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Emilia's experience with 'vampire' lore was limited to a few tidbits she had heard here and there, mostly from Cynthia. Had there been any actual vampires in this world, they would surely have been offended at how casually Emilia made up a couple of 'sacred rituals' just to convince Michelle.
"Our sacred promise, once enforced, cannot be violated by any means. And whoever dares to so will have their own blood burn them from inside out. Do you understand?"
Although Michelle didn't have any intention of going back on her promise, she couldn't help but shudder a little before nodding.
Emilia smiled. "Then, I shall proceed with the ritual. When I sink my teeth into your flesh, you shall make a solemn oath declaring your fealty to me. Understand?"
Michelle nodded as she was pushed back onto the hospital bed before Emilia pulled her hospital gown down to expose her shoulder. Of course, since she was going to leave a mark, it couldn't be in a place that Crystal would easily spot later, right?
Emilia's teeth were still extended, allowing her to easily sink them into the girl's shoulder. Of course, she couldn't retract them even if she wanted to, since her shapeshift skill was still in 'cooldown'.
'Isn't it possible to bypass these 'cooldowns' in an emergency?'
Cynthia scoffed. "I'll have you know, the cooldowns are based on what your body can currently handle. Even if I forced the skill to work again, it would just fail, and you'd be in a world of pain. Wanna try?"
Emilia sighed, having guessed as much.
Meanwhile, Michelle was trying her best to deliver a 'solemn' speech of fealty to Emilia, which she thought was quite cute. How can someone bear to hurt such a sincere, awkward little girl?
"I-Is that enough, um, miss?"
Emilia removed her teeth from the girl's shoulder, making sure to kiss the spot to complete her act. "I have already healed the wound on your shoulder, it shouldn't bleed anymore."
Of course, she had never 'pierced' it in the first place, but Michelle didn't know that. As expected, the girl glanced at her shoulder and noticed that only a few dainty little marks were left there.
Who would have guessed that a vampire's kiss could heal? Reality really was quite different from fiction, the girl thought.
"Now that our promise is sealed with blood, I will first take care of my side of the deal, and I expect you to cooperate fully, understand?"
"I understand, uh, may I… may I know what to call you?"
Emilia smiled. "You can call me 'Princess' in private, and Emilia in public."
Of course, she would rather just be called Emilia all the time, but considering her act so far, maybe it would be a little strange if she didn't have a superior title.
Michelle never expected that the vampire she had somehow managed to get herself bound with would even be a royalty among the creatures, and didn't even know if that was a good thing for her or not.
She couldn't help but sigh in her heart. 'Do I even have anything to be worried about? I was as good as dead before, and now I've even sold my soul. Maybe making any kind of deal with a worthless person like me is a lapse of judgment anyway.'
Trying to end her own life because she was too scared to face those taunting faces anymore was pathetic enough, and now she had even sold her soul just to get back at them. She was neither brave nor a good person. In the end, a truly worthless being.
"You're not worthless."
Michelle's dark eyes couldn't help but widen as she met Emilia's sharp gaze. "H-How did you—"
Emilia flicked her hair. "It's written all over your face. Anyway, since you belong to me now, I won't allow anyone to call what's mine 'worthless', understand?"
Michelle still couldn't see what 'value' she possibly had in the eyes of this vampire princess, but she couldn't help but feel a little moved and embarrassed at the same time. "U-Un. I-I understand, princess."
Emilia chuckled. "Good. Now that you're mine, let me make a few things clear so you don't misunderstand."
Michelle nodded along as Emilia told her about her 'mortal identity', as well what she was and wasn't allowed to reveal to the others, along with the 'duties' she expected her to perform as a 'servant' once their deal was done.
"Um, princess, is that really it?"
"Hm?"
"I-I mean… Isn't this treatment… too good?"
Emilia rolled her eyes. "Why, do I look like a stingy vampire to you?"
"B-But princess, shouldn't there be something you get out of me, too? Like, maybe a pint of blood every day?"
Emilia couldn't help but frown. She didn't like the taste of blood at all, and if she had to drink so much every day just to convince Michelle…
"N-No, ahem, a-as an ancient royal vampire, there is no need need for me drink blood so often. In fact, it's considered a sign of weakness to drink blood, understand?!"
Michelle nodded, feeling a little embarrassed. Right, perhaps it was like sexual desires in humans, and 'losing control' would definitely be an unpleasant thing. 'Oh no… don't tell me I just sexually harassed her?!'
Not knowing how vampires worked at all, she felt like she really should have kept her mouth shut.
Emilia didn't know what Michelle was thinking, so she just leaned in closer and pointed at the door. "Alright, I'll call my friend in. She's, eh…"
Emilia paused, wondering how to make sure her 'disguise' didn't fall apart in front of either of them. After a while, she figured it out. Weren't the vampires in those stories Cynthia mentioned generally the type to obsess over some girl because their blood was special? This would be easy enough, then.
"She's a human, um, my 'chosen mate', kind of, the one whose blood appeals to me the most. Understand?"
Michelle, who had already equated blood to sexual characteristics for vampires, thought that this royal vampire princess was really too vulgar when it came to courting her lover. Isn't saying 'her blood appeals to me the most' the same as saying 'I really like her boobs'?
Unexpectedly, this royal vampire was quite naïve!
Michelle didn't dare to ask this 'princess' her age in terms of vampire lifespans, but she expected that the girl should be roughly in the 'early teens', if not worse.
But of course, that had nothing to do with their 'promise', though Michelle hoped that the girl wasn't in over her head and wouldn't end up hurting herself while seeking to impress her crush. After all, compared to her already ruined life, this vampire princess should have a bright future ahead, right?
Not knowing that her 'standing' had already fallen from a mighty creature of the night to a naïve little vampire princess, Emilia continued. "I'm trying to court her, and it'd be great if I could impress her with solving your case. Of course, our deal still stands. You'll help me out, right?"
Michelle couldn't help but feel a little funny in her heart. "Of course, princess."
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~ To be continued ~
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DustyDream:
Thank you for all the gifts yesterday! I feel so loved. >_<
A bonus chapter should be out soon, once I'm done editing it.
Thank you, again, for all your support! :>