Velra took a step closer until she was right beside the bed.
"You have inherited power," she said. "A dangerous one. One that high-ranking demons would kill for."
"I figured."
She gave me a look that was equal parts frustration and bafflement.
"...you are becoming something that should not exist."
"...Thanks?"
"That was not praise."
Velra leaned in.
Her voice dropped to a whisper.
"Julies. From this moment on... you cannot show weakness. Not here. Not outside. Not to enemies. Not even to allies."
My breath caught.
She was too close.
Her golden eyes gleamed with something sharp—
not affection.
Not malice.
Fear.
For me.
"There are forces that will come for you," she said. "For what you carry. For what you killed. For what you inherited."
Her lips curled slightly.
"The Deceiving Ground Spider was working for demon king. Its death will not go unnoticed."
"...And you’re warning me?"
"I am bound to you."
A beat.
"And besides—I do not want anyone else taking what I have claimed."
"Claimed?"
Velra’s smile sharpened.
"Of course. You are mine."
I choked.
"What—!?"
"As my familiar," she corrected quickly, though her eyes sparkled with mischief at my reaction. "Do not overthink it."
I massaged my forehead.
This woman—
this ancient demon—
this proud, stubborn, absurdly dramatic vampire—
Was going to be the end of me.
Before I could respond, she added:
"And besides... it is not only demons you must be wary of."
I froze.
"What do you mean?"
Velra looked toward the door.
Her expression hardened.
"Someone has been listening for a while."
Knock. Knock.
"Julies?" A familiar voice called.
"I’m coming in."
Alice Draken.
Velra’s smile sharpened—
predatory, elegant, and just slightly smug.
"Shall we begin the next problem of your day?"
The door handle turned.
"Demonkind. Why didn’t you report immediately that Julies had awakened?"
That was the first thing Alice said as she entered the room.
Her voice was laced with cold and clipped irritation—
the kind that carried steel beneath every syllable.
Velra didn’t flinch.
If anything, her posture straightened with aristocratic pride, chin lifted ever so slightly.
"I was occupied," Velra replied smoothly. "His condition required immediate stabilization. Reporting could wait."
Alice’s eyes narrowed.
"Occupied?"
Her gaze swept the room—
first to me, then to Velra, then back to me.
"...Why are you two sitting that close?"
I almost choked on nothing.
Velra, of course, did not move an inch.
Instead, she gently placed a hand on my shoulder.
Lightly.
Deliberately.
Provocatively.
"Lady Alice," I said quickly, "it’s not—"
"I stabilized him," Velra cut in.
"Physical contact accelerates the regulation of mana overflow."
Alice stared.
Then stared harder.
"...Is that so?"
Her voice was flat.
Flat in the way people sounded when they absolutely did not believe you but were trying very hard not to start a diplomatic incident.
I tried to sit up straighter.
Pain shot through my ribs.
Alice immediately noticed.
The frost in her expression softened for a second, replaced by worry.
"You’re injured."
She stepped toward the bed, hand reaching for my wrist to check the pulse—
only for Velra to subtly shift, blocking the space between us like an elegant, immovable wall of silk and malice.
Alice halted mid-step.
"...Move."
"No," Velra said pleasantly.
"My offspring is resting."
My soul left my body for the third time today.
"Ladt A-Alice, she means— It’s not—! It’s a magical term—!"
Alice’s eye twitched.
"’Offspring,’ huh?"
Velra’s smile widened.
"Yes."
"Of course it is."
The air grew heavy.
Mana pressed against the walls, crackling faintly.
These two were seconds away from blowing a hole in the room—
with me in the crossfire.
"Make sure you stay alert, Julies. That demon might try some cheap tricks on you."
Alice’s tone was sharp enough to slice stone. For some reason, her cold demeanor hadn’t thawed in the slightest since she walked in.
Velra merely raised an eyebrow, the picture of calm superiority.
"Descendant of the warrior," she replied smoothly, "I am acting under your father’s orders—nothing more."
Alice clicked her tongue.
"Then as a maid, start by fixing that arrogant attitude!"
’...Oh?’
I blinked.
Right.
A noble lady from a lineage that has hunted demons for generations...
And a high-ranking demon who suffered the humiliation of being defeated by her...
Oil and fire.
Salt and open wounds.
Natural-born enemies.
It made perfect sense they couldn’t stand each other.
’As long as they don’t drag me into it.’
I silently begged the universe.
But with the way both of them glared past me, aiming death at each other with their eyes...
I had a very bad feeling that I was already neck-deep in the middle.
The tension in the room thickened—
so dense I could practically taste iron on my tongue.
Velra’s smile stayed perfectly serene, but the tips of her fangs peeked out just slightly.
A warning.
Alice’s hand hovered near the dagger strapped at her thigh.
Not drawn—
but close.
Dangerously close.
"I suggest," Alice said slowly, "you remove your hand from him."
Velra didn’t move.
If anything, she let her fingers rest a little more firmly on my shoulder, as if adjusting a shawl.
"I am ensuring my offspring does not collapse," she replied. "His body is still unstable. You would know that if you paid attention instead of barging in."
Alice inhaled sharply.
There it was.
The line crossed.
Mana surged.
Not mine.
Not Velra’s.
Alice’s.
A vibrant, sharp silver aura burst around her—like lightning that had been distilled, refined, and sharpened into a blade.
Velra’s golden eyes glowed in response, pupils thinning to predatory slits.
"Julies," Alice said, not taking her eyes off Velra, "step away from her."
"I— I can’t," I whispered.
"Why not?"
Because if I moved, I would black out. Because my blood had been chewed on by a parasite, my stats were collapsing, and the remnants of the Essence boost were gone.
Because I was barely holding myself upright—
But none of that mattered.
Velra pressed a hand against my back, supporting me.
"He is incapable of moving without assistance," she said. "A fact you would have noticed if you were not blinded by jealousy."
Alice froze.
"...Jealousy?"
Velra smirked.
"Yes. You stormed in quite loudly."
"I was concerned!" Alice snapped. "We were told he was unconscious! His pulse was unstable! You— you filthy parasite—"
"Velra," I hissed, "stop provoking her."
"But it is adorable," Velra murmured. "She reminds me of a hatchling claiming territory."
"I am not—!"
Alice’s voice broke slightly.
Just slightly.
Velra’s expression changed for the first time.
Not smug.
Not haughty.
Thoughtful.
"Hm. Interesting."
Alice stiffened.
"Interesting how?" she demanded.
Velra tilted her head, studying Alice the way someone might examine a puzzle they weren’t sure they liked.
"You carry the scent of fate around you," Velra said. "Threads cling to you. Old ones. Heavy ones."
"...What?"
"And you are far more attached to Julies than even you realize."
"Velra," I warned again.
Alice’s face flushed a dangerous shade—not from embarrassment, but anger at having her emotions dissected so casually.
"Shut your mouth," she hissed.
"You would like that, wouldn’t you?" Velra replied.
And then—
Before Alice could explode—
I had to step in.
H