Chapter 54: Subtle (?) Changes

A ray of sunlight filtered through the newly installed floor-to-ceiling windows into the Sleeping Palace, and this was the time for waking up, also the time for a morning kiss… just kidding.

Elia opened her eyes and habitually reached to the side.

Empty.

She immediately sat up, rubbed her eyes, and looked around.

Only to find Kiz right in front of the dressing table, having never left.

Today, the Little Princess was wearing a black casual dress, her long hair already neatly combed, and she was currently applying lipstick while looking in the mirror.

Then, she saw in the mirror that Elia was awake and looking her way, and the corner of her mouth lifted slightly as she said, “Awake? Little Saintess?”

“…Mhm.”

Elia ignored the slightly off ‘Little Saintess’ address, instead yawning and saying, “Why are you up so early today?”

“Elder Selina says she has important intelligence, she wants me to go to the Council Chamber early.”

Elia raised an eyebrow and asked, “Oh? Is there news about the ‘Wolf’ again?”

“Don’t know. Whatever it is, we’ll only find out once we get there.” Then Kiz reached out and tidied Elia’s messy hair.

And Elia suddenly laughed, adding, “Speaking of which, it’s been almost half a month since that big battle that made me famous in this world.”

Kiz nodded and said, “Mhm, yeah… it’s been so peaceful lately it almost feels strange…”

“What? Do you want to fight them again?”

“No. I don’t want to see that sword of yours a second time.”

‘Actually, you just don’t want to see the castle halved again…’ Elia finished her internal吐槽 and pulled Kiz back into her embrace.

“Then we won’t fight. It’s nice just holding you like this every day~”

“Y-you’re doing this again, aren’t you…”

“What’s wrong? How long have we known each other, and you’re still not used to it?”

“It’s not that I’m not used to it… it’s that you’re always so sudden.”

Hearing this, Elia laughed even more happily.

So happily that she lightly bit Kiz’s shoulder.

“Ouch—” Kiz gasped, pushing her away.

“Biting again! Are you the vampire or am I?”

“Hehe, I’m the kind that specializes in biting little princesses~”

But this time, Kiz decisively stood up and said, “Not playing with you anymore. I’m going to the Council Chamber first. See you later.”

“I’ll go with you.”

“No need. You go back to sleep for a while… you massaged me so late last night, you definitely didn’t get enough sleep.”

“How do you know I didn’t get enough sleep?”

“Because… when I woke up in the middle of the night, I saw you were still looking at me.”

Elia fell silent.

Kiz looked at her with gentle eyes and said, “Don’t do that anymore, okay? Sleep early. After all, early to bed and early to rise makes a man healthy~”

With that, she turned and left the room.

And after the door closed, Elia lay back on the bed, staring at the ceiling.

Hmm… during this time, their relationship had grown increasingly intimate.

But it wasn’t the kind of passionate, earth-shattering intimacy. It was more like a gentle, steady-flowing habit… they had already grown accustomed to the other always being by their side.

Also, the Little Princess Kiz would still be bullied to tears by her, but after crying, she would definitely bite back… making Elia experience that computer-accessory-like torture.

And she found herself becoming more and more unable to leave this little princess.

…

In the end, Elia still followed her to the Council Chamber.

It really wasn’t that she was worried, she just wanted to accompany Kiz… so she sat in a chair behind Kiz, bored, looking at the ceiling.

At this moment, Elder Selina was reporting: “Your Highness, according to the intelligence we’ve recently obtained, the ‘Wolf’ does indeed show signs of some activity, but it is very covert. I suspect they are waiting for something.”

“Waiting for something?” Kiz asked.

“I don’t know. But based on analysis, it might be related to Her Majesty’s awakening.”

Hearing this, Kiz’s expression grew more serious.

“Mother…”

“Your Highness need not worry too much. The location of Her Majesty’s slumber is extremely secret and heavily protected. The ‘Wolf’ organization cannot possibly find it.”

Kiz nodded lightly and said, “Then continue the investigation. Report immediately upon any news.”

“Yes.”

After that, the meeting continued for another half hour before concluding.

Kiz, having just finished the meeting, stood up and walked over to Elia, asking, “Bored? You insisted on coming.”

“It’s alright. As long as I can see you, it’s not boring.” After saying this, Elia directly reached her hand out towards Kiz.

“…You and your nonsense.” Kiz obediently took her hand.

Then the two walked side by side out of the Council Chamber.

Of course, this scene was witnessed by the maids in the corridor. Once the two were far enough away, the gossip began…

“Did you see? The Princess and the Saintess are holding hands again!”

“Haven’t they been like this for the past six months? I’m used to it by now.”

“By the way, don’t you all think the Princess has changed recently?”

“Changed? How?”

“Hard to say… it’s just… sometimes the way she looks at the Saintess is strange.”

“Strange? How so? Explain in detail.”

“Like… she wants to eat the Saintess.”

“Huh? Are you overthinking it?”

“Maybe…”

…

And the subject of the discussion herself was holding Elia’s hand, walking towards the Garden.

“The weather is so nice today,” she said.

“Mhm, perfect for sunbathing~”

“A Blood Clan member sunbathing? Let’s just go sit in the pavilion for a while.”

Although Kiz, as a member of the Camarilla Imperial Family, wasn’t afraid of the sun, she still felt a bit uncomfortable when exposed to it…

“Okay.”

The two arrived at the Pavilion and sat down on the stone bench.

Elia picked up the teacup that was already prepared on the table and took a sip, asking, “By the way, the meeting just now mentioned the ‘Wolf’ organization is waiting for some kind of trigger?”

“Mhm, that’s what Elder Selina said.” Kiz nodded.

“What do you think that trigger could be?”

Kiz thought for a moment and said, “It could be the time of Mother’s awakening, or it could be a specific date, or maybe…”

At this point, her expression became serious.

“They are waiting for us to let our guard down.”

“That makes sense. But whatever they’re waiting for, we just need to be prepared and face it bravely. After all, the two of us are the strongest~”

“Mhm.”

For the next while, the two sat quietly.

“By the way, next month Laura is coming over to play for a few days again.” Kiz finished the last sip of her tea and said softly.

“What does she want to do this time? She’s not coming to give me more hand cream again, is she?”

She still hadn’t finished the hand cream from the last time and the time before that. If she sends more, even if she ate it every day, she wouldn’t finish it all!

“She just says she misses you,” Kiz said.

“Misses me?” Hearing this, Elia revealed a smile.

“What? Are you happy?” Kiz’s expression became somewhat微妙.

This made Elia smile and lean closer to Kiz, asking, “Are you jealous?”

“No!”

“Yes, you are. Look, your ears are red.”

Kiz subconsciously covered her ears, then said fiercely, “You!”

Before she could finish her sentence, Elia had already kissed her on the cheek.

“Y-you, what are you doing!” Kiz quickly stood up and took two steps back.

“Kissing you. Is that not allowed? If you don’t let me kiss you, I’ll bite you~”

As soon as these words were spoken, Kiz could only lower her head and whisper, “…It’s allowed.”

“But don’t worry! In this lifetime, I will only truly care about you alone. I swear on my name as the Saintess that—”

Elia’s words were also interrupted, and this time it was by Kiz pouncing over… the Little Princess tightly hugged Elia.

At this moment, buried in Elia’s embrace, Kiz’s mouth was curved into a high, happy smile.