After becoming a member of the castle's inner guard by royal decree, Hanami looked around in every direction, admiring it. If she was going to spend her days there, she might as well get used to it.
Rynelle led her to Irene's room as a reward for her patience. When they stood in front of the door, she knocked with her knuckles and asked:
"Are you inside, Princess?"
"Yes, come in."
Upon hearing her voice, Hanami's heart fluttered. After so long, she was excited to see her again. As the door barely opened, Rynelle only managed to say:
"Exc—"
"Princess!"
"Hey!"
"W-What?! Hanami?!"
The vampire rushed into the room with her arms wide open and a bright smile on her face. She threw herself at Irene, wrapping her arms around her neck, while her witch's hat fell to the floor behind her. Her long gray hair followed the motion.
"I'm so happy to see you again, Princess!"
She rubbed her cheek against Irene's. Rynelle stepped closer and said:
"Don't take so many liberties! Step away from the Princess right now!"
"Eeeh? But I've been waiting so long to see her…," she said, looking at Rynelle with watery eyes and a sad tone, without separating her cheek from Irene's. "Besides, I behaved myself and didn't get close to her like I promised…"
"Hm? What do you mean?" Irene asked.
Rynelle sighed, closing her eyes and placing a hand on her waist.
'It makes me uncomfortable to say this, but I have to be fair and honest with her.'
Opening her eyes again and revealing the calm blue of her gaze, she explained:
"This vampire spent an entire month at the main gate, waiting for a chance to speak with the king. Even on rainy days, she never left."
Irene's curious gaze remained on her, still clinging to her body. Hanami smiled like a child with a brand-new gift.
"Was it because of what I told you that night?"
Hanami nodded. Irene relaxed her expression.
'I thought she had decided to leave. I never imagined it would take her so long to speak with Rynelle.'
Hanami pulled away from Irene, stood up, and smiled with a confident expression, faintly showing her fangs.
"Now that I'm finally here, standing in front of you, I want to ask you properly. I fulfilled my part of the deal, and I earned your nanny's approval."
"Hey, hey, what do you mean by nanny?" Rynelle asked with a skeptical expression.
"So I want to know your answer. I want us to be friends, and at the same time, I want to start that friendship by knowing your name."
In the background, Rynelle picked up the witch's hat that was lying on the floor. Irene lifted her pink ears, attentive to Hanami.
"Please, little fox princess, tell me your name," Hanami continued with a confident smile.
Because of the difference in height, Irene had to look slightly upward since she was sitting on her bed. Out of habit, she glanced at Rynelle. She maintained an indifferent expression before shrugging. The kitsune smiled and turned her gaze back to Hanami.
"Irene. Irene Aetheris."
Hanami raised her eyebrows slightly and repeated:
"Irene…". She smiled, furrowing her brow with confidence, and added, "A good name. I like it. Worthy of someone as pure as you."
Irene laughed awkwardly, a drop of sweat sliding down her cheek.
'I'm not pure at all. I'm horny all day long.'
Overcome with happiness, Hanami ran toward Rynelle with her arms outstretched, saying:
"I love you too, my frie—!"
"Not so close!" Rynelle exclaimed, holding out her palm and causing Hanami to crash into the lower part of her hand.
As her head snapped back, an accessory flew off and hit the floor. Irene and Rynelle stared in shock as a pointed ear rolled across the ground.
"You cut off her ear!" Irene shouted with a horrified expression.
Hanami let out a nervous scream for a brief second and dropped to her knees beside the pointed ear.
"F-Fake elf ears?" Rynelle asked in surprise.
"No, no, no! Ha, ha, ha…". With an awkward smile, she picked up the ear and put it back on while saying, "N-nowadays we're born like this. They're foldable elf ears, heh, heh, heh…".
"Now I understand why I don't remember seeing them the first time," Irene commented.
Hanami turned her back with an embarrassed, awkward smile. While adjusting the ear over her own, Rynelle asked:
"Why do you wear fake elf ears?"
Hanami placed her hands on the floor, softly clenching them into fists. She tucked in her neck, raised her shoulders nervously, and said:
"Elves have a natural talent for magic. I'm not very good at it, but I believe in myself… I know I can become a good mage. I use these so people won't underestimate me," she said, touching her pointed ears.
When a brief silence followed, Irene spoke naturally:
"With so many good things going for you, you still let that bother you?"
"Hm?" Hanami murmured, looking at her over her shoulder.
"Just look at yourself! You're a full SSR rank!"
"A what?"
"You can fly! You can go wherever you want, and you have plenty of time to learn magic. The last thing you should be worried about is whether you're good or bad at magic."
Hanami relaxed as she looked at her. She thought the same way, but hearing it from someone else, for some reason, worked better to cheer her up.
Rynelle walked over to the vampire, who was still kneeling on the floor. Hanami watched her approach with a curious, relaxed expression. The elf placed the hat back on her head and then said as she walked away:
"You'll learn magic here. A guard's training involves hard work, but the Aetheris family has excellent instructors."
Hanami slightly adjusted the hat so she could see her from where she was. Her expression turned more serious, but only as she reflected on both of their words.
Noticing the awkward mood, Hanami laughed softly and stood up, saying:
"Changing the subject a bit, I'll come see you every day, Irene."
"You won't," Rynelle replied. "Now that you'll need to prepare yourself, you'll be very busy. Still, I understand your reasons, and after seeing everything over the past month, if you remain just as responsible, I'll accept your requests."
"So… Irene will come see me every day, right?"
Irene smiled awkwardly as Rynelle answered once more.
"She's much busier now that she's fifteen. Her responsibilities as a princess will gradually increase. Though honestly, all I see is you enjoying your spoiled-brat life."
"I only come during my free time! Of course I'm busy," she said, frowning.
'I already spent thirty years as a shut-in nerd living at home. I won't waste this new life with this new body. There are so many possibilities now…'
Irene got up from the bed, cleared her throat, and placing a hand on her chest, declared with a radiant smile:
"I already have everything planned out. I'm just waiting to come of age. In three years, my real life will begin."