Mirena had just stepped into the room when she spotted a golden-haired girl standing by the window, gazing at the distant scenery.

Her eyes held an unusually absent-minded stare, fixed on something far beyond the glass.

It was as if her body stood here, yet her heart and thoughts had drifted to some distant realm.

For a fleeting moment, that silhouette overlapped with a memory deep in Mirena’s mind.

“Hey, you—”

She’d barely called out when Mirena clamped a hand over her own mouth.

Thankfully, she hadn’t forgotten Hestia’s strict rule from yesterday.

Call her by the wrong title, and she’d be locked in the Dark Cell for an hour.

So Mirena bit back her words just in time.

—Phew, that was close. Almost got thrown into the devil’s Dark Cell again.

“M-Master…”

Though disgust churned inside her, she forced out that humiliating title.

She was deeply reluctant.

After all, Hestia’s treatment felt utterly excessive.

Especially yesterday, when she’d been tossed into a corner of the Dark Cell without warning.

Mirena had spent the entire night trembling in fear, unable to sleep.

Just recalling it made her blood boil.

“Nana, you’re here…”

Hestia now called her “Nana,” while Mirena could only address her as “Master.”

—Nana? What nonsense. She didn’t want that intimate nickname slipping from her lips even a little.

Though she cursed her master inwardly, Mirena’s face lit up with a bright smile as she approached.

(So this was what they meant by smiling on the outside while cursing inside?)

“Master, what are you looking at?”

“What am I looking at? Oh my, do you think you’re worth asking such things, Miss Mirena…?”

Hestia turned from the windowsill and glided over to Mirena’s side.

Mirena flinched back a step or two, fear gripping her since yesterday’s incident.

“Gul…”

Though they were nearly the same height (Hestia was 150cm; Mirena, 140cm!), Mirena trembled before this girl.

Hestia wrapped her arms around Mirena’s petite frame in a clingy embrace.

Her hands tightened around Mirena’s slender waist.

She rested her chin on Mirena’s delicate neck.

—Was she going to drink blood again?

Mirena burned with shame. Just for asking a simple question?

Her small body quivered uncontrollably.

As Hestia’s breath brushed her collarbone—

Mirena feared the Vampire might sink her teeth into her shoulder without warning. Her whole frame shook.

Hestia felt the tremors and smiled faintly.

“There, there. Don’t be scared. Master isn’t one to break rules. I only drink when it’s time. Otherwise, I won’t touch your blood.”

Yet Hestia didn’t bite. Instead, she soothed Mirena with gentle words.

Mirena almost doubted her ears.

This Vampire, who’d tormented her, was speaking so tenderly?

“What do you mean by that!? Am I really that terrifying, Master?”

“…”

In her panic, Mirena forgot Hestia could read her thoughts—while she couldn’t read Hestia’s. Such an unfair contract.

“Nana, about that matter you mentioned—I’ve sent people to investigate. We found her exactly where you said. And your kind Master even had her wounds healed. How will you repay me?”

“!!?”

Mirena had begged Hestia two days ago to search for her mother.

But only now did she get a reply.

She’d been sick with worry.

Thankfully, her mother was safe.

Mirena trusted Hestia wouldn’t lie—there was no benefit in it.

“Where is Mother? Can I see her?”

“Nana has no right to see her. I’ll take you when I’m in a good mood. Don’t worry—she’s hidden somewhere very safe. For now, she’s being treated well.”

Hearing this, Mirena sighed in relief.

But Hestia’s tone suddenly turned icy. Her gaze locked onto Mirena’s eyes, threatening.

“But if Nana tries to run away… her life won’t be worth a copper.”

“Are… are you threatening me?”

“Master would never do such a thing. It’s just a small insurance policy. If you flee, your mother dies. Killing a lowly Elf takes almost no effort for me…”

“You…”

Mirena gritted her teeth in anger, but her face showed only helplessness.

If she didn’t reveal their hideout, her mother’s life was forfeit.

So for her mother’s sake—

Mirena told her everything.

She never expected Hestia to use her mother as leverage.

“Master believes Nana will obey, won’t you?”

Though resentment glinted in the corners of Mirena’s eyes, she could only nod in resignation.