Chapter 29: Morning Grumpiness

This morning, unusually, Chloe woke up first.

She sat up on the bed, staring blankly at Larvia’s sleeping face.

As Larvia’s rhythmic breathing filled the air, Chloe’s fuzzy memories of last night grew clearer.

If she recalled correctly, after brewing the transformation potion, her mind had gone completely blank, like she was drunk, unable to control her actions.

She must’ve gone back to her room to hide the potion, then headed straight to Larvia’s room.

And then, very clearly, she’d asked Larvia…

‘Waaah…’

Chloe’s cheeks burned red, as if they might bleed. She hurriedly covered her face.

Last night, all her actions were unconscious.

That meant coming to Larvia’s room and asking to sleep together was purely her body’s instinct.

‘How could… Am I already…?’

‘No, no, no!’

‘Kids, that wasn’t me!’

‘I was out of it, so nothing I did makes sense!’

‘It doesn’t prove anything!’

‘I’m still me! Name: Chloe, occupation: royal maid…’

Chloe froze.

‘No, no, no, no!’

‘I’m the human Sword Saint, name… temporarily Chloe, formerly Klein, occupation… ugh, what am I even doing? Am I really a royal maid now…?’

‘Snap out of it, Chloe!’

Slap, slap!

She smacked her cheeks hard with both hands.

‘Wake up!’

“…What’s wrong with you this early?”

A cold voice came from beside her. Chloe wilted, sticking out her tongue at the now-awake Larvia.

“Ehe~”

“On purpose or by accident?” Larvia asked dryly.

“Sorry, can you not dock my pay…?”

Chloe paused.

‘Wait a sec.’

‘I’ve got the transformation potion. Why am I scared of her?’

Clearing her throat, she raised her chin, puffing out her chest confidently.

“Ahem~ On purpose!”

“…Lunatic.”

Larvia rolled her eyes, looking at Chloe like she was an idiot.

“It’s not even time to get up. Go back to sleep.”

With that, she grabbed Chloe’s collar, yanked her back onto the bed, and pressed her into her arms.

“Ugh!”

Chloe started struggling fiercely.

Larvia, eyes closed, ignored her, just holding her tightly against her chest.

Minutes later, Larvia suddenly opened her eyes, grabbed Chloe’s wrist, flipped her over, and pinned her to the bed.

Lowering her gaze, she glared at Chloe, taking a deep breath.

“Seriously, what’s your deal? You’re losing next month’s pay too!”

Chloe’s antics had fully woken Larvia, who’d been half-asleep. Even the usually composed queen was now grumpy from her disrupted sleep.

“Eek, my pay?!”

Hearing Larvia mention her wages, Chloe instinctively flinched.

But in the span of a breath, her panic vanished, replaced by a fearless expression.

“Dock it, see if I care!”

“…”

Larvia’s irritation faded at Chloe’s unusual response.

Her rationality kicked back in, and she returned to her usual demeanor.

Staring into Chloe’s determined eyes, she began to think calmly.

‘Why doesn’t that work today?’

‘Oh, right. She brewed the transformation potion yesterday…’

Larvia’s mind raced, and a faint smile crept onto her lips.

‘Got it.’

“See if you care, huh?”

Larvia’s fingertip gently lifted Chloe’s chin, her face inching closer.

“Talking like you’ve already sold yourself to me.”

“I…”

Larvia’s warm breath brushed Chloe’s face, making her blush.

“W-What do you mean, sold myself? Nonsense…”

“Think about it. If I dock your pay for life, doesn’t that make you mine?”

“Guh…”

Chloe averted her gaze timidly.

Larvia loomed over her, their faces so close they were barely two fingers apart. In this intimate distance, Chloe couldn’t find words, only trying to distract herself.

The blanket covered Larvia, hiding everything below their necks, creating a suggestive scene. To an outsider, it’d look like they’d stumbled into something scandalous.

Too bad they were just talking about wages.

Though, in a way, it was adult content.

“Look at me.”

Larvia gently pinched Chloe’s chin, turning her head to meet her gaze.

Their eyes locked, the air heavy.

Staring into Larvia’s eyes, Chloe felt like she was being pulled in.

‘Don’t talk, don’t talk, don’t talk…’

She frantically warned herself not to blurt anything out.

Given last night’s slip-up, she had no faith in herself to say anything sensible.

“…”

“…”

“…”

“Tch, boring.”

Larvia suddenly let her go.

She flipped off the blanket and got out of bed.

“Huff, huff, huff…”

Chloe gasped in relief, glad she’d survived.

‘Such intense pressure!’

‘But Larvia’s not all that!’

Adjusting herself, Chloe’s smug look returned.

“Ahem… Larvia, I have something to say.”

“What?”

“Give me a raise!”

“…Huh?”

Larvia’s face was a sea of question marks.

“It’s not much. Just give me the payment you promised!”

Chloe rubbed her chin, rattling off her demands.

“First, adjust my salary to 30 vampire gold coins a month, then four days on, three days off! And… oh, right! Vacation! 20 days of annual leave!”

“On what grounds? Seniority? Achievements? Why should I give you a raise?”

Larvia laughed, incredulous.

“Because if you don’t, I’ll sneak away!”

“Sneak away?”

Larvia feigned confusion.

“Since you’re asking so sincerely, I’ll graciously tell you.”

Chloe pouted, crossing her arms.

“I know how to turn back into a human. If you don’t give me a raise, I’ll slip back to the human empire!”