Reincarnated as the Vampire Princess' Familiar
Chapter 51 - 5 - The night she bared her heart

Chapter 51: 5 - The night she bared her heart

My heart pounds violently, echoing in the stillness of the night like the relentless beat of war drums. Ayra has just forced me to face her—truly face her—for the first time since we started sleeping together. Until now, I had always found excuses—fatigue, distractions, anything to avoid this moment. But she’s not stupid. I’m sure she noticed long ago that I struggle to fall asleep at night. And yet, for some reason, she chose this night—the last one we’ll spend together—to bring it up. Maybe she was waiting for me to make the first move.

And now, face to face, the emotions I barely managed to suppress erupt with almost uncontrollable intensity. Her eyes—glossy and unwavering—lock onto mine, so luminous I can see my reflection in them. The pale glow of the Minus Moon casts a soft light on her fair skin, revealing the lingering bruises and hematomas from Clotilde’s brutal training. Even after weeks, the sight of them still unsettles me.

And then... her body, so close. Her ample chest pressed against mine, her nipples brushing my skin with teasing sensitivity. Her legs entwine with mine, as if she’s trying to keep me from turning away again. Our faces—our lips—are mere inches apart, so close I can feel the heat of her breath ghosting over them. And below... my erection, throbbing, as if all the blood in my body had pooled right there—wedged between her thighs, so dangerously close I can feel the faintest tickle of soft fuzz against my tip.

I tremble. My breath catches. My stomach knots upon itself like a coiled serpent. And then... tears. An uncontrollable flood spills from my eyes, soaking the pillow beneath me—silent, without a single sob or whimper.

Why...? Why the hell am I crying now...?! Even I don’t know. The thought of not seeing her for months on end weighs on me like a boulder, but not enough to make me break down like this... I feel strange, overwhelmed by a storm of conflicting emotions, too many at once—so much that my brain might have just short-circuited.

Ayra presses even closer, eliminating the last sliver of space between us. In that instant, my erection grazes her intimate folds, and a soft, involuntary moan slips from her lips. Her cheek presses against mine, her arms tightening around my shoulders, while mine remain rigid at my sides—a desperate attempt to keep them under control.

I am her familiar—her possession. She has every right to do as she pleases with me, while I... I am nothing more than her pet. I can’t even think of touching her unless she explicitly commands it. Compared to how other familiars are treated, our relationship is almost ideal, and I can’t afford to damage it—or worse, ruin it completely—just because I overstepped my bounds.

My mental state deteriorates even further—my throat so dry I can’t even swallow.

«Are you upset because I’m joining the Scarlet Army... or is it something else?» she whispers into my ear, her voice so sweet and delicate that a shiver runs down my spine, making the hairs on my arms stand on end—so much so that she could rival the best ASMR creators.

«Y-Yeah, that...» I murmur, my voice barely escaping my lips, my mind completely clouded by the excessive blood flow... elsewhere. Carrying on a conversation—especially about something this delicate—is a real challenge right now. No matter how hard I try, I can’t stop thinking about her body, her incredible breasts just a hand’s width from my face, her hips pressing into mine, my... thing trapped between her thighs, twitching involuntarily every so often and brushing against her most intimate areas.

My body is sending a very clear message. But Ayra isn’t just some random girl I hooked up with after a Saturday night party. I have to control myself—no matter what.

«Are you afraid something will happen to me...? I’ve lost count of how many times you’ve doubted me. You’re starting to really piss me off.» Ayra’s voice takes on an irritated edge as her nails press lightly into my skin—not enough to hurt, but enough to make her frustration clear.

«Ouch!» I yelp, instinctively trying to pull back, but her arms hold me firmly in place. «It’s not that... It’s just... the thought of going months without seeing you...»

«And that bothers you?» She tilts her head slightly, a puzzled expression on her face.

«Of course... isn’t it obvious?!»

«And why should it?» she continues, her astonishment growing. «After all, I’m just your mistress.»

Right... why should it bother me? I guess when you’re forced to share your life with someone, you inevitably grow attached—just like I did with Gerard and Ginevra. That’s normal, isn’t it?

And yet... if I were to never see them again, would I suffer the way I’m suffering now for Ayra? Could simple admiration push me this far? Maybe... After all, even young fans feel something similar toward singers or actors—so obsessed they can’t imagine life without them, mistaking their fixation for... love?

No, come on, that’s ridiculous! This is impossible. Ugh... why does everything always have to be so damn complicated?!

«Because... I’m afraid of ending up in Sasha or Levreshka’s clutches while you’re gone...»

Total bullshit. But at least it sounds like a plausible excuse. I can’t exactly tell her the truth—I’d only make a fool of myself in her eyes, looking weak, submissive. A human who actually misses his own mistress? She’d probably burst out laughing.

«Is that the only reason...?» she murmurs, her gaze piercing into mine.

«W-Well, I... I think so...» I reply, my voice uncertain as I avert my gaze from hers.

«I see...» she finally says, half-closing her eyes with a sigh—one that sounds like relief. But that relief, without any warning, turns into a single, silent tear trailing down her cheek.

«But why...? What did I say wrong this time...?» I murmur, both surprised and remorseful.

Damn, she really reminds me of my ex. She used to get offended without telling me why, and I had to play Sherlock Holmes to figure it out on my own. Human or vampire, women will always be one of the greatest mysteries of existence.

Still, I can’t deny it—seeing that tear roll down her cheek hits me like a knife to the heart.

«It’s not you, Lyon... it’s not you...» she whispers, shaking her head slightly before wiping the tear away on the pillow.

«Then... did something happen?» I press, unable to hide my concern.

«Lyon, what do you think about love between humans and vampires?» she asks after a long moment of silence.

A question that, despite being direct and seemingly simple, completely throws me off. My eyes widen, my mouth slightly agape in pure astonishment—definitely not the kind of question I expected from her. It’s not something that warrants a trivial response, either. If anything, it requires serious thought.

What do I think about love between humans and vampires...? Well, if we’re talking strictly in a physical sense—going by the words of that pervert Sasha—there shouldn’t be any issue. But for a member of the royal family, it’s something highly frowned upon. That’s why I find it hard to believe such a relationship could ever be openly acknowledged.

If a human and a vampire were to fall in love—even though I have a hard time believing those creatures are capable of love—they would have no choice but to keep it a secret. And in the end, their love would be doomed the moment the vampire was forced to marry their predetermined partner, inevitably causing both lovers to suffer. A situation best avoided.

«Even if I don’t see anything inherently wrong with it, I don’t think it’s feasible—at least not under the laws that govern this kingdom.»

«Yeah... I think so too...» Ayra mutters, her expression growing even darker.

«Why are you asking me this?» I ask, a hint of apprehension in my voice.

«Because...» She lifts her head again, her face now just a breath away from mine. Her eyes, glossy and brimming with unshed tears, tremble with emotion.

«...I love you, Lyon.»

W-What...?

Since our bodies intertwined, I haven’t stopped trembling for even a second—but the shiver that runs through me now, the tremor that shakes me to my very core, is on a completely different level. The weight crushing my chest has transformed into something titanic, an unbearable pressure that makes me feel as if I’ve been plunged into the freezing waters of the North Pole. My breath is nothing more than a distant memory.

Ayra... just said she loves me?!

No... this isn’t a joke. It doesn’t feel like one. And it’s not a dream, nor some delusion born from exhaustion—her words didn’t just distort in my ears because of sleep.

I open my mouth to answer her, to express what I feel for her—or at least, what I think I feel—but before I can say a word, she silences me, pressing her hand gently over my lips.

«Don’t say anything. I don’t want to know if you love me too or not. Either way, it would hurt too much... In fact, I sincerely hope my feelings aren’t reciprocated. So please... leave me with the doubt.» she cuts me off.

As I give her a small, reluctant nod, she slowly removes her hand.

«Are you going to tell me what’s going on or not?! Why did you say all that and then act like my feelings don’t matter?!»

This time, it’s me who raises my voice, my nerves fraying with worry. Why is she acting like this? I don’t understand—at all. And she better have a damn good explanation!

«I told you because it was a burden I couldn’t carry any longer. I would have lost my mind if I had kept it inside...»

At that point, she can no longer hold back her tears.

«...I was a fool to let myself get this involved, knowing that...»

«Knowing what...?»

«...Knowing that my father has already arranged my marriage to Edgar Narkov, one of the commanders of the Scarlet Army. Right now, he’s leading a conquest campaign on another continent, but... as soon as he returns, I will become his wife...»

«Y-You’re joking...?» I stammer, my voice barely holding together, a sob catching in my throat. My heart—already shaken by her confession—now takes the final, crushing blow. The pain is so intense that I instinctively press a hand to my chest.

She doesn’t answer—her face, ravaged by tears and sorrow, mirrors my own. Her hands gently cradle my cheeks.

«I... I don’t want to marry him, but I can’t go against my father’s will...» she whispers, her lips drawing closer to mine, now separated by nothing but a thin veil of air...My dream was to leave for the human world with you, to spend the rest of our days together in one of those breathtaking places I saw while searching for my familiar... but that dream will always remain just that—a dream. When we first met, I told you I chose you simply because I was out of time and had to settle for the first person I found. And that was true. But hear me out, Lyon—I would choose you again a thousand times, no... ten thousand times. But I won’t let this situation put your life at risk for the sake of foolish emotions that a vampire shouldn’t even dare to feel. I will always protect you, no matter what happens... even if it means enduring a lifetime of suffering...»

Finally, her lips meet mine—sweet, soft, warm. I remain completely still, paralyzed by a whirlwind of emotions that have spiraled beyond my control.

«Blood Word... Oblivio»

Those are the last words I hear before everything fades, and I fall into a sudden, deep sleep.

Search the lightnovelworld.cc website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.