In the hallway, several passing Blood Clan maids witnessed the scene, their faces filled with expressions of shock.
Her Highness was actually holding the Saint’s hand! Hadn’t they said she was just a servant? Isn’t their relationship a little too close?
However, no one dared to ask.
At this moment, Elia felt quite pleased because the little Princess’s hand really did feel wonderful to hold.
It was cool, soft, and could be squeezed and kneaded however she liked.
With that thought in mind, her fingers rubbed across the back of Kiz’s hand.
This caused Kiz to tremble all over as she said, “Don’t… don’t move…”
The little Princess’s voice carried a hint of a sob again, making her sound utterly pitiful.
“Why? Are you uncomfortable?” Elia asked with a smile.
“… It’s itchy.”
“Oh, I see.” Elia nodded, and then she rubbed it again.
Kiz: “!!!”
Her eyes widened instantly, and a torrent of vile insults almost burst from her lips. However, seeing that there were still many maids passing by, she could only force them back down.
Meanwhile, that jerk flashed her an innocent smile.
“Sorry, I couldn’t help myself.”
Kiz: “…”
She felt that she would sooner or later be provoked to death by this Demon.
However, what she found strange was that even though she was dying of anger and paralyzed with fear… the feeling of being held by the hand…
Wasn’t entirely unpleasant.
Yet, the moment that thought surfaced, Kiz was startled.
She quickly suppressed it.
What a joke! How could she not hate it! This Demon had bitten her! Threatened her! And even treated her like a doll!
She hated her! Very! Very! Much!
She told herself this repeatedly, then nodded her head firmly.
“What are you thinking about?” Elia asked again.
“Thinking about how to get revenge on you,” Kiz answered subconsciously.
The moment the words left her mouth, she regretted it… Why was her tongue so treacherous!
The thing Kiz wanted to happen least happened anyway. The Demon stopped her pace and turned around to look at her.
“Oh? Thinking of revenge? How? Tell me about it.”
Kiz’s small face turned pale instantly, and her voice trembled as she spoke. “I… I was just joking… Please don’t take it seriously… Hehe…”
“Is that so? But I don’t think you were joking~” After Elia spoke with a smile, she snapped her fingers. Immediately, the two were surrounded by a Golden Barrier.
“Now people on the outside can’t see what’s happening inside… Next, let’s have a good talk, my Princess~”
To outsiders, the Princess and the Saint had simply vanished from the spot. This way, there was no need to worry about their public personas crumbling in front of others…
“Really! I was really joking!” Kiz took a step back, speaking incessantly. “You… don’t come over… Ugh… don’t come any closer!”
“Why can’t I come over?” Elia stretched out her hand and braced it against the wall beside Kiz’s ear, trapping her between herself and the wall. “Didn’t you just say you wanted revenge? I have to hear your plan so I can prepare in advance, right?”
The distance was too close — so close that they could see the trembling of each other’s eyelashes and feel the warmth of each other’s breath.
“I… I really didn’t… Please… don’t be like this…”
Looking at the little Princess’s expression as if she were about to cry, the trace of mischief rising in Elia’s heart was greatly satisfied.
Furthermore, she was afraid the little Princess actually might try something against her, so the best method was to continue making the little Princess feel fear.
However, she didn’t actually intend to do anything. After all, teasing should be done in moderation~
Then, she straightened up and pulled away.
“I’ll believe you this once. But, if I hear those words again…”
She leaned close to Kiz’s ear and said in a voice only the two of them could hear, “I’ll tie you up somewhere and tickle you for 1 hour.”
“Waaa… you’re bullying me again…” However, upon hearing those words, Kiz cried again. Large tears rolled down her cheeks. She tried to wipe her eyes with her sleeves while crying, but the tears wouldn’t stop.
At this point, Elia felt a bit guilty.
Thus, she rubbed Kiz’s hair and said softly, “Alright, alright, don’t cry. I was just teasing. I won’t really tickle you for 1 hour.”
“… Really?” Kiz asked while sobbing.
“Really.”
“Then… then will you still tie me up?”
“That depends. If you make me angry again, I might.”
Kiz shook her head violently and said, “I won’t! I won’t make you angry again!”
“That’s a good girl!” Elia rubbed her hair once more.
“Let’s go. It’s time to eat.”
She took Kiz’s hand again.
This time, her movements were a bit gentler.
Kiz wiped her tears as they walked, but her sobbing gradually quieted down.
‘Hmm… how should I put this…’ Elia thought to herself.
‘Even though it was to make Kiz fear me… seeing the Princess cry actually makes me feel a bit uncomfortable.’
‘No, Kiz isn’t a normal little girl. She’s the Blood Princess, someone who has taken many innocent lives and a monster who enjoys blood and slaughter.’
‘I’m only being nice to her now out of contract and safety considerations.’
‘It’s not because of anything else… Right, that’s it.’
Then, she tightened her grip on Kiz’s hand.
Kiz looked up at her and asked, “What is it?”
“Nothing. I just thought your hand is quite comfortable to hold.”
Kiz lowered her head and didn’t say another word.
—
In the dining room, the maids saw them walk in holding hands. Without exception, they all showed surprised expressions, but not a single one dared to say a word.
Elia sat down at the dining table.
Kiz sat opposite her.
“Let’s eat first,” Elia said.
“… Okay.”
Subsequently, dinner began in silence.
—
Late at night, after Elia finished her bath and came out of the bathroom, she found the little Princess on the bed with her back turned. The quilt was wrapped tightly around her, leaving only the back of her white-haired head visible.
“Are you asleep?” Elia came to the bedside and asked softly.
“No…” A muffled voice came from under the quilt.
“Then turn around.”
Kiz hesitated for several seconds before turning around to reveal half of her face. She asked guardedly, “What… what are you going to do now…”
“Nothing, I’m just looking at you.”
Elia sat on the edge of the bed and asked, “What are the arrangements for tomorrow?”
“I have to meet several envoys from the border in the morning. In the afternoon… there’s nothing scheduled.”
“Then, practice Swordsmanship with me in the afternoon.”
“What? Practice Swordsmanship?”
“Yes. I want to see how good your Swordsmanship actually is.”
“Don’t you know how to use Magic… why practice Swordsmanship…”
“Because it’s interesting.” Elia lay down and looked at her from her side.
“Besides, I want to move my body a bit. Staying in this Vampire Castle all day, my bones are practically rusting!”
Kiz looked at her with a complicated gaze.
‘This Demon… what exactly is she thinking?’
“How about it? Do you agree?” Elia continued to ask.
“… Okay.”
“Good girl.” Elia rubbed her hair.
Then, she pulled Kiz into her arms.
“You’re doing this again!” Kiz shouted loudly.
“Doing what?”
“Who allowed you to hold me!”
“Oh? Is it not allowed?”
“… It is.”
Ultimately, Kiz resigned herself to her fate and closed her eyes, quickly falling asleep.
Hearing the even breaths coming from her arms, a faint smile curled on Elia’s lips.
‘Swordsmanship… it should be quite interesting.’