Though Yan had firmly dealt with most reactions, growing distant from Dave was truly saddening. It was a moment when he felt the reality of leaving ordinary humanity behind and stepping into a different world.
“You need to understand, Yan.”
Noah, a colleague who was somewhat understanding of Yan, offered a warm latte as consolation.
“You know Dave has always disliked vampires. But he’ll understand you eventually.”
“Yeah…”
“Why are you so gloomy? Even the chief recognized it.”
It was less recognition and more resignation, but the reaction was much milder than Yan had anticipated. At least it was better than the captain who had fainted standing up and couldn’t say a word. Yan sighed and sipped his latte.
“Anyway, have a good trip. Bringing back souvenirs would be even better.”
The three binding rituals were already complete, but there was a remaining procedure. They had to report the binding ritual to each nation. Being close to a government office, they had already completed the report in New York; all that remained was the vampire kingdom.
The chief had neatly processed Yan’s vacation request for this purpose. Legally, it was the right thing to do—the constitution guaranteed “the act of voluntarily becoming a vampire’s bound one”—but privately, it was a different matter. Although there were no congratulatory words or well-wishes, Yan was grateful to the chief for not saying anything.
Thanks to this, Yan had arrived at the vampire kingdom. This place, which he was visiting for the first time in his life, was more ordinary than expected. The streets and people’s attire were no different from any major city. The decisive difference was that day and night were reversed compared to human society.
Here, all shops locked their doors during the day and began work at night. They didn’t particularly turn on electric lights, creating a unique atmosphere that was dark yet vibrant.
Yan gazed at the night view through the glass window. Though the city had fewer lights than even the tiny bulbs on a Christmas tree, it looked different to Yan’s eyes, which had improved since becoming a bound one.
‘It’s more ordinary than I expected.’
There was none of the classical ambiance one might expect from the word “kingdom.” Vampires were simply bustling about, shopping, reading books, and drinking coffee, just like ordinary people. Thinking that he too would soon become a member of that society gave him a fresh feeling.
“What are you thinking about, Yan?”
Sirius, who had approached without notice, asked. In the low-light space, he seemed to appear out of the darkness. His all-black attire—black shirt and black pants—might have enhanced that impression.
“Just…”
Yan glanced briefly at Sirius and murmured:
“I was thinking it’s nice.”
Medieval kings wore crowns and red capes. By comparison, how much simpler was the attire of modern kings? Of course, Yan preferred the latter. Black was the sexiest color in the world.
“What is?”
“Oh, various things.”
“Don’t answer so evasively.”
“…Writing a new contract?”
Reflecting on the busy days recently, Yan mentioned one thing.
When Procion discovered that Yan had torn up the diet contract, he didn’t get as angry as expected. He had only said, “Then we should write a new contract, shouldn’t we?” Yan had even asked, “Is that really all you need to do?”
“Circumstances have changed, so it’s only natural.”
“Procion said the same thing.”
At times like this when their opinions overlapped, it felt real that they were twins. Their impressions were so different that he usually forgot about it.
‘Though their facial features themselves are similar.’
Yan examined Sirius closely. Just then, the bluish moonlight cast shadows on his face. Despite such long eyelashes, he didn’t look delicate but rather strong. Can someone look both elegant and powerful? Yan was so impressed that he didn’t even realize his mouth had slightly opened.
“Yan?”
“What? Oh, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to stare rudely…”
His gaze had been so obvious that it couldn’t be ignored. Sirius looked down at Yan. Though he had hurriedly turned his head away, his eyes kept glancing sideways. He looked like a dog who had been told to “wait” in front of a toy, making Sirius smile inadvertently.
“I’ve never thought it was rude.”
“R-really…?”
“Yes. You can look as much as you want.”
Taking one step closer to Yan, he drew in a sharp breath. Why couldn’t he meet Sirius’s eyes when his expressions so clearly showed his fondness? Sirius, with a narrower emotional range than even most vampires, let alone humans, couldn’t understand Yan.
“Yan?”
“Ah… yes, I’m l-looking.”
“Why are you lying? Your head is turned away.”
“No, that’s not it.”
Until just a moment ago, he had been calmly reminiscing, but as Sirius drew near, his heart suddenly pounded. It felt like having just swallowed three spoonfuls of sweet honey. It was pleasant but embarrassingly too sweet.
Just then, the sound of a door opening was heard. Yan turned toward the entrance. The only other person who could enter this penthouse owned by Procion was him. Indeed, it was Procion who appeared.
“What’s going on? Why are you standing like that?”
Seeing Sirius and Yan standing close together as soon as he entered, Procion frowned. Beyond anything else, Yan leaning away from Sirius’s upper body looked peculiar. Normally, Yan would follow Sirius around, looking up at him with sparkling eyes.
“You’re back?”
Yan approached Procion, taking advantage of the moment when Sirius’s attention was diverted. Though he tried to act naturally, the back of his neck stung for some reason.
‘He has a surprisingly persistent personality.’
Had Sirius been that bothered by Yan avoiding his gaze? Well, he had been persistent in bed too… Yan laughed mechanically and brushed away the thought. He didn’t particularly want to recall being forced into intense pleasure.
Procion looked at Yan suspiciously but didn’t probe further. Instead, he placed the file he was carrying on the glass table.
“What’s this?”
“Registration documents for bound ones.”
“Ah…”
“I’ve filled in the sections, so you just need to sign. Oh, and we need copies of your passport and social security card.”
“Okay.”
Having done this once before in his home country, it didn’t feel unfamiliar. Yan flipped through the documents, filling in the blanks. Just then, a sheet of paper with a different texture popped out from among the documents.
“This is…”
The large letters “CONTRACT” immediately caught his eye. Yan read the first sentence as if entranced.
“‘This is a Dominant-Submissive contract.'”
This was indeed a familiar document. To Yan, who had momentarily lost his words, Procion said:
“This is for you and us to—”
“—agree to engage in play by mutual consent. I know.”
Cutting off his sentence, Yan replied, causing Procion to raise an eyebrow. It was an ‘I told you so’ expression, but it didn’t seem genuinely displeased, so Yan didn’t mind. Rather, he was busy reading through the sentences that were similar yet different.
“Procion and Sirius will be Yan Circuitz’s masters.”
Only one more name had been added, but the basic terms remained unchanged. From “Safety takes precedence in any play” to “Procion and Sirius have an obligation to care for Yan Circuitz’s health and safety.”
Every single clause was one that an ordinary person would not sign. But Yan was no longer an ordinary person.
“Want a pen?”
Procion asked. When Yan quietly responded “Yes,” he offered the pen he was holding.
Yan took the pen with his mouth, not his hand. Kneeling, he signed the document.
“Well done. And let me warn you clearly, if you carelessly throw away the contract again, I won’t let it slide.”
“Yes…”
A large hand ruffled through Yan’s hair as he promised glumly. It was Sirius, who had approached without notice. With two masters before and behind him, Yan’s heart swelled with a strange emotion.
Until recently, Yan had no official connection with Sirius. If Sirius had been seriously injured, Yan couldn’t have done anything. It was questionable whether he could even receive proper contact, let alone change bandages or apply medicine.
But now it was different. Yan was Sirius’s legitimate bound one. Moreover, he had formed a stronger relationship with Procion as well. They were connected not just physically but through a document-guaranteed relationship.
Now he could legally help and protect them. Realistically thinking, it seemed more likely that he would be the one receiving help, but Yan intended to be their strength whenever possible.
‘I will be bound to you. And you will also be bound to me.’
Though at first glance the diet contract seemed disadvantageous only to him, Yan didn’t feel that way. Those who would become his masters were also given responsibilities.
Rubbing his cheek against the caressing hand, Yan looked forward to what was to come. He wished that their relationship, now more stable, would grow increasingly stronger as time passed.
