Inside Nia's House
"So… what exactly are you trying to explain, Aven?" Nia tilted her head slightly.
Aven scratched the back of his head.
"Honestly… I'm not even sure where to start."
"All I can say is… Lord Krai betrayed me. He wanted to get rid of me… and he did it by ordering Zain to stab me in the back during my last battle."
"Luckily… I survived. Someone saved me, and since then I've been staying in the territory of the Vampire race. By coincidence… I already knew their king from something that happened in the past."
Nia's mouth fell open. She suddenly slammed the table.
"WHAT?! Lucas, you lied to me all this time?! You told me AVEN was just away on a mission with no idea when he'd come back?!"
Her voice rose sharply as she glared at Lucas with clear disappointment in her eyes.
Aven gently rubbed Nia's back, trying to calm her down.
"Sis, calm down. Lucas isn't at fault. I was the one who asked him to tell you that."
Nia suddenly slapped Aven across the cheek.
"And you! I was always worried about you, yet you never tell me the truth!"
"What is going on inside your head? You keep lying, lying, and lying every time something dangerous happens to you! You've never changed since we were kids!"
"Aven, I'm your sister. If you're in trouble, tell me. Maybe I can't help physically, but I can still help you think, give advice… we're family, aren't we?"
"AND NOW? You were almost killed… and you still told Lucas to lie to me?"
"Wonderful."
Nia clapped her hands sarcastically.
"I'm so proud of my little brother."
Aven touched his cheek, now red with the clear mark of her hand.
"…I'm sorry."
"Sorry? Are you serious?"
"What else am I supposed to do…? All I can say is I'm sorry."
"I know I was wrong… I just didn't want you to worry or feel sad…"
"It's your lies that made me even more worried! I didn't know what kind of mission you were on, I didn't know where you were, who you were with… I DIDN'T EVEN KNOW IF YOU WERE STILL ALIVE BECAUSE NO NEWS EVER CAME!"
Nia slowly steadied her breathing, trying to calm herself.
"Aven… no matter how bad your condition is, even if only half of you is left… never lie to me again. I'm your sister. I have the right to know what happens to you."
"Of course I'd be sad. Who wouldn't be? Anyone would feel the same if someone they love was in danger."
"But what matters now… is that you're alive. You're here, standing right in front of me."
Nia pulled Aven into a tight hug.
"I'm sorry… for losing control and slapping you."
Aven nodded quietly. "I'm sorry too, Sis."
After a moment, Nia let go of him and brushed her hair back.
"Sorry for the emotional outburst earlier" she said with a gentle smile, looking at Lucas and Noa.
"And what is your name, handsome?"
Lucas closed his eyes, clearly a little hurt hearing Nia call Noa handsome.
Noa smiled awkwardly, still slightly intimidated after seeing Nia's temper earlier.
"You may call me Noa."
He dropped his disguise "I am a vampire."
Nia raised her eyebrows in fascination as she noticed his pointed ears and fangs.
"Oh… so Aven really does have connections among the vampire race."
"Well… at least you didn't lie this time. Good."
Noa nudged Lucas and whispered
"No need to be jealous, Lord Lucas. I wouldn't want someone that fierce as a partner either. Too scary."
Lucas grabbed Noa's shoulder in relief.
"Thank goodness..."
Nia cleared her throat lightly.
"So, Aven… who exactly saved you?"
"The daughter of the vampire ruler. Lord Claude."
Nia nodded slowly.
"I would very much like to thank him personally if we ever meet."
Outside The House
Lilith puffed her chest proudly after hearing that part of the conversation, clearly tempted to jump in immediately and introduce herself to Nia.
But Cecilia and Mika quickly held her back.
Cecilia grabbed Lilith by the waist, trying her best to restrain her.
"Don't be ridiculous, Sister."
"You're getting overconfident just because you were praised once" Mika added.
"Let go of me! I want to meet Aven's sister!"
Lilith struggled to free herself.
At that moment, Tia walking by while eating various snacks noticed the three of them.
She smiled and jogged lightly toward them.
"What are you three doing here?"
The sudden voice from behind startled them all.
They screamed at the same time.
Inside the house, Aven, Lucas, Noa, and Nia were also startled by the noise.
Aven immediately stood up and opened the door, his gaze sharp as he looked outside.
"You three… what are you doing here?"
"I told you not to follow us, didn't I?"
Lilith, Cecilia, and Mika could only smile awkwardly.
Lilith scratched the back of her head.
"We were just… curious?"
Cecilia raised one hand.
"They forced me to come."
"Hehe…" Mika rubbed her cheek nervously. "Don't be mad…"
Aven sighed, then glanced at the newcomer.
"And you? What are you doing here?"
Tia shrugged while chewing her food.
"I was just buying snacks like usual. Then I saw them eavesdropping, so I came to say hello."
"Aven, who is that? Your acquaintance? Just invite them inside." Nia's voice came from inside the house.
Aven groaned quietly "Yes, Sis…"
"Lord Claude is definitely going to cut my head off when we get back…"
The three girls quickly went inside.
Aven glanced at Tia.
"You too."
"Huh?" Tia frowned slightly while taking another bite of her food.
"Me? I was just passing by to fill my stomach. I'm not involved in any of this."
"GET. INSIDE."
Tia shivered slightly at Aven's tone and immediately hurried in after Lilith.
Aven closed the door and returned to his seat.
Lilith, Cecilia, and Mika sat side by side, smiling innocently as if nothing had happened.
Noa pays his respects to his princess.
Tia sighed helplessly, still casually eating her snacks.
Nia tilted her head as she looked at the four girls.
"They're your acquaintances? I didn't expect my little brother to know four beautiful ladies at once."
Aven clicked his tongue.
"Allow me to introduce them, Sis. These three are Lord Claude's daughters."
Lilith smiled confidently.
"I am Lilith, the eldest daughter… and the one who saved Aven."
"I'm Cecilia, the second daughter."
"And I'm Mika! The third daughter. Nice to meet you, Sister Nia~"
Nia smiled warmly.
"It's nice to meet you… and thank you very much, Lilith, for saving my foolish little brother's life."
Aven held his chest dramatically.
"I'm not that foolish…"
Nia giggled softly before looking toward the last girl "And you?"
Tia swallowed her food, then smiled politely while placing one hand on her chest in greeting.
"Tia Lucia. Of the Dragon race… the only daughter of Queen Lucia."
She snapped her fingers, her disguise instantly disappearing as a red dragon tail appeared behind her, swaying slowly.
Nia stared in shock.
"Aven… are all your acquaintances daughters of the leaders of each race?"
Aven scratched his head awkwardly.
"Something like that..."
Lucas shook his head in disbelief.
"Must be nice… I'm jealous."
Nia immediately shot him a sharp glare that clearly carried a life-threatening warning.
"I mean… jealous that he can easily meet such important people…"
"Not because women approach him easily…"
Lucas cleared his throat awkwardly.
Everyone tried to hold back their laughter.
Aven nudged Lucas with a grin.
"Back to the main topic."
"Sis, you and Lucas need to come with me to Lord Claude's territory. We have to leave this kingdom."
"Krai wants to make you his wife no matter what."
"He's been visiting you often, hasn't he?"
Nia nodded "Yes. But I always rejected that disgusting king. I stayed here because I thought you were still loyal to him."
"Now that he's betrayed you… I have no reason to remain here."
"I'll go wherever my little brother goes. I trust your decision."
Aven smiled.
"Lucas, you're coming too."
Lucas stayed silent for a moment.
"I'm coming. Wherever Nia goes, I'll protect her. I promised you, remember?"
Aven smirked "I told you your duty to protect my sister was already finished~"
"Or could it be…"
Lucas's cheeks reddened slightly.
"Just be quiet! Maybe the duty is done… but I don't see it that way. A promise is still a promise."
Nia chuckled softly "No need to be shy, Lucas~"
Lucas's face grew even redder.
"Nia, please…"
Nia simply smiled.
Noa could only smile looking at them. Then his eyes immediately glanced around cautiously.
Lilith, Cecilia, and Mika also fell silent.
Lilith slowly raised her index finger, signaling everyone to stay quiet.
"Someone's coming," she whispered.
Aven closed his eyes, activating a detection spell.
"…Knights… and Krai… they've surrounded us."
Nia shivered "How did they find us?"
Tia narrowed her eyes "My apologies, Lord Lucas… but it seems you've been marked with magic."
Lucas's eyes widened as he checked his body.
His expression tightened when he saw a faint symbol appearing on his forearm.
"That bastard Zain…" he muttered angrily.
Lilith snorted softly "Use your disguises."
BANG! BANG!
Heavy pounding struck the door.
"Lucas! Come out! I know you're inside!"
Zain shouted.
"If you refuse… I will reluctantly blow this door apart!"
The door opened.
Lucas and Nia stepped outside.
Krai descended from his carriage, his expression dark.
"What is the meaning of this, Lucas? Alone with my future wife? What kind of insult is this?"
Nia spat to the side "I am not your future wife."
She wrapped her arm around Lucas's.
Krai's eyes darkened "A grave mistake."
He raised one hand, signaling the knights.
"Separate them. Do not harm Nia."
"As for Lucas… kill him."
The knights moved forward in unison, slowly surrounding the two of them.
SING!
Arms suddenly flew through the air as blood splattered across the ground.
"Don't touch them."
Aven stood there, sword pointed toward the knights.
Everyone froze.
Aven… alive?
Zain narrowed his eyes, his fist clenching tightly.
Krai glared with hatred "You… how is this possible?"
Aven let out a quiet scoff.
"You can't kill me that easily… you pathetic king."
"KNIGHTS! KILL HIM AT ONCE!" Krai roared.
The knights charged forward together.
But suddenly—
their movements stopped.
One by one, parts of their bodies fell to the ground.
Their bodies were sliced apart, blood flooding the earth beneath them.
Krai and Zain stared in shock.
"What…?"
Zain's eyes sharpened.
"Blood… threads?"
A red glimmer reflected in the pools of blood beneath the fallen knights.
"You… what is this?"
Aven smirked "A secret..."
"Damn you!"
Zain lunged forward at high speed, slashing through the invisible threads surrounding him.