“… Ryner?” [Evelyn]

Evelyn timidly peek her head in Ryner’s room. Her voice was soft and meek. Having been called out after hours of silence, she hurriedly tried to make herself look presentable. Unfortunately, her eyes were puffy because of all her crying.

“I’m here.” [Ryner]

Her shoulders jumped when she heard him. The nervous and depressed vampire entered his room. Like last time, he was sitting on his desk and doing some work on the device called the computer. However, when she stood before him, he stopped typing and locked his gaze on her. Her body went stiff and she held her left arm with her right hand. Without saying a word, Ryner got off his chair and walked towards her. There were countless words Evelyn wanted to say, mainly apologies and pleas, but none of them left her lips. Her throat felt constricted as each step he took made her heart beat faster.

The old monster was now right in front of her. Since he was a few centimeters taller, he was looking down on her while she was fearfully looking up. His right hand was raised. No warning was given. Evelyn closed her eyes, resigning herself to the obvious and inevitable punishment. Yet, the slap or punch she expected never came and what she felt was a light impact on the top of her head. Ryner had gently hit her with a chop, something that he used to do whenever she made mistakes. She stared at him, dumbfounded, stunned by his action that he repeated several times.

Ignoring her puzzled look, he proceeded to poke her forehead and flicked it using his middle finger repeatedly.

“Ry, Ryner?” [Evelyn]

Perplexed and lost, the vampire called out his name while her head was being swayed by the harmless attacks, wondering what he was doing. However, his next act caused all her thought process to cease.

Gently, he patted her head.

“How the hell did the kid I raise become such a pervert?” [Ryner]

There was no angry outburst, no blame in his words. Instead, his voice had a slight, teasing nuance, almost as if he was joking.

“… You’re not… Mad?” [Evelyn]

“Of course I am, idiot. You got any idea how shocked I was to see that video? What you did was a damn crime. Some people might be into that sort of stuff and just let it go, but it’s still a damn crime. If I was the hot girl and you were some sleazy guy, you’d definitely be stoned to death by an angry mob.” [Ryner]

He ruffled up her hair as his words made her look down. The vampire lady that was over a thousand years old was now acting like a scared child.

“I’m being calm and all, but you know how I really feel, don’t you?” [Ryner]

“… Yes.” [Evelyn]

She said in almost a whisper. His face when he discovered what she did vividly resurfaced in her mind. It stabbed deeply into her chest like a blade, but the pain was worse than any weapons could inflict on her.

“I was so shocked that I didn’t really listen to what you were telling me, but, well… That was a confession, right?” [Ryner]

“… Yes. It was.” [Evelyn]

“You love me?” [Ryner]

“… I do.” [Evelyn]

She nodded at the serious question he asked her so casually.

“… I see.” [Ryner]

Ryner took a deep breath and stopped stroking her head. Evelyn took this chance to look up.

“… We were like family. We slept together like a parent and child would.” [Ryner]

He was wrong. For five hundred years, he was wrong. She didn’t fawn on him like a daughter. She was showing her affection as a woman.

“I knew you trusted me the most, but I never thought you would see me like that. There were way better men around you and I wasn’t the popular type, not to mention I was older than you.” [Ryner]

“THAT’S NOT TRUE!!” [Evelyn]

She raised her voice to deny it almost reflexively. Although her mouth shut tight out of hesitation, she spoke again to deliver her feelings to him once more.

“You were the only one I ever saw as a partner! We may have met as an adult and a child, but things changed as the years passed by! To us vampires, our little age gap didn’t mean anything! Although it might be difficult, considering how old you really are, but please don’t treat me like a kid anymore!! As a woman, I find you handsome, amazing, attractive and the most incredible person I’ve ever met!! And!! And…!” [Evelyn]

Her thoughts weren’t properly sorted out and she lost her words. But, that was only for a moment. Evelyn knew what she had to say.

“AND I’M SORRY!!!” [Evelyn]

Her voice sounded like she was in pain as guilt gnawed away the insides of her chest.

“I’m sorry!! I’m so sorry!! I shouldn’t have done that! But, I couldn’t take it anymore… Not anymore… I… I didn’t want to miss my chance again. The last time I did… You died.” [Evelyn]

“… You could have confessed after growing up. You had five hundred years to do so.” [Ryner]

“If I did, would I have had a chance?” [Evelyn]

“…” [Ryner]

Evelyn smiled sadly when she saw how Ryner kept quiet. It told her what she already knew.

“… What about when we met again? You said you didn’t want to regret anymore. So, why not just come clean and say it to me after meeting me again in this world?” [Ryner]

“There was something more important that I must do first. A personal goal I want to accomplish. If I heard your answer, it would distract me too much… Besides… Do… Do I even have that right?” [Evelyn]

Her red eyes were moist as she gazed at the man she loved.

“I killed you.” [Evelyn]

She whispered, so softly that it seemed like her voice would be blown away by the wind. Ryner stared at her face that was a mixture of sorrow, anguish and guilt. When he was living in her world, to avoid a war, he became a scapegoat. However, he pushed most of the burden on Evelyn. It was something he should have never done. It was something he regretted doing. Just like him, she never got over it and the memory of stabbing him through the chest was haunting her dreams as well. He scarred her.

“I love you!! From the bottom of my heart, I love you!! Please! You might have lost your trust in me, but please, don’t ever doubt that!” [Evelyn]

After biting her lower lip, she declared her love once again, clearly and loudly. She wanted to throw her arms around his chest and tightly embrace him, but she didn’t want to touch him without permission.

“I’ll never do it again! You can hate me and beat me! I was prepared for the consequences, but not that…! So please! Don’t ever… Make such a pained expression again…” [Evelyn]

In the end, the strong and noble vampire couldn’t help but cry. She had made her resolve to satisfy her desire and was ready for Ryner’s revenge. Whatever form it took, she would willingly submit, endure his lashing and stay by his side no matter how much he rejected her. However, she wasn’t prepared for one possibility. In fact, she had never thought it possible, even though it was so obvious. Having put Ryner on a pedestal, she was blinded by her own awe and respect for him.

“I didn’t want… To make you so sad… To look like it hurt so much… I didn’t want that…” [Evelyn]

The expression that she saw when she looked into his face was wholly unexpected. There was rejection and disgust like she anticipated, but more than those, there was sadness. A deep, deep sorrow dwelled in those wavering eyes that opened widely. Tears were present, wetting his cheeks. Yet, rage was absent. Despite betraying his trust, he wasn’t mad at her. He was sad, shocked, hurt, lonely. It felt like she pried open a huge wound of his and rubbed it with salt. At that moment, she had realized her mistake.

She had forgotten how fragile he truly was.

“I’m sorry… I love you… I’m sorry… I love you… I’m sorry… I love you…” [Evelyn]

She apologized and professed her love over and over again with a quivering voice. Even she didn’t know just what she was saying anymore.

“… Aaahhh damn it!” [Ryner]

Interrupting her sobbing words was Ryner’s exasperated voice as he roughly ruffled up her hair.

“How the hell am I supposed to start punishing you if you’re already killing yourself?! Alright, alright, stop crying.” [Ryner]

He took out a handkerchief from his pocket dimension and began to gently wipe away her tears.

“… Yeah, this is freaking weird. Pretty sure I should be the one making you cry and not cheering you up.” [Ryner]

“*Sniff* I’m sorry…” [Evelyn]

“Really weird…” [Ryner]

A few moments of silence passed between them as Ryner worked on clearing away the lines of tears drawn on her face. Evelyn stood still, letting him do as he wished while secretly being soothed by his gentle touch.

“… It’s not my first time, you know, going through something like this. I, uhh, I knew people, and thought that we were close… Turned out I was wrong.” [Ryner]

He started muttering in a low tone which was only loud enough for the vampire to hear.

“So, uhh, I don’t really expect much from others. Fool around, be polite every now and then, but I always made sure to keep some distance. You never know when your best friend will, you know, suddenly want to stab you in the back.” [Ryner]

He lowered the handkerchief and stared at Evelyn’s face that had a sad and fearful expression, a rare sight to see.

“You, though, I taught and watched over for five hundred years. Somehow, I forgot to stay away and now things are a mess. I actually cried like an idiot… But it really was messed up, so no one can fault me for it.” [Ryner]

He tried to smile and spill out a small chuckle, but it was dry and died out quickly. He drew in a breath as the vampire anxiously looked at him.

“The worse is, I’m actually… Pretty lost. Living for so long, I went through a lot of crap and picked up a few tricks. I know how to deal with a lot of situations. Got used to seeing so much. But, now, I’m not sure what to do. You see, this is the first time something like this has happened to me.” [Ryner]

He carefully, hesitantly and slowly spoke each word one by one as if to organize his own thoughts and feelings that were jumbled up.

“It was a huge breach of trust. It was frankly quite gross and really twisted. But, it was also the first time that someone betrayed me, because, well… Because they loved me… Even if it was messed up as hell.” [Ryner]

He said and shrugged his shoulders. Evelyn’s moist eyes grew wide open. Ryner’s hand once again patted her head, transmitting his warmth to her.

“I can’t bring myself to hate you. It’s pretty weird… Then again, this is nothing new. I’m one of the weirdest things you’ll ever meet.” [Ryner]

The slight, gentle smile that hung on his lips made her heart skip a beat as her cheeks flushed red. Whatever happened in his past, it took a chunk of him away and left him with scars and nightmares. Yet, his kindness still remained. It was the same kindness that saved her when she was alone as a child. It felt like the soft light of the moon, tenderly enveloping her. Her mouth opened and closed, wanting to speak. After a few seconds of looking like a fish out of water, another apology was voiced out.

“… I, I’m sorry. I’ve been shutting in my feelings for years and, after killing you… I wasn’t thinking straight anymore. If I met you again, I wanted to… To at least…” [Evelyn]

“You wanted a fait accompli?” [Ryner]

“Yes. I never know when you might disappear again, and I didn’t want to lose my chance a second time… You’re completely disappointed in me.” [Evelyn]

“Pretty much.” [Ryner]

Evelyn flinched and tightly gripped her elbow upon hearing his affirmation.

“But… If people kept turning their back on you for one damn reason or another, you’d find what you did to me to be… Annoying at most, compared to them, at least. Of course, this is only with you. If it was anyone else, I would have beaten them to an inch of their life and thoroughly traumatized them.” [Ryner]

Ryner followed up as he gazed at the vampire that he knew for five hundred years, one of his oldest acquaintances.

Someone that was like family to him.

“… Then… I’m special…?” [Evelyn]

He stared at her meek, insecure, yet hopeful expression for a moment and exhaled before ruffling up her hair.

“… As special as an Evie can be to me. Just don’t do it again, you hear? There won’t be a next time.” [Ryner]

Her question that had a hint of hope received another affirmation. Upon hearing his words, Evelyn felt overwhelmed with emotions as her eyes grew wide open.

“I expect you to work hard and make it up to me.” [Ryner]

Tears flowed freely and wet her cheeks. She could stay with him. He told her to stay with him. Forgetting her own oath to not touch him without permission, the vampire clung to his chest.

“Ryner!” [Evelyn]

She wanted to thank him. She wanted to apologize. She wanted to declare her love once more.

“Ryner!” [Evelyn]

However, all that came out of her mouth was his name.

“Ryner!! Ryner Ryner Ryner Ryner Ryner Ryner Ryner Ryner Ryner Ryner Ryner Ryner Ryner Ryner Ryner!!!” [Evelyn]

She rubbed her face in his chest over and over again.

“For someone who’s not a kid anymore, you sure cry a lot. Calm down, Evie.” [Ryner]

While patting her head, Ryner put his hand on her back and softly embraced her. Being forgiven by him made her feel elated and her heart was dancing in joy. Moreover, hearing him call her by her nickname, feeling his body warmth and smelling his scent caused her mood to soar through the roof. Nothing could ruin this moment that counted as one of the greatest moments of her life.

At least, that was what she believed.

“Well, now that we’ve gotten all that out of the way…” [Ryner]

But, Ryner’s rather ominous voice told her that they weren’t going to keep happily hugging each other.

“It’s time for your punishment.” [Ryner]

“Ah! Ouch! Ah! Ah!” [Evelyn]

“Bad kids need to be punished.” [Ryner]

Ryner was sitting in his chair with Evelyn on his lap. She was stuck on her stomach, lying sideways and staring at the floor. The vampire of noble blood was helpless as he mercilessly brought his hand down on her buttocks like a mother punishing her child’s mischief.

“Ah! Ah! Ah!” [Evelyn]

“Reminds me of when you were a snotty brat that looked down on dhampirs. I spanked you like this until you outgrew that stupid, elitist behavior. I should have been stricter with you in the past.” [Ryner]

“Ah! Ah! I’m sorry! Ah! Ah!” [Evelyn]

The heartwarming atmosphere from earlier was completely blown away as Ryner treated her like a child just like in the past. He indulged in nostalgia as he thought about the small girl that would scold servants for no reason and throw tantrums. That bratty kid had grown up to become a splendid lady, though she obviously still retained, and acquired, a lot of faults. That was why he was once again giving her the One Hundred Spanks Punishment.

Unfortunately for him, the past was the past and Evelyn was no longer a child.

“Ah! Ah! Ah! Ah♥! Ah♥! Ah♥!” [Evelyn]

His hand stopped in midair, halting the spanking.

“… Evie?” [Ryner]

“Haa, haa… Yes…?” [Evelyn]

Ryner’s face was still and impassive as he calmly spoked his worries.

“… Why do you sound strangely erotic?” [Ryner]

“Haaa, It’s… I’m sorry… It feels good~…” [Evelyn]

Breathing heavily with flushed cheeks, the blonde vampire answered in a sensual voice while sporting a blissful expression.

After a short delay to process the information, Ryner flipped out.

“… SERIOUSLY?!!” [Ryner]

He raised his hands over his head as he exclaimed loudly.

“WHEN DID I RAISE SUCH A PERVERT?!!” [Ryner]

Evelyn, who was on his lap, was flipped like a table at the same time. She spun in the air and landed on the floor. In the end, her punishment was changed to being grounded aboard the Avalon for a couple of days.

The only one who witnessed their interaction was Mi, who was innocently watching from the bed.