How to Be a Dark Hero’s Daughter

* * *

I slowly opened my eyes.

“Leticia!”

I saw Cedric. I quickly sat up and looked around.

It’s my room.

“Cedric, what happened? The river has been contaminated with poison. What about Nigel?”

“Nigel was found in the forest. She’s been arrested and is now being interrogated in prison.”

“That alone is a relief.”

“What about Collen and Jade?”

“They’re out in the streets, helping people as the epidemic spreads.”

I froze.

“How long have I been out?”

“You lost consciousness for a whole day. And the unidentified epidemic began spreading among those who used the tap water. They’re now shutting off all the taps.”

Either way, it’s death.

A tap without water and a tap that spreads the epidemic once used.

‘No, it’s not even an epidemic.’

It’s because those who use the water are becoming addicted to vampire blood.

“It wasn’t an epidemic. There are no villagers who don’t use the water… Everyone is just becoming addicted to that water and dying. The dying process looked like a cold, so it became known as an epidemic.”

I tried to calmly assess the situation.

Tears streamed down my face.

“I… couldn’t stop it.”

“Calm down. The mansion has a well. Leticia can use that water here. The groundwater isn’t contaminated…”

“It’s not enough. Only old mansions like our home and the palace have wells.”

“…”

“That water can’t sustain the people of the capital. We need to find an antidote. How many have died?”

“None have fully died yet. But at this rate…”

My face paled at Cedric’s words.

“At this rate, the population of the capital will be halved in a week.”

“…”

“Yes, it’s progressing too quickly.”

Ah, that annoying Doctor Siebel. You truly are something.

I wanted to click my tongue. I also despised Mage Tower.

‘Did Mage Tower really not know about the vampire blood that Siebel knew of?’

I felt a simultaneous anger. I am being dragged around by that deceased bastard.

Cedric spoke calmly:

“Leticia, you should evacuate for now.”

“Where would I evacuate to? Cedric, Jade, Collen, all of you have responsibilities here. How can I run away?”

“If the citizens start fleeing, the situation will worsen. A riot might even break out.”

Cedric tried to console me. But it was clear he couldn’t stay with me for long.

“Cedric, you’ll also stay here till the end.”

If there was someone with a greater responsibility than Collen or Jade, it would be Cedric.

“Leticia, you’re not well now. You absolutely must not leave this mansion.”

“But…”

Truthfully, my whole body still felt as if it had been hit by a hammer.

“Leticia, breathe.”

“…”

“Look into my eyes.”

I looked into Cedric’s purple eyes. Cedric clasped my hand and kissed it.

‘Ah… this feeling…’

The pain inside me faded.

I felt my body fill with warmth.

“What is this?”

I felt this sensation twice before.

In the garbage dump, when young Lee was dying.

After burying Siebel in quicksand and passing out from using too much power.

“I imprinted you, remember? I come from a wolf lineage, so I have stronger magic and a healthier body than most. I’m sharing my energy with you.”

“That’s possible?”

“Leticia, how do you think you can use the magic bullet gun?”

I nodded in understanding.

Yes, I wasn’t someone who was born with an exceptional amount of magic power by chance.

‘I’ve been sharing the immense power that Cedric possesses.’

Understanding Cedric’s imprint on me led to this realization. There are no coincidences in this world.

“If you weren’t marked by me, you would have died by the river. Those influenced by my imprint possess a stronger resistance to poison.”

“…”

“So, for my sake, please rest for a while. I can’t bear to see you in this condition, especially after you nearly died…”

I reluctantly nodded. What could possibly be unfolding outside that mansion?

Thud.

Cedric closed the door and left.

Siebel whispered.

I remembered Siebel’s whispered words. My heart raced and my breathing quickened. Doctor Siebel’s ghost cast a shadow over the entire capital.

‘But.’

I smirked.

‘I won’t just lose to you either.’

I hastily wrote a note and rang the bell for Zion.

I recalled Siebel’s whispers. My heart raced, and I gasped for air.