Chapter 184: The Realisation

Seraphina’s back pressed against the cold steel chestplate of Vlad as she leaned against him. A faint crimson layer of mana radiated from her body, covering Vlad’s silhouette as well.

The bone-chilling air touching his skin vanished, replaced by a comfortable warmth that instantly relaxed all his muscles. It was as if he were bathing in a hot spring.

"How does it feel?" Seraphina asked, her head lowered, her voice soft and laced with shyness.

It took more than five seconds for Vlad to respond, as he seemed too stiff despite the Pyro mana covering him.

"Your mana is really warm," Vlad replied in a calm tone. "I can’t believe I’m really sitting in below-freezing temperatures."

Seraphina took a short gulp, her hand moving to her chest as she muttered, clearly nervous.

"I didn’t mean the temperature. How does it feel that you are sitting so close to me and sharing my mana?"

During the time Seraphina had spent with him, she had realised some things about herself that she had never known before, feelings that she had never experienced, and found herself behaving in ways that she never had before.

She had always thought of herself as an uptight, strict, and dignified person, a matriarch in the making whose judgment would never be influenced by the person being judged.

Then why had she made an exception for a mere commoner who had dared to spank her in her childhood, a crime worthy of a hundred deaths?

Born as the child of the highest nobility in both the human and vampire clans, she had learned to keep herself composed from an early age.

Only her father was allowed to see her laughing, crying, or shouting, emotions that a dignified noble should never show on their face.

When had she allowed Vlad to breach the impenetrable walls of her heart and let him show her true self?

She had attended countless balls, parties, and functions held by the high nobles, where she had encountered many striking men who offered her legendary artifacts, expensive gifts, and showered her with poetry and songs dedicated to her unrivaled beauty. Yet none of them had ever affected her.

It all seemed fake.

Every person wore a mask to conceal their wicked desires. Beneath their gentle facades, she could sense their lecherous intentions, whether it was to obtain the untouched flower before them or to find an opportunity to become acquainted with House Cendral.

Then how had she come to feel butterflies fluttering in her stomach, her heart skipping a beat, and her breathing growing heavy just by stealing a mere glance at Vlad?

Why did she always feel self-conscious in his presence and care about what he thought of her?

Why couldn’t she see through his mask and uncover his desires?

Was he simply too good at hiding his true self, or had he never worn a mask to begin with?

With each encounter with Vlad, each conversation, and each moment she shared with him, her curiosity about him and about the part of herself she had never known existed continued to grow.

She wanted to learn more.

About him.

And about herself.

She wanted to understand these strange feelings.

To discover what they truly were.

"It feels like you have become a part of me," Vlad’s gentle, deep voice pulled her out of her thoughts.

"H-huh?" Seraphina looked up at him, confusion clear in her pink eyes.

Vlad turned his face sideways, a faint blush forming on his cheeks as he repeated, "You asked how it feels sharing your mana? The way your mana is blanketing my body, it feels like you are embracing me, like you have become a part of me. It... it feels good."

A soft gasp escaped Seraphina’s lips, her eyes widening and her jaw dropping. Blood surged into her face, the crimson blush spreading across her cheeks and reaching her ears.

Her grip tightened on her skirt, her heart racing faster than it ever had as the realisation finally dawned on her.

’Oh shit...’ she murmured inwardly. ’I’m totally head over heels for this commoner.’

She shook her head, her whole body squirming as she blurted inwardly, ’H-huh? What? Do I like him? I like him! Like him a-as in ’love him’????’

She looked up at him, her shaking eyes meeting his striking features that seemed even more striking that day. His sharp jawline, perfectly symmetrical eyebrows, and crimson eyes gently looked at her while a warm smile tugged at his lips.

’Yes, I totally love him!!!!!!’ she screamed, snapping her face forward and slapping her cheeks with both hands.

"Sera?" Vlad called her, leaning closer.

’Don’t call me so intimately!’ she screamed inwardly, her heart skipping a beat again.

"You keep squirming. Are your feelings alright?"

’Don’t care about me!!!’ she screamed again.

His hand moved upward, touching her forehead as he continued, "You are burning—"

"Don’t touch me!!!" She accidentally screamed out loudly, jumping away from him and rising to her feet.

"Oh... I’m sorry," he replied calmly, a bit taken aback by her sudden lash out. "I was just worried that you might have caught a fever. I didn’t mean to offend you."

’Idiot! Idiot! Idiot!’ she muttered inwardly, frustration clear on her face. ’The first thing I did after realising I love him is scream at him. What if he thinks of me as an unstable girl?’

She looked at him, finding that he was looking at her with confused eyes. ’He definitely thinks that I’m a crazy girl.’

She almost seemed on the verge of tears now, her lower lip jutting out.

Vlad understood that she couldn’t be angry at him because he had touched her. Just last night, they had been sleeping together. She had seemed happy at first, then a bit flustered, followed by sudden anger, and now she seemed like she would begin crying at any moment.

All the clues pointed to one conclusion.

’D-don’t tell me...’ Vlad gasped inwardly. ’It’s her that time of the month.’

He rose to his feet and moved closer to her, who was still frozen at her position, her eyes lowered and lips trembling.

"Would you like a candy?" he asked in a soft tone, extending his hand forward, carrying a chocolate candy that he had just drawn from his storage ring.

She silently grabbed the candy from his hand and blurted, never raising her head, "I’m sorry for suddenly screaming at you. I truly didn’t mean it. I was thinking about something, but then your sudden touch flustered me. You are not angry at me, right?"

"Lift your head first," Vlad chuckled, shaking his head.

She slowly looked up at him, only to find that there was no expression of anger or annoyance on his face.

She took a long gulp and slowly moved forward until the moon at the background was hidden behind their bodies.

"Why are you so nice to me, Commoner?" she muttered, her pink eyes demanding an answer and something more.

"Be-because you are my precious friend," Vlad gave a vague reply, looking sideways.

Her lips pressed into a thin line at his answer, her fists tightening at her sides. She took a deep breath, firmly placed her hands on his chestplate, and muttered, "But I don’t wish to be your friend."

Two small magical circles materialised below her feet. From within them appeared two hands, formed of fire, that slowly pushed her upward until she reached a level parallel to his face.

She leaned dangerously closer, her quick, nervous breaths brushing against Vlad’s skin. He couldn’t tell whether it was the cold air or her rosy fragrance that sent shivers through his body.

Neither of them realized how little distance remained between their lips.