Don't Hold Back
I stared at Elteumia with a look that screamed, What the hell are you even talking about? The sheer absurdity of it left me speechless.
Elteumia was still watching me with eyes full of suspicion, unwavering and resolute. I tried to think of some way to explain my Blood Flow Acceleration without sounding completely insane.
…Yeah, it was more than enough to cause a misunderstanding.
No matter how much I denied it, the symptoms were far too similar to a vampire’s blood magic. Even if I explained that I’d come up with the technique on my own, would she even be able to understand? Teaching her the principles of blood vessels and heart function would be a whole ordeal in itself.
…Well, do I really need to make her understand?
If she wants to mistake it for blood magic? Fine by me. It actually works in my favor. It means I can disguise Blood Flow Acceleration as magic.
The corner of my mouth curled up on its own.
“Elteumia.”
“…W-what?”
She must have sensed something suspicious in my expression, because Elteumia began to tense up. I slowly leaned forward, bringing my lips close to her ear, and whispered.
“If what you’re saying is true… isn’t it dangerous for you to be alone with me like this?”
The moment my breath brushed against the nape of her neck, Elteumia’s shoulders jerked up as if she’d been struck by lightning.
“Hiiik…!”
She let out a short scream and stumbled backward. Her face had gone deathly pale, and she was trembling with both hands clutching her neck.
…If she reacts that strongly, it actually makes me feel bad.
“Y-you…!”
“What? Weren’t you expecting this when you came here?”
“…! So you were deliberately trying to lure me in…!”
She was the one who said she’d come. She was the one who actually showed up. And now she’s claiming I lured her?
“According to the old texts, vampires are supposed to be quite fond of dragonkin blood.”
“…?! W-what?!”
Elteumia jumped in terror, scrambled up onto the windowsill, and leaped out in one swift motion. I watched her flee through the window and let out a helpless chuckle.
“Ha, seriously. Still doing whatever she wants.”
She misunderstands however she likes, becomes convinced on her own, then gets scared on her own and runs away.
…Though I suppose I did give her a little scare.
Of course, from my perspective, her wild misunderstanding had actually helped me get a grip on the situation. So for the time being, I decided I’d just let her keep misunderstanding and jumping to conclusions.
Because it’s entertaining.
I was just about to close the window with that thought when—
“Has the young lady left?”
Lise entered the room and asked. Normally her expression would have been completely blank, but for some reason she was staring with the wide eyes of a startled rabbit.
I leaned against the railing and met her gaze. Confusion, fear, and something that looked like resolve were all mixed together on her face.
“Yeah, she just left.”
I answered indifferently. Lise stood frozen by the doorway, staring at me intently. It looked like she had something to say.
“What is it?”
Lise swallowed dryly, then asked cautiously, as if hesitant.
“Are you… really a vampire?”
“…What?”
I couldn’t believe my ears. I’d thought Elteumia was the only one lost in her own delusions, but apparently someone else had been listening in and reached the same conclusion.
…Come to think of it, she’s always eavesdropping.
I frowned without realizing it. But Lise didn’t back down.
“I happened to overhear the conversation you were having with the young lady.”
Happened to overhear it every single time, huh.
“If Master is truly one of the night kin… then it would explain why you’ve never laid a hand on me all this time.”
No, why the hell would that be the point that convinces you?
Even though she’d clearly seen my dumbfounded expression, Lise began laying out her reasoning.
“Contrary to the rumors, even though you keep me by your side, you’ve never shown the slightest lust. And in the middle of the night, your room smelled of blood and was covered in it. And during the day… that magic you used.”
Listening to her deductions, it all sounded so perfectly connected that it was almost impressive. If you pieced the fragments together one by one, it was easy to reach that conclusion.
Of course, the premise itself was completely wrong.
“If all of that is because Master is a vampire… moreover, a high-ranking one… then every bizarre thing that’s happened so far makes sense.”
She was completely serious. Lise was speaking to me with the utmost sincerity.
But faced with that deadly serious expression, I couldn’t hold it in any longer.
“Pfft—ahahahaha!”
I burst out laughing. She was just too cute.
Wiping away the tears that had formed in my eyes, I answered.
“You’re talking like a total lunatic. No. I’m not.”
Lise shook her head, still looking like she didn’t believe me. Instead, she took a step closer. Then, in a desperate voice, she pleaded.
“I already belong to you, Master. I am yours, so please—at least be honest with me.”
“…I am being honest.”
“At least…”
Lise’s eyes trembled. She looked up at me with reddened eyes, like a prisoner awaiting judgment.
“At least… give me enough time to prepare myself mentally.”
“Prepare?”
“Becoming the subordinate of a high-ranking vampire… doesn’t that mean I would also have to become a vampire?”
Ah. Only then did I finally understand what she was steeling herself for.
So this girl was firmly convinced that I would soon turn her into my thrall.
I never imagined someone’s misunderstanding could reach such a level of awe-inspiring absurdity.
“Ha, seriously.”
When I let out a hollow laugh, Lise’s face crumpled as if she’d been hurt. Then, with an expression that said she couldn’t accept it, she asked once more.
“It’s… really not true?”
“It’s not.”
“Then why won’t you lay a hand on me?”
…Excuse me?
I was at a loss for words. I couldn’t figure out what exactly she was dissatisfied about.
Did she not want to become a vampire? Or was she upset that I hadn’t touched her?
There was no way a girl who had been forcibly turned into a slave would actually want me to lay hands on her. And I certainly couldn’t tell her the truth—that I was deliberately avoiding unnecessary story routes with the main heroine in order to dodge death flags.
Besides, there was something else I could tell from her tone, her choice of words, and her phrasing.
So she knows she’s beautiful.
The fact that she was questioning why I wouldn’t touch her made it clear she had an objective awareness of her own appearance.
In other words, it was basically: I’m this pretty, so why haven’t you touched me? Are you really not a vampire?
And truthfully, she was beautiful enough that the thought made perfect sense. Touching her would be a one-way ticket to getting screwed.
“Stop thinking useless things and go to sleep.”
But Lise tilted her head, still looking puzzled. Damn, she really doesn’t listen.
“I truly don’t understand. Young Master, you never show any desire toward me… you’ve been completely indifferent, and I just can’t…”
“Who said I have no desire?”
“…Pardon?”
“How could any man look at you and not feel desire? That would be abnormal.”
For a moment, Lise froze as if she’d been turned to stone. Her eyes were wide open, and even her eyebrows didn’t twitch.
…Ah.
Only then did I realize what I had just said. I’d only meant to brush her off because her persistent questioning was annoying.
But the truth had slipped out before I could stop it.
Lise’s red eyes darted back and forth. From her pale cheeks to the tips of her ears, her face began turning a deep, explosive red.
“U-uhh…”
The girl who was usually expressionless was now stuttering in utter panic. She fidgeted with her hands like someone who had burned themselves, unsure where to look, completely flustered.
The sight was both unbearably cute and terrifying.
“Go to sleep.”
I waved my hand in exaggerated annoyance and practically shoved her toward the door. Lise, still flushed bright red, shuffled out of the room like a broken doll, creaking with every step.
Once the door closed, I collapsed onto the bed and rubbed my face with both hands.
“I’m fucked.”
The next day, I walked down the academy corridor, massaging my stiff neck.
As usual, I felt countless gazes pouring over me. The incident with Eisen had spread like wildfire, and people’s eyes had once again shifted to looks of awe.
That was when I spotted a particularly eye-catching head of blue hair. I was planning to just walk past her like always.
But the moment she noticed me, Elteumia visibly flinched and took a step back.
“H-hiiik!”
She reflexively raised both hands to cover her neck. Then she peeked at me with anxious, terrified eyes.
She slowly sidled along the corridor wall, keeping her distance and staying on high alert.
…She’s really going that far.
I clicked my tongue in disbelief. It was just too ridiculous.
But unlike my own feelings, the eyes of those watching from around us were far from normal. The murmurs grew into a full-blown buzz, and the academy quickly connected Elteumia’s defensive behavior with me, spinning it into yet another wild misunderstanding.
They said Eros Brioche had left a mark on the young lady’s neck.
That he had targeted the young lady’s neck to create a master-servant bond and force her into submission.
That Eros Brioche apparently had a thing for necks.
Added to the existing rumors about Eros Brioche’s character, the gossip created countless new possibilities.
The problem was that among those who had heard the rumors, one person in particular reacted very noticeably.
It was after I had finished my daily schedule and returned to the dormitory.
“Haa, I’m tired.”
I was about to throw myself onto the living room sofa when I noticed Lise’s behavior was strangely unnatural.
…
She kept fidgeting, constantly turning her head to look elsewhere. Then, as if frustrated, she began fiddling with her collar.
When I looked at her with a puzzled expression, she put on a determined face, as if she had made up her mind.
…????
With trembling hands, she slowly undid the top button of her shirt. She didn’t stop there—she undid the second button as well.
As the buttons that had been fastened all the way to her neck came undone, her shirt parted softly. Her pale neck and deeply defined collarbone came into view.
…
She was looking at me. Her eyes seemed to say, Look at me.
With her cheeks burning red and making no attempt to hide it, Lise bit her lip and stared straight at me.
“Y-you don’t have to hold back.”
…This is insane.