Chapter 8: The Catnip Incident!

Phyllis's gaze was caught by an inconspicuous clump of plants in the corner of the garden.

It wasn't tall, with heart-shaped leaves of a pale green tinged with gray and small clusters of lavender flowers blooming at the tips of several slender stems.

Compared to the vibrant flowers surrounding it, this patch of greenery looked exceptionally plain, even a bit out of place.

However, a faint, crisp, and slightly sweet scent was drifting from it.

Phyllis's nose twitched involuntarily, and the tip of her tail flickered along with it.

'This scent...'

Phyllis eventually walked toward the plant subconsciously. The closer she got, the clearer the fragrance became, as if it possessed some sort of magic. It made her heart skip a beat, her throat go dry, and even... an indescribable numbness spread from the base of her tail.

Catnip!

Phyllis reached out and carefully touched a leaf.

The leaf felt soft and slightly cool to the touch.

But almost simultaneously, a powerful and strange surge of pleasure rushed up from her fingertip!

"Meow~"

Phyllis let out a soft cry.

Her entire tail curled upward uncontrollably.

A layer of mist instantly clouded her blue eyes, a mix of confusion and a... nearly blissful daze.

'No! Stop it! This is too weird!'

Phyllis's reason was screaming.

But her body reacted honestly.

She leaned closer and took a deep breath.

"Haa..."

A light, dizzy sensation swept over her.

Phyllis felt her limbs go weak, yet she felt strangely excited. She wanted to roll in this catnip, to rub her cheeks and her entire body against it, she wanted to...

---

"Oh? It seems you like this quite a bit?"

Karora's voice snapped Phyllis out of her catnip-induced trance.

"I—I didn't..."

Phyllis opened her eyes and saw Karora. She tried to defend herself immediately.

However, her tongue was a bit tied.

*Puh~*

Phyllis spat out the half-leaf of catnip she had been holding in her mouth.

Looking at Phyllis's panicked expression, Karora's red eyes grew even deeper.

"How adorable!"

Karora paced forward elegantly. She bent down and picked up the half-leaf that Phyllis had spat out, which was still slightly damp with her saliva.

"Is it really that tasty?"

Karora put that half-leaf into her own mouth.

"Meow!"

Phyllis froze.

Her eyes went wide and round, and her mouth hung slightly open, as if she had witnessed something utterly unbelievable.

Karora... ate it?

That... that... that was the leaf stained with her saliva!

Besides, that was catnip! It shouldn't have any effect on a vampire.

*Crunch~*

Karora chewed twice, her movements as elegant as if she were tasting high-end pastries. Then, her throat bobbed slightly as she swallowed it.

"Y—y—you...!"

Phyllis pointed at Karora, her finger trembling with agitation.

Karora tilted her head slightly, her red eyes fixed on Phyllis's small face.

"That was my... my..."

Phyllis's face turned so red it looked like it might bleed.

'Meow!! How can she eat something someone else spit out!'

"The flavor is quite good."

Karora stuck out the tip of her tongue and lightly licked her crimson lower lip, as if savoring something.

"Huh??? Can you even taste catnip, meow?" Phyllis asked curiously.

"No, I'm not talking about the flavor of the catnip..."

Karora took a step forward, closing the distance. A scent of blood mixed with catnip completely enveloped Phyllis.

"That—that's... mrrp~"

Before Phyllis could finish, Karora pressed a finger against her lips.

"It's the taste of you."

"Mmf... I... that was my..."

Phyllis tried to say something, but under the restriction of Karora's finger, her words came out fragmented.

"Your what?"

Karora chuckled, her voice thick with possessiveness.

"From the moment we signed the master-servant contract, everything about you belongs to me, Phyllis. Including, but not limited to, the things you've touched and the traces you leave behind..."

Karora reached out, her fingertips lightly brushing against Phyllis's burning cheek, feeling the intense heat.

"I will taste whatever I wish to taste. Whether it's your blood or anything stained with your scent... understood? My lover~"

Phyllis felt as if she were being stared down by a natural predator. Her whole body went stiff, and she was unable to move.

Karora's words and actions were overturning her common sense, giving her a feeling that was far more bone-chilling than any violent threat.

"P—pervert! Meow!"

Phyllis finally voiced her thoughts.

"Pervert?" Karora raised an eyebrow upon hearing this, but she didn't seem to mind the evaluation. Instead, her smile deepened. "When it comes to you, I quite like that description."

Karora withdrew her hand, and her gaze fell upon the clump of catnip, looking thoughtful.

"It seems the effect it has on the cat-folk is even stronger than the records suggested..."

"Did you plant it on purpose?" Phyllis was shocked.

"Of course~"

Karora smiled as she looked at Phyllis's flushed face and moist, misty blue eyes.

"Your reaction is especially cute. It makes me wonder what would happen if the dosage were a bit larger, or if it were used in a different way..."

Alarm bells rang in Phyllis's head, and she subconsciously took a step back.

"What do you want to do?! Meow! I'm warning you, don't you dare use catnip against me!"

"Against you?" Karora shook her head. "No, I'm merely 'sharing the fun,' but that's for later. Now, let's discuss the Blessing."

"The Blessing..."

Phyllis looked at her own hands.

"Is the power I gave you useful?" Karora asked with a smile.

"It... it's actually quite useful. My physical stamina has increased a lot, and my recovery speed is much faster..." Phyllis admitted generously.

'This Blessing really added a lot of stats!'

"That's good!"

Karora reached out and grabbed Phyllis by the scruff of her neck.

"Ha! What do you want to do, meow?"

Despite Phyllis's frantic struggling, Karora lifted her up with ease.

Phyllis's response was also quite interesting; she simply stood still in place. After all, she was taller than Karora.

Looking at how Phyllis was being held by the scruff of her neck yet stubbornly stood on her tiptoes, trying to maintain her height advantage with an expression that said "I'm standing here, what can you do to me," the amusement in Karora's eyes nearly overflowed.

Karora let go.

But in the instant Phyllis thought it was over, Karora's arms slid beneath Phyllis's knees and back with swift, fluid speed, followed by a light exertion of force.

"Meow?! W—wait! What are you doing! Ow~ meow~"

The world spun.

Phyllis felt her body grow light as her vision flipped. By the time she adjusted, she found herself settled firmly in Karora's arms. It was a standard bridal carry.

"Put—put me down! I can walk myself! Meow!"

Phyllis's face instantly exploded in a bright red blush as she began to struggle with her hands and feet.

'This pose is way too embarrassing!'

Moreover, being held like this by someone shorter than her felt even more bizarre!

"Don't move! We are currently doing things that lovers do! And besides..."

Karora's arms were as steady as a rock. Phyllis felt that even her newly increased strength was still not enough in front of Karora.

Karora chanted a magic spell.

A pair of dark red wings unfurled behind her back. Then, with a flap of those wings, she took flight.

Phyllis was carried to the castle's outdoor pool by Karora in that bridal carry.

After experiencing an enticing wash...

"Now then, it's time for 'feeding'..."

Karora bit into Phyllis's neck.

*Slurp, slurp, hiss, hiss...*