Chapter Twenty: The Promise

In the morning, Ang and I sat in the car, slowly making our way toward Night Sakura Academy. Beside us sat Liriel, who was clearly reluctant. Unaccustomed to the routines of human life, Liriel had refused to get out of bed this morning. As expected, her enthusiasm lasted just three minutes. It seemed that going to school was nothing more than a passing whim for her. Watching her, I shook my head and sighed.

“Nana.” When we reached the classroom, Lexiao You and Xingyu were already there, chatting together. Upon seeing us, Lexiao You called out to me.

“Xiao You, Xingyu.” I greeted them with a smile. Liriel, however, simply snorted and turned away in disdain, refusing to look at them, which earned her a wry smile from Xingyu and a glare from Lexiao You.

I knew I couldn’t change Liriel’s contemptuous attitude toward humans, so I could only offer Xingyu an apologetic smile and a helpless shake of my head.

“Nana, tomorrow is the weekend. Staying at home is so boring,” Lexiao You complained.

“Any plans? Where do you want to go this time?” I asked, smiling at her frustrated expression.

“We’d better not go out,” Xingyu interjected. It seemed last week’s incident, when I fainted from weakness, still weighed on her mind. The thought warmed my heart.

“Then why don't we hang out at Nana’s place?” Lexiao You suggested. “The last two times we left in such a hurry, we never got to really look around.” As she spoke, she remembered Liriel’s behavior during our last visit to the manor and shot her an angry glare.

“You’re not allowed to come. Lowly humans are not welcome in my manor,” Liriel retorted, meeting Lexiao You head-on.

“We’re going to Nana’s house, not yours. Who are you to say we can’t go?” Lexiao You was undaunted.

It really was a clash of similar personalities; both Lexiao You and Liriel were childish and couldn’t get along peacefully.

“All right, Xiao You, that’s enough,” Xingyu tried to calm her.

“It’s fine. If you want to come, you’re more than welcome,” I assured them. Liriel would be asleep all day during the weekend, so she wouldn’t run into Xingyu and Lexiao You.

“Are you sure it’s okay?” Xingyu was still hesitant.

“It’s fine. Liriel sleeps all day on weekends, so there’s nothing to worry about,” I said.

“Who said I’d be sleeping on the weekend? I won’t!” Liriel objected.

“Don’t you need rest on weekends? You’re still not used to the schedule here, are you?” I asked, puzzled.

“If you don’t need to rest, why should I? I absolutely won’t welcome them,” Liriel insisted stubbornly.

“Then let’s go to my house this weekend. It’s small, but we can chat and hang out,” Xingyu offered, seeing Liriel’s firm opposition.

“All right, let’s go to Xingyu’s then. It’s been a while anyway. Hmph, as if I care about going to your house,” Lexiao You said pointedly to Liriel, then quickly added, “Nana, I’m not talking about you.”

“You can’t go, Lilith. I won’t allow you to do anything that brings shame to the family,” Liriel said sternly before I could respond.

“That’s enough, Liriel. I’ve made my decision, and you know you can’t change it,” I told her. I didn’t like being so firm with Liriel, but I wasn’t willing to give up any chance to be with Xingyu—not while I could still live in the sunlight.

“Hmph.” Liriel was clearly displeased, but then declared, “Then I’m coming too. It’s my duty to supervise you.”

“Xingyu doesn’t want you there,” Lexiao You shot back.

“What did you say? He should be honored to have me at his house. Who are you to refuse me?” Liriel replied haughtily.

“All right, if Liriel wants to come, she’s welcome,” Xingyu said quickly, trying to diffuse another argument.

“Hmph, that’s better,” Liriel said, lifting her chin with pride.

“Xingyu!” Lexiao You complained, clearly dissatisfied.

“In that case, you should come to my house after all,” I said to Xingyu and Lexiao You. The argument had gone so far that it no longer mattered whose house we went to; what mattered to them was getting the upper hand.

The school day ended with Lexiao You and Liriel shooting angry glances at each other while Xingyu and I exchanged helpless smiles.

After school, I said goodbye to Xingyu and Lexiao You and returned to the manor on the outskirts with Liriel.

“Ang, tidy up the rooms and put away anything that needs to be hidden. I don’t want my identity exposed, nor Liriel’s,” I instructed Ang and Liriel.

“Yes, Miss. Rest assured,” Ang replied respectfully.

“Hmph, I know,” Liriel said impatiently.

I didn’t want Xingyu to know about my bloodline. Whether or not she would believe it was beside the point; I didn’t want to dwell on how she might react if she found out I was a blood clan member living on the blood of others. The identity I once took pride in had become the thing I most feared to reveal. Fear? Disgust? I didn’t know. I truly didn’t know. All I could do was desperately hide myself, unwilling for Xingyu to see the real me beneath the mask—the self-deceiving me, hidden under layers of pretense.

Returning to my bedroom, I gazed out at the enchanting night. Xingyu, what am I supposed to do?

The night passed, and morning brought the weekend in a wash of sunlight.

“Miss, Mr. Xingyu and Miss Lexiao You have arrived,” Ang’s voice roused me from sleep.

“And Liriel?” I asked.

“Her Highness has already woken and is in the study,” Ang replied.

“All right. I’ll go now.” With Ang’s help, I washed and dressed, then made my way to the study.

“Lilith.” Xingyu greeted me with a smile as I entered.

I nodded in response, then saw Liriel and Lexiao You glaring at each other.

Seeing me, both of them snorted and turned away.

“Nana, you’re here,” Lexiao You greeted me.

“Every time I come to your house, I can’t help but think how wealthy you must be,” Lexiao You said in awe, admiring the grand study.

“How ignorant,” Liriel mocked.

“Hmph.” Lexiao You ignored her.

“It really is amazing. It feels like we’re from completely different worlds. I never thought we’d become friends so quickly,” Xingyu said, a little wistful.

“Yes, we really are fated,” Lexiao You said happily.

I smiled softly at Xingyu. Yes, fate indeed. Xingyu, meeting you in this vast world is my happiness. We truly are from different worlds. Perhaps meeting you was a mistake, but I have no regrets. I’m willing to keep making this mistake alone, as long as you can find happiness, I will be content. Xingyu, I wonder how much longer I can stay by your side.

“Friends? We’ll see how long that lasts,” Liriel scoffed. “You can say that now, but soon enough, you won’t sound so sure.” In hindsight, her words felt almost prophetic.

“No way. We’ll always be friends with Nana,” Lexiao You said, glaring at Liriel with determination.

“That’s right. We’ll always be friends,” Xingyu agreed, looking at me with unwavering conviction.

“Hmph, what do you know? You don’t understand Lilith at all, yet you make such promises,” Liriel continued.

“We don’t need to know Lilith’s past or her identity. As long as we trust her, that’s enough,” Xingyu said firmly.

Her words moved me deeply, filling my heart with warmth. Thank you, Xingyu. I don’t know how you’ll react if you ever learn I’m a blood clan member, but having your words today is enough for me.

“Easy to say now. We’ll see if you feel the same later,” Liriel said with a mocking smile.

“That’s enough, Liriel.” I rebuked her. “I believe we’ll always be friends.” I bit my lip, speaking with determination.

“Yes, let’s pinky promise. Whoever breaks the promise isn’t a friend,” Lexiao You said earnestly, extending her little finger to Xingyu and me.

“Yes, let’s pinky promise,” Xingyu said with a smile, hooking her finger with ours.

“Mm, pinky promise.” I joined in as well.

Xingyu, if only you knew—I want to be more than just your friend. I smiled as we made our promise, though my heart was heavy with sorrow.

Under Liriel’s scornful gaze, the three of us linked our little fingers, sealing the most important promise of our lives.

We spent the day chatting together.

After Xingyu and Lexiao You left, I sat alone in the silent night of my bedroom.

“Lilith.” Without knocking, Liriel appeared behind me.

“Yes?” I replied softly.

“Are you really going to stay here forever?” she asked.

“Yes. I’ll stay by his side, always protecting him,” I answered.

“Why? For a lowly human, you’d give up eternal life? Is it worth it?” Liriel pressed.

“Worth or not, it’s my choice,” I replied quietly. “Perhaps one day, you’ll meet someone for whom you’ll want to give everything, someone you’ll want to protect in silence.”

“I don’t understand. I don’t understand!” Liriel shouted. “Where is your happiness? All I see is you getting hurt for his sake!”

“I’m returning to the blood clan’s castle. But I won’t give up. One day, I’ll come back and take you home with me.” Having vented her anger, Liriel spoke calmly again.

“Ashius, let’s go.” She gave the order and, spreading her wings, left the manor.

I said nothing, only watched her as she left.

“If he ever hurts you again, if he ever hurts my beloved Lilith, I’ll kill him,” Liriel’s fading voice left behind these words.

I was stunned for a moment. Beloved? So I’d been cherished by her all along. What a clumsy girl. A faint smile touched my lips.