A Shrinking Master and Shared Burdens

“Mmm…”

“…Lady Iqiyah.”

“Mmm… mmm…”

“Lady Iqiyah?”

“Mmm?”

“While I appreciate you taking care of me, my five fingers are already healed, aren’t they?”

Seraphina Scarlett gazed helplessly at the adorable white-haired figure before her, who was still sucking on her fingers. After a moment of hesitation, she decided to withdraw her hand from Iqiyah’s mouth before the skin turned pale and wrinkled.

“Mmm-mmm…!”

Feeling the ‘delicacy’ squirm in her mouth, Iqiyah, unwilling to relinquish the taste, furrowed her brows. She exerted force with both hands, attempting to use brute strength to keep Seraphina’s fingers captive.

But two hands were no match for Seraphina’s strong one. With a single pull from Seraphina, a soft ‘pop’ echoed, accompanied by a few glistening drops. Seraphina finally reclaimed her fingers.

“Grumph!” Like a petulant wife complaining to her husband, Iqiyah pouted, her expression full of resentment as she looked down at Seraphina. “Couldn’t you let me suck a little longer? You’re so unromantic…”

“Lady Iqiyah…” Seraphina gently wiped her damp fingers on her clothes, a soft frown gracing her features even as she smiled. “What’s gotten into you?”

“I haven’t even used [Purification] yet, so why are you… being so proactive? ❤”

“Hmph,” Iqiyah turned her face away. “Well, wasn’t it because you saved me, and I wanted to give you a little reward?”

“Besides, I was ensuring the treatment’s effectiveness! Your hand was so severely injured; what if it didn’t heal properly, left lingering effects, and became unsightly?”

Watching Iqiyah, who was straddling her, her small face flushed as she frantically defended her recent ‘lewd’ behavior, Seraphina’s heart fluttered.

“Lady Iqiyah.”

“Hmm?”

“I don’t know why… but you seem a little smaller than before.”

“W-what kind of joke is that? How could I possibly change… Hey! What are you doing?!”

‘I can’t resist any longer. My apologies, Lady Iqiyah.’

Without Iqiyah’s permission, Seraphina suddenly placed her hand on the slightly sweat-damp white hair and began to playfully knead it.

“Hey! Stop! What’s gotten into you?!”

Seeing her hair about to be ruffled by Seraphina, Iqiyah quickly reached up to stop her. It was then that she noticed her black suit, which had previously fit her perfectly, now seemed slightly too large. The cuffs, in particular, were almost sliding down to her elbows.

“S-Seraphina…” Gazing pitifully at the noticeably oversized cuffs on her hands, Iqiyah looked at Seraphina with tear-filled eyes. “A-Am I really smaller?”

“A little, yes.”

Seraphina offered a comforting, aunt-like smile as she looked at Iqiyah, who was once so assertive but now appeared slightly smaller.

“Alright, it’s time to leave this place, Lady Iqiyah.”

While Iqiyah had her hands raised, Seraphina sat up, placed her hands under Iqiyah’s armpits, and lifted her off like a child, setting her gently onto the floor nearby.

“If we don’t go soon, Levian will start to worry.”

Standing up, Seraphina stretched lazily, her gaze casually falling upon Iqiyah, who was still seated on the floor.

“Hmm? Why aren’t you getting up, Lady Iqiyah?”

“Ugh… I have no strength; I can’t stand up…” Iqiyah curled her legs, kneeling in a ‘duck-sit’ pose on the ground. “It seems the recent treatment completely drained my last bit of energy…”

“…Are you saying?”

Seraphina, who had already anticipated the unfolding events, offered a faint smile.

‘Hehe, if you want something, just say it, Lady Iqiyah~’

“Th-these kinds of things, you shouldn’t ask.”

Iqiyah’s small face flushed faintly. She shyly turned her head away, then extended both hands toward Seraphina.

“Carry, carry me home…”

She pouted her lips, muttering something inaudible, likely grumbling about Seraphina.

Observing the small Blood Princess, who could only rely on her, Seraphina, though tempted to tease her further, found herself unable to continue bullying her.

“Of course, Lady Iqiyah. ❤”

Turning her back, she knelt down and gently hoisted the petite Iqiyah onto her back.

“…You really did get smaller.”

“Shut up! Don’t you dare mention that!”

****

“Hey, Seraphina.”

“Yes, I’m here.”

Perhaps the recent battle had been too chaotic, causing adventurers exploring the dungeon to steer clear. On this beautiful morning, as the two made their way back, they encountered not a single adventurer.

“Um…” Iqiyah’s voice trailed off, as if she was hesitant to speak. “What exactly… did you go through in the past?”

“Oh? Are you curious?”

“Of course I am,” Iqiyah replied, leaning her head against Seraphina’s back. “My curiosity about you started the moment I saw you wandering alone in the outer perimeter.”

“Despite being only level one, you possess such immense power…”

“And despite being alone, it seems you have some unspeakable grievance with three women…”

‘Grievance’ was an understatement.

The mere thought of those three ‘dear’ former teammates filled Seraphina with rage.

‘Come to think of it, this Knight today was also hired by them to kill me, wasn’t she?’

‘I should have never shown them any mercy.’

“And there’s more,” Iqiyah said, tracing circles on Seraphina’s back with her finger. “Normally, you’re so lively and optimistic… maybe a little clumsy, but no matter how I want to play, you always gently indulge me…”

‘Ah, well, actually, I wasn’t particularly eager to indulge you.’

“Even when you had leverage over me, you weren’t particularly excessive…”

‘Oh, so you didn’t think that was too excessive? I should have been even more so then…’

“But… do you know something?”

“Your expression today truly frightened me.”

As she spoke, Iqiyah’s body suddenly twitched.

“I always thought you were a good toy—no, a good friend.”

“Because your expressions are always so positive, even when facing those three women, you always look confident and at ease…”

“Sometimes, I really envy you…”

‘Envy me?’

Hearing this, Seraphina couldn’t help but glance back at Iqiyah, only to see a bitter expression on her face.

“But… today, when you roared at that woman…”

Iqiyah’s brows furrowed deeply, and her eyes darted about uncertainly.

“I couldn’t see any of your usual ease on your face anymore…”

“At that moment, your face held only deep hatred, and… an overwhelming rage, a desire to trample someone underfoot and torment them to death.”

“Hey, Seraphina.”

“Although I am your mistress and you are my kin, I am truly worried about you.”

“It was when I saw your sorrow and your anger that I realized my heart had always been focused on you.”

“So, my dear Seraphina.”

“Could you… share some of your worries and your hatred with me?”

Crimson eyes lifted, meeting a pair of identical pupils before her.

Seeing those glistening, tear-filled eyes, like water-soaked rubies, Seraphina’s heart trembled.

‘Iqiyah, what exactly is in your eyes?’

‘Is it concern? Pity? Sympathy?’

‘Could it be… love?’

“Truly, if there’s anything troubling you… you can tell me.” Perhaps the intense gaze became too awkward, for Iqiyah eventually averted her eyes. “I’d be happy to…”

“Thank you for your kindness, Lady Iqiyah.”

“But… please forgive me, I don’t intend to speak of it.”

“Eh?”

“Everyone has their privacy,” Seraphina stated resolutely. “Some past events, some grievances, are better kept buried in one’s heart than revealed to others.”

‘Perhaps, even though my body has become female, my inner self still leans more towards a man’s.’

‘What good would it do if Iqiyah knew? Mobilize the entire Blood Manor to help me get revenge?’

‘No, no, no. Some hatreds are only truly valuable when settled by oneself.’

“Just like you… please forgive my presumption, but you and your father also have some small disagreements, don’t you?”

“Eh? H-how did you know?” Iqiyah’s voice sounded surprised, but not angry.

“Hmph~ Just as you observe me, I observed you.” Seraphina proudly tilted her nose.

“You, too, are like me, unwilling to expose these old wounds to others, aren’t you?”

“…”

Turning back to look at Iqiyah, whose face was flushed and who remained silent with her head bowed, Seraphina offered a faint smile.

‘Perhaps I should change the subject.’

“Speaking of which, Lady Iqiyah, you were quite bold today.”

Seraphina tilted her head back, then activated her [All-Seeing Eye]—

“[Endurance] 9, [Life] 11… [Magic] is a bit better at 45, but [Strength]… it’s completely garbled.”

“Considering you couldn’t even overpower me just now… it’s probably less than 1, isn’t it?”

“And that’s not even counting the countless debuffs…” Seraphina frowned, pursed her lips, and her face filled with reproach. “In this state, you still came to the outer perimeter to patrol alone?”

“It took me a full minute just to apply all sorts of buffs to you! Seriously, reflect on this, you!”

“Ugh… my body was perfectly fine before I left,” Iqiyah mumbled, squirming like a scolded elementary school student, looking utterly ashamed. “I didn’t expect it to turn out like this…”

“Didn’t expect it? As the Mistress of the Blood Manor, do you realize how severe the consequences could have been?”

With a flick to the forehead, Seraphina seized the opportunity while Iqiyah was powerless to retaliate, enjoying a delightful act of insubordination.

In response, Iqiyah, having erred, could only cover her head and admit her mistake.

“It won’t happen again…”