"Shelley Sister..."

"Why are you crying?"

The flustered Vampire Lolita had never seen anyone cry before.

Still, that didn’t stop her from grasping this emotion’s meaning.

After all, she only cried when sad herself.

Like… just now, when Mefia bullied her.

After a brief hesitation, she recalled her mother’s comforting gestures. She wanted to gently wipe Shelley’s tears with a tissue.

But she had no tissue or handkerchief—only the sleeve of her freshly changed clothes.

"It’s… it’s fine," Shelley stammered, denying her momentary loss of control.

Avril’s gentle touch on her face snapped her back. She quickly steadied her runaway emotions.

Not because Avril had struck a nerve.

But… she couldn’t lie to this innocent girl.

Though they’d just met, Avril had already charmed her.

Pure. Kind. Adorable.

Especially moments ago…

Even sharing the same fate, Avril had mourned the collar around her neck.

Yet… this child was too naive.

Naive enough to delight in trivial things.

So naive Shelley couldn’t bear to reveal the harsh truth awaiting her.

"Huh…"

She exhaled heavily.

Setting Avril’s small hand down, she turned away to wipe her tears. Composing herself, Shelley felt a pang of nostalgia.

She hadn’t cried over such things in years.

Even when her Master returned furious from outside and took it out on her, she rarely wept.

Crying solved nothing.

It changed nothing. She had to stay strong.

Today, a few words from this little one broke her control.

"Shelley Sister…?"

Avril’s soft, worried voice made Shelley turn. The girl looked tense, apologetic.

"Did… did I say something wrong?"

Her blue eyes held a trace of dejection. They dipped slowly, then lifted.

"I’m sorry."

Avril’s voice was feather-soft. Raised sheltered by her parents, she was still the Vampire Princess of the noble Mefis Family.

Her father had drilled noble etiquette into her.

Speaking softly was mandatory.

Combined with her naturally gentle tone and current anxiety, her words came out extra delicate.

Convinced she’d upset Shelley, Avril apologized instantly.

Her father’s lesson echoed:

"You made Mom angry. What do you do?"

"Apologize to her."

"..."

Avril remembered that moment clearly.

"N-no, not your fault!" Shelley flustered, shaking her head and waving hands. She’d thought a child easy to handle—now she was rattled.

"It’s my own issue."

Avril’s words had triggered her outburst.

But Avril wasn’t to blame. The cause lay elsewhere.

This little sister was a victim too—even more innocent than young Shelley had been.

She withheld the cruel truth to spare Avril pain.

Yet the girl’s pure trust in her lie hurt deeper.

"My own issue?"

"But… Dad said humans and Bloodkin are the same."

"We only cry when unhappy."

The silver-haired Vampire Lolita’s whisper held doubt. She didn’t quite believe Shelley.

"..."

Shelley gently took the bewildered girl’s pale hand. To cheer her up, she devised a simple trick.

Avril didn’t resist, only watching the older sister with confusion.

Their brief bond had already made her trust this blue-haired, cat-eared sister with a collar—far more natural than Mefia.

"Look~"

Sniffling, Shelley bent slightly. A genuine smile returned to her face.

Real or not, Avril couldn’t tell.

Smiling, she lifted Avril’s soft hand above her head.

Then placed it on her fluffy black cat ear.

Mefia adored this ear too.

"Want to pet it?"

Guiding Avril’s fingers to rub her Catfolk ear, Shelley stayed bent with a light smile.

"Mmm…"

Warmth spread through Avril’s palm—a sensation unlike anything from humans or her father.

Like… winter coat fur, but warmer, softer.

"What is this…?"

"Unique to Catfolk," Shelley explained.

"Cat ears."

"And a tail too~"

She turned slightly. Her black tail swayed, catching Avril’s gaze.

"But you can’t touch that."

Spotting Avril reaching, Shelley tucked her tail away.

Grabbing a Catgirl’s tail caused electrifying weakness. She wouldn’t risk it here.

"Mmm."

"So Sister is Catfolk."

Avril nodded at the tail and ears.

But she still didn’t see the connection to her earlier words.

"I’m not human, you know."

"So I wasn’t sad."

"Understand?"

"..."

"Uh-huh."

Avril nodded vaguely.

"Catfolk differ from humans and vampires," Shelley pressed on, spinning a white lie to soothe her.

"We don’t cry from sadness."

She’d decided.

She couldn’t change Avril’s future—or her own.

But until then, she’d shield this sweet girl from sorrow.

Spare her the helplessness and fear Shelley once knew.

Even a little. Just a little.

If it brought her joy.

"Okay, I understand."

Avril’s soft reply matched Shelley’s smile. She wouldn’t let the girl blame herself.

"If not sadness… why did Sister cry?"

Trusting the collared, gentle woman before her, Avril felt safe enough to ask.

Her world-knowledge was limited. She believed Shelley—but confusion lingered.

"..."

"Because…"

Shelley hesitated, caught off guard by the girl’s persistence.

Meeting Avril’s curious eyes, she couldn’t dodge the question.

Her lie was so clumsy she blushed slightly.

Twirling a strand of blue hair, her gaze drifted. Her voice wavered uncertainly.

"Because…"

"Because… I remembered something happy?"

"..."