"Sigh…" Daniel muttered, running a hand through his dark hair. Despite the gifts he had been given, life still felt restrictive, like a cage he couldn't escape. He longed for freedom, for a life outside the walls of his family's estate.
"Dan, why are you sighing like that?"
A soft voice cut through the night air, startling him for a moment before he composed himself. His expression quickly changed from his usual calm demeanor to a look of mock surprise, complete with a childish pout—a face he had learned to adopt quickly in this world.
"Sister! Don't sneak up on me like that!" he scolded, though his voice lacked any real heat.
The voice behind him chuckled softly, clearly amused. "Did I surprise you?"
Daniel turned to see the figure approaching. His older sister, Alice, stood a few feet away, her short, black bob-cut hair framing her sharp, ink-blue eyes. She was a head taller than him, her presence commanding yet gentle. Like him, her ears were long and pointed, marking her as a vampire, just like their parents.
"So, why do you look so down? Did something happen?" Alice's voice was kind, her tone laced with concern as she moved closer to him.
"Umm, no… I was just lost in thought," Daniel replied, trying to shake off his brooding mood. But there was something about Alice's piercing blue eyes that always made him feel slightly on edge, as if she could see right through him, reading every thought he tried to hide.
Alice was three years older than him, and for now, she was the heir to their family's title. But there was a shadow that hung over her. Despite being the eldest, despite being from a prestigious vampire lineage, she had been born without a magic rune. She was Runeless, a term that carried a deep stigma, especially for women of their noble class.
It was almost unheard of for a vampire woman, known for their high affinity with magic, to be born without a rune. Alice's lack of one had been a source of quiet shame for their family, a disappointment that cast a long shadow over her otherwise perfect image.
Her status worsened when her younger brother, Daniel, was born with a magic rune, despite being a man. As a woman, Alice was relentlessly taunted and looked down upon by the people in the manor, even by the servants.
Daniel had always felt a sense of familiarity with her suffering, having been a victim of bullying himself in his past life. He did his best to be kind to her, cheering her up whenever he could, so she wouldn't feel as alone as he once had.
It seemed to work, considering how close they'd become over the years. Well, being siblings helped too.
However, for some reason, whenever she was around, Daniel always felt a strange, sinking feeling in his heart, as if something ominous was looming. His instincts seemed to be warning him of some unseen danger.
The way Alice stared at him—so intently, almost as if she was searching for something—always made him feel uncomfortable. It was a look that seemed to peel away his defenses, leaving him vulnerable in a way he didn't like. But he chalked it up to loneliness on her part. After all, she had no real friends to confide in, and he was the only one she could talk to.
Despite Alice's struggles, Daniel knew his own chances at leading their family were equally slim. He was a man, after all, and no amount of magical talent could change that. His parents, especially his mother, were constantly trying for another child—hoping for an heir who could truly carry on the family's legacy. Someone stronger. Someone worthy of the title.
Daniel sighed inwardly. It was a pity, he thought, that such blatant discrimination persisted in this world. Everything about this place felt strange to him, yet, in a way, it was comforting too. No one ever ridiculed him for his appearance. Instead, he was showered with compliments—"cute," "beautiful," "handsome"—words that had become routine as he grew older. It was odd to receive so much praise for something that had once caused him so much pain in his past life.
Suddenly, he felt a warm, soft embrace wrap around him from behind. His body tensed for a moment before he realized it was Alice.
Her hug was gentle yet firm, and he couldn't help but notice the… cushiony sensation pressing against his back. Alice had inherited the perfect genes for a woman in this world, her body an ideal form of beauty.
"Why do you always get lost in thought? Do you have that much to think about?" she whispered near his ear, her warm breath sending a shiver down his spine. His pointed vampire ears twitched in response, betraying him.
Vampire ears were sensitive, and for some reason, Daniel's seemed even more susceptible to stimuli than others. He shivered involuntarily as Alice's breath brushed against his skin, her proximity making him all the more aware of how vulnerable he felt.
"Ugh—!" He gently pushed her away, rubbing his ear before replying, "It's nothing much. I was just thinking about what rune I might awaken."
"That's it?" Alice's lips curled into a sweet smile, but something about it sent an uneasy chill down Daniel's spine. It was as though there was more behind her words, something he couldn't quite grasp.
"I'm curious about your rune too…" she added, her voice dipping into a lower, almost sultry tone.
"Yeah, haha… By the way, did you need something, sister?" Daniel laughed nervously, eager to steer the conversation in a different direction.
"Hmm, right," Alice said, as if remembering something. She reached into her pocket and pulled out a small object. "I got this for you."
Daniel blinked in surprise as she handed him a pendant.
"A pendant?" he asked curiously, holding it up to examine it.
"Yes, it's a magic instrument. I saw it while I was out. A merchant brought it from a distant place," she explained, her tone casual, as if it were no big deal.
"A magic instrument…"
[author] More chapters in a few hours[/author]