Chapter 3: For Now, Let’s Eat

The moment it hit her, Chloe shot upright in the coffin.

She clutched her chest, cheeks flushing red.

Recalling how Larvia had hurried off, Chloe had every reason to believe she’d left so quickly to avoid her noticing the lack of clothes.

Naked, a chill hit her. She yanked the red cloth lining the coffin and wrapped it around herself.

‘What time is it anyway?’

‘That jerk didn’t tell me anything. She’s definitely messing with me.’

Chloe puffed out her cheeks, climbing out of the coffin in a huff. Her bare foot grazed the goblet she’d dropped earlier, nearly sending her sprawling.

Thanks to Larvia’s earlier teasing, Chloe briefly wondered if the goblet’s placement was another deliberate trap before recalling she’d dropped it herself.

She picked it up, scanning the basement for a safe spot to place it, not wanting it to trip her again.

Turning, she noticed a ten-meter-tall stone statue behind her.

The statue’s details were worn, but Chloe could make out some features.

It depicted a girl with pointed ears, draped in a cloak, holding a staff. A bat perched on her shoulder, half-hidden in the hood’s shadow.

The telltale vampire traits were enough for Chloe to guess the figure’s identity.

Looking down, she saw a stone altar nearby, holding porcelain plates with grilled meat, fruits, vegetables, and flowers. A small cup of blood sat to the side.

Drawing on her past experience, Chloe quickly pieced it together.

She’d seen similar setups in human society.

This statue was likely a vampire ancestor, and the food and flowers were offerings.

‘Not bad for a former Sword Saint. One glance, and I’ve got it all figured out.’

Chloe nodded, pleased with her own cleverness.

She set the goblet on the altar, glancing at the offerings.

The food was cold but not spoiled, and the flowers still looked fresh.

Someone clearly maintained this place regularly.

Her footsteps echoed in the silent hall, the only sound in the dead quiet.

Bored, she glanced around, thinking of Larvia, who’d left not long ago.

‘She told me to find that person before sunrise.’

Her steps drifted toward the hall’s exit.

She pulled the red cloth tighter around herself.

‘Maybe… I should take a look outside?’

Her hand rested on the doorknob.

Her fingers trembled. After a moment of hesitation, she let go.

‘No way.’

‘If Larvia knows I haven’t shown up, she’ll come back. I’ll just wait here.’

‘If I get caught wandering the palace without clothes, my maid career’s over before it starts…’

Chloe decided to stay put.

Her gaze returned to the coffin.

Then a thought struck her.

This was a place for honoring ancestors, and she’d woken up in the only coffin here. So before her…

A chill ran through her.

She paced the hall, searching every corner.

Finding no bodies or bones, she felt a bit relieved.

“Probably just an empty coffin,” she muttered.

‘Yeah, Larvia’s the vampire queen. No way she’d desecrate her ancestors.’

Chloe climbed back into the coffin.

Then her stomach growled. Moving around must’ve worn her out.

But there was no food here…

Her eyes flicked to the altar.

‘It’s cold but not spoiled. It’s edible.’

‘Screw it, I’ll eat!’

‘Larvia forced me to become a vampire. I’ll desecrate her offerings to spite her!’

Licking her lips, she crept to the altar.

She tossed out the inedible flowers, then painstakingly picked out the broccoli and colorful bell peppers she hated, throwing them with the flowers.

‘Damn you, Larvia!’

Pouting, Chloe tore into the grilled meat, venting her frustration.

‘You’re a jerk! All you vampires are jerks! What’re you gonna do about me eating your offerings right here?’

She devoured the rest, then chugged the blood in one go, patting her stomach with satisfaction.

‘Gotta say, royal offerings are top-notch. Even cold, they’re pretty good.’

‘Way better than the stuff I used to sneak from the town church.’

Creak—

The door swung open.

Chloe whipped her head around, hastily wiping her mouth.

“Sorry~ I forgot to leave you some clothes.”

A white-haired, petite figure appeared, holding a neatly folded maid outfit.

Her lips curved in a faint smile, her slow steps toward Chloe making her tense.

“Y-Yeah, didn’t expect you to forget something like that. Hurry up and give me the clothes, I need to change!” Chloe stammered.

“Alright.”

Chloe exhaled in relief.

“But first, we need to deal with this sneaky little glutton.”

“I…”

‘A wise person knows when to yield!’

Chloe forced a stiff smile, shrinking her shoulders and saying pitifully:

“I-I figured no one wanted it… The ancestor doesn’t look like she eats.”

She stuck out her tongue, stealing a guilty glance at the statue.

“Desecrating an ancestor isn’t a small matter,” Larvia said, rubbing her chin thoughtfully. “Hmm~ How about this: act cute, and I’ll pretend I didn’t see. Sound good?”

“…Huh?”

Chloe froze, doubting her ears.

“You know, act cute. Like meowing like a kitten~ Or that tongue thing was adorable—do it again, and I’ll forgive you.”

Chloe nervously bit her lip, looking down, avoiding Larvia’s eyes.

“Mew…”

“Louder, I can’t hear you—”

“You… Larvia, don’t push it! You left me without clothes on purpose, that’s why I’m stuck here! Otherwise, I’d have left already!”

“Me, on purpose? I’m the queen, super busy. Forgetting’s normal.”

“I don’t care! You didn’t leave me clothes!”

“Well, true.” Larvia nodded.

“So give me the clothes and get out. I’ll change and come find you…”

Chloe rambled, not noticing Larvia quietly grabbing a corner of the red cloth.

Whoosh!

A cold breeze hit her.

When Chloe realized what happened, the cloth was in Larvia’s hands.

“Wah!”

Her face turned beet red as she scrambled to cover herself.

“What the h*ll are you doing?!”