The Consequence of Indulgence

“Compared to last time, the young lady’s condition is much clearer now.”

The Blood Manor, Iqiyah’s bedroom.

The vampire doctor produced a medical report, handing it to Seraphina and Levian, who were seated by the bed. “It’s not convenient for me to say it aloud. Please, both of you, read it yourselves.”

From her bed, Iqiyah frowned, tilting her head as she gazed at the doctor with a puzzled expression.

“…Can’t I see it?”

“Of course, young lady,” the vampire doctor replied, raising an eyebrow. “However… based on my understanding of you, I fear you would tear the report to shreds the moment you saw the diagnosis…”

“Hm? Am I really that willful?”

“Yes, young lady, you are.”

“…”

Finding herself unable to argue with the doctor, Iqiyah turned her gaze to Seraphina and Levian. Both women were looking down, their faces grim and serious, as if their expressions were silently conveying—

“Lady Iqiyah… does not have long to live…”

“Hey, what are with those expressions, you two!?” Iqiyah exclaimed, startled by their faces. She quickly leaned forward, eagerly trying to get a look at the report.

“Let me see, let me see!”

She leaned behind Seraphina, resting her head on Seraphina’s shoulder, to look at the medical report.

Then, she saw a dense jumble of incomprehensible examination data, along with two lines of red text written in the doctor’s unique, almost hieroglyphic script at the bottom corner of the report—

[Diagnosis Summary] The patient has repeatedly extracted vital essence in a short period, leading to excessive indulgence and a significant overdraft of bodily functions. This has resulted in severe symptoms such as depleted vital essence, physical weakening, decreased basic vital signs, and scattered attention.

[Treatment Recommendation] Exercise long-term moderation of desires, abstain from extracting vital essence for a period, avoid excessive physical activity, and reduce bodily stimulation until full recovery.

“Lady Iqiyah…” Seraphina offered a dry laugh, looking at Iqiyah. “To put it plainly, you’ve been… a bit too active lately…”

Riiip—

Before Seraphina could finish her sentence, she suddenly felt her hands empty.

Tear, tear, tear-tear-tear-tear-tear—

She looked up to see Iqiyah, who had been leaning on her shoulder moments before, now standing with legs splayed on the bed, relentlessly tearing the unfortunate medical report into countless fragments.

In an instant, paper scraps fluttered through the air.

“What did I tell you…?” The vampire doctor wiped a bead of cold sweat from their forehead. “But seeing as you already have the strength to leap from the bed, my work here is mostly done. You simply need to follow my treatment recommendations for your recovery.”

“Please allow me to take my leave now…”

“Wait!”

Roughly grabbing the doctor’s collar, Iqiyah’s gaze swept over everyone. “Today, my diagnosis—all of you swallow it whole! Not a word is to be spoken!”

“With all due respect…” Seraphina couldn’t hold back, facing Iqiyah’s overbearing threat. “Considering how you were controlling me just a few days ago, combined with your sickly appearance today, I’m afraid every maid in the manor likely already knows…”

“Mmm-hmm… It’s hard to keep something like this a secret, you know…” Levian appeared somewhat guilty, perhaps having secretly filmed another ‘timeless classic.’

“Young lady, please understand,” the doctor said, their face also apologetic. “Due to my work, every alteration made to your medical record is magically synchronized with the attachments throughout the manor. I’m sure the Master already knows…”

“Waaah…! Are you all ganging up on me!?” Seeing all three of them argue back in unison, Iqiyah’s face flushed crimson with anger. “I don’t care! In this manor, I am the absolute authority! Anyone who speaks of this will die!”

“Alright, alright, whatever you say, young lady.” The vampire doctor knew Iqiyah was throwing a tantrum and couldn’t be bothered to argue further. “You two, I’ll be leaving now.”

“Understood.” Levian nodded, glancing at her watch. “I should be leaving too. Dinner time is approaching, and I need to oversee the kitchen to prepare some special tonics for Lady Iqiyah…”

“Eh?” Seeing both people beside her preparing to leave, Seraphina felt somewhat out of place. “Then, I’ll also go… make, make some… for Lady Iqiyah…”

“Hm? What will you make?”

Before Seraphina could even conjure an excuse, a sudden chill ran down her spine.

“I, I’ll go… go buy you two oranges…”

“You’re not allowed to leave.”

A pair of slender, delicate white arms wrapped around Seraphina’s neck, binding her firmly to the chair, making her unable to move.

“Haha, haha, Lady Iqiyah, your body is recovering so quickly.”

‘This girl, she was so weak this morning I had to carry her back, yet now she can effortlessly put me in a cross armbar… how terrifying…’

“And that’s all thanks to you, Seraphina.”

Iqiyah’s voice brushed against her ear, so close it felt as though she might bite it.

“Thanks to your gentle care in bringing me back, how else could I have recovered so quickly?”

“M-my back is that amazing?”

“Of course it is…” Just like that morning, Iqiyah clung to Seraphina’s back like glue, wriggling incessantly like a slime.

“Seraphina’s back is my exclusive healing chamber…”

An unprecedented sensation rose on Seraphina’s back. She looked back to see Iqiyah pressing her face against her spine, rubbing like a small white cat high on catnip, emitting soft, contented “mmm-hmm” sounds.

“You… has your mind regressed too?”

“Mmm… certainly not,” Iqiyah said, looking up into Seraphina’s eyes, where faint pink heart-shaped glints could be seen within the equally crimson irises. “Seraphina, no matter what, you bear some responsibility for my current state.”

“No, what responsibility do I have, hey!?”

“Hmph… it’s all because Seraphina is too cute, making me unable to resist teasing you more…”

“Are you sure it’s not for [Purification]?”

“In any case,” Iqiyah said, clinging to Seraphina’s body like a koala, then climbing to face her and settling onto her lap, “I’ve become like this all because of you.”

“So, you have to take responsibility, okay❤”

‘Hey, what’s with this post-coital heroine-like declaration, huh!?’

As if treating Seraphina as a rocking chair, Iqiyah embraced her neck and sat on her, swaying relentlessly.

“From now on, you’ll stay by my side and take good care of me until I’ve fully recovered.”

‘This girl… ever since she had that brush with death, why has she become so clingy?’

Watching Iqiyah, who was nestled in her embrace and acting spoiled like a kitten, a warmth bloomed in Seraphina’s heart. She quickly held Iqiyah closer, lest she accidentally fall.

‘Mmm… even though she’s in a weakened state, her body feels so warm… is it because she’s acting like a child?’

‘Compared to her usual young lady demeanor… this contrast is far too great, isn’t it?’

“W-well, if you insist, Lady Iqiyah.” Seraphina could only humor her. “However, you still need to act like the young lady you are and not just spoil yourself like a child.”

“Mmm… I can’t?”

A pair of moist, sparkling ruby eyes blinked, utterly shattering Seraphina’s already fragile internal defenses.

‘Hold on, hold on, wasn’t I planning to completely tame her and turn her into a force for my path of conquest? With such a doting heart, how can I govern a nation… oh no, how can I properly tame her?’

“Can’t I spoil myself with Seraphina?”

“Of course you can… Lady Iqiyah❤”

‘Oh well, never mind. A treasure delivered right into my hands—it would be inhumane not to cherish her properly.’

“Hee hee~ I knew it, Seraphina is the best.”

“Hey, hey! Lady Iqiyah! Stop shaking! Stop shaking! My neck is going to break!”

****

Meanwhile, outside the bedroom door—

“Lady Iqiyah, the tonics are ready.”

Pushing a small cart laden with food, Levian knocked on the bedroom door, then gently turned the doorknob.

“I’m coming in now—”

“Lady Iqiyah! Stop shaking!… It’s going to break!”

“Hmph hmph~ I’m not satisfied yet, so just bear with it a little longer.”

“I know my Seraphina loves me the most❤”

!!!!????

Upon hearing such a suggestive declaration, Levian’s mind instantly froze.

Driven by instinct, she pushed open the door. Inside, Iqiyah was seated on Seraphina’s lap, her arms wrapped around Seraphina’s neck, swaying her body incessantly.

Seraphina, meanwhile, wore an expression of utter resignation, her eyes hazy, with faint traces of foam visible at the corners of her mouth.

“Oh, Miss Levian is here.”

Hearing the movement at the door, Iqiyah turned to look at Levian, her face beaded with sweat, her eyes brimming with crimson exhilaration.

“Just leave the food there. I’ll eat it myself once I’m ‘finished,’ so please, you can leave for now~”

Faced with the easily misinterpreted scene before her, Levian lowered her head, pushed the small cart into the room, and then quietly closed the door.

Leaning against the door, Levian clutched her chest, her heart a tumultuous mix of emotions.

‘I want it so badly… I want Lady Iqiyah’s affection too.’

Beneath her chest, Levian’s heart pounded.

‘Even though I saw the one I love intertwined with someone else, even though my heart ached so profoundly.’

Struggling to control her breathing, her face gradually flushed crimson.

‘But why… why am I so excited?’

As if released from a trance, Levian exhaled a long breath, then looked up. Amidst her flushed face, she revealed a smile that seemed to say, ‘Thank you for the show.’

‘I truly regret not bringing my camera…’