Chapter 18: I Can React to the Air
“What do you mean, Young Miss?” Eve asked.
“Nothing,” Vivian looked away, her tone casual. “You just resemble one.”
“Young Miss, that joke is not amusing.”
“Who said I was joking?” Vivian snorted and leaned back against the pillow, fingers twining through her almost-dry fiery hair. “Hmph. It does sound convincing, but did not the Church claim they had already eradicated them completely?”
Eve neither shook her head nor nodded.
Who could say for certain? The Church’s so-called total extermination was nothing more than preserving the faith of the masses.
After all, without faith, why would people need churches? How would the Church earn money?
On that night when flames devoured everything, no one in priestly robes appeared in time. She had never believed to begin with—those ridiculous beliefs and gods had long rotted in blood and fire.
“Perhaps they were eradicated, or perhaps a few still remain,” she finally answered calmly. “After all, though this is a story, vampires truly exist.”
As the words fell, Eve prepared to stand.
“Who told you to move?”
Eve sat back down.
“I am not asleep yet. Sit there like that—without my permission, you are not to leave this room.”
“Understood.”
Vivian pulled the blanket over herself, her voice muffled. “Also, turn off the light. It is too bright.”
Eve stood, walked to the bedside cabinet, and switched off the hanging lamp.
The room plunged into darkness, only moonlight slipping through the heavy curtains, casting a narrow line across the carpet.
Eve returned to her seat. Her crimson eyes adapted perfectly to the dark, clearly seeing the outline of the bed and the small mound beneath the blanket.
“Are you still there?” Vivian’s voice suddenly came from the darkness.
“I am, Young Miss.”
“From tomorrow onward, every night while I sleep, you will sit here.”
“Hmm?”
Hidden beneath the blanket, clutching her pillow, Vivian hesitated for a long time before speaking softly, “I need someone… to talk.”
The last words came out awkwardly, as though she did not wish to admit them.
“To talk?” Eve asked.
“Yes, talk,” Vivian wriggled irritably under the blanket. “Either listen to me, or I listen to you, whatever… I do not want to be alone.”
“So you must come whenever I call, listen seriously, and you must not repeat anything you hear. Do you understand?”
Eve looked at the small lump in the darkness and suddenly seemed to understand something—the enormous luxurious room, the life filled to the brim by schedules, this noble young lady who must be perfect.
At night, she was lonely as well—perhaps merely too proud to say so.
“Understood, Young Miss,” Eve replied softly.
No reply came. The commotion ended. The night wind occasionally slipped through the window gaps with a gentle hush, leaving Eve alone, blinking her red eyes.
…
Tick… tick… tick…
The pendulum clock showed seven in the morning. My name is Eve. I have not slept all night.
Fortunately, the bed was soft, and sitting for long was not uncomfortable. There was still an hour before she needed to wake the Young Miss. Though she was forbidden to leave without orders, surely using the restroom was allowed?
Carefully, Eve stood. Her vampire senses clearly heard steady breathing in the air.
Good. The plan was simple—
Wait, her bootlace was loose. As she crouched to fix it, her perception momentarily scattered. The next second, she felt a hand land on her shoulder.
Danger! A hand from the darkness!
With assassin instinct honed over years, Eve reacted in 0.1 seconds. Against lightning itself she might contend—and instinctively she grabbed the hand behind her.
Then—
With one arm, she threw it over her shoulder!
“Eh?!”
As if dragged at full speed by a vehicle, Vivian—still half-asleep and confused—felt her body pulled by immense force and flew like a kite with a cut string.
A perfect arc! Straight toward the vase—wait?! No impact sound came. It was Eve—again Eve!
In the blink of an eye she unleashed her full physical ability, kicking off the ground. Just before Vivian struck the wooden floor, she caught her in a princess carry midair.
Clean, decisive, and her calm face radiated invincibility.
Vivian drowsily looked left, then right, then at Eve’s impressive chest, rubbed her eyes, and muttered, “What happened?”
She was still confused, only remembering sensing movement in her sleep, waking to a familiar back, and then nothing.
“Good morning, Young Miss.”
“……” Vivian lay limp in her arms for several seconds. Her eyes widened, and suddenly she burst out, “Why am I in your arms?! Who allowed you to touch me? Do not hold me—ah!”
SLAP.
The small figure landed, condition not ideal, sitting on the floor with a painful cry.
She sat there for quite a while before fully waking, then raised her head and glared at Eve, teeth clenched.
Her voice trembled word by word. “Why… did… you… let… go?!”
Eve: ?
Did you not just say not to hold you? If she did not hold you, you were unhappy—truly difficult to serve.
Eve did not mention throwing her earlier. She probably had not noticed; morning reflexes were sharp, and the motion happened naturally.
Meeting Vivian’s furious gaze, Eve spoke first. “I will go check how breakfast preparations in the kitchen are progressing.”
She bowed slightly. “If the Young Miss has no further orders, I shall take my leave.”
Retreat.
“Get back here!” Vivian’s exasperated voice came from behind, still accompanied by the hiss of pain from her fall. “I have not permitted you to go! Eve! Do you hear me!”
But Eve had already opened the door, slipped out sideways, and shut it quickly. As it closed, she heard a dull thud from inside—something hitting the door.
The corridor was empty. Morning sunlight slanted in through the high windows. Eve adjusted her maid uniform’s collar and sleeves, not heading to the kitchen first, but to the restroom.
Because she truly could not hold it any longer. An urgent situation—she hoped the Young Miss would understand.