[Location: Morningstar Manor, New York]
After what felt like an eternity of emotional exhaustion, I was released like a hostage after failed negotiations.
They finally backed off.
Not because they were rciful.
But because Zeraphira declared a "cooling-off period" with the sa tone one uses to announce an incoming orbital strike.
So now I was sitting in the Morningstar Manor’s main lounge, wrapped in a blanket like a traumatised burrito, holding a mug of sothing Selene had promised was "definitely not cursed (probably)."
Ignoring the whispering Ezravia, who was talking to flushed Ravvy about "Coitus being a sacred ritual", while Selene was sandwiched between them, nodding sagely, which was not helping my ntal recovery in the slightest.
"Coitus," Ezravia was explaining with the calm tone of a professor delivering a lecture on quantum instability, "is not rely a biological act. In high-tier demonic aristocracy, it is a ritualised exchange of essence, hierarchy, and emotional precedence. The stronger party imprints the weaker, creating a resonance loop that—"
Ravvy’s face was so red it was practically emitting heat.
"I–I thought it was just... um... hugging... b–but longer..." she whispered.
Selene nodded vigorously, legs tucked under her on the sofa, sparkly eyes full of academic enthusiasm. "Yup! And sotis there’s chanting. And sigils. And dramatic lighting. Oh! And consent contracts written in blood or glitter, depending on the culture!"
Just then—
"Papa, you are awake!"
A blur of silver collided with my chest like a teor wrapped in soft pajamas.
"—OOF!"
All the air left my lungs as Eris tackled , tiny arms locking around my neck with frighteningly efficient affection.
"Papa! Papa! Papa!" she chirped, nuzzling her face into my collar like a very happy, very dangerous kitten.
I wheezed. "G–Good morning to you too, cosmic disaster..."
Zeraphira imdiately stood. "Eris, mind your force output."
"Oh! Sorry!" Eris instantly loosened her grip—then imdiately reattached herself like a magnet. "Better?"
"...Marginally."
Grayfia entered the lounge behind her, moving more slowly than usual.
Very slow.
Though her
Zeraphira imdiately stood. "Eris, mind your force output."
"Oh! Sorry!" Eris instantly loosened her grip—then imdiately reattached herself like a magnet. "Better?"
"...Marginally."
Grayfia entered the lounge behind her, moving more slowly than usual.
Very slow.
Her silver hair was cascaded so softly over her shoulders. Her eyes, calm yet unreadable, shimred like muted eralds beneath her lashes. The classic maid uniform she wore fit her perfectly—black fabric trimd with white frills, a crisp apron tied neatly around her slender waist.
A tray was in her hands.
Not the ceremonial kind.
Not the battle-preparation kind.
Just... breakfast.
Steam curled lazily from a porcelain teapot. Freshly baked rolls, still warm. A bowl of fruit cut with obsessive precision. A tiny plate with sothing chocolate that Selene would definitely steal later.
Grayfia Lucifuge, Silver-Haired Queen of Annihilation, walked like a woman carrying the most fragile thing in the universe.
Herself.
Every step was asured. Not because she was weak.
But because her core still hurts.
And I felt it.
The room went quiet.
Not because Zeraphira commanded it.
Not because Ezravia calculated it.
Not because Valeria teased it.
But because Grayfia existed.
Eris let go of instantly and sprinted toward her.
"Mama Grayfia!"
Grayfia knelt slowly, setting the tray down on a side table before opening her arms.
Eris slamd into her.
"Mama?" I was quite surprised to see Eris call Grayfia ’Mama’ in just one night because she didn’t even call Carmilla ’Mama’, as at least she knows Eris more than Grayfia.
"Mmm~ Papa, Mama makes good food, so I decided she’s Mama now!"
Eris declared it with the absolute confidence of a small cosmic entity that had just rewritten social law.
Grayfia froze.
For exactly half a second.
Then her composure cracked.
Just a little.
"...Eris," she said softly, voice warm and unsteady in a way only I ever heard it, "that is... very sudden."
Eris looked up at her with sparkling crimson eyes. "Is it okay?"
Grayfia glanced at .
Just once.
Not for permission.
For reassurance.
My heart tightened.
"...If you’re comfortable with it," I said gently, "then I am too."
Grayfia’s lips curved into the smallest, most fragile smile.
"...Then I will do my best," she replied.
Eris bead.
And hugged her again.
Zeraphira watched silently, arms folded, unreadable.
Ezravia adjusted her imaginary glasses, eyes softening. Valeria blinked twice, clearly fighting the urge to tease. Ravvy wiped her eyes with the sleeve of her hoodie.
Selene whispered, "This is better than ani."
Grayfia rose carefully, Eris still clinging to her, and carried the tray toward the coffee table.
"Breakfast," she said. "Master... you did not eat last night."
"Emotionally? Or physically?"
"...Both."
She set the tray down and poured tea with steady hands that hid the faint tremor in her fingers.
I wrapped the blanket tighter around myself and shifted forward.
"...Fia," I said quietly, "you shouldn’t be up."
"I am not fragile," she replied.
"Yes, you are," I countered gently. "You’re just stubborn about it."
Her eyes softened.
"...Only for you."
That hit harder than any God-level attack.
Eris climbed onto the sofa beside , dragging Grayfia with her like an unwilling but compliant silver-haired cot.
"Papa, eat!" she ordered.
"Yes, ma’am," I saluted.
As I took a roll, Zeraphira cleared her throat.
"Darling," she said. "Explanations are in order."
Oh no.
Zeraphira’s voice cut through the fragile warmth like a blade wrapped in velvet.
"Darling," she repeated. "Explanations are in order. Don’t you think so?"
The room didn’t tense.
It aligned.
Ezravia straightened slightly, curiosity sharpening into focus.
Valeria stopped lounging and actually sat up properly.
Ravvy tucked her legs under herself, hands folded nervously in her lap.
Selene scooted closer, eyes sparkling like she was about to watch the most important lore dump of her life.
Gabriel hovered a little behind Zeraphira, polite, uncertain, and very, very attentive.
Grayfia paused mid-pour.
Not because she was afraid.
Because she understood what Zeraphira ant.
I exhaled slowly.
"...Okay," I said. "Fair."
I set the roll back on the plate and wrapped both hands around the warm mug.
"Let introduce you to Carmilla Noctis-Valeblood, Forr consort of Vampire King and currently my blood wife—"
And just as I expected, multiple lost their composure—absolute, catastrophic, composure-shattering chaos.
Valeria choked on air.
Ezravia’s tea froze halfway to her lips.
Ravvy made a tiny, distressed squeaking noise and imdiately hid behind Selene.
Gabriel blinked. Once. Twice. "B–Blood... wife?"
Selene slamd both hands on the table. "WAIT WAIT WAIT WAIT— BLOOD WIFE?! THAT’S A RARE ROUTE!"
Zeraphira’s aura flared.
Carmilla, who had been lounging like an amused, immortal cat the entire ti, lifted her cup with aristocratic elegance and took a slow sip.
"...Do continue, darling," she purred.
I rubbed my face.
"This," I said weakly, "is why I didn’t want to start with that."
Grayfia zipped onto , saddling my lap without any care as she settled firmly on my lap, her hands bracing against my shoulders, and gave a look that could have stopped a cot in its tracks.
"...Sit still, Master," she said softly, though there was an unmistakable weight behind it, the kind of weight that reminded she could level nations if she wanted to—but wasn’t. Not here. Not now.
Eris squealed beside her, bouncing lightly. "Papa! Mama Grayfia says you have to listen!"
I glanced around the room. Zeraphira’s arms were crossed again, her expression unreadable, but the sharp tilt of her head said dangerous patience. Ezravia was perched on the edge of her seat, purple hair glinting under the morning light, notebook forgotten. Valeria was grinning, pink hair practically sparkling, while Ravvy hid half behind Selene, trembling slightly, and Selene herself was wide-eyed, leaning forward like this was so live-stread lore event. Gabriel... Gabriel simply floated, hands clasped politely in front of her, innocence itself emanating, though her gaze was intense, as if trying to figure out the entire situation without breaking a single rule of etiquette.
I rubbed my temples under the blanket. "Fine. Fine. I’ll explain. But you have to promise to stay calm."
Zeraphira’s brow twitched ever so slightly. "Darling, the word ’calm’ is purely aspirational in this room."
"But how? I an—when did this even happen?!" She finished as her control on herself threatened to spill.
"It was when I went to the toilet yesterday on our date. When we, Selene and Gabriel, entered that Tofu restaurant—"
"But that was like five minutes maximum, and we saw you standing in front of that Elder Werewolf, and Ares with Erzavia, Valeria and Ravvy by your side. How can this much happen in five freakin’ minutes!"
I groaned. "Exactly. That’s the problem."
Everyone froze, blinking at as I had just dropped a singularity on the coffee table.
"I don’t even know where to start," I admitted, wrapping the blanket tighter around myself. "It’s... complicated."
Zeraphira’s lips twitched ever so slightly. "Complicated?" she echoed, voice deceptively soft. "Darling, you have the floor. Make it simple."
I took a long sip of my tea, hoping it would sohow infuse with the clarity I desperately lacked. Spoiler: it did not.
"Okay... first, I fell into a sealed dinsion where Vampire King was sealed with his entire race—previous version of race, in fact. Nothing like the current generation of Vampires—"
"Fell into a sealed dinsion on your way to the toilet?" Even Selene was surprised.
***
Stone , I can take it!
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