After the battle with Gerard, a swarm of journalists and high-ranking nobles fill the conference hall, waiting with excitement.
Of course, all the praise and attention go straight to… Ayra.
I take the hits, and she takes the glory.
Fair, isn't it?
«Princess Ayra Volkom, how does it feel to have completed a Bonding Ritual with your Predestined Familiar?» a journalist asks.
Predestined Familiar… Ayra mentioned it briefly as we left the arena.
In short, when the blood and magic energy of a vampire align perfectly with those of a human, the vampire's red energy—Sanguis—fuses with the human's blue energy—Vis—during the Bonding Ritual, producing a violet energy called Visanguis.
It sounds simple, but according to the journalists, it's so rare that most vampires live their whole lives without ever seeing one.
«Isn't it obvious? I carefully selected my familiar after years of relentless research, unlike my little sister Priscilla, who settled for the first dying man she found! An extraordinary princess like me deserves an equally extraordinary familiar!»
Ayra's answers to the barrage of questions are a mix of self-praise and jabs at her younger sister—it's clear they don't get along.
After nearly two hours that feel like an eternity, Ayra finally withdraws to her room, more elated than ever, and I go with her.
«Tell me something: I heard from some journalists that vampires can't know if a familiar is destined until their energy manifests. So how did you know I was your destined familiar?» I ask.
If Ayra truly achieved such a miracle, then maybe she isn't the complete disaster I thought.
Maybe she has a unique ability no other vampire possesses!
«Well, to put it simply…»
A smug smile lights up her radiant face.
«…I didn't know. It was just luck.»
Of course, I figured…
«What?! And all that talk about years of relentless research?!»
«Oh, that part is true. Since I was a child, I dreamed of having a human familiar who was attractive, manly, with magnetic eyes, a statuesque body, refined manners, and someone who treated me like a true princess…»
I lift my chin and puff out my chest, letting those words of praise wrap around me like a refreshing breeze.
To know that someone sensual like Ayra, and a princess no less, thinks that about me.
«…but since I couldn't find one, I lost patience and settled for you.» she adds.
The sound of my heart shattering echoes through the room like a plate crashing on the floor.
«You're really cruel…»
«Let me tell you, Lyon, you're truly weird.
As far as I know, fear is the most effective way to push a human to release their energy, but you…»
Ayra's face flushes red.
«…you unleashed your power after I told you I'd let you touch my boobs… You're a truly perverted familiar. But… a promise is a promise, and a real princess always keeps her word.»
With a hesitant gesture, Ayra lets the straps of her long black dress slip from her shoulders.
Her massive breasts, barely covered by a delicate black lace bra, reveal themselves in all their unimaginable beauty.
Finally, she unhooks the bra and lets it fall to the floor.
«G-Go ahead… touch them. You've earned it,» she whispers.
Her voice trembling, her gaze turned away in embarrassment.
I gulp, standing just a few steps from her.
Her magnificent, towering breasts look even bigger up close, wrapped in the silver glow of the Moon.
Ayra told me that on N'Raeth—the planet where I am now—the sun and moon, day and night, are almost identical to those of the human world, with only a slight difference.
There is also a second moon—the Dark Moon.
Unlike the normal moon that appears every night, it shows up only once every ten years—sometimes earlier, sometimes later—and it is completely black.
She spoke of it with an unsettling tone, evasive enough to make it clear I'm not meant to know why it carries such a grim name.
My hands move closer to her breasts, slowly, my fingers ready to grab them like the claw machine at an amusement park reaching for stuffed toys.
Ah… I really earned this—it's the rightful reward for my victory.
«L-Lyon… hurry… this is really embarrassing…»
A drop of cold sweat slides down my forehead.
My fingers are about to squeeze her soft, oversized breasts when…
«I can't do it…» I whisper with immeasurable regret, pulling my hands back at the very last moment.
Am I insane? Maybe.
Will I regret it? Absolutely.
But I have my reasons.
«W-What the hell is wrong with you?!» she shouts. «Don't… don't you find my body attractive?! How dare a dog like you refuse to touch his mistress's body?! This is an unforgivable insult! You'll be punished!»
«That's not it!» I cut her off. «I think—no, I'm sure—you're the most sensual girl I've ever seen. I mean it, but…»
I hesitate for a moment.
«From what you said, my power was released thanks to the desire to touch your chest… If I actually did it, wouldn't there be a risk I couldn't use Visanguis anymore?»
A faint smile curls her lips, and then, with an unexpectedly gentle gesture, she places her hand on my head, ruffling my hair like I'm a puppy.
«You're clever for just a human!»
She's the one who seems way too silly to be a vampire…
«By the way…»
Her smile widens, a mix of malice and mockery, like a child plotting a prank.
«…I just came up with a brilliant plan to make the most of your perversion!»
I have a really, really bad feeling…