---
Sekhmet let one thought rise and settle. "It is about the lesser vampire. I will talk to him later."
The system remained ready.
He did not wait. He asked, "What about Lily?"
The answer came much faster this time.
[Ding! SYSTEM Notification: Target Lily remains stable.
Transformation continues.
No major change detected since the previous report.]
"No change."
That line tightened something in him and eased something else at the same time. He did not like the waiting time. He hated not being beside her already. But stable was still better than unknown, and the system would have told him if the blood womb had become dangerous or if the Cruoraphim transformation had turned toward completion.
No change yet. He would have to live with that. For now.
Sekhmet stood from the bed at last and crossed toward the washing basin. The water was cool. The cloth folded neatly. A maid had already prepared everything among the morning chaos because of course she had to do her duty.
