Rachael came to our manor one day.

She texted me several days ahead that she was going to take an extended vacation here. It would last a week at the very least, she said. Rachael also told me to 'be prepared,' which made me a bit excited.

However, there was one problem—the princess somehow found out that Penelope had slept with me.

''H-How did you know...?''

''That vermin told me herself. I see your little lover likes to court death, hm?''

Rachael's voice was chilling—a total contrast to the room's rising temperature—and even though her words were still somewhat pretty considering the situation, the tone in which they were uttered told me everything I needed to know.

Penelope was in danger.

No, wait. That pervert brought this on herself, didn't she? I already told her not to tell... ah. Now that I thought about it, I only told her not to send the video.

''...''

I was thoroughly screwed.

...Oh, well. At this point, I only had one choice, and that was to face it head-on. It would probably backfire if I tried something stupid. 

So, I wholeheartedly lowered my head until all that I saw was the ground,

''I have indeed committed a grave sin against Your Highness. For it, I will gladly accept any punishment.'' I spoke clearly, pouring my sincerity into each word.

''...No, why did you do it?''

Honest, honest, and honest. When it came to relationships, nothing would last without honesty.

''As I said before, I acted according to a contract that was signed for my little sister's sake. Nonetheless, I do admit that I also had... certain desires toward Lady Penelope. I do admit that I probably wouldn't have done it if I didn't find her attractive.''

''...''

''Once again, I apologize if you were disappointed that I have such thoughts in the first place or that I didn't tell you from the beginning. I won't make excuses, and I am willing to compensate Your Highness however you want. If you want us to separate, I understand. I could make a contract to keep your secrets as well.''

There was silence for a good while. I couldn't see Rachael's face, but I knew she was probably torn with tough decisions to make.

I didn't really want this, either, but what can I say? I couldn't find a better way to do it. If I had told her my intentions from the beginning, she would have done anything to prevent me from getting with the other two. I was simply too greedy and selfish to let go of two for the remaining one.

But... was this the right choice? I—

''Hah... I'm going crazy.''

''...''

''You know, Cecilia.''

Slowly, I lifted my head. What entered my sight was Rachael with her head in her hand, staring at me with distant eyes.

''It would be an immediate execution if someone were to pull off something that you did against me.'' She said. ''But strangely, I can't bring myself to put you before a gun's barrel.''

''That's probably because you have taken a liking to me, Your Highness. Love can make people reckless... as you just saw.''

''Is that the reason?''

''Perhaps. They often call me pretty.''

I tried making some cutesy gestures, but the cold princess didn't seem to budge at all. This might be... bad. It was perhaps obvious, but I felt extremely anxious at the moment.

I didn't know if it showed on my face or not, but Rachael took a look at me and sighed once more. Before long, she rose from her seat and walked over to settle on my side of the table. Although she still appeared grumpy, all it took to dispel any nervousness inside me was a single pad on her thighs—meaning to climb on her lap.

So, I did just that, wrapping my arms around her cold neck and smiling gleefully.

Ah... the more I looked at her face, the more gorgeous she got. Why was I such a sucker for beautiful women?

''I understand.''

''Y-Yes?''

As I got lost in my thoughts, Rachael suddenly spoke up, holding my waist intimately. Then, her blazing orange eyes were directed at me, glowing a faint light.

''While I would have liked my potential girlfriend not to flirt around with other women and not tell me about it, I understand that you hadn't accepted my terms yet, and we had not been lovers.''

''That—''

''However. Playing around with others' feelings is not at all desirable.''

Ugh... that was the same line she said in the harem route of the game. Hearing it directly was honestly more terrifying than I thought. I was thinking of it like a game when I made the choice, but should I have done it at all...?

''If I were to be direct, your actions were atrocious, and you are a bad person for doing them,'' Rachael added.

''I-I'm sorry...''

I couldn't face her at all. At this point, I could probably be honest with myself, too—that I was a scumbag for beguiling Rachael right from the beginning. 

I thought this was it.

As I lost confidence and my arms were about to retreat—

''But what should I do? I still want you so much.''

''...!''

Gently yet obsessively, Rachael's fingers ran from my back upward, slid through my armpits, grazed the contours of my chest... and landed around my neck. Just like her eyes, her sharp fingernails pressed onto my flesh from all directions, preventing any movement.

''I still want your smiles for my eyes to feast on, your soothing voice in my ears, your warmth on my skin...''

Leaning forward, the princess briefly sealed my lips with hers—a moment of softness.

''...I want your lips for me to kiss, your hip for me to hold, and your blood...''

''Ah... Your Highness...!''

In an instant, I was brought back to that night. My heart already beat so intensely, yet the moment Rachael buried her face in my neck, I could really feel myself being intoxicated by that pleasure again.

''I told you to call me by my name.''

''R-Rachael.''

''Hgn...!''

The reward for being a good girl... was getting my blood sucked. As Rachael drove her fangs into the side of my neck and drank the red liquid in my vein, her strength also got noticeably higher.

Her hot, rushed breaths hit my nape, and she pulled me in even tighter.

Just like before, a tingling, mind-numbing pleasure hit me, causing thoughts to slow down and rouse certain parts of my body. By the time the vampire finally pulled out of me, I was already drained, gasping for air as I clung to her.

''Hah... hah... hah...''

''...''

Yet, Rachael seemed more energized than ever. Our now matching red eyes met, and I instinctively realized that it wouldn't be an easy night for me going forward.

''I will say it once more.'' Rachael calmly uttered. ''Be my girlfriend with the intention of marriage, Cecilia. I shall make you the happiest woman in the world.''

''T-That...''

''And if you are still not sure... I will make sure you understand.''

In half a heartbeat, before I could even make a sound, my cold-blooded princess pinned me down to the couch, her hands clutching my wrists firmly.

''Ah...''

A few strands of her blond hair fell on me. Within the shade, her red eyes glimmered a sinister hue, and so did her protruding fangs. The long and pointy teeth pressed against her plump lips further accentuated her already attractive spot. I found myself mesmerized by her mouth.

Flick.

The princess's tongue ran a cautious line on her pinkish petals, sweeping the residue of my blood on her fangs clean.

''As promised, I will conquer you before anyone does, and you will be mine, Cecilia de Orleans.'' 

A gentle yet menacing whisper. Then, as she moved closer to me—

''I hope you are prepared... because I will not hold back this time.''