The afternoon sunlight spilled through the clouds and into the garden.
The castle’s garden was truly beautiful, with Black Roses blooming on both sides of the path and vines twisting around the pavilion. In the center of the fountain stood a statue symbolizing the Vampire Ancestor.
Elia walked in front, while Kiz followed half a step behind her.
“These flowers are quite pretty,” Elia said, stopping in front of a cluster of Black Roses and reaching out to touch the petals. “It’s just… the color is a bit dark.”
“We of the Blood Clan are very fond of black,” Kiz said.
“I can tell. Your clothes are black, too.”
Kiz was still wearing that classic Black Lolita Dress today, though the style was slightly different from the one she wore this morning… the hem was even shorter, revealing her long legs clad in black stockings.
‘Right, she isn’t tall, but her legs are quite long…’
‘With legs like these, I could admire them for a year… Just kidding, haha.’
“So, what do you usually do besides handling government affairs?” Elia asked as she walked.
“Hmm… I read, practice swordplay, handle government affairs, and drink tea…”
“Swordplay? What kind of sword do you use?”
“A Rapier. We of the Blood Clan are fast, so a Rapier is more suitable.”
‘It isn’t a scythe? Right, Kiz does have a scythe, but she doesn’t use it often… I really didn’t expect her to practice swordplay.’
“Oh? Then how is your swordsmanship?” Elia asked.
“Well… it’s all right.”
“How does it compare to mine?”
Kiz suddenly went silent, because there was simply no way to answer that question.
Compare swordsmanship? Was she joking? This Saint only needed a single spell to blow the entire training ground into the sky. No matter how good one’s swordsmanship was, what use would it be?
“It seems I’m the superior one,” Elia answered for her.
Kiz bit her lip, not daring to retort.
The two of them walked all the way to the garden pavilion and sat down. A tea set was laid out on the stone table, and there was a small silver bell next to it, likely for summoning a maid.
Elia snapped her fingers, and a ball of golden light gathered in front of her. It then transformed into a pot of black tea and two teacups.
Kiz watched from the side, completely dazed.
“Sixth Tier ‘Matter Creation.’ Even though it only lasts for 1 hour, it’s enough for making tea.” After explaining, Elia poured a cup for her. “Try it. I even added some honey.”
Kiz hesitated for a moment before taking the cup and taking a small sip.
Then, she whispered, “It’s delicious…”
“Then drink as much as you like.” Elia poured a cup for herself as well. “Anyway, let me ask you a question.”
“What is it?”
“When you drink blood, do you pick your targets?”
Kiz’s hand trembled. “W-Why are you asking that…?”
“Curiosity! For example, do you specifically pick pretty girls to feed on? Or is anyone fine, regardless of age or gender?” Elia rested her chin on her hands.
Kiz turned red again, this time from shame and indignation.
“I-I don’t pick based on things like that!” She set her cup down and raised her voice slightly. “Food is food! What does it have to do with looks?”
“Oh, so you aren’t picky. Then, do you suck them dry?”
The moment that question was asked, the atmosphere suddenly turned stiff.
Kiz’s blood-red pupils contracted slightly.
However, the expression on Elia’s face remained calm. She knew that Kiz would drain people until they became literal human husks, but for some reason, she just wanted to hear Kiz say it herself.
A few seconds later, the little Princess lowered her head and whispered, “…Yes.”
“Why?” Elia asked again.
“Because…” Kiz said, her fingers twisting the fabric of her dress, “sometimes I lose control. Or, sometimes the other person truly provokes me.”
“Like what?”
“Like…” Kiz grit her teeth. “Like those who oppose me, those who stand in my way, those who want to kill me, or… those who want to harm the people close to me.”
She spoke very softly, but the killing intent in her tone was very real—so real that even Elia was slightly taken-back.
But in the next second, Kiz looked up, and the corners of her eyes were red again.
“W-Why are you asking this… Are you going to threaten me again…?”
Elia looked at her, seeing how she had instantly switched back to her fragile mode. She took a sip of tea and laughed. “No, I was just asking. After all, I’m technically on the Blood Clan’s side now. I have to understand my colleague’s style!”
“Wh-Who is your colleague!”
“You. You’re the Princess, and I’m the Saint. We’re in the same boat now, so if we aren’t colleagues, what are we?”
Kiz still had no way to argue with the person sitting across from her.
Truly, she found that the most terrifying thing about this demon wasn’t her strength, but her mouth! No matter what was said, the Saint would eventually twist the conversation around until Kiz found herself mysteriously at a disadvantage.
“Forget it, I’m done teasing you. Let’s go back.” Elia set down her teacup.
“…Okay.”
Afterward, the two of them left the castle’s garden.
As they neared the main building of the castle, Elia suddenly stopped in her tracks. “I want to take a bath tonight.”
Kiz asked in confusion, “So? What are you trying to say now?”
“So, you have to accompany me,” Elia said as if it were the most natural thing in the world.
“Why!”
“Because I am your master.” Elia leaned down and brought her face close to the girl’s small face. “When the master bathes, shouldn’t the servant be there to attend to them?”
Kiz’s face turned red instantly. “I-I won’t do it!”
“You will, even if you don’t want to. That’s an order.”
“You… you…”
“If you say another word, I’ll bite you.”
Hearing this, Kiz instantly covered her mouth.
Only then did Elia nod in satisfaction, turning around to continue walking.
Following behind, Kiz stared at her back, her teeth itching with rage, but she didn’t dare let it out… She was afraid of actually being pinned to the ground and violated.
‘That demon… that pervert… that…’
However, she suddenly remembered the pinky swear they had made last night.
‘As long as you keep being good, I won’t hurt you~’
That was what the demon had said.
Kiz looked down at her pinky finger. The sensation of their fingers hooked together from last night still remained.
She bit her lip.
‘Be good… What exactly counts as being good? Complete obedience? Then what’s the difference between me and a real servant? Resistance? But I can’t win…’
She realized she was trapped in a dead end.
Walking in front, Elia smiled with delight.
‘Teasing this villainous Princess of the Dream Spirit Continent is truly entertaining! Thinking about that monster and god of slaughter on the battlefield being driven nearly to tears, full of rage but not daring to vent it on me… Heh heh heh.’
As for the matter of bathing tonight, she had actually just said it on a whim.
But, if the little Princess actually agreed…
That scene would surely be very interesting.
‘Though, she probably won’t agree, right?’
Thinking this, she pushed open the castle doors.
In the corridor behind the doors, several vampire maids were standing there. They bowed to the two of them in unison. “Princess, Lady Saint.”
Kiz regained her noble and cold demeanor as she walked past them. Elia followed behind her, giving them a slight nod as well.
Once the two had walked far enough away, the maids began to whisper among themselves.
“Did you see that? That Lady Saint really is quite obedient to the Princess…”
“But don’t you think it’s strange? The Princess isn’t usually the type to take people for walks in the garden…”
“Maybe they’re cultivating their feelings? After all, that is the Saint!”
“That’s possible…”
The whispers gradually faded into the distance.
Elia, walking in front, also heard those faint voices. Truly, she was about to lose her composure again.
‘Cultivating feelings? In a sense, they’re right. It’s just that the method of cultivation might be a bit different from what they’re imagining.’