Mirena sat directly across from Hestia, propping her head up with her hand.

"Hey, is this shop really safe? They let two suspicious people like us in so easily..."

Seeing how effortlessly the veiled Hestia and herself had been admitted,

Mirena began worrying about the shop’s security.

If they’d allowed two masked, identity-hidden figures inside,

Hestia wore an expression that said, "What are you talking about?" after hearing Mirena’s question.

"Of course it’s fine. Don’t you know? The tag on your neck proves your identity."

"..."

Beneath her veil, Mirena’s face darkened—outright disgust.

Being forced to wear this felt like a pet with an ID tag, making her truly feel like one.

"By the way, no one in this city doesn’t recognize that symbol on your collar. If you run away, wherever you go, someone will bring you back to me~☆"

☆Like hell it is☆.

She couldn’t understand how Hestia smiled while saying such messed-up things.

Hestia picked up the brewed black tea beside her, elegantly sipping it.

"Also, about the Blood Slave thing..."

"Hmm?"

"About the blood-sucking Withdrawal Reaction—you should know it by now, right?"

At her words, Mirena immediately coughed up her tea.

"Cough... cough..."

A deep blush spread across Mirena’s face.

Her mind flashed back to her first Withdrawal Reaction—

That unbearable feeling, like hundreds of ants gnawing her skin.

Back then, Mirena had only craved Hestia sinking sharp fangs into her skin, sucking out all her restless blood.

Her head filled with such thoughts, she’d kissed Hestia’s feet.

She’d even sworn oaths—such shameful acts.

Thinking back now, she felt utterly humiliated.

Hestia watched Mirena, head lowered and face flushed.

A smile bloomed on Hestia’s lips.

For some reason, near Mirena—

Her restless heart calmed.

Since her birth fifty years ago, she’d never felt such peace.

Hestia possessed immense power and a position to obtain anything.

Yet those easily gained things seemed like colorless watercolor paintings to her.

—That wasn’t what she wanted.

But straining to recall her true desire brought deep emptiness.

Whenever this hit, she vented her frustrations.

Born in the ‘Blood Pool,’ she gained power in just two or three years—

When needing to vent, she’d level one or two mountains.

But near Mirena, no emptiness stirred.

—Why?

Even she didn’t know what about Mirena captivated her so deeply.

Yet she was utterly drawn to Mirena, unable to break free.

She never felt this toward others—or other Elves.

It was truly inconceivable.

Hestia tilted her head, watching Mirena.

Meanwhile, blood-red tea and cake arrived on the table.

But Hestia stayed unmoved, simply gazing at Mirena’s profile.

"W-What is it?"

Though Hestia stared normally, Mirena felt intensely uncomfortable.

"Can’t I admire how cute my pet looks while eating?"

"I’m not a pet... I’m the Elven Princess!"

Mirena set down her knife and fork, voicing her true feelings.

—She hated Hestia.

Hestia knew this genuine emotion without mind-reading.

That was fine—

Master and pet shared a special bond.

A non-resistant pet was no different from a dead Elf.

Thus, a pet like Mirena held meaning.

Mirena instantly regretted her words, clapping a hand over her mouth.

Then she cautiously lifted her aquamarine eyes to Hestia.

But Hestia seemed cheerful, saying nothing, just propping her cheek and watching.

Staring into those crimson eyes felt like being sucked into their depths.

"..."

"Don’t be afraid. Do I look like someone who holds grudges?"

To Mirena’s surprise, Hestia gazed with incredibly gentle eyes.

Mirena almost doubted her sight—

After such rudeness, her master wasn’t angry?

"How rude. Do you want me to always treat you roughly, Nana? Or do you have a thing for that?"

Hestia slowly walked to Mirena’s side, bent down, slipped under her veil, and gently blew into her long ear.

"Ugh... don’t joke. I don’t have such interests!"

Mirena was flustered by the harassment.

Hestia secretly chuckled.

"I heard you’re the Elven Princess? Hiding in this city for fifteen years?"

"S-So what? Trying to spy?"

"No need. Spying’s for specialists. I’m just—"

Hestia pinned Mirena against the wall.

Her crimson eyes fixed on the artery at Mirena’s shoulder.

A thought surfaced—

She wanted to sink fangs into Mirena’s smooth neck, sucking the juice from that tender flesh.

This was the Vampire’s desire—the bloodlust.

"I’m just very interested. How did you survive fifteen years in an enemy Vampire city?"

"About that, sit down and talk slowly. Don’t... don’t get impulsive..."

Truthfully, Mirena was terrified.

She feared Hestia biting her neck without warning.

Yesterday’s blood loss still left her recovering.

Another bite might turn her into a dried husk.

Then, the game would be over right here.

"Don’t worry. Suppressing this bloodlust is effortless for me. Just answer honestly: how did you live so long among enemy Vampires?"

"I... my mother and I lived together in that tin can house I mentioned. Barriers surrounded it, hiding our presence and tracks, so you never found us."

"What about food and water?"

"You should know. Non-perishable food, preserved with freshness spells, lasted that long."

"I see. So you never left that shelter? Not once in fifteen years?"

"Um..."

Truthfully, Mirena lied.

Hestia knew but didn’t expose the obvious lie.

"So you’ve hidden here all this time?"

Honestly, Mirena was likely concealing—

The remaining Elvenfolk royal guards still at large in the city.

Those Elves probably hid somewhere, barely surviving.

But this child had lied to her.

That meant she still wanted to escape.

—Unforgivable.

She must watch this little Elf strictly.

Since you’re mine, I’ll never let you escape my grasp—

Mirena felt the pressure from her gaze.

Like a boss suddenly appearing when you slack off at work.

—That intensely uncomfortable feeling.

"Nana, are you happy by my side?"

"H-Happy? Of course. Master is so good to me..."

Mirena forced a smile.

"Then why run away?"

"I don’t want to run away..."

Mirena suddenly tensed.

She recalled last night—just leaning on the windowsill nearly got her drained dry.

If Hestia knew she wanted to escape, then—

"Don’t worry. My heart is magnanimous. You just haven’t adapted to being by my side, so you thought of running, right?"

"Um..."

Mirena answered softly.

For now, she’d agree to whatever Hestia said.

Hestia understood well.

This rebellious, freely-living 【wild】 Elf

Naturally wasn’t as obedient as captive-bred Elves.

For now, let her run if she wished.

When she realized no escape existed beyond Hestia’s grasp, she’d understand she had nowhere else to go.

Mirena didn’t know Hestia’s terrifying thoughts.

She gently touched the iron Collar around her neck.

What a humiliating mark.

This Collar sealed her magic power.

And magic was the foundation of all power, including her Level Appraisal and Data Alteration skills.

With these sealed, Mirena—

Escaping was harder than climbing to heaven.

PS2:

Name: Mirena Barlit

Gender: Female

Age: 15

Race: Elvenfolk (Blood Slave: Withdrawal Reaction occurs if not fed upon for a day.)

Level: LV0

HP: 70/100 (recovering)

MP: 50/50

Strength: 10

Agility: 20

Stamina: 20

Intelligence: 400

Physical Attack: 2

Accuracy: 10

Evasion: 20%

Critical Hit Rate: 0%

Skills: Level Appraisal (Sealed), Data Alteration (Sealed), Blood Fragrance (Suppressed)