However, although she was already preparing to place a hat on the head of a certain Immortal, this was, in fact, a very difficult undertaking.
Setting aside for a moment the matter of how to find that Mop-Head who did nothing but get beaten around in order to drag someone over, and then figuring out how to not get killed by a certain madwoman...
Just the task of seducing that madwoman's man was, in itself, a major headache.
If she were to throw her entire being into it, the incomparably charming Black Princess had absolute confidence she could handle any male character, with the exception of homosexuals and psychopaths.
But—
To throw her entire being into it... wouldn't that be the equivalent of giving herself away for free, and then paying for the privilege on top of that?
To stake her entire self just to spite a certain psycho was, clearly, a highly irrational thing to do.
To place a hat on that psycho's head while ensuring she didn't get ensnared herself was, clearly, a skillful art.
Furthermore, judging by the state of that madwoman who couldn't even recognize the person who had supposedly stolen her husband, it was highly likely that her lover's combat power was superior to her own.
There was no other way to explain why she hadn't locked her lover in the basement and could only rage impotently on the streets.
To deceive the emotions of a very powerful man was, clearly, a very dangerous thing to do.
If that man happens to suit my tastes, perhaps just going along with the mistake wouldn't be such a bad thing, thought the King of the Dead Apostles, who in truth held a very detached view of things like affection.
If her opponent was powerful and not personally repulsive to her, marrying him with an attitude similar to that of a political alliance was not an incomprehensible matter.
But if he was a man who did not meet her requirements for a partner, then the situation became more perilous.
After placing the hat, if she couldn't escape before he realized his feelings had been deceived, then she would truly be calling "GG" amidst a chorus of laughter and cheers.
Thinking it over carefully... this whole affair is rather troublesome, thought the King of the Dead Apostles, who, despite her immense fury, still retained a degree of reason.
And another thing...
Her body was currently in a terrible state.
Even after drinking some blood of an absurdly high quality, she was still extremely weak.
The Samadhi True Fire—a heart-flame with Buddhist properties—was practically a lethal poison to an existence like her, who stood somewhere between a Dead Apostle and a Fallen True Ancestor. And she had taken a direct hit from it.
If that single blow had exceeded the limits of her immortality, she would certainly be dead right now.
But, repairing her body consumed power.
Her own power reserves were not abundant to begin with, and now she had been hit with a devastating, absolute-kill technique. Her entire being was weakened to the extreme.
If she hadn't just drunk a bit of high-quality blood, she probably would have fallen directly into a deep slumber.
I can't even perform the most basic of actions, thought the King of the Dead Apostles. Her gaze then drifted to the youth who had just provided her with a bloody meal, and she couldn't help but lick her lips.
That taste, exquisite to the extreme... even recalling it now made her heart itch.
I really want another mouthful.
"Stop looking. I don't have a habit of repeatedly feeding blood to any vampire outside of Luna Kindred," said the youth, who was rummaging through the drawer of the bedside table, as if he had noticed that her gaze was entirely inappropriate.
He opened the drawer, taking out several bottles, jars, and some cotton swabs.
Then—
To the Black Princess's astonished expression, he reached out, grabbed the sash at her waist, and untied it from around her neck.
It was only then that the Black Princess reacted in a fluster, realizing that her collar was now unobstructed. Her outer robe was being stripped from her as if peeling a red water caltrop, exposing her snow-white skin.
"What are you doing!!"
Like any girl being accosted by a lecher, Her Highness the Princess of the Dead Apostles couldn't help but roar in anger, reaching out to snatch her clothes back.
But—
Before her hand could fully extend, a wave of intense pain and weakness washed over her body, causing her face to contort.
Her body had been weakened to an unprecedented degree.
Right now, even if a mere middle school student were to come at her, they could knock this noble King of the Dead Apostles to the ground.
"Calm down."
"I don't have a habit of using forceful means to take a girl's chastity without her permission."
The youth, who was clearly aware of what the Black Princess was worried about, leisurely surveyed the expanse of snow-white on the girl's chest and the two points of crimson before he began to mix a magical potion.
After Subsequently, he picked up a hot towel and began to gently wipe the areas where the girl still bore the marks of burns, then took out an ointment and began to apply it, bit by bit, to the Black Princess's wounds.
To dodge was impossible; to not dodge felt wrong.
If he were to give in to his beastly nature, the Black Princess, who in truth lacked the ability to resist, sat there smelling the clean fragrance of the ointment, half-naked, and for a rare moment, felt a sense of bashfulness.
But—
This was so infuriating!
The Black Princess, who had never imagined she would be seen completely exposed by the opposite sex for something as mundane as having medicine applied, had a look of utter indignation written all over her fair, delicate face.
After a long moment, she finally lifted her head and looked at the man who had, in the past, also confessed to her.
"For me, a meal of blood is more effective than any magical potion."
"But I'm too lazy to let blood again."
The youth, whose skin effectively possessed the properties of the Sunwheel Armor due to having analyzed it, and who wore another set of Sunwheel Armor on top of that, spoke with great earnestness.
If he wanted to let some blood, he would have to simulate the power of Lugh's treasured weapon—the Soul-Snatching Sword that could ignore armor and inflict a wound that never healed—and use it on himself.
And to remove the curse, he would have to use time magic.
Clearly, the method of feeding her his blood was troublesome, physically damaging, and came with no benefits.
The Black Princess is still quite a sight to behold, the youth commented to himself.
"Lord Li, has no one ever told you that it is extremely impolite to stare at a girl?"
As his gaze landed on her once more, the Black Princess, who was in fact in a very foul mood, had her expression suddenly turn dangerous.
I take back what I said before.
Even if this guy saved my life, once my wounds are healed, I'm still going to have to beat him up.
"I can't help it. As you well know, my Origin awakened long ago. For me, whose Origin is 'Hunting,' it's very difficult to suppress my carnal desires and killing intent."
The youth, a nearly perfect hunter on both the battlefield and in the field of love, said with a light laugh.
"Could you perhaps show a little consideration for me, your subordinate?"
"Oh—"
As if she had encountered something very peculiar, the King of the Dead Apostles looked at the man who had torn up their contract long ago and narrowed her eyes.
"Your past actions were certainly not those of a qualified subordinate."
As if facing a great headache, the youth sighed and spoke.
"Could we please not talk about that time? Back then, my Origin hadn't awakened. I didn't yet know the benefits of a beautiful boss."
The King of the Dead Apostles, having grasped the situation in an instant, narrowed her eyes.
Within her ruby-like irises, there was a hint of playfulness.
"Do you intend to 'hunt' me?"