Chapter 39: Identity Exposed?!

Chloe hadn’t waited long in her room when the door creaked open.

Looking up, she saw the receptionist from earlier carrying a porcelain tray. The aroma alone told her it was her lunch.

Chloe stood quickly, taking the tray from the woman’s hands.

“Wow…”

The meal was far more lavish than she’d expected. Meat, vegetables—and no broccoli, bell peppers, bitter melon, or garlic!

None of the vegetables she hated were there, as if the cook knew her preferences perfectly!

“Thank you! Thank you, big sister!” Chloe said excitedly.

“Enjoy~”

With that, the receptionist left.

Chloe dove into the meal, devouring every bite.

Though it wasn’t quite palace quality, after days of dry rations, a hot meal filled her with gratitude.

And it was free!

‘Time to eat, brothers!’

‘I’m not scared of you anymore, Larvia.’

‘Worst case, I’ll live here forever… right?’

‘Can I really stay here indefinitely?’

The thought made her bolt out of the room.

“Sister, sister—”

“What’s wrong?”

“Um, I wanted to ask…”

Chloe hesitated.

Asking this felt like admitting she wanted to freeload forever.

But for her future, she needed clarity.

“Can I stay here forever?”

Her voice trailed off, embarrassed.

The receptionist shook her head.

“Sorry, you can only stay for a week at most.”

“Oh…” Chloe’s head drooped in disappointment. “Alright…”

“Don’t worry! In vampire territory, finding work is easy. If you’re diligent, you’ll find a good job in a few days.”

“Thanks.”

Chloe waved, returning to her room.

“Ugh… what now… I’m so lost!”

She flopped onto the bed, rolling around in frustration.

‘Maybe get a temp job, earn enough for food and a ticket, then go back to the palace…’

‘If I beg Larvia, would she let me back into the royal maids?’

Chloe curled up, distressed.

Moments later, she sat up straight.

‘Forget it!’

‘No time for long-term plans. I’ll check out human territory first. Otherwise, all that effort brewing the potion was for nothing.’

‘I should at least see my family.’

A week wasn’t enough to earn money and reach the imperial capital, but maybe her sister, hearing of her “death,” had gone home.

Of course, even if she saw her sister, Chloe wouldn’t reveal her identity.

She didn’t want her sister knowing her brother was not only alive but turned into a loli by the vampire queen.

‘I’ll come back, work, and buy a return ticket.’

‘Ugh, if I’d known it’d come to this, I’d have just hung around Montpelier for a few days and gone back.’

But it was too late for regrets.

Chloe got out of bed and packed.

She wasn’t staying long, so she’d travel light, leaving most of her luggage in the room. She’d be back in three or four days at most.

Leaving the room, she went to the front desk.

“Sister, can I have some biscuits?”

“Not full yet?”

Chloe gave an embarrassed smile.

The receptionist led her to the cafeteria.

There were plenty of free foods, and Chloe took two biscuits openly but secretly stuffed three or four more in her pockets.

Though it was unlimited, taking so many at once felt shameless.

As she was about to leave, a delicious smell hit her.

Sniff, sniff…

Her eyes lit up.

Fried chicken!

She looked over, but her excitement faded.

“What? It costs money? No way fried chicken’s free… wait?”

Her eyes locked on the price tag, and she gasped.

Rubbing her eyes, she stared.

“1 copper coin? I’m not seeing things…”

‘Wow!’

‘One copper coin for fried chicken!’

Chloe beamed, using the coins from the kind stranger to treat herself.

“Hehe… saves a biscuit for tonight…”

As the moon set, Chloe spotted the walls of a human town.

Tarrilberg wasn’t far, and under moonlight, her vampire strength sped her up.

Near the town gate, she saw humans from nearby villages queuing to enter.

Chloe joined the line.

She drank the transformation potion, turning into an ordinary human girl.

Well, “ordinary” wasn’t quite right.

The potion only erased vampire traits, leaving her natural appearance mostly unchanged.

So, despite her ragged clothes making her look like a refugee, her beauty shone through, drawing attention.

“You’re so pretty, miss. How old are you?”

“Auntie, I’m fourteen.”

“So young! You look well-raised. How’d you end up like this?”

“I’m from a nearby village. With the war, my family sent me to the city to avoid trouble…”

Chloe made up an excuse.

“Oh, perfect! My eldest son’s 16, studying in the capital. He’ll have a great future. Want to meet him sometime?”

“No thanks, I appreciate it…”

Chloe awkwardly declined.

A guy? No way.

In her past life, she was a proper man. Even as a loli, she couldn’t stomach being with a guy.

A pretty lady, though? That she could consider.

Hehe.

The line reached her.

She blinked, putting on a serious face.

Two guards stood at the gate, questioning each person.

“Name.”

“Lena.”

“Where from?”

“Semur Village.”

“Purpose?”

“Seeking refuge.”

After giving her fake identity, the guard nodded, seemingly unsuspicious.

“Go for the identity scan.”

He moved to the next person.

Chloe sighed in relief.

‘Next, pass the soul scan, and I’m in.’

‘I’m the noble Sword Saint! I’m human!’

Confident, she stepped onto the machine.

Seconds passed, but unlike with others, no green light appeared.

“Uh, is the machine broken?”

A guard approached.

Before he reached her, the machine blared an alarm, flashing a blinding red light!