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Emilia blanked for a moment as she tried to process her 'servant's' words. Does successfully getting revenge really change people so much? Wasn't Michelle so hesitant and careful before? What's with this girl?!
In the end, Emilia could only clear her throat awkwardly. "T-That's good. But don't stay in that position, your knees will hurt later. You're not fully recovered yet, are you? We can talk on the sofa."
Only then did Michelle seem to realize her gaffe, and immediately shot up to bow in apology. "Forgive me for not offering you a seat, princess!"
If she could, she would have knelt down and asked her princess to be comfortable on her thigh as a seat, but with her current condition, Michelle didn't believe she would be reliable enough. What if she caused Emilia to fall?
A vampire princess falling to the ground because of a broken chair! Her venomous family would probably joke about it for centuries! No matter how clumsily cute it would make her look, it was unacceptable!
Emilia just rolled her eyes before dragging the girl to the sofa, blissfully unaware of the true depth of the girl's ridiculous thoughts, and pushed her down till she was comfortably seated. "Forego with the formalities. Now tell me, what are your plans for the future?"
Michelle blinked, as if such a thought had never even occurred to her. "My plans?"
Emilia nodded. "Right. Since the matter with the Porters is dealt with, you don't need to hide anymore. If you wish, I can even have a new identity forged for you, and you can continue your education in another college."
The boyish girl fervently shook her head. "No, princess, I don't want to go to college anymore. In this life and the next, I now have only one goal!"
Emilia blinked in surprise. She already got her revenge, didn't she? What is she obsessed with now?
Michelle bit her lip tightly, her gaze both feverish and pleading as she looked at Emilia. "My only wish from now on is to serve you faithfully, princess! You came to me in my darkest hours, when I had nothing left. And you didn't just get rid of those bastard porters, you let me do it myself! If I can one day die while serving you, it'd be my life's greatest happiness!"
Although the depth of Michelle's gratitude was moving, it also put Emilia in a bit of a dilemma. After all, her primary goal with saving Michelle had always been to polish Crystal's talent and confidence. Taking the Sullivans down a peg and obtaining Michelle's loyalty were just unexpected byproducts.
Of course, Emilia was never one to shirk her responsibility. Since Michelle was now hers, she had to make sure the girl reached her full potential, one way or another. "You don't have to think about it like that. As you're already in my service, I'll let you know when I need you to do something for me. As such, you can think of it as you're already fulfilling all my wishes, just by existing."
Michelle's eyes shone as she nodded, and Emilia smiled. "But… I also want you to be able to fulfill your own dreams, so that there won't come a day in the future when you think back on it and blame me for caging you."
The boyish girl's bright yellow eyes shot open wide. "Princess, I—!"
Emilia rolled her eyes and put a finger on the girl's lips, instantly shushing the girl. "Yes yes, I know, as you are now, you'd never blame me. But that's because your gratitude to me is overflowing right now."
She ruffled the girl's boyishly short brown hair affectionately. "You have to understand that I won't be happy if my servant is serving me while secretly cursing me in my mind. Isn't it better to be happy, from deep within your heart? And now that your revenge is over, my question to you is… what makes you happy?"
Even after she had removed the finger from the girl's lips, the blush still remained on Michelle's now only slightly sunken cheeks. "What makes me… happy?"
Emilia nodded. "Right. Whatever it is, I'll think of a way to make it so you can do that, while being of service to me at the same time. Of course, if I really need it, I will have you drop everything to serve me absolutely, for that is my right as your princess."
Michelle looked slightly lost, but still nodded in understanding. It wasn't that she didn't know what Emilia meant, it was just that she had no idea how to convince her that serving her princess really was what would make her truly happy. "Y-Yes, I understand. I'll… think about it, princess."
Emilia smiled in satisfaction. "Mhm, good. Take as much time as you need, don't rush. Once you have it figured out, call me, and I'll arrange whatever is needed. Obviously, your fitness training will still continue, until I'm satisfied."
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Meanwhile, Dixie had already arrived at Crystal's place to pick the girl up.
Of course, when she first saw it, she could only stare blankly at the note that had been left for her by her princess. But after thinking about it, it made sense that her princess would be a little busy, and sometimes be unable to attend school.
It was also her duty as Emilia's knight to make sure nothing went awry while she was away from her domain.
Obviously, picking Crystal up from her home wasn't a big deal. The only problem was that the girl seemed to have gotten a lot more stubborn since the last time they met.
The blonde girl frowned. "Why is she skipping class? Is she getting complacent because she got the top spot in the first exam?"
Dixie raised a brow in surprise. She may not know the exact reason for Emilia's absence, but since when was it Crystal's turn to receive reports on that?
The dark-haired girl flicked her hair, looking far more haughty than Crystal had ever expected from her. "Do you think my princess needs to report to you before doing something? Have you started dreaming just because she cherishes you?"
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