Weak in the Morning
Lyn, my contact.
A senior operative in the Assassins' Guild and the older sister—by five years—of Hannah, the woman who had drilled the fundamentals of assassination into me. Her unannounced nocturnal visit wasn't driven by anything particularly dramatic. She had simply come to drop off a fresh batch of supplies, brief me on a handful of Academy secrets and potential hazards, and establish a protocol for how I could reach her should I ever find myself in over my head.
"You're an Academy professor?"
"Yep. Been serving as the close-quarters combat instructor for quite a while now, so there are essentially zero restrictions on who I mingle with on campus."
"I suppose... having that kind of cover makes things considerably easier than most identities."
"Right? So don't be a stranger, junior. Just drop by my office whenever you feel like it."
"Understood."
"As for filing monthly intelligence reports and sending routine check-ins, the Guild Master covered all of that with you, right? I doubt I need to walk you through it again."
Was it because she was a veteran operative and Hannah's older sister? Despite her petite stature and soft, rounded features that looked as youthful as mine, Lyn carried herself with far more maturity than her appearance suggested. Her briefing had been impeccably concise—so much so that I didn't have a single follow-up question.
"Even though it's only our first day, I actually have some intelligence to report to headquarters."
"Already?"
"Yes. On our way here, two assassins targeted the Third Princess. They infiltrated Baron Stupido's estate and made it all the way into our bedchamber."
"Hmm.... Trouble is brewing much faster than anticipated."
"Yes. They weren't exceptionally powerful, but they were unquestionably operating under a contract. They slipped straight into our quarters without raising any alarm."
I quickly brought Lyn up to speed on the previous night's incident. I told her that I had neutralized them on the spot to eliminate any lingering variables, and explained where the corpses were hidden and how I had collected all their belongings. Given that yesterday was my very first taste of real combat, it was far better to leave the assessment to an experienced guild veteran rather than relying on my own untested judgment. Besides, now that we had arrived at the Academy, my schedule would be far too packed to conduct an independent investigation.
"So that's why the Imperial Family hired us to guard the Third Princess."
"Do you think so?"
"At first, we thought it was just standard royal overprotection—parents fretting over their kid. But this smells rotten. Having hostiles lying in wait inside the carriage trailing right behind the Third Princess?"
"That bothered me as well. Fortunately, nothing untoward happened to the luggage carriage."
"Got it, junior. I'll relay this back to headquarters. It's late, so get some sleep."
"I can't close the window and draw the curtains until you leave, Senior. After you."
"Ah, true enough! Sharp kid."
Having wrapped up our business, Lyn offered a few encouraging words like a proper senior, though her adorable face made it hard to take her entirely seriously. She felt more like a peer my own age than a seasoned mentor. Then again, from Cecilia's perspective, my appearance probably didn't look like that of an adult peer either....
Well, whatever.
Lyn pulled her hooded cloak back over her head, stepped onto the sill, and dropped out the window into the abyss below. For a split second, my heart leaped into my throat, terrified she was plunging to her death—but being a Cat Beastfolk, she landed silently and melted into the darkness without a hitch.
...Maybe I should have rolled a beastfolk instead of a Half-Vampire.
"Yaaawn...."
Starting my morning as Cecilia's personal maid wasn't particularly difficult. After spending a full week honing the routine at Hwanggeum-ok, I had gotten the hang of it, and the basic duties weren't overly demanding. Opening my eyes at precisely eight o'clock, I headed straight to the washroom to bathe before changing into my maid uniform.
"Espresso, and a sandwich."
I coaxed rich coffee from the machine while lightly grilling strips of ham and bacon on the stove, slipping them between toasted slices of bread to assemble a quick breakfast. For an imperial princess, it was a remarkably modest spread, but it catered perfectly to Cecilia's tastes—she preferred light meals, especially in the morning. The sandwich contained nothing more than ham, crisp lettuce, a sliver of cheese, and a delicate spread of mayonnaise and mustard.
By the time the tray was arranged neatly on the table, it was half past eight. Perfectly on schedule, as always.
"Your Highness, it is morning."
Instead of flicking on the glaring overhead chandelier, I illuminated the soft mood lamp beside her bed. Cecilia was notoriously prickly and chronically fatigued, so a gentle awakening was far more effective. Jostling her awake too abruptly was an easy way to incur her wrath.
Resting a hand on her shoulder, I rocked her gently, speaking in a low, soothing hum. After about ten minutes of coaxing....
"...Just five more minutes......."
In sharp contrast to her usual sharp-tongued demeanor, she mumbled something astonishingly adorable. I had witnessed this spectacle every morning for the past week. Contrary to her regal, aloof image, Cecilia was utterly helpless in the morning, which actually made her far easier to handle. When a woman this gorgeous let her haughty guard down and softened into pure vulnerability, it was impossible not to smile. If only she could stay this sweet and docile all the time. How wonderful would it be if her personality matched her stunning face?
Unfortunately, my little moment of amusement never lasted long.
"Haaah.... Is breakfast ready?"
"Yes, Your Highness. I have prepared a light sandwich and an espresso, just as you like."
The ten minutes she had bargained for in her sleepy daze came and went, and she rose from the sheets with her usual intimidating glare. She wasn't deliberately glaring at me, per se, but her naturally languid, decadent gaze carried a chilling intensity that was always nerve-racking to meet head-on.
Guiding the groggy princess into the sitting room, I gently began untangling her pale blond tresses with a brush. Although she was scheduled for a bath right after breakfast, her hair cascaded well past her waist, and she hated tying it back. Leaving it unbrushed until bath time was asking for trouble, especially since her locks held a subtle, natural wave. Taking the time to smooth it out first saved a world of pain later.
Caring for Cecilia meant my mornings were packed from the second I woke up. As she neared the end of her meal, I slipped into the adjoining washroom to begin drawing her bath. The core of my morning routine culminated in bathing her and thoroughly drying her hair.
"Dress."
"...Yes, Your Highness."
The moment I finished preparing the water, Cecilia appeared at the washroom threshold with impeccable timing. She stood with her arms lightly outstretched, wordlessly commanding me to undress her.
Swallowing hard, I reached for the buttons of her silk nightgown, peeling away the fabric piece by piece. A chaotic storm of thoughts assaulted my mind. Whatever grievances I had with her razor-sharp personality, her face and figure were... frankly undeniable. Even in the game's promotional trailer, her breathtaking beauty had seared itself into my memory—and experiencing that perfection in the flesh was an entirely different ordeal.
"......."
Out of all my maid duties, attending Cecilia's bath was by far the most grueling. Loosening the sleepwear, unhooking the undergarments, sliding them down smooth skin—each step sent my heart hammering madly against my ribs. I had to focus every shred of willpower on keeping my fingers strictly professional, praying she wouldn't detect the slightly impure thoughts running rampant through my head.
To Cecilia, who had spent her entire life being waited on by imperial attendants, this was just another Tuesday. But to me—someone who had lived as a red-blooded man for over two decades, someone who was entirely attracted to women—standing here in the body of a petite girl didn't change my internal wiring. Blood rushed furiously to my cheeks.
"Your Highness, I-I will wash you now."
"Proceed. I will keep my eyes closed."
"...Yes."
I stumbled slightly over my words, but Cecilia seemed too groggy to notice. Closing her eyes, she settled comfortably into the smaller preparation tub. My gaze inevitably swept over her porcelain skin—the luscious, voluptuous curves that boldly proclaimed her womanhood, contrasting starkly with my own flat frame, and all the bare, intimate details laid out without a single stitch of clothing to obscure them.
"...Phew."
Exhaling a trembling breath, I steadied my nerves and began the task. Knowing she despised chilly water, I adjusted the temperature to a comforting warmth, washing her long hair first before gently lathering a damp cloth with fragrant soap and sweeping it over her shoulders. Technically, the process was straightforward. But with the soul of a grown man trapped inside a maiden's frame, the sheer embarrassment was overwhelming. I took painstaking care to avoid touching anything sensitive, moving with deliberate caution.
"...All finished, Your Highness."
"Quite pleasant. Aside from your occasional heavy sighing, that is."
"...I will be more mindful in the future."
"Do not bother. You have been like this every single time you bathe me; it is hardly a habit you can fix now. Just do as you please. It is not as though I will have any maid other than you at the Academy anyway."
"Even so, if it causes Your Highness discomfort, I must take greater care."
"...Haah. You truly never concede an argument, do you?"
Freshly cleansed, Cecilia rose from the washing stool and stepped gracefully toward the much larger soaking tub. The bath chamber housed two basins: one for washing, and an expansive tub meant for long, relaxing soaks that could easily accommodate three people. It was Cecilia's custom to unwind in the warm water for twenty minutes once her wash was complete.
"Please enjoy your soak, Your Highness. Shall I return in twenty minutes?"
"Yes. You must be weary from the morning rush as well. Go have some breakfast and rest."
"Understood. Please take your time."
Excusing myself with a polite bow, I retreated into the living quarters.
Even after a full week, I simply couldn't get used to it. If anything, the sheer sensory overload made it dangerously hazardous to my mental health.
"...Whew."
First things first: I needed a cup of coffee to calm my frazzled nerves. And, as Cecilia suggested, I ought to grab a bite to eat.
There was still about a week left before Academy registration closed and the new semester began. But we couldn't afford to idle away the days. Cecilia was an imperial princess, not an ordinary student. I needed to procure her academic supplies and arrange a fitting for her bespoke school uniform....
"...The sheer pile of chores is absurd."
Serving as a princess's personal maid was far more grueling than I had ever anticipated. Granted, the visual perks were extraordinary—I couldn't deny that my job satisfaction had its moments—but surviving these nerve-racking mornings was an undeniable ordeal. Sitting at the table, I let out a long sigh, lost in a mountain of thoughts.