Iqiyah’s Demands

“I trust everyone is now aware of what has transpired…”

After the envoy departed, the drawing-room of the Blood Manor fell silent.

Iqiyah steepled her fingers, her gaze sweeping coldly over the maids gathered around her, an uncharacteristically solemn expression gracing her features.

“Our Blood Manor faces a crisis unlike any in a century… no, perhaps even a millennium.”

“The very thing I have always dreaded… has come to pass.”

“Indeed… in the end, it falls to me to host the Blood Feast…”

Whether from excitement or nervousness, Iqiyah’s calves continuously tensed, causing her to bounce on the balls of her feet.

“My ladies… I have no experience hosting a major event…”

“However, many of you here have served at Scarlett Manor and should have attended the banquets my father hosted…”

“I humbly ask for your guidance.”

With these words, the once ostentatious young mistress bowed her head to the maids under her command.

Witnessing this, Seraphina was reminded of the dogeza Levian had performed that day.

“…”

A sudden snicker rippled through the room.

It seemed someone could no longer hold back their amusement, as a quick laugh abruptly broke the silence among the crowd.

“Who, who was that?” Iqiyah looked in the direction of the sound, her face etched with difficulty. “This is a critical moment; can’t we be serious…?”

‘Haha, what a thing to say…’

Seraphina chuckled softly, observing the maids jostling around her. Many sported smiling lips and raised eyebrows, their amusement evident.

“Oh my, oh my, to think there would be a day when Lady Iqiyah would ask for our help~”

The voice came from behind Seraphina. She snapped her head up, spotting a maid holding a small, camera-like box, giggling mischievously while hidden amongst the others.

“Hehe, such excellent material… I can’t let it go to waste!”

‘Hey, hey, hey, what are you doing? Even perverts should have a bottom line!’

“Seraphina… what did you just say?”

Iqiyah’s abrupt question startled the unprepared Seraphina, causing her to shiver involuntarily.

“N-nothing, I didn’t say anything just now…” Seraphina instantly turned back, offering an awkward smile to Iqiyah.

“But I heard the sound coming from you!”

“I truly didn’t speak…”

“Do you take me for a fool…?”

‘…A little.’

“Seraphina, have I been too lenient with you lately!?”

“But I really didn’t say anything just now…”

“Mmph, mmph, mmph, mmph, mmph!” Like an indignant pufferfish, Iqiyah furrowed her brows and puffed out her cheeks, looking thoroughly vexed. “Everyone else, get out! Seraphina, you stay!”

‘Oh no.’

As the maids silently filed out one by one, the vast drawing-room was left with only Seraphina and Iqiyah.

“Hmph, come here, you!”

“Waaah!”

With a flick of Iqiyah’s wrist, a familiar force once again enveloped Seraphina’s body, instantly pulling her into Iqiyah’s grasp.

“You little imp, you’ve grown quite bold lately!”

Grabbing the familiar’s plump cheeks, Iqiyah squeezed Seraphina’s small face, drawing their gazes closer.

“Um… that’s too close. Your breath is getting all over my face…”

“So what?” Iqiyah twisted her lips. “I’ll blow, I’ll blow, I’ll blow, I’ll blow!”

“Ugh, aahhh…”

Squeeze after squeeze, as if she were kneading a ten-dollar stress ball, Iqiyah relentlessly massaged Seraphina’s plump, elastic cheeks while vigorously blowing air onto her face.

‘What’s gotten into this woman? Why has she suddenly become so ‘aggressive’?’

Unable to bear Iqiyah’s merciless kneading any longer, Seraphina resorted to her trump card.

“Th-that, if you keep squeezing, I won’t [Purify] you anymore!”

“Ugh, ergh…!” Hearing the words [Purify], Iqiyah’s actions abruptly ceased, though she didn’t release her grip on Seraphina’s ‘hand of fate.’ “You wretch…”

“Don’t think you’re the only one who can control me; I can control you too!”

“Eh?”

Under Seraphina’s astonished gaze, Iqiyah snapped her fingers, and immediately a wail echoed from outside the door.

“No, don’t!”

With a resounding clang, the drawing-room door suddenly burst open, and countless crimson tentacles surged into the room, scrambling towards Iqiyah.

“Hmph, hmph, hmph hmph hmph hmph!” Seeing the surging tentacles, Seraphina merely sneered. “You think you can control my body with tentacles and thus force me to cast [Purify]? Don’t dream about it! If I don’t release the spell, you won’t be able to…!”

“Who said I was going to control you with tentacles?”

Before Seraphina could finish, Iqiyah airily interrupted her. “Don’t you feel a slight familiarity with these tentacles?”

‘Now that she mentioned it, they did seem similar.’

As she watched the tentacles writhing around Iqiyah on the floor, a wave of familiarity washed over Seraphina.

‘But… these tentacles, what exactly are they…?’

Suddenly, a flicker of red light flashed across the floor.

“Th-this can’t be…!” Seeing the red light, Seraphina instantly reacted. “Could it be!?”

“Hehe, indeed.” Iqiyah extended her hand, and countless crimson tentacles snaked their way up her arm. “If I can weave an outfit for you from tentacles, I can certainly make that outfit revert to tentacles~”

“Do you remember what you put in your pocket?”

Like liquid, the tentacles flowed in Iqiyah’s hand, coalescing into a mass before swiftly spreading apart again, revealing a vibrant, gleaming red crystal.

“Is that… the Blood Essence Necklace?”

“That’s right~” Carried by the tentacles, the necklace’s chain slowly moved into Iqiyah’s hand. “It’s a good thing you put it in your pocket. If it had been anywhere else, I truly wouldn’t have known where to find it~”

“However… none of that matters anymore.”

“What matters is… now, the initiative has returned to my hands❤”

Iqiyah extended her tongue, pressing her face against the translucent ruby of the Blood Essence Necklace. She gave it a delicate lick, once again revealing that playful smile so intimately familiar to Seraphina.

Then, holding the ruby containing the blood essence, she slowly brought it closer to Seraphina’s forehead.

“Hey, hey, hey, Lady Iqiyah, oh no, Mistress, please calm down!”

Seeing Iqiyah about to press the red gem against her forehead, Seraphina completely panicked.

“Your blood essence is so precious. Don’t you think it’s a waste to squander it on mere pleasure?”

“A waste?” Faced with Seraphina’s foolish question, Iqiyah couldn’t contain the smile on her face. “I don’t think it’s a waste at all.”

“As long as I can have you… as long as I can have your [Purify], no matter the cost, I won’t regret it!”

“Mmph, you can’t, you can’t do this!”

With the gem looming before her, Seraphina struggled violently, wrenching free from Iqiyah’s grasp and scrambling away, rolling and crawling.

“Hmm~ your escaping posture is truly nostalgic… my dear Seraphina❤”

Watching Seraphina crawl pitifully on the floor like a puppy, Iqiyah merely offered a dismissive smile.

With a flick of her hand, countless crimson tentacles surrounding her shot out like arrows. The sticky tendrils instantly ensnared Seraphina’s feet, rendering her immobile.

“As long as, as long as I can reach that place…!”

“Hehe, stop your futile struggles and accept your fate, Seraphina!”

“Gah! Levian, save me!”

****

On the other side of the manor, Levian, kneeling on the ground, disheartened and wiping away tears, suddenly heard a familiar cry.

“Lady Seraphina?”

She looked towards the drawing-room but heard no further sound.

“Perhaps… I merely misheard.”

****

“Ah~ that’s it! This is the feeling!”

Having just undergone [Purification], Iqiyah used both her hands and feet to slowly push herself up from the floor.

Though she was drenched in sweat and utterly exhausted, the euphoria brought by [Purification] overwhelmed all physical discomfort, causing her to unconsciously break into a radiant smile.

‘Ah, this feeling… it’s truly intoxicating❤’

Wiping away the sweat from her body, Iqiyah suddenly felt something soft brush against her heel.

She looked down, her gaze meeting a pair of tear-filled, crimson eyes.

“Oh my, little one, weren’t you quite formidable? How did you end up so disheveled now~”

Gazing at the adorable, trembling form, bound tightly and with its mouth covered by tentacles, the fleeting pleasure seemed to surge back into Iqiyah.

“Don’t worry, little Seraphina,” she said, lifting her foot. Her black heel gently tapped the floor, playfully teasing the poor familiar’s body. “As long as you obediently follow my commands, I won’t be too harsh on you.”

“In a few days, it will be the Blood Feast.”

“Looking as pathetic as you do now… when the guests arrive, I fear you’ll bring me no end of shame.”

“Therefore, starting tomorrow…”

Gazing into the trembling eyes beneath her foot, Iqiyah smiled faintly.

“I will put you through special etiquette training.”