The quiet creak of rusty swings swayed with the wind as the old children's park lay bathed in soft silver moonlight. It was a forgotten corner of the city—dusty slides, faded paint, and overgrown grass. But that night, it offered a kind of peace neither of them had felt in sometime.
Alex sat on the worn wooden bench, her head resting gently on Daman's shoulder. His arm was draped loosely around her, his other hand absently playing with a stray thread on her dress. The silence between them wasn't awkward—it was because they needed that silence.
Daman was the first to speak.
"We should inform your father about what happened."
Alex blinked, then sat up slightly.
"No." she said firmly. "If I tell him, he'll take me back to Rosenberg without a second thought."
She sighed and looked up at the cloudy sky.
"…Actually, I forgot to tell you."
Daman tilted his head. "Hm?"
"Dad already told me to go back. I've got only one month left here." she murmured, brushing a strand of hair from her face. "And I haven't even decided what to do."
Daman's brows lifted slightly, clearly surprised. "So he knows things are getting dangerous."
"Apparently."
He was quiet for a moment before speaking again, this time more seriously. "Alex… maybe you should go back. Just until things settle down. If those people show up again…"
Alex didn't respond.
"They called you Princess..." he continued. "That means they already knew who you were."
At that, her body stiffened. Her eyes dropped to the cracked pavement below her feet.
"Alex, do you know why they are after you? Are they sent by people who have eyes on the Archduchy?" Daman asked.
"They mentioned a 'Lord'. So, I don't think it's them..."
"Then, who could it be...?" Daman pondered. Alex looked at him. Then she looked down.
"…There was something that happened to me when I was a child, because of some people.." she said quietly. Her voice was soft, almost too soft. "Something really… bad. I think it's those people again."
Daman watched her carefully but didn't press, as he realized that she was unwilling to tell him more.
"You don't have to tell me now," he said gently. "Tell me when you're ready. But, you still need to tell me what you know because that will be helpful when investigating."
She gave a small nod of appreciation. "So, you are going to investigate?" She asked.
"Well... my girlfriend is being targeted by assassins, so it is my duty to do it. I have good connections I will definitely be helpful for you." Daman confidently told her. Alex chuckled. Then, she turned to him with narrowed eyes.
"So… What about you, mister lightning blade? What's your deal?" she asked with a teasing smile. "Where'd you learn to fight like that? And don't say it's muscle memory. Ooh, and tell me what race you are! I am just curious!"
Daman chuckled, rubbing the back of his neck awkwardly.
"It's… a little complicated."
"That's okay! You can tell me anything."
"…Only if you promise not to freak out."
Alex raised a brow. "Promise."
He hesitated, then took a breath.
"I'm a Dhampir."
Silence.
Alex blinked.
"…You're a what?"
"A Dhampir," he repeated, a little sheepishly. "Half-human, half-vampire."
Alex stared at him for a long moment, her brain catching up with the weight of his words.
Vampires were a nearly extinct race—reclusive, powerful, shrouded in ancient mystery. And Dhampirs?
Even rarer.
Her eyes slowly widened. "Wait—so… that means you're literally a walking legend?"
Daman smiled faintly. "Something like that."
Alex narrowed her eyes with mock accusation. "And all this time I thought I was just dating a bad boy. Turns out you're a mythical rare breed."
Daman laughed softly. "Well, I'm glad you're not running away."
She leaned against him again, a small smile tugging at her lips.
"I'd be lying if I said I wasn't surprised."
He let out a quiet sigh of relief, resting his cheek against her hair. Just like that, they spend some time, chatting about their day. Then Daman looked at his watch.
"It's getting late." he said softly. "I'll take you home."
Alex hesitated. "Mmm… I don't know. Should I go home?"
Daman glanced down at her. "What's wrong?"
She sighed, pulling her knees closer to her chest. "Dad's probably still at home… I don't know if I want to see him right now. You know we had a fight. And, well, you know how he is."
Daman was quiet for a moment before speaking, his voice calm but firm.
"Maybe he spoke to you sternly because he wants you to grow up strong… without weakness."
Alex looked up at him, slightly confused.
"You're not a normal person, Alex," he continued. "You're the one and only heir to the Arch Duchy of Rosenberg. That alone puts a target on your back. Whatever you care for… whoever you love… those things are ultimately your weaknesses. If someone really wanted to hurt you, they'd of course go after what you love."
Alex's eyes slowly widened. She had never thought about it like that before.
"And who knows?" he added with a wry smile. "Maybe your father is acting cold on purpose. Maybe he doesn't want to attract attention from his enemies by showing how much he cares about you."
Her gaze dropped to the ground again, contemplative.
"…Laura said something similar." she muttered. "She said that's how dad shows that he cared. I don't know if I believe it, but… I hope it's true. I really do want to have a good relationship with him. I just… don't know how."
Daman reached out and gently tucked a strand of hair behind her ear.
"Then maybe… try starting by greeting him," he said. "That way, you can start the conversation."
Alex blinked. "Greet him…?"
"Yeah, something like 'Good evening', 'How was your day' stuff like that. It's been a while since you two had a proper conversation, right?"
She nodded faintly.
"Communication is key, Alex." he said, smiling encouragingly. "You should tell him how his words made you feel. How it hurt you. He might not even realize how much they hurt you, until you tell him."
She stared at him, as he looked back at her with a tenderness that made her heart ache in the best way.
"…You really think so?"
"I do. And, don't you worry! I'll support you in every step of the way."
For a moment, silence hung between them. Then, a soft, genuine smile tugged at Alex's lips.
"Alright." she said quietly. "I'll do it."
She leaned forward and wrapped her arms around him, burying her face against his shoulder.
"…What would I have done if you weren't in my life?" she whispered.
Daman chuckled and gently wrapped his arms around her in return.
"I'd say the same about you."
------
Moonlight bathed the gates of Alexandra's home in a gentle glow, as the two of them approached it.
Alex stood with Daman just beyond the entrance, her fingers fidgeting with the hem of her sleeve. There was a small, nervous glint in her eyes, but also—hope.
"I'll try to talk to him." she said, voice quiet. "No promises that it will go well, but… I'll try."
Daman smiled softly. "That's enough."
Alex hesitated, then leaned forward and pressed a light kiss to his lips.
"Goodnight, Daman."
"Goodnight, Alex."
With a final look over her shoulder, she turned and pushed open the gates.
---
The main hall was eerily quiet. The scent of aged books and faint lavender filled the air. Alex's footsteps echoed against the marble as she glanced around, her voice tentative.
"Dad?"
No response.
"Dad…?" she called again, her voice a little louder this time.
"Ah, Alex!" It was Laura who answered instead. She was sitting by the fireplace, curled up in a velvet chair with a book resting in her lap.
"Where's dad?" Alex asked, eyes searching the room behind her.
Laura gently closed the book and gave a sigh. "He left a while ago. Seems he was busy."
Disappointment struck hard—like a fist to her chest.
"I see..." Alex muttered. Her voice was dull now, her expression unreadable.
Without another word, she turned and walked toward her bedroom.
---
The moment she shut the door, her knees gave in and she sat down at the edge of her bed. All the hope she'd built up on her walk home with Daman began to unravel thread by thread.
"That man.... did he come here just to reprimand me? Does he even remember... that it's my birthday today....? He couldn't even spare a bit of time for me..." Tears ran down her face.
She wanted to believe what Daman told her—that maybe her father's coldness was protection in disguise. That he was distant because he cared.
But deep down… she knew better. William probably despised her. The reason?
She looked too much like her mother.
Rachel, the woman who ruined everything.
It was another woman that William had feelings for. That woman was Laura, Rachel's older sister. But Rachel—manipulative, cruel—dragged him into a lie so twisted it cost him everything, including the woman he truly cared for.
Now, even though they see each other some time, the bond between them was paper-thin, fragile, barely holding on.
Laura was only here… not for William, but for Alex's sake.
Alexandra's very existence was a reminder of Rachel's sins. A shadow of a past William wanted to erase. A living, breathing ghost of his worst memories.
Alex bit her lip and shook her head.
"It's useless to think about this." she whispered to herself.
She stood up slowly and began to remove her clothes. The soft fabric fell to the floor, pooling at her feet.
She stood in front of the mirror. Pale skin reflected back at her, marred with scars, cruel reminders of a time she desperately wanted to forget.
Some were thin and faded, others deeper, jagged. Nonetheless, they all have caused her immense pain.
Her fingers hovered over her abdomen, brushing lightly against the burned symbol etched into her navel.
A mark.... And a number: 000.
She clenched her fists. That place that was the origin of it all, the prestigious Lorelai Academy of Magic Arts.
But in reality, it was hell.
A prison disguised as a school. A place where the line between education and experimentation blurred. Where children were nothing more than tools. It was from there, that she got all her scars.
And that symbol—on the cloaks of the assailants—was the same one she bore.
They were connected. The past wasn't finished with her yet.
Three years ago, the Academy was consumed in chaos. An incident so violent it burned through the country's noble ranks. Many nobles who were present there and supported the experiments died that day.
Rachel was among them.
But some survived. And now… they were after her.
Alex closed her eyes and exhaled deeply.
It didn't matter. Not now.
She would return to Rosenberg soon. She would look into it then. Quietly. Alone.
Because there were things she would never tell anyone—secrets buried so deep in her heart that even Daman would never reach them.
What happened that day… the truth behind the screams, the blood, the fire—
It was hers to bear. Hers alone.
And she had already decided.
She would take it to her grave.