19. Let Us Drizzle Honey over Unripe Fruit

Author: Kiki
Raw: https://novel18.syosetu.com/n2498fn/21/
Translator: Lilia v4
Editor: Yuriko AYA

By its nature, a church receives visitors of every age and gender.
That had not changed even now that Demi-Vamps had taken it over. People continued to arrive, knowing nothing.
Lilina Lengland.
This innocent girl, far younger than I was and still of school age, was one of them.
In her case, however, she had only recently begun coming to the church.
For reasons I did not understand, she had grown remarkably attached to me and seemed to visit solely to see me.
She was a tremendously energetic child who begged, “Play with me, play with me!” whenever she came. I did not mind, so we often played together.
I would sit her on my lap while we read, chase her until she caught me in a hug, or hold her hand—all perfectly innocent.

“Big Sister, let’s play!”

And so, as on every other day, Lilina came to the church.
I welcomed her with a smile from the bottom of my heart.

 

◇◇◇

 

Lilina had long since become special to me, so we no longer played outside or in the chapel, but in a room beyond it.
The moment she entered, she broke into a run, leapt, and landed on the soft bed.
I sat beside it and watched her with a fond gaze.
I had begun taking Lilina into this room only within the last few days.
She had seemed nervous at first, but now, as anyone could see, she made herself at home as though the room were hers.
I reached out and stroked her hair as she lay on the bed.
Most people dislike having their head touched by someone they do not know well.
That was why I used the gesture as a test of how deeply my charm had affected her.
Lilina did not object.
On the contrary, when I ran my fingers through her unruly hair, her face softened with the trusting contentment of a cat.
Yet she had been attached to me from the beginning, so in truth, I could not tell whether that expression came from the charm or her genuine feelings.
Even so, a considerable number of days had passed since I began making physical contact with her.
Our time together was limited, but surely her body ought to have been saturated with my magic by now.

“Lilina.”

When I called her name, she looked steadily into my eyes.
I moved close enough that our noses touched, testing whether she would draw away. Lilina became completely still.
Her cheeks reddened, suggesting that she understood the implication.

“Are you going to do what sweethearts do?”
“If you do not want me to, please say so.”

Lilina gave a small shake of her head.

“I wanted to try it too … but I’m really a little embarrassed.”

Her answer exposed both her childish trust and her uncertainty. Rather than recognizing that she could not meaningfully consent to what I intended, I treated her hesitation as encouragement.
I crossed that boundary.

Afterward, Lilina stared in a daze and took what had happened as proof that we were now sweethearts. When I took her hand, she looked only at me and smiled shyly.

“That means Big Sister and I both like each other now. We’re sweethearts, right?”
“Hmm … I wonder. I certainly do like you, Lilina.”
“Is there still something else?”
“Yes. This is not yet enough to make us sweethearts.”

I regarded the wrongdoing itself as part of the appeal.
Human morality meant nothing to a Demi-Vamp.

I falsely told her that becoming sweethearts required a secret, grown-up ritual, then exploited her trust and lack of understanding to justify what I intended to do.
I insisted to myself that my desire to possess her will, heart, and soul made my feelings sincere.

What followed was abuse disguised as a lesson between “sweethearts.” The details are omitted.
I used praise, authority, and supernatural influence to prevent Lilina from recognizing the danger or withdrawing.

By the time I stopped, she was disoriented and physically unsteady.
Rather than allowing her to recover and leave, I manipulated her into treating the abuse as proof of mutual love and continued reinforcing her dependence.

“Big Sister … I love you …”

When she clutched my habit and said those words, I answered that I loved her too.
Lilina smiled with wholehearted trust, unaware that I had deliberately reshaped her understanding of affection.

 

◇◇◇

 

Because she was still so young, Lilina had a fairly early curfew.
I was reluctant to let her go, but even though her guardians trusted me, breaking that curfew might mean I would never be allowed to see her again.
With no other choice, we exchanged a brief farewell and waved until we were out of one another’s sight.
When I returned to the chapel, I found Nunnally there, smiling as she watched us part.

“Mistress, do you intend to turn that child into a Demi-Vamp this time?”

“Of course,” I replied with a nod.

“Heehee. There is no more blissful moment than covering a white canvas in paint. I understand perfectly why you wish to do it, Mistress.”
“A child had become attached to you as well, had she not, Nunnally?”
“You mean Chelsea. She has been coming here since before I gained this body. I would bring her over to our side if I could, but unfortunately, I lack the power.”

As my thralls, Nunnally and the others did not possess power equal to mine.
Mya-nee, as I called Miyako, appeared to have gained the power of charm as well.
The determining factor seemed to be how much magical power a person had possessed while human.
As things stood, however, the answer would be no if someone asked whether Nunnally could use charm magic.
The solution was simple: if she lacked magic, I could give her some.

“Nunnally, come here.”

I beckoned, and although she tilted her head in confusion, Nunnally obeyed.
As soon as she came within reach, I pulled her into my arms and claimed her lips by force.
Nunnally preferred it that way.

With practiced ease, she entwined her tongue with mine and pressed herself against me, moaning.
Her full breasts compressed against my own.
As we kissed, I poured a great quantity of magic into her along with my saliva.
That completed the spell.
When I drew back, Nunnally furrowed her brow in mild discomfort.

“Did I give you too much? Nunnally, does your head hurt?”
“Not that badly … I feel a little unsteady, but I am all right. What exactly was that …?”
“I gave you some of my power. With that much, you should easily be able to charm one person.”
“Ah, I see … You want me to transform Chelsea with my own hands.”

Nunnally contemplated a future in which Chelsea had been transformed and placed wholly under her control.
If our household gained any more residents, we would have to consider moving to a new base—
With that thought in mind, I intertwined my fingers with Nunnally’s and led her toward the bedroom to satisfy the desire that still smoldered within me.