Chapter 88: Reminiscence

Dark night, endless night, eternal night—I immerse myself in the darkness, savoring the sweetness of red wine, my gaze shrouded in a dreamy haze. How long has it been since I last basked in the beauty of such a night? My long, jet-black hair flutters gently in the nocturnal breeze, and in my obsidian eyes flickers a look steeped in reminiscence. Since the day I was abandoned by the gods and sealed away in the abyss, I have not once beheld this lovely nightscape.

Cain—that man who fascinated me so—I recall his resolute face. Cain, the progenitor of the vampires, one of the rare few who dared defy the gods. Though he failed in the end and lost his life, he will forever remain my most beloved.

“We meet again, Lady Night Witch.” Lost in reverie, I am once more greeted by the Vampire Prince.

“So it seems, little one. You really are a persistent spirit, aren’t you? Interrupting my memories like that,” I complain, eyeing the unexpectedly present Vampire Prince with some annoyance.

“My apologies,” he replies with gentlemanly grace.

“What brings you to me, little one? Surely you wouldn’t appear before me without good cause.” My reply is casual as I swirl the wine in my glass, my gaze drifting to the deep night sky.

“I simply found myself recalling old times and wished for someone to confide in. I thought Lady Night Witch would be the perfect listener, wouldn’t you agree?” The Vampire Prince settles beside me, carelessly taking a goblet, pouring himself some wine, and like me, gazing up at the profound night. “This night sky is truly beautiful, isn’t it?” he murmurs, his eyes dreamy.

“Yes, the night sky is the most exquisite sight in this world. When he was alive, watching the sky together was our favorite pastime,” I reply softly.

“Him? Do you mean Lord Cain?” the Vampire Prince asks.

“Yes, Cain—the proud, unyielding man who refused to be shackled by anything. Not even the gods could make him bow. Truly a captivating man, wouldn’t you say?” I smile as I ask the Vampire Prince.

“Indeed. Lord Cain is the very god of our kind,” the Prince remarks with deep emotion.

“But even so, he died. Even a man so powerful could not escape fate,” my voice is thick with longing for Cain.

“Fate? We vampires have never believed in fate, have we? For those of us forsaken by the gods, fate holds no sway. Fate is meant to be broken,” the Vampire Prince says with a smile.

“And you? Did you break your own fate?” I ask with genuine curiosity.

“No. In the end, I could not escape the shackles of fate. Yet, I have no regrets,” the Vampire Prince replies, sadness tinging his voice. “Fate led me to meet and love a mortal woman. That was my destiny. I once possessed the power to defy fate, yet I ultimately chose to follow my own path,” he continues calmly. “Because I realized that the instant I broke free from fate, my life lost all meaning. Without her, life held no value. The only reason I stand here now, able to speak with you, Lady Night Witch, is because I carry out a promise I made to her—a promise I cannot forsake.”

“Is it about this child?” I ask the Vampire Prince.

“Yes. Liliana was her greatest treasure in life. I swore to her I would care for Liliana, and that is why I have lived on to this day,” the Vampire Prince says wistfully.

“What kind of woman was she? Was she beautiful?” My curiosity about Liliana’s mother is piqued. To have held the Vampire Prince’s heart so completely, she must have been a remarkable beauty.

“She was. Liliana resembles her mother greatly,” the Prince says, as if recalling her features in my own. “She was gentle, though a bit clumsy. She couldn’t manage household chores, not even a simple meal, but she was endlessly optimistic. Even as we fled, hunted by both the Church and our own kind, she never uttered a word of complaint. Instead, she always smiled kindly to comfort me, warming this cold heart of mine.”

“Hunted by vampires—how pitiful for a prince of your stature,” I can’t help but laugh at his tale.

“After all, a union with a human is never accepted by our kind. The vampire council would not dare strike at me, but Lydith was always their target. I could not guarantee I could protect her at all times, so we had no choice but to flee,” he says, a look of bliss softening his face. “Those days, running to the ends of the earth, were the happiest of my life.”

“And after that?” I prod him to continue.

“Then Liliana was born, and we settled in the Demon Realm, no longer wandering. Yet, she was but human, and ultimately could not withstand the toll of death. Weak from our years of flight, she passed away three years after Liliana’s birth,” his eyes brim with sorrow.

“Why didn’t you turn her into a vampire? For our kind, no illness is a threat,” I ask, my curiosity undimmed.

“Because I couldn’t bear to take away her warmth, her sunlight,” the Vampire Prince says, closing his eyes. “Her smile belonged beneath the sun, not cowering in the darkness. I couldn’t bear for her to suffer the vampires’ eternal loneliness. She was human—unlike us, who never had a choice from the start,” he says with a bitter smile. “I never expected my daughter would choose to follow in my footsteps. Such a foolish child.”

“Perhaps,” I shrug, “but even if it’s painful, she’s found happiness worth living for, hasn’t she?”

“Yes. All I can do now is pray that this child might one day break free from her own fate,” the Vampire Prince says with a gentle smile, then murmurs, “Lydith, do you see? Our daughter is all grown up now.”

“I’m sure you’re right,” I reply with a smile. “She’s stronger than we ever imagined. The fate that has bound the vampires for so long—perhaps she will be the one to shatter it. I have every confidence in her.”

“As do I. For her to find happiness is the dearest wish Lydith and I ever had,” the Vampire Prince smiles. “May the Moon Goddess bless her with happiness.”

“Yes, she will,” I say with a smile. With one last lingering look at the beautiful night sky, I stretch lazily and say lightly, “Well, it’s time I returned this body. The dead should know their place—wandering too long can only lead to trouble.”

“Thank you, little one, for sharing such a fine story with me.” I turn to the Vampire Prince and smile. “To have someone who loves her so deeply—I think she must have felt happiness, even when facing death.”

At my words, the Vampire Prince is momentarily stunned, then sincerely replies, “Thank you, Lady Night Witch.”

Without another word, I glance one last time at the night, my heart filled with longing. Perhaps there will never again be a night as lovely as this, nor a world as moving. In that moment, with the fragrance of red wine in the air, I feel the weight and warmth of memories, and quietly take my leave.