Rika sat on the edge of the bed, nursing both physical pain and the weight of her confession. Taking a deep breath, she forced herself to stand. Her heart pounded as she faced Kaiser, her voice trembling yet resolute.
"Honestly, at first, I was after your money and your family's prestige—not to become famous, but because I wanted to be saved. I wanted to belong. That was my only reason for approaching you. But now, Kaiser... I've fallen for you in a way I never expected. I want to be a part of you."
A flicker of surprise crossed Kaiser's face, his heart skipping a beat. He hadn't expected such raw honesty from her. His lips curled into a faint, hesitant smile.
"There's a reason I can't fall in love with you," he said, his voice steady but distant.
Rika's resolve only strengthened. "If there's a way for me to be yours and you to be mine, I'll accept any challenge," she declared, her eyes burning with conviction.
Kaiser took a deep breath, shadows from his past creeping into his mind. "I've never shared this with anyone—only a few in my family know. But if you truly want to understand what you're getting into, then listen."
Rika watched as pain flickered in his eyes, urging her to stay silent and listen.
"My parents were renowned scientists, obsessed with the very essence of life itself. Their brilliance caught the attention of a dark political figure—the President."
The air around them seemed to thicken as he continued. "He wanted to harness the power of myths, to create vampires. When my parents resisted, he forced them to conduct brutal experiments on children. The early attempts failed. Then, the President made a horrifying demand: they were to use their own children as test subjects."
Rika's breath hitched at the cruelty of it all.
"Some parents resisted," Kaiser said bitterly. "One father tried to fight back, but he was executed on the spot—along with his child. Those who remained complied, hoping to protect their children."
He clenched his fists. "I was among the first—alongside Sakura, an 11-year-old girl. The experiments succeeded beyond belief, leading to further horrors. More children were subjected to them—Hinata, only nine years old... Jin, twelve... Sora, barely three... and even a pregnant woman carrying a child, Hana's mother. Our lives became a waking nightmare."
Kaiser paused, his eyes dark with agony. "When the President realized his success, he wanted to use us as his weapons. Our parents, terrified, planned an escape. But that night, he learned of their plans. The guards slaughtered them all—except Hana's mother. She was spared, forced to continue the experiments on her unborn child."
Rika swallowed, her voice barely a whisper. "But you survived."
Kaiser nodded. "I swore to protect the others. I saved four—Sakura, Jin, Sora, and Hinata. We became a family, not by blood, but through pain. For a year, we wandered the streets, abandoned by the world."
Rika felt her heart ache for the children he had protected. "And then Saito and Reina found you?"
"Yes," Kaiser said, his voice softer. "They were barely in their twenties, struggling themselves, but they took us in. They didn't know what we were at first. When they found out, they could have abandoned us—but they didn't. We owed them everything."
A faint, nostalgic smile played on his lips. "At ten, I had a vision—to build something greater than survival. With their support, we started a business, small at first. Over time, we grew strong enough to construct the first building of this estate—our sanctuary. Here, we trained, prepared, and I discovered my true power as the strongest vampire among us."
He exhaled slowly. "Months later, I left with Saito, determined to create the Kaiser name. On that journey, we returned to the lab. There, we found her—the pregnant woman, still experimenting on her daughter, Hana. I tried to save them both, but I could only take Hana. I raised her for months before bringing her back to the others. And that's how Hana became one of us."
Silence filled the room. Rika stepped closer, her heart aching for the boy who had grown into a man forged by suffering. "Kaiser... I can't imagine the burden you carry," she whispered, reaching for him.
He turned away, swallowing hard. "Every day, I think about the ones I couldn't save. The trust they placed in me... it weighs on me. I didn't escape for myself. I fought for them. But the world is cruel. The President still hunts us. He'll stop at nothing to reclaim what he lost. And, Rika, did you even hear me? I said we're vampires."
Rika's voice was steady. "I heard you. You might be a vampire, or a monster in the world's eyes, but as long as you have a heart that feels and cares, nothing else matters."
Kaiser broke down. Tears streamed down his face as he clutched his chest, the years of pain unraveling. Rika wrapped her arms around him, whispering, "When I said I wanted you, I didn't understand why it made you so angry. But now I do. You've spent your whole life fighting to not be owned—as a slave, as a lab rat. But Kaiser, what I truly meant was that... you are worth having."
Kaiser looked into her eyes—her once unrecognizable, scarred face now softened by a smile. A beautiful smile. Warmth filled his heart.
Finally, he wiped his tears and met her gaze. "If you want to be part of me... you must become a vampire."
Without hesitation, Rika nodded. Kaiser leaned in, sinking his fangs into her neck, his blood mingling with hers, transforming her. As she lost consciousness, he whispered, "Sleep well."
---
**The Next Morning**
Rika awoke, stronger than she had ever felt. A knock at the door interrupted her thoughts. Yuki, Kaiser's personal maid, entered.
"Prince Kaiser has already left for school. He instructed me to tell you to meet him there—if you wake up," she added with a smirk. "And don't be late."
Rika smirked back, already preparing.
---
**Scene Cut – The Classroom**
The students chattered, some stealing glances at the Kaiser siblings. The air shifted as the teacher entered, calling for silence. Just as class was about to begin, the room tensed.
A figure entered.
Red, piercing eyes. A short uniform revealing sleek, toned legs. Striking red hair, flowing elegantly as she walked. Every movement was calculated, confident, magnetic.
Every eye was on her.
She made her way toward the Kaisers' seats—but not before making a slow, deliberate detour. She stopped behind Kaiser. He tilted his head back, their eyes locking.
"Good morning, my love," she greeted, the glimpse of her fangs sending a shiver to Kaiser body.
Kaiser's lips curled into a smirk. His own eyes dimmed into a glowing red, his fangs subtly visible.
"Morning, beautiful."