The dim glow of enchanted moonlight still bathed Carmilla's chambers as dawn tried in vain to pierce the eternal night of her territory. Kazuya sat shirtless on the edge of the queen's grand bed, staring at the half-empty goblet of blood-red wine on the table beside him. Carmilla lay beneath black velvet sheets, the silk clinging to her bare form, her breathing soft and satisfied.
She had collapsed sometime after the third round, her body glowing faintly from the rush of whatever serum Lilith had "accidentally" used. Even now, her cheeks retained the warmth of that lustful intoxication—desire sated, but dreams still tangled in her lashes.
Kazuya stood and stretched, letting the cold castle air kiss his skin. He quietly stepped away from the bed and began surveying the room. Not because he was curious—because he was cautious.
He scanned the lavish space: gothic tapestries, towering bookshelves, arcane ornaments, and portraits that stared a little too knowingly. Behind the crimson drapes near the hearth, his fingers found something. A hidden cabinet, lined with velvet.
He opened it.
Inside were vials. Dozens of them. Each one labeled in delicate vampire script. His eyes narrowed as he couldn't understand what they did. The vampires he came across only spoke in human language so he never got to learn the vampire's. But with the Queen on his side, that didn't look to far in future.
Behind the vials, he spotted a tiny scroll. Unrolling it revealed Carmilla's neat handwriting, outlining various dosage strategies—some to extract secrets from enemies, others to weaken strong-willed visitors. One name stood out: Kazuya.
He sighed.
"I knew it," he muttered, pocketing the scroll into his vault, "She wanted both my body and my corpse."
A soft knock interrupted his thoughts. He turned just as Medusa stepped inside, her armor re-fastened, her gaze calm and unclouded.
"She's asleep?" she asked.
"Yeah," Kazuya replied, tucking away his findings. "I think I… fed her a little too well."
Medusa glanced toward the bed, then back at Kazuya. "She was glowing like a flame by the end. Whatever was in that meat—she devoured it like a beast."
Kazuya asked "You're not mad seeing your master like this?"
Medusa tilted her head slightly. "No. I've only known you a few days. I serve, I protect, and I observe. What happens in a queen's chamber is not my business... but what happens in her shadow is."
She approached slowly and held something out to him. A black feather.
"She dropped this. It's enchanted—used to send messages. She contacted someone before your arrival."
Kazuya took it, eyeing the feather carefully. "Thanks," he said quietly.
Medusa nodded once. "She's dangerous, Kazuya. That hasn't changed just because she kissed you."
Just then, a smooth, familiar voice rang out inside his mind—silken and teasing.
"You're welcome, by the way."
Kazuya blinked, recognizing the voice of Lilith.
"I said truth serum… but c'mon, this was so much more fun. Virginity lost. Hidden plot exposed. One stone, two birds. Or... one queen and a devil."
"Lilith," Kazuya muttered under his breath, amused. "You are something else."
"Don't worry. I'll send flowers if she stabs you later."
The connection faded with a soft laugh echoing in his head. He ran a hand through his hair and turned back to Medusa. "Let's get ready. I'm sure our lovely host has another performance planned."
The next morning, Kazuya stood at the head of a long, obsidian table in Carmilla's dining hall. Dozens of nobles sat on either side, cloaked in rich fabrics, their pale faces watching him with veiled curiosity—and danger.
The ceremonial breakfast was an elaborate display: bowls of blood pudding, crimson wine, and trays of exotic meats. Candles hovered midair, dripping wax into black glass.
Carmilla sat beside Kazuya, regal once more, draped in a blood-red gown, her golden crown now perched atop her head like nothing had happened the night before. But Kazuya noticed the faint glow in her cheeks every time their eyes met.
"Kazuya-sama," she purred, her voice velvet. "Last night was... enlightening. I trust you slept well?"
"I did," he replied with equal smoothness. "Very warm reception."
A few vampires across the table chuckled politely, others exchanged wary glances.
The Queen raised her goblet and addressed the court. "Our guest has not only survived the wrath of the Tepes but has given us hope. A strong ally. A warrior. And perhaps…" she paused, her eyes grazing his, "something more."
The room buzzed with whispers.
Elmenhilde, seated two spots down, kept her eyes low—but she was clearly calculating. Something about the attention Carmilla lavished on Kazuya unnerved her.
One of the older nobles raised his hand. "Forgive me, my queen... but should we truly place so much faith in a human? Even one... so gifted?"
Kazuya smiled. "Faith is overrated," he said calmly, slicing into a piece of meat. "Fear works just as well."
The tension was palpable.
That's when Medusa leaned in from behind, whispering into Kazuya's ear.
He followed her gaze.
A noblewoman seated near the end of the table, dressed in ceremonial white, was fidgeting with something beneath the tablecloth. Her eyes didn't meet his once.
Kazuya's pupils shrank slightly.
"Elmenhilde," he said aloud, voice cutting across the room. "Who is she?"
The vampire noble raised her head, startled.
"She's Lady Ydris, daughter of Councilor Vehl. A supporter of Carmilla's rise."
Kazuya's tone stayed calm. "Then she won't mind being searched."
The room froze.
Carmilla glanced at Kazuya, the tiniest spark of alarm flaring behind her smile. "Kazuya-sama…"
But it was too late.
Lady Ydris stood swiftly, eyes wide with fury. "You dare—?"
Medusa moved faster than thought. A flick of her dagger, and the table split in two. Ydris shrieked, throwing a knife laced with green liquid directly at Kazuya.
He flicked his wrist—Compress.
The space around the blade shrunk midair, collapsing it into a glowing dot that fizzled into nothing.
Kazuya stood slowly, his smile gone.
"First a rigged carriage. Now breakfast with poison."
He looked at Carmilla, whose expression was unreadable. "Your kingdom's hospitality is just full of surprises."
Ydris was tackled to the ground by two guards, but her eyes burned with hate. "You'll never belong here. You'll die like the others."
Carmilla rose, her voice a melodic command. "Take her to the dungeons. I will deal with her personally."
As the room slowly returned to its eerie normalcy, Kazuya leaned close to her ear.
"That's two assassination attempts. Next time, it won't be your enemies I suspect."
Carmilla didn't flinch. But her lips curved upward, whispering back, "Then I'll make sure there isn't a third."