Avril was worried, while Lorin felt puzzled.

She didn’t care about other Bloodkin; they meant nothing to her.

Right now, she needed to comfort the little one before her.

“Don’t worry. I won’t dislike you.”

“Has no one ever called you cute?”

Speaking like she was coaxing a child, Lorin softened her tone, itching to pinch the little one’s fair cheeks.

“Since you’re a vampire, do you need blood?”

She led Avril toward the basement stairs.

To avoid Mefia and Princess Lucy, she took a rarely used side path.

“Blood…?”

At the word, Avril nodded eagerly.

“Mm.”

Tears shimmered in the Vampire Lolita’s beautiful blue eyes, as if deeply wronged, gazing at Lorin.

“Can… can I have some?”

“I…”

“I’m hungry…”

Her soft, girlish voice carried a hint of tears, tugging at the heart.

Since leaving home, captured as a slave, and handed to Mefia, days had passed without a drop of blood.

For many Bloodkin, skipping blood for days was fine.

But Avril, a lolita Vampire Princess who ate little and stored little energy, felt intense hunger after days of fasting.

“Drink blood…”

Seeing the tearful Vampire Lolita, Lorin clearly wasn’t prepared.

She’d only asked casually.

She hadn’t realized the little one had gone so long without feeding.

She linked ‘blood’ for vampires to ‘food’ for humans.

Avril truly was starving.

Watching her rub her empty little belly, then gaze up with hopeful eyes—

After being punished once, she’d dared not mention hunger to her Master again.

But for this person she’d grown to trust, especially after Lorin’s reminder, she couldn’t help asking.

“This…”

Lorin hesitated.

Seeing Avril’s hopeful yet pleading look, she didn’t know what to do.

It’s just a little blood…

But what happens after a vampire drinks from you?

Thoughts flooded her mind.

*Plop…*

Pausing with Avril in a stairwell corner, Lorin loosened her maid dress collar, sliding one strap off her shoulder.

Her hand paused. Sighing at the expectant little face, she adjusted her collar again.

Still unable to decide.

It wasn’t fear of unknown consequences after a Bloodkin fed.

Mainly…

Avril was her Master’s personal property—pet, slave, possession.

And she was just a maid.

She had no right to interfere with Mefia’s choices.

Though they were close, even teasing often, a maid stayed a maid.

No overstepping bounds.

Lorin knew her place well.

Giving blood might not anger Master, but it meant making choices for her.

So, though her heart ached for Avril’s hunger, she couldn’t help.

“…”

Avril, watching her fix her clothes, was confused. She hadn’t realized she’d almost drunk Lorin’s blood.

Since childhood, she’d only drunk from her father; she’d never used her own fangs.

“Sorry.”

“Wait for Master to give it to you.”

“I’ll remind her.”

Comfortingly stroking Avril’s silver hair, Lorin sighed at her dejected look.

“Master really… bullying her is one thing, but not even letting her eat?”

Muttering almost inaudibly, Lorin inwardly scorned this trashy Master who ignored her pet’s feelings.

Though… compared to cruel nobles in the Lor Empire, Mefia was still decent.

“…”

“Okay…”

Avril didn’t cry or fuss, replying softly.

But tears welling in her eyes were real.

“…”

Lorin wanted to comfort her but couldn’t give blood. Words died on her lips.

She felt like a bad person too.

Stupid mouth, bringing up blood…

“I’ll take you to the basement first.”

“Master’s busy. You mustn’t be seen by that person.”

Apologetic, Lorin said things she shouldn’t.

Luckily, Avril missed the subtext.

Tightening her grip on Avril’s hand, Lorin hurried her to Mefia’s private ‘garden’ and fell silent.

Soft lights glowed in the stairwell. Step by step, they entered locked rooms.

Tightly sealed, this basement sat beneath Mefia’s mansion.

Built for storage and hiding inconvenient secrets—

Like keeping Avril from the Second Princess.

Many rooms lined the hall, some open, some locked. Similar to upstairs but smaller.

Fully equipped yet lacking palace-like grandeur, it felt delicate and compact.

Underground construction was tricky; added later, space stayed limited for structural safety.

No sunlight ever reached here. Lighting was soft, bright, but gentle on the eyes.

“There’s another girl inside. You can meet her.”

Lorin couldn’t resist patting Avril’s head, whispering:

“When you see Master, always obey her.”

“Do whatever she says.”

“Even if you don’t want to. Understand?”

Educating Avril, Lorin knew better than the child what ‘Master’ and ‘Slave’ truly meant.

Being a maid in the Lor Empire was no dream job. But compared to ‘Slave’? Infinitely better.

Slaves had no rights.

They were merely personal property.