I was sold to a dangerous place in order to repay my parents’ debt, and I ended up being bought by a vampire young lady. I became the feed for the beautiful maid.

When “I” died and “Sakura Hizuki” was born

⟦ When I was human, I was an ordinary person who grew up on Earth.

My mundane and ordinary life took a drastic turn when I was seven years old during a trip to another world. 

The carriage I was riding in was attacked by a monster known as the Black Grizzly, a bear-like creature considered to be beyond the capabilities of anything less than an A-rank adventurer. 

At first, the coachman tried to protect me, but he was quickly killed, followed by my parents, who also tried to defend me.

Left as the next prey, I couldn’t escape and was bitten by the monster without any chance to resist. 

As a young girl, I was powerless to fight back after being caught, and it became evident that I wouldn’t survive.

Captured and powerless with my young strength, I screamed in pain as the monster tore my body apart. ‘No, it hurts, please don’t kill me, I don’t want to die,’ I cried, but it showed no mercy.

It was my first time in a different world, facing violence from a monster I had never seen before, and the fear of death overwhelmed me, my mind was filled with images of escape.

As my consciousness faded and I approached death, suddenly half of the monster vanished.

The fangs that had been digging into his arm weakened, and I realized that the black grizzly had died so easily.

But I was mortally wounded and I  knew that I was already beyond saving.

While lying on the ground, embracing the slow approach of death, I saw the blurry figure of an unfamiliar woman’s feet in my fading vision.

[“Hey, can you answer me?”]

[“Uh…”]

Even though she asked me a question, I couldn’t even muster the strength to speak due to my waning consciousness and overwhelming fatigue.

Nevertheless, the woman continued.

[“You don’t have much time, so I’ll ask you succinctly. I have only one way to save you. However, if you choose that option, you won’t remain human anymore. So, tell me… do you want to die as a human or live as something different?”]

[“─…”]

To live or die, to remain human or not, it was an ultimate two-choice dilemma.

The woman posed an incredibly cruel decision to the girl who was on the brink of death.

Others might denounce it as heartless if they were to hear it. But only the woman and I could exchange words, as the coachman and my parents were already lifeless bodies.

Exposed to the fear of death and asked about the chance to survive, even with the risk, what would one feel?

The answer was clear and simple.

[“I…don’t…want…to…die…”]

[“I understand. Then from today on, you are my daughter.”]

With a trembling, blood-soaked throat, I conveyed my wish for help, and the woman─ Silvinia-sama literally gave me a new life as a half-vampire Vanpir named Hizuki Sakura.

=============================

The name ‘Hizuki’ is derived from the Scarlet Duke’s family name, cleverly translated into Japanese. 

As for ‘Sakura,’ it originates from Lady Silvinia’s fondness for cherry blossoms. 

The name I once bore as a human shall forever remain buried in the past.

By the way, Lady Silvinia is not the Demon Lord. The ability to transform a human into a half-vampire is a power wielded by high-ranking vampires.

However, since the Demon Lord’s reign, it is considered taboo to use this power casually, even for the sake of saving lives.

Vampire society places great emphasis on bloodlines, leading to the disdain directed at half-vampires who were once human, deemed impure by their very nature. 

Moreover, the invasion by the Demon Lord’s apostles has only deepened the aversion and contempt towards these individuals within the vampire community.

Taking all these factors into account, it becomes apparent why the Scarlet Duke’s family is viewed as unorthodox. But we’ll delve into that at a later time.

Now, let’s return to our discussion.

Following Lady Silvinia’s desire, I was formally adopted into the Scarlet family.

When I regained consciousness, I found myself in one of the rooms of the Scarlet family’s main mansion, and my mind was already filled with puzzlement. 

I was genuinely astonished by the fact that I had managed to survive, and I distinctly remember being taken aback when I looked into the mirror and saw my hair and eyes transformed from black to silver and crimson, respectively. 

However, even after learning that the benefactor who saved me was none other than the Duchess, Lady Silvinia, I couldn’t quite wrap my head around the situation.

Becoming a half-vampire came with its share of challenges, particularly when I realized that I needed to consume blood in addition to regular meals.

Of course, blood-drinking habits were completely foreign to me, and as a former human,. I had a natural aversion to taking blood from others. Thanks to the Duke’s considerate arrangements, I was able to draw small amounts of blood from stored transfusion packs.

As for the taste… well, it’s not something I’d particularly praise. To put it plainly, it’s like eating dry, tasteless bread with all the moisture sucked out of it.

Initially, it took me a while to finish one pack.

Furthermore, as you’d expect, as a half-vampire, I was obligated to stay within the mansion. 

While efforts led by King Verzeld and others have contributed to a decrease in persecution against half-vampires, the complete eradication of prejudice remains elusive.

The deeply ingrained fear among vampires and other long-lived races has become so deeply entrenched that it’s beyond anyone’s ability to eliminate it. 

Hence, it’s only natural that I am forbidden from going outside, all in the interest of my protection.

However, during that time, I had little awareness of what my existence had become.

Amidst numerous striking occurrences, there was one event that left a lasting impression on me. It was the moment I encountered Elinarese Luna Scarlett for the very first time.

[“Nice to meet you, I’m Elinarese Luna Scarlett.”]

[“Oh, Sakura Hizuki…”]

Elina, who had just turned four years old, and I faced each other for the first time. 

She resembled the charming princesses from the storybooks, and it was an outlandish notion to expect composure in such a situation.

When this young girl greeted me with all the elegance of a lady, I found myself perplexed and unsure how to respond. 

Mustering the ability to introduce myself was a commendable feat in that moment

Observing our exchange, Silvinia smiled and gracefully lowered herself.

[“Relax, after all, you two are going to be sisters.”] she said.

[“This person is going to be my big sister?”] Elina-sama asked.

[“Yes, that’s right”] Silvinia replied

The notion of becoming the older sister to a beautiful child, akin to a princess, was astounding.

Although it was the inevitable outcome of becoming an adopted member of the family, it was still quite overwhelming for me at that time.”

Elina was overjoyed and asked  

[“I am so happy! Can I call you ‘Onee-chan’”]

Caught off guard, I responded hesitantly with an 

[“Uh, uh, ha, yes…”]

And she exclaimed,

[“I did it, hehe!”]

As a child, Elina was full of mischief, and I became the recipient of her countless antics. 

Nonetheless, as someone who had recently lost her family, I cherished those days spent in the Scarlet Duke’s family, which offered a warm and affectionate environment.

Lady Silvinia and the Duke showered me with affection, treating me as if I were their biological child.

My bond with Elina grew especially strong, and we held each other dear as sisters.

However, I had forgotten something crucial:

How easily a peaceful everyday life could drastically change.

The tragic event that became the catalyst for this change was none other than my own doing.