The water had washed away the grime and sweat, but I could still feel the lingering residue of the past night's... experience.
"Please, hide your horns and tail," Claire said to me as I stepped out of the bath.
"My Lady wouldn't love to see this new look of Lord Valerian," she warned, holding out a set of clothes.
I took them, a strange sense of unease washing over me.
They were the exact size as mine.
Had she known my measurements in advance?
"And how would I do that? Can you explain?" I asked, looking at the clothes.
"Shouldn't you know that already?" she looked at me, completely speechless.
Hey! You're the one who abducted me before I could even ask Liliana! Damnit!
My resentment must have shown on my face.
She likely realised her mistake and quickly composed herself, her calm demeanor returning.
"Since you don't know, let me explain," Claire began, her tone a little more subdued.
"It's a very simple process," she explained, her voice now calm and instructional.
"Your horns and tail are not a permanent part of your body. They are a manifestation of the demonic energy within you.
All you need to do is concentrate.
Close your eyes, and focus on the power at your core.
Think of your human form as a mask, and the demonic features as something you can simply pull back and hide.
It's like retracting a limb, but with pure will. It won't hurt, but it might feel a little strange at first.
You just need to tell your body what you want it to do."
After doing as Claire instructed, at first I didn't notice any change.
But soon, I felt my tail retracting and my horns dissolving.
It was a strange, subtle sensation, a phantom limb being pulled back into my body.
In my core, however, nothing felt different. I knew I would not return to being a human again.
"Great. Now please follow me after getting dressed, Lord Valerian," Claire said, smiling as she held out the clothes.
But why is she making me wear it in front of her? At least give me some space.
"Um, can you move the other way before I wear them?" I asked politely, hoping for some privacy.
Claire tilted her head in confusion. "And why should I? If Lord Valerian is worried about me, then please don't mind.
I have already witnessed everything," she said, finishing with a humble bow.
Ah, I guess I did get abducted when I was naked after all, huh? I suddenly felt more exposed than I was before.
....
After a mental debate about whether I had any shame remaining or not, I finally dressed up.
I followed behind the beautiful maid through the grand corridor of the mansion.
As we walked, I noticed an old painting of a family of Five.
The woman in the middle was carrying a baby, and surprisingly, all of them were beautiful women with crimson red hair and similar faces.
"That is?" I asked Claire, and she stopped, looking at what I was pointing at.
"Oh, that's a portrait of the Duchess and her children when the youngest lady was born," she explained, returning to her walk.
So that is her family, huh? Entirely composed of women.
Is that normal for vampires?
Before I could ponder further, we had already reached our destination.
A huge door stood in front of me.
"This is as far as I can guide you," she stopped and faced me, a complicated expression on her face.
"But please, a request from this humble maid: don't treat my lady too harshly. She did all this because she loves Lord Valerian."
My face sank at the thought, but I nodded.
"I hope so as well, but I can't guarantee anything other than at least I won't reject her outright this time," I breathed out, touching the door.
"That is enough," she said, smiling in satisfaction and leaving me alone in front of the door.
"Here goes nothing," I whispered, and with a push, the huge door swung open, revealing a room of pure, absolute darkness.
Did she become a recluse or something? I thought, my mind racing as I stepped inside.
I soon heard a low, whispered sound.
"Valerian, Valerian, Valerian... he is so handsome, so handsome, so handsome. I love him, love him, love him, love him..."
Sigh. I had hoped she'd gotten better, but this was even worse.
I located the light switch with my senses and flipped it on.
I don't like dark places, and what was the point if I couldn't even see her face?
As the whole room lit up, it revealed a scene that made me, a veteran waifu lover, blush in comparison.
The walls were filled with my pictures and posters, a testament to a level of dedication I'd never seen before.
Damn. She was on another level, and I hadn't realised I was this famous.
I internally admired her commitment, blushing at the unsettling realisation that my entire life seemed to have been documented here.
Maybe I never had privacy to begin with.
"Huh? What is happening?" I noticed a woman with long, disheveled hair sitting up on a huge bed.
She was clutching a human-sized pillow that looked exactly like me.
No, it's definitely me, I deadpanned at the thought.
"Eh! V-Val? Why are you here? W-wait, let me get ready," she stuttered at my appearance, her voice full of confusion and surprise.
I walked closer, watching her subtly retreat.
It was weird.
The woman who was supposed to be a domineering, arrogant princess was acting so meek now. Something was really off.
Then I remembered something important.
The ritual!
Just like how Liliana felt pain at the slightest bit of separation, was she also affected by that? Judging by her weak and disheveled appearance, I concluded that was the case.
With a sigh, I finally opened my mouth and greeted her like an old friend.
"Long time since we last met, isn't that right, Eleonor?" I said with a sense of nostalgia at the name.
Eleonor Von Karnstein, my childhood's most hated section and currently, my Vampire wife.
...
Weird what fate brings us in life
Once a hated enemy could become the closest friend or lover
And how a simple vain effort of mine could actually make this intresting story
Hello I am Ars_Vanitas And good news is that I got a invitation for contract with Webnovel
So as I am planning to sign the contract and hopefully this story reach more people
For that support my work as I write and if possible Join my discord and bring some intresting ideas to me
Like When I decide who will be Mc's Mentor as I plan to pick a historical character for that
Anyways Whatever you do I am happy to be your approachable Author
.....