NAPE - 51

Bibi couldn’t take her eyes off everything in the grand mansion, which she was visiting for the first time. What particularly caught her attention wasn’t the skull decorated with roses, nor the colorful eyeballs preserved in jars of blood. It was the maids and servants.

All the servants in this house had the common trait of having an appearance of indeterminate nationality and pale skin. When they saw Bibi and Doyoon, they opened their mouths as if mesmerized, then bowed their heads with rapturous expressions. One woman even clasped her hands together and murmured something.

Bibi couldn’t understand it at all, but Doyoon and River seemed accustomed to it.

As they ascended the stairs with golden railings and entered the drawing-room, a maid holding cleaning tools and a servant wearing a flat cap were intently sucking blood from each other’s wrists. They were so engrossed that they didn’t even notice someone entering, and even let out rapturous moans. River cleared his throat loudly.

“Oh my, I’m so sorry!”

The two, belatedly noticing their presence, hurriedly apologized and scurried outside. So…. Bibi realized the strangeness she had felt. All the maids and servants working in this house were vampires. There wasn’t a single human. Judging by the fact that they didn’t possess the captivating scent or beautiful appearance like Doyoon, they must be commoners or hybrids.

“The atmosphere in this house is still the same.”

“Please wait a moment. Madam will… be ready and come down.”

As River smiled, a maid brought tea. She looked back and forth between Doyoon and Bibi with admiring eyes, then began to pour tea into the cups with a bright smile. The maid’s hands were trembling considerably. While pouring hot milk and adding sugar cubes, a few drops of hot water splashed onto Bibi’s hand.

“Ah!”

The maid shrieked and took out a handkerchief, dabbing at Bibi’s hand exaggeratedly. She immediately knelt down, furrowing her brow and looking up at Bibi with reverence.

“I’m so sorry. Are you hurt anywhere? Oh dear… such a beautiful person… will you punish me? It’s all my fault.”

Bibi looked at her with bewildered eyes. Rather than guilt, anticipation flowed from the maid. It was similar to the fervent aura of worship one might see in a group of fanatics. River placed a hand on the maid’s shoulder and gestured with his chin for her to leave.

“Ah… if you need anything at all, please call me. Serving you is my greatest joy. If you happen to need blood, please tell me. My blood is all yours.”

The maid left with a regretful expression. Bibi felt strange. It was like watching a soulless wind-up doll. It also felt like she was about to be eaten.

Had she been like that when she worked as a hunting dog? Her throat felt queasy. Without realizing it, she wriggled her hips and moved closer to Doyoon. Doyoon, who had been drinking tea with an indifferent expression, raised his eyebrows and looked down at Bibi.

“What’s wrong?”

“This….”

“What did you say?”

“...It’s strange. Here….”

This place was a world in the shadows, beyond Bibi’s short common sense. Overwhelmed by the sense of otherness, Bibi frowned and crept closer to Doyoon. As if something had sharply stabbed him in the side when he was off guard, Doyoon stiffened slightly.

He blinked and looked down at Bibi, then instinctively wrapped his arm around her waist and held her tightly. The body of Bibi, who clung to his side because she was scared, felt small today. He wanted to hug her tightly and put her on his lap, but he barely restrained himself because of the setting.

“Common vampires like having their blood sucked by purebloods. The venom that purebloods inject extends their youth and life. That’s why they follow them as if they would give their very souls. Purely by their own choice.”

Doyoon whispered softly. He took her hand as if to make sure she remembered clearly.

“This is the treatment you should have received in your original position.”

“…….”

“Get used to it. From now on.”

It felt like she would never get used to it…. Bibi bit her lip membrane, feeling confused. Were pureblood vampires in such a revered position? If so… was her time spent as a hunting dog… all nonsensical? What on earth had she been living for, as a hunting dog for hybrid or common vampires?

A stinging sensation lingered in her throat. Bibi clenched her fists tightly, suppressing the rising emotions. She felt like she would get angry for no reason. She was afraid that all her past years, for which she couldn’t be compensated by anyone, would become meaningless.

[Oh my, I’ve never seen you like this before.]

A voice with a strong British accent spoke. Turning her head, Bibi saw a woman wearing a large hat with a black veil and a gown slowly walking towards them. Although her face wasn’t visible because of the veil, her elegant gestures and radiantly white skin indicated that she was a very captivating person. The air in the room instantly became humid.

In contrast to Bibi’s dazed expression, Doyoon still had an indifferent face. He put down the teacup he was holding and scoffed at the figure sitting across from him.

“It’s been a while since we’ve seen each other, but you’re wearing a hat, Isabel.”

“It’s right after Richard drank my blood, dear. Wouldn’t it be a bit inappropriate to show myself to my son like this?”

She slowly fidgeted with the veil. Doyoon nodded as if he understood.

“...So that’s why Father isn’t here either.”

“How was life in Korea, Henry? Ah, what was your name there…? Doyoon, was it?”

“Yes.”

“Doyoon…. It’s hard to pronounce compared to your former name.”

Isabel muttered discontentedly. Her gaze slowly scanned her son and then moved to Bibi, who was clinging tightly to his side.

“This is Bibi. The person I wanted to introduce to you. Bibi, this is my mother.”

The two women who had been introduced stared intently at each other.

“Bibi… your eyes are red. Like garnets.”

Isabel leaned forward, closely observing Bibi’s face. Thanks to this, Bibi could see her face through the veil. She had brown hair and glassy gray eyes.

Generally, vampires exuded a peculiar aura that made it difficult to distinguish their ethnicity, but this woman had a more Western appearance. Her eye sockets were deep, her cheekbones were sharply defined, and her lips were luscious.

“Nice to meet you.”

Lips that looked exactly like Doyoon’s parted as she greeted her.

“...Me too.”

Slightly nervous, Bibi replied without using honorifics.

“I’m Isabella Tudor. You have my permission to call me Isabel.”

She said it as if she were granting a special privilege. Isabel was Doyoon’s mother, not her master. Therefore, there was no need for Bibi to take a subservient posture. Bibi nodded and looked her straight in the eye.

“I will call you that.”

“Do you like wine?”

“I haven’t tried it.”

“Would you like a glass at dinner?”

“Yes, give me some.”

Before she knew it, Bibi realized she had made a dinner appointment. She tried to cancel, but Isabel had already instructed River to prepare a dinner banquet. Bibi glanced at Doyoon, but he had his usual indifferent expression.

“Oh, right, when are you going to have a smoke? I got some good stuff the day before yesterday.”

Isabel leaned back on the sofa, looking very pleased that the dinner appointment had been made. She took out a small golden case from her gown. Inside were things that looked like cigarettes but were thicker and had a musty smell.

“I don’t smoke.”

“Trying to manage your image in front of your lover?”

Isabel chuckled and put a cigarette in her mouth. River skillfully lit it with a lighter. It smelled acrid and strong, like burning banknotes. Bibi held her breath instead.

“She’s not my lover, not yet.”

Isabel’s eyes widened as she exhaled smoke. Doyoon had a knowing look on his face and let out a slow breath.

“Shall we get down to business now?”

“Already?”

“I didn’t come all the way to London to chat. You said you’d tell me if I came in person, didn’t you?”

As Doyoon reminded her of his purpose for being there, Isabel fidgeted with the veil that obscured her vision.

“You said you’re looking for the original creator of the family tree, right? That person has been missing for 200 years. Maybe he even committed suicide.”

“You have a guess where he went, don’t you?”

“Of course.”

Isabel chuckled and flicked ash into the ashtray.

“Tell me the location.”

“I’ll tell you, but there’s a condition. Attend the charity event that’s happening in a week.”

“Are you serious?”

Doyoon raised an eyebrow slightly and curled the corner of his lips as if in disbelief.

“It’s been 60 years since you left England. That incident has been forgotten, and now we need to show the strength of our family.”

“I should have known from the moment you called.”

“What will you do?”

Doyoon paused to think. He rolled his eyes as if doing intense calculations inwardly, then nodded with a resigned expression.

“Tell me. Where is the creator?”

Isabel chuckled softly, as if she had expected it.