The afternoon was as still as a painting, the sunlight casting a soft glow over the academy's sprawling courtyards. But in the heart of the royal dormitory, Princess Celestia was far from calm.
Celestia Midnightfang, the elegant and enigmatic heir to the vampiric Midnightfang noble house, sat in her private quarters. Her posture was perfect—back straight, hands delicately folded in her lap—yet her crimson eyes glinted with a mixture of amusement and annoyance. Her long, white hair framed her slender face, which held an air of regal composure. Her delicate features, despite their pale hue, carried the sharp elegance of a creature born into nobility. The dark lace of her dress clung to her form, highlighting the graceful curve of her waist and the long, lean lines of her legs. Her physique was that of a predatory beauty—svelte and poised, with a presence that demanded attention even in silence. Despite her slim build, there was no denying the strength behind her every move, the grace that could turn deadly in an instant.
But now, her gaze shifted from the window to the papers before her—a report that was about to make her royal composure crack.
A "monster" was lurking in the academy, the report said. The creature had red eyes, was immune to magic, and seemed... undead. The implications of that last detail sent a ripple of irritation through Celestia's chest. She leaned forward, narrowing her eyes at the mention of this strange being and the fact that it had been hiding out in the abandoned dormitory.
"I've been undead for centuries," she muttered with a dark chuckle, "but I've never caused a stir like this."
Her hands tightened on the report as her subordinates—young nobles who had grown too eager in their quest for praise—had sent this ridiculous news her way. To top it off, the creature hadn't even reported to her. As the vampire princess, it was expected of all undead in the academy to come to her first—report, ask permission, and most importantly, know their place under her rule.
The report's final note? A last-ditch panic: The creature may be a demon lord reincarnation.
Celestia froze. Demon lord? That would be a bold claim. And yet, something about the idea didn't sit right with her—she had to investigate. She would never allow anyone to tarnish her carefully curated royal image, least of all some undead who thought they could hide in her academy without paying respect to her!
Standing up abruptly, she waved a hand, and the dark lace of her dress fluttered around her legs as she moved swiftly. Her subordinates, sensing her readiness, rushed to gather their things, practically stumbling over themselves.
"I'll go. But make sure this doesn't turn into some farce," Celestia said coldly, her voice a velvety command. "This thing thinks it can just hide in my territory?"
Celestia moved swiftly through the corridors of the royal dormitory, her footsteps light and soundless against the cold stone floor. Her crimson eyes glimmered with an unsettling mix of curiosity and irritation. She had dealt with many nobles, many demons, and many undead in her time, but something about this report had struck a nerve. The idea of some lowly "undead" roaming her academy—refusing to report to her, no less—was utterly unacceptable.
The air grew colder as she approached the abandoned dormitory. It was a forgotten place, shrouded in dust and mystery, its windows cracked, its walls stained with time. There had been rumors about the dorm being haunted, but Celestia had dismissed them as nothing more than exaggerated tales from overzealous students. Still, her instincts told her this time was different.
Reaching out, she ran her fingers along the old door, the chill of the wood almost sending a shiver through her, but she masked the feeling with a sharp intake of breath. She activated her invisibility skill, a flicker of magic flowing through her body. Now, not a single sound could be heard from her movements.
As she glided through the door, she noted the eerie silence that filled the air. The faint sound of footsteps echoed in the distance. Her eyes narrowed. She was close.
Following the sound, she made her way deeper into the decrepit halls, the wooden floor creaking faintly beneath her invisible form. When she reached the source of the noise, her heart stilled.
There, standing in front of an old cracked mirror, was Kayn.
But it wasn't just his imposing, demon-like appearance that threw her off—it was what he was doing.
Kayn, the supposed "undead monster," was standing stark naked, his large frame glistening with steam from what appeared to be a freshly taken bath. His long black hair clung to his shoulders, and his crimson eyes—those strange, unsettling eyes—were locked on his reflection in the mirror. He looked every bit the image of a villain in some forgotten story. Yet, what he was doing... was not what Celestia had expected.
He was... talking to himself.
"I'll protect you, my lady," Kayn muttered in a voice filled with such intensity that it almost made Celestia flinch. "I'll give you my heart, my soul—everything. You're the one I've been waiting for."
Celestia blinked. What was this nonsense? She couldn't tell if this was some elaborate performance or just a man going mad. Either way, it made her blood boil.
Kayn continued to gaze into the mirror, still unaware of her presence. "You'll never be alone again. I'll guard you from anything. From everyone. I swear it. Nothing will separate us."
He paused, as though contemplating something important, then his gaze turned downward in the mirror. The reflection of his muscles, the strong build of his arms, and his bare torso seemed to impress him, as if he were admiring his own body for the first time. His voice deepened, and he spoke with such dramatic flair, Celestia could almost hear the soundtrack building in the background of this ridiculous monologue.
"I'll become the man you deserve," he said with an exaggerated sigh. "You'll never regret falling for me."
Celestia's invisible form trembled with a mix of confusion and growing exasperation. What in the world is he doing?
She wanted to step out and demand answers, but the absurdity of the situation was too much. His words, his whole demeanour—it was as if he was rehearsing for a play, pretending to confess his love to some unknown noblewoman. But there was no one in the room with him.
Kayn, still unaware of her presence, continued to ramble on, his voice rising as he spoke passionately to the reflection of himself.
"I know this may sound sudden, but I can't hide my feelings any longer. I am your shield. Your sword. I'll fight for you, protect you, and prove that I'm worthy of your heart!" He placed his hand dramatically over his chest, his posture so serious that Celestia almost laughed—if it weren't for the fact that her entire body was frozen in embarrassment.
Then, with a sudden shift in the air, Kayn turned toward where Celestia stood—still invisible—his eyes widening as if sensing something. She tensed, knowing that if he figured her out, this whole charade would be over.
But instead of reacting in a way Celestia might expect, Kayn merely glanced around the room.
"Huh?" He muttered, scratching his head, looking completely befuddled. "Was that... just me?"
He seemed to dismiss it entirely and turned back to the mirror, continuing his soliloquy with full force.
Celestia, caught somewhere between disbelief and secondhand embarrassment, remained rooted to the spot. This... This idiot!
But her escape was cut short when Kayn's next move took her by surprise.
He strolled confidently toward the bathroom, still oblivious to the invisible princess lurking in the shadows. There was no chance now for Celestia to leave without being noticed—she had no choice but to follow him.
Kayn reached the bathroom door, pushing it open with a loud creak. Celestia, silently cursing her bad luck, followed him into the next room, still invisible.
What happened next was beyond absurd.
As Kayn stepped inside the bathroom, he turned around—and Celestia froze in place as she saw him, completely naked, standing in the middle of the room.
Before she could react, Kayn raised his hand and, in that same dramatic tone, declared, "My lady, my love for you is unshakable. It's a love that will withstand time, distance, and—"
He took a step forward, his eyes locking onto where Celestia was standing.
Celestia, now caught in an even more compromising position than before, couldn't look. She had to look away. I can't...
"Wait, is someone here?" Kayn asked suddenly, stepping closer, his crimson eyes scanning the air. "I feel someone's presence. Is this... you? My love?"
His words hung in the air as Celestia's cheeks burned. She couldn't look at him—couldn't even comprehend how this situation could possibly get worse. She had never in her life been so embarrassed.
But of course, Kayn was completely unaware that she was there. He continued to advance toward her, still reciting his one-sided confession as though it was the most natural thing in the world.
"I swear, nothing will stop me," he proclaimed, "I will never let you go."
At that, Celestia finally found her voice. She whispered, barely audible, "What are you even—"
Kayn turned toward her, confusion filling his eyes as he continued to step closer. "Huh? What's that? Did you speak?"
And Celestia, desperately wanting to flee, stood completely still, unable to escape the most ridiculous, embarrassing situation of her long existence.
Celestia's heart was racing, her mind scrambled as she tried to make sense of what was happening. I can't believe this is happening. How is this even real?
Kayn, oblivious to the situation, stepped forward with the full confidence of someone who was completely unaware of the absurdity unfolding. His eyes narrowed slightly as he got closer, his voice still filled with the dramatic passion of his supposed love confession.
"I swear, no matter what happens, I will protect you—" he started, his words trailing off as he took another confident step forward.
Celestia, who had been frozen in place, could no longer hold her gaze on him. Her eyes shot down to the ground as if looking at him could cause her brain to short-circuit. Her cheeks burned bright red, her whole body tense with embarrassment. The worst part? She couldn't get away. She had no choice but to stay hidden in her invisibility—because if she revealed herself now, it would be even worse.
But then, something ridiculous happened.
As Kayn advanced, his foot caught on a stray towel that had been carelessly tossed on the floor, and in a dramatic, exaggerated motion, he stumbled forward.
"Wha—?" His body lurched, and Celestia's eyes widened as she saw him start to tip over.
For a moment, everything seemed to move in slow motion. Kayn's muscular frame fell towards her with alarming speed, and Celestia—panicking—instinctively tried to move out of the way. But she was too late.
With a loud, comical thud, Kayn's body collided with hers.
Celestia felt his warm, wet chest pressing against her, and a flood of sensations rushed through her—none of them making any sense. She let out an embarrassing gasp as she tried to push him off, but the problem was that she was still invisible, so he had no idea she was even there. All he knew was that something soft and warm had stopped his fall.
"Oh! What...?" Kayn murmured, still oblivious, his face buried in what he thought was a very unexpected but welcoming... object.
Celestia's heart was thundering in her chest as she tried to push him off, her breath catching in her throat. No, no, NO! This can't be happening!
Kayn, feeling something soft beneath him, leaned back, his crimson eyes squinting in confusion. "Is this... a cloud? A soft... cloud?" he mused aloud, before lifting his head and glancing down.
To his surprise, his vision was filled with a large, silken patch of something that looked suspiciously like a silky black lace—an incredibly form-fitting piece of fabric.
"Oh no!" Celestia mentally screamed, realizing too late what was happening.
In a flurry of movement, Kayn stood up, still oblivious to his exact location, and gave a confused glance around the room. He scratched the back of his head, his muscles rippling with every motion. "What was that? Did I hit... a cushion?" He turned in a circle, finally noticing the actual surroundings.
Meanwhile, Celestia, her body still invisible, was in complete agony. She was caught in the most ridiculous, absurd situation possible. Her chest was heaving, her cheeks flaming red, and her hands were clutched to her sides as she tried to calm herself.
However, the worst part was yet to come.
Kayn suddenly froze, his gaze locking onto the bathroom mirror again. He stared at his own reflection for a moment, almost as if lost in thought. Then, with an exaggerated sigh, he began to speak again.
"You're here, aren't you? My lady, I knew you would be. I am yours..."
Celestia's eyes nearly popped out of her head as she realized what he was doing.
He was confessing again.
Kayn was so absorbed in his own dramatic soliloquy that he didn't even realize how absurd he looked. To make matters worse, his powerful voice echoed throughout the room, the emotion in his tone only making the whole situation ten times worse.
"I will fight for you, love you, protect you forever, my lady," he proclaimed dramatically, almost as if the entire world were listening.
And then, in the most absurd, ecchi twist imaginable, Kayn—without a shred of self-awareness—dropped to one knee as if he were proposing to an unseen figure. His muscles flexed in the light, the faint water droplets dripping from his body catching the gleam of the light in a way that could only be described as ridiculously... fanservice-y.
He raised his arm in a grand gesture, his crimson eyes burning with determination, yet his words were so over the top they almost seemed like they belonged in a romance anime.
"I'll never let anyone harm you, my beloved. You are my destiny!"
Celestia, now caught in a whirlwind of embarrassment, could no longer control herself. She silently cursed the gods, her face so red it felt like she was on fire. This is the worst! The absolute WORST!
Before she could figure out how to escape or how to stop the entire situation from getting worse, Kayn suddenly took another dramatic step forward—completely unaware of her presence. As he moved, his foot slipped on the wet floor, and this time, he lost his balance completely.
With a dramatic splash, he fell forward again—this time landing directly in front of the mirror, his face landing with a comically exaggerated thud against the glass.
"Oops," Kayn muttered, rubbing his nose as he tried to get back up.
And Celestia, unable to take it anymore, finally broke her invisibility.
With a burst of magic, she appeared in full view, her crimson eyes flashing with a mix of frustration, humiliation, and something else she couldn't quite place.
Kayn, still half-dazed from his fall, looked up at her with confusion.
"Who...?" he began, but then his eyes widened in shock. "Wait... you—?"
"Enough!" Celestia snapped, crossing her arms over her chest and glaring at him with a mix of disbelief and sheer exasperation.
But Kayn, completely clueless, only smiled his usual absurd grin.
"Ah, my lady, you finally came! I knew you'd hear my confession," he said, his face lighting up with dramatic intensity as if this were the perfect moment.
Celestia's mind short-circuited. This was a disaster.
She couldn't even speak.
And with that, the absurdity of the situation reached its absolute peak.
Celestia's heart raced, her mind whirling with disbelief. She could barely process the absurdity of the situation. There, in front of her, was the naked giant of a man, standing like a clueless fool with water dripping off his perfectly sculpted body. His smile was unbothered, completely oblivious to the storm of chaos he had just unleashed on her.
He was still speaking, his words full of unnecessary dramatic flair. "My lady, I vow to protect you! I will—"
Celestia's mind short-circuited. No, no, NO! This is insane!
Her eyes darted around the room, looking for a way out. But there was nowhere to go. She couldn't simply stand there anymore—she had to leave. The idea of being caught in this... situation was too much for her to bear.
She turned abruptly, her heart pounding in her chest. "You... pervert!" she shouted, her voice laced with panic and disgust.
Kayn blinked, utterly confused by her reaction. "Pervert? I'm not a pervert!" he exclaimed, looking baffled as though he was the one being unfairly accused. "I'm just—"
But Celestia was already backing away, her breath coming out in quick, shallow bursts. Her heart was still racing, and she had no idea how to escape this mess. "I'll... I'll get you for this!" she yelled, trying to muster some kind of threat, though she knew it came out more like a startled squeak.
In her panic, Celestia made a snap decision. With a burst of vampiric speed, she activated her invisibility spell, vanishing into thin air before Kayn could react.
Kayn looked around in confusion, his head spinning. "Huh? Where'd she go?" he mumbled, scratching his head in confusion. "She was just here a second ago..."
He sighed, clearly unimpressed by the lack of dramatic flair his confession had received. "Guess she wasn't ready for it yet," he muttered, utterly unaware of the storm he'd caused.
Meanwhile, Celestia was in full retreat mode. She ran down the hall of the dormitory, her heart still thudding in her chest. Her mind raced as she tried to make sense of what just happened. A naked, muscle-bound man, confessing his love... to no one!?
Celestia scowled in frustration. "What kind of freak does that? I don't even know his name, and he's—he's acting like... like he's some kind of noble!"
She gritted her teeth, her face still burning with embarrassment. "This academy is full of perverts...!" she muttered under her breath, the idea of what she had just witnessed burning her up from the inside.
Meanwhile, Kayn—still completely oblivious to the reason behind her reaction—was already making plans for his next grand confession.