It was late at night.
Roland opened his eyes from a deep sleep, the beautiful body of the white Vampire Princess in his arms. As though he could see the future, he picked up the phone on the table and pressed answer the instant its screen lit up.
"Hello, Kohaku? I already know something seems to have happened to Akiha. Don't worry, I'll go deal with it myself in a bit."
"Hmm... what do you mean, that's precisely why you can't stop worrying?"
"You really have the wrong idea about me. Speaking of which, how did you notice something was wrong so quickly?"
"You put a miniature tracker on Akiha? That's a bit much... With how good you are with electronics, that airheaded maid act of yours really is just an act, isn't it?"
"Relax, it'll be fine. Akiha will return in one piece tonight. At least, she'll stay that way until she gets home... Anyway, just get a white sheet ready at home to keep as a memento."
Roland shrugged and hung up.
Since he had prevented the tragedy, Kohaku was no longer like the avenger in the original story, who harbored tangled, complicated feelings yet still put on an optimistic front. Her characterization now leaned distinctly toward Carnival Phantasm.
Still, that blend of deviousness and cheerful ambition wasn't bad.
At least, when Kohaku had told him halfway through their exercise that she had a surprise for him, only for Akiha to show up in her pajamas to eavesdrop a few minutes later, it really had stirred his interest.
But although he had known Roa would make a move after discovering Nero's death, had he set his sights on Akiha this quickly...?
Roland propped himself halfway up and lowered his head, preparing to wake Arcueid, who lay half-reclining in