The blonde girl, recently rescued by Vlad, looked at him with a slightly anxious expression. Her hands were clasped tightly over her chest as she silently prayed.
When she saw that Vlad had effortlessly defeated the thugs without injury, she finally relaxed, exhaling a breath she hadn't realized she'd been holding.
She patted her ample chest, its snow-white curves rippling slightly, and her frightened yet delicate expression made her appear indescribably lovely.
"Madam, are you alright?"
After handling the troublemakers, Vlad walked over to the girl, scanning her up and down to ensure she wasn't hurt.
When her fair cheeks flushed with color under his gaze, he stopped looking.
"I—I'm fine. Thank you for saving me," the girl said softly, her voice barely above a whisper.
"Uh… my name is Mina."
Seeing the shy blonde girl nervously fiddling with the hem of her skirt, Vlad smiled faintly.
"Hello, my name is Vlad," he said, nodding.
"Y-you weren't hurt just now, were you?" Mina asked, though she already knew the answer.
Vlad found her flustered behavior rather amusing.
"I'm fine. Just a few thugs. It's nice to meet you. May I call you Mina?"
"Of course! I'm happy to meet you too, Vlad." Mina's feet shifted as she tapped her toes on the ground, her joy unmistakable.
Seeing that she was no longer nervous, Vlad seized the opportunity to offer to walk her home—just in case more hooligans were lurking nearby.
Mina didn't hesitate. She smiled warmly and nodded in agreement.
They made their way through winding alleys and quiet streets, until they reached a modest, slightly run-down house.
"The place is a bit messy… I'll tidy up quickly," Mina said, visibly embarrassed.
She quickly opened the door and rushed inside, hurrying to straighten things.
Vlad followed behind her, but didn't just stand around. He stepped forward to help her clean.
Noticing the slight flush on Mina's ears, Vlad couldn't help but think how shy she seemed.
"Mina, do you live alone?" Vlad asked curiously, taking the chance to glance around the room while they cleaned.
Sure enough, in the corner, he spotted signs of witchcraft—books and other related items.
"Yes, I live alone now."
Mina must have noticed the question in his eyes, because she offered an explanation.
"I used to live with my mother-in-law, but she passed away a year ago. Since then, I've been on my own."
Perhaps recalling those memories opened something up in her. A wave of emotion swept over Mina, and she suddenly seemed eager to speak.
Under Vlad's calm gaze, she shared the story of her life with her mother-in-law, and how lost she'd felt after she passed away.
Seeing the sadness in her expression, and the mist in her eyes, Vlad walked up to her and gently pulled her into a comforting hug.
Caught off guard by his sudden closeness, Mina stiffened slightly. Her heart pounded, and she instinctively brought her hands to her chest to keep some distance.
But as time passed and she realized that Vlad's embrace was purely comforting—with no ulterior motives—her body slowly relaxed.
Though a small voice in her mind warned her this was moving too fast, Vlad's warmth felt safe. For once, she didn't want to pull away.
Even with her cheeks flushed and her heart racing, she quietly lowered her hands from her chest and leaned into his embrace, savoring the unfamiliar feeling of support.
Like a boat finally finding harbor in a storm, Mina, for the first time since her mother-in-law's death, no longer felt lost or afraid.
She had never confessed to being a witch—but somehow, in this moment, Vlad seemed to understand everything: her grief, her pressure, her loneliness.
After all, in a town where witches were despised and persecuted, even the slightest suspicion could lead to being burned at the stake.
For a girl of sixteen or seventeen to endure that kind of fear alone was unimaginable.
Especially when, as a white witch bound not to harm others, the constant anxiety was already exhausting her spirit.
Vlad wasn't pretending to be sympathetic. He truly understood. In fact, his own experiences had been worse. And so, in that quiet moment, he deeply connected with her pain.
Without realizing it, he held her even closer.
This made Mina nervous again. She seemed to misunderstand something, her thoughts becoming jumbled.
Thump thump—!
Her heart beat rapidly, her chest heaving, and the warmth of his breath on her neck jolted Vlad back to reality.
He looked down at the girl in his arms—her fair skin, flowing golden hair, soft curves, narrow waist, and well-shaped hips.
Vlad leaned down, his breath brushing across her delicate face. A faint blush bloomed on her cheeks. Her fingers gripped the fabric of his clothes, unsure of what to do.
When Mina instinctively closed her eyes, her lashes trembling, Vlad gave a small smile.
He leaned in and gently kissed her lips.
It was clear Mina had never kissed anyone before. She fumbled clumsily at first, unsure of how to respond.
But under Vlad's soft guidance, she gradually became more confident and took the initiative.
Just as her breathing quickened and her hands began to wander timidly across unfamiliar territory, Vlad ended the kiss on his own.
Mina, now gasping for air, looked up at him, her face bright red. Vlad reached up and gently wiped the moisture from the corner of her lips.
Her embarrassment deepened.
After a few quiet moments, Mina seemed to remember something. She looked up nervously at Vlad. After hesitating, she said:
"Are we… moving too fast? Do you think I'm… too easy?"
Vlad hadn't expected that. He froze for a second, then quickly responded before Mina could grow upset.
Clearly, her feelings were fragile, and she cared a lot about his answer.
When Vlad reassured her, Mina's worried expression melted into a shy smile. She hugged him tightly and nestled into his chest.
Holding the sweet girl in his arms, Vlad couldn't help but sigh inwardly.
"Such a pure, simple-hearted girl."