Eighteen years ago, in the palace of the vampire royal family, Lady Marilla gave birth to a baby boy.
To ensure the child's safety, the King and Lady Marilla decided to send the baby to the human world.
Eighteen years ago, the Robber family adopted a baby boy. That boy's name was Andrew.
Andrew and Layla grew up together. He always protected her and gave her the best of everything.
But one day, disaster struck. Vampires appeared, calling Andrew a count and forcing him to return to his true home.
From that moment on, Layla discovered many secrets from the past. She decided to find Andrew and bring him back because she knew he wouldn't be happy without her, and he must be missing her terribly.
From the human world to the vampire palace, Layla braved all dangers and challenges.
In Atoman City, they fought side by side, life and death intertwined.
In Satsuco Bay, no matter what happened, they stood together, never parting.
In the human world, they trusted each other and fought for each other unconditionally.
In the vampire palace, Layla shattered Andrew's loneliness and touched his heart.
And so, the two fell in love, stayed together, overcoming all prejudices, difficulties, and trials.
### The Beginning:
On a stormy night, the winds howled fiercely, and the rain lashed down like whips from the sky. Each flash of lightning lit up the sky like the distorted face of a fearsome demon, appearing and disappearing intermittently. The wind blew through, sweeping across like a massive rake, as if wanting to take everything on the ground with it. The wind roared as if leading a ferocious army, making every branch and blade of grass bend and struggle to cling to the mother earth.
In the midst of the storm, everything was shrouded in an eerie darkness, like formless monsters dancing in the shadows. Yet, within that pitch-black night, a small golden flame flickered—though faint, it remained steadily visible in the air. That flame was the light shining from within a castle.
The castle of the vampire royal family.
o0o
A maid stepped inside, closing the door behind her. The howling wind and pouring rain were like a wild beast, trapped outside, angrily pounding on the door. No matter how hard it tried, it couldn't break through. The maid ascended the stairs, passed through the winding hallways, and arrived in front of a room where many maids and midwives were waiting.
Two young maids standing guard at the door immediately opened it, and the maid stepped inside.
Inside, the room was warm, but in the midst of that tranquility, a strained breathing sound echoed intermittently.
The sound came from the bed, where a woman was lying. It was easy to see her swollen belly—she was about to give birth.
"My Lady, please try your best, push harder."
The woman's face was covered in droplets of water, making it hard to distinguish between sweat and tears. Even though her face was pale and filled with suffering, it was clear she was a beautiful woman, with long wavy brown hair and sapphire-blue eyes like precious gems.
"Marilla, keep going, you can do it!"
Beside the midwives and maids gathered around Marilla, there was a man holding her hand, his face filled with worry as he continuously encouraged her.
Time passed slowly, accompanied by the midwives' urgent voices and Marilla's strained groans.
Outside, the storm continued to rage, with thunder and lightning clashing across the sky as if in a fierce battle.
Buckets filled with blood were carried out one after another.
Everyone in the room was tense until, suddenly, a loud clap of thunder resounded from outside, splitting the sky as if breaking it into two. The entire space lit up as though night had suddenly turned to day, and the castle shook as if struck by a mild earthquake. And at that very moment, the cry of a newborn echoed through the room.
The heavy atmosphere immediately vanished, replaced by relieved sighs and joyous laughter from the maids, midwives, and the man. Everyone's faces lit up with delight. The man used a wet cloth to wipe Marilla's face gently and softly said,
"You did it, my love. You are the strongest woman in the world. You brought our child safely into this world."
Marilla tried to smile, even though she was utterly exhausted. Her face still shone with happiness.
At that moment, a midwife brought the baby to them. The newborn was wrapped in a beautifully patterned cloth, still crying loudly.
"Congratulations, Your Majesty, and congratulations, My Lady. It's a healthy, strong prince."
The man, addressed as the King, took the baby in his arms, and Marilla also reached out to touch him. Perhaps, the moment a mother first touches her child after giving birth is the most sacred moment in the world. Their faces were filled with joy and contentment.
But just as that moment passed, the baby was not returned to his mother's arms but was instead handed to a maid.
"Karina, tonight, here and now, I entrust the prince to you with a solemn mission—to protect him and take him to the human world, find a kind family to raise him."
The elderly maid took the baby, her face solemn as she nodded.
"Yes, I will do my utmost to fulfill the mission entrusted by Your Majesty."
At that moment, Marilla burst into tears. Indeed, what mother could bear to be separated from her child without feeling heartache, especially when the child had just been born?
"Marilla, please don't be sad. I'm truly sorry that I can't ensure your and our child's safety. If we keep our child here, Julie will kill him, and the power-hungry factions supporting the Sherry family will not spare any child born outside of Julie's lineage. In the human world, our child will be safe and have the best chance to grow up peacefully. One day, our family will reunite."
"I understand." Marilla wiped her tears and looked longingly at the baby in Karina's arms. Currently, the kingdom's power was not solely in the hands of the King; half of the military was controlled by Matthew Sherry. His daughter, Julie Sherry, was the current Queen. To protect their child, sending him to the human world was the only way.
"Eighteen years from now, we will bring him back. He will be my only heir."
The King reached into his chest pocket, pulling out a golden pendant engraved with the name "Andrew" and placed it beside the baby.
"I name him Andrew, Andrew Watson."
In truth, Marilla did not care whether her child would be the heir or not. She was enduring the pain of separation just to give Andrew a peaceful life, even if he would never return to her.
But his vampire lineage and that pendant had already predetermined that Andrew's life would not be peaceful.
And so, on that very night, Karina silently left the castle and took the child to the human world. In the pouring rain, it seemed like she was the only one traveling on the road. The thunder and cold rain made the baby cry incessantly, so much so that even the elderly maid felt heartbroken. She held the child close, using her warmth to keep him safe.
The child hadn't even tasted his mother's milk before being separated from her—it was truly a tragedy.