushing out the door before the maid could squeeze another word in.

 He had no objective or destination in mind. It was simple panic propelling him forward. He knew he couldn’t stay there, or else Athena would drag him further away from the Goddess’ grace. Even just thinking about it caused his hunger to tug at the back of his mind, like a pitch black serpent desperate to sink its fangs into his rationality, its venom a temptation that he could scarcely endure.

 He felt hot tears of frustration slide off his cheeks as he sprinted as fast as his legs could move, the hallway blurring into a smear of white and red while he bemoaned his own stupidity and terror. Like a scared child, he’d reflexively chosen to panic and escape the situation instead of remaining calm and carefully explaining. But his survival instinct—if that’s even what was pushing him forward right now—told him that she wouldn’t listen.

 Undoubtedly the maid would say something unbelievable like “don’t be silly, Princess. It’s normal to devour humans like the animals they are” and shrug off his anxiety.

 It was normal to them, after all. That’s what made them monsters, blasphemous existences in the Goddess’ eyes!

 Worse still, he understood exactly why. Even just the thought of how it tasted sent a shiver through him. His mind had sunk into a satisfied haze while he gulped down that glass. He knew that it was a sinful delight, that if he allowed himself to sink deeper into that indulgence, he’d lose whatever was left of his humanity.

 He just had to escape to… somewhere. Find real food and drink. If he lingered, then the last vestiges of ××××× would evaporate like smoke.

 But that would be impossible in his current state. Even if he had a plan, Lycoris knew that if he escaped the towering palace, it’d only be so long until his mother would catch up and reclaim him. And a part of him felt reticent… to leave her side.

 Absent a conscious plan or calculated judgment, Lycoris found his legs carrying him down the familiar path to the training hall. The nostalgic tang of metal and sweat in the air was like a natural balm to the poor confused child’s heart.

 Once inside, Lycoris fell back on the knight’s old habit. He steadied his body and emptied his mind, holding his scythe like an excessively long sword and performed rhythmic practice swings. It was no different from when he’d been the retired knight’s disciple, when he learned to separate his mind from all the misery and abuse that’d piled up on his shoulders and focused solely on his swordsmanship.

 But unlike back then, he felt hollow. His weapon was unusually heavy in his hands, as though fighting back against every swing he performed.

 In the past, each thrust of his sword was a step towards the future, a world that he’d help shape and protect with his own hands. A step further away from the haunting memories of his parents. But now, he’d reached the end of that story. He’d lost his place among the Rays after doing the right thing, and he’d lost his companions after trying to “save the world.”

 Instead, he was burying his head in the sand and avoiding the obvious truth staring him down. There was no meaning to practicing like this if he didn’t see a future worth being in. The only future he could imagine now was one where he would sink into the abyss as a monster.

 “Your Highness!” Athena’s voice called out from behind.

 Lycoris turned around, but cast his eyes toward the floor, unable to bring himself to meet her earnest and worried gaze. Coming here had certainly accomplished one thing at least. His panic had vanished, and in its place was a profound and hollow sense of dread.

 He wished he could ask Mizar what to do. What a stupid thought. He was supposed to be the teacher, the one with the answers. That was why Mizar had trusted him, wasn’t it?

 But he could only think of two choices: Either end himself, abandoning Mizar’s last wish and trampling on Lilianna’s feelings; or disregard the Hero’s sacrifice and throw the Goddess’s teachings into the trash, and become the kind of monster he swore to slay. He didn’t know if the Goddess would forgive him upon his death, but he knew he wouldn’t be able to, and neither would his beloved pupil.

 But even if Lycoris couldn't forgive himself, he couldn't bear the thought of taking his scythe to his own neck. The thought of that kind woman's face twisted in grief was too painful. He didn’t notice when it happened, but Lilianna had already dug her roots into his heart—he'd lost his opportunity to take the easy way out.

 Dragging himself out of his own head, he sighed at Athena, “Didn’t I say to stop calling me that…”

 “B-But, Your Highness is the Exaltare’s daughter!”

 “I guess…”

 “If I may be so presumptuous as to ask… why did you run away, Princess?”

 A tired half-smirk twisted on the “Princess’” lips. If destruction and damnation were the only options left for him, and he couldn’t bear to be the one to destroy himself, then why not speak the truth? He could just reveal what a monster he'd become, and let others do the work for him.

 “Because… I’m a human! Hmph, isn’t it obvious? I know what you monsters keep in those bottles!”

 The maid tilted her head, confusion blossoming across her brow. “Is this some kind of game?”

 “A g— no! I’m human! And a man at that! Lilianna just… arbitrarily decided all of this on her own! She ‘embraced’ me and turned me into this.”

 “… … …Pff—”

 Rather than showing shock or horror or even anger, Athena laughed.

 “Snrk… Ahahaha! O-Oh dear, hahaha! I’m sorry, Your Highness— hehe, oh no I shouldn’t laugh but— ahaha… it’s just too much! Oh… Exaltare take my head for my indiscredulation!” She slapped her cheeks rather forcefully, her face momentarily bruising purple. “I haven’t heard such an absurd joke in my entire life. Her Majesty, making a ghoul of a human child, and calling them her own? Did you perhaps get that idea from one of those fangfiction sites?”

 “From a what? No, I-I’m being serious here! Listen, I realize it sounds preposterous—at least, based on what Lilianna’s explained—but I really did end up as a proper vam— n-not a ghoul. Why do you think I freaked out when you fed me blood? And why I ran away when you were about to again! How much do you leeches even need anyway!?”

 “Now now, Your Highness, there's no need to go so far. Even as a joke, that'd be quite dangerous to say to the wrong person. And while being a picky eater is a bit cute and maybe an endearing trait for a child to have, I’d prefer to avoid telling your mother that you’ve been purposefully starving yourself. She’d probably have to find you another maid after that conversation…”

 “I am not being a picky eater! It's not a matter of what kind of blood, I just refuse to drink it entirely!”

 “But why would you ever refuse nourishment?”

 “Because I’m a human,” he repeated emphatically. “Look, can’t I just like… eat food? You know, bread and water, maybe some jerky…” he murmured, squeezing the locket with his free hand. “Even vegetables! Honestly I’d relish some nice fresh cabbage. …I’m not a picky eater!!”

 Surely, surely there had to be another way. Yes, they were vampires, but they were all also surprisingly normal people. He'd come to that realization after hearing so much—yet also so little—about their culture from Lilianna. The topic of food production never came up in Lycoris’ conversations with his mother, but they couldn't all be bloodsuckers. It sounded downright unsustainable given the sheer volume of vampires living in just this city, much less their whole nation.

 Lycoris looked up to Athena expectantly, hope sparkling in his eyes, but the maid mercilessly cut down his proposal.

 “That's not a proper meal, Your Highness. You know that.”

 “No I really don’t, apparently. That can’t be the only way, right? Right!?” he whimpered desperately, fresh tears welling up and blurring his vision.

 “This… seems like it’s a touch beyond just playing pretend. If I may ask, what brought on this sudden change, Your Highness? You’re over forty years old, just what do you think you’ve been consuming all this time? Why would you suddenly… Ah! It must have those damned ghouls. I bet one of them put some dastardly curse on you, Princess! We need to bring this to Her Majesty’s attention at once.”

 Does she really find the idea that I was a human that impossible? Surely she isn’t that dense…

 “Has there really never been a human turned vampire before…?”

 “Nope!”

 Her response was so instantaneous, Lycoris was momentarily struck dumb. Athena took the chance to grasp the hand holding onto his scythe and began dragging him off.

 “W-Wait! Let me go!”

 “Nope! I’ll be speaking with Her Majesty about this after, even if it costs me my life; I can’t in good conscience allow a young girl to starve herself, especially not one so important and adorable as Your Highness!”

 Though vampires were naturally more physically fit than humans, he shouldn’t have been any weaker than this maid. And yet for whatever reason, he couldn’t free himself from her rigid grasp as she tugged him along. Maybe if it was Lilianna, he’d understand the discrepancy, but what was up with this random maid!?

 If it weren’t for the fact he was still holding onto the orichalcum scythe, he would’ve thought that he’d become an actual child.

 She wore a deeply grave expression, shutting down every attempt he vocalized begging her to stop. Even though she was supposed to be his servant, she refused to obey him as she hauled him back into his lavish room. Lycoris’ heart ached as she dragged him in front of the cabinet. He shut his eyes as she pulled out a bottle, wishing he could cover his ears while she hummed a jaunty tune and expertly sabered the bottle against his scythe.

 As soon as the slightly acidic and fruity scent reached his nose, Lycoris whimpered.

 “See? You’re starving! Damn those ghouls for whatever it was they did to you!”

 “You don’t get it, I’m a human! I’m not… ah…”

 With his free hand, he reflexively reached out for the glass she’d poured.

 “But, why? I already… drank before,” he muttered vacantly. “Why am I still so…”

 “It’s hardly any wonder. Every growing girl needs three square meals a day, Your Highness. I’m not sure how long you’ve been fasting for, but it really can’t be good for your health and development.”

 “Three!? Ahah…hahah…ahahahaha!”

 As the sheer absurdity of what she said sank into his bones, he felt something snap inside himself.

 Howling with pained laughter, he gripped the glass with enough force to crack it.