"Luna!~" Bursting out the front of the mansion, their long red hair flowing behind them was none other than my old friend, Ellen.
It was impossible to dodge her hug as I immediately wrap my arms around her as well. How am I meant to scold her now after seeing her like this?! This isn't fair... But after a few more moments, Ellen pulls back as she stares straight into my eyes. Her scarlet eyes practically glowing in excitement.
"Why haven't you come over lately? It's been forever!"
"You know I've been busy with work."
"Ehh~ But that never stopped you from visiting once a week!"
It's true... But lately with what happened with Charlotte, I just couldn't afford to be too far away from her. Haah~ Sometimes I feel like her mother rather than Mell.
We end up moving inside the mansion as Natalie already begins making tea for us as the two of us both sit down on a couch. It's funny how after all these years, no- decades, things feel exactly the same here. It feels nice...
"So? What happened?" Ellen asks me, picking up on my sudden change from earlier.
"It's about Charlotte."
"Charlotte?"
"Mell's daughter."
"Oh! Right! Sorry, aha."
"...Don't tell me you seriously forgot about her." I swear... I understand that Ellen has a lot on her plate, but to forget a family member is a bit too far. Well I guess in her defense, Ellen has never met her before.
"Hey, of course I'm curious, but it's hard to find the time you know? Mom helps things regarding matters of our territory, but I still have to deal with that whole-"
"Yeah, I understand, hehe."
Ellen's honestly too cool. To think the person I took classes with would play a big role like this, making sure both worlds stay in peace with one another. Of course most of those problems happened during the time when it all took place, but problems still arise every now and again.
"So? What's wrong with Charlotte?"
"She got into quite a fight. When I saw her wound, I was honestly surprised that she managed to stay alive."
Even now, I still can't get that massive cut out of my mind... Charlotte might not realize it 'cause she's so young compared to us, but her ability to control her own blood is quite precise. Being able to hold all of her blood inside her, not letting much spill out... I'm not sure if I'm even capable of doing something like that.
"Did Mell heal her?"
"From what I heard, yes. But the cut was too severe, so it'll probably leave quite a scar."
"Then are you sure you can even be here? Shouldn't you be with her?"
"Ah- no it's okay. She has someone with her." Thinking of Shiro, I couldn't help but smile.
She's such a peculiar child, but she took in everything I taught her with ease. She's like an empty sponge, easily soaking up all the information I give her.
"A-anyways! Shouldn't I be saying that to you?"
"Khh!" Ellen visibly jerks back at my sudden outburst which I thought was quite cute.
"Saying that you're not busy, but letting Faye do all the work."
"What? No, it's not just Faye! Rina's also here."
"...You brought her here as well?" Wait... If Rina's here then- "Is Fabian also here?"
"Ah, yeah but he's out right now."
I'm glad to hear that Fabian's also doing well. I still find it funny how Ellen still sees him as an older brother despite technically being the older one now. But I can't help but feel a bit jealous. Both Ellen and Fabian both have successful relationships. Well, I wouldn't say I'm overly jealous as I much prefer hanging out with Ellen over anything else. I guess I just miss the old days when I actually did care about those sort of things.
"Hmm? Luna?"
"Huh? Y-yeah?"
"Ew... Don't tell me you like my brother or something?"
"Wha-? No! It's not that. I was just thinking back on the past."
"Hmm?~ How far back?"
"Like... Back during the time when we were in the academy together."
"Oh? Is that so?~"
Suddenly, in a blink of an eye, Ellen moves over to my side before holding the bottom of my chin in her hand.
"E-Ellen?!"
"Were you thinking about things like this perhaps?"
"Th-there's people around us!" Even now at the corner of my eyes, maids and butlers are walking around, but none of them seem to be bothered at all, as if this is just an everyday occurrence to them. I'm not going to be saved, am I...
"M-mm?" Before I knew it, I felt something soft press against my lips, but that only lasted for maybe a second before Ellen pulls away. "E-Ellen! What are you doing? You have-"
"It's fine. I'm allowed to do this much. You're my responsibility after all, fufu."
Sure, Ellen is the one that turned me into a vampire upon my request, but to hear her say that I'm hers... It's not good for my heart, especially when I know this is as far as we can go. Not that I really mind though, but it does make me worry about her relationship a bit.
"A-are you sure this is alright?"
"Of course. We stopped caring about this decades ago. But you're the only exception. I'd be killed if I did this with anyone else, haha."
"...Hah~ I swear..."
"Fufu, sorry~" She says as she sits back down on the couch opposite of me once more. "You just looked a bit down. So I'm happy to see you smiling again."
"That's it! Then I'll also help!" Not wanting to get teased, I stand up from the couch.
"Eh?"
"You're busy, right? We need to get this all done if we're to properly hang out."
"F-for real?"
"Yup! Now come on." I end up dragging Ellen back onto her feet just as Natalie was coming back with the tea. "Sorry Natalie, could you bring the tea up for us?" I say while still dragging Ellen by the hand.
"Don't go too hard on her, hehe."
"I won't~"
"Natalie, help me!" Ellen cries out for help.
"Sadly, I agree with Luna. It's better to get this done sooner rather than later."
"Aaaaaaaa!"
Somehow, we eventually got upstairs as I helped Rina with the paperwork. Ellen ended up working with Natalie as we eventually got through it all. I wonder how Charlotte's holding up?