⟦ Master, you are cursed with the Curse of the Sun. ⟧
I let out a slow breath.
"Just as I thought."
So the theory was correct. Our inability to face the sun wasn't something we were born with. It wasn't a natural weakness of our race.
It was a curse.
Still, I couldn't understand it. Why would anyone do such a thing? I couldn't even imagine vampires walking freely beneath the sunlight.
"Tell me, parasite… who cursed me?"
⟦ I can only tell you that the curse originates from another vampire. ⟧
My jaw dropped.
For a moment, my mind refused to process the words.
To make sure I hadn't misheard, I asked again.
"Repeat that."
⟦ Master, the curse comes from another vampire. ⟧
A violent headache throbbed through my skull.
The plague that had shackled our entire race… was caused by a vampire?
Why?
Why would one of our own do something like that?
A surge of hatred erupted in my chest. I bit down so hard that blood slowly trickled from my lip.
For a moment, I nearly tore the carriage apart in my rage.
But I forced myself to stop.
My hands tightened around the seat until my knuckles turned white. I sat there in silence, trying to calm the storm inside my chest.
It took nearly half an hour for me to regain control.
"How do I break this curse?" I finally asked.
⟦ I do not have that information available. ⟧
A hollow disappointment opened inside my chest.
But before the silence could grow heavier, the System spoke again.
⟦ However, Master, the simplest solution is to become stronger than the one who cast the curse. ⟧
"Damn you!" I snapped.
"How am I supposed to become stronger than someone capable of cursing an entire race for thousands of years?"
I forced the thought out of my mind.
Thinking about it would only drive me mad.
For the next ten minutes, I focused on steadying my breathing and forcing my mood back into balance. Eventually, I managed it.
By the time the carriage stopped, I had regained my composure.
We had arrived at my uncle's residence.
A magnificent crimson palace stood before us. It was even more beautiful than our own.
My uncle was one of the Five Elders of our clan. Among them, my father was the strongest.
But my uncle held another position as well.
He was the Deputy Leader of the clan, a man known by many as the White Fox.
As I stepped down from the carriage, a beautiful woman with silver hair greeted me with a warm smile.
"Thank you for visiting us, Theodore."
I smiled immediately.
"It's been a while, Aunt Natalia. You grow more beautiful every time I see you."
Her face brightened with a playful grin.
"Oh, Theo. Are you trying to steal your aunt's heart with that silver tongue? Just like you've done with half the girls in the clan?"
"I only inherited my charm from you, Aunt."
She laughed softly and took my hand, guiding me inside.
"Come. You should greet your uncle before you completely win me over."
Natalia wasn't just my aunt.
She was my father's own sister.
And in many ways, she was the one who had raised me.
Because of that, my affection for her ran deeper than for anyone else.
Respect was one thing.
But the warmth I felt toward her was something entirely different.
We entered the palace.
Among all the Elders' residences, this one was easily the most impressive in both scale and elegance.
That wasn't surprising.
While my father was known as the strongest of the Five Elders, my uncle was the most politically influential.
As the clan's Deputy Leader, he controlled much of the clan's internal affairs.
The nickname White Fox suited him perfectly.
Eventually, we reached his office.
Natalia knocked.
After a brief pause, a voice came from inside.
"Enter."
We stepped in.
"Theo, I was beginning to think I'd have to drag you here myself," my uncle said with a laugh. "I thought you were avoiding your old uncle."
I smiled.
"Avoid you, Uncle? I've just been busy breaking through to the next level."
I walked over and shook his hand warmly.
But he suddenly narrowed his eyes and frowned.
"Is that it?"
I blinked.
"A handshake after such a long absence?"
A wave of embarrassment hit me.
He was sitting behind his desk, and I wasn't exactly sure how I was supposed to hug him from that position.
Thankfully, Natalia intervened.
"Stop teasing him, Klein. If you keep that up, he'll stop visiting altogether."
My uncle raised his hands in mock surrender.
"So now the nephew and his aunt are ganging up on me?"
"What a miserable old man I've become."
Old?
Anyone with eyes could see that was a lie.
He was arguably the most handsome among the Elders.
Thick black hair framed his face, and his tall, well-built figure gave him a commanding presence.
But what truly stood out were his deep red eyes.
Sharp. Intelligent.
Eyes worthy of the title White Fox.
And here he was, complaining about being a miserable old man.
I burst into laughter.
The conversation soon turned casual.
For once, I actually enjoyed the long exchange of stories.
In that moment, surrounded by them, I felt something rare.
A sense of belonging.
Then there was a knock on the door.
My uncle granted permission.
The door opened.
And with it, a gentle fragrance filled the room.
The scent felt strangely familiar.
Before I even turned around, I already knew who it was.
Even so, I kept my composure.
After all, in just a few days… she was going to become my fiancée.
I didn't hate her.
In fact, I was rather fond of her.
Natalia smiled warmly.
"You're here, Sira. Come greet Theo. He's visiting us today."
She seemed surprised to see me.
But she quickly walked over with a polite smile and offered her hand.
"It's been a while, Theo."
Her voice carried an unusual enthusiasm.
I found myself slightly puzzled.
Sira had always been quiet… reserved… rarely the type to smile so easily.
So what had changed?