The Price of Disappearance

The sunset painted the sky in a riot of color, the distant cloud edges resembling a canvas where a palette of oil paints had been overturned. Alluring purples merged with fiery reds, creating a spectacle of breathtaking vibrancy.

Edith stood silhouetted against the dying light, slowly drawing the curtains closed. Immediately, the room plunged into a muted, shadowy gloom.

Daphne sat sideways on the edge of the bed, her intricate skirt fanning out like blooming petals. She watched Edith’s slender back, now bathed in a soft, golden-yellow hue, her small hands restlessly kneading the lace embellishments of her dress.

“Um…”

Edith only returned to the room after a quick bath. She had washed away the bloodstains from her hair and the lingering scent of gore from her skin. Now, she wore nothing but a flimsy, silken nightgown, her creamy, tender shoulders bared. Her damp, golden curls framed her face, making her appear even more alluring and sensuous.

This proved to be quite a predicament for Daphne.

Not only did she endure an agonizing wait while Edith bathed, feeling utterly helpless, but after Edith emerged, Daphne had to suppress a surge of illicit and unhealthy fantasies.

This was the child she had personally raised. Daphne knew she shouldn’t harbor such thoughts.

“You’re clearly very capable, so why didn’t you resist when I threatened you?” Edith asked, still holding the curtain, not turning around. “If you had the chance, would you get revenge on me? After all, I was quite… excessive.”

“Revenge?” Daphne blinked in surprise.

Before leading her upstairs, Edith had spoken of punishment. Yet, after a bath, she was reflecting on her own transgressions. This made Daphne suspect Edith was deliberately putting on a show.

“It’s only natural, isn’t it? If someone forced me to do something against my will, I would resent them,” Edith mused, lowering her head slightly. She glanced sideways, her long eyelashes distinct and delicate in the faint sunlight. “Or are you saying you wouldn’t actually hate me for these things?”

The word ‘hate’ felt far too heavy for Daphne.

Edith was not her enemy. Even if Edith forcibly claimed and toyed with her, Daphne couldn’t bring herself to hate her for it.

However, if she simply answered that, would Edith assume she was, in fact, subjectively willing? Would that truly brand her as a little pervert, obsessed with naughtiness?

“I only hate bad people. You’re not a bad person,” Daphne finally whispered.

“Bad person?” Edith’s eyes flickered, and a faint smile involuntarily touched her lips. “You’re so cute, speaking like a child. In this world, there are no purely good or purely bad people.”

“But if one’s stance is fixed, there is a distinction between good and bad,” Daphne countered, shaking her head. “To me, you are not a bad person.”

“Is that so?” Edith was amused by Daphne, her laughter as clear and melodious as a silver bell. “I don’t think so. I know what I am. Sometimes, I even think I’m utterly wicked.”

Daphne offered no further reply, remaining silent as she watched the smile on Edith’s face slowly fade.

“Could you please not just disappear on me without a word?” The angelic blonde girl’s voice, now laced with a hint of a sob, trembled with a profound sadness.

Her shaking hands clutched the curtain tightly. The blood-red sunset streamed through the gap, staining her youthful form. Daphne could vaguely discern the glimmer of tears in her eyes.

The curse of Lamia, the Queen of Vampires, was bound to the soul. Even through reincarnation, a newborn would bear Lamia’s mark.

In an era when gods still walked the earth, these individuals were heroes who fought against Lamia’s corruption into chaos. Yet, in the present age, they had been forgotten and misunderstood.

The mark of the evil curse was deemed an ominous symbol, believed to bring misfortune and suffering to those around it.

Young Edith had lived under gazes of hatred and scorn. Only her birth parents had been free of prejudice, until the couple was attacked by bandits while traveling for trade.

Her parents perished, and their assets and property were confiscated by the merchant guild to offset lost goods. Edith’s only option was to beg on the streets.

That marked the beginning of her childhood nightmare.

To suddenly disappear without a trace—this was Edith’s greatest fear: that someone she cherished would vanish inexplicably one day.

Only then did Daphne realize the full extent of her disappearance’s impact on Edith. Despite appearing as optimistic as ever, this girl was, in truth, more concerned about Bertram’s safety than anyone else.

There was truly no other way.

While she could no longer dote on Edith as the Pope, she could certainly continue to accompany Edith by assuming a different identity.

“I promise you, I won’t suddenly disappear,” she whispered, her voice soft with commitment.

With a whoosh, the curtain closed again, instantly banishing the sunset from the room. Edith let out a sigh of relief, lightly patting her chest. “But you have no reason not to seize this opportunity to escape. The only possibility is that you can’t run far. Mr. Arvis is incredibly experienced in dealing with transcendent believers of the Shadow Pathway like you. Once he returns to Kohl Town, no matter how far you run, you’ll eventually be caught.”

“Huh!?”

She had been completely seen through.

Daphne’s true fear wasn’t Gwynevere at all, but rather Commander Arvis.

He was a pure Light Pathway transcendent believer, having successfully hunted down countless individuals who, like Daphne, darted through shadows. He was, quite simply, Daphne’s bane.

Daphne had assumed Edith was reflecting on her actions and trying to salvage the situation out of fear of losing her leverage. It turned out this girl had maintained control from start to finish, never once releasing her grip on the reins.

To keep her identity concealed, it seemed she had no choice but to continue submitting to Edith.

“My little darling, you make me like you even more. Tonight, I must take good care of you.” With loving, sea-blue eyes, the golden-haired girl took Daphne’s hands and gently pushed her onto the bed.

Her long hair spread out beneath her like flowing mercury, and her emerald eyes were misted with tears. At this moment, the half-vampire girl was like a delicate flower bud, ripe for plucking.

Her breath came in sweet, fervent gasps as Edith once again claimed Daphne’s soft, glistening pink lips. “You’ll play with me all night long, my dear. This is your punishment.”