Chapter 37: Running Away from Home

Under a starry sky, the streets of Montpelier’s capital glowed brightly.

After leaving the palace, Chloe hesitated to keep going.

As a Sword Saint, she’d never visited vampire territory. And since becoming a loli, she’d rarely left the palace, and never alone.

Facing the bustling streets, she felt a pang of unease in the unfamiliar environment.

‘Maybe I should go back…’

‘If I apologize to Larvia, would she forgive me?’

Standing at the gate, Chloe’s resolve wavered.

But after a moment’s hesitation, she took a step forward.

‘I’ve got to stay out for a few days at least, right?’

‘If I storm off saying she’ll never see me again, then slink back to apologize, that’d be too embarrassing.’

‘Just go!’

‘I’m a living, breathing person—I won’t starve!’

Gritting her teeth, Chloe quickened her pace, as if fleeing.

If she didn’t hurry, she might waver and run back.

On Montpelier’s main street, she noticed people glancing at her.

‘Must be because I’m too pretty!’

Just then, a little girl’s voice piped up.

“Sister, what character are you cosplaying?”

“Huh?”

Chloe blinked.

“Uh, I’m not cosplaying. I’m a real royal maid.”

She bent down, patiently explaining, and pointed to the badge on her maid outfit.

At that moment, an older vampire woman hurried over.

“Sorry, miss maid, my kid didn’t mean anything by it.”

She apologized, then tapped the girl’s head.

“Apologize to the miss!”

“Ugh… sorry.”

“It’s fine, it’s fine.”

Chloe waved it off.

“By the way, how old are you, miss maid?”

“Hm…”

Chloe thought.

Though she was a vampire loli now, her real age should count from before.

“24, and I’m a maid.”

“Eh? You look like you’re in your teens, but you’re 24?”

The woman looked surprised.

Chloe’s mouth twitched.

‘Called old.’

‘Not happy!’

‘From now on, I’m 14, same as Silia!’

“That explains it, then.”

“Explains what?”

“You look like a teenager but wear a royal maid badge. Everyone’s staring.”

“…Oh.”

Chloe pouted.

So that’s why.

‘Ugh.’

‘Thought they were looking at my beauty.’

“Well, we won’t disturb your work, miss maid.”

After parting ways, Chloe realized her royal maid outfit was too conspicuous.

Her pocket money should cover a new outfit, right?

She’d seen a clothing store with Sheffield before… where was it?

Chloe headed off, relying on memory.

But as the streets grew stranger, she realized something was wrong.

‘I’m lost!’

After getting lost, Chloe used the towering palace as a landmark to find her way.

She bought a new outfit, some dry rations, and blood.

By the time she was ready to leave, the moon had set.

Sunlight bathed her, sapping her strength.

No longer in her maid outfit, she wore a plain linen shirt, pants, and jacket.

Dragging a travel bag, she trudged to Montpelier’s magic train station.

At the ticket counter, she spent her last coins on a ticket to Tarrilberg.

Taking the ticket, a female attendant in a train uniform approached with a professional smile.

“How old are you, little miss?”

Chloe thought.

“Uh… 14.”

“So young, and going to Tarrilberg?” The attendant looked worried. “I heard humans are attacking there. Aren’t you scared?”

“It’s fine. I’m a third-tier mage.”

Chloe extended her palm, conjuring a fireball.

The attendant’s eyebrows shot up.

“Wow! A third-tier mage at your age! When I was your age, I hadn’t even figured out how to control mana freely!”

“It’s not that impressive…” Chloe scratched her head, embarrassed. “My friend’s about to break through to fourth-tier.”

She was curious herself. Her magical aptitude in her past life was decent for a human, but as a loli vampire, it was exceptional—even surpassing most vampires, nearly matching royal-blooded Silia.

The ticket counter was a short walk from the platform, and they chatted idly.

After the attendant helped with her luggage, she left to assist other passengers.

Chloe found her seat and sat, waiting for the train.

Watching the attendant’s retreating figure, she felt a twinge of reluctance.

Sure, it was just professional courtesy, but after a hectic afternoon, this was one of the few people who’d talked to her.

Chloe pulled out a hard biscuit and a bottle of fizzy blood soda, eating her dinner before the train started.

The biscuit was cold and tough, far from the palace’s food.

But it was all she could afford.

Her money was nearly gone after the clothes and ticket—even a cheap outfit and a third-class ticket had drained her thin wallet.

She had to cut corners on food.

As she finished, a sharp whistle pierced the air—the signal for departure.

Chloe turned, taking one last look at the white palace in Montpelier’s heart.