Chapter 4: Chapter 4 — You Wicked Old Man

The little boy was still dreaming of making Chloé his girlfriend when her tiny fist sent him sprawling to the ground.

She had held back her strength, mindful that he was only a fledgling; her blow was measured, precise.

So though he felt a sting of pain and was knocked flat on his back, he suffered no real harm—at least not to his body.

But physical pain was one thing; humiliation was another.

Especially since he had summoned his three other “girlfriends” to witness his grand duel.

To be struck down in front of them with a single punch—his pride simply couldn’t bear it. The boy’s face crumpled, and he burst into loud, heartbroken sobs.

Chloé stood off to the side, watching him with a flicker of guilt. Perhaps… she had gone a bit too far.

She picked up the chocolate he’d dropped, crouched beside him, and gently placed it in his palm.

“Don’t be afraid,” she said solemnly. “From now on, I’m the boss of this kindergarten. Take this chocolate, and you’ll be my little underling.”

The humiliated boy stared at her in stunned silence.

Then, with trembling hands, he hurled the chocolate away and cried even harder.

In the end, it took the teacher four small cakes to calm him down.

That fight became legendary—the entire kindergarten soon knew that leadership had changed hands.

The new boss was a black-haired girl, irresistibly adorable yet rumored to be terrifying in battle.

Chloé thought the matter settled. But to her surprise, the boy’s three former “girlfriends” came to her the next day.

“You defeated Yavi,” said the red-haired girl matter-of-factly. “So now we’re your girlfriends.”

Chloé blinked, utterly unprepared for this turn of events. “...I don’t want that.”

“What? Are you really going to abandon the three of us?” The redhead tried a touch of moral blackmail.

Chloé’s little bun-like face tightened in exasperation. “I will not have you as my girlfriends. Please move aside.”

When persuasion failed, the redhead simply grinned and declared, “Then it’s settled! From now on, we’re your girlfriends. Whenever you get something good, you must share it with us first!”

Before Chloé could even respond, the trio scampered off giggling, leaving her standing motionless in disbelief.

Are all vampire fledglings this... intense?

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By five o’clock, when the day ended, Corvin arrived at the gate astride a sleek black motorcycle.

He spotted Chloé immediately amid the crowd and waved her over.

But when she came out—expression cool and serious—he found himself facing not one, but four little girls.

Each of the other three gave Chloé a quick kiss on the cheek and chirped affectionately, “Bye, wifey! See you tomorrow!” before skipping away, laughing.

Corvin: “???”

Without hesitation, he scooped Chloé up, frowning sternly. “I know you’re beautiful and all, but you can’t go around seducing girls in kindergarten.”

Chloé: “...”

She slapped his arm with all the fury her tiny body could muster. “They forced me!”

Corvin’s look was dubious. “Really?”

She glared at him for a moment, then turned her head away with icy dignity. “Believe what you want.”

Her pouty defiance only made him chuckle. He couldn’t resist pinching her soft cheek before deftly dodging her retaliatory swat.

Then he slipped a miniature helmet over her head, set her in front of him on the bike, and wrapped an arm around her as the engine roared to life.

Yes, she was fierce—feral, even—but that fire was precisely what he admired.

They sped through the night, reaching the grand estate in no time.

This was the King’s domain—majestic, imposing, and silent as stone.

Chloé climbed off the motorcycle, removed her helmet, and strode toward the manor.

Her legs were short, but her pace was brisk and determined.

Corvin jogged to catch up, his voice tinged with unease. “You remember what you’re supposed to do, right?”

Chloé nodded. “I remember.”

He had reminded her countless times that morning—after class, she must return to the manor to meet her father.

The King himself intended to instruct her in the ways of their kind.

Chloé felt both thrilled and nervous.

When she mastered those abilities, she’d overthrow him—avenge her broken tooth, and take the throne for herself.

At the thought, her hand rose to the small gap in her fangs, her face darkening.

Corvin, noticing the shift in her mood, grew pale. “Please, little lady, I beg you—don’t make His Majesty angry!”

After all, the King despised fledglings. Were it not for Chloé’s extraordinary talent, even his own bloodline might not have earned his favor.

They ascended to the topmost floor, where the Progenitor conducted his affairs.

The grand doors opened, revealing Xavier behind his desk—serene, cold, and unreadable.

Chloé met his gaze with defiance, her round face taut with hostility.

Caught between them, Corvin wiped the sweat from his brow. All his earlier warnings had clearly gone in one ear and out the other.

Neither spoke for a long moment.

Then Xavier lowered his eyes slightly, his tone as calm as ever.

“Little bean, doesn’t your neck ache from staring up at me so long?”

Chloé: “...”

Her tiny fists clenched. “One day, I’ll be taller than you.”

“I look forward to it,” he said evenly, extending a hand. “Come here.”

After a moment’s hesitation, she clambered onto his lap, wary and confused.

What was he up to now?

Xavier opened a book, his movements deliberate. “Can you read?”

Before Corvin could interject—she’d only attended one day of kindergarten—Chloé answered crisply, “Yes.”

“Good,” he said. “Then finish this book.”

She frowned, brushed his hand from her stomach, and took the tome—it was nearly larger than her face.

Flipping through the pages, she found dense, archaic incantations scrawled within.

Difficult though they were, she read them aloud flawlessly, her enunciation crisp and sure.

As her clear voice filled the study, Xavier’s lashes lowered. His tone grew softer. “I’ve changed my mind.”

Chloé glanced up warily. “Hm?”

“Reading it isn’t enough,” he said, eyes glinting. “You have three days to memorize the entire book.”

“...What?!”

Her cheeks puffed in outrage. “You wicked old man!”

Corvin broke into a cold sweat, staring at the King in horror.

But Xavier only smirked, pinching her cheek with infuriating calm.

“And you,” he replied, “are a child who has yet to learn respect for her teacher.”

Once again, the two locked eyes, unyielding and fierce.

Corvin could finally breathe.

So, the King truly did have a soft spot for this little monster.