Reincarnated as the Vampire Princess' Familiar
Chapter 36 - 35 - The fear of losing the one you love

Chapter 36: 35 - The fear of losing the one you love

«Why do guys always have to be so complicated?! Ugh!» Ginevra exclaims, her face a mix of anger and nervousness as she lies on her stomach on my bunk, pounding the pillow with her fist and kicking her legs restlessly.

She and Luke had an argument just before dinner—those two argue one day, and the next as well—which is why she came to my room, probably—no, definitely—to vent.

Did she take me for her bestie or something?! Then again, to be honest, I didn’t even understand why they were fighting. Or rather, I did—Luke forgot to wish her a happy eighteenth birthday—but Ginevra’s reaction feels a bit overblown and out of place to me.

«Honestly, you women are the real mystery...» I reply, my voice carrying a mix of resignation, contemplation, and unease as my gaze drifts to the small window, overlooking the endless stretch of sand and rocks surrounding the Lunae Novae dormitory.

Something is bound to happen tonight—that much is certain... but what? And yet, out there, everything appears normal. The small Minus Moon glows in the pitch-black sky—just like always. The soldiers, stationed in orderly formation around the dormitory to prevent unauthorized entry or exit, seem slightly more numerous than usual, but not enough to signal an impending catastrophe. Moreover, their movements show no signs of urgency or concern, as if this were just another routine patrol, no different from any other night.

«We’re the mystery? No, you men are just a bunch of insensitive jerks who don’t have a clue about us!» she snaps, sinking her teeth into my poor pillow, nearly ripping it apart—by now, it has become both her punching bag and emotional outlet.

Well... better the pillow than me...

«I imagine that, given the situation, he might have had more... let’s say... pressing matters on his mind,» I reply, trying to soothe her—to make her see that, considering the ruthless, battle-driven fate awaiting us familiars, it’s only natural for certain things to be forgotten or at least set aside. But instead, my words have the opposite effect, making her even angrier.

«More important than his little sister’s birthday?!» she snaps, gripping the pillow as if she were trying to strangle it. «Nothing is more important than my birthday!»

«Little sister...? Didn’t you say you were just very good friends?» I ask, visibly perplexed, surprised not only by this revelation but—above all—by her behavior. It doesn’t resemble the mature and conscientious girl she had led me to believe she was, at least until now. She knows better than I do what Luke endures every day, so why is she acting so childish and spoiled?

«I’m not his real sister, but it feels like I am since we grew up together.» Her voice softens, taking on a melancholic tone as she suddenly stops thrashing on my bunk. «I know very well, just like you do, that Luke—just like everyone here—undoubtedly has far more serious and important things weighing on his mind... I wasn’t upset about the birthday itself, but about what his forgetfulness means. Since we’ve known each other, he has never once forgotten to wish me a happy birthday—not even last year, even though we were already here. As I told you the first time we had dinner together, Luke wasn’t always the gruff and distant guy you met—he became that way because of the relentless violence and cruelty he’s endured daily since becoming the familiar of the ruthless Count Markus Dulcar. Even though he has changed, the affection I feel for him hasn’t wavered in the slightest,» she confesses.

Meanwhile, my gaze remains tense and focused on the window, scanning for the faintest sign of danger outside, my back still turned to Ginevra.

Suddenly, I feel a warm embrace wrap around me from behind—Ginevra’s arms tightening around my waist, her tear-streaked cheek pressed against my back. «I know that, deep down, he’s still the sweet and protective boy I’ve always adored—the hero who saved me from the abyss of despair. But... day after day, I can see that part of him slowly fading, swallowed by the darkness this world has awakened in him. That’s why I wasn’t upset over something as trivial as him forgetting my birthday, but because of what it represents—one more step, yet another step, away from me. I don’t want to lose him...» she whispers, her voice choked with emotion, trembling with each sob as she clings to me even tighter.

It’s utterly impossible to remain indifferent to the raw, heartbreaking pain consuming Ginevra.

I turn toward her, wrapping my arms around her in return. Her face now rests against my chest, her tears—glistening like tiny streams of crystal in the silvery glow of the Minus Moon—sliding down her smooth, chestnut-colored hair. Her downcast eyes, reddened from crying, make the sea-like hue of her irises stand out even more. Her breath is uneven, trembling between quiet sobs.

«Luke is... he’s the person I care about most in this world, the only one who has always stood by my side—even beyond death! Throughout my life, I’ve lost every single person I held dear, one after another, until I was left utterly alone. I don’t want to lose him too—I won’t allow it—and I’ll do whatever it takes to prevent that from happening! He has always been my lifeline, my beacon in the heart of the darkest and most devastating storm, my home, my family... Without him—without the Luke I adore and admire—I don’t know if I’ll have the strength to keep going in this hell!» Ginevra exclaims, her voice trembling with raw desperation, before breaking into an uncontrollable, liberating sob.

Her voice clenches around my heart like a vice, sending a sharp twist through my stomach as I feel Ginevra first trembling frantically—then, at last, collapsing into my arms like a lifeless body.

As gently as possible, I carefully lay her down on her back on Gerard’s bunk, then take a seat at the foot of the bed.

Unfortunately, this is a matter I know almost nothing about—my knowledge of Ginevra and Luke’s past is limited to the little she just confided in me. Right now, the only thing I can do is stay as close to her as possible, easing her pain however I can and serving as an outlet for her emotions.

My compassionate gaze meets hers, but it’s as if I don’t even exist—as if her eyes, so unbearably sad, the saddest I’ve ever seen, and so empty, as if some dark spell had stolen her very soul, are staring right through me, fixed on some indistinct point on the damp, mold-covered ceiling.

«If there’s anything I can do for you—anything at all—don’t hesitate to ask,» I say softly after what feels like an endless silence. «You were the only one in this place—besides Gerard—who looked past the rumors and the cruelty aimed at me, making all of this just a little more bearable. I can’t stand seeing you like this...»

At my words, Ginevra’s eyes don’t shift even a fraction, not a single blink—yet now, I can tell she’s looking at me, as if she’s suddenly snapped out of a waking dream. Then, slowly, she gives me a tender smile.

«I’m fine, really, but thank you for the thought—I appreciate it a lot,» she murmurs, sitting up beside me—so close that my right arm is just a breath away from hers.

«Lyon... would you tell me about your relationship with Ayra? It’s something that has intrigued me ever since the first day I heard about you.»

Ayra... The moment I hear that name, the worry and fear I had momentarily set aside come rushing back—though, in truth, they had never really left me. The seventh day is almost over, and yet...

I clench my fists and lower my gaze, as a sudden wave of melancholy crashes over me.

Ayra had assured me we’d see each other again soon—she had promised me...! So why hasn’t she shown up yet? Why hasn’t she already teleported into my room, flashing that smug grin of hers and saying, «See? I’m still alive and well! And you doubted me... PFF! I told you, didn’t I? I am a Valakys, after all!»

She would definitely say that in her usual haughty voice, without a shred of modesty, pairing those words with her signature smirk—a perfect blend of mockery and arrogance. That smirk I miss so much... too much...

«Lyon... are you okay?» Ginevra asks, her voice tinged with apprehension—undoubtedly noticing my sudden change in mood—as she gently closes her hand around mine. «If I said something wrong, please forgive me. That wasn’t my intention, I swear...»

I shake my head. «It’s not your fault, or anything you said,» I reassure her, giving her hand a gentle squeeze. «It’s just that—»

At that moment, a sudden shadow sweeps over the room, nearly swallowing the view in darkness—apparently, we familiars of the Lunae Novae dormitory aren’t considered worthy of electric lighting, unlike the rest of the kingdom.

In an instant, I spring up from the bunk, hurrying back to the small window and leaning out. My gaze locks onto the sky—my body paralyzed by terror.

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