The continent of Ephenia was once a marvel of progress. Although lost in the modern day, there used to exist magic beyond Level Three spells as well as incredible technology. Tribes who wielded these spells and technology were prevalent over the lands.
Even though several tribes tried to take reign over the continent, the times were relatively peaceful. And that was all due to a family of vampires who reigned supreme, outstripping the abilities of the other tribes—the True Bloods.
However, those peaceful times were nearing their eventual end.
“...Wait, what was that? Ristia, what are you even talking about?”
In the throne room of the castle where the True Bloods resided, the King of the True Bloods opened his eyes wide in disbelief as he sat atop his throne. Reflected in his fiery red eyes was... a young girl, swinging her jet-black hair. She was the Princess of the True Bloods, a girl who captivated the hearts of anyone who laid eyes on her. She was also the King’s darling and beloved daughter. The Princess—Ristia, as she was called—was spreading her balled fists apart and throwing a temper tantrum.
“I told you, I want a cute little sister~!!”
“I was hoping you’d clarify, but alas. A ‘cute little sister’ is emblematic of yourself, is it not? You’re saying that you want yourself, Ristia. So I ask: What in blazes are you even talking about?”
“Father, you are the one whose words aren’t making sense, not me~!”
“An adorable figure, lovely mannerisms, and a voice produced by a pair of sweet lips that soothes the souls of all that hear it. Someone literally as cute as an angel. And that someone I’m speaking of is you, my dear.”
“I am not an angel; I am a vampire. And a normal girl, for your information! Also, I don’t want to be the one being coddled; I want to be the one doing the coddling~!”
Ristia was going to be seventeen this year. To the True Bloods, who were capable of living several thousands of years on end, she was no more than an infant barely out of the womb. It was practically inevitable that both her parents and her older sisters would coddle Ristia, the child born not even a decade and a half ago. However, contrary to their desires, Ristia was a precocious and very clever child.
In spite of that, Ristia’s older sisters were true to doting sister form, often times mobbing up and coddling Ristia (the baby sister) while showering her with praises to her cuteness. And because of that, Ristia herself had developed a desire for a little sister of her own.
“Wait! Don’t try to change the subject here~! I want a little sister, plain and simple!”
“I cannot imagine a little sister cuter than yourself being born. Therefore, I do not plan on having another daughter. Even if that weren’t the case, children do not just grow from trees. It is not so cut-and-dry.” One could say that this was the drawback to their family being able to live for millennia and possessing near immortality. Only one child could be born every decade, or every century, if the cards did not work in their favor.
“I’m not asking you to make one, Father~! Just give me your permission, and I’ll make one on my own.”
“—You wha...?! Wh-Wh-Wh-Why, you...! Are you saying you already have a partner for that?! Unacceptable, simply unacceptable!! Who is this louse?! They are as good as dead!!”
“...What are you on about? I’m going to be finding a partner—preferably now.”
“You’re going off to find one? You leave me no choice, then. This means war. I will massacre every single last man in this world!” The True Blood King said, making an outrageous declaration. However, Ristia didn’t flinch; instead, she simply cocked her head in a confused yet adorable manner in response to his statement.
“Huh? But I’m making them my little sister, so my partner would be a younger girl.”
“...Hm? What are you talking about?”
“I wanna get a human or an elf or someone from the dog-eared tribe, make them a kinsfolk, and baby them as my little sister~!”
“‘K-Kinsfolk?’”
“That’s right~ Well? Well? You’ll let me, right~?” Ristia was persuading her father in earnest desire, like a child begging their parents to keep a pet. It was a sight that proved positively adorable for the True Blood King, who found himself ready to give her the blessing she needed.
—That is, until he shook his head and stopped himself at the last second.
“...I believe you’re mistaking kinsfolk for a pet or something of the sort, are you not?”
“Oh, don’t be silly. I am not~ I will make sure to seek a girl with no relatives and make sure to gain their permission before turning them into kinsfolk.”
“No, that is not the issue at hand. ...They’ll be kinsfolk. Kinsfolk of a True Blood’s daughter, no less.”
The True Blood King was showing his disapproval, but Ristia wasn’t backing down from this; in fact, she looked up at the king with her glittering red eyes.
“Will you, please? If you say okay to this, then Mother and all of my sisters will consent to making a little sister. So, pretty please, Father~?”
“Well, it’s like I said. I, well, you know...”
“Please? Can I~?”
“Mnghh...” My daughter is far too innocent and adorable, the True Blood King groaned to himself.
As Ristia’s doting father, he felt compelled to grant his daughter’s wishes, but, nevertheless, there were reasons why he couldn’t allow himself to comply.
For one: True Bloods did not possess the weaknesses that a regular vampire would, making them literally the ultimate family—the strongest of them all.
For another: Kinsmen also gained power proportionate to their master. This was in addition to the fact that True Bloods dwarfed other races in the amount of technology they possessed. With all of those benefits, there would be no shortage of people wanting to be brought into the fold.
And the proverbial icing on the cake: Ristia was completely clueless, but being seventeen years of age, she already was instilled with abilities that put her at the top of the True Blood tribe. Basically, any humans, elves, dog-eared people—no matter what race she picked from, it would be no exaggeration to say that any girl that gained Ristia’s favor would rule this continent. There was no way he could frivolously give the okay to his daughter to create a kinsfolk little sister, all things considered.