The happiness she had gained thanks to Rynelle just minutes earlier vanished the moment she came face to face with her father. Her stomach churned, and her body slowly began to tremble.
'Does he know? D-did my mother tell him? Is he angry with me? Will he hurt me?'
"Daughter?" he asked, placing his hand on Irene's shoulder.
"W-What?!"
"Hm? Are you feeling alright?"
"Huh? Ah… a-ah, yeah… Yeah, yeah. I'm fine…"
'Why do I feel so scared?'
Ronel watched her in silence before speaking.
"How was your day? You look worried."
"I-It was fine, heh, heh… I'm really tired. I just want to sleep."
She said this as she turned around and started to walk away. In response, Ronel stopped her.
"Wait. Um… are you… angry with me?"
"Huh? Why?"
"You've avoided me for many years now. I don't think we've ever talked about it. But I don't blame you. I know it's my fault. I should have tried to get closer to you."
"Uh… umm. No, I'm not. It's just puberty stuff and, you know, hormones," she said with an awkward expression. "So just ignore it. I'm going to bed now. I'm really, really tired," she added, faking a yawn.
"Wait. You still have an hour before bedtime. I need to pick up a few things in the city. Would you like to come with me?"
"Huh? R-right now? So late? I think maybe another day would be better."
"It won't be far, I promise. Besides, it's about magic items. You like that kind of thing, don't you? Ever since you were little, haha."
"Yeah, I love them, but I'm really tired, you know?"
"Daughter, please. Just this once."
"No, Father. Thank you."
"Please!"
Irene stopped mid-step. She had already been walking away when Ronel raised his voice. Her heart skipped, and with a hint of fear, she turned to look at him from the side.
"Please," he repeated. "Let's take a moment to talk."
Irene's nerves spiked. She wanted to agree out of empathy, but the rejection she felt was stronger. She lowered her gaze, guilt written across her face, and replied softly.
"I'm sorry… but no."
"I understand…" Ronel replied, lowering his eyes.
Irene returned to her room.
◇◆◇
When she arrived, she didn't even bother changing. She fell face-first onto her bed, hugging her pillow. She was still wearing her black dress and knee-high stockings.
Her face was buried in the pillow, and the darkness of the room dragged her down even further.
A faint rustle in the curtains made her ears flick back. She knew someone had entered—and she knew exactly who it was.
"May I lie down with you, princess?" she asked in a teasing tone near her ear.
"Yes," Irene replied.
"Hm? Yes? You usually kick me out."
Irene turned onto her side and looked at Hanami's mature face. She shifted slightly to make space and spoke.
"I'm depressed. I don't want to feel alone right now."
Hanami levitated over and lay down beside her, facing her. Their faces were separated by barely eight inches.
"Is it because of your trip tomorrow?"
Irene shook her head.
"There are a lot of doubts and feelings involved. Even now, I can't stop thinking that I might be doing something wrong by leaving."
Hanami rested her hand on Irene's cheek and gently stroked it with her thumb.
"Leaving the home you share with your parents is natural. Beyond the worries and fears, you're not doing anything wrong."
"I know, it's just…" Her eyelids relaxed, and her gaze unconsciously drifted down to Hanami's neck.
'Now that I think about it, I never told her what happened beneath the castle.'
"Just what?" Hanami asked.
"Forget it. It's not worth bringing up right now," she said, forming a small smile.
Hanami watched her in silence, never stopping the gentle caress. She wanted to understand what was going on inside Irene's head, to decipher her feelings. Without realizing how much time had passed, Irene joked.
"You're touching me a lot," a soft giggle slipping from her lips.
"Hm? And what's wrong with that? I like taking care of you and feeling your skin," she said with a playful smile. "Or does it make you nervous when I do?"
Her fingers moved up to Irene's neck, and the fine nail of her index finger traced a line from her jaw down to her shoulder. Irene was used to her personality, but this time she simply smiled and tilted her neck, exposing it.
"No. Keep going."
Hanami's eyes widened slightly. She had only meant to tease her for a moment, but at Irene's request, she continued brushing her nail back and forth along her neck.
Irene exhaled and relaxed. At times, she couldn't help letting out faint sounds of pleasure. Seeing her exposed neck stirred Hanami's heart. As a vampire, there was nothing more alluring than such a sight.
Her instincts made her lift her head slightly, and guided by Irene's soft sounds, she leaned in and timidly licked her neck. It was brief and fleeting—expecting Irene to stop her or pull away—but she didn't. Receiving no rejection, Hanami continued.
The licks turned into slow kisses that traveled along her neck and collarbone.
'It feels so good…' Irene thought. 'Somehow, I want to stop her, but… it's Hanami… For some reason, it doesn't bother me.'
Irene's left arm moved and wrapped around the vampire's waist. Without pulling away from her neck, Hanami found her hand and gently caressed it, welcoming the gesture.
Their legs shifted, seeking each other until they intertwined. Hanami took the initiative, stroking Irene's legs while maintaining the light contact of her nails. That delicate sensation wrapped around Irene, making her unable to bring herself to stop her.
'Huh? Wh-What? Is this really happening? Is Ha-Hanami… touching me?'
Irene stroked Hanami's arm, her hand traveling up to her shoulder.
'D-Do I…? Would she get angry? What if I'm misunderstanding everything? But my body…'
Her hand slowly descended, hesitantly brushing against Hanami's neckline. It was subtle, done with her pinky as if by accident. When there was no reaction, she moved it again, gently stroking the top of her cleavage. Once she made up her mind, she took hold freely.
Hanami was wearing her witch outfit, though she had removed her hat before lying down with Irene.
Both of their bodies were heated, and Irene's blood was boiling. Lost in the pleasure of the kisses, the princess murmured.
"Hanami~…"
Hanami pulled away from her neck and stared at her. Irene opened her eyes, her face flushed and her gaze half-lidded. Hanami slid her hand from Irene's leg up to cup her cheek.
"You look so beautiful," she said softly.
Their warm breaths mingled. A mix of surprise and desire churned inside them both. Hanami's sharp, serious gaze hypnotized Irene.
The vampire slowly leaned toward her face. Irene noticed and fixed her eyes on Hanami's lips. Both closed their eyes, allowing their desire for one another to grow.
Their lips finally met, sending their hearts racing. Irene drew her arms close to her chest, letting Hanami guide her.
'I'm usually not this submissive… but this time, I can't stop feeling this way,' Irene thought as she moved her lips. 'A woman…? Am I really kissing a woman? Is that why I feel so shy? It feels like a forbidden desire.'
Hanami pressed herself over Irene without breaking the kiss, and the princess allowed herself to be guided until she was lying on her back.
'I'm… confused. I had never doubted my heterosexuality until the day I remembered how I died. And even if I feel this way, I can't stop Hanami. My body won't let me… Is it just because she's so beautiful, or do I genuinely…?'
Irene's fingers intertwined with Hanami's, holding her hands above her head. When they separated for a brief moment, their lips made a soft, sweet sound that delighted them both. They looked at each other, faces flushed, breathing heavily through parted lips.
It wasn't just Irene's heart that was racing.
"Hanami…" Irene whispered, looking into her eyes.
"I'm sorry," Hanami replied. "Do you want me to stop?"
Irene averted her gaze, her face burning. She was far too lost in the sensation to refuse. Hanami was no different; she sat on Irene's waist and unfastened her outfit from the back, pulling the zipper down.
The dress slid down her body, and she removed it with her arms, leaving her bare torso exposed before Irene. Her breasts were larger than they appeared—round, so symmetrical they pressed together, with nipples a soft shade of pink.
Irene enjoyed the sight. It was the first time she had ever seen her naked. A tingling sensation spread through her lower body, and she instinctively closed her legs. After allowing Irene to take her in, Hanami leaned in again, returning to her lips and continuing, letting the shared sound envelop them.
'I knew Hanami was bold and passionate, but I never thought she'd look at me that way. Nor did I imagine I'd see her like this. It's… strange. I admire her beauty, but I never thought it would be like this. And yet, I can't stop wanting her to touch me.'