The Inauguration of Seraphina Scarlett

“Your Grace.”

“Good morning, Your Grace. May Lady Iqiyah’s favor be upon you.”

“…Thank you.”

****

The next morning, within the corridors of the Blood Manor.

Seraphina found herself utterly bewildered, observing the maids who had treated her with cold indifference just yesterday. Now, they bustled around her, embodying a spirit of zealous servitude.

The scene rewound to the previous evening.

“Lady Seraphina, you absolutely must accept this.”

Levian knelt on one knee, holding aloft the glittering emblem of the so-called “Church of Lady Iqiyah.” Her gaze was fixed intently upon Seraphina.

“Um… can I, can I not join…?”

Seraphina swallowed, her eyes drawn to the dazzling badge before her.

Just the name of this church alone filled her with a profound sense of unease.

Yet, Seraphina dared not outright refuse Levian. Despite being addressed as “Lady,” she still found herself intimidated by Levian’s presence.

With Levian’s inherent ‘yandere saint’ disposition, Seraphina feared that a single misstep or a touch upon a sensitive spot might see her torn to shreds in an instant.

“Lady Seraphina…”

Contrary to Seraphina’s expectations, Levian showed no hint of displeasure when she saw Seraphina’s conflicted expression. Instead, Levian’s face softened into an imploring, puppy-like gaze.

“Please, I beg you, join our church. We desperately need your guidance.”

Beneath the surface of her plea, Seraphina perceived a fierce resolve burning deep within Levian’s eyes. The intensity of that emotion was enough to make any suitor feel utterly inadequate.

“I believe you are truly a saint sent from heaven to guide us lost lambs,” Levian declared, freeing one hand to press it against the pocket over her heart, where the tattered cloth lay. “This holy relic is proof.”

‘It’s already a holy relic?’

Observing Levian’s devout demeanor, Seraphina could only sigh.

“Alright, if you insist… I’ll join.”

She picked up what she initially thought was a badge from the box. She tried to slip it onto her ring finger, struggling for a moment before remembering it wasn’t a ring at all.

“That’s wonderful, Lady Seraphina!”

Seeing Seraphina agree, Levian’s eyes lit up with such fervent excitement that Seraphina recoiled, almost fearing Levian was about to unleash some powerful ability before her.

“Come, come, let me help you put it on~”

Taking the badge from Seraphina’s hand, Levian knelt, using both hands to fasten the emblem to the collar just over Seraphina’s heart.

“This badge… you can only wear it during our gatherings~ We mustn’t let Lady Iqiyah discover it!”

“Gatherings?”

“Ah.” Levian abruptly looked up. “Since we’re on the topic, I might as well take you there now~”

“Take, take me there?”

As Levian closed in, Seraphina’s mind spun into a chaotic mess.

‘This is developing far too quickly. I’m not mentally prepared for this yet…’

“What are you talking about?” Levian frowned slightly, her expression puzzled. “It’s just the meeting place. There’s no need to be so nervous.”

With that, Levian stepped forward and seized Seraphina’s hand.

“Huh?”

Before Seraphina could even react, Levian took a massive stride, moving with astonishing speed.

“Gwahhhhhhh!”

The sheer velocity warped Seraphina’s face. Around her, all sights dissolved into parallel streaks, uncannily similar to hyperspace travel in some seventies film.

In less than a second, Levian halted.

“We’ve arrived, Lady Seraphina… W-what’s wrong with you?”

Seeing Seraphina kneeling on the ground, retching, Levian quickly helped her up.

“Kanna! Kanna! Bring water!”

No sooner had she spoken than a glass appeared in Levian’s hand.

“Lady Seraphina, please compose yourself. Here, drink this water.”

“Haaah, thank you…”

Without a second glance, Seraphina took the glass and drained it in one gulp.

‘Hmm? This water is a little sweet, and quite delicious.’

As she savored the subtle sweetness, Seraphina realized this was no ordinary water. She tried to pull the glass away from her lips to investigate but found her body ravenous for the sweet liquid.

A peculiar force seemed to be holding her back, preventing her from removing the glass and urging her to continue indulging in the delightful taste.

‘Delicious, so delicious… getting even more delicious…’

‘What exactly is this?’

Seraphina’s tongue probed forward. Soon, the water in the glass was completely consumed, and the internal force finally released its hold.

She was at last able to let go of the glass, eager to behold the nature of the drink…

However, what met her eyes was a cup filled with vibrant, fresh crimson.

“Uwaaaaaahhh!”

“Lady Seraphina! What’s wrong?”

“Th-th-th-th-th-this is blood, isn’t it?!” Seraphina exclaimed, exasperated.

“It is, yes. What of it?” Levian looked at Seraphina, puzzled. “For us blood kin, isn’t blood simply like water?”

Upon hearing this, Seraphina’s head began to buzz.

Only then did she fully grasp the reality: her body had, without her conscious awareness, completely transformed from human into a blood kin.

Aside from her panties feeling a bit tight, the skirt leaving her lower body feeling exposed, her chest aching from the binding of her bustier, and a certain emptiness where something used to be, she had fully adapted to this new female form. She had truly transitioned from Shulk to Seraphina.

“Heh heh, heh heh, heh heh heh heh heh…”

Seraphina clutched the glass in one hand, pressing the other to her forehead, and burst into maniacal laughter, like a patient afflicted with chuunibyou.

‘The weak Shulk of the past is dead! Standing here now is Seraphina, the newborn kin of the Scarlett family—Seraphina, Scarlett—’

“Lady Seraphina, why did you suddenly start laughing?”

“Eep!?”

Levian’s voice abruptly shattered Seraphina’s internal monologue.

“It’s nothing, I just remembered something amusing.”

“Ah, I understand perfectly.” Seeing Seraphina force a smile, Levian’s expression softened into an indulgent, aunt-like grin. “After all, every blood kin who finds their organization can’t help but smile, can they~”

“Fellow parishioners, please come out! Today, we have a new member among us!”

Hearing this, Seraphina looked around, finally taking in the layout of the place. Pews, a pulpit, mosaics, portraits, sculptures, and marble — it was a classic church chapel.

“Your Grace!”

A childish voice rang out. A maid rushed from behind the church pulpit, throwing herself into Levian’s arms and hugging her tightly.

‘Ah, I’ve seen her before.’

Seraphina recalled her encounter in the dining room that morning; this was the very maid who had served Lady Iqiyah her foie gras.

“Your Grace!”

“Your Grace!”

“Your Grace!”

Suddenly, voices erupted from all directions. In an instant, maids of all sizes poured in, surging from every corner.

They flocked to Levian, encircling both her and Seraphina in a tight throng.

Seraphina was dumbfounded. ‘Are there truly so many maids in this manor?’

“Your Grace, Your Grace, Your Grace, Your Grace…”

Surrounding the two of them, the maids’ voices rose in an incessant clamor. It reminded Seraphina of the squawking geese back in her countryside hometown.

Aside from their longer necks, they were almost identical to this gaggle of maids: all equally pristine, with identical red eyes, and equally… noisy.

“Alright! Quiet! Quiet!”

At Levian’s command, the surrounding maids instantly fell silent.

She surveyed the room. “Excellent! No one is absent from this gathering! Everyone, please find a seat!”

“And now, Lady Seraphina, please follow me.”

With that, Levian once again took Seraphina’s hand, and the two walked hand-in-hand, slowly approaching the pulpit at the center of the chapel.

Levian stood poised at the center of the pulpit, with Seraphina standing beside her. Looking out at the countless eager, crimson eyes below, Seraphina felt a prickle of nervousness.

However, Levian was clearly accustomed to grand occasions. “Fellow parishioners!” she proclaimed loudly. “Today is a day worth commemorating!”

“For today, our Church of Lady Iqiyah has been blessed with a holy relic!”

‘Huh?’

“It is this!”

Under Seraphina’s speechless gaze, and the maids’ expectant eyes, Levian produced the tattered cloth from her chest pocket.

Truth be told, even Seraphina hadn’t expected this scrap of fabric to make so many appearances.

“This is a holy relic gifted by Lady Iqiyah to Lady Seraphina, and then graciously bestowed upon me by Lady Seraphina! It is a blood artifact personally crafted by Lady Iqiyah herself!”

“As you all know, our blood kin’s magic originates from our own blood! This means!” Levian held the tattered cloth aloft. “This is a part of Lady Iqiyah’s very blood! It is a first-grade holy relic, one our church has never before possessed!”

“Ooh! I want to rub my face all over that holy artifact right now, ooh!”

“Gah! To witness such an explosive holy relic, it’s worth dying for, gah!”

“Gah! Lady Iqiyah! We adore you, gahhh!!!”

Watching the jubilant maids below, Seraphina became even more convinced of one undeniable truth: the blood kin of this world were all a little unhinged.

“Please calm yourselves, everyone! As your Bishop, I would naturally not monopolize the opportunity to bask in Lady Iqiyah’s grace!” Levian’s voice boomed, quelling the overexcited blood kin present. “But before that, I have an announcement!”

“In light of Lady Seraphina bringing us such a sacred holy relic, I hereby resign from my position as Bishop of the Church of Lady Iqiyah, and transfer the office to Lady Seraphina Scarlett!”

‘Huh?’

Before Seraphina could even process this, Levian stepped before her and produced a cylindrical object from her clothes pocket.

Seraphina focused her gaze: it was a lipstick.

“Lady Seraphina, this is a founding holy relic of our church — the very first lipstick Lady Iqiyah ever used in the Blood Manor.”

“Now, as a handover gift, I present this precious holy relic to you, in hopes that you will lead our church to greater strength and renewed glory…”

Seraphina stared at the half-used lipstick before her, a thousand expletives galloping through her mind.

‘Where did this even come from?! This lipstick must be older than I am!’

‘Don’t hand over important historical church artifacts to me!’

However, Levian, completely engrossed in her glorious moment, failed to notice Seraphina’s internal meltdown. She simply pressed the lipstick into Seraphina’s hand, then raised Seraphina’s arm high.

“Let us cheer for Lady Seraphina! Let us thank Lady Seraphina for her grace! May she forever be blessed with Lady Iqiyah’s favor!”

“Grace! Fav-or!”

As the blood kin raised their hands and cheered in unison, Seraphina felt as if a classic song echoed in her ears. In that moment, she had only one thought.

‘Becoming a general or something… it’s still too similar.’