The Unveiling of Obsessions

Outside the Blood Manor, within a secluded forest.

Seraphina felt a sense of disorientation.

‘How long had it been since she last stepped outside? Perhaps half a month… or even longer?’

She lifted her gaze to the blazing sun directly overhead. The dazzling halo, unseen for so long, pricked at her delicate pupils, compelling her to raise a hand and shield her eyes.

“Have I been away from the sun for too long? Why is it so… blinding?”

“No, the midday sun is inherently dazzling,” Levian replied. “And a brave soul who stares directly into it, like yourself, is truly a rare sight in this world.”

“Who are you calling rare?”

“Furthermore, considering your recent transformation into a blood kin, I must remind you,” Levian added, as she loaded a wooden chest onto the carriage. “Do not remove the barrier generator from your chest. Ensure you replace its magic storage unit every six hours, or the sun will reduce you to dust in a single second. No one will be able to save you.”

“…Incorrect!”

No sooner had Levian finished speaking than a tender voice emanated from beside Seraphina.

“Even if the sun burns you to ashes, I’ll still bring you back, hmph!”

A pair of slightly trembling red eyes fixed intently on Seraphina. Despite the bitter expression clouding her face, Iqiyah strained to offer Seraphina an encouraging smile.

Witnessing this, Seraphina couldn’t help but let out a soft chuckle.

“Lady Iqiyah, while your words are quite impressive, coming from a little one who clings to someone’s arm just to step outside… their credibility is rather questionable.”

“Ugh… Well, isn’t it because I’m afraid you’ll be burned to ashes by the sun that I have to stay by your side and protect you at all times!”

“Look at you, saying that. We still don’t know who’s protecting whom…”

Just as Seraphina had anticipated, the moment they left the Blood Manor, Iqiyah coiled into herself. Though her words remained forceful, her demeanor had completely shed any trace of a pampered young lady.

From the instant she stepped outside, Iqiyah had clung tightly to Seraphina’s arm, much like a lamb following its ewe, unwilling to let go for even a moment.

‘How truly adorable.’

“Alright, Lady Iqiyah, Lady Seraphina, the luggage has been loaded,” Levian announced, bowing to them both. “Now, please board the carriage, and we shall depart immediately.”

****

To avoid drawing undue attention in human towns, the blood kin were dressed quite ordinarily today.

Seraphina wore her old white priest’s robe, adorned with gold trim. Perhaps due to Levian’s magical cleansing, the garment, once stained with blood, was now spotless—even more pristine than when it was first made.

Iqiyah had shed the trousers Seraphina had struggled to put on her, instead opting for a white knee-length skirt paired with a white ruffled shirt. She now resembled a noble princess, radiating pure innocence and charm.

Levian, meanwhile, was dressed in standard butler attire: a tailcoat, a monocle, a white undershirt, and black trousers. Aside from her coiled long hair and her extraordinary stature, it would be difficult to discern her gender based solely on her clothing.

Of course, compared to the trio, the two maids driving the carriage were dressed in a far more worldly fashion. Clad in light blue jackets and linen shirts, they had not only used aging magic to appear more weathered but had also deliberately cut their hair short, making them resemble two male coachmen who had long plied the trade routes.

Remarkably, despite such significant sacrifices, they had privately paid Levian a substantial fee to secure the privilege of accompanying Lady Iqiyah on this outing. Their devotion was truly profound.

The carriage wound its way along the forest path. For some unknown reason, the coachmen had chosen a longer route, making the journey feel exceptionally drawn out compared to Seraphina’s initial trip to the manor.

The prolonged carriage ride proved tedious, a fact particularly evident in Iqiyah, whose body had reverted to a childlike state. The monotonous scenery, coupled with the midday heat, soon made her eyelids heavy, causing her head to bob like a chick pecking at rice.

“Seraphina…” Iqiyah’s voice was already slurred with sleep. “Lend me your leg for a bit.”

“Lady Iqiyah, wouldn’t Miss Levian’s legs be much softer than mine?”

Indeed, compared to Seraphina’s slender, elegant legs, Levian’s thighs possessed a more mature beauty. Her taut suit trousers, at a glance, seemed far more suitable as a pillow than Seraphina’s legs.

Moreover, they offered a natural sun-shielding system, perfectly capable of blocking the overhead sun.

Evidently, Iqiyah was not convinced.

“No… I want Seraphina’s…”

With a tilt of her body, the willful little princess unceremoniously collapsed onto Seraphina.

“Seraphina smells so, so nice…”

Clutching the soft, white priest’s robe, Iqiyah succumbed to the heavy pull of sleep, her breathing gradually evening out.

“She’s fallen asleep…”

Seraphina gently brushed aside the tangled white hair on Iqiyah’s head. Gazing at the delicate face resting on her lap, she couldn’t resist a playful impulse, extending a finger to lightly poke her cheek.

“Ugh-uh-uh—!”

Iqiyah let out a soft cry, her body twitching slightly twice, but she did not awaken.

“Hehe, that’s fun.”

“Yes, truly amusing…”

Seraphina turned towards the source of the voice, only to see Levian staring blankly, mouth agape, utterly captivated by Iqiyah, an expression of utter desolation on her face.

“What’s wrong?” The perceptive Seraphina noticed Levian’s unusual behavior. “Are you jealous?”

“N-no, not at all, how could I dare…”

A sudden blush crept across Levian’s usually stern face, a clear sign that Seraphina had hit a nerve.

“My apologies, I know I’ve been taking over your duties lately, which has reduced your opportunities to interact with Iqiyah.”

Unconsciously, Seraphina reached out and placed her hand on Levian’s head, gently stroking her hair.

“You’ve truly worked hard. Once Iqiyah returns to normal, you’ll have to put in some serious effort~”

“Mm-hmm, mm-hmm…”

Beneath Seraphina’s touch, Levian’s expression gradually softened, her eyes lowering. She resembled an obedient cow enjoying its master’s comfort, her face radiating submission.

Yet, contrary to Levian’s newfound gentleness, Seraphina’s heart was now seized with an intense nervousness.

‘Have I been coddling Iqiyah too much lately? Why am I even stroking Levian now?’

‘I should stop as soon as possible. Given Levian’s usual demeanor, I’m not sure she’d appreciate this kind of childish petting.’

As these thoughts crossed her mind, Seraphina withdrew her hand from Levian’s head. But in the very next moment, something utterly astonishing occurred.

“Please don’t stop…”

While not as assertive as Iqiyah, Levian possessed a bluntness unique to her stoic nature.

As Seraphina tried to pull back, Levian unhesitatingly raised her own hand, gripping Seraphina’s with a strength far exceeding her limits, firmly keeping it in place.

“You… what are you doing…?”

“Ugh… N-nothing at all.”

Despite her words, Levian’s gaze darted erratically, flickering towards Seraphina before abruptly flitting away, a picture of extreme awkwardness.

‘What new mischief is this one up to now…?’

Unable to trust this walking time bomb, Seraphina quickly activated her [All-Seeing Eye]—

[Psychological State]

‘It’s been… several millennia since anyone has stroked my head?’

‘Seraphina’s touch… it has a maternal warmth to it…’

‘Hmph… Seraphina is a woman who could be my mother. I truly wish she would stroke me longer…’

‘Ugh… I clearly love Lady Iqiyah… This is truly sinful. Lady Iqiyah, please forgive your disloyal maid…’

‘No, I’m not sorry?’

“Miss Levian, please calm down…”

Seraphina was genuinely alarmed. She knew of Levian’s secret obsessions and had no desire to become entangled with such a terrifying entity.

“Miss Seraphina… your recent actions have truly… made me feel quite empty.”

Unfortunately, things did not go as planned; Levian had clearly undergone a transformation.

[Psychological State] Recollections of an Unknown Time:

‘Ugh… videos featuring only Lady Iqiyah, and videos featuring both Lady Seraphina and Lady Iqiyah, have vastly different popularity within the “Church of Worshipping Lady Iqiyah,” don’t they…’

‘Ugh… it seems so. It’s as if whenever Lady Seraphina is present, Lady Iqiyah becomes even cuter ❤’

‘Eek… this angle isn’t good. Lady Seraphina’s presence on screen is a bit too high…’

‘But for some reason, Lady Seraphina is also quite pleasing to the eye. That rare black hair, coupled with those beautiful eyes identical to Lady Iqiyah’s… she wouldn’t be a bad substitute for Lady Iqiyah, either…’

‘Hehe… Huh? Why is there one photo that’s entirely of Lady Seraphina? Was I confused when I took it?’

‘Ugh… although I don’t have much memory left, I can’t bring myself to delete it…’

‘Ah, ah… Lady Seraphina… Lady Iqiyah… you are both mine… both mine…’

“…”

‘Has this thing just ripped out her underlying code? How can I see her entire thought process so clearly?’

“Lady Seraphina, you have taken Lady Iqiyah away from me. Please compensate me.”

“Uh-uh, well, how about I give Lady Iqiyah back to you? No, no, no! I’ll personally teach you how to pursue Lady Iqiyah! Guaranteed success!”

“Hmph, no need. Lady Iqiyah is still napping.”

Gripping Seraphina’s hand, Levian slowly lowered it from her head, intertwining their fingers.

“Thanks to you, I’ve learned quite a lot recently… Please allow me to demonstrate ❤”

“No, I only taught you that one small thing, I didn’t teach you a lot… Gwah! My hand’s going to break! Don’t you dare shake them like that!!!”

As the two playfully bickered—

“Mmm… What’s that noisy sound… Have we arrived?”

Perhaps roused by the violent shaking of her “pillow,” Iqiyah awoke from her slumber.

She arched her back, stretched her arms, and twisted her body, reluctantly prying open her dry, sleepy eyes. Then…

Then, she witnessed a scene that made her heart seize up—

Her most beloved kin and her most loyal maid, fingers intertwined, were pressed intimately together above her head. One large, one small; one abundant, one scarce; complementing each other, they cast a vast, encompassing shadow.

“Ah, Lady Iqiyah has woken up.”

“Uh-uh… Lady Iqiyah, you seem a bit unwell. Perhaps you should try to sleep a little more…”

“Gu-woah…!”

Confronted by Seraphina’s feigned ignorance, Iqiyah’s face puffed up like a balloon.

“Seraphina! You big meanie, I’m never talking to you again!!!”