A Silent Iqiyah and Levian’s Predatory Advances

A few days later, Iqiyah’s body recovered swiftly. In just a few days, she had almost returned to her previous physique.

With her youthful form restored, Iqiyah’s mental state also reverted to its former level.

However, having seemingly grown accustomed to Seraphina’s close care, she still insisted on sharing a bed with Seraphina. The only difference was that she no longer demanded Seraphina’s meticulous attention.

But whether due to the impending Blood Feast or for some other reason, Iqiyah had been particularly—

“—particularly silent.”

Deep in the night, Seraphina lay slumped over the back of a pew in the “Church of Worshipping Lady Iqiyah,” a forlorn expression on her face.

“What’s wrong? Weren’t you complaining about Lady Iqiyah being too clingy just a while ago?” Levian, who was calmly sipping tea nearby, remarked. “Lady Iqiyah has only been back to normal for a few days, and you’re already unaccustomed to it?”

“After all…” Seraphina recalled Iqiyah’s soft, pliant appearance from a few days prior. “She was just so adorable then.”

“That petite figure, that delicate, flawless face, and… those tender, white feet, soft as bread—now all of them are gone from me…”

“So you were enjoying it back then?”

“No, I wasn’t. I have no desire to be taken away by the police, thank you. Please don’t jump to conclusions.”

“Protesting too much, Lady Seraphina, you lolicon.”

“I am not a lolicon, thank you very much.”

“Let’s not talk about that,” Seraphina quickly interjected, realizing the conversation had strayed. “Don’t you find it strange? Even the old Iqiyah, who acted like a lunatic every day… wasn’t as silent as she is now, was she?”

“That’s true.”

Levian poured a pot of tea and offered it to Seraphina. “And, she’s been frequenting the library quite a bit lately.”

“The library?”

Seraphina took the tea and took a sip.

“Huh? There’s a library in the mansion?”

“Yes, there is. If you walk out from the dining room, it’s the first room in the corridor.”

The library, huh. Seraphina recalled her university days in her previous life.

Unfortunately, when she was struck by the “Great Transport” in her previous life, she was still in her sophomore year of university. She hadn’t started preparing for graduate school nor did she plan to take civil service exams.

Instead, she spent every day in her dorm practicing takeoffs and landings—on Microsoft Flight Simulator, no less—and had never once set foot in a library.

‘But… what would one do at a library, exactly? Presumably, research and study, right?’

“Still… it is rather peculiar now that I think about it,” Levian said, reaching out to take Seraphina’s empty teacup and refilling it. “As far as I know, Lady Iqiyah hasn’t visited the library in several hundred years.”

“?” Hearing this, Seraphina felt a strange sensation. “If she doesn’t go to the library, and there are no entertainment facilities in the mansion, then what does she do for fun?”

‘Go out on patrol? No, that felt more like Iqiyah’s job.’

‘Play with the maids? That wasn’t very likely either. While the maids held a “loyalty” to Iqiyah that surpassed typical master-servant relationships, Iqiyah genuinely showed no interest in them. (A pity.)’

‘Then…’

“Lady Seraphina,” Levian said, handing the tea back to Seraphina. “To hear that question come from your lips truly surprises me.”

“Wh-what do you mean?” Seraphina asked, a hint of surprise in her voice.

“Haven’t you considered why Lady Iqiyah brought you home in the first place?”

‘Why…’

Her memory drifted back to that night, nearly a month ago. Only then did Seraphina recall her original purpose for becoming one of Iqiyah’s retainers—

“To become your servant! To follow in your footsteps! To assist you in your pursuit of ‘that’!”

‘Ah, right.’

“This one, when she has nothing to do, she isn’t just indulging in her lewd interests in her room, is she?”

“Hmm~” A faint blush rose on Levian’s cheeks. “Not exactly, but there are a few specific times…”

“Speaking of which, back then, I could still monopolize Lady Iqiyah’s [Heroic Demeanor]~”

“Monopolize, huh…”

The word triggered a memory. Seraphina recalled Levian’s heartfelt confession before their departure, and Iqiyah’s tearful lamentations to her that very night.

“By the way, Levian…”

“I’ve taken your Lady Iqiyah away… are you truly without any resentment?”

“? Not at all.”

Observing Levian’s seemingly magnanimous demeanor, Seraphina couldn’t shake a sense of unreality.

After all, when they first met, she had been so consumed by jealousy towards Seraphina that she practically fumed, even threatening to kill her.

“I’ve already told you the specifics, haven’t I…”

Slowly, Levian raised her head languidly, opening a pair of silken, alluring eyes…

Pink hearts flashed, shimmering, making Seraphina’s heart flutter with unease.

“Le-Levian… like this… don’t you feel like you’re betraying Lady Iqiyah?”

“Betrayal?” Levian rose to her feet, casting a shadow over Seraphina. “Not at all.”

“Lady Seraphina, tell me, would a hunter ever complain about having too much prey?”

Licking her lips, Levian pressed her palms together like a nun, slowly advancing towards Seraphina.

“Whoa, whoa, Levian.” Seraphina quickly stood up, raising her hands in refusal as she slowly retreated, attempting to distance herself from the two gradually approaching behemoths before her. “Calm down, just calm down. Be a good child of pure love; don’t easily fall for someone else, okay?”

“Pure love?” Levian’s lips curved upwards. “You must be joking, aren’t you?”

“In this Blood Manor, isn’t the most promiscuous person… you?”

“No, no, I certainly am not…”

Just then, Seraphina’s body was suddenly overcome by an inexplicable wave of weakness.

This weakness was like a powerful vacuum cleaner, instantly draining all of Seraphina’s strength and faculties. Powerless, her legs buckled, and she toppled sideways onto the ground like a helpless maiden.

“Hmm~ And you say you’re not,” Levian purred, pulling a camera from her front pocket. “That pitiful, vulnerable look on your face—aren’t you just trying to seduce me?❤”

“Wh-what are you talking about…”

Giving Seraphina no chance to react, Levian’s body suddenly descended, pinning Seraphina firmly beneath her with her hands and torso.

“Le-Levian, you, you must be possessed by Iqiyah’s lewd side, right…?”

Seraphina futilely raised her hands, attempting to resist the grasping maid so close to her.

But it was all in vain.

“Lady Seraphina, you taught me to be bold in attack…”

Grabbing Seraphina’s hands, Levian pressed Seraphina forcefully onto the ground.

“Besides… I’m barely using any strength~ It’s clearly you playing hard to get, isn’t it~”

‘What’s happening?’

Looking at Levian’s relaxed arms, Seraphina knew she wasn’t lying.

‘Then… why am I like this…?’

Inadvertently, Seraphina’s peripheral vision caught sight of something white.

Memories from her previous life flooded her mind. Everything suddenly made sense.

Tea. Black tea. More precisely, sleeping tea.

“Have you realized it, Lady Seraphina?”

A pair of soft, hemispherical behemoths pressed against Seraphina’s chest. Warm breaths rapidly fanned Seraphina’s face, painting the atmosphere a rosy pink.

“Even if you’ve realized, you can’t escape now, you know❤”

“Hmph, hmph,”

As Levian drew closer to Seraphina’s body, beginning her “meal,” Seraphina couldn’t help but let out a mournful cry.

“Hngh-ahhhhhhh, ahhhhhhhh…!”

The sleeping tea, remarkably effective.

“You are… you are… you are… you are…”

A Midsummer Night’s Silver Illusion thus began—

****

Meanwhile, in the library of the Blood Manor.

Iqiyah closed the book and returned it to the shelf.

“I didn’t find it…”

A rare gravity hung on her face, and her heart was in utter turmoil.

Perhaps… not even when facing Sevilya’s death threat had she been so distraught.

All of this was due to that dream in the carriage that night, while resting on Seraphina’s lap—

At a banquet, one bloodkin killed another bloodkin.

Though she couldn’t clearly see their faces, Iqiyah knew that one of them was her father.

And the other was Seraphina.

They pierced her heart, drained her blood, and burned her body under the sunlight… until it turned to ashes.

Though there was no reason, Iqiyah knew this dream had to be real.

Because… in her childhood, she had experienced similar dreams.

That dream had foreshadowed a bloody reality, taking away her closest kin.

And this time—

“Seraphina…”

Without further delay, Iqiyah swiftly pulled out another book.

“I will never let you die.”