Ch. 1: A Sweet Afternoon
Dominia in the Land of Wine, Month of Completion…-.
It was early afternoon as the soft sunlight filtered its way through the frosted windows…-.
As thanks for waking Prince Alfred, I had received an invitation to Dominia in the Land of Wine.
Alfred: “Please, have a seat on the sofa.”
OO: “Alright.”
We had just finished a grand luncheon and I now stood inside Alfred’s room.
(This place is overflowing with majesty… it kind of makes me nervous.)
Alfred: “It’s cold, isn’t it. You’ll warm up with some nice wine.”
He poured a deep crimson wine into a large glass.
OO: “Wow…”
It had a woody aroma and I took a deep breath.
Alfred: “This wine is from 55 years ago.”
OO: “It’s an old wine then.”
Alfred: “And it’s the perfect time to drink it. It’s good; drink up.”
At his urging I put the wine glass to my lips.
OO: “It’s delicious…”
I saw my one eyes sparkle in the reflection of the glass.
Alfred smiled faintly.
Alfred: “I am please it’s to your liking.”
OO: “This is my first time drinking in the afternoon.”
Alfred: “That is a shame. There’s nothing better than an afternoon drink.”
OO: “Yes…I think you’re right.”
Alfred: “You’re an honest girl.”
Alfred’s smile widened.
(He has such kind eyes…)
His smile was unexpectedly kind for someone who exuded such dignity and it made my heart leap.
Alfred: “Though wine drunk beneath a starry sky is also splendid.”
His long fingers held his wine glass up to the sun.
OO: “Beneath the stars…that sounds wonderful! I would love to try it!”
Alfred: “…”
I spoke with a light heart, but Alfred was silent as he watched me steadily.
Though he was watching me, it was almost like he wasn’t seeing me at all…
Alfred: “…you really are quite pure.”
His voice was a murmur and he slowly turned away as I couldn’t tell whether or not he was smiling.
Ch. 2: Confession on a Snowy Night
That evening…-.
The night was pitch black against the pure white snow that had begun to fall.
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Alfred: “Though wine drunk beneath a starry sky is also splendid.”
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I remembered what Alfred had said as I looked up through the hallway window to the night sky.
(It doesn’t look like the stars will be out tonight. And it’s really cold…)
I held both hands to my mouth and breathed on them.
Then…-.
??: “What are you doing this late at night?”
Suddenly a voice came from directly behind me and I started.
Alfred: “A young lady alone at this time… though you’re within the castle, it is still careless.”
OO: “I-I’m sorry…”
I placed my hand over my pounding heart.
(I wonder how long he’s been standing there.)
He had appeared without a sound, almost as if materializing out of the darkness of the night.
Alfred: “You are a hopeless girl… what would you have done if you were attacked by a vampire wanting your blood?”
OO: “Did you say… vampire?”
He gently brushed back a strand of hair over my right ear.
Alfred: “That’s right, like this for example…”
OO: “Eh…”
I felt Alfred’s breath ghost against my exposed neck.
OO: “…”
I squeezed my eyes shut.
I felt a tug on my hair that he had wrapped around his fingers, then the sensation of something sharp pressing against my neck.
(Fangs…!?)
I couldn’t move an inch.
(I’m scared…)
Alfred: “…I’m joking.”
With that whisper, he finally moved back slowly.
Sharp fangs glinted in his mouth.
OO: “I was… scared…”
My voice shook as I spoke and the corners of his mouth twitched.
Alfred: “…I’m sorry.”
(I was scared…)
My body was trembling and I wrapped my arms around myself.
Alfred: “…sorry.”
He let out a small sigh.
Alfred: “I didn’t mean to frighten you.”
His smile looked forced as he apologized.
He let out a small sigh.
OO: “Are you… really a vampire…?”
His looked directly at me.
Within those eyes, a light wavered, strange and calm.
Alfred: “Rather, it would be more apt to ask to what extent.”
OO: “Eh…?”
Alfred: “I am neither human nor vampire.”
(What does that mean…?)
Alfred: “My blood is half human, and the other half flowing through my veins is that of a vampire. So I’m only half, wouldn’t you say?”
Outside, the snow continued to fall in silence.
The sorrowful look in his eyes seemed to melt into the darkness of the night, and I couldn’t look away.
Ch. 3: On a Quiet Night...
Alfred: “My blood is half human, and the other half flowing through my veins is that of a vampire. So I’m only half, wouldn’t you say?”
His voice echoed in the quiet of the night…-.
(A vampire…)
I remembered just a moment ago when he’d pressed his fangs to my neck.
Alfred: “You’re trembling.”
OO: “Eh…?”
As he said it, I realized I was indeed shaking.
OO: “I-I’m alright. Just a little surprised.”
I replied in a panic and Alfred let out a small sigh.
OO: “I-I’m not trembling…!”
Flustered, I glossed over the incident and Alfred quietly looked away.
Alfred: “…my mother was a human. She was a pure lady, having been raised carefully as the royal family’s only daughter.”
OO: “Eh…”
He had slowly started speaking while walking.
Alfred: “One day, my mother fell in love…with a vampire. Even knowing his true nature, her love did not fade… the two eventually married.”
(A vampire…? Is he talking about his father…?)
Alfred: “The man was also surprisingly affectionate towards my pure mother. He even made an effort to blend in with regular humans. However… he couldn’t control his own blood.”
OO: “…?”
Alfred: “One day… he attacked my friend and turned him into a vampire.”
OO: “Eh…”
Alfred: “He is the son and heir to a royal family that is on friendly terms with this kingdom. And we were friends. …but after that, he could no longer go out into the sunlight and instead hid himself in the dark.”
OO: “…”
Alfred: “I said I was a half-blood, and within me is the terrifying blood of a vampire.”
Saying as much, Alfred frowned in sorrow.
Alfred: “That is why you must not follow me.”
His thumb touched my lips.
Alfred: “…I don’t want to attack you.”
OO: “…”
His thumb glided down below my lip.
(I can’t move…)
I was enthralled by the otherworldly light in his eyes, so I stood there frozen and unable to even blink.
Then his thumb parted my lips and…
Alfred: “…”
(Alfred…?)
His eyebrows furrowed in unease as he removed his hand.
Alfred: “…it is late. I shall take my leave for the night…”
There was a hoarseness to his voice.
Alfred: “It has been quite some time since I’ve been able to spend a night with someone like this… I enjoyed it.”
It looked as though the snow had stopped at some point and the bright moonlight now shone through the window.
It lit up his face in profile.
OO: “…do you always spend your nights alone?”
Alfred: “I wonder about that.”
OO: “Eh?”
His face broke into a teasing smile.
Alfred: “That is not a story for the ears of young ladies such as yourself.”
OO: “Ah…”
(D-does that mean…)
As I understood his meaning, I felt my cheeks flush.
Alfred: “Goodnight, OO.”
Saying as much, he turned and walked away.
He seemed as if he was about to melt into the dark of the night…-.
Unable to move, I could only stand and watch him go…
Alfred: “Do you intend to stand there all night?”
Alfred had stopped and looked back over his shoulder.
Without realizing what I was doing, I grabbed onto the hem of his cape.
Alfred: “…what’s wrong?”
(I wonder why… but I think Alfred looks so very lonely…)
OO: “…would you like to spend a little more time together?”
At my words, Alfred’s eyebrows rose in surprise.
(I’m just being a nuisance aren’t I… but still, I don’t want to leave him alone…)
OO: “Isn’t wine drunk at night delicious too? …we can’t see the stars yet, but… the snow has made the night so beautiful.”
Looking up to the sky, I could just barely make out the light of the moon.
As Alfred watched me, he started to chuckle.
OO: “Um… did I say something strange?”
Alfred: “No. Shall we go?”
OO: “Eh?”
Alfred: “It’s cold here. And I have hot wine in the room.”
OO: “…yes!”
Alfred: “You really are… just like her.”
OO: “Eh?”
Alfred: “…no, it’s nothing.”
The moon shone down on that quiet night.
And the sound of Alfred’s voice faded away into that silence.
Ch. 4: Below a Thawing Tree...
The next day…-.
(The snow is completely gone…)
I was taking a walk beneath the brilliant light of the sun.
The light was so bright, and there wasn’t even a hint of a breeze. It was hard to believe it had snowed just last night.
(I drank a lot last yesterday, but I feel so clear-headed…)
Alfred: “Out for a walk?”
OO: “Alfred!”
Alfred was reclining beneath a tree and reading.
Alfred: “Did you sleep well last night?”
He gestured for me to sit beside him.
As I sat, he spread out a soft blanket.
OO: “Yes. And I feel so refreshed.”
Alfred: “That would be thanks to the spices in the hot wine.”
OO: “The hot wine you made was really delicious.”
I smiled and looked at me kindly.
Then he gently patted my head…
OO: “…”
I looked away in embarrassment.
(When he looks at me with those kind eyes…)
I knew my face was flushed.
I wasn’t sure if Alfred had noticed, but he let a chuckle slip out before returning to his book.
(What do I do…?)
I closed my eyes and took a deep breath, trying to calm my emotions.
(I can’t relax…)
I leaned my back against the tree and I kept taking deep breaths…
Alfred: “…do you intend to sleep there?”
I opened my eyes at his voice and found him looking at me.
OO: “N-no…!”
I reflexively looked away, but Alfred was smiling kindly.
Alfred: “That was dangerous. If you’d fallen asleep here, I wonder what would have happened.”
OO: “Eh…?”
Alfred: “Do I look like the kind of man who would just let a sleeping, defenseless woman be?”
OO: “…!”
His words shocked me and I blinked repeatedly.
Seeing me in such a state, Alfred smiled as if he were enjoying himself.
OO: “Alfred…?”
Alfred: “When I see you, I am reminded of my wife.”
OO: “Eh…”
(Alfred is married…!?)
Alfred: “Though she passed away a long time ago. The nights I spent with her calmed my heart. She was a sheltered girl so… with everything I did, I could get her to blush every time and her eyes would sparkle. She laughed often. I would watch her smiling face and… She was strange, not caring one way or the other if I was a vampire or a human… She was a lovely lady.”
Saying as much, Alfred gently stroked my cheek.
Alfred: “…just like you.”
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Alfred: “You really are… just like her.”
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(Back then… he was talking about his wife? So he’s kind to me because I remind him of his wife…)
My heart was filled with an earnest feeling I couldn’t put into words.
Alfred: “… she grew sick and died. I wonder if I’m really some sort of plague.”
Alfred’s smile was full of pain.
OO: “That’s not…”
I sank into silence and he pulled away from my face.
OO: “…”
I could still feel the heat from his hand on my cheek, but I could do nothing more than look away.
Then…-.
Alfred: “…what’s the matter?”
He once more peered into my face, looking at me with concern.
With both hands, I reflexively reached out and caught his fingers as he pulled away.
Alfred’s eyes widened in surprise.
OO: “Ah… I…!”
(Please… no matter what…)
(Don’t look so sad…)
Alfred: “OO?”
OO: “Um…”
Without thinking, I grabbed his hand, but I couldn’t get any more words out.
Alfred: “… Do you have any plans for tonight?”
OO: “Eh…?”
The leaves of the tree shook in the wind…
I could feel his hand, held in both of mine, trembling slightly.