The Vampire Lord's Apathy
Carsella knocked politely on the door, but there was no response from the other side.
Out?
"Mother, I'm coming in."
Carsella knocked again in the same gentle tone.
Still silence.
"Mother, I'm coming in."
The third time.
"...Fine."
A response finally came—a dry voice thick with exhaustion and annoyance.
She was inside after all.
Carsella slowly opened the door and stepped into the bedroom, with me following close behind.
The room was pitch black.
Even in broad daylight, not a single ray of light seeped through the heavy blackout curtains.
What kind of person is she...?
A character who doesn't even appear in the game.
Unable to contain my curiosity, I peeked out from behind Carsella.
There, sprawled on the massive bed like a corpse, was a woman.
She barely rolled her eyes to glance at us before letting out a deep sigh and sluggishly propping herself up.
This was Carsella's mother.
The head of the Alberich family, Lucrezia Alberich.
She looked so utterly listless, it was like she was suffering from some grave illness.
"My report."
"......"
"My report, Mother."
"...Fine."
...Do you really have to do this now? She looks like even breathing is a chore.
"Flora Alberich's condition has improved. Communication is now possible, and we've confirmed she can maintain her reason and self-control. Under Elisiel Barentia's verification, we've partially adjusted the underground seal, allowing activity within the mansion..."
"Too long."
Lucrezia muttered drowsily, cutting Carsella off.
"Conclusion."
"...The incident is resolved, and we'll allow Flora free movement inside the mansion."
"Fine."
That was it.
Really, that was the end.
Lucrezia tilted her body sideways as if she had no interest in hearing more, ready to burrow back under the covers.
I was stunned for a moment.
This was her entire reaction?
No glance my way, no questions, not even a shred of suspicion.
Flora Alberich has regained her sanity.
Whether as a mother or as family head, this wasn't something to brush off.
"Are you feeling unwell anywhere?"
I couldn't hold back and butted in.
Lucrezia's gaze shifted toward me.
"...You're talking."
"Yes."
"No."
"Pardon?"
"I'm not sick."
Lucrezia rummaged under her pillow and pulled out a black sleep mask.
"Carsella."
"...Yes, Mother."
"Handle the trivial stuff yourself."
"It's procedure."
"...Annoying."
Lucrezia grumbled as she slapped the mask over her eyes.
"At least that's a relief."
"...Pardon?"
"Now you have family who'll listen to you."
Her languid voice continued.
"You won't come to me as much."
"...Mother."
The air froze in an instant.
I could feel Carsella's shoulders tense beside me.
It was so absurd I spoke up.
"Hey, what kind of thinking is that?"
"Flora...?"
Carsella urgently grabbed my sleeve, but I didn't stop.
I wanted to hear what excuse Lucrezia would make.
But she didn't bother with excuses.
"You keep coming and bothering me."
"What?"
"Using reports as an excuse. Mansion affairs, family matters, servants, weather, meals... You keep saying unnecessary things."
Lucrezia yawned as she spoke.
"Now that you have her, it'll happen less. Good. You've pulled yourself together nicely."
...What did I just hear?
I thought I'd misheard.
It was so far beyond my common sense that it took time to process.
"No, what do you even—"
"Flora, let's go now."
"No, wait just a second."
I shook my head roughly and stepped forward.
"If we're such a bother, then why have daughters at all?"
"The elders."
"What about them?"
"They were noisy about needing an heir."
Lucrezia answered curtly.
"So I took seed from a suitable bloodline and had her."
"Wow."
She said it so casually it almost didn't feel real.
"Then why have me?"
Lucrezia fell silent.
Her face said she was debating whether to just ignore me out of sheer annoyance.
"Figured having one more might be useful."
"...Why?"
"Having her around handles my work for me."
"Crazy."
The curse slipped out before I knew it.
Lucrezia showed no reaction to the insult, but Carsella flinched and pulled me back.
"M-Mother. We'll head back now."
As we turned to flee, Lucrezia's lifeless voice drifted after us.
"Carsella."
"...Yes, Mother."
"You can handle most things on your own, right?"
"...Yes."
"And the second one's fine now too."
"...Yes."
Lucrezia let out a light laugh—an utterly hollow one.
"Then... I guess I can die now?"
...?
Carsella bit her lower lip for a moment.
Then, forcing a trembling smile, she replied.
"Not... yet."
"Shame."
Lucrezia fully covered her eyes with the mask and waved us off.
"Out."
[She was ruthlessly indifferent to her children.]
That single line from the game setting collection.
Seeing it in person was beyond imagination.
"Flora, are you alright?"
In the lounge.
Carsella was fussing over me instead, unable to stay still.
"I'm more worried about you, Carsella. Are you really okay?"
That... was a parent?
I felt like I'd used up a lifetime's worth of shock.
"I'm fine. I've been used to it for a long time now."
Carsella tried to act composed as she lifted her teacup, but though her expression was steady, her fingertips trembled badly.
...Used to it.
Used to it.
Can people really get used to wounds like that?
Carsella cared for her family to the very end.
Her mother gave her no attention whatsoever. Even when she took on work for her mother's sake, she was treated like a convenient tool, saddled with more and more tasks.
Flora was insane. No matter how much she cared for her or poured affection into her, all that came back was murderous intent.
Yet Carsella clung to her delusions until the last.
In her final moments, even as her life was ending, Carsella worried about Flora.
"No wonder you didn't seem surprised. Now I get why."
"Huh...?"
"Growing up in an environment like that, nothing fazes you anymore."
"...Flora, she's still our mother."
It was a habitual phrase.
Because she's our mother.
A long-ingrained habit of shelving explanations, anger, and grievances with those words.
I didn't like it.
After a moment's thought, I stood up.
"Flora?"
"Yeah."
"Where are you going?"
"The library."
"Hm, reading books to cool your anger sounds like a good idea."
Cool my anger?
"Do I look that mad?"
"Very."
"...Really?"
"Hehe, honestly, I'm happy. You're angry for my sake."
"...Glad to hear it."
The library was vast.
Nearly the size of a proper one, so it took a while to find the book I wanted.
...Am I actually angry right now?
I thought I was staying level-headed.
But apparently not to others.
Is it really worth getting this mad over?
She's human trash, no doubt, but personally, I have no real reason to boil over. She hasn't done anything directly to me.
I can find her disgusting on a human level, but no blood-boiling grudge.
So if I am angry...
That woman makes Carsella miserable.
Six years.
I spent six years watching game characters find happiness.
If I couldn't ignore it when they were just pixels, how could I now with Carsella's real emotions right in front of me?
It hadn't been long, but living together, Carsella had seemed pretty happy.
This was the first time I'd seen her look so down.
"Ah, miss. What kind of book are you looking for...?"
As I irritably scanned the shelves, a servant who'd been hovering approached hesitantly.
"Parenting books."
"...Pardon?"
"Books on parenting."
"...I'll show you."
The shelf the servant pointed to was lined with a wide variety of parenting guides.
From the masses, I pulled out the thickest, heaviest one.
The Right Way to Be a Parent: From Forming Attachments to Discipline
I flipped through briefly to check the table of contents.
This should do.
Tucking the hefty tome under my arm, I turned on my heel.
Destination: one place only.
BAM!!
This time, no polite knocking. I kicked the door wide open.
Lucrezia.
She, sprawled on the bed, glared up at me with furrowed brows.
"My report."
I shoved the book toward her with both hands.
"I'm reporting that you need to get up right now and read this. Lady Lucrezia Alberich, head of the family."