Zephyr walked out of the study, followed by his loyal butler. The moment the door closed, Deville heard a heart-wrenching cry.

"Bang."

After the lock was locked, there was no sound.

From that day on, Deville never saw the boy smile again, and the tears he shed that day seemed like a dream.

He simply studied and trained almost desperately, repeating the same routine, turning himself into a pale, vengeful ghost, wandering and roaming the ancient castle.

Even this stern-willed butler couldn't help but sigh whenever he thought about his age.

Only today, upon meeting young Master Vili, did Elijah finally reveal a hint of youthful impulsiveness and return to the human world.

Deville softened his tone and couldn't help but sigh:

"You and Master Willy must have a very good relationship."

To his surprise, Elijah stared intently at Willy's sleeping face and shook his head without looking up.

"The Hughes family's creed is to endure solitude."

On such a night, after experiencing the highs and lows of the past few days, facing the butler whose eyes showed affection, the young man who had been holding himself together finally revealed his true feelings.

"We only need to dedicate ourselves to our family, and family members don't need to see each other every day, because blood is the natural connection between us."

He had barely met his parents, let alone his young brother.

“Besides Willy, I have two younger sisters and a younger brother, but I only met them once when they were born.”

Reproduction among vampires is always extremely difficult, let alone pure-blooded ones. However, the Hughes family is a rare example of a "prosperous" clan, which may be one of the reasons why the Inquisition chose them as its targets.

Thinking of this, Elijah's handsome face darkened.

"...I originally thought I didn't have any feelings for them."

But when he learned that he was the only one left who bore the name Hughes, he felt an unprecedented pain.

This sudden emotion was so intense that it overwhelmed him, yet it was also mixed with something unique that left him bewildered and helpless.

He even forgot his physical injuries and stumbled as he tried to leave the castle and return home, but was stopped by the servants who were taking care of him.

And that person, that half-blood who was a million times lower than a pure-blooded vampire, actually showed him a look of pity.

He told Elijah—

This unfamiliar feeling is called loneliness.

How ridiculous that the eldest son of the Hughes family, a follower of the family's creed, only now knows what loneliness is.

This was the last lesson his parents taught him with their lives.

"……Now."

Elijah's fingers ran through Vili's loose hair, gently combing it behind her ear.

"Willie is my last family member."

I will not... let go again.

Deville's expression was complicated, and he hesitated before speaking:

"Regarding the sealing of Master Vili's memories..."

Elijah shook his head again, interrupting him.

"I understand."

"This is for his own good."

"If possible... it wouldn't matter if I never regained my Hughes surname for the rest of my life."

He gently lowered his head and kissed Willy's forehead.

"I'll keep that pain to myself."

“I will live on, along with his share and the seventy-one lives of the entire Hughes family.”

"—In the end, blood for blood."

He suddenly raised his head, his scarlet pupils flashing with a startling sharpness in the moonlight, but there were no more tears.

-

Vili rolled over.

Even in the darkness, the vampire's vision was unobstructed, so he could clearly see the intricate and delicate patterns in front of him, with a faint golden glint.

He wanted to interlace his fingers, spread his arms, and stretch, but found that in this space, he couldn't even straighten his arms.

The room was covered in soft, dark red velvet, with a thick layer of padding underneath, making it feel as comfortable as being on a cloud. The air was filled with the pleasant scent of wood, which made one feel drowsy.

But no amount of praise can hide the truth...

This is the fact that it's a coffin.

“I never thought I’d be living here before I died,” Vili said in a strange tone.

The system remained silent, feeling guilty.

There was a small hole on the side of the coffin for ventilation. Vili peeked through it but could only see the tightly closed curtains inside the room.

"Il, what time is it now?"

He was pretending to faint, but after listening to the butler and Elijah's quiet conversation, he eventually fell asleep.

I don't even know how I was put into this coffin.

"Reporting to the host, it's already 7 PM."

“It’s time for dinner.” Vili rubbed his stomach, then suddenly hesitated, “…For a vampire, shouldn’t this be considered breakfast?”

"Huh?"

The system froze.

"Knock knock".

The dull knocking sound interrupted its brainstorming session, and the old butler's gentle voice came through.

"Young Master Vili, are you awake?"

Willy responded with the same sound, and Deville's smile deepened unconsciously. He bent down and gently pushed open the lid of the coffin.

Willie sat up straight, revealing his fluffy head, a strand of hair sticking up slightly and swaying with the boy's movements.

Deville unconsciously tightened his grip on the copper oil lamp and couldn't help but clear his throat.

Would you like to have a meal today?

Willie nodded and followed the butler, but a question lingered in his mind.

My dear reader, there's more to this chapter! Please click the next page to continue reading—even more exciting content awaits!