I woke up to a still ceiling.

  It was very calm, and something told me the sun had set. After all, I could only see the night mps' light illuminating the room. Aside from that, my mind was a bit hazy.

  The st memory I had... was me taking a bath.

  Well, I was somehow lying on the bed, nicely tucked in my quilt. Even my pajama, which I definitely didn't choose, was properly put on my body. How did this happen?

  ''...''

  Even though I didn't have a clue as to how I got here, something told me I was in danger.

  ''I know you're awake.''

  ''Eugh...''

  Suddenly, my cheeks got lightly pressed from both sides, and my gaze was forcibly turned. I already had a faint suspicion after hearing her voice, but it was really Rachael.

  Most importantly, she looked annoyed. Really annoyed.

  My vampire princess was most definitely an otherworldly beauty, but she could be unbearably intimidating at times.

  ''H-Hello, Rachael...?''

  ''...''

  Without saying a word, Rachael sat down on the edge of the bed and lightly took off her stockings. As she climbed toward me, hair cascading, eyes gleaming a faint red hue, and two little fangs visible between her lip petals, I couldn't help but flinch.

  Cupping my chin, the princess slowly spoke, ''Do you know what you did wrong?''

  ''Eh?''

  What I did... wrong?

  I was quite sure I only went for a nice bath, but... I couldn't compute further, having Rachael's gorgeous face so close to mine like this. Wasn't it kind of unfair?

  Despite us already being lovers, I still wanted to scream, 'This woman is totally my type!' from deep within my consciousness.

  ''Ah... um...''

  Of course, Rachael's question wouldn't just go away even if I thought myself into a corner like that, so I stammered, digging up the scraps inside my brain to find an answer.

  I wouldn't say it was awkward. Rachael had known me for more than two years, and there were many times we had simir interactions. That didn't mean I wasn't flustered, however. If anything, not remembering how I ended up like this greatly confused me.

  ''You fell asleep in the bathtub.''

  Suddenly, another voice—cold yet subtly graceful—rang from the other side. I knew that voice.

  ''Lyra?''

  As soon as I left Rachael's grasp and turned my gaze, my whole being shuddered. Only now did I realize that my hand was being held under the quilt, but more importantly, my sister looked as if she was going to kill someone.

  Her beautifully shaped eyes only added to the eeriness of her void-like pupils as she stared at me, and the slight clench of her jaw conveyed more than any words could.

  But most of all...

  ''I fell asleep...?''

  It all made sense now.

  Of course, I wouldn't suffer any harm from sleeping in a tub since Lucy was always with me. I didn't think I could drown in the first pce. Still, I understood why these two seemed mad.

  If someone as weak as me fell unconscious in a hot bathtub, they'd naturally be worried.

  In other words... I was screwed.

  ''...I was wrong.''

  So, I immediately raised a white fg and accepted my fate. Afterward, they spent nearly half an hour reprimanding me for my 'bad habits' and 'carelessness.'

  It wasn't too fun to hear, but they were probably right.

  Nonetheless, as it was nearing dinnertime, we decided to temporarily put that matter aside, not without them promising quite scary-sounding 'confinement' solutions on me. I mean... cuffing my wrists and ankles...? Intriguing jokes, I suppose.

  My loving girls would never do such things.

  Feeling a fuzzy warmth spreading from my heart, I sat down and had a pleasant meal with the two. I felt like I was the only one eating since they constantly tried to feed me, though.

  I did enjoy the food, which our chefs had carefully prepared, but I enjoyed the love I received even more. We're all love-craving creatures, aren't we?

  ''...I'll be studying. Good night, big sis... and Your Highness, too.''

  Lyra uttered those words after staring thoughtfully at us for a while. As I waved goodbye to her, I couldn't help but notice her sharp gaze lingering on us.

  Weaving her fingers between my hair, Rachael hummed, ''Your sister is quite tactful.''

  ''Huh? Is she?''

  Smiling faintly, the princess pulled me closer to her, ''Why, no matter how obsessive a sibling one can be, it should be common sense not to interrupt their sister's time with a lover, no?''

  ''Ah, I guess so.''

  That reminded me of several simir incidents in the past. It really seemed like my Lyra had grown up properly. I was beyond proud. I also yearned for some solitary moments with Rachael, so it worked out.

  But being alone with her for a while brought back something I'd almost forgotten.

  ''Rachael...''

  ''Hm?''

  Face-to-face, eye-to-eye, I brightly smiled, ''Suck my blood.''

  ''...''

  It had been a while since she directly fed on my blood, so I'd figured we could proceed now. Yet, what worried me was Rachael's somewhat reluctant expression. I could feel her somewhat distancing from my blood as time went on, but it was subtle enough not to warrant a question.

  But at this point...

  ''Rachael, is my blood not good anymore...?'' I asked, bearing a sorrowful face.

  ''It's not that.'' She replied immediately, sighs of anxiety vaguely seen, ''Just... your physique doesn't seem great recently.''

  ''Oh, come on. I can handle losing a few drops of blood. Come at me!''

  Baring my neck, I confidently brought her hand forward to touch my skin. The princess looked flustered, and that was enough for me. Now, if only she would—

  ''Cecilia.''

  Yet, as if the residual rage from the st happening had begun to burn again, Rachael locked her arm, which was wrapped around my waist, and itched closer.

  ''You are unwell.'' She uttered. ''I can't take advantage of my unwell lover.''

  ''But you haven't eaten in a long time...!''

  ''I have harpy blood stocked up.''

  ''Ah... but you said my blood helped you with work!''

  ''I think I like my lover more than work.''

  ''...''

  ...D-Don't think I'd cave in if you called me your lover!

  Sighing in the absurdity of Rachael's stubbornness, I pulled my shirt even lower, exposing much of my shoulder. It was my colrbone, in particur, that Rachael loved.

  And that tactic was really successful.

  ''I told you. A few drops of blood won't hurt me.''

  I was confident—so confident that I closed my eyes, expecting a pair of fangs to come at any time.

  ''Hyah?!''

  Yet, what arrived was a hasty push—an overwhelming move by the princess that pinned me to the bed. Her long, silky hair brushed my cheeks even before I could open my eyes.

  My lover's face, backlit by the dim ceiling light, carried a hint of determination. We were so close together that her gentle breaths easily enveloped me with her warmth.

  ''...Cecilia, tell me.'' She whispered, narrowing her long, immacute brows.

  ''Y-Yes?''

  ''Tell me your secrets.''

  ''...!''

  As if a demon pouring her temptations into my ears, Rachael kept poking at my conscience, regardless if she even knew of any certainty.

  ''You thought I wouldn't notice? It should be painfully obvious that you knew something we didn't. About your unusual constitution. Your illness. You know it.''

  ''...''

  ''The way you constantly tell us what is fine and what is not... has me thinking that you know exactly what you're going through. Hey, if your body keeps deteriorating like this... are you... content with it?''

  I felt a hand grasping my heart.

  Throb.

  Painful.

  The moment I tried to turn aside, Rachael instead caught me and pressed her lips against mine. It was a brief yet heavy kiss, one I'd rather not receive at the moment. Perhaps that was a way for the princess to express her stubbornness.

  ''Cecilia.''

  ''...Yes.''

  Bitterly smiling, Rachael softly caressed my cheek, ''I know you won't answer—that's why I will make you do it, and I won't stop until then... are you sure about this?''

  ''Go ahead...''

  I felt Rachael's body heat ramping up as she peeled off my outerwear.

  ...And so was mine.