VPCV 08

Chapter 8. I Hope You Don’t Do That

Countless shards of glass rained down like a torrential storm.

Leotiz, almost by instinct, lunged forward and wrapped Camula in his arms.

Yet, even after a moment, there was no pain, nor even the sound of the shards hitting.

Sensing something was off, he turned around and saw that the shards had frozen midair.

Leotiz was momentarily stunned, and Pietro was equally shocked.

Only Camula remained expressionless.

Pushing Leotiz lightly away from her chest, she said,

“Out.”

Leotiz stepped back instinctively, and Camula stood, facing the glass shards suspended in the air.

Had she been a moment later, she could have been shredded.

The power of a pureblood awakens only when one reaches adulthood.

Telekinesis was one of these abilities.

“Why are you so surprised?”

Camula’s gaze shifted past the shards to Pietro.

It was almost amusing to see him dumbstruck.

“Uh… how…?”

“Just because you can use it doesn’t mean I can’t,” Camula said.

She lightly tapped the shards, which instantly shattered into dust.

“Even though I haven’t had my coming-of-age ceremony, I’m already your equal.”

The coming-of-age ceremony was merely a ritual to be recognized as a true member of a pureblood family and to receive the essential ‘true name’—strictly for the pureblood.

Becoming an adult didn’t require a ceremony.

It happened naturally with time, just as humans are recognized as adults at twenty.

This meant that when she drank Leotiz’s blood, she had fulfilled the conditions to become an adult.

“In other words, our family is no longer under your control.”

Without waiting for a response, Camula moved straight to Pietro.

Then, in an instant, she gripped his neck.

“Gah, guh…!”

Despite her slender arms, her grip was astonishingly strong.

Pietro struggled to break free, but no matter how physically capable a vampire might be, the difference between one protected by a powerful family and one who had survived outside was obvious.

“As you know, all vampires, including purebloods, require an invitation to enter someone else’s territory. Until now, your family forcibly entered under the pretext of guardianship. But invitations originally belong to the head of the family. I can revoke the invitation granted to you.”

“You… you don’t mean the reason you wrote that was…”

“Already figured it out? But what can you do?”

It was already too late.

Camula took a deep breath and finally spoke the words she had longed to say.

“Pietro Chepeshe, as of this moment, I revoke the invitation granted to you and forbid you from ever setting foot here again.”

As soon as she finished, the castle shook as if an earthquake had struck.

Then, the gates burst open, and a gust of wind blew inside.

“Then, goodbye.”

Without hesitation, Camula threw Pietro into the whirlwind.

“Camulaaa!”

His scream echoed, but the gates of Lilith Castle were closed to him forever.

After the commotion, an oppressive silence fell.

The household had never been lively, but Pietro’s visit made it even gloomier, and everyone moved cautiously.

Leotiz went searching for Camula, as she had vanished amid the chaos.

After a long search, he found her on the outdoor terrace.

Camula was perched on the railing, holding a glass filled with a red liquid.

For a moment, he thought it was blood, but seeing a bottle and another glass beside her, he realized she was drinking alone.

“Would you like some?”

Camula offered her glass, and Leotiz accepted.

She poured wine into the empty glass and handed it to him.

Leotiz took a sip and instinctively gazed at the sky.

It was an eerie sky, as if dyed red with wine.

There was no day, no sun here. Eternal night reigned.

The moon floated in place of the sun, and a crimson veil replaced the black darkness.

This, perhaps, was the “barrier” the vampires had mentioned.

“You have pretty good reflexes,” she suddenly said.

Leotiz looked at her.

“You protected me at that moment. Maybe it’s because you’re a monster hunter?”

“Thank you for the compliment.”

He took another sip and asked,

“Was it because of him?”

“Oh, right.”

Camula nodded, realizing the meaning behind his question.

“I never liked the idea of you running around my house under the pretense of guardianship.”

She had refused a guardian initially, yet they acted as they pleased.

“Given his personality, he couldn’t ignore an invitation.”

“So, this was your plan from the start?”

“Yes, and I also wanted to see if I had truly become an adult.”

Once someone becomes an adult, regardless of the coming-of-age ceremony, authority naturally passes to the heir according to the barrier’s spells and oaths.

“But why go that far?”

To lure him in and make him witness it.

“To fully expel him, it’s better I do it myself. And it feels… very satisfying.”

Camula smiled, sipping her wine.

“Now you understand, right? This place… only the strong survive. That’s the only rule. Applies to humans too, though.”

“Are you saying you made me prove my worth on purpose?”

“Even if you’ve hunted monsters, there’s a difference between small fry caught by humans and the rulers who command them.”

Her tone grew serious, and Leotiz’s expression hardened.

“Besides, my coming-of-age ceremony will be even more dangerous than what happened today.”

“So, you wanted me to go through this ordeal, scared, hoping I’d run?”

“Maybe.”

Camula had intended to frighten him, but Leotiz’s expression barely changed.

“Unfortunately, I won’t fall for such threats.”

“Really?”

“Yes. I’ll stay by your side no matter what until my own wishes are fulfilled.”

It was a firm declaration. Camula remained silent for a while, then spoke.

“You pass.”

“Huh?”

“By standing your ground in that situation and not running, you’ve already proven your worth.”

Whether he would continue to keep that promise was another matter.

She swallowed the last words. Sometimes a sweet lie is better than a bitter truth.

As they drank under the crimson night sky, the voices of servants came from beyond the terrace curtains.

“Miss Camula, are you serious?”

“Right? Driving Pietro out… have you lost your mind?”

“Careful! Watch your words, or you’ll be dead!”

“Anyway, keep your mouth shut. We could all die if we’re careless.”

“Let’s hope the Triarchs never hear of this. You know how ruthless she is among vampires.”

“Absolutely insane.”

Camula said nothing.

As the voices faded, Leotiz finally spoke.

“Will you really leave it be?”

“Huh?”

“That’s how it always is. People flatter purebloods, yet behind their backs, they call them ruthless, crazy… Ah, maybe that’s why my life is so resilient.”

“Aren’t you angry?”

“Not really. At first, maybe. But thinking about it, those aren’t bad words.”

“Really?”

“They say I don’t look weak, which means my choices weren’t wrong.”

Camula smiled briefly but then continued.

“I don’t mind being called ruthless or crazy. But if anyone says my choices were wrong, I’ll never forgive it.”

Leotiz remained silent, simply observing her—not pityingly, not tenderly, but like a curious experiment.

“I hope you don’t do that.”

After saying this, Camula felt a pang of regret.

‘Here I am, saying this to someone who could kill me later…’

She chuckled to herself and drank the last of her wine.

“No matter how much I drink, the thirst doesn’t go away.”

She twirled the empty glass, catching Leotiz’s gaze.

He had been about to offer his wine, but noticing her serious expression, he set down his glass and slowly began unbuttoning his shirt.

Under the moonlight, his flawless chest, collarbones, and neck were revealed—like a sculpted masterpiece.

“Well done.”

Camula’s arms wrapped around his neck as she praised him.

Leotiz’s arms circled her waist, supporting her firmly.

Her head nuzzled his neck, and he tilted his head naturally.

She parted her lips, and their mingled sighs of pleasure and pain filled the air.

Time passed, and the long-feared night of the coming-of-age ceremony finally arrived.

“A vampire banquet… hard to imagine,” she said.

“You’ll be surprised once you see it,” he replied.

“Will there be blood and flesh flying?”

“Probably.”

Leotiz whistled softly, eager.

To live up to expectations, a bloodshed might be necessary—but only in thought.

Finally, the doors of the banquet opened.