Volume 1, Chapter 10 – The Vampire Princess’s First Taste of Blood

Yisi’s words left Camilla momentarily stunned.

“Into a cup… What does Onee-sama intend to do?”

“Just follow my orders.”

“Understood.”

With a slight nod, Camilla rose from her seat and produced a dagger from somewhere, pressing it lightly against the blood slave’s neck. The girl’s face was filled with terror, her body trembling uncontrollably, her breathing growing rapidly. Yet despite her fear, she dared not resist or retreat. Instead, she simply sobbed quietly, closing her eyes as if awaiting the blade to take her life—or so it should have been.

Yisi frowned and pointed to the girl’s hands, which had turned pale from gripping too tightly.

“Here.”

Camilla tilted her head, seemingly confused by Yisi’s instruction.

“But you once said only the blood near the neck is fresh.”

“That was before. I’ve changed my mind now.”

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“…Understood.” Withdrawing the dagger, Camilla patted the girl’s back and commanded in a cold, merciless tone, “Hold out your hand.”

“Ah…”

Clearly, the girl hadn’t realized she had been spared. She stared blankly at Camilla, who gave her no time to react, grabbing her wrist and slicing her palm open with the dagger.

Blood immediately dripped from the girl’s hand into the glass cup below. But contrary to Yisi’s expectations, there were no screams of pain or terror. Instead, the girl wore an expression of surprise—almost relief. After an initial reflexive flinch, she stopped resisting entirely, as if she had grown accustomed to bloodletting.

Perhaps, as a vampire, she was already desensitized to the sight of blood.

Yet what surprised Yisi more than the girl’s reaction was Camilla’s behavior. At first, Yisi had assumed Camilla was kind-hearted, which was why she had entrusted the task to her. But it turned out Camilla had never intended to let the girl live. Her cold-blooded demeanor left Yisi at a loss for words.

Was it because Camilla adored her sister so much that the lives of others meant nothing? Or was it simply the mindset of a noble, viewing slaves as mere objects? Or perhaps she was inherently ruthless? Yisi couldn’t decide, silently labeling Camilla as cruel in her mind.

In less than a minute, the transparent goblet was filled with blood, the liquid darkening to a deep crimson upon exposure to the air.

“That’s enough.” Yisi raised her hand to signal Camilla to stop, then waved at the waiting maid. “Take her away, treat her wounds. She may still be of use later—everyone else, leave.”

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“Yes, Lady Pescia.”

Once all the maids had departed, Yisi glanced at Camilla, who showed no sign of surprise at her earlier actions. Instead, she simply continued eating her dinner with a knife and fork, confirming that Yisi’s behavior hadn’t aroused suspicion. Everything was still under control.

A good start.

Yisi inwardly applauded herself. Her plan to gradually alter the persona of the eldest daughter of the Pescia family was indeed feasible.

Now, it was time to focus on the blood.

Picking up the nearly overflowing glass of dark red liquid, Yisi felt her throat involuntarily tighten. This wasn’t due to a vampire’s thirst for blood but rather the instinctive revulsion of her human soul.

Unlike the faint taste of blood from licking a wound or bleeding gums, the overwhelming metallic scent of a large quantity of blood was nauseating. Yisi had once visited an old slaughterhouse as a child, and the memory of that suffocating stench still made her stomach churn.

Yet now, the scent was no different—except that she found it intoxicating.

“Is this the change brought by becoming a vampire…?” Yisi murmured under her breath, ensuring Camilla wouldn’t hear. “Well, there’s no turning back now. Besides, I am a little curious about the taste.”

If blood tasted as varied as fruit juice to vampires, did that mean each person’s blood had a unique flavor?

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With that thought, Yisi peeked at Camilla through the glass, confirming she wasn’t being watched before cautiously extending her tongue to lightly skim the surface of the liquid.

Contrary to expectations, there was no overwhelming metallic taste.

It was sweet.

Not the sweetness of sugar, but something closer to honey, with a faint tartness. If Yisi had to compare it to something she’d eaten before, it would be an unripe mango dipped in honey.

But that was only the beginning. As the blood flowed down her throat and into her stomach, an indescribable sensation surged through her entire body. It was like falling into a dream, all worries and burdens vanishing in an instant. Her mind soared as if on wings, drifting through a haze of euphoria, like an alcoholic stumbling upon the finest wine in existence. The sheer bliss was nearly intoxicating.

Without thinking, Yisi tilted the glass, letting the blood flood her tongue. The pleasure intensified, every cell in her body singing in delight. She didn’t even notice her wings spreading wide behind her, nor the soft moan escaping her lips. Some of the blood even trickled down the corners of her mouth, dripping unnoticed.

Only when the last drop was gone did Yisi slowly return to her senses. The fading euphoria left her sighing wistfully. She licked her lips, then instinctively glanced at Camilla’s neck—smooth, pale, and temptingly within reach.

No. No, that was something even the eldest daughter of the Pescia family had never dared to do. The thought snapped her back to reality like a splash of cold water.

Had she not regained control, she might have even licked the glass clean. But now that she was a vampire, blood had truly become an addiction. Yisi was beginning to understand why the eldest daughter had drained people dry.

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Exhaling softly, Yisi shook her head and set the glass back on the table.

“Phew—”

“Onee-sama, you…”

“Hm?”

Only now did Yisi realize the extent of her actions—the tableware had been knocked over by her wings, her sapphire-blue dress was stained with blood, and her white bangs clung to her forehead with sweat. She looked nothing like a noblewoman raised with proper etiquette.

Yet Camilla didn’t seem suspicious. Her flawless face only held curiosity.

“Did that slave’s blood taste particularly good, Onee-sama? I… have never seen you so entranced before.”

Ahem. “Indeed, that slave’s blood was exceptional. That’s precisely why I chose to spare her.” Yisi feigned composure as she stood. With the meal ruined, there was no reason to stay. “Have the kitchen prepare another serving and send it to my room. Also, I need a bath.”

“Understood. I will arrange it at once, Onee-sama.”

As she watched Yisi leave, a strange glint flickered in Camilla’s crimson eyes—not concern or reverence, but a mix of bewilderment, confusion, curiosity, and intrigue.