A Misunderstanding and a Tease

Seraphina was startled by Cardo’s panicked expression.

“Hey, hey, hey… why are you making such a fuss? You’re even swearing now…”

“No, no, no…”

It was far more serious than Seraphina had imagined. Cardo’s expression grew increasingly solemn, her brow furrowing deeper with each passing second.

“This must be a trap set by the True Ancestor!”

Suddenly, Cardo’s body rapidly shrunk, transforming into a ball of golden light. It surged violently into Seraphina’s body.

Immediately afterward, Seraphina felt a powerful jolt, as if she had been struck by a forceful impact, sending her sprawling in all directions.

“No, no, buddy,” Seraphina managed to steady herself. “What in the world are you doing?”

“Why even ask? We’re obviously escaping!”

What caught Seraphina completely off guard was that the voice wasn’t Cardo’s at all. It was her own!

‘You bastard, you’re controlling my body again?!’

In the next instant, Cardo had taken over Seraphina’s body, sprinting towards the door at a hundred-meter dash pace.

The moment they exited the room, Cardo (in Seraphina’s body) slammed the door shut with a backhand, then lunged forward with all her might.

Thud!

Like a soldier diving on a grenade, Cardo (as Seraphina) sprawled on the ground, hands clasped tightly over her head, curled into a ball.

Witnessing Cardo’s earnestness, even Seraphina’s heart began to pound intensely.

Yet, several more seconds passed.

There was no magic, no explosion. Nothing but the dust stirred up by the door closing.

“You… you’d better give me a reasonable explanation.”

“And get off me, right now! Don’t you know how uncomfortable it is to have your body controlled!?”

Kicking her feet wildly into the air, Seraphina thrashed about on the ground, only to realize that, at some point, she had regained control of her own body.

“…I’m sorry, I was just too nervous.”

Another flash of golden light emanated, and Cardo reappeared beside Seraphina.

“I… I’m very wary of the True Ancestor.”

“You’re my only hope. I can’t have you dying prematurely…”

“Hey!”

With another thud, Seraphina displayed an unprecedented assertiveness, violently extending her hand and pinning Cardo against the nearby wall.

Though she had no idea of Cardo’s true strength, Seraphina, in her rage, wasn’t considering such details.

“Let me make one thing clear: my purpose in seeking the True Ancestor is to sever the connection of the [True Ancestor’s Blood] within both Iqiyah and myself.”

“I have no interest in your so-called revenge!”

Pressing her face against Cardo, Seraphina gritted her teeth, trying her best to appear more menacing.

“Don’t. Ever. Control. My. Body! And don’t you dare use me to accomplish your revenge!”

“Oh my, oh my, Seraphina, I never would have thought~”

Unexpectedly, Cardo showed no signs of nervousness or any other emotion in the face of Seraphina’s intimidation.

On the contrary, a disquieting playfulness blossomed on her face, as if she had discovered a new source of amusement.

“After only a few days of being with me, you’re already pinning me to the wall… it’s truly enough to make one’s heart race! ❤️”

“No, what are you talking about? I didn’t pin you to the wall!?”

Instantly losing her earlier ferocity, Seraphina was thrown into disarray by Cardo’s clever verbal counterattack.

“Hehe… isn’t it?”

Gently taking Seraphina’s hand, Cardo turned her head and pressed it against her own neck.

“Look… like a hungry wolf pouncing on a lamb… clutching my neck so tightly… gazing at me with eyes that seem intent on conquering me…”

“It’s truly so shy-making! ❤️”

“Hey, hey, hey, it’s clearly you who’s holding onto me, isn’t it?”

Noticing the odd sensation in her wrist, Seraphina looked down at the hand she had used to pin Cardo against the wall.

She saw that Cardo had, at some point, reached for her arm, tucking Seraphina’s wrist beneath her own palm.

Holding Cardo’s wrist, pressing against her neck… no matter how one looked at it, it appeared as though Seraphina was forcing Cardo into submission.

“Hey, hey, hey… still holding my wrist… tonight… are you really that eager to feast?”

“Get lost! My heart will always belong to Iqiyah!”

“Oh?” Cardo’s smile widened even further. “What if Iqiyah were to see this scene right now…?”

“Iqiyah~… Iqiyah! ❤️”

“Hey, hey, hey! Don’t call her name!”

Instantly, Seraphina removed the hand gripping Cardo’s neck. She instinctively lunged forward, covering Cardo’s mouth and pressing her body down.

As if desperately trying to conceal something, Seraphina hid Cardo completely beneath her own body.

“You bastard… don’t you dare cause trouble!”

Furious and exasperated, Seraphina quickly scanned both sides of the corridor, becoming as vigilant as a true jackal.

Meanwhile, Seraphina remained utterly oblivious that her actions had already far exceeded Cardo’s provocations.

‘Argh! If Iqiyah were to see me like this, who knows how much effort I’d have to expend to repair her favorability!’

Given Iqiyah’s previous jealousy regarding Levian and Claire, Seraphina absolutely dared not openly express intimacy with any other woman.

Beneath Seraphina, however, facing Seraphina’s thoughtless, fierce, and instinctive actions, a faint blush colored Cardo’s cheeks.

‘Ah… how ferocious… truly beyond my expectations…’

Glancing around, Seraphina let out a long breath, seemingly confirming that Iqiyah had not been drawn over by Cardo’s calls.

Then, she lowered her head, intending to scold the mischievous Cardo. Yet, the sight that met her eyes next utterly froze her in place.

Before her, Cardo—who usually seemed to see through everything and handle all situations with ease—was now teary-eyed, pressed into Seraphina’s grasp.

Her face was turned, her eyes red, cheeks flushed, and eyelids moist. She presented a pitiful, innocent image, like a virtuous maiden who, knowing there was no escape, begged a villain for mercy.

‘Holy crap… no, what the hell!’

Like an overloaded engine, Seraphina’s heart instantly surged, pounding so violently it felt as though it would leap from her throat.

Although Seraphina had experienced countless interactions with Iqiyah throughout her life…

This kind of “youthful and passionate” experience was, for Seraphina, an absolute first.

Only at this very moment did she truly understand that the masculine part of her heart had not yet completely died.

“I-I’m so sorry!”

After a brief moment of stunned confusion, Seraphina’s rationality finally reclaimed its footing.

Hastily releasing her grip, Seraphina retreated a few steps, leaning against the opposite wall. She kept her head down, avoiding Cardo’s gaze, and simultaneously preventing Cardo from seeing her own thoroughly reddened cheeks.

‘Oh my heavens, oh my heavens… this is too mortifying… If I ever think about this before bed, I’ll be too ashamed to sleep…’

Sitting down and burying her head between her knees, Seraphina didn’t see the equally shy expression on Cardo’s face opposite her.

‘Oh dear… Iqiyah…’

Clutching her flushed cheeks, Cardo’s heart was similarly in turmoil.

‘I finally understand… why you’re so fond of this child…’

‘That courageous demeanor just now… even I couldn’t help but feel a flutter in my heart…’

‘Even if it was just for a moment…’

‘But… this won’t do.’

‘As the elder sister, I must win this round.’

“Se-Seraphina?”

Cardo’s voice was filled with a coy shyness that even she couldn’t discern as genuine or feigned.

“W-what is it?”

Seraphina’s voice, in contrast, was unreservedly hurried.

“Did you forget… that actually, only you can hear my voice? ❤️”

‘?!?!?!!?’

More agitated than before, Seraphina’s face turned as red as a persimmon once again.

However, where before it had been bashfulness, this time it was pure indignation.

“Aaaah! Cardo! I’m not done with you!!!”