A Bold Maneuver and a Dire Choice

“Ah—”

The Head Maid narrowed her eyes as Claire leaned forward, waving cheerfully and watching Seraphina Scarlett close the castle gates.

“This…”

Still reeling from the shock of being ridden, the Head Maid struggled to voice her thoughts. Her unease palpable, she glanced around awkwardly, attempting to mask her look of utter disdain.

“What’s wrong, my loyal Head Maid?” Claire turned to her, a knowing smile playing on her lips.

“Could it be… you wish to experience what it feels like to be my ‘mount’ as well?”

The Head Maid broke out in a cold sweat.

“No, no, no, Miss Claire… oh, no, my Lady.”

She hastily pulled out a handkerchief, dabbing the beads of perspiration from her forehead. “That particular honor is best reserved for the vampire you favor. A mere human maid like myself wouldn’t dare partake.”

“However, if you’ll permit me to speak freely, your actions just now were truly audacious.”

“Oh?” Claire tilted her head slightly. “How so?”

Leaning close to Claire, the Head Maid cupped her hand over her mouth, whispering conspiratorially, after carefully ensuring no one else was nearby.

“Toying with Miss Seraphina in such an… extravagant manner… are you perhaps putting on a show for her?”

“A show?” Claire cocked her head, then offered a gentle smile.

“Hehehe… are you referring to my pretense of ‘social anxiety’? That particular ruse was seen through by that clever vampire last night, you know~”

****

Silently, the Head Maid straightened, her eyes vacant, staring at Claire with an utterly speechless expression.

“I told you it would be best not to go…”

“Mmm-hmm~” Claire raised a hand, cutting off the Head Maid. “My dear Head Maid, you misunderstand.”

“My acting wasn’t exactly subtle before… and given the circumstances last night, even if I hadn’t gone, Seraphina would have pieced most of it together anyway.”

‘Hmph~’ ‘One could only say that, as an actress, my skills still have considerable room for improvement~’

“But, but, but… what about the others?” The Head Maid persisted, unwilling to give up her counsel. “Aren’t you afraid they might…”

“Oh, my dear.” Claire pouted, a flicker of annoyance crossing her face. “Don’t be so overly cautious~”

Then, she extended a hand, gesturing towards the vast, empty living room. “Look, where are any servants to be found here?”

“Besides, even if there were, given that ‘position’ just now… they likely wouldn’t have seen Seraphina anyway~ Don’t you agree?”

“Ah,” a long sigh escaped the Head Maid, a sense of helplessness flooding her heart. “Yes, yes, my Lady, you are supreme, you make the rules…”

“However… for the sake of your ongoing plans, I suggest you exercise a bit more discretion…”

“Do you know? Last night… many of the maids reported to me that they heard very loud footsteps during the night… In any case, you should still—”

“Wait.”

Claire’s body stiffened, her expression instantly turning grave.

“What is it, Miss Claire?”

“Do you truly believe… that I, a servant for several years, would make footsteps loud enough for others to hear?”

“Well…”

‘Because… logically, it truly shouldn’t be possible.’

“But, but even I…”

“Alright, alright,” Claire raised a hand. “Let’s assume, for argument’s sake, that I’m a clumsy Beastman, and last night I deliberately stomped around, clattering across the floor with the intention of waking you all up… Even then, such sounds couldn’t possibly reach the maids’ dormitory area, could they?”

“If I recall correctly… the maids’ quarters are at the opposite end of the corridor! What kind of colossal beast would I have to be to make such a tremendous racket…”

“That makes sense.” The Head Maid suddenly realized the implication.

“Then, what are you implying…?”

“Does that even need asking?” Claire retorted, a hint of irritation in her voice as she placed her hands on her hips, her gaze sharpening.

“Wandering around the dormitory building late at night, targeting the attic vicinity, and making such a significant commotion…”

“Unless the horses in the stable suddenly gained sentience, unlocked their stalls, and galloped through the darkness into the dormitory building… there’s only one other possibility, isn’t there?”

“Someone who shouldn’t be here has infiltrated this manor!”

****

A few minutes later.

“Oh, oh, oh… my poor back…”

Clutching her lower back, Seraphina felt as though her spine would snap in two if she made any sudden movements.

‘Wuwuwu…’

With each halting step, the wretched vampire practically crawled, carefully inching forward while supporting herself with both hands, dragging her body across the floor towards the top of the stairs.

“Damn it… Claire, you clearly— hiss (inhales)! You clearly have so many horses, yet you insisted on riding this one poor soul…”

“You know perfectly well my strength, yet you still abuse me like this. Wuwuwu, I swear, you’re even less human than I am…”

As she wailed, Seraphina freely vented her inner frustrations.

At the same time, a silent resolve formed in her heart.

‘No, no, no… this woman is too much to handle. If I truly fall into her hands in the future, who knows how many thousands upon thousands of days and nights like this await me…’

‘I must find a way! Either satisfy her appetite, or…’

Panting heavily, Seraphina finally reached the attic after a considerable struggle.

Releasing her grip, Seraphina flipped onto her back, letting her body sprawl on the grime-covered dormitory floorboards, gasping for breath.

Just then, a flash of golden light appeared, and a cluster of luminous particles flew out from within her.

“Yo,” Cardo smirked, covering her mouth with a hand, standing astride Seraphina’s head and looking down at her playfully. “Just being a mount for a little while exhausted you so much?”

“Hmph, and you call yourself an adventurer… I’ve heard tales of adventurers captured by wild goblins, forced to become their mounts…”

“If it were your slender arms and legs… hehehe~” Cardo chuckled. “How long do you think you’d last under a goblin’s crotch?”

‘Trash, trash, you’re not even fit to be a mount, you piece of trash!’

“Damn it, I’m exhausted and humiliated!” Seraphina cursed, a rare outburst from her.

“I’d rather be a goblin’s mount than have you shove seafood at me!”

“Now hurry up and give me a hand, get me inside!”

“Alright, alright~”

Smiling, Cardo took Seraphina’s raised hands and, much like an animal, dragged her into the room.

“How was it, my dear Seraphina~”

With a forceful toss, Cardo flung Seraphina onto the bed. “Do you have a plan? I hear your little human girlfriend… is quite difficult to satisfy~”

“Damn it…” Lying sprawled on the bed, Seraphina turned her head. “Cardo… don’t you understand yet?”

“Unless I ‘stay by her side forever,’ otherwise… I’ll never be able to satisfy her in this lifetime.”

“So… I’ll have to find another way.”

Languidly, Seraphina extended her palm towards the ceiling, summoning a black rectangular object—

[True Ancestor’s Blood]

“This, Cardo, this is what I’ll have to use.”

Her eyes were dim, this was not the outcome Seraphina desired.

‘But… only this… can save me from a bleak future.’

‘If I don’t use this, I’ll truly be… at a dead end.’

“Hehehe.”

“Have you finally realized, my dear Seraphina~”

Standing by Seraphina’s bed, looking at the vampire who seemed to have lost the will to live, Cardo wore a meaningful smile.

“After all, fate… was decided long ago~”