Chapter

With a resigned sigh, Kaito reached out, offering Yukiko a steadying hand as she struggled to regain her composure. There was a lingering tension that lingered between them like an invisible barrier. 

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It was a sunny day with a gentle breeze, perfect for spending time outdoors. Amidst a meadow filled with vibrant flowers and a small hill, lay a young man. The soft sound of his gentle snoring indicated that he was fast asleep, though one might ponder whether he was just a teenager or already a man.

This young lad possessed short, snow-white hair that seemed to shimmer beneath the sunlight. His face still retained a hint of baby fat, yet it was evident that he possessed a striking beauty that wouldn't easily go unnoticed, destined to captivate many hearts in the future.

His long lashes would undoubtedly evoke envy in many women, although his eyes remained shut, denying observers the chance to behold their gaze, much to their dismay.

In this idyllic setting that resembled paradise, a young lady approached, her attention drawn to the slumbering teenager who remained oblivious to her presence. Seating herself beside him, she observed his peaceful sleeping visage, briefly smiling softly before a mischievous grin crept across her face, mischief dancing in her beautiful eyes.

With a playful spirit, her hand reached towards his face, gently pinching his nose. Despite his deep and undisturbed sleep, the teenager sensed a brief moment of suffocation, slightly annoyed by the disturbance as he wished to continue his slumber.

He swatted his hand in an attempt to dispel the sensation, momentarily succeeding before turning onto his side to resume his rest. However, the sensation returned, the feeling of breathlessness accompanied by a brief chuckle before abruptly ceasing. This time, fully awake, he found himself face-to-face with an unexpected intruder. Irritation barely described what he felt at that moment, realizing his sleep had been disrupted.

The young man's eyes fluttered open, revealing beautiful, crystal-clear azure irises capable of ensnaring one's gaze, yet reflecting anything but happiness in that moment. His eyes betrayed his annoyance, quickly transitioning to surprise and embarrassment upon realizing the close proximity of the young woman's face.

Their lips almost brushed against each other, a realization that left them both flustered. His eyes softened as he met hers, unaware of the gentle intensity of his gaze, only able to hear the pounding of his heart as his stomach fluttered uncomfortably. For a brief moment, they remained locked in this position before abruptly pulling away, each turning away in embarrassment.

Both were taken aback by their closeness, yet the young woman quickly recovered from her embarrassment, turning her attention back to the teenage boy who continued to avert his gaze.

All that could be seen of him were his short white locks and pointed ears, the latter now tinged with a noticeable blush, much to the amusement of the young lady.

She approached him playfully, smiling, and teasingly blew into his ears, causing the teenager to flinch momentarily before glaring at her in annoyance. Despite his irritation, the rosy hue that tinted his cheeks betrayed him, though he attempted to deflect attention by pointing a finger at the girl and questioning,

"W-What are you doing here? And how did you even find this place?"

He was genuinely curious how she had discovered this secluded spot, which he had kept hidden from her to evade her playful antics.

The young lady merely shrugged, smiling coyly. "I followed you, of course. Knew it from day one! You're not exactly discreet when it comes to hiding."

"-Ohh our little Kai has learned to have secrets from his big sister!" She exclaimed dramatically, feigning hurt as she clutched her heart, shooting him a sidelong glance.

"Don't call me little! I'm definitely older than you!" Kai retorted.

"Ai..., our little sweet Kai has even learned to shout at his big sister now! I am so sad," the young lady replied, wiping away imaginary tears with exaggerated motions.

"You're to childish for an 'old' woman!" Kai retorted with a frustrated sigh. He had had enough of her theatrics; his only thought being, 'What a bothersome woman.'

"W- what? Did you just call me old?"

"What's wrong with that? You are my 'older sister', so you must be old," he replied neutrally.

"Ohhh.., so you've also learned to talk back and call others old!" she remarked with a fake happy smile and while closing her eyes a little.

"I will give you only five minutes to run. So run as fast as you can!" she warned.

"Wait! Why should I run? I only stated the truth! You ARE OLD!... no.. n- no , wait, that wasn't even five minutes! You're so bad with numbers… No, don't throw stones at me, you violent woman!... Waaah, you're so mean and vicious; no man will ever want to marry an old and violent woman!... Wait, wait, I know I am wrong.. waah I'm sorry, I was wrong !!"

In this little 'paradise', all that could be heard was the frantic ranting of a young teenager as a witc—ahem, a young lady—chased him, holding her shoes in one hand and hurling various objects she could find in the other, commanding him to stop. However, Kai merely buried his head in his hands, fueling the fire with his words, further infuriating the young lady.

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In a king-sized bed, a man lay asleep, the soft mattress cradling him. The room was cloaked in darkness, with only the moonlight filtering in through the window to illuminate the space. As the man stirred from his slumber, gradually waking from his dreams, he slowly opened his eyes.

Yet, his gaze indicated that he remained partially submerged in the realm of dreams, not entirely awakened. With a languid movement, he shifted from his lying position to a seated one, running his right hand through his hair as he gazed aimlessly around the room.

"It was only a dream," muttered the young man, his long white locks cascading over his muscular back as he rose from the bed and approached the window. And who else could it be but our protagonist, Kaito Kyūketsuki, the vampire lord.

"No, it wasn't just a dream... it was a memory," he corrected himself with a somber tone.

It had been a long time since he had dreamt—or rather, reminisced. How could he, when he had been sealed in that dark sarcophagus for years, perhaps even decades, his soul confined to a shadowy realm where thoughts could neither form nor flourish? He was too weakened by his injuries on one hand, and on the other, those seals were crafted with precision, designed specifically to contain a vampire for an extended period.

'If it wasn't for that bastard, I wouldn't be sealed in that dark room, nor would I have been prevented from saving her... How long has it been since I last saw her? A thousand years, perhaps even more? If it wasn't for those pests betraying her, how could she have met such a fate?'

'If it wasn't for that bastard sealing me away, I could have saved her... she didn't deserve it. .. I despise this world and its inhabitants. I would destroy this world and all those pests within it if I weren't injured at the time and if those bastards hadn't taken advantage of my weaknesses to seal me!'

'How loathsome!' thought the white-haired vampire as he gazed up at the pale moon, his eyes filled with hatred and rage.

Yet, upon closer inspection, one could discern traces of sadness and anguish within them.

'So, just wait a little longer, just a little longer. This time, I will save you, even if I have to slay every last one of them. I will rescue you, and I will obliterate anyone who dares stand in my way. This time, I will not be delayed.'

'-....So, endure a little longer. I will bring you back, and you will reclaim what is rightfully yours. This time, I will be your protector and your strength... I will never leave your side... We will be together again...'

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"I am so sorry, my hime," he murmured to himself, lost in his thoughts as he retrieved a pendant from his pocket.

He gazed at it for a long while, his eyes reflecting an array of intense emotions, turning his bright blue irises into pools of darkness. Then, bringing the pendant close to his face, he pressed his lips to it lightly. It seemed as though he wasn't kissing the object itself but something—or rather, someone

-else... And that was indeed the truth.

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I apologize for the delay in updating this chapter, and I appreciate your patience. It took me some time to find the right approach as I continuously revised and refined the content to ensure its quality. Nonetheless, here it is, and I sincerely hope you enjoy it. It was also a long chapter.

Have a wonderful day, and please don't forget to support me and this book. Whether it's through reviews, adding it to your collections, or by giving power stones and leaving comments, every bit of support means a lot to me.