Carlotta asked me to let her bite me.

That was weird.

My ears weren't failing me, right?

Not at all.

Judging by how mortified she looked, it was true.

Which was strange and...

That was... actually kind of a good thing too.

What was enduring a little bite compared to dying because of one of her crazy plans?

I mean, if everything goes the way I have it planned, I should be able to make myself a little less of her enemy and more of a friend... at least enough that she won't want to kill me.

"Okay."

"...Uh? 'Okay' what…?"

Carlotta looked at me with such genuine confusion that, for a second, I forgot who she really was.

Her blue eyes were opened just a little too wide, stiff, as if she couldn't process the words that had just come out of my mouth.

I couldn't blame her.

I couldn't believe I'd said them either.

I just hoped, mentally begging every saint that existed and several that probably didn't, that it wouldn't hurt too much.

I still didn't understand why Kathryn's body was so absurdly sensitive. It was as if the developers of this world had decided to put all their points into "embarrassing reactions + ultra tactile sensitivity" and leave everything else empty.

I looked away when I felt Carlotta's eyes slowly lower to my neck.

No.

More than looking... she seemed to be devouring it.

Like a predator staring at the exact spot where it would sink its fangs.

A shiver ran down my spine.

"Well… uh… bite me."

I paused.

"Wow. That sounded way worse than I expected..."

I let out a quick, nervous laugh. Better get back to what I was saying.

"Meh, whatever. I don’t really get what kind of weird fetish you’ve got, bu— Ow!"

I cut myself off immediately.

Carlotta's gaze changed.

It wasn't immediate. It was slow. Subtle. But enough to make me feel a heavy pressure crushing my chest.

Ah. I think I just imagined how she'd bury my corpse.

"I mean..." I continued quickly, trying to save myself. "I don’t think you’d ask me that just on a whim, right? Besides, Carola said she went to get blood for you… so I guess somehow you can recover your blood if you bite me… or something, right?"

"...Yes."

That didn't sound like a firm answer.

It sounded more like a desperate excuse.

...Wait... what if she really did have a fetish?

But then she looked away and clenched her jaw.

"...I don’t need to… I can endure it until- ah…"

The small moan that escaped her lips cut the sentence short.

And something inside me too.

Because it sounded painful.

Too painful.

My stomach tightened.

Yeah, I disliked her. A lot. She was a classist, arrogant villain and probably capable of burying me alive without regret. But even so... I didn't want to see her like that.

I didn't want to see her trembling while pretending she was fine.

It brought back bad memories from my previous life... nobody deserves to suffer in silence without being able to express their feelings.

Carlotta seemed to be struggling to decide whether she'd let me help her or not.

For a moment I considered moving closer to support her a little, but it wasn't necessary.

"A-Are you sure...?"

I swallowed when I realized what I had to say.

"Yeah. Just look at yourself! I feel like you’re gonna collapse any second and then Carola’s gonna kill me for letting you die… B-But tell me something first… W-Will it hurt? Because I’m really not good with pain…"

I tried to sound confident.

The result was pathetic.

My voice cracked at the end like a victim voluntarily walking into a horror movie.

Damn it.

I'm not cut out to be a protagonist.

"No..." she murmured between uneven breaths. "And I swear if anyone finds out about this… I’ll kill you. No matter what, you die."

I let out a nervous laugh.

That didn't sound like a threat. It sounded like a completely sincere promise.

Am I going to be murdered by a tsundere vampire...?

I'd better stop thinking about stupid things.

"Got it. My lips are sealed… Though, uh… how exactly do we do this? Are you gonna bite me on the...?"

"...On the neck… please…"

The "please" came out so soft and fragile that it almost disarmed me more than the previous threat. I guess even she has vulnerable moments.

"...Obviously. I should’ve seen that coming."

Of course the neck.

So cliché it hurt.

With clumsy fingers, I brushed aside the black lock of hair on my right side and exposed the skin of my neck.

The cold air of the infirmary touched it immediately.

And along with it... Carlotta's gaze.

It felt hot, as if all my blood were gathering there just to make me feel even more embarrassed by how red my skin was becoming.

"´kay. Here… though I guess you’re too weak to sit up… Okay, wait, I’ll come closer."

"...Eh?"

Before my brain could change its mind, I leaned over her.

Too much.

Way too much.

My chest ended up pressed against hers, separated only by the light fabric of our uniforms. The mattress sank beneath my weight and our breaths collided in the small space between us.

Hot... Everything was too hot.

I could feel the movement of her breathing against my body. The slow rise and fall of her chest brushing against me. Even the tension she was holding back.

And then I realized something: Carlotta was nervous too.

"Here I go..." she whispered. Her voice came out husky enough to make my tail bristle and start moving uncontrollably. "It won't hurt."

I felt her lips brush against my neck.

That alone was enough to make my back arch slightly.

God.

What the hell was wrong with this body?

It was the first time anyone had ever done something like this to me. Much less an absurdly beautiful girl with obvious homicidal tendencies. So why the hell are you betraying me, my own body!?

I-It's the first time anyone's ever done something like this to my neck! I don't want anyone judging me!

Wait... who am I talking to?

Ah... I think I'm starting to hallucinate from embarrassment!

Get it together, woman! Remember why you're doing this! So you don't die again!

THAT'S THE ONLY REASON, IRON WILL, I CHOOSE YOU!

But I lost my resolve when I felt the warmth of her breath slowly caressing my skin, damp and uneven.

And then... the gentle pressure of her fangs.

G-God... she's sinking her teeth into me...

My heart jumped so hard I thought it was going to explode.

Carlotta stopped.

Her breathing grew ragged against my neck.

She seemed to have lost her nerve.

Seriously?

SERIOUSLY?

I was the one about to get bitten, and yet she was the coward here!?

"Y-You know..." my voice came out weak and trembling again."You could… I dunno… hurry up a little. This is pretty… f*cking embarrassing. Just do it already." 

I felt her take a deep breath.

"Don’t be a coward when I’m the one about to get bitten an- Ah…"

The small sound escaped my lips just as her fangs pierced my skin.

My whole body tensed.

It didn't hurt. That was the worst part, because it didn't hurt. Or rather, it did hurt, but the unpleasant sensation was drowned out by a strangely sweet tingling rush.

The shiver ran through my neck, down my spine, and exploded in my stomach with absurd intensity.

"AH...!"

D-DID I J-JUST MOAN!?

Nope! I didn't!

That was just a whimper!

Play it off, quick!

"A-Ahm… ahem… I mean… wow, these sheets are really nice! Or something like that… Uh… can you hear me, Carlotta?"

Carlotta didn't answer.

Her breathing grew heavy against my skin as she drank slowly.

And every small pull sent new waves of electricity through my body.

I tried to move away a little.

Her hand immediately caught my arm.

With a firmness that naturally told me she was giving me an order: don't move.

As if she had no intention of letting her prey escape.

"Mmm..."

"Ah..."

She sucked harder.

"Ngh!"

This time I had to bite my lip to keep another embarrassing sound from escaping.

Because my body... my treacherous body... was starting to tremble not from pain.

But from something much worse.

Ah... at least that stupidity was over.

I don't know anything about Vampire Stuff 101: How to Feed Your Noble Fetishist. But I'd like to think that blood was enough.

...Please... I don't think I can take any more.

But... Carlotta remained bent over my neck, breathing heavily against my skin while swallowing the last traces of blood with a desperation that no longer seemed like simple hunger.

I'd even dare say it looked... e-erotic...

Her damp lips brushed my throat one last time before pulling away by only a few centimeters. From the way she was panting, it was obvious she hadn't taken a single breath since she started biting me.

And honestly... that was scary.

Very scary.

But it also gave me a strange feeling in my stomach.

One I definitely didn't want to analyze.

The infirmary was silent. The white ceiling lights bathed the room in a cold, clinical glow that contrasted horribly with the heat gathered between our bodies. Outside, distant footsteps of students still echoed through the hallways, muffled as if the entire world were far away from this room.

In here, only two ragged breaths existed.

Hers and mine.

I gripped the sheets between my fingers.

This was my chance.

Mission accomplished. I survived. My vital points remained intact. My neck was still attached to my body.

Perfect.

Time to save my dignity... whatever little I had left.

“T-That… ahem… that should be enough, right? It’s… over now…”

"...Over?"

Carlotta's voice came out low.

Hoarse.

Almost pleading.

I looked up at her and felt a chill run down my spine.

Why the hell did she look like that?

Her cheeks were completely flushed. Her lips slightly parted. Her glassy eyes fixed on my neck as though she were staring at the last glass of water in the middle of a desert.

She looked hungry.

No.

Worse.

She looked obsessed.

S-Seriously, what the hell is wrong with her? How can she be this provocative when she always looks like she wants to kill everyone!?

Then she lunged for my neck again. I felt something wet slide over the marks she'd left.

"A-Ah..."

My body arched on its own.

It was only a lick.

One simple damn lick.

But the sensation shot through me like electricity from my neck to the tips of my fingers.

My brain shut down for a full second.

"H-Hey..."

Carlotta watched my reaction with a fixed gaze. Sharp enough to resemble a wild lynx waiting to sink its deadly bite into its prey...

And despite how dangerous she looked, she also seemed pleading.

She pressed her lips together as though holding herself back from tasting the most delicious snack in the world.

And that... made me even more nervous.

The protagonist and the villain aren't supposed to end up like this in an infirmary.

This looked like the beginning of some weird doujin.

"Carlotta...? H-Hey, you can stop looking at me like that… like some abandoned puppy! That was enough already, wasn’t it?!”

Mistake.

A huge mistake.

Because the moment I said that, she shoved me back onto the examination bed.

The sheets wrinkled beneath my back as our positions reversed.

Now she was on top.

And I was underneath.

How the hell? Wasn't she bedridden just a moment ago!?

“C-Carlotta! Hey, crazy chick, get off me! I said bite me, not… all this!”

But she didn't listen.

Her knees trapped my arms against the mattress while her body's weight kept me pinned. She wasn't even using all her strength... though she didn't need to.

Because honestly... my body wasn't cooperating anymore.

Too much heat.

Too much closeness.

Too much breath brushing against my skin.

Our chests rubbed softly through the fabric, transmitting a slow, dangerous warmth that was melting my thoughts.

Carlotta tilted my chin to the side.

Exposing my neck again.

"H-Hey..."

Her fingers slowly traced my throat.

Soft.

Slow.

As if she were caressing something that belonged to her.

And the problem was that my body reacted far too well to it.

Damn Kathryn's absurd sensitivity.

I felt my legs tense on their own.

My breathing grow faster.

And the worst part... was noticing the small smile that appeared on Carlotta's lips when she realized it.

That idiot was enjoying this.

"Shhh..."

Her low voice ran through my entire body.

"It won't hurt... just a little more... please..."

'Please?' How the hell could she sound so dominant and desperate at the same time?

“…J-Just a little…” I muttered, completely losing control of the situation. “And you’re gonna pay for this…”

No.

Wait.

Why did that sound so weird?

I needed to stop her.

Right now.

Before—

"Ahm...!"

Too late.

Her fangs sank into my neck again.

This time deeper.

I felt her tongue slide over the wound the moment she bit down, and my entire body shuddered beneath hers.

I tried to pull away.

I really did.

But Carlotta only held me tighter.

And then she started sucking again.

Slow.

Deep.

As if she wanted to drink away every coherent thought left inside my head.

"Ngh... ah..."

My fingers clutched the sheets.

The heat inside my body became unbearable.

I didn't know whether I wanted to push her away... or pull her closer.

And that terrified me.

Carlotta lifted her face slightly to look at me.

There was a strange expression in her eyes. Almost sadistic, as if she enjoyed looking down at me... as if she enjoyed watching my pride crumble piece by piece beneath her.

W-What are you looking at...?

I meant to say it.

I really did.

But my voice simply wouldn't come out.

At this point I'd rather she buried her face in my neck again than keep looking at the ridiculously embarrassed expression I must have had.

And yet... my legs rubbed together involuntarily.

Thigh against thigh.

Trying to relieve the unbearable heat continuing to gather inside my body... right in my—

WHAT AM I DOING?

THIS GIRL IS TURNING ME INTO A CRAZY DEGENERATE LIKE HER!

I-I feel like I'm going to cry...

And as if that had been a switch, Carlotta's smile widened just a little.

NO.

NO NO NO.

THERE'S NO WAY SHE SAW THAT, RIGHT?

"Ah...!"

She attacked again.

Bite.

Lick.

Suction.

Again.

And again.

I could even feel her starting to move slightly back and forth on top of me.

G-God... what is she doing to me... I feel so... so...

I curse Kathryn for being so sensitive...

Every movement sent new waves of heat through my body until I was completely dizzy.

My thoughts melted.

My pride died.

And my dignity had probably left the building five minutes ago.

But... it didn't feel that bad either...

No.

NO!

This was vampire Stockholm syndrome or something.

There had to be a scientific explanation.

"Mmm..."

Another moan escaped my lips when her tongue slowly traced my neck and gave me a... kiss!?

Then, suddenly, Carlotta froze.

She lifted her head abruptly.

As if she'd just woken up.

Her eyes widened slightly when she noticed the mess.

The rumpled sheets.

The bloodstains.

My completely ruined breathing.

And herself practically on top of me.

“…What the hell am I doing?”

Oh.

So she finally came back from Planet Degenerate.

Perfect.

Excellent timing...

Carlotta immediately pulled away while trying to compose herself.

"A-Ahem... A-Are you alright, Lady Adelheid?"

That tone of hers... That polite little tone. That shameless attempt to act as if nothing had happened...

It broke my brain.

SCREW YOU!

SOMETHING DEFINITELY HAPPENED!

A LOT HAPPENED!

I FEEL VIOLATED!

“WHAT THE ACTUAL F*** WAS THAT?!”

I wrapped myself completely in the bed's blankets like a traumatized little burrito while yelling at her from my textile refuge.

My reason had finally decided to come home, suitcases of complaints and all.

I'D TOLD HER TO BITE ME ONCE!

ONCE!

NOT TO THROW HERSELF AT ME LIKE COUNT DRACULA AFTER THREE DAYS WITHOUT EATING!

---