[ Arc 01 - The Royal Family of Vampires. ]
Chapter 11 : The Day I and the Sakamaki's Third Brother Had Misadventure Together.
.
.
.
When Ayato turned around and had his back on me as he led our way to Sebastian's room, my cheerful smile quickly melt into a pale, contorted face.
What the hell was that?
Just a few minutes ago, that Cocky Beyond Saving boy apologized to me. That prideful capture target who always looks down on others said "sorry" with a cute face? No, no, no, that's not in my Diabolik Lovers dictionary.
... But then again, in this world, there is a possibility where everyone could be different from the original plot.
My mind began to recall the changes that I had seen.
Ayato.
He still has his "oresama" character trait*[1]. But I could see how he had changed a bit; I'm not really sure about the details, though. But when he apologized to me, his eyes looked genuine and clear, even though he seemed struggling to find his words; given the lack of experience he had when he apologized to someone.
And when he held my hand, intertwining his hand with mine like this, his hand softened as if he was holding back his strength. I can see his little kindness behind of it. Oh, I also have to say, he has a hidden talent to escort someone.
For someone as prideful and aggressive as him to do something like that ... it's very new to me. Haha, I guess I have to start adapting myself with this new side of him.
Cordelia.
At first, it never crossed my mind that she would be the first one to change; I thought she would be the second to change after Christa. But she did try her best to change, or should I say, she was fully committed herself to do that. Not everyone can see it, since she is great at hiding it. In fact, I would have stayed holding my hesitation about it, thinking that she is still the same Cordelia in the game, if it wasn't for my eyes caught her reading "How to Become a Good Mother" inside the gazebo by a chance when I passed the Sakamaki's garden. From what I had seen, she seemed genuinely into that book. Duh, she even took a note from it!
It's a good thing for her to dedicate herself to change into a better person, yet ...
I can't help myself but feel uneasy about it.
It's not that I hate with her character development or her new self, but it just that seems ... seems off to me. I can't stop thinking that her development isn't something that I can call "pure" or "honest".
Well, let's just spoil the rotten facts behind it, kay?
Unbeknownst to Cordelia, I manipulated her so that she can change. She became someone like this because I lied to her. It's disgusting how my actions remind me of the same actions that Karlheinz did too to Cordelia.
It feels sick.
I'm not going to deny how immoral of me to do such depraved tricks like that. Because I know from deep inside, it's wrong of me to do that.
Even so ...
I won't try to fix my actions before, nor I will tell them the truth. The truth will destroy all my plans; everything I had built will fall apart once I step toward the white line.
That's why ...
I have made up my mind, I choose to continue walking on this grey path; I will keep going forward with these lies to the end. If a lie can save them, then I will continue to lie to the end. If the truth can lead everyone to downfall, then I won't let the truth face to the surface.
My lips turned into a solemn smile.
... After all, I know.
The truth is not always something worth to know, and honesty is not always the best solution.
.
.
.
~...~
.
.
.
Smells like coffee.
That was my first impression of this room.
I was waiting inside the familiar butler's room. The room was small and moderate, decorated with classic brown wallpaper and forest green furniture. The air of the room filled with a relaxing aura; it was a perfect place to rest and sleep.
The golden orbs of mine looked down to my feet. My feet were swinging lightly while my small body gloriously sank into the comfy couch. Wow, this green couch feels really nice and puffy; it just makes me want to slouch further-!
Thankfully, the black-haired man with a butler suit in front of me didn't notice my ungraceful action and still preoccupied with my request list in his hands. Honestly, it's pretty funny for him to take a request list from a mere child so seriously. But that's also why he is the person I trust the most and I can count on here.
At long last, Sebastian looked up from the small crumpled paper and glanced at me. "Is this all the requests?"
"Ah, yes!" I had my position returned straight as I replied back with a big smile. "Can you do that for me, please?"
"Well, Milady ..."
"It's Kori." I pouted. "No need formal honorific or polite attitude when it is just the two of us, Sebastian!" I showed my toothy grin at him. "See? I call you Sebastian, so you call my name too, Kori!"
"... I understand. I will try my best, um," Sebastian murmured, his voice was dry. "... Kori." His eyes looked at mine.
"Yes!" I answered him with a smile. "So, Sebastian, what did you want to say before?"
"Well, Kori ..." He tried to call my name, even though it rolled out in stiff. "About your requests, I can say for sure the first request and the third request are able for me to grant it."
Alright, so he can do the first request to watch the triplets and the third request to stock more sweets in the kitchen. But why he didn't mention the second request?
"That's great, Sebastian!" I said, smiling at him like a happy child. "But what about my second request?"
"For your second request, hiring a magic tutor and a sword master, is something that within out of my range." Sebastian sighed as he folded the request list. "You need permission first from Karlheinz-sama."
Damn it, he is right. I have to talk about this request to that Old Demon. How troublesome.
"... I also have to let you know something." Sebastian looked at me with a straight face; his eyes had signaled me, telling me that what he was about to say would leave me in a bad taste. "I apologize if my statement hurt your feeling, but there is no a woman in this world who train their hands to hold a sword."
Excuse me ...?
"While it is a common activity for men to do swordsmanship, for women not. Women train their hands only for gentle leisure activities, such as embroidery or flower arrangement."
Yeah, and how is that even help me with my plan?
This sudden culture background information that the game had never even mentioned before is making everything harder for me. I mean, the game only focuses on the Heroine's love story, while the origins of the characters and their world are somewhat left in the dark. And it's not helping me here.
But really, to think the time when the capture targets grew up as a child has gender discrimination like this, it truly sucks. No wonder the capture targets' mothers are passive when it comes to a fight, and the capture targets seem to think they are superior and can do whatever fuck they want. Haahhh ... I hate this world. Why I even get reincarnated in this world?
But even so ...!
I looked up at Sebastian with a smile. "Well, if I can't learn swordsmanship, I still can learn magic spells, right?"
"Certainly." Sebastian nodded. "But you still need permission first from Karlheinz-sama."
Haha, of course.
"Then ...!" I looked at him again with expectingeyes, like a child would do to their parents when they come back with toys and snacks in their hands. "Can you help me to communicate this request to Father?"
Sebastian gave a trouble face. "Well that's ..."
Damn it, he is going to reject it-!
"Pretty, pretty, please, Sebastian~?" I asked as I quickly switched my "sparkly eyes" effect to the highest mode and made a cute face that I had practiced for a while. I have to say, playing an innocent child act is so easy with this body; I don't even need three days to perfect this act. Although, my inner adult mind is currently torn apart by my pride as a grown-up woman and the mixed feeling of disgust and shame.
But you know what? I don't want to care about these adult things again, because I'm a child now! I'm just an 8-years-old girl. Yeah, nothing more than that. This act is not wrong or shameless for my age, haha ... ugh, I hate this, I want to bury myself right now.
Forget about that, I need to focus on making him agree with me. There is no way I would let him refuse this! This request is very important for me, and I need his help to fulfill it. That's why I have no other choice but to make him cooperate with me, even if I have to throw my own dignity and play this stupid act in front of him.
And as just as what my grandpa told me before: "No man can reject a cute child", so here is this, take my cute beam attack! How is that feel for you, huh, Sebastian-?!
Sebastian looked at me with a pale look, then looked down and sighed. "I understand. I will try to communicate it with Karlheinz-sama."
My eyes shone brightly at his answer. Behind my back, my hand had turned into a small happy fist. Yes, that's a great answer! Sebastian, you're the best!
"Is there anything else you want me to do?"
I smiled at him. "No, that's all of it." I took the elegant silver cup and sipped my tea. "Thank you, Sebastian."
He took his cup of coffee too. "You're very welcome."
The rest of the time, the two of us lapsed into a pensive silent as we drank our quencher until there was nothing left to drink.
.
.
.
~...~
.
.
.
After I gave a short wave of goodbye to the stoic butler, I left his room and turned my body around to see green orbs staring back at me. Five inches from my face.
"Whoa!" I cried, startled. My back pressed the dark brown door behind me in reflex as I was shocked by the jumpscare creature in front of me. If this situation I had in here was a horror movie or a horror game, perhaps I was already death to the meat by the scary creature.
As a vampire with sensitive ears, the boy with an eccentric red mop winced from the loud noise that I made and closed both of his hearing organs with his hands. "Jeez, you don't have to shout like that!" he barked.
Well, my human nervous system told me to shout when I got startled. What are you going to do about it, duh.
Swallowing my urge to bite his words back, I shot him with a carefree smile and giggled a bit as I tried to stir away the tension. "Yeah, sorry about that. I'm just surprised by you, that's all." I patted his shoulder lightly. "By the way, what are doing here? Did you wait for me?" I asked, teasing him a bit.
"Yeah, and you make this great me wait for so long!"
Eh, I thought he would deny it. Never knew he would actually wait for me.
"Ahaha, is that so?" I scratched the back of my head. "Then, sorry for making you wait, Ayato-kun."
"Heh, you better be, Dirtybag!" He grinned pompously as usual, his hands on his hips. And yeah, this jerk is still a real dick for still using that irritating nickname to me. Jeez, when I thought he would stop calling me by that nickname after he apologized and started using my proper name to call me like his mother did, he had to do something that would ruin everything like this. What an unbelievable guy.
"Anyway, let's go play together!"
Oh, what is this? He is inviting me to play together with him? That's some progress there. Hmm, I assume he has thought me as a friend now? Well, this is going to be a big chance for me to get along with the other triplet brothers!
Yep, there's no way I'm going to waste this ...!
I grinned back at him. "Great! What are we going to play?"
"Catching bat, duh doy! We will catch a lot of bats!"
Ooh, sounds nice.
"Then after we catch them, we are going to jab it with skewer-!"
Eh ...?
"And roast it together!"
Wait, what, no! Not the bats, alright?!
"C'mon, Dirtybag!" he chirped, his little fangs glinted slightly when he spoke. He easily pulled me to run with him. "Yours Truly will show you how great I am when I catches them!"
Yeah, but spare the poor bats from your sadistic hobby, would you ...?
.
.
.
~...~
.
.
.
"So, um, Ayato-kun." As I had myself get tagged along with him- or should I say, I was dragged by the force of his preposterous strength to follow him, I tried to slow him down with my talk. I mean, I still love my legs, and I don't want it to get hurt by this monstrous child. "We are not going to invite your brothers with us?"
"No, they're all suck at this. I'm the only one who end up catching all the bats."
Wow, that's really honest.
Ayato's face suddenly lightened up as if he remembered something important. With a steady move, he slowed down his pace. That was a good chance for me to catch my breath and sigh in relief.
"Oi, Dirtybag."
"Yeah?"
"Yours Truly is wondering ..." the boy pondered out of sudden as he strolled leisurely beside me. "What's your business with Stony Face before?"
Flinch!
My eyes began to wander past my surroundings but him. "Ahh, that's ..."
Out of all the questions, why does he have to choose the most troublesome question for me to answer?
Well, I do understand, the question is actually easy to answer: "I just wanted to ask his help with my requests", that's it. But the requests! "What requests?" if he asks that, that's a problem! I can't tell him the requests. Especially, the first request to watch the triplet brothers.
From two days ago, I have been continuously terrorized by a quite admirable count of sick pranks, such as trying to soak me with a bucket of bloody rat corpses and tripping me with a thin rope on my room doorway. Not stopping on that, they even tried to hurt me by slipping a few thumbtacks at my damn doorstep this morning, and let me add an additional fact to that; that was the fifth time. Again, fifth time!
What is wrong with them? Do they have an "obsession need" to hurt me?
Even the sadistic ghost woman in my room had been made speechless by the actions. She even expressed a genuine priceless reaction face for that.
Seriously, why do they always have to do it at my room doorway? Do they really think I will fall for their trap again that placed in the same exact place?!
But thanks to their simple pattern traps, I could predict who the culprit is. Well, considerably from the sloppy and childish works, the culprit must be someone with a young age. And with the help from my observational skills and logical thinking, I have found the perfect candidates for me to raise a large suspicion on. Yes, the triplets; they were the only lunatic brothers in the family who would actually brave to do that, not to mention they do have hidden grudges for me too.
And right now, one of the suspected boys, was standing in front of me, still with his two big cat-like eyes staring at me rather inquisitively, waiting for me to answer his question.
... Boy, why you have to be the curious one? There's no way I will tell you the truth, kay?
Forming my smile again, I uttered my words with a careful approach, "Well, you see ... I just want to-"
Grab!
A few strands of my hair were caught flying in my view as Ayato pulled my hand with him, which he literally did it with shoving my whole body to the nearest wall with full force. Such a rough impact from the incredible strength had made me slip out a protest and groan from my mouth.
"Hey, what the actual-" I swore I would have done throwing some profanity vocabulary to his face if only his little index finger didn't touch my lips. And for the love of God, why his finger smells like a mixture of fish eggs and seaweed? Did he even wash his hands?!
"Quiet, dumbass," he hushed while I stared sharply at his small face and his finger in front of me, then again, and repeatedly up to three times in a row. The boy didn't catch my signal to get rid his finger from my lips, so I slapped his finger back at his face. Of course, he didn't look amused by my action.
"So, what's going on here?"
The redhead boy scowled at me, still mad at my action before. He was about to say "think by yourself, idiot" or something with that line, but he didn't. Perhaps, he sensed my seriousness when his emerald eyes slightly glanced toward my face for a second.
He sighed and ruffled his red mop. "Richter, that Old Man." His expression turned serious, which was very unusual of him. "He is there, walking with Sour Face."
"Sour Face?"
"Shuu and Reiji's mother, Beatrix."
My eyes had literally turned blank from his explanation. "Oh, um, that's some nickname ..." Well, I'm not against with that silly nickname for her; I mean, it's an accurate nickname for that stoic mother, but I'm afraid we would get beaten, or worse chocked to death, by Reiji's sacred whip if that bespectacled boy happened to hear about the two step siblings of him insulted his mother in a carefree way.
My eyes casted down rigidly from the dreadful thoughts. Man, introvert boy can be scary with their stuff ...
"Tch, I hate that guy." Ayato gritted his teeth. "That Old Man always comes to this mansion just to fool around. He thinks he can play with my mother, then switch to Sour Face? What a bastard!" he spat in hiss, his knuckles had turned very white as he folded his hands tightly.
My lips opened a bit to voice my opinion, but I quickly turned down the action, thinking it would be a bad idea to respond to his anger. Instead, I just let him vent up with his anger as I looked at him with understanding eyes, showing that I'm listening to him. Sometimes, listening like this is not a bad idea.
I believe this is the same action that the Heroine did to every capture targets when they are struggling with their emotional problems.
And I think, it's not wrong a choice.
Ayato had always seen his mom having an affair with other guys; not to mention, his own uncle! It's not an easy childhood for him and his brothers to see something unnerving sight like that. But I know Cordelia and Richter have their own reasons too for doing that. Cordelia did that because she was taught by Karlheinz. Richter did that because of his inferiority complex toward his older brother that made him obsessed with getting everything his brother had. In the end, I couldn't feel hate for them; they're just victims of the root of this wholesome drama. That's right, it was Karlheinz himself.
Ayato's head suddenly perked up. "Dirtybag, we gotta run!" he whispered in panic and pulled me with him. Whoa, what's with the sudden panic here?
... And what's with this sudden bad feeling?
As we ran from our hide, I took a look at my back for a second. My gaze instantly landed on the lady with blond hair, standing alone in the hallway not too far from Ayato and me. She was looking at us with her icy stare- or her usual stoic look. Seeing her staring at us with cold gaze, without emotion like that, it made my stomach churned in nervous.
Wait a minute. Where is Richter?
I felt a sudden weight on my head. A big hand of a mature man held my head, forcing me to stop my run. I glanced at Ayato who had the same fate as me.
"Since when you two have the right to peep on somebody's business?"
When I heard a low baritone voice at my back, my body shivered in fright.
For the first time in my life, Ayato and I synchronized together as we chanted the same word in between our gasps at the same time.
"Shit."
Translation Note :
1. "Oresama" character trait*[1] : A personality trait term to describe a character who tends to be aggressively overconfident and pompous.
TBC
Don't forget to give favorite, follow, and review!
I accept every criticism, but please refrain yourself from using any hateful words.
If you happen to find some mistakes in this story, please don't hesitate to point them out and tell me in the comment section or on my private message. I will gladly express my gratitude to you and fix the mistakes right away.
Thank you for your visit and your time to read my story. I'm glad that you enjoy your time to read this to the end!
See you in the next chapter!