Volume 9, Chapter 4 – Blurring Boundaries

The hour was late.

A brilliant blue glow lit up the quiet archives. As the portal expanded, a vampire girl descended into the library, wearing white over-the-knee socks and her blonde hair tied in a side ponytail with a large black ribbon. Closely following her was a well-proportioned leg stepping through the gateway; as the slightly swaying black hair and skirt appeared, Fia emerged, her hair tied in twin tails with blue ribbons.

“Sigh… no matter how many times I come here, I always find the scent of paper so pleasant. Though, compared to before, it feels like it hasn’t been cleaned in a while. Are you so busy with state affairs that you have no time to read? My Princess really is a busy woman.”

Playfully lifting her red gown, Estelle spun around, her crimson eyes twinkling. The teasing look on her face, combined with the single vampire wing on her back flapping incessantly, made her look like a mischievous fairy—elegant yet girlish. Anyone could see she was in high spirits.

Fia placed a hand on her hip and gave an exasperated reply.

“What state affairs? The reason Estelle thinks it’s dusty is because I’ve already read almost everything here; I don’t need to look back.”

Perhaps because Estelle was her peer, Fia felt no pressure around her. Her tone was casual as she led Estelle toward the corridor, looking her up and down in her new outfit.

“Compared to me, you’re the busy one, Estelle. How is your territory? Last I saw you, you were buried in work.”

It was late summer when Fia last sent Estelle back to her lands. At the time, Fia had used nature magic to ripen the wheat in the Barony of Oro early. Wheat that should have matured in autumn was ready in summer—the off-season for farming. The local peasants had already headed into the cities for manual labor, leaving a massive shortage of hands for the harvest. It had been an unforeseen headache for Estelle.

Furthermore, because Fia had subjugated the powerful monsters in the Great Forest of Oro, the entire ecosystem had been thrown into chaos. With the old order destroyed, monsters fought one another to become the new master of the woods. The transition period made the outskirts of the forest extremely dangerous—that was the last Fia had heard.

Of course, these troubles weren’t the result of Fia acting on a whim. She had heard Estelle worrying about the food shortage caused by the Despair Demon General and the frequent monster raids from the forest. Fia had suggested solving both at once, and Estelle had agreed. The issue was that Estelle, lacking experience in territorial management, hadn’t anticipated the logistical chain reaction.

Estelle gave a light wave of her hand, her dazzling blonde hair swaying like waves of grain.

“Thanks to you, it’s all settled. The neighboring lord agreed to lend me workers. Those peasants had nothing to do, and as soon as they heard my people would help them during the autumn harvest in exchange, they rushed over. I owe it to the prestige and connections my father built while he was alive; everyone trusts me as the successor to the Barony of Oro. As for the monsters, it was only thorny for a week or two. Once the strongest ones died, the rest found their own nests. I haven’t heard of a single raid on the villages for a month.”

“And because we finished the harvest before the end of summer, and you used magic to fertilize the fields before you left, the wormwood seeds we sowed are already nearly as tall as a person. They’ll be ready for harvest soon. I even heard some of the greedier farmers saw how fertile the soil was and sowed winter wheat. The growth rate is terrifying. If this batch succeeds, I bet those farmers will petition to have your name written into the village annals ¹ a record of events year by year .”

“The annals are unnecessary… isn’t winter wheat supposed to be sown in autumn and harvested in spring anyway?”

“Haah, you don’t understand. We couldn’t grow winter wheat in Oro before; two harvests a year was a pipe dream. When the neighboring lord heard about it, his eyes nearly popped out of his head. He asked if I could get you to help him too. I told him the one helping me was the elf princess, and his face fell immediately. I still laugh thinking about his miserable expression.”

Ending her story with a sigh, Estelle suddenly took a step closer to Fia. Under Fia’s slightly wide-eyed gaze, she performed an act of girlish endearment, tucking her slender left arm into Fia’s right, walking side-by-side.

The fresh fragrance drifting from her clothes made it hard for Fia to stay composed.

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Fia feigned calm and teased.

“Is this seduction, then?”

“Oh my. To be able to seduce the wise and powerful elf princess… I suppose this little vampire girl really does have charm.”

Still playfully clinging to Fia’s arm, Estelle tilted her head, looking proud of herself.

We’re really just one step away, aren’t we?

Fia answered in her heart. Back at the hunting grounds in the Fire Cat territory, she and Estelle had nearly broken through that final barrier. But Estelle hadn’t accepted her then, leaving their relationship in a state where both knew what was happening, yet neither would cross the line. They were more than best friends, but not quite lovers. Despite that, there was a strange lack of friction between them.

Fia raised an eyebrow and changed her tune.

“Hasn’t Estelle always been charming?”

“Hoh. I should tell Claire and Anastasia. Keeping a lover on the side when you already have wives—and your vampire best friend at that—you really are shameless. For a woman to have even one partner like Claire or Anastasia, she should be wondering if she saved the world in her past life. Yet you have two and still make fun of me.”

“Well…”

Fia had an answer, but she couldn’t say it.

She wanted to say, “Estelle, you’re just as cute as Claire and the others,” but she was in a dilemma. As Mother Yulisha had pointed out, it was cruel to invite Estelle as a mere spectator to the wedding in two months, knowing the girl harbored secret feelings for her. She could still vividly remember Estelle running off alone into the darkness of the hunting grounds after Fia had publicly recognized Anastasia and Nola.

She had asked Estelle then: if she liked Fia, Fia would recognize her too. But Estelle had simply said, “Don’t regret it when that day comes.”

No, thinking back, Estelle was probably considering Fia’s position. To add another partner on the very night she had just accepted Anastasia and Nola… Estelle was a sensitive girl; she likely cared about how others would perceive Fia.

But if she didn’t speak now, she would soon be heading south to Dragonfall.

To speak or not to speak—Fia hesitated. She felt a tightness in her chest and simply tightened her grip on Estelle’s arm, pulling the girl a little closer.

This time, it was Estelle’s turn to widen her eyes. In the span of a single sentence, she felt the atmosphere shift. Fia seemed to have something to say.

Is it okay to be a little bolder…?

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Estelle held her breath. Her heart raced, and blood rushed to her face. As a vampire, her emotions were far more active at night. She pricked up her ears to listen to the corridor, and finding no one nearby, she cautiously and slowly leaned her head onto Fia’s shoulder. To save face, when Fia looked over in surprise, Estelle widened her crimson eyes and gave a playful smile that said, “I’m leaning on you, and what of it?” as she pressed her cheek against Fia’s.

The skin temperature was lower than a human’s, but it felt right against Fia’s cool demeanor. A faint scent of orchids drifted from her hair and clothes. Her heartbeat was steady. Just leaning like this brought a sense of peace and warmth, making Estelle feel almost drowsy. Yet, because their skin was pressed together, her heart leaped with joy. A mounting surge of emotion brewed in her chest, as if something were about to overflow.

I really can’t escape her now…

Even just leaning on Fia like this made her wish time would flow more slowly.

If only this weren’t night, but a drowsy afternoon instead.

Regretful in her heart, Estelle gently rubbed her face against Fia’s shoulder, occasionally catching a scent with the tip of her nose.

They were exactly like a couple in the throes of passion.

Fia subconsciously slowed her pace. Although the sensation of Estelle’s golden strands brushing against her neck was ticklish, it wasn’t unpleasant. Suddenly, as if waking from a daze among the clouds, Estelle snapped back to reality. She gasped, looking at Fia in horror as a deep blush visibly climbed up her pretty face.

Did she realize she lost her composure?

Fia didn’t point it out, which would have been tactless. In fact, she had assumed Estelle was being consciously affectionate.

“Uh… ahem… why did you stop walking?”

“I was afraid you’d fall.”

Fia gestured ahead. They were at the top of the stairs. If Fia kept walking, even if she didn’t have to worry about Estelle tripping, Estelle’s face would have been poked painfully by Fia’s shoulder.

But this act of concern only made Estelle’s flushed face even more radiant. She forced herself to pull away slightly out of embarrassment, though she kept her arm hooked through Fia’s.

“Why are you so good at charming girls? Is this how you captured Claire and Anastasia too?”

“Hardly. You’re forgetting the height difference I have with them. Alright, My Lady, we should go downstairs. I invited you here tonight for something important.”

“Hmph. Bully.”

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“Huh?”

What was that for?

Fia couldn’t understand why Estelle suddenly called her a bully, but the girl’s resentful yet bashful expression was adorable, so she didn’t press the issue. It was the first time she had seen Estelle act like a little vixen.

At any rate, Estelle wasn’t actually angry.

With steady footsteps, Fia led Estelle down the stairs. Though the soft sensation of her arm brushing against Estelle’s waist was hard to let go of, Fia didn’t have the luxury of getting lost in thought. She was still thinking about how to tell Estelle about the wedding in two months and her trip to Dragonfall.

No, she should ask for Claire’s opinion first.

She thought taking that step with Anastasia would make everything easier, but it only seemed to get heavier. How did it come to this…

“Hey, let go.”

Suddenly, Estelle’s voice came in a hurried whisper. She twisted her wrist, trying to break free without drawing attention. She had a reason; they had reached the first floor, and maids were passing by in the corridor—staring at them with surprised eyes.

Fia quickly released her. Estelle, face still red, used her vampire ability to manipulate bodily fluids to suppress her blush as much as possible, presenting a flawless, serious face to the maids they passed.

“So, why did you invite me here specifically at night, Fia?”

“I want you to meet someone. You can look forward to it.”

“A woman?”

“Yes.”

“Tch.”

“Don’t give me that look. You’ll understand once you see her. Besides, aren’t we best friends? There’s nothing wrong with being seen holding hands.”

“Look at the fiancees you have around you; only you would believe that nonsense,” Estelle said, looking back mysteriously at the mature maid who had just walked by. “I bet that maid is imagining all sorts of things about us. By the time I leave, the whole city will be full of rumors. You’d better be ready for Claire to deal with you.”

“Surely not…”

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“Bleh.”

Estelle stuck out her pink tongue and made a face.

Soon, they arrived at the dining hall. The long table, covered in a pure white cloth, held no food. Their eyes fell upon the only two women in the room. When Estelle saw who was standing there, her footsteps froze. Her eyes widened as if seeing the impossible; her lips and eyelashes trembled, and her breathing became ragged.

She swallowed hard and forced out two syllables.

“Sis… Sister…”

Just as Estelle said, the reason Fia had brought her to the elven lands at night was that she had finally found Noreen’s soul fragment.

Standing beside Noreen was, naturally, the Queen of Death, Lucitine.

There were many undead outside the Wall of Sighs, and since many lacked clear consciousness, finding someone was like searching for a needle in a haystack. But Lucitine was the Queen of Death; with a single command, every undead would obey. It had taken only a week for her to track down Noreen’s trail.

Hearing Estelle’s voice, the soul held by Lucitine—a mature woman whose body was nearly transparent—shuddered. This confirmed for Estelle that this was indeed her sister’s soul. Yearning and guilt surged through her; without a second thought, she rushed forward to embrace Noreen. However, Lucitine blocked her path before she could make contact.

“Stop.”

“Who are you? Move!”

“If you want your sister to vanish, I’ll move. Don’t forget there is a boundary between the living and the dead. You cannot touch her yet.”

“Calm down, Estelle. Noreen is a one of the undead now; negative life and life force cancel each other out. Contact with you would make her fragile body disappear.”

Following Lucitine, Fia’s voice rang out. She came to the side of the sharp-eyed Estelle and gently nudged her away from Lucitine.

“This is Lucitine, the Queen of Death who rules the Netherworld. I commissioned her to help find Noreen’s fragment. In other words, she is your sister’s benefactor. Aside from Noreen being undead, we have another problem. How is the Noreen on your side doing? This is the first time I’ve seen two soul fragments. How to merge them back into one is the question.”