Thirst!

Zhu Ming Yue was in her room, thinking over and over about her loyal butler’s words, and couldn’t decide. She subconsciously recalled Sharon’s words, “ A stranger wishes for my wellbeing, while others wish for my demise. What am I supposed to make of it? As for what I want, what is it? Do I wish to live or, on the contrary, do I wish to die? “

“ That human said there are still so many things for me to accomplish, but what are they? Why is he so insistent on me to live when I don’t want such things? There were times when I wanted things and had desires. Those times were painful and dreadful, to say the least, but today, after a century, I have no more desires for anything. The only thing I’m waiting for is when I'll disappear from this world and nothing more, nothing less. “

Two nights later, Shun wasn’t getting any better, as he was refusing to eat or drink anything. His condition was deplorable to even speak of. Zhu Ming Yue was cloistered in her room during that whole time, not giving a damn about what was going on outside. It was only when she learned of Shun’s recent condition from a servant of the household who was passing by that she finally reacted.

In Shun’s room, Thomas was pleading with him to eat something, but Zhu Ming Yue made her way into the room and ordered everyone to walk out, including Thomas.

Striding toward his bedside, she stood there, harboring an indifferent demeanor. “ You won’t nourish yourself unless I give in to your demand, is that right? “ She spoke suddenly.

“ That’s right! “ He nodded instantly, to which she forwarded, “ If I give you what you want, you’ll eat, correct? “

She asked again for confirmation, to which he nodded for the second time in a row. Sitting beside him, Zhu Ming Yue glanced at the food tray before him and said sternly, “ I’ll do what you say, but before that, you should have something first! “

Feeling doubtful about her words, Shun was about to speak when he was interrupted by Ming Yue who spoke again and said along the lines, “ I won’t run away, I promise. I’ll stay right here until you’ve done eating. “ She uttered with emotions Shun had never seen before.

Unable to doubt her words any further, Shun gave in to her and nodded. Helping him to sit due to his frail state, she forwarded the bowl of food to him, which he gladly took.

Zhu Ming Yue eagerly watched him as he ate what Thomas had brought for him. When he finished his meal within a moment later, she handed him a glass of water, which he drank without opposition.

When he was finished with the water, Zhu Ming Yue suddenly jumped on him, surprising him in the process.

Seeing the shocked reaction he was harboring, she suddenly asked, “ Why are you making that face? Are you suddenly scared? “

She asked while looking at him differently than usual. Shun, who was still in a daze didn’t say a word until a while later and those words were, “ Why would I be scared? I have nothing to be scared about, nothing at all. “

Speaking confidently before Ming Yue, her teeth became acute as she was going for Shun’s neck before being stopped by the latter with his hand.

Looking at the person in front of him, Shun spoke and said, “ Before you do anything, I have a request, just one. “

“ What request? “

Hesitating for a moment, he spoke yet again and said, “ Could you, just once, say my name? “

Surprised a bit, she asked, “ Is that all you want, for me to call you by your name? “

“ Yes, that’s all I want. “ He nodded. “ Not once have you called me by my name since I’ve started residing in your household. You always refer to me as human but never have you spoken my name, so just this once, could you speak my name? “

Staring into his intense gaze, she mumbled what he wanted to hear so badly, “ Shun! Shun! “

Shun was delighted to finally hear his name spoken by his favorite character and happily grinned.

“ Thanks for speaking my name, Lady Ming Yue! “ He spoke with a grin.

Reaching for his neck, Zhu Ming Yue bit his neck, causing a sharp pain to go through his entire body. Firmly hanging the bedsheets, he tolerated the pain in silence without letting any screams out.

Zhu Ming Yue felt a sweet taste as she drank Shun’s blood further. Unable to resist the sweet taste, she kept on drinking his blood nonstop until she felt his forces suddenly draining him and stopped herself from going any further.

As her eyes turned beat red alongside her acute teeth, Zhu Ming Yue looked at Shun’s pale state and asked out of concern, “ Are you alright? “

Not giving any response, she continued further, “ I’m sorry. I didn’t realize I was—-------- “

Before she could conclude her statement, Shun interrupted her with the phrase, “ I’m relieved. “

“ What? “

“ I thought for sure this time, as well, you would find some excuse to escape, but you didn’t. You truly drank my blood for the very first time and seeing as you’ve enjoyed it, I’m relieved. “

Not having the opportunity to retort or say anything back, Shun lost consciousness, worrying Zhu Ming Yue in the process.

“ Shun! Shun, wake up! “

Zhu Ming Yue was terrified when Shun didn’t wake up, no matter how much she called out his name. Walking inside the room, Thomas found his lady and mistress in her vampire form and was stunned.

“ My lady, how did this—--------- ? “

Not completing his statement, Zhu Ming Yue ran to Thomas and said in a state of panic, “ Shun isn’t waking up. Please check whether he’s alright! “

“ Yes, my lady! I’ll check on him right away. “

Following Zhu Ming Yue to Shun’s bedside, Thomas checked the regularity of his pulse and it was normal.

“ How is he? He’s not dead, is he? “ She asked anxiously to her butler, who retorted the following, “ Don’t worry, my lady, he’s not dead. “ He assured her in words before she asked once more, “ Then, why isn’t he waking up? “

“ That’s because he’s completely drained, my lady, so he fell asleep to recover. He should be about again in a few hours max, so don’t worry. “

“ Are you sure he’s going to be alright? “

“ Yes, my lady, I’m sure. “ Thomas nodded to ascertain his response to Zhu Ming Yue who still wasn’t reassured in the slightest.

Changing the subject, Thomas asked Zhu Ming Yue before her, “ More importantly, my lady, how are you? This is your first time drinking human blood. Are there any side effects? “

Looking at herself, she realized not only wasn’t she feeling any side effects, but she was also feeling an overwhelming amount of power surging in her whole being.

“ I’m fine, Thomas. I’m more than fine. To be honest, I’ve never felt so fine in centuries. “

“ I’m happy to hear that, my lady. “ Thomas slightly grinned.

Recalling how sweet Shun’s blood felt, she wanted to have it again. Noticing her slight change of expression, Thomas asked, “ Is there something the matter, my lady? “

Regaining her thoughts, she nodded, “ Nothing’s wrong, Thomas! Watch over, Shun for me! “

“ As you wish, my lady! “

Zhu Ming Yue walked out of Shun’s chamber, while Thomas remained by his side, waiting for him to finally awaken.

Walking down the corridors, Zhu Ming Yue didn’t feel any dizziness as she normally would. Feeling as fine as ever, she kept walking and on her way, she encountered the servants who were diligently working.

Seeing her in vampire form, they were stunned while feeling scared at the same time. Heading toward her study, she walked inside for the first time in months and to her surprise, everything was cleaned. No matter where she put her hands, there was no dust to deplore anywhere.

Sitting at her desk and looking over her files, she found that all her files had been well classified in order of importance. Looking inside her drawers, she laid upon the numerous tea party invitations she had been receiving ever since the moment she was sick in bed.

In another drawer, she found the summoning orders with the imperial seal on them.

“ These envelopes have all been unsealed and carried. How is that possible? “ She wondered.

Recalling Sharon’s words about potentially seeing her a few months back, she was confused all the more. “ How could I have carried all those summoning orders in my state? Unless—--------------? “

Her thoughts were interrupted by an unpleasant presence. Barging the room open, Zhu Zhi Rong made her way inside Zhu Ming Yue’s study office.

“ What brings you here, Sister? “ She asked, coldly.

Standing before her, Zhu Zhi Rong was stunned to see Zhu Ming Yue’s eye and hair color. Looking nothing like she usually looked, she mumbled, shocked, “ How is that possible? How were you able to awaken? “

“ Sister, you don’t seem well. Maybe you should retire to your chamber and get some proper rest. “ She uttered, indifferent.

Not paying attention to her words, Zhu Zhi Rong cast a spell in Zhu Ming Yue’s direction. To her surprise, the spell was negated without much effort.

“ Are you surprised to see me awake? “ She stood and approached Zhu Zhi Rong furtively.

Feeling the intensity in her gaze, Zhu Ming Yue uttered, “ All these centuries, you and Lidian have been after my powers and I couldn’t understand why you wanted them so badly to the extreme of threatening my life, but now that I’ve finally awoken as a vampire, everything became crystal clear to me. “

“ You and Lidian were aware of my powers from the start, which was why you wanted them so desperately, didn’t you? “ She glared at her sister, who was too stunned to say anything. “ Too bad you didn’t succeed in ending my life that time, and not even with poison. How bad is your luck, Zhi Rong? “

Harboring a shocked expression on her face, Zhu Ming Yue forwarded, “ What? Why do you look so surprised? Did you seriously think I wouldn’t come to discover your ploy? Like how you sent your servant to poison me daily to the pretext of caring for my wellbeing? “

“ What are you talking about, Ming Yue? These are serious accusations! “ She spoke out as her voice trembled in her throat.

Approaching her further, she whispered in her ear, “ Would you like to have an investigation led to uncover the truth, Zhi Rong? I don’t mind pulling an investigative unit for that purpose. I’m more than certain they’ll uncover some important facts plus evidence. That should put your mind at ease, right, sister? “

Freezing in place, Zhu Zhi Rong uttered, “ You have no proof, so stop acting so mighty. You’d better know your place and not cross the line! “ She warned her as she pointed her finger at her.

Grabbing the finger she was pointing at her, Zhu Ming Yue uttered as follows, “ It’s you who should mind your manners, Zhi Rong. Don’t forget that I’ve awoken! I'm no longer the frail girl you could scare and manipulate as you wish with just the snap of a finger, remember that and integrate it in your thick skull! “

Throwing her hand away, Zhu Zhi Rong almost fell to the ground. Staring at her sister which she no longer recognized, she threatened her as she made her way out of the study, “ Things won’t stay like this. You’d better watch your back, Ming Yue! “

Staring at herself and at what she had accomplished, she mumbled, “ Did I truly do this? Did I seriously throw her off? Were these the dormant powers Thomas was speaking of? “

Hours passed and Shun had yet to awaken. Worried as to why it was taking forever for him to awaken, she inquired to Thomas, who said, “ He should have awakened by now, my lady. I don’t understand why he’s still unconscious. “

Worried even more, Zhu Ming Yue stared at his sleepless face. “ My lady, I’m certain he’ll regain consciousness soon. In the meantime, we should exit his chamber to let him rest. “

“ You should go; I’ll stay. “ Zhu Ming Yue uttered suddenly to her butler, who didn’t contradict her and simply walked out of the room.

“ Shun, you promised that everything was going to be alright. You promised that you would always be with me. You can’t break your promise to me, Shun, you can’t! “ She mumbled as she held his hands while remaining by his side.

Another half an hour passed and then, Zhu Ming Yue felt something budging. Looking closely, she realized they were Shun’s hands. Delighted that he was going to awaken, she waited patiently for him to open his eyes.

The first thing he saw as he opened his eyes was Zhu Ming Yue’s red eyes staring at him and his hands, which were being held firmly.

“ How are you feeling, Shun? Do you feel fine? “ She asked out of concern for him.

Mesmerized by her appearance, he uttered out of the blue, “ You’re so sublime as a vampire, Lady Ming Yue! “

—

“ I knew you were beautiful, but while looking like this, you’re even more. You’re so stunning that I can hardly detach my gaze from you. “ He complimented her appearance and beauty, which caused Zhu Ming Yue’s cheek to flush slightly under the compliment.

—

Embarrassed, she didn’t dare look at him. Checking his forehead instead, she was even more delighted to see his fever had completely dropped.

“ Your fever has dropped at last; I’m glad. “ She grinned at him slightly. “ You should get some more rest, and I’ll see you later. “

Standing and about to leave, she was surprised when Shun grabbed her hand, preventing her from leaving.

“ What is it? Is there anything you need? “ She asked Shun, who retorted hypothetically as follows, “ Have I been of any help to you, Lady Ming Yue? “