Chapter 24: New Connections

“It’s done,” Kiz said, putting down the brush.

Elia lifted her small feet, looking at them over and over before asking, “Kiz, do you think it looks good?”

“…It looks good,” Kiz sighed.

“Then, do you like it?”

Kiz didn’t answer her. She just silently stood up, straightened her collar, and put the tools back in their place.

A playful smile curved the corners of Elia’s mouth.

‘Not answering is a silent admission~’ she thought, her mood becoming very bright at that moment.

At the Training Ground, hundreds of Blood Clan recruits were in the middle of their drills.

Kiz stood on the high platform at the edge of the Training Ground, looking down with an expressionless face.

Elia stood behind her, watching the recruits train.

It had to be said that the Blood Clan’s combat power was indeed formidable…

Although the recruits looked young, their movements were exceptionally agile, their strength was startling, and their use of Magic was quite proficient.

They were more than just a little stronger than the soldiers of the Human Empire from the original owner’s memories.

“Third row! Your footwork is messy! Start over!” Kiz suddenly shouted in a cold voice.

As the Princess’s voice fell, the recruits in the third row quickly obeyed the order to restart. Not a single person dared to defy what the Princess said.

“Seventh row! Your Magic incantations are too slow! Two hours of extra training tonight!”

“Yes, Ma’am!”

“Furthermore! Anyone who fails tomorrow’s assessment will be kicked to logistics!”

“Yes, Ma’am!”

Kiz’s voice wasn’t particularly loud, but every word echoed clearly over the Training Ground.

The recruits below were too terrified to even breathe.

This was the first time Elia had seen Kiz training the recruits. She was cold and stern, much like a squad leader from Elia’s previous life in the military.

But Kiz was also quite charming like this.

The inspection lasted for two hours.

Kiz lectured every row, pointing out various problems and handing out punishments, keeping the recruits trembling the entire time.

As it ended, Kiz said one last thing, “If I see the same problems next time I inspect you, everyone will be punished collectively. Dismissed.”

As if they had received a grand pardon, the recruits quickly left the Training Ground.

Kiz finally turned to look at Elia and asked, “Have you seen enough?”

“Mhm.” Elia nodded. “It was quite interesting.”

“What was interesting about it?”

“Watching you lecture people is interesting. You’re like a little teacher.”

Kiz glared at her and said, “I am a Princess, not a teacher!”

“I know, I know.” Elia ruffled her hair. “Our Little Princess is the most impressive!”

Kiz slapped her hand away, but her expression softened slightly.

“Let’s go back.”

“Okay.”

On the way back to the Vampire Castle, Kiz suddenly asked, “Hey, Elia, do you think I was scary just now?”

“Very scary! The recruits below were almost moved to tears by you.”

“Then… what about you?”

“Me? I’ve long since grown used to it.”

“Used to it?”

“Mhm. Don’t you often wear that stiff face in front of me? Although it’s not very effective,” Elia said with a shrug and a smile.

Kiz’s face immediately turned red as she yelled, “You—!”

“But you’re quite cute when you’re being stiff. You’re like a little kitten with its fur standing on end… Hehehe,” Elia interrupted her.

“You… you’re the cat!”

“I’m a human, not a cat.”

“…You’re even more annoying than a cat!”

“Thanks for the compliment~ Besides, what’s wrong with cats? Do you look down on kittens?”

Kiz took a deep breath, then continued walking forward huffily.

Elia followed behind her, watching her back. The smile on her lips never faded.

Suddenly, the Blood Contract connection within her body fluctuated slightly, as if something between the two of them had become tighter.

Both of them felt it, but neither spoke.

That night, in the Sleeping Palace.

Elia sat on the sofa looking at her own small hands and feet… Her fingernails and toenails were all painted black, exactly the same as Kiz’s.

Meanwhile, Kiz was at the desk writing. It seemed to be the training report from today’s inspection.

“Kiz, what kind of relationship do we have exactly?” Elia asked.

Kiz’s movements paused. She looked up with a dazed expression, but she still said, “…A Master and servant relationship.”

“Is it really just a Master and servant relationship?”

“What else would it be?”

Elia just quietly stared into the Little Princess’s ruby-like eyes.

Kiz felt a bit flustered under her gaze and quickly lowered her head to continue writing.

“Never mind. I’m going to take a bath.”

Elia then walked into the bathroom and closed the door.

Kiz put down her pen and looked at the bathroom door.

‘A Master and servant relationship… is it really just that?’

Even she didn’t believe it. But if they weren’t Master and servant, then what were they?

Friends? No, who would treat a friend like this?

Lovers? That was even more wrong… they were both girls.

Kiz didn’t want to think about it anymore. However, once certain thoughts surfaced, they could no longer be suppressed.

What exactly did Elia mean to her?

Servant? Master? Enemy? Or… someone even more important?

Kiz didn’t know. She only knew that when Elia teased her, her heart beat very fast.

At that moment, the sound of water came from the bathroom. Kiz stared at the door for a long time.

Then she stood up, went to the dressing table, and pulled open the drawer. Inside that drawer were Elia’s buttons, ribbons, and dried flower petals.

There was also the Black Rose that Elia had taken off and returned to her this morning.

Kiz picked up the flower and held it to her nose to sniff it. The fragrance was already very faint, but she could still smell it. It was just like the scent on Elia’s body.

She didn’t know what she was doing, but she knew she didn’t want to lose these things.

She didn’t want to lose Elia.

The realization gave her a start. She hurriedly put the flower back into the drawer.

‘No, it can’t be like this… I’m the Princess of the Blood Clan, the leader of the entire race. How can I be influenced to this extent by a mere human?’

But she had already been influenced, and quite deeply at that. So deeply that even she could no longer deny it.

Kiz covered her face and let out a soft sigh.

“Sigh…”

Inside the bathroom, Elia was looking at herself in the mirror.

Her long golden hair was wet and draped over her shoulders. Her deep blue eyes looked a bit misty in the steam, and her small face was flushed.

She raised her hand and looked at her nails again. They really were exactly the same as Kiz’s… and this gave her a sense of belonging, as if there were a real connection between them.

Elia closed her eyes and took a deep breath. Then she dried herself off, put on her nightgown, and walked out of the bathroom.

As soon as she stepped out, she found Kiz sitting at the table, dazed.

“What are you thinking about?” Elia asked.

Kiz jumped in surprise and turned her head. “No—nothing.”

“Then go take a bath.”

After saying that, Elia climbed directly onto the bed and burrowed into the covers. Before long, she drifted off to sleep.

After Kiz finished her bath and came out, a maid knocked on the door of the Sleeping Palace and bowed. “Princess, there is a matter that requires your attention.”

“Right now?” Kiz asked with a frown.

“Yes, something happened at the border…” the maid said softly.

Only then did Kiz realize the seriousness of the problem. She first dismissed the maid, then she hurriedly changed her clothes and left the room.

A few hours later, Kiz returned with heavy steps.

She lay directly in the bed and hugged the already sleeping Elia. Soon, she also fell asleep… she was likely very tired.

Meanwhile, in the Kitchen, a young girl in a maid uniform bit her lip as she looked at the cup of bright red liquid in front of her…