Taming My Vampire Servant

When Ivory, Lycus, and Sigmund were dropped off to their home in Greensteid Town, Gracie pulled Ivory inside, while Flynn pulled Lycus with him. Sigmund, on the other hand, was called by Gordon to ask him to help in preparing a freshly hunted deer for lunch.

While the two were chopping the meat outside with a small bonfire lit beside them, Ivory helped Anne in crushing the blueberries. Lycus stayed in the living room and became the babysitter of the two kids.

It was already past noon when they finished the preparations. Sigmund lit the fireplace, making the first floor of the small house warmer.

It was a tradition in the Kingdom of Destinia that before eating, every member of the family would say their goals and wishes for the new year. They all sat on the floor in a circle; Gordon sat beside his wife Anne, then Gracie, and then Flynn. Beside Flynn was Lycus, then Ivory, then Sigmund.

"I'll start," the head of the family said, raising his hand, "I wish we'll have a growing business and a happy, healthy family," Gordon turned his head to his wife and waited for her to speak.

Anne uttered, "I pray to the Goddess that we'll all be safe, especially Ivory, who's going to a far away town," She smiled at her daughter and added, "Oh, and I wish Katie will go home soon. I miss her so much."

"My turn, my turn!" Gracie said in an excited tone. "I want to have a new dress!"

"Oh my, then I should stitch more dresses for you," Anne told her youngest child, and everyone chuckled.

Flynn suddenly stood up and raised his hand. With a serious face, he said, "I will start learning how to punch and kick! And use a sword! Because I will become a guard!"

"You're going to be the youngest guard," Ivory told her thirteen-year-old brother, "And, of course, the cutest of them all!"

"I am a big boy now, and I am not cute!" he sat down once again, then suddenly pulled Lycus' arm to switch the attention to him, "Your turn, bro Lycus!"

Lycus shook his head, "But I am not sure if Servants are allowed to-"

"Come on, don't be shy. Whether you're Ivory's friend or her Servant, we have welcomed you here," Gordon tried to convince him. He glanced at his daughter's two Servants, "You both sat with us here, so you have to say at least a word."

"If you say so, Mr. Sprucemint, then… I wish to be Master Ivory's Servant forever and stay with her forever."

Although Ivory was touched by this, and the others clapped at the typical Servant-ish answer that Lycus gave, Sigmund was not pleased and instead frowned. 

'That punk… How dare he steal my answer?' Sigmund thought as he glared at him. What annoyed him the most was Ivory's wide smile as she patted his head like a dog, and it was obvious that he loved it very much!

Ivory pulled her hand away, then sighed, "It's my turn to speak, uhmm…" she thought very hard about what she wished for next year.

To be stronger? To safely complete their duties in Topazeon Town? To graduate from Qawiun Academy with flying colors?

But she knew that the thing she desired the most was not in this list.

She wanted Sigmund and her to be lovers rather than being in a Master-Servant relationship, but she knew that even if she gave her life to the Goddess, She wouldn't fulfill that wish. 

Ivory knew that much and stopped thinking about what's impossible. She sighed deeply, before giving a smile, telling them, "Next year, may Goddess Destinia give me more wisdom and protect me from harm," she turned her head to her Vampire Servant and squeezed his arm, "Sigmund, your turn!"

Sigmund glared at Lycus for another time, and the silver-haired man was confused as to why the Vampire looked at him like that. 

"I only have one wish," the Vampire said, and everyone stared at him, anticipating what he would say. He cleared his throat, then gazed at his Master's light blue irises, "I want you to be happy."

They clapped at Sigmund's wish, except for Ivory, who turned beet red. She did not expect her stubborn Servant to say something so selfless. 

"Okay, now that we said all our wishes, it's time for the feast!" Gordon said and stood up, and Anne followed him to the dining area. Gracie and Flynn also stood up, and pulled their favorite Lycus along with them.

Ivory and Sigmund remained in front of the fireplace in an awkward silence. When they locked eyes, Ivory suddenly spoke, "Sigmund…" she then crawled nearer to him, "Thank you for another year with me."

"It's not a big deal. I am your… Servant," he turned his head away from her and stared at the flames. "I will be with you until the day you die."

She smiled and stood up, "Then... I have to live long, so that I can be with you for a long time, Sigmund," she offered her hand, as if telling him to stand up.

Sigmund looked at her small hand and took it. But instead of grasping it and standing up, he grabbed it and quickly kissed its back.

Once again, Ivory turned beet red, and as she saw him finally standing up, she froze in embarrassment.

"Hey, dimwit, come on, the food's going to be cold," Sigmund uttered before going to the dining area with the others.

She clenched her fists and tried to not to mind what happened earlier. She should be used to it, that the Vampire had been like that for so long already.

Sigmund would be sweet at one moment, especially when no one was looking, and then call her annoying names the next moment. He's too unpredictable, and Ivory couldn't guess what he's thinking.

With hurried steps, Ivory went to the dining area where her family were already starting to eat their late lunch. She sat in between her two Servants as she usually does so that Sigmund would not bother Lycus!

Ivory and her family chatted and reminisced about the funny random things that happened that year. When they finished eating, Gordon, Anne, and the two kids went outside to build snowmen and have some snowball fights. Suddenly, Flynn went back inside just to fetch Lycus to play with them!

Ivory and Sigmund were left inside to clean the kitchen. While wiping the wooden table with damp cloth, Ivory opened up a conversation. "Mother, Gracie, and Flynn really like Lycus, but don't worry, you're my father's favorite one," she chuckled.

Sigmund finished washing the dishes and turned to her. Leaning his back on the counter, he crossed his arms and said, "How about you? Am I also your favorite?"

When Ivory saw his playful smile, she refused to answer. "What do you think?" she uttered and laughed, then she started walking away.

"Hey, where are you going?"

"Upstairs. I'm going to rest," she replied, and her Servant followed her.

As soon as both of them were already inside the attic, Sigmund shut the door.

Ivory did not notice it, and she directed herself towards the bed. "Oh my goddess, I am tired," she took off her indoor shoes and jumped onto it; her head on the side of the bed, while her left hand rested on the pillows.

"Lay down properly, Ivory," Sigmund scolded her and sat on the bed, "Come on, I'll tuck you in."

Hearing this, Ivory followed his suggestion. She rolled and moved her body towards the side, but when she moved her feet, she accidentally kicked Sigmund's stomach hard!

"Ah, I apologize!" Ivory sat as well, beside him, and placed her hand on his stomach. She rubbed it slowly, "Did it hurt?!" 

As soon as she tilted her head to look at his face, she widened her eyes in shock. She did not notice that she was too near him!

"Sigmund…" she murmured. "You're okay, right?"

Sigmund thought for a while, then told her, "I'm not okay."

"Oh no! Can I see?" Ivory lifted his fleece shirt, exposing his firm abs, and she was startled. How could she forget the existence of those?!

Shy about what she saw, she hurriedly pulled it down.

"I thought you're going to check it? I think it bruised," Sigmund said and lifted the lower part of his shirt, but he couldn't help but smirk.

Suspicious about that smirk, Ivory shook her head, "You're totally fine!" she quickly moved back, then laid down on her bed. "Ugh, why do I keep forgetting that you're a Servant?"

Her statement caught Sigmund's attention. He neared her, tucked themselves to bed, and uttered, "I'm the same. Honestly, when I'm alone with you, I also keep forgetting that I'm a Servant."

Ivory was surprised with his response, "Why?" she asked, and when she turned around, she was startled to see his face only an inch away from her.