~W-What's happening?~
Ren is taken aback by the rapid succession of events.
«P-Please... please... make me yours...» Brianne begs him.
She pants and moans more and more intensely.
~Could it be that she means...? No! It's impossible she's asking me to make her my familiar~
Ren's thought soon finds confirmation.
Brianne moves her hair behind her neck, leaving it completely exposed.
«W-Who are you...?» he asks.
He is apprehensive, but at the same time, he feels embarrassed by the situation.
It is the first time in his life that he finds himself so close to a woman's body.
A woman who isn't either Isabelle or his own mother, Natalia Volkom, back when she used to breastfeed him.
«I am Brianne Leviantis, daughter of Catharina Leviantis and your uncle, Markus Dulcar.»
If there hadn't been any history between their families, this fortuitous meeting could have been an opportunity—two cousins who had never met could have gotten to know each other.
But that history exists and cannot be ignored.
When he hears those words, a mask of rage forms on Ren's face.
A halo of blood-red energy envelops his body.
In a burst of rage, Ren grabs her by the neck.
He lifts her off the ground effortlessly.
«W-What's wrong with you, my prince...?» Brianne asks.
Her voice is muffled because of the grip, which barely allows her to breathe.
«Filthy traitor! May you and that pig of a father of yours be damned! You exterminated my family, and you even dare to ask me to make you my familiar?!»
The grip tightens even more.
Blood starts trickling from Brianne's mouth.
«I... I don't know what you're talking about... Please, let me go!»
Ren loosens his fingers around the girl's neck—just enough for her to utter her final words before he kills her.
~I doubt vengeance is recognized in this world, but I don't care. I'll think about what to do with her body later. Avenging my family's death takes priority over the laws of men!~
«As you may know, my father always had a soft spot for human women. He often came here to seduce young women and take them back with him to the kingdom of Mildelar. One of them, my mother, ended up pregnant.
Giving birth to a half-human offspring is an unspeakable shame for a noble like Markus.
Shortly after I was born, my mother and I were exiled to a small village at the very edge of the kingdom. It took us ten years to finally escape from N'reath and take refuge in this world.»
As he listens to that sad story, Ren begins to feel a faint dripping on the back of his hand.
It is tears.
«Whatever my father did, I swear on my life that I have nothing to do with it!»
~I sense no lie in her words. In the end, she, too, is just another victim of that man's cruelty~
At that instant, Ren completely releases his grip.
He stares at the hand he used to hold the girl, his eyes wide and full of terror.
His fingers tremble, as does the rest of his body, at the thought of the dreadful act he was about to commit.
~Damn it! I was about to lose control of that power...~
«Thank you for believing me, my prince.»
«Call me Ren. No need for all these formalities.»
At that moment, Ren's phone starts ringing.
On the device's bright screen appears a photo of Isabelle, completely naked, with the caption 'Light of my life is calling you.'
«Light of my life...» Brianne murmurs.
She sounds quite puzzled.
«Better not talk about it...» Ren comments.
His voice is full of evident resignation.
«Rennie, where have you been? I've been waiting outside the school for almost an hour!» Isabelle exclaims with an alarmed voice.
«I know, but I had a little problem.
We're coming.»
«We...???»
«I'll explain everything later.»
Isabelle is waiting for them in front of the school.
She is sitting in a bright red Ferrari.
«A ride worthy of you, my prince,» Brianne comments.
Her eyes are wide in amazement at the luxurious car.
«They're not Mildelar's golden carriages, but it'll do,» the boy points out.
He shifts his gaze to Isabelle.
«Anyway, she will be my new familiar!» Ren states with a voice full of pride.
«Are you serious?!» Isabelle and Brianne exclaim at the same time.
Isabelle reacts with the disbelief of someone receiving an unexpected blessing.
Brianne overflows with uncontrollable joy.
«My name is Brianne Leviantis, pleased to meet you.»
She accompanies those words with a respectful bow toward Isabelle.
«Brianne Leviantis... hmm... that name sounds familiar...» Isabelle says.
She takes on a thoughtful, deeply concentrated expression.
She's sure she's heard that name several times over the years.
It takes her a few seconds to remember.
After all, memory has never been her strong suit. «...of course! Are you the half-human daughter rejected by Markus Dulcar?»
Brianne lowers her sorrowful gaze to the cobblestones covering the school courtyard.
She is afraid of also receiving a reaction of anger from that woman. «Y-Yes, that's me... But believe me, I swear I have nothing to do with him.»
«I know, I know. I'm aware of your story, even though Markus did everything he could to cover it up. So don't worry.»
Isabelle places her hand on Brianne's head.
She gently ruffles her hair with an unusual tenderness that even Ren finds surprising.
«I'm really happy to know that despite everything Markus put you through, you grew up beautiful and healthy. Your mother did an exceptional job. Anyway, my name is Isabelle Valakys, nice to meet you.»
Brianne's eyes widen in disbelief when she hears that name.
«Wait a second... you're THAT Isabelle Valakys? The woman nicknamed 'The Crimson Fury', and one of the four commanders of the Scarlet Army?! My mother told me a lot about you! It's such an honor to meet you in person!»
Brianne's excitement is immeasurable.
In truth, Brianne cannot know that Isabelle resigned from that title eight years ago.
Queen Natalia Volkom, because of her important role in vampire society, knew she couldn't give her son the attention he needed.
She entrusted him to Isabelle's care.
At first, Isabelle was reluctant at the idea of a commander of her caliber being relegated to the role of nanny.
But she quickly grew attached to little Ren—so much so that she made the drastic decision to abandon her military career and become the prince's full-time guardian.
«Stop praising her, she's already vain enough!» Ren mutters.
«I didn't expect my name to spread so far. Modestly, I really am incredible!»
Isabelle bursts into a loud self-celebratory laugh, hands on her hips and eyes toward the sky.
She inevitably draws the attention of all the nearby students.
«Isabelle, please teach me how to become invisible...» Ren whines.
He feels deeply embarrassed by the woman's overly flamboyant behavior.
In response to those complaints, Isabelle lets out an exaggerated sigh.
She makes sure it reaches Ren's ears.
«You're always too serious, Rennie.
Cheer up. Anyway... I admit you picked quite the tasty morsel to celebrate your first time.»
Brianne lets out a shy, embarrassed smile.
«I didn't imagine being the first... After all, he's already over fifteen. Honestly, I hoped he'd be the one to teach me something.»
«I've been proposing it to him for years, but he's always refused! Looks like I'll have to leave that honor to you.»
«How can anyone refuse the great Isabelle Valakys?!» Brianne exclaims, scandalized.
Isabelle crosses her arms and throws an offended look at Ren.
«Yeah, I wonder that too!»
«But... what if I'm not up to it and turn such a special moment into a complete disaster? I could never forgive myself!» Brianne murmurs.
«Don't worry, I'll personally supervise the Binding Ritual from beginning to end.
I'm sure it will go great!» Isabelle exclaims joyfully.