"So, when are you going to change her?"

Vlad was in his bedroom, setting out a sheet of paper and a pen on his desk, preparing to write a letter to his old friend. He looked up when Faust entered his room and spoke to him.

Faust had seen Imladris heading out to the gardens. He then went to find Vlad. Faust figured that they would need to prepare for the transformation process. The most ideal place to do it would be Faust's laboratory, which also served as a kind of clinic. He wanted to know by when he should have his laboratory ready. In Faust's mind, it was already a given that Vlad would be changing Imladris into a vampire. So, he was unpleasantly shocked by Vlad's response.

"No, I'm not going to bite her."

"…What?"

"Imladris refused. She doesn't want to become a vampire."

Faust was utterly dumbfounded. "Is she serious?"

"Yes, very."

"She knows that she's going to die otherwise, but she still refuses to be turned?!" Faust fumed. "She's an idiot."

Vlad frowned disaprovingly at him. "Be nice, Faust. You know that she's going through a lot right now."

"All her of problems would be solved if she became a vampire."

"Not everyone is willing to become a vampire," Vlad replied. Both he and Comte had made sure to ask the ones whom they had turned beforehand if they were willing to become a vampire in exchange for a taste of eternity. Everyone who had entered into their contracts of becoming a vampire had done so willingly.

Imladris, however, was unwilling.

"She wants to live," Faust argued. "She told me so herself."

"Yes, but not as a vampire."

"Well, there's no other 'as a' option for her. Living as a vampire is her only option left for living at all at this point. She's going todieif she doesn't become a vampire. For crying out loud, even without this disease, she's going to die eventually at some point. And now, this disease is speeding up her path toward death."

"She knows that, but she has already decided."

"She's an idiot," Faust repeated angrily. Then, he focused his glare on Vlad. "And you. You justlether refuse your offer? You're just going to let her die? And here I thought that you actually cared about her!"

Faust wasn't oblivious to how Vlad would look at Imladris. Faust knew that Vlad felt deep affection for her. Yet Vlad was just accepting her fate of certain death from this illness?

Vlad's frown deepened. "Of course I care about her."

"Your actions are proving otherwise. It seems that you wouldn't care at all if she just dropped dead."

"Watch your mouth, Faust."

Faust instantly felt the overwhelming, dangerous aura emanating from Vlad. The two of them stared at each other for a few moments.

"Believe me, I want nothing more than to save Imladris. To give her the extended life of a vampire," Vlad said. "But she does not want it, and I don't want to make her unhappy by forcing her to undergo such a change…"

Vlad remembered how Imladris had saved him on that snowy night, a long, long time ago. She might not know of it in the present time, but Vlad could never forget what she had done for him back then. He had spent many, many years searching for her, and he finally found her again. The last thing that he wanted was to lose her all over again—this time, permanently, at the hands of death. However, since she wished to remain human despite the certainty of death, he had no choice but to accept her decision.

Faust surveyed his lord. It was clear more than ever to him that Vlad felt strongly for Imladris. There was no question about it. Yet Vlad was still willing to let her give up her life. It didn't make any sense to Faust. He questioned both Vlad's and Imladris' sensibilities.

Vlad continued, "Imladris' happiness is my priority… Unlike da Vinci." He couldn't help but mutter the last part bitterly.

"Da Vinci?" Faust repeated blankly.

"Imladris' determination to stay human is because of da Vinci. He disagrees with immortality, so he is against Imladris becoming a vampire. And Imladris decided to stay human for da Vinci's sake."

Faust gritted his teeth in frustration. Imladris. Leonardo. Even Vlad. They were all the same—they were all willing to just let what they treasure most slip right through their not fight to keep the person whom you hold most dear?

"Now, if you'll excuse me," Vlad said, turning back to his desk. "I have to write a letter to my dear old friend and let him know that Imladris is staying with us tonight."

But Faust marched over to Vlad and snatched the paper and the pen away from him.

"What are you doing, Faust?"

"You are not writing a letter to Comte. You are not letting him and his vampires know that Imladris is with us." Faust had nerves of steel to speak in such a blasé manner to his pureblood lord; Charles would never have done it.

Vlad curiously studied him. "What are you planning?"

"Imladris needs to be knocked back to her senses."

"She has already made her decision."

"She is being a fool for love. The worst kind of fool there is," Faust snapped. He turned away and stalked out of the room. However, on his way out, he glanced back at Vlad and added, "And apparently, so are you."

The next morning, when Imladris arrived at breakfast, she found Vlad and Charles waiting for her. Charles immediately stood up and hugged her. She could instantly tell from Charles' worried expression that he already knew about her illness. She raised an eyebrow at Vlad.

"I had to tell Charles why you were staying with us. And he might be able to help with managing your condition, given that he serves as a town doctor," Vlad explained smoothly. "But if I overstepped, I apologize."

Imladris shook her head and said, "No, it's fine. I understand. I really do appreciate how much you guys care about me." She managed to extract herself from Charles' hug and took a seat.

Charles started to pile food on her plate. "Here you go, Imladris. I made sure to cook food that's deliciousandnutritious for you. Eat up!"

"Thank you, Charles. And thanks for letting me stay last night," she added to Vlad. "You've been so hospitable."

"You can stay with us even longer if you want!" Charles said eagerly. "It would be best for you anyway. As Lord Vlad said, I'm a doctor, so I can take care of you!"

"Arthur's also a doctor," she reminded him. Imladris knew that once she managed to tell the mansion's residents about her illness, they would all dive into taking care of her, Arthur included. That was just how kind everyone in the mansion was.

"Yeah, but Arthur would be flirting with you every time you try to seek medical advice or treatment from him," Charles pointed out.

"And you wouldn't do the same, Charles?" Vlad chuckled. "You're also a big flirt."

"Hey, I know when to be serious! I'm not about to start wooing a patient who needs my medical care."

Vlad laughed. "Some of your 'patients' in town might say otherwise."

Imladris noticed how Vlad emphasized the word "patients" and gathered that Charles' relationship with those "patients" wasn't entirely just in a professional sense. She decided that it was better for her not to know more about it. She changed the subject.

"Where's Faust? Isn't he joining us for breakfast?" Imladris asked.

"I went to get him, but he threatened to inject all sorts of stuff into me while I'm asleep if I didn't leave him alone," Charles shuddered.

"He holes up inside his laboratory whenever he's very upset," Vlad explained to Imladris as he took the strawberries on Faust's plate and transferred them to his own plate.

"…He's upset?" Imladris said. Well, it didn't take a genius to guess what Faust was upset about this time.

After breakfast, Imladris went off to see Faust in his laboratory. She supposed that she should try to fix things between her and Faust before she returned to the mansion. After all, she was the one who first reached out to Faust asking for help, and Faust had only been trying to help her. She didn't want to just leave while Faust was still upset about her decision.

Upon reaching the door to the laboratory, though, a small shadow scampered toward her and started pulling at the hem of her skirt.

"Huh? Oh, hello, Mephi," Imladris greeted Faust's squirrel monkey. Mephi squeaked and chittered at her and wouldn't stop pulling on her skirt. "Mephi, I need to go and see your owner—"

"What's all this racket?"

The laboratory's door suddenly opened, and there stood the said owner with a scowl on his face.

"Oh, it's you," Faust said coldly. He made to slam the door on Imladris' face.

"Wait!" Imladris shouted, stopping the door from closing. Faust glared daggers at her. 'Yep, he's definitely upset', she thought idly.

"What else do you need with me? You've already made it clear that you don't care for the solution that I provided to you. You should just go back to the mansion and wait for your death."

Imladris winced at Faust's harsh words. She couldn't refute them, though; they were nothing but the truth.

"Look," Imladris began. "I know that you're trying to help me, and I really appreciate that. But as much as I want to get better and live longer, becoming a vampire just isn't an option for me."

"Itisan option for you," Faust retorted. "But it is an option that you're foolishly turning your back on."

"No, it's an option that I simply justcan'tchoose," Imladris insisted.

"I was wrong to commend you yesterday for wanting to live. Apparently, you're exactly like those fools who just give up on life and give in to death," Faust spat.

"I'm not 'giving in' to death! I don't want to die!" Imladris cried out. Gosh, if Faust only knew how much she wanted to continue living! "If you've got any other way for me to get better, I'll gladly take it! I'll do anything to live longer… Just not become a vampire. Anything but that."

Faust continued to glare coldly at her. Imladris sighed. It seemed like she and Faust just wouldn't be seeing eye to eye anytime soon.

"I really am sorry," Imladris apologized with a weak smile. "And thanks again for trying to help. I better get back home."

"…You're not going back."

"…Huh?" Imladris was bewildered. "What do you mean? I have to go home now. Everyone's waiting for me. Heck, you were the one telling me just moments ago to go back to the mansion."

Faust crossed his arms over his chest. "I told Lord Vlad yesterday not to send the letter to le Comte."

"What?!Why on earth would you do that?!" Imladris shouted. The letter wasn't sent last night? Oh, God!Comte, Leonardo, and the others had no idea where she was!They must be worried sick by now! "I've got to get back home!"

She tried to rush off, but Faust grabbed her arm, holding her back.

"Hey! Let go of me!"

"It would be best if no one from the mansion knows that you're here. At least until you finish with your transformation. That way, they can't interfere."

"Wha—? What are you even talking about? I'mnotgoing to turn into a vampire, Faust!" Imladris said exasperatedly.

"You're going to, if you want to live. And you've told me repeatedly that you want to live. If you really want to live,this is your only choice." He was determined to save her. Even if he had to save her from herself and her foolish decisions.

Imladris let a gush of breath. She understood what Faust was trying to say; she honestly did. But— "I really do want to live. So, so much… But not so much that I would let Leonardo be hurt as a trade."

"Yes, the old goat has informed me of Leonardo's 'issues' with immortality."

Faust's eyes narrowed at the reminder of such a foolish stance. Leonardo thought that immortality was against the laws of nature and should therefore not happen. Faust, on the other hand, welcomed immortality's deviation from the laws of nature; he viewed it as fighting back against the cruel hands of fate or God or whatever higher power was out there.

"And that's why turning into a vampire isn't a solution to my problem. It can't be," Imladris insisted. "Leonardo and I had already agreed that I would remain human. If I turned into a vampire to overcome my illness, it would be like turning my back against those beliefs."

"But those arehispersonal beliefs, not yours, yes?"

"Well…" Imladris said hesitantly. "Since I learned that he's an immortal pureblood and we became a couple, I've learned where his dislike for immortality comes from… I understand why he cherishes humans' limited lifespans…"

"But while you understand his view, you don'ttruly sharethat same view, correct?" Faust pressed on determinedly.

Imladris bit her lip. She once again remembered the night when she first learned that Leonardo was an immortal pureblood. Moreover, she remembered how she had rashly asked him to bite her and turn her into a vampire… and how much that had hurt him. She also remembered how angry Leonardo had been when confronting the man who had kidnapped her and Sebastian, with this kidnapper planning to experiment on them even at the cost of their lives (like unfortunate others before them) in an insane quest for immortality. Leonardo's anger in that moment had been something to behold. Not only had he been furious about his beloved being kidnapped and harmed, but he had also been furious that the kidnapper was dabbling in alchemy and trying to achieve immortality. It was in that moment, even while still bound by their kidnapper and fearful for Leonardo's safety, when Imladris had truly realized how strongly Leonardo felt against immortality.

And since then, she had come to understand and appreciate his views on life, humanity, and immortality.

However.

If she really had to be truthful… in response to Faust's question…

"…Not exactly, no," Imladris admitted reluctantly. It was the same situation with cultural and religious views of others. You could understand why some people believe in something and respect their belief. Nonetheless, understanding and respecting don't necessarily equate to sharing in those beliefs as well yourself. As much as Imladris understood and respected Leonardo's beliefs, she had never been able to also truly believe in those beliefs. Leonardo saw vampirism and immortality as unnatural and should never have occurred. But while Imladris could agree that vampirism and immortality went against the usual laws of nature, she didn't think that they were necessarily evil things either.

Look at the mansion's residents! They were living proof that vampirism and immortality, while against nature, could lead to a lot of good, too. She witnessed that goodness whenever she saw Napoleon and Isaac teaching the poor children of Paris. Whenever she saw how many people enjoy and are inspired by the recent works of Mozart, Arthur, and even Will. Whenever she saw how children would laugh at the stories that Dazai would tell them. Whenever she saw Jean, with his awkward kindness, protecting others. Whenever she saw Vincent and Theo helping the aspiring young artists in the city.

And especially whenever she saw how many people in town Leonardo was able to help with his skills in various fields. Skills that he had picked up from his many centuries of living, thanks to being a pureblood vampire.

With the good that she had seen the mansion's residents do to and for others, how could she truly believe that vampirism and immortality, despite being against the laws of nature, were bad things? There was no way that she could see vampirism and immortality as things to be abhorred and avoided.

"There you go, then!" Faust said. "You don't actually believe those things against immortality yourself. They're not even your own beliefs. So, why fight to your literal death for such beliefs?"

"Because I refuse to hurt Leonardo like that!"

"You don't want to hurt him, but he would rather see you dead than be a vampire."

"It's not like that!" Imladris argued. "Of course, Leonardo wouldn't want me dead in any circumstance… But… Well… Leonardo sees immortality as a curse. He doesn't want to doom me to that same fate."

"Like I said, then—he would rather that you die," Faust said flatly.

Imladris opened and closed her mouth soundlessly, unable to really contradict Faust. Because yes, when it came down to it, since Leonardo didn't want her to become a vampire, he was accepting that she would die one day. Even though that permanent separation would hurt them both and would doom him to an eternity of sadness and loneliness.

Imladris swallowed and began speaking again. "When Leonardo and I became a couple, we knew that we would have to part eventually. We've accepted that."

That tipped Faust off the edge of his remaining self-control. He broke into a rant, snarling ferociously and making Imladris flinch.

"He is a fool. He has the chance to be with the one he loves most for near eternity, yet he refuses to grab that chance? He would just allow to his beloved to die and be apart from him forever? Despite his strong views against immortality, shouldn't being able to be with you, no matter what form you're in, be more important than his beliefs? I cannot stand fools who merely accept 'what fate has given them'! Why would you just accept dying? And why would you two just accept being separated from your loved one forever?"

Faust had lost so many people whom he cared about when he was still human and unable to do anything about it. Though many years had already passed, he still clearly remembered the excruciating pain that he had felt each time that he had lost a loved one. But here were Imladris and Leonardo, capable of fighting fate to stay together, yet they wouldn't!

"Leonardo wants—" Imladris began.

But Faust quickly cut her off. "And how about whatyouwant, Imladris? You want to live longer and spend more time with him, yes? Why would you just give up on what you want, just because Leonardo disapproves of how you would get it? Who is he to dictate your life? To dictate yourdeath?"

"He's my boyfriend, thank you very much!"

"That doesn't give him the right to dictate whether you remain human or turn into a vampire," Faust snapped. "It's your choice."

"Leonardo's not dictating anything! I'mchoosingto remain human!" she said hotly.

"Again, you're a fool," Faust reiterated, fixing her with a basilisk-like glare. "If you really wish to experience a martyr's death for the sake of 'love', be my guest. But fools are not welcome in my laboratory, so get out."

"But you and I aren't—"

"Out."

Imladris huffed and stalked out of the room, leaving Faust alone with his experiments and his pet monkey.