Lilith took a deep breath to steady herself as she climbed out of bed. As she approached the door, she couldn't help but glance at her vanity mirror.
On the surface of the mirror, crimson letters appeared: Second Glimpse of the Future.
"Are you there, Sister? It's Alucardo," came a voice from the other side of the door.
"Yes, Alucardo, I'm here," Lilith replied. She reached for the door but stopped abruptly, realizing she was still in her nightgown. She remembered how uncomfortable her previous interaction with Alucardo had been in the First Glimpse of the Future when she had answered the door improperly dressed.
"Please wait a moment; I need to change," she called out.
As Lilith changed into her formal gown, she noticed something peculiar: there was no sound of frogs croaking.
Wait… why not?
In the first future glimpse, the incessant croaking had already started by this point. What was different this time?
It didn't take long for Lilith to realize the key difference—she hadn't opened the door to Alucardo yet.
Could seeing Alucardo be the trigger for my frog-like transformation?
Or perhaps it was simply the act of opening the door?
"Today is your coming-of-age ceremony. As your brother, it is my duty to escort you personally," Alucardo's cold voice came from the other side of the door. "Please don't keep me waiting. Making others wait is most unbecoming."
Lilith took a deep breath and made her decision.
No. I must not open the door.
"Alucardo, I will make my way to the antechamber myself. You may return for now. When the ceremony begins, I will let you escort me."
There was a pause.
"You're making this quite difficult for me, Sister. May I ask why?" Alucardo's tone was icy.
"Because I don't want to see you," Lilith replied bluntly. "Just as you don't want to see me."
Another pause.
"Very well," Alucardo said at last. "If that is your wish, I understand. We will meet at the ceremony."
With that, his footsteps receded down the hallway.
When the sound of his steps disappeared entirely, Lilith gathered her courage and opened the door.
No frog croaking.
The absence of sound made Lilith's heart soar with relief.
As she walked through the hallway, past the columns and down the stairs, there was still no sign of the croaking that had plagued her in the first glimpse.
So it really is Alucardo. He's the trigger for my transformation!
This wasn't about her mother's prophecy at all.
Was Father lying to me? If not, then what exactly was the calamity tied to Mother's prophecy? Was it the other version of me that she saw before her death?
Lilith's thoughts raced.
Why would Alucardo do this? Does he truly hate me that much?
And what about her stepmother? Was she the one responsible for the missing guest?
Who is the "other me"? Why did she claim to be my hundredth guest? Is someone truly missing from my guest list?
The questions swirled in Lilith's mind until they made her head ache.
BOOM!
A sudden clap of thunder roared from outside, and dark clouds blanketed the sky. The castle plunged into shadow.
Moments later, torrential rain began to pour, drumming against the windows and drowning the world in noise.
Lilith stared at the storm, her crimson eyes wide with fear.
This storm wasn't in the first glimpse of the future.
Could the rain be connected to her lack of transformation?
She stood at the window for a long while, but no frogs croaked in response to the downpour. Lilith exhaled deeply.
There are no frogs in the castle after all.
Continuing toward the antechamber, Lilith soon felt a chill, perhaps from the sudden drop in temperature.
But then she noticed something strange.
Blood began to seep from the ceiling, trickling down the walls in slow, viscous streams. The metallic stench of blood filled the air, so thick it made her stomach churn.
Another clap of thunder shook the castle, and when Lilith looked out the window again, she saw that the rain had turned blood-red.
Mary's Third Warning: Blood only belongs in the goblet.
Yet now it was everywhere—in the walls, the ceiling, and even the storm outside.
Steeling herself, Lilith walked toward the hallway. With every step, the sight and smell of blood grew stronger.
Under the Gothic window, the Bloodblight Flower raised its grotesque head. Its eyes blinked erratically as its jagged mouth split open in a grin.
"Ah, my beautiful Princess," it crooned. "Is there anything I can do for you?"
"And what might that be?" Lilith asked, stopping gracefully in front of it.
She found the flower infuriating; just looking at it made her want to uproot it and stomp it into oblivion.
"Hehehe… Forgive my boldness, Princess. You're so enchanting," the flower gushed. "I can devour anyone for you. All I require is a small payment."
Devour anyone?
In the first glimpse, Lilith had ignored the flower entirely. But now, curiosity got the better of her, and she activated her World Cognition skill.
[Bloodblight Flower]
Age: Long-lived
Level: ???
Alignment: Lawful Evil
Abilities: Devouring
Weakness: Obsessively craves delicious meat
Description: A beautiful yet deadly plant that graces the halls of the vampire castle. It provides an elegant aesthetic while serving as a formidable defense against intruders. However, if an invader offers it tasty meat, it may form a horrifying alliance with them and switch allegiances.
Lilith read the flower's description and revised her opinion of it. Perhaps it could prove to be a reliable ally.
"Well, my beautiful Princess," the flower continued, "if you'd let me have just a little piece of your flesh…"
"How about I give you one of my eyeballs, and you eat yourself instead?" Lilith said with a dazzling smile.
[Bloodblight Flower's Sanity -2]
"You have such a delightful sense of humor, Princess," the flower said, closing its eyes and resuming its still, plant-like pose.
Lilith moved on to the hallway. The blood continued to drip from the ceiling and walls, pooling ominously on the floor.
Tap. Tap. Tap.
Her high heels echoed eerily in the corridor, the sound mixing with the steady drip of blood.
Stopping once more before the Third Painting, Lilith stared at it intently.
[Portrait: The Shrewd Goblin]
She was certain this painting held the key to understanding her predicament, yet she had no idea how to make it talk.
Blood oozed down the frame, its rancid scent filling her nose.
Lightning illuminated the hall, casting her reflection on the painting's glass cover. Her crimson eyes glinted, and even she found her appearance unnerving.
The thunder followed moments later, rumbling ominously.
And then the goblin in the painting seemed to smirk at her mockingly.
"Good morning, Princess," a passing maid said, smiling politely as she curtsied.
Lilith nodded in response, but as the maid passed, a thought struck her.
"Wait," she called out.
The maid turned. "Yes, Princess? How may I assist you?"
"Could you lend me a lipstick?"
The maid smiled and handed over the requested item.
A moment later, Lilith carefully applied the lipstick, then turned to admire her reflection in the painting's glass.
Satisfied with her appearance, she smiled at herself.
[Illusory Mirror's Sanity -0.1]