. To tell the truth, I was accustomed to prostitutes who took control. Neither of these two were doing so. I had been warned in advance by the inn that the girls they were sending had never fed a vampire before. The species just isn’t common in Relador. I decided I might as well get things started, so I simply …

. Had I ever done anything as embarrassing as this? Well, yeah, I’ve fought stark naked in broad daylight. But that was more-or-less forced on me. This time, I was the one initiating the action. It makes a difference, you know? I was staring at the little bell– it was totally the same dome-shaped call bell with a striker button …

. The main thing I needed from my lodgings was right inside the suite, unlike most inns. The luxury suites on the third floor included spacious baths, made from polished cedar, and the magic-enhanced plumbing filled the tub quite fast. Well, they weren’t Pendor House spacious, but they were big enough to fit two or three people comfortably. The inn …

. I surveyed the fairy ‘jury’ arrayed before me and shook my head. Looks like Grandmother had guessed correctly. She had given me instructions for any case where someone tried to hold any legal proceeding involving me. With my head tipped slightly, I gave the apparent leader of this kangaroo court a friendly smile. “Is that so? I have introduced …

. I didn’t have anything other than what I carried anyway, so I simply curtseyed while giving a quick goodbye to those who were paying attention and followed the rapidly departing Lady Serera. A few seconds later, Kiki had dropped onto my back for her free ride. I think she actually curled up into a ball and took a nap, …

. Diara and Rénin had the vistor bracketed, chatting happily to him with glowing, fangirlish eyes. Even Moire had emerged from the water, mostly. She was kneeling waist-deep near the shore, gazing up at him. Their enthusiasm for a mortal man was a stark contrast to Grandmother’s cold view of such beings. I guess having a mortal for a father …

. Diara rolled toward me on the other side, seemingly oblivious to the skin contact she created with the move. “I wouldn’t mind giving a massage, Your Highness.” My danger meter had instantly risen into the red zone. “Umm. I’m actually a strong healer, you know, so anything like sore muscles I can fix for myself.” That hand kept brushing …

. It was fully night-time when Serera dismissed me. Right away, a lesser fairy and the other half-fairy snagged my hands and pulled me to my feet. “Let’s go, Sister!” quoth the lesser fairy, a cutie with moss-colored hair and matching eyes. “You’re supposed to say ‘Your Highness’,” the silver-haired half-fairy remonstrated her. “Go where?” I asked, a bit perplexed. …

. Finally, Serera nodded and gestured for me to move closer to the unconscious fairy knight. I did so while muttering, “Wish I had my fan for this.” I put my hand out, palm forward, and intoned, “[Heal].” As gently as I could, I let the mana flow onto her, concentrating on her torso. The information about her condition flooded …

. Why was I running instead of fighting? I admit, it seemed cowardly, but this wasn’t a proper Knight’s duel anyway. She had ambushed me in stealth, clearly in the belief I couldn’t see her coming. And she had refused to declare her name. Besides, just like when I fought Aenëe, I seriously did not want to do injury to …