Hanami waited until noon. Just as she had promised Irene the night before, in her bedroom, she intended to earn Rynelle's trust.
The elf stood on the roof of the central courtyard, watching the maids go about their duties and the guards patrol the corridors. She didn't hold the rank of leader, but she was responsible for guarding the block surrounding Irene's room.
Her pointed ears twitched when she heard someone land four meters behind her. Rynelle closed her eyes and spoke in a firm tone:
"You know, I've been wondering—why would a slave possess the skill to move so lightly if she's always wearing a noisy chain around her neck?"
She turned to face her; Hanami merely smiled, resting her right hand on her waist.
"What did your masters use you for?"
"They only wanted my strength to carry luggage—basically a pack mule. And, of course, to protect them. But I haven't killed anyone, if that's what you want to know."
Rynelle narrowed her gaze without lowering her guard and continued:
"The lords of this castle helped you, and you chose to leave without thanking them. Why did you come back? There's nothing here that concerns you anymore."
"How harsh. I like people who are honest about what they think. Still, I did come back to thank them—especially that innocent little fox. I know you're her bodyguard, so I won't beat around the bush. I want to be her friend, but I can't get close to her if you're my enemy."
"You really think I'll let you get anywhere near the princess?" she asked, a hint of irony in her smile.
"Well, yesterday I spoke with her in her room."
"What?"
"Yes, yes—exactly as you heard. But she made it a condition that I earn your trust first."
Rynelle sighed, her posture loosening as fatigue crossed her face:
'That stupid fox… why didn't she tell me something this important?'
She adjusted her military hat, which had slipped slightly. Hanami seized the moment to speak:
"You don't have to answer right away, but my intentions are selfless. I see the princess as a drop of purity in the world I've lived in. I want to be with her—to truly know her."
Rynelle snorted and turned her back.
"There are plenty of good people in this world. Leave and meet someone on your level. The princess and you—a slave—belong to completely different worlds. Know your place and stay away from here."
The words pierced Hanami's heart like a sharpened blade. She couldn't deny that her feelings were hurt. She wanted to speak, but her usual sarcastic, playful demeanor faded.
Rynelle was about to leave her sight when Hanami cried out:
"Please!"
The elf stopped and glanced back over her shoulder. Rynelle's serious eyes widened when she saw Hanami kneeling, her forehead pressed against the castle roof.
"Please… I beg you to allow me to meet her," she said in a calmer voice. "I have no ill intentions toward anyone. I just want to know her name. I don't want to hear it from someone else—I want to hear it from her own lips. I want to meet the person who saved my life."
Rynelle turned slightly toward her and asked softly:
"Why is it so important to you to do this for someone who did only what any decent person would have done? If we focus solely on that act of humanity, the princess isn't special—anyone in this kingdom could have helped you."
"Exactly. You're right. But the one who helped me was her. Like you said, if it had been someone else, I'd be in the same position—I'd want to meet them. The only difference is that the one who helped me belongs to a higher class."
Silence settled between them.
Hanami tensed and spoke again without lifting her head:
"Please. I'm willing to accept anything, as long as I can be her friend."
Rynelle exhaled. Even that breath failed to calm her. Confusion and anxiety twisted inside her. She ran a hand through her blue hair and closed her eyes:
'I don't understand her actions. It's strange for someone to behave like this over something so small. What should I do? Irene is my responsibility, and I'm the one who has to make these decisions. If I soften and let empathy guide me, and she ends up hurting Irene, it will be entirely my fault. I can't let my emotions take over—even if I empathize with this vampire. Not when there's a life to protect.'
She opened her eyes and looked at Hanami kneeling, her expression tense and uneasy.
'I'm sorry. It hurts to wound others like this, but… I have to make the hard choices as the princess's bodyguard.'
Rynelle composed a stern expression and spoke in a serious tone:
"The Aetheris lords appreciate your expression of gratitude for their help. I will pass along your message and inform them that you were here." She bowed, her right hand pressed to her heart. "You may leave in peace."
Without waiting for a response from the silent Hanami, she left the roof. The vampire slowly rose until she was sitting back on her heels. The sadness she felt made her smile—a clumsy defense mechanism.
"Wow… I never thought I'd be pathetic enough to kneel in front of someone. What was I thinking?" she muttered, rubbing her forehead.
She stood, gazed toward the kingdom's horizon, and murmured:
"Maybe it's better to travel to Lockdon. I can start my life there."
Her body lifted into the air and drifted toward the edge. When she reached it, she paused and glanced to the side, realizing she was near Irene's window.
'Well… taking one last look wouldn't hurt.'
She flew over and peeked inside from the edge of the window. Irene sat at her desk, focused, writing with an ink quill.
"And then she slapped him, knocking him to the ground," Irene murmured. "Iris glared at him and… no, that sounds forced. What would I do in that situation?"
Hanami smiled as she watched.
'Thank you for saving me, Princess. If one day you become queen, I'll come and watch your grand coronation.'
She pulled away from the window and flew off into the distance. Rynelle, waiting behind a tree, watched her leave. She suspected Hanami might approach the window, but decided to intervene only if she entered the room.
◇◆◇
The next day, while Rynelle oversaw a delivery at the castle's main gate, she noticed a figure standing beyond the iron doors. It was the same ash-haired witch.
Hanami smiled and wiggled her fingers; then she winked and blew her a kiss. Rynelle ignored her and returned inside the castle. Hanami frowned, then smiled victoriously and planted her fists on her hips.
"You'll give in eventually."
Two days later, Rynelle overheard guards discussing trouble at the main gate. Her pointed ears twitched, and she asked:
"What kind of woman did you see?"
"Oh, Rynelle. From what I heard, there's a woman who waits in front of the gate during the day and leaves at dusk. She's been doing it for three days now. They tried chasing her off, but she keeps coming back."
"And she's still there?" Rynelle asked.
"She shouldn't be. They yelled her off about five minutes ago."
Rynelle headed to the main entrance and looked outside through a window. Hanami stood on the other side of the gate, arms crossed.
"That woman… didn't she understand anything I told her?" she muttered irritably before turning away.
Days later, relentless rain set in. The streets were empty beneath the torrential downpour, and a thunderstorm loomed.
Driven by curiosity, Rynelle went to the main gate during the day and, parting the curtains, saw the witch sitting on the ground, soaked through.
Hanami leaned against the gate, hugging her legs. Only her hat shielded part of her head. Rynelle snorted and closed the curtain.
Day after day, Hanami was chased away with shouts and threats, drenched with buckets of water, and even pelted with trash. All to make her leave—yet she always returned. Eventually, they established a dedicated guard rotation at the gate to drive her off the moment she appeared.
Even so, Hanami remained, levitating atop her broom. Sometimes the guards hurled stones at her, but she dodged them with playful giggles, taunting them to try harder.
Finally, after an entire month, Rynelle exhaled when she saw Hanami playing with the guards as they fired arrows and threw spears and stones. She conceded defeat in this battle of endurance and left the castle.
When she drew close enough to the gate, she heard Hanami's giggling voice:
"That one was close. Wow! Ara. Yahoo. Oya, oya."
"Could you please end this?" Rynelle asked quietly.
"Ry-Rynelle?" one guard stammered. "We're trying to scare her off, but she won't leave."
Hanami laughed softly.
"You're improving your aim, my children."
Rynelle crossed her arms and looked up at the vampire hovering four meters above the ground on her broom.
"Will you come down from there, Hanami?"
Hanami smiled with her usual playful expression and complied. She descended gracefully, and her broom dissolved into sparkling pebbles.
"What do you want, Hanami?" Rynelle asked.
"The same thing I asked for a month ago. And I'm still standing by my offer. I'm willing to do anything, as long as I can speak with the princess."
"Whatever…" Rynelle rubbed her temple.
After a brief silence, the elf finally said:
"I'll allow you to stay in a guest room. I'll inform His Majesty of your situation, and you'll have a meeting with him. During your stay, you are forbidden from speaking to the princess until the king decides what to do with you."
Hanami brightened and raised her palms in surrender, her ample cleavage bouncing slightly.
"As you command, My lady." She winked.