Chapter 84 - Stockholm Syndrome
"M-Merchandise value...?"
"That's right, merchandise value."
Lulu stared blankly at Frey, who wore a soft smile, and asked again. Frey chuckled and repeated himself.
"You're my possession and a valuable asset. If you get hurt, the value of what I own goes down. So, of course I have to treat you."
"Kyaa!"
As Frey grabbed her left arm after saying that, Lulu let out a scream before she could stop herself.
"What's wrong? Does it hurt?"
"Uh, w-well..."
"Oh dear, your left arm's a mess too."
With those words, Frey pulled out a bandage from beside the bed and began wrapping it around Lulu's arm.
"This is high-quality stuff. Just wrapping it will stop the bleeding and promote healing. A wound like that should heal in no time."
"Ah... Th-thank you..."
"So no more self-harm from now on."
As Lulu awkwardly expressed her gratitude, Frey stroked her head and whispered softly.
"If you keep doing that and your merchandise value drops, I'll have no choice but to throw you away."
"N-No...!"
Hearing that, Lulu desperately opened her mouth.
"P-Please don't throw me away... Please, I beg you..."
"Why? Scared of being discarded?"
Frey smirked and asked. Lulu's eyes filled with terror as she replied,
"I-I don't want to be thrown away anymore..."
"Yeah, you've been abandoned a lot, haven't you, Lulu?"
"Eh?"
Lulu's eyes widened at his words, and Frey's expression turned icy.
"Kicked out of your home after being called a child who brings disaster to your parents, your friends suffering misfortune one after another, and even the one kind nun who tried to help you is now in a coma, right?"
"Ah, ahh..."
As Frey recited her painful memories one by one, Lulu's face filled with despair.
"I-I'll do anything... Just please keep me..."
"Say, 'Please raise me.'"
"Please raise me... I beg you."
Thanks to that, Lulu immediately bowed her head at Frey's words. As he stroked her head, she began to feel that strange emotion again.
"Anyway, do you know why I'm saying all this?"
Frey paused in stroking her head and whispered lowly into her ear.
"If you're discarded by me too, that's the end for you. You know that, right?"
".....Yes."
It was an undeniable truth, and though she knew it was a quagmire, Lulu nodded obediently.
"That's why you're not a person—you're a pet. My exclusive pet."
"Yes."
"So even if I'm the empire's top scoundrel, an irredeemable piece of trash and a villain, you'll have to submit to me obediently, let me raise you, and love me, right?"
"Y-Yes... that's right."
As Lulu stammered slightly in response, Frey raised his hand.
"Hik...!"
"What's wrong? Did you think I was going to hit you?"
Expecting a beating from Frey as a matter of course, Lulu froze when he gently placed his hand on her shoulder instead of striking her.
"Like I said earlier, you're my possession and asset, so I won't handle you roughly."
"Ah....."
"But if you don't want to end up that way, that's a different story."
As Frey's expression turned cold again, Lulu swallowed hard in tension.
"Why did you stammer just now? Lulu?"
"W-Well... um..."
"You don't want to be my pet?"
"N-No...!"
"I see... So you want to be thrown away again?"
Hearing that, Lulu cried out with a pale face.
"I-I'll do it! I'll be your pet! Please... Hng!?"
As Frey's hand on her shoulder moved toward the buttons of her top, Lulu looked at him in panic.
"Pets don't defy their owner's words. That's basic common sense."
"H-Hnggg..."
With that, Frey began unbuttoning her shirt one by one. Lulu hung her head and let out strange groans.
—Srrrk...
Undeterred, Frey continued unbuttoning until they were all undone. Then he pinned her down and slowly lowered her onto the bed.
*Smack.*
"...Mm."
Frey gazed at Lulu intently for a moment after pinning her, then carefully slipped his tongue into her mouth.
"Nngh..."
Lulu lay there flushed under Frey for a long while. When his hand moved lower, she instinctively tried to block it with her own hand, but...
.....To survive, I have no choice.
She soon held back tears and let her hand drop to the bed.
"Fwaa..."
And at that moment, Frey pulled away from her.
"Good. You're completely submissive now. You didn't even block my hand."
"Y-Yes... Y-Yeah..."
As Lulu barely replied, her heart pounding wildly, Frey rebuttoned her shirt and whispered softly.
"If you'd resisted, I was going to break your limbs and toss you into the back alleys... Lucky you."
"Ugh..."
Though said in jest, coming from Frey, it felt entirely plausible. Lulu quietly imagined what would have happened if she'd blocked his hand earlier, her face draining of color.
"Hmm... But what's with these clothes?"
"Y-Yes?"
Frey, who had been looking at her fondly, suddenly frowned and asked. Lulu, already shrunken in fear, jumped and asked back.
"The clothes you're wearing right now. They're too shabby for my pet."
With that, Frey clapped his hands. Kania, waiting outside, entered.
"Kania, bring the most stylish women's clothes from the mansion."
"Understood."
"Oh, and jewelry and accessories too."
Kania nodded and quickly left the room.
"Wh-Why are you giving me clothes...?"
Lulu watched in confusion, then hesitantly asked while glancing at Frey.
"You're my pet, so of course I have to dress you in the finest."
Frey replied matter-of-factly.
"That way, when my Shadow friends come soon, I won't be embarrassed showing you off."
"Ah..."
Unable to grasp Frey's intentions, Lulu finally nodded in realization.
"What? Why are you looking at me like that?"
"N-Nothing."
Having accepted it too readily, Lulu stared at Frey with cold eyes. As he tilted his head, she frantically bowed her head.
"No need to shrink like that. You've already submitted to me, so feel free to act cute a little."
"Young master, I've brought the most expensive clothes and jewelry from the mansion."
"Oh? Bring them in here."
Frey spoke leisurely to Lulu, then smiled as Kania brought the clothes.
"So, which one do you like among these?"
"Uh, well... um..."
The clothes Kania brought were all extravagantly expensive and dazzling—things Lulu couldn't afford even if she slaved away her whole life.
"Uh... Uhh..."
Overwhelmed by the pressure of choosing one from Frey, Lulu could only groan without picking any.
"Lulu? Don't tell me none of them appeal to you?"
As she agonized, Frey asked with a puzzled look.
"N-No! Not at all! I like them all so much, I can't choose just one...!"
Having cowered before Frey the whole time, Lulu quickly made excuses to avoid displeasing him.
"Really? Then take them all."
"Yes!?"
Lulu froze at his words.
"You said you like them all, so take them all."
Saying it like it was nothing, Frey turned to Kania standing quietly beside him.
"Kania, later take all these clothes to Lulu's room."
"Understood, young master."
Only then realizing what was happening, Lulu waved her hands frantically with a pale face, but Frey continued without giving her a chance to speak.
"Now, bring the jewelry box. We need to find gems that suit Lulu."
"Yes, understood."
At Frey's command, Kania bowed and headed toward the jewelry box she'd brought with the clothes.
"Handle it carefully. These gems are fragile to impacts..."
Kania picked up the jewelry box and walked toward the dazed Lulu, warning her, but...
"...Hahk!"
For some reason, she tripped and fell while holding it.
It was Lulu's misfortune activating—her subconscious perceiving this situation as a 'happy one'.
""......"""
As Lulu panicked, realizing what happened, Frey and Kania exchanged glances in the split second of the unexpected incident.
—Swoosh...
A few seconds later, having finished their silent exchange, Frey stood and approached Kania.
"Y-Young master! I'm sorry! Forgive me just once... Khek!!!"
Reaching Kania, Frey kicked her stomach with all his might as she begged pale-faced.
"Heh... Hnggh... Uuugh..."
Struck squarely in the stomach by Frey's kick, Kania clutched her belly and let out pathetic groans.
"...Good, the jewels are unharmed."
Ignoring Kania entirely, Frey held the jewelry box out to Lulu.
"So, which one's pretty? This emerald? Or the opal here? Or maybe... the diamond in the center?"
"Haa... Hngg..."
Seeing Frey smile softly while pointing at jewels and Kania groaning behind him clutching her stomach, Lulu was speechless, her face paling.
"Got it. You take them all."
"...Ah."
"Of course, the clothes and jewels aren't yours outright—they're on loan. A perk only while you're my pet, so remember that."
Frey gave Lulu a gentle smile, then headed for the door.
"Dress up in your favorites and come to the dining hall. Let's have lunch together."
With that, Frey left. Snapping out of her daze, Lulu approached Kania, who was still groaning and clutching her stomach.
"Kania... Are you oka..."
"I-I'm... fine... Hng!"
Her face flushed red from the pain, Kania clutched her belly, staggered to her feet, then collapsed again.
"...Lulu, please change and come out. I'll take my leave."
Trembling for a while, Kania finally stood, bowed politely to Lulu, and headed for the door.
—Creak...
"...Ha."
Alone now that Kania had left, Lulu slumped onto the bed and began sorting through what had happened.
Right, I've become his toy and doll. These clothes, the accessories... they're just to show me off to his friends coming to the house soon.
Finishing her thoughts, Lulu muttered inwardly with a cold expression.
Just look at what he did to Kania. No matter how nicely he treats me, he's ultimately an irredeemable villain.
With that, she reached for the slightly scuffed jewelry box.
So I just need to use his twisted love for my gain.
Picking a ruby from among the jewels, Lulu carefully stood from the bed and murmured.
"If only it were that simple..."
Her expression pensive, she caressed the bandage on her arm.
"Kania! What's wrong? Did it hit you squarely? I definitely pulled back before kicking your stomach."
"N-No... Don't worry about it..."
Lulu's actions continued until Kania, waiting just behind the door with a worried look, led Frey— who was reaching to check her stomach— toward the dining hall.
......
"Wh-What's all this...?"
"What else? Lunch."
Having changed and come down to the dining hall, Lulu's eyes widened at the lavish spread that could break a table leg.
"I-I can't eat this much...!"
Intimidated by the overwhelming sight, Lulu spoke in a trembling voice. Frey chuckled.
"Leave the leftovers."
"Huh?"
"Eat what you want, leave what you don't like or can't finish."
Lulu stared at Frey in bewilderment.
"Why? Don't like the food? I wondered since I hired the cooks on short notice, but they must be hacks after all."
As Frey frowned and stood, Lulu frantically grabbed him.
"N-No! It's great! The best!"
"Really? Good. No need to deal with the cooks then."
Smiling faintly, Frey sat right next to Lulu.
"Here, say 'ahh.'"
"Y-Yes!?"
"What's wrong? Feeding your pet is normal, right?"
As Frey asked puzzled, Lulu nodded frantically and opened her mouth.
"Ahh..."
"Good girl."
Frey fed her a piece of steak, smiling contentedly, then stroked her head as she chewed carefully and asked,
"How is it? Tasty?"
"Yes... It's delicious."
For the first time, Lulu answered from the heart. Having been abandoned by her parents young and friendless, such delicacies were new to her.
"Good. Next, this one."
"Ahh... Ahh..."
"Perfect. You're adapting well."
At first following out of fear, Lulu soon lost herself in the melting flavors, opening her mouth dazedly without realizing.
"Ah, you have something on your mouth."
"...Mm."
After hand-feeding her for a while, Frey wiped her mouth and smiled with his eyes.
"Now you know how to eat, right?"
"Y-Yeah..."
"Good. Eat your fill."
As Frey stood, Lulu asked in panic,
"Wh-Where are you going?"
"I'm full. Eat as much as you want and leave the rest."
"W-Wait!"
As Frey headed for the stairs, Lulu called out desperately.
"What's up, Lulu?"
"Um... well... Wasting all this food is such a shame..."
"And?"
"So... from next time, maybe donate the leftovers to an orphanage or something with transfer magic...?"
Frey's expression flickered briefly at her timid suggestion, then turned icy as he approached.
"Ah, s-sorry...!"
"Lulu, there's something you need to know."
Standing before her, Frey looked down coldly.
"A pet suggesting things to its owner is way overstepping."
"U-Ugh..."
"Pets just receive the owner's love and attention one-sidedly and be happy. Got it?"
"Y-Yes..."
As the shrunken Lulu barely replied, Frey stroked her chin briefly, then stepped back.
"After eating, go to the bathroom on the second floor. I filled the tub with warm water."
"Pardon?"
As Lulu tilted her head, Frey headed up the stairs.
"Hygiene is basic for a pet, so keep it up from now on."
With that, Frey entered his room on the second floor.
"........."
Left alone in the quiet dining hall, Lulu hesitantly speared a piece of steak with her fork.
"...Delicious."
Lulu left the dining hall only much later.
......
"Wow..."
Entering the bathroom, Lulu gaped at the sight.
Expecting a normal toilet, the bathroom—her first time here—was dozens of times larger than her old shack or tent, adorned with jewels: pure luxury.
*Bubble bubble...*
After gaping for a while, Lulu's gaze dropped at the bubbling sound, leaving her speechless.
"My god..."
The foam-filled tub brimmed with top-grade potions.
*Splash...*
"...Mm."
Hesitating briefly before entering, Lulu watched her self-inflicted wounds heal instantly and sank into thought.
I can't fall for it... He's a villain. This isn't real love; he's just treating me like property...
Before coming here, she'd seen a staggering cook leaving the mansion. Asking Kania, she'd explained calmly.
"When Lulu received food from Young Master Frey, you frowned at the fish dish for being too greasy, right?"
"H-How did you...?"
"That cook was beaten and chased out. Rumors will spread; he won't work as a cook anymore."
"No way...!"
As Lulu paled, Kania whispered lowly,
"Get used to it. It's everyday life here."
Mulling Kania's words, Lulu steeled herself and muttered,
"Right, Frey's just a villain. I use him to lift this curse, that's all."
But as she murmured, gazing at her pristine body, her expression slowly softened.
"If only it were that simple..."
HAVING received affection—even in this warped form—for the first time since being chased out by her parents, Lulu finished with a trembling voice.
"...Why does my heart feel so conflicted?"
The bubbling bathwater enveloped her warmly.