The action should have been revulsing, forcing the young girl to pull away instantly.
Instead, the sudden, overwhelming heat of the moment seized her.
Cressida instinctively clenched the edge of the bathtub, bracing herself. The lick tickled, but it also sent an undeniable shiver of sensation through her.
"I... I know," she managed, trying desperately not to whimper, but her voice trembled anyway.
"I'm not sure if I like that you're roaming outside your cage lately," Agrona continued, her breath warm against the skin. "But it's certainly less annoying than the pathetic thing you were back then."
She pressed her fang against the paper-thin surface of Cressida's skin, and a seeping crimson bead instantly welled up against the pale color.
Agrona savored the sight for a fraction of a second before shoving both fangs inside, easily penetrating the flesh that it made the young girl flinching violently as searing pain shot through her, instantly squeezing her eyes shut.
It hurt like hell.
This must be what Genevieve had meant by making it hurt less.
Maybe she's not so bad afterall...
Despite her status as an imperial guard and her himbo tendencies, Genevieve was easily the kindest soul and the greenest flag in this entire novel. She had intentionally softened the pain, while Agrona deliberately intended to claim her with brutal clarity.
Of course, Agrona didn't stop there.
Those warm, draining lips remained fixed on her, pulling out blood for endless minutes.
Even an immortal like Cressida felt the profound exhaustion of the consuming process. She simply lay still, drained, until the fangs finally retracted with a soft, wet sound.
"You look exhausted," Agrona observed, her voice devoid of sympathy.
"Gee, I wonder why," Cressida retorted, her eyes feeling heavy and sunken with fatigue.
As Agrona pulled away, the vicious bite mark she left instantly healed. More surprisingly, the hickey Lilithia had imprinted also vanished.
"There," Agrona said with finality.
"H-How?" Cressida stammered, touching the now-smooth skin.
"A vampire's saliva contains potent healing properties," Agrona explained. "Especially when counteracting effects caused by a certain something."
'A certain something?' Cressida thought. The phrase was frustratingly vague. Since she hadn't finished reading the novel, Lilithia likely had more reliable insight into how the plot's mechanisms truly worked.
Agrona, ignoring Cressida's distress, ran a finger along the now-smooth skin of her neck. "Now, I'm not particularly fond of you, but you'll do better than that man, Julian."
At least that was a form of assurance. Cressida registered the backhanded compliment as a sign that she might not be thrown away like a disposable toy.
It was undeniably true. Julian was useless. He was, perhaps, the most ineffective Jewel in the entire harem, a minor collectible at best.
Poor guy.
"Thanks, I guess?" Cressida managed.
Agrona's voice dropped to a low, cold threat. "If you let yourself be sullied once more, just know that the neck won't be the only thing where I aim."
That statement genuinely terrified Cressida, driving the color right out of her face. "Y-Yes ma'am..." she whispered, trembling.
***
"Freedom," Cressida sighed.
After the intense, unexpected bath session, she was finally released.
She quickly changed into her nightgown, then collapsed onto her bed, sinking gratefully into the soft mattress.
Thank goodness Agrona wouldn't be beside her; the villainess was still bogged down by divorce documents.
Cressida looked toward the window. The sky was beautiful, dominated by the eternal moon forever gazing down upon the Donovian Empire.
"Even I would go crazy if it's perpetually dark," she mused, realizing the psychological toll the empire's perpetual night must take.
Suddenly, a bird landed silently on the open window ledge right in front of her.
It was a sleek black raven that held a tightly folded piece of paper in its beak.
It released the paper and immediately took flight, vanishing into the darkness.
Cressida moved quickly, snatching the letter before the breeze could carry it away.
She unfolded it, recognizing the elegant script.
"From... Lilithia?"