That night, the Blood Feast officially began.
The castle hall was decorated with golden splendor, with red curtains hanging from the ceiling and a deep crimson carpet covering the floor.
As for the dining table in the center of the hall, it was laden with various delicacies… though the most conspicuous items were the red liquids in the goblets.
Our Little Saint, Elia, stood behind Kiz in her white dress, wearing a perfect, maid-like smile.
However, the light in her eyes was anything but maid-like.
“Princess Kiz!” a sweet voice called out.
Elia looked toward the source.
She saw a Blood Clan girl in a pink gown.
The girl was quite beautiful, with purple hair, red eyes, a small cherry-like mouth, and long, fair legs — all the traits of a beauty.
“Lady Lielle,” Kiz said, nodding slightly.
She acted quite cold, which made Elia very satisfied.
Lielle approached Kiz, curtsied, and said softly, “The Princess is so beautiful today… It is as if…”
“Thank you. So, what is it?” Kiz interrupted her without hesitation.
“My father asked me to bring a message. He hopes to speak with you privately about border defense if you have the time.”
“Oh? Border defense?”
“Yes. According to my father, the border hasn’t been peaceful lately. Discussing it in person with you would be more helpful in resolving the issue.”
Kiz remained silent for two seconds before answering. “Fine. I will have someone notify your father once the banquet is over.”
The smile on Lielle’s face stiffened.
She had clearly mentioned a private conversation.
Yet the Princess responded this way.
It was a blatant rejection… but as a minor noble lady, she didn’t dare question the Princess’s decision. She could only continue to smile and nod.
“Very well, Princess.”
Before turning to leave, her gaze lingered on Elia for one second.
That look… was that hostility? ‘How interesting…’
A meaningful smile curved the corners of Elia’s lips.
The banquet continued, and during this time, various nobles approached to talk to Kiz about topics Elia found too boring to listen to.
In short, the Little Saint stood quietly behind her and monitored everything.
She keenly noticed that several young noble ladies looked at Kiz with a particular gaze… a gaze she knew all too well.
Elia’s fingers tightened slightly.
But she didn’t show it; she merely smiled and played the part of a background character.
“Princess, is this the legendary Saint?” At that moment, a green-haired girl suddenly leaned in, looking at Elia with curiosity.
“Wow! She really is cute! Just as cute as you, Princess!”
Hearing the green-haired girl’s words, Elia was stunned.
Cute? Was she… cute?
Elia wasn’t the only one stunned; Kiz’s eyes widened as well.
The Little Princess thought to herself: ‘Wait, does the word “cute” really apply to Elia? Huh? I know the words “cute” and “Saint Elia,” but I don’t understand them when they’re put together.’
“Y-Yes,” Kiz said, her voice stiff. “She… she is Elia. She is my… um… servant.”
“A servant? But she looks so small, even smaller than you, Princess.”
Elia: “…”
The smile on her face almost cracked.
What did she mean by “smaller than the Princess”? She was clearly half a head taller than Kiz!
“Cough, you can’t judge a person’s age by their appearance,” Kiz said.
“True.” The green-haired girl nodded and then gave Elia a bright smile.
“Lady Saint, my name is Lillian. Lillian Lasombra. I am the youngest daughter of the Lasombra family, one of the Bloodshadow Magic Stars. It is a pleasure to meet you!”
‘What on earth is a “Bloodshadow Magic Star”?’ Elia had never heard of such a thing.
As if understanding what Elia was thinking, Kiz turned to explain. “Bloodshadow Magic Stars is the collective term for the Lasombra and Tzimisce families. Their status in the Blood Clan is second only to our Camarilla royal family. At the same time, they exist above the elders of the Council of Elders. Furthermore, the heads of these two families are also Princes of the Blood Clan.”
Uh… that was… fine. Although being hit with a sudden wave of lore was a bit ridiculous, it wasn’t unacceptable.
Elia nodded slightly. “Hello, Lady Lillian.”
“No need for ‘Lady’! Just call me Lillian! So, Lady Saint, what do you usually do? Does the Princess bully you?”
Elia smiled and said, “The Princess is very good to me. She takes meticulous care of me every day.” Her tone was so sincere it sounded real.
Meanwhile, Kiz recalled the scenes of Elia biting, scratching, and toying with her every day… Who was bullying whom? Huh? Who was bullying whom!
“Wow, the Princess is so gentle! I want to be taken care of by the Princess too!” Lillian’s eyes looked as though they were about to sprout stars.
Consequently, Elia’s smile deepened.
“Lady Lillian is so cute; I’m sure the Princess would like you…”
At that moment, a chill ran down Kiz’s spine again.
She knew Elia too well.
That smile definitely meant trouble.
Sure enough, Lillian’s face turned red after hearing Elia’s words.
“Really? Would the Princess like me?”
Kiz opened her mouth, not knowing how to respond.
“In the past, she definitely would have… After all, our Princess loves cute people most. However, right now, the Princess hates romantic relationships. Normally, she is a gentle princess, but if you enter a relationship with her, you must be prepared to be played with until you die… How about it? Lady Lillian, hmm?”
Elia spoke complete nonsense to Lillian in a cheerful tone.
The Princess was left in a state of shock… and anger.
“T-Then never mind! Goodbye, Princess! Let’s hang out privately next time! As friends!” With that, Lillian quickly ran away.
Once Lillian was gone, Kiz angrily pulled Elia aside, grabbed her collar, and said, “Why did you slander me!”
“What’s wrong? I just helped you deal with a suitor. Shouldn’t you be thanking me?” Elia said with an innocent face.
“You call that ‘dealing’ with them? You were clearly… you… anyway, you did it on purpose!” Kiz pointed at Elia’s nose.
“Yes, I did it on purpose… Who told her to look at you with those eyes?”
“What eyes?” Kiz asked in confusion.
“Eyes of love… I don’t like it when others look at you like that.”
Hearing this, Kiz’s face turned bright red again.
“You… you…”
“What? Was I wrong? Hmm?”
Under Elia’s overwhelming presence, the Little Princess was left speechless.
She could only lower her head and let her heart race.
—
The banquet ended at midnight.
As the nobles left one after another, the hall gradually grew quiet.
Standing by the window, Kiz looked at the night sky and sighed.
Then, Elia came to her side and asked, “Kiz, are you tired?”
“…Yes.”
“Then let’s go back and rest.”
Kiz nodded.
The two were just about to turn and leave when…
“Princess, please wait.” An old voice rang out.
The speaker was an elderly Blood Clan member with white hair.
“Elder Silas? What is it?” Kiz asked.
Silas bowed slightly. “Princess, this old servant has a request.”
“What is it?”
Silas then glanced at Elia.
“Could the Lady Saint please excuse herself?”
Kiz’s expression turned cold. “She is my exclusive servant. There is no need for her to leave.”
“In that case… this old servant will be direct…”
“Princess, I urge you to reconsider the Blood Contract with the Saint.”