The full moon generously spilled its silver light into the room, illuminating a melancholic prince perched on the windowsill. His unfocused gaze drifted outside, his black attire amplifying his solitude. The only splash of color came from the dark red liquid swirling in the glass he held. *Even the finest wine couldn't compare to this sight.*
"Care for a drink?" The prince didn't turn, but Sophie knew Libor was speaking to her. *How had she never noticed how handsome he was before?*
Bathed in moonlight, he looked like a painting—a mesmerizing enchantment of the night. As if he were born for darkness. No—more like the night itself existed for him. He was its master, a spirit wandering the shadows.
Drawn to the scene, Sophie accepted the glass of crimson liquid he conjured from thin air. In this world of magic, anything was possible.
When Libor turned to face her, she thought she saw a flash of green in his eyes. *Must've been a trick of the light.*
"Drinking with a beauty under such a glorious moon—what greater pleasure could there be? Cheers!" He raised his glass, clinked it against hers, and downed it in one elegant motion.
Every movement was intoxicating.
"You're not drinking?" Libor refilled his glass, eyeing Sophie's untouched one.
Without a word, she brought the glass to her lips, as if moving too fast might shatter the dream.
The sweet, fragrant liquid sent waves of delight down her throat. Reluctant to finish it, she savored the taste slowly.
A low chuckle snapped her out of her trance. Blinking, she saw Libor smirking at her.
"Do you know what I'm drinking?" He swirled the empty glass.
Sophie shook her head, afraid speaking would ruin the moment.
"It's the blood collected from the villagers this evening." His tone was casual, as if discussing the weather.
Watching his lips curl, one thought flashed through Sophie's mind before darkness took her: *A devil in angel's clothing.*
---
Sunlight stabbed at Sophie's eyes, and she yanked the blanket over her head—until she remembered last night. *I fainted. Again.*
She checked her surroundings. *My room. No wounds. Safe.*
Then it hit her. *Wait, why did I faint? That had to be Libor's doing! And that nonsense about drinking blood—does he think I'm stupid? Vampires don't sip from wine glasses!*
A soft knock interrupted her thoughts.
"Who is it?" She smoothed her clothes and hair before opening the door. *Where did Charles and Xiao Bai run off to?*
Libor stood there, holding a breakfast tray. "I startled you last night. Consider this my apology."
*"A weasel paying respects to a chicken"—definitely up to no good!* She crossed her arms and turned her nose up.
He chuckled, unfazed. "I'm truly sorry. *He* didn't mean to frighten you. What you drank was my latest invention—a red fruit wine that strengthens the body and soothes ailments."
"*He*? *You*? What are you talking about?" Sophie gave him a pitying look. *Is he mentally ill?*
Libor nearly groaned. In centuries of existence, no one had ever looked at him like he was a charity case.
"What you saw last night wasn't *me*—or rather, not the *current* me. It was my vampire form." Her expression only grew more skeptical. *Maybe I should ram my head into a wall.*
Suddenly, Sophie's eyes widened. She glanced at him, then recalled last night's version. A wild theory formed.
Libor brightened. *Finally, she gets it!*
Before she could ask, a frantic voice interrupted. "Dr. Libor! It's an emergency!"
Laki rushed over, gasping. "My son—his belly button—it's leaking fluid!"
Sophie followed Libor to Laki's cottage.
After examining the newborn, Libor reassured the parents. "Don't worry. It's common. This powder will help." He sprinkled a white substance onto the baby's navel.
Bubbles foamed up like boiling water. The infant wailed, Laki collapsed onto the floor, and his wife, Fika, stifled sobs.
"It'll pass," Libor said calmly. Once the bubbling stopped, the parents relaxed.
Laki turned to Sophie. "You brought our child into this world safely. Will you name him?"
Sophie thought of her favorite singer. "How about Austin?"
"*Austin*—it's perfect!" Fika cradled the baby gratefully.
"Oh! And after feeding, hold him upright for a while. His stomach is still flat—if he lies down too soon, he might spit up and choke." Though they didn't understand terms like *stomach* or *nasal passage*, Fika grasped the warning.
After leaving the medicine, Sophie and Libor departed. Watching her walk ahead, a glint of fascination sparked in his eyes. *She's becoming more intriguing by the minute.*
Catching up, he flashed a charming smile. "Got time for a chat?"
Sophie hesitated. She *did* want to know about vampires—but was it safe?
"Scared?" His taunt was annoyingly effective.
"Fine! Where?" She squared her shoulders, ignoring the tiny voice screaming *Danger!*
"Relax. If I wanted to harm you, I'd have done it last night." His gaze grew distant. "Some secrets weigh too heavily after centuries. I need to share them."
"Why me? We barely know each other."
"Because you're interesting. And... I like you."
Sophie sweatdropped. *That kind of "like" is about as valuable as Monopoly money.*
With a flick of his hand—vampires had basic spatial magic, after all—Libor led her to a massive tree.
Sophie eyed the secluded spot warily. *If I scream, will anyone hear me?* She took a defensive stance. "I know advanced magic! I can take you!"
Libor laughed. "You're *adorable*." He stepped back. "I just thought you might enjoy the view from up there."
She glanced at the towering branches. "Well, obviously I want to—*AHH!*" A gust of wind swept her onto a thick limb.
Libor smirked as she clung to him, then reluctantly let go. *Teasing her is unexpectedly fun.*
Forgetting her companion, Sophie marveled at the panorama—the fields, the village, even Charles playing below.
Libor watched her, amused. Centuries of immortality had dulled his interest in people, but *her*... she was different.
Finally, Sophie remembered him and blushed. "Sorry. It's just... so beautiful."
"Ready for the story?"
She nodded eagerly.
**What secrets will the vampire reveal?**