Claire’s Gambit and Iphya’s Predicament

‘Your intention?’

“Hehehe…”

A faint smile graced Claire’s lips as she observed Seraphina Scarlett’s bewildered expression.

“Seraphina, you are a troublesome woman.”

‘Troublesome? Am I some tsundere student council president from an anime?’

“Hehehe… If you could be subdued with just a poke from a fire poker… then perhaps you could be.”

‘Is your fire poker coated in ice, or am I addicted to mugwort? Is that even possible?’

Crossing her arms, Seraphina Scarlett turned away, presenting her back and abdomen to Claire.

“Let me warn you beforehand, my ‘English’ will expire in just one more day!”

“For these last two days, I won’t let you touch it again!”

“Heh heh… That ‘thing’ of yours is useless to me now.”

Claire extended a hand, pointing towards Seraphina Scarlett’s abdomen.

“After the trials of these past few nights… I finally understand.”

‘Understand what?’

“The so-called ‘pecking’… the more one tries to attack, the more likely they are to fall prey to unforeseen circumstances, unless… one transcends ‘pecking’!”

‘Wait, buddy, what are you even talking about!?’

Claire covered her face with one hand, as if unleashing an Amaterasu, her gaze sharpening intensely.

“I won’t be fixated on ‘pecking’ anymore, Seraphina!!”

With an exaggerated, wicked grin, Claire resembled a frenzied blonde vampire.

“Because I’ve discovered… as long as I keep feigning ‘social anxiety,’ you’ll have to keep tolerating my pestering!”

“Given enough time, even solid ice will melt… day after day.”

“Seraphina, I refuse to believe you can maintain that loyalty to Iqiyah indefinitely!”

“Therefore, I advise you to give up struggling sooner rather than later! Hahahahahahaha.”

Her voice gradually softened, and Claire smoothly reverted to her persona as the socially anxious little girl.

‘Waga ya?’

‘Waga nai yo…’

Seraphina Scarlett’s pupils dilated in shock.

Only then did she finally realize the true intention behind Claire’s elaborate deception these past few days.

Under the guise of ‘social anxiety,’ Claire had clung to her, showering her with countless acts of dependence and coquetry.

Bound by her own sense of debt to Claire and the mounting pressure within the manor, Seraphina Scarlett had no choice but to endure, satisfying Claire’s every whim.

All of this had played perfectly into Claire’s hands.

Furthermore, because she had previously acknowledged that ‘Claire had become socially anxious,’ she had, in effect, taken responsibility for the situation and assumed the mission of Claire’s recovery.

Should she fail to complete this task, she would be forcibly detained by the Krieg family, forever confined within the manor.

Yet, despite Seraphina Scarlett’s tireless efforts, she ultimately discovered that the ‘switch’ for Claire’s condition was, in fact, held by Claire herself.

This meant that as long as Claire wished, she could perpetually feign weakness, leading her family to believe she hadn’t recovered.

This, in turn, would allow her to forcibly detain Seraphina Scarlett.

With a sudden realization, Seraphina Scarlett understood that the reins of this entire charade had always been in Claire’s grasp.

“Claire…”

“You are my friend, and I can be lenient with you…”

“But if you push it too far… I truly will get angry, you know!”

“Angry? Hehehe~”

To Seraphina Scarlett’s surprise, Claire met her indignation with a brilliant smile.

Then, Claire turned, spreading her legs slightly, facing her chest directly towards Seraphina Scarlett. She opened her arms wide, baring her entire being to Seraphina Scarlett.

“Seraphina, if your anger means you’ll stay… I would rather endure your wrath.”

“Even if it means… being choked by you, having my blood drained, and lingering a thousand times beneath the Reaper’s scythe… I would still be willing.”

“As long as you can stay by my side forever…”

Observing Claire, who had so completely offered herself, Seraphina Scarlett’s anger subsided significantly.

Though she still disapproved of Claire’s willful behavior, facing a girl who made no attempt to conceal her affection, Seraphina Scarlett found it impossible to remain truly angry.

Yet, one question continued to puzzle her.

“Claire, there’s a question I’ve always had.”

“Hmm? Please ask.”

“Why… exactly do you like me?”

A moment of silence passed as Claire’s eyes fixed on Seraphina Scarlett, deep green pools that seemed utterly still.

“Seraphina.”

‘What is it?’

“I mean… even though I know you used to be a man, you’re clearly a girl now. How can you be so dense?”

Answering a question with another question, Claire left Seraphina Scarlett stumped once more.

Despite her body having changed long ago, and despite many aspects of her life and behavior now being guided by female thought processes,

there was no doubt that deep down, in the tender part of her mind that processed emotions, she remained a ‘two-life Chu Nan’ unfamiliar with matters of the heart.

And for Claire?

As an admirer and a follower, and being exceptionally cunning, she could naturally offer a million different reasons.

But if asked for the most direct reason…

“Hehe, last time I answered your question with a question, but this time I won’t tease you.”

With her arms clasped behind her back, Claire leaned forward, gazing at Seraphina Scarlett with a cheerful smile.

“The answer is—no reason at all, I just like you~”

‘Ah…’

“Hmm~ What a ridiculous answer, really.”

With a helpless smile, Claire’s cheeks flushed faintly. She raised a hand to brush back her hair, which was, in fact, perfectly neat.

“However… seeing how hard you’ve tried… I’ll lower the difficulty for you this time~”

“If you can make an offer that satisfies me… I wouldn’t mind changing myself for you, you know~”

‘Hmph… you clearly haven’t changed at all…’

Seraphina Scarlett muttered under her breath.

‘In the end, she’s still that unreasonable noble lady. I’m truly bowing down to her.’

Yet, even after being tormented in countless ways by the third Miss Krieg, Seraphina Scarlett found it genuinely difficult to feel any aversion towards her.

‘Perhaps this is what they call… having a breakthrough.’

While Seraphina Scarlett was engaged in this romantic exchange…

“Hey, bloodkin.”

Far to the north of Krieg Manor, countless kilometers away, lay the Elven Lands.

With a resounding clang, the Elven Astartes opened Iqiyah’s cell, standing tall before her.

“Stop looking at your flowers. Lady Evra wishes to see you.”

Iqiyah did not respond immediately. Leaning by the window, which bloomed with vibrant flowers, she merely cast a slight sidelong glance.

“After being imprisoned for so long… has Lady Evra finally remembered this poor bloodkin?”

“Hey! Bloodkin scum!”

Seeing Iqiyah’s blatant disrespect, an Elven warrior immediately lost her temper.

“You are forbidden to be rude to Lady Evra!”

‘Rude? Hehehe…’

Facing the killing intent that surged from behind her, Iqiyah showed not the slightest hint of panic.

“I am merely stating facts… wouldn’t you agree, Levian?”

“Lady Iqiyah is correct.”

“Silence!”

Humiliated by Iqiyah once more, the Elven warrior was furious. She raised her staff, as thick as a bowl, poised to strike Iqiyah.

“Such insolence will not go unpunished! I will teach you a lesson!”

The warrior was strong, and her staff cut through the air with a thunderous hum, threatening to descend upon Iqiyah’s head.

“Halt! Do not overstep!”

A sharp reprimand echoed from behind the Elven warrior, instantly halting her actions.

“Ah! Lady Evra!”

Turning in unison, the Elven warriors quickly knelt, bowing before their Elven Queen.

“You… may leave the room.”

“Yes.”

With a rumbling clamor, the Elven warriors departed the room with great commotion, leaving only Iqiyah, Levian, and Evra.

Iqiyah finally turned, her gaze coolly meeting Evra’s.

“Oh, my dear Lady Scarlett… after drinking so much of my blood, is your attitude really so poor?” Evra quipped.

“No matter. If there’s a possibility of reconciliation between us in the future… I’ll give you a special discount.”

Iqiyah lowered her brows. “The premise being… reconciliation.”

“Hehehe…” Hearing this, Evra smiled alluringly. “I believe we will have a chance to reconcile… after all, we both worship the Life Goddess, don’t we~”

‘Hmm…’

At the mention of “Life Goddess,” Iqiyah’s heart skipped a beat.

‘Could it be… that she discovered I’ve been secretly recovering my bloodkin powers?’

“If there’s something you need, please speak plainly,” Iqiyah probed, a hint of unease in her voice.

“Hehe… just as I understand, Lady Scarlett is indeed straightforward.”

It was clear that Iqiyah had overthought the situation; Evra either didn’t know about it, or she had no intention of revealing it.

“Then I’ll get straight to the point~~

Producing a map, Evra pointed to a border region in the south.

‘?’

Seeing the indicated location, Iqiyah was instantly stunned—it was the site of Krieg Manor.

“Lady Iqiyah Scarlett, I wish to ask you…”

Evra offered a sinister smile.

“Your cherished little kin… is currently at Krieg Manor, enjoying a passionate romance with that human lady…”

“Am I correct?”