Uhe moonlit sky, away from the lively ba, Remilia and Yukari stood on the shrine's veranda, the gentle evening breeze rustling their clothes. The crimson-eyed vampire swirled her gss of red wis deep color refleg the night's shadows.

  Yukari leaned casually against a pilr, her golden eyes gleaming with intrigue. "So... the Scarlet Mist i was quite the spectacle. You pyed your role perfectly, Remilia."

  Remilia's expression remained cold, her voice firm. "Don't misuand, Yukari. I didn't do it for you. I saw his fate... and I did it for Fndre." She took a sip of her wine, her gaze unwavering. "If that i helped bring a smile to her face, then it was worth it."

  Yukari's lips curled into an amused smile. "I see... You really are overprotective, Remilia. But that's precisely why I chose you."

  Remilia narrowed her eyes. "Don't get me involved in your schemes again. I'm no one's pawn."

  Yukari chuckled softly, her fan c her mouth. "You did well, regardless. But aren't you at least a little curious... about him?"

  Remilia's grip on her wine gss tightened. "Not in the slightest. He's just another human... one who foolishly stumbled into Gensokyo."

  Yukari's eyes sparkled with mischief. "A... he became a vampire. Without a bite, without any curse... Doesn't that intrigue you even a little?"

  Remilia remained silent, her eyes fixed on the shimmering liquid in her gss.

  Yukari tinued, her voice carrying a pyful tone. "He even stood up to you... and Fndre. Not many would dare. Not many could."

  Remilia's eyes flickered with annoyance. "He's a fool. A foolish human who doesn't uand his pce." She took another sip, her demeanor calm and posed. "Sooner or ter, he'll fall in line... just like Sakuya."

  Yukari's ughter was soft but echoed through the night. "Oh, Remilia... That's why you're so fasating. But be careful. He's not like Sakuya. He's... uable."

  Remilia looked away, feigning indifference. "He'll serve me. In the end, all who enter my mansion do."

  Yukari's smile grew wider. "You might be right... or you might be in for a surprise." Her gaze wao the starry sky. "It's a curious fate he holds... one even I 't fully see. Isn't that exg?"

  Remilia said nothing, merely swirling her wine once more. The liquid's deep red hue danced uhe moonlight, like blood refleg the night.

  Yukari's eyes softened, her voice l. "Well, a promise is a promise. I'll bring you the news of the outside world... especially about the vampires."

  Remilia's shoulders rexed slightly, her expression softening. "See that you do. I want to know how they live... and how they survive."

  Yukari's fan snapped shut as she turned away, the familiar gap opening behind her. "Oh, they're quite lively... but that's a story for aime." She gnced back, her golden eyes pierg. "Keep an eye on him, Remilia. You never know... when a lie might bee the truth."

  Remilia's eyes sharpened, but she remained silent, watg as Yukari disappeared into the gap, leaving only the echo of her ughter.

  Alone once more, Remilia looked at her refle in the wine gss, her crimson eyes gleaming. "Hmph... a foolish human..." She took another sip, her voice l. "...who dares to defy me."

  The night breeze grew colder, the shadows dang uhe moonlight.