I’m Not Falling for the Vampire Princess! - Chapter 5

Chapter 5

Hearing Fanier’s voice, Jona felt the hairs on the back of her neck stand up. The public security in this vampire world was truly atrocious; why could Fanier wander in and out of anywhere she pleased?

Fanier approached slowly. Jona had nowhere left to retreat. Fanier’s arm leaned lightly against the bookshelf behind Jona; she raised her other hand, her index finger grazing Jona’s cheek before coming to rest on her slender shoulder. She twined a lock of Jona’s hair around her finger and inhaled its scent.

If this were a scene from a novel or a manga, and the protagonist were a beauty like Fanier, Jona would surely have shrieked and rolled around on her bed in excitement. But now, Jona didn’t dare even breathe loudly.

“Don’t look at me like that. I’m full today. As for you…” Fanier took a deep breath, as if in her eyes, Jona were a blooming flower or a delicious meal. “Miss Jona, since when did you stop liking blood? Weren’t you once more greedy than those lowly creatures in the slums?”

“I…” Jona’s back was pressed tight against the bookshelf. She truly didn’t know how to deal with Fanier this princess famous for her cruelty. Dealing with her meant risking one’s life with every misplaced word.

“Heh, those eyes again. Miss Jona, is this the tactic you use to lure Suika? You truly are a blade forged by Elder Rilla, capable of playing my sisters like puppets in the palm of your hand.”

Feeling Fanier’s breath on her, Jona clutched her collar tightly. She wished so much that she knew magic, or at least wasn’t a lamb to the slaughter in this vampire world.

Detecting an accusatory tone in Fanier’s voice, Jona quickly defended herself: “I just want to change my way of life a way that doesn’t hurt others.”

“What, are you learning Suika’s act of making much ado about nothing? Then, what about the hurt Miss Jona caused me in the past?”

Fanier suddenly laughed. In the silent night, her laughter echoed through the entire manor.

Thinking of how the Jona in the book was heartlessly abandoned by her family after losing her utility, Jona spoke sincerely: “As Elder Rilla’s daughter, I haven’t been able to decide my own fate since birth… I am deeply sorry for the past hurt. If possible, I will do my best to compensate you.”

Jona spoke with extreme caution. She wanted to survive first, then find a way to return to the real world.

Jona felt she was being very sincere, but Fanier’s tone carried a hint of irony. “Compensate? How does Miss Jona plan to compensate? With blood, or with this tempting body of yours…”

Fanier’s fingertip traced down Jona’s spine. Jona stiffened. She wanted to push Fanier away, but she was held fast. Perhaps sensing Jona’s physical rigidity, Fanier’s expression grew even colder.

Under the moonlight, Jona’s face looked like a fragile piece of art. Fanier gently stroked Jona’s cheek. “It seems the compensation Miss Jona promised isn’t very sincere.”

Jona closed her eyes in fear, but the expected pain didn’t come. When Jona adjusted her breathing and opened her eyes, Fanier had already turned and was walking toward the front door.

Safe. At least this princess was letting her go for now.

Before Jona could catch her breath, Fanier paused. “For the sake of us once being in the same boat, I’ll give you a piece of advice—Suika isn’t as simple as you think.”

The moment Fanier closed the door, Jona felt her strength leave her. She slid down the bookshelf and sat on the floor. The floor was covered in a soft wool carpet; though not as soft as the beds in the castle, it allowed Jona to feel at peace. Before long, Jona fell into a deep sleep.

In her dream, Jona found herself in total darkness. Amidst her confusion, she seemed to hear someone speaking to her.

“Miss Jona, you’re actually fooling around with that arrogant Princess Fanier of unknown origin. If Elder Rilla finds out, she will surely blame you.”

“I’m just playing with her. Who told her she’s so easy to fool? A person whose bloodline has been questioned since childhood—if you’re just a little bit nice to her, she’ll willingly let me drink her blood… Can such a stupid creature really be a member of the royal family? Who knows with her background, maybe she’s eaten rats from the sewer?”

“It’s hard to imagine the peerless Princess Fanier would actually try to please Miss Jona. If only I had a face as beautiful as yours.”

“What’s so hard about that? If you like her, once I’m done playing with her, I’ll hand her over to you.”

“But Princess Fanier’s power is on par with Princess Aurora’s. If she finds out you’re tricking her, I’m afraid she won’t let you off… I’ve heard Princess Fanier’s methods are quite cruel.”

“She wouldn’t dream of hurting me; you have no idea how obedient she is. Besides, as a noble, I am to marry into the legitimate royal line. With the protection of the royal family, what could she possibly do to me?”

In the darkness, Jona quickly identified one voice as belonging to her original self. Hearing that frivolous tone, Jona couldn’t help but clench her fists. No wonder Fanier treated her this way; she had been “played” by the original Jona.

And here she was, thinking the original Jona was forced by family pressure to get engaged to Suika. Jona somewhat regretted what she had said to Fanier; in Fanier’s eyes, her so-called compensation and apology were probably just another lie.

Just as Jona wanted to hear what else the original self had said, Fanier’s voice suddenly rang out. The sorrowful voice held a hint of helplessness. The usually overbearing Princess Fanier sounded like a drenched puppy, humbly begging Jona not to get engaged to Suika.

“If you were a pure-blooded royal, I would be happy to be engaged to you. Unfortunately… Princess Fanier, you’re just a little bat the King picked up. As a noble, there’s no way I can answer to my family if I get engaged to you.”

When the original self pushed Fanier away again, Fanier’s eyes turned red and she bared her fangs. “Miss Jona, have you forgotten? Even if I’m a foundling, I am a royal who can learn high-level magic. Wiping out your family would be effortless. Or do you think that Suika, who only knows how to mix potions, can really protect you?”

Flames erupted around Fanier. Jona felt she was about to be roasted. She forced her eyes open and finally escaped the dream, only to find it was already morning. Sunlight was streaming through the window onto Jona. No wonder the pain in the dream felt so real.

Jona struggled to get up and pulled the curtains shut. With the sunlight blocked, she finally felt better. Now that she was awake, she didn’t dare think about the scenes in her dream.

She looked at the layout of the manor and realized the original self had an extreme love for luxury. The decorations in the room were either gold or expensive gemstones. There wasn’t a single book on the mahogany shelves, only ornaments that looked incredibly valuable. In terms of value, the items here looked no cheaper than those in Aurora’s castle, but in terms of beauty, Jona truly couldn’t appreciate this peak-luxury yet zero-aesthetic decor.

However, from another perspective, did this mean she had money to buy food now? “I wonder if there’s a kitchen here. I can’t just eat fruit forever.”

Jona explored the manor. She pushed open one door to find a vast array of gowns. Another room was filled with jewelry. None of it was edible. She did a full lap and only found one storage room. Inside was a stove, but it seemed it hadn’t been used in a long time; it was covered in spiderwebs. Jona sighed helplessly. Even with a stove, she had no fuel, and since she couldn’t use magic, she had no way to start a fire to cook.

Jona had no choice but to change her clothes, take a few gold coins, and find a jewel-encrusted umbrella from the dressing room. She planned to go out and buy some vegetables and fruits that could be eaten directly. Although the outside world was dangerous, if she didn’t go out, she might starve to death.

Jona pushed open the door and carefully opened her umbrella. Her skin felt no pain, so she walked out of the yard with peace of mind. As soon as she stepped out, she was startled by the sight before her. Two women in black knight uniforms stood outside, their red eyes staring straight at Jona.

Seeing Jona come out, they shared a look, then placed their right hands on their left shoulders and bowed. Jona took a step back and asked nervously, “Who are you?”

“Miss Jona, we are officers of the Council of Elders. By order of Elder Vian, we ask you to come with us.”

“What happened?” Jona frowned, looking at them warily.

“Last night, Elder Vian’s nephew, Vigana, died in the Old Street. Your scent and Princess Suika’s scent happened to be left there. Of course, the Council has no intention of suspecting you. However, since such a thing happened, as a noble, you have an obligation to cooperate with the Council’s investigation.”

Seeing that Jona didn’t move, the other officer made a gesture of invitation. “Miss Jona, we don’t wish to make things difficult for you, and we hope you won’t make things difficult for us.”

Jona gripped the umbrella handle tightly and nodded with some difficulty. She followed the two officers to a towering palace. For some reason, although it was sunny here, Jona felt this place was creepier than anywhere else.

The moment the door opened, Jona saw Suika. Suika sat at one end of a long table, facing five vampires in velvet shirts who looked serious and old-fashioned the Council Elders.

Just as Jona was weighing how to defend herself, Suika said calmly, “I’ve already said it. I killed Vigana. If Elder Vian has any dissatisfaction, she can come at me. There’s no need to make Miss Jona come all this way.”

Elder Vian, sitting in the middle, took a deep breath, her eyes looking as if they would spit fire in the next second. But she suppressed her rage and asked, “May I ask Princess Suika, how did Vigana offend you to the point that you executed him without the Council’s consent?”

“He didn’t offend me, but he deserved to die.” The moment Suika stood up, the five Elders quickly rose as well, taking defensive stances, but Suika seemed to have no intention of attacking. She just stood there, her tone as gentle as usual. “Though the Old Street is a slum, it is still vampire territory.

Living there, one must follow the rules of the vampires. Even Elder Vian’s nephew shouldn’t act recklessly just because he has the Council’s protection. As a royal, I cannot sit by and watch such rule-breaking. As for how to deal with me, I trust the Council will make the most just decision. You Elders can discuss it and then inform me.”

the Elders looked at each other; they truly didn’t know how they could punish Suika. Initially, everyone thought Jona was the culprit and had invited Suika only as a witness. No one expected Suika to claim the crime herself. Except for Elder Vian, everyone wanted to gloss over the matter, but Elder Vian refused to let it go.

“Princess Suika, even as a royal, you cannot disregard the Council of Elders like this!”

“It wasn’t like that!” Jona instinctively wanted to defend Suika. There was a reason for what happened last night it was clearly that vampire’s fault. How could they only blame Suika?

Jona was about to explain, but Suika interrupted her. “I have never had such a thought. Though I am a royal, I painstakingly mix the potions the Council needs. Elder Lanxi, I have already sent someone to deliver the healing potion you required to your estate before I left.

Elder Tasik, the sleeping potion you need is still in production. Elder Wuke, the blood-replenishing medicine you requested is ready, but I haven’t had time to arrange delivery due to the haste of today’s outing. If you are in urgent need, you can send someone to collect it at any time.”

After saying this, Suika gave a faint smile to Elder Rilla, the meaning of which was self-evident. The other Elders all had requests for Suika, and Elder Rilla was Jona’s mother. Now that Jona and Suika were engaged, how could Rilla not favor Suika?

Because it was sudden, other members of the Council hadn’t arrived yet. Of the five prominent Elders present, four favored Suika. No matter how indignant Elder Vian was, she could only endure it.

Seeing that Elder Vian was no longer pestering, Suika lightly took Jona’s hand. “Let’s go. I’ll send you back.”

The moment they left the Council, Jona vaguely heard the sound of things being smashed behind them.

“Don’t be afraid. She won’t do anything to you,” Suika comforted her softly.

“Why didn’t you tell Elder Vian the truth? What happened last night wasn’t your fault. Why did you claim it? If Elder Vian hates you because of this…”

“Jona, in the vampire world, there is only strong and weak, not right and wrong. Take today’s matter do you think Elder Vian really wants to seek justice for Vigana? The Old Street is so chaotic and filled with the scent of blood; the Council knights aren’t werewolves, so how could they capture our scent?”

“You mean… someone set you up?”

Suika didn’t answer. She turned around and looked at Jona gently. Seeing Jona’s hair was a bit messy from the wind, she reached out to straighten it. “Jona, if my senses aren’t mistaken, Fanier was at your house last night.”

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