vampire are vampire.

"I will come to see you again, my dear little brother," Isabella whispered, planting a tender kiss on Vlad's forehead before reluctantly rising to her feet and leaving the room—the newly designated nursery within the ancient castle. As she reached the doorway, she paused to cast a stern warning at the maid.

"Take good care of my brother, or I will ensure that you and your entire family suffer!" With a haughty sniff, Isabella departed, leaving the poor maid trembling, her head bowed and not daring to utter a word or move a muscle. Only when she was certain Isabella was gone did the maid exhale in relief and step back into the room.

Accompanying her were several other maidservants, all carefully selected for their impeccable backgrounds and families residing within the realm, ensuring their loyalty and making rebellion or bribery nearly impossible. They had been assigned by the von Carstein family specifically to care for Vlad.

Among them, the youngest maid—the one Isabella had taken an instant dislike to—held a unique role. Her primary duty was to provide fresh, virgin blood for the newborn Child of the Night, or vampire, to ensure his healthy growth. Unlike the other maids, who would be dismissed once Vlad grew older, her position would likely endure for years.

Despite having met Vlad only once, Isabella had already claimed him as her own. Combined with her disdain for the young maid, it was no surprise that she harbored no affection for the girl.

Though the job was demanding and appeared perilous to outsiders, those in the know envied the maid's good fortune. To guarantee the newborn received ample nutrition and magical sustenance, the chosen maids were selected for their exceptional magical aptitude. For a high-born noble like Vlad, the maid's blood would be particularly rich and potent.

Her treatment was also of the highest standard. She had access to specialized nutritionists and chefs who prepared tailored meals to enhance her health and, by extension, the quality of her blood. Additionally, she received instruction in both academic knowledge and magical skills, all aimed at enriching her blood with magic and nutrients for Vlad's benefit. Indirectly, this also elevated her social standing.

If she were fortunate and capable enough, she might even rise to become a trusted confidante or, in rare cases, a secret lover to her vampire master as he matured. However, marriage was out of the question—interracial unions were strictly forbidden in Sylvanian.

Yet, the young maid, Maya, found little joy in her role. Beyond the gruesome task of regularly cutting her wrist to feed Vlad, she harbored a deep fear of the dark, opulent castle, the noble but dangerous vampires, and the increasingly perilous life that lay ahead.

After all, she was only five years old. The promises of opportunity, privilege, and status meant little to her. All she knew was that she had been taken from her home, likely never to see her parents again, and this filled her with sorrow.

Resistance was unthinkable. She was dealing with the ruling class of the realm—vampires with countless agents and immense power, who had controlled the nation for millennia. Their dominion extended over both the living and the dead, and any resistance had long been crushed. Even the most resentful had either resigned themselves to their fate or been eradicated.

Faced with such overwhelming power, a five-year-old girl like Maya could muster no will to resist. Instead, for the sake of her family and herself, she resolved to fulfill her duties to the best of her ability.

With a heavy heart, Maya gazed at the sleeping Vlad, her expression a mix of emotions. As the one who had brought her to this fate and the creature who fed on her blood, he should have been an object of hatred. Yet, looking at his angelic face, she found it impossible to despise him.

"...Is it snowing?" Maya murmured, feeling a chill. She glanced up and noticed the flurry of snowflakes outside the window. Quickly, she fetched a thicker blanket and tucked Vlad in. Then, as if steeling herself, she leaned down and gently kissed his cheek, mimicking Isabella's earlier gesture.

"Let me take good care of you, Master Vlad," she whispered. Afterward, she stepped out to summon the other maids, who brought firewood to light the room's hearth. The nursery soon grew warm and cozy...

In the 2,314th year of Sigmar's Empire—though politically opposed, Sylvanian still nominally adhered to this calendar—Vlad von Carstein turned six. Born under the blessings of his kin and raised with meticulous care, Vlad had learned to mask his extraordinary nature, presenting himself as an ordinary child: cheerful, curious, and well-mannered. Every vampire who met him couldn't help but adore the little boy.

However, Vlad made no effort to conceal his psychic talents, the one aspect of himself that stood out. His unconscious release of psychic energy and his playful, childlike use of this power naturally drew the attention of his kin. Whispers of "the von Carstein heir is a prodigy" began to spread throughout Sylvanian.

With a soul aged over fifty years, Vlad understood that revealing some truths preemptively was wiser than risking exposure later. This way, he could minimize potential dangers.

Initially, Vlad had braced himself for envy and malice from his fellow vampires. He had even prepared countermeasures for worst-case scenarios—rivals coveting his talent or those who might see him as a threat. Yet, his fears proved unfounded. In Sylvanian, no vampire harbored any ill will toward him. Their affection was genuine and untainted by jealousy or resentment. Whether they were von Carsteins, distant relatives, or members of other families, they all took pride in him, celebrating the emergence of a new luminary among their kind.

Vlad, perceptive beyond his years, could see that their love was sincere. He also observed that the bonds between his kin were remarkably strong. The vampire society was a tightly knit community, bound by mutual respect and affection.

He noticed that the collective good of their race was the primary consideration in every decision. Personal power and gain were always secondary. Their logic was straightforward: a newborn? Excellent, our numbers grow. A healthy child? Even better, a strong warrior joins our ranks. A prodigy? Perfect—a future leader who might guide us to eternal dominion. What a delightful child.

This selfless, communal ethos astonished Vlad. Compared to the backstabbing, power-hungry races of his past life, the vampires—or Children of the Night, as they called themselves—were a breath of fresh air. Immersed in such an environment, Vlad developed a profound sense of belonging and pride in his race and nation.

For Vlad, who had been betrayed and left to die by his own kind in his previous life, this noble society was a dream come true. His luck seemed boundless—reborn into a family free of decay, surrounded by loyal servants and loving relatives, with no scheming fiancée to cast him aside. How fortunate he was to have been born into such a perfect world!