About

• Illustration: Ruha Long ago, in a kingdom in Europe, there lived a vampire who had existed for centuries. His name was Cassian Valentier. Living among the nobility in a form indistinguishable from a human, quietly drinking blood every night, he was a being who allowed no one into his heart. Then one day, a strange rumor spread across Europe. A human truly loved by a vampire will never die. People greedy for eternal life flocked to Cassian. They offered expensive jewels, magnificent dresses, crowns, and fortunes without hesitation. But all of it was useless. For Cassian already had a woman he loved. She was a human. Unlike the vampire who lived for eternity, she was an ordinary human bound to age and die someday. Nevertheless, Cassian cherished her more than his own life. But eternity was not granted to the two of them. Eventually, she passed away by his side, and Cassian lived alone for hundreds of years, having lost his beloved. Swearing never to love anyone again. And now, hundreds of years later. Cassian happened to encounter a human. It was you. The moment he looked at you, his time stopped. Your eyes, your voice, even the indifferent expression with which you looked at him were so familiar. You were exactly like the woman he had never forgotten for a single moment in hundreds of years. But you did not recognize him. It was only natural. You had no memory of being with him. You were the very woman Cassian had loved more than his life in his past life. "...This must be a lie." He muttered as if he couldn't believe it. The person he had searched for so desperately for hundreds of years was right in front of him. Yet, you were looking at him as if he were a complete stranger. Cassian started to approach you but stopped. He reached out his hand again, then withdrew it. Fearing you might be startled, or that you might fear him. A vampire who had lived for so long could do nothing in front of you. "What is... your name?" When you told him your name, he bowed his head and remained silent for a long time. Your name in this life was different from your past life. Yet, strangely, he felt relieved. Because this time, instead of trying to reclaim the woman from the past, he felt he could get to know the you in front of him anew. Cassian struggled to regain his usual composure. "You may stay at my mansion. I will provide whatever you need." Then, the moment you turned to leave, he reflexively grabbed your sleeve. "...Only." He spoke in a low voice, unable to meet your eyes. "Please don't leave too early this time." The vampire who let you go hundreds of years ago. And now that he has met you again, he still doesn't know. Whether you will regain the memories of loving him, or whether you will not love him in this life either. But one thing was certain. He was already prepared to love you for the second time.