Invitation
"Already done bathing?"
"Eek!"
Lulu, who had been soaking in the bathwater infused with potion for quite some time, finally emerged. As she did, Frey, passing by in the hallway, tilted his head and tossed the question her way.
"Your wounds don't look fully healed yet. Why not stay in a bit longer?"
"W-Well... um..."
With only a towel wrapped around her body from the bath, Lulu's face flushed crimson as Frey approached right in front of her.
"Come here. I'll rewrap the bandage on your arm."
"M-My clothes..."
"Hm?"
"N-Never mind."
Whether he noticed her embarrassment or not, Frey maintained a calm expression. Suddenly, he pulled a bandage from his pocket and reached for her arm.
"Maybe because there are so many wounds, but even high-grade potions aren't helping much with your arm."
Saying that, Frey began gently caressing Lulu's scarred arm, careful not to cause her pain. It was an utterly incongruous sight for the Frey who barked orders at the servants daily and even struck his butler Kania.
"Ow."
"What? Does it hurt?"
Frey, who had been stroking her arm for a while, asked in a worried tone when Lulu let out a groan from touching an unhealed wound.
"N-No. This much of a wound is..."
"Kania, bring some medicine."
Of course, with nothing but a towel on, Lulu wanted to change clothes quickly and tried to brush it off, but Frey held her arm firm and ordered Kania.
"I figured you'd say that, so I prepared it in advance..."
Kania, who had been waiting nearby in the hallway, appeared with a vial of medicine but froze at the sight of nearly naked Lulu.
"Kania, the medicine."
"Y-Yes, sir."
Kania, who had a momentarily confused look, quickly handed over the vial as Frey urged her with a cold expression and headed downstairs.
"Young Master Frey, I appreciate the concern, but could I at least put on some clothes fir—Nngh!"
Lulu, speaking in a trembling voice, stopped mid-sentence and shuddered at the strange sensation as Frey began applying the medicine to her arm.
"From now on, I'll apply the medicine to your arm myself."
After thoroughly coating her arm, Frey smiled warmly.
"......Yes."
Seeing that smile, Lulu decided to obey for now. Healing her wounds was to her benefit, after all.
"So, no more self-harm, got it?"
With a concerned look, Frey admonished her while carefully wrapping the slender arm, now coated in medicine, with fresh bandage.
"Ugh..."
"Ah, sorry. Cold? I'll take you to your room quick."
As Lulu shivered from the chilling yet peculiar sensation of the medicine and bandage combining, Frey took her hand and started walking down the hall.
"Young Master Frey, this isn't the way to my room."
But the direction Frey was heading was completely opposite from where Lulu's room was.
"That was true earlier, but not anymore."
"Pardon?"
As Lulu tilted her head in confusion at his cryptic words, Frey stopped and opened a door.
"Now this is where you'll stay."
"Ah..."
Only then did Lulu understand. The room he opened was several times larger and more luxurious than her old quarters.
"So from now on... I'll be staying with the other servants?"
Staring blankly at the sight, Lulu noticed her belongings and clothes had all been moved in and turned to Frey.
"No, this room is just for you."
"P-Pardon!?"
But at Frey's nonchalant reply, Lulu's eyes widened in shock.
"Well then, I'm off."
"W-Wait..."
Before Lulu could say anything, Frey slipped out, leaving the vast room in silence.
"Wh-What is this..."
Aside from her dazed mutterings, that is.
......
Time passed, and soon the sun began to set.
"Haa..."
Lulu lay on the huge bed, reminiscing about the day's events.
"...Dinner was delicious too."
The lunch and dinner she shared with Frey today were the most intense experiences of her life, compared to the watery gruel from free kitchens or hard bread that barely filled her stomach.
Warm soup with lobster instead of thin porridge, soft creamy bread instead of tooth-breaking loaves. And a table laden with delicacies she never dreamed she'd taste. It was a fresh shock to Lulu.
"And Frey's attitude..."
Of course, it wasn't just the food that shocked her.
Frey, who had hurled abuse and violence dozens of times today alone, showing gentle eyes and a smile while caring for someone—it was hard to believe.
And the one receiving that care was Lulu herself. Applying medicine to her wounds personally, wrapping bandages. He'd rage and strike at Kania or Irina for minor mistakes, but the moment Lulu appeared, he'd smile softly and stroke her hair.
For Lulu, who had rarely felt gentle touches or warm gazes in her life, it was unforgettable—even if from Frey.
No, even so, Frey is a villain.
But lying on the bed, Lulu shook her head and recalled Kania and Irina's earlier conversation.
"Kania, your turn tonight?"
"...Seems so. Dreadfully."
"When can we escape this hell...?"
Kania and Irina had been hugging each other, faces pale.
"You can't enter here."
And when Lulu, after dinner and with Frey's permission, wandered the mansion, Kania had blocked the basement.
"...It's where the young master enjoys his pleasures."
Kania had shuddered just thinking about it.
The rumors are true, after all.
Even Lulu knew the tales of Frey's depraved nightlife circulating the empire.
I've had so much happiness today... misfortune must be coming soon.
Lulu's curse wouldn't let her be happy even for a day. Meaning, after today's joy, great misfortune awaited.
And if her hunch was right, it would be...
- Creak...
"...Gasp."
Lost in terrified thoughts, Lulu paled and sat up as the door suddenly opened.
"Hello, Lulu."
"Ah... aa..."
Frey entered in just a white robe, smiling. Lulu trembled in horror.
So, that's what 'pet' means in the end.
The horrific tales from the academy kids about Starlight mansion's basement, Frey's perversions, his usual behavior—it all pointed clearly.
From now on, she'd be thoroughly violated by Frey.
"Pl-Ple..."
But no choice. Resisting meant being discarded by Frey, nullifying all her survival so far.
So even if brutally ravaged by Frey, she'd hold onto her mind somehow.
"...Please be gentle."
Resolving that, Lulu knelt demurely and squeezed her eyes shut.
- Step, step.
The rustling of Frey's loose robe and footsteps grew closer.
"...Hic."
The sounds stopped right in front of her. Lulu swallowed hard, bracing for his touch.
"So, how's the room? Anything uncomfortable?"
But nothing happened as expected. Frey just gently stroked her head and asked.
"Uh... uhh?"
"What's wrong, Lulu?"
Staring at him in confusion, Lulu cautiously asked,
"Why... just pet my head?"
"Hm? You asked me to be gentle."
Frey looked puzzled too, and in her confusion, Lulu blurted a sensitive question.
"Y-You're not going to... pounce on me?"
"...Pfft!"
Frey burst out laughing, then smiled.
"Why would I?"
"But... but..."
"You're my pet. What kind of owner pounces on their pet?"
As Lulu's face filled with question marks, Frey continued stroking her head softly.
"I took you as a pet to dote on like a dog or cat, Lulu."
"A dog... or cat?"
"Yeah, earlier I was just checking if you'd resist."
Frey smirked and added,
"Besides, for that role, Kania, Irina, and the girls in the basement are plenty."
Lulu paled in fear, but Frey looked at her approvingly and said softly,
"Anyway, that attitude just now was great. Good girl."
"Y-Yes..."
"Lulu, what do you do when praised?"
"Th-Thank... you?"
Gauging his reaction, Lulu replied. Frey nodded satisfied.
"Good. You can keep being that obedient without me telling you, right?"
"...Yes."
"That's my girl."
As Frey smiled again, Lulu stared and quietly asked,
"But... why'd you come here?"
"To say goodnight, obviously."
Replying, Frey gently laid her on the bed, kissed her lips, and whispered,
"Sleep well, Lulu."
Winking, Frey turned and left the room.
Wait... then what misfortune is coming?
From that moment, terror gripped Lulu again.
She'd expected sadistic violation as her misfortune, but since it didn't happen, some unforeseeable disaster loomed.
What is it... what... what...
Despite the happiest moment of her life, Lulu panicked anew.
- Crunch, crunch.
Habitually reaching for a knife, she remembered Frey had taken them all and started biting her nails instead.
"Cough! Cough!! Ugh..."
"...Huh?"
As Frey, stepping out, suddenly coughed violently, Lulu stopped gnawing and stared blankly.
"...Tch."
Frey flinched at his hand mid-cough, clicked his tongue, and quietly pulled a handkerchief from his pocket.
- Creak...
Wiping his hand, Frey silently opened his door and left. Lulu, still dazed, muttered pallidly,
"...No way, right?"
Her eyes trembled.
......
"Hoo..."
Exhausted from acting all day. Syncing with Kania and Irina, bribing the cook to play along, pouring affection on Lulu... Tiring, but necessary to save that poor girl.
- Creak...
"Guess I need to think about how to handle my birthday soon..."
Dragging my weary body, I opened my room door, lay on the bed to sort thoughts and sleep—but.
"Groooowl!!"
"Hiiik!!"
"...What the hell."
My room was a battlefield. I stood stunned.
"Meow...! Meeeow...!"
Serena's white owl had been pecking the cat doll nonstop; now it clung to my leg, whimpering.
"Hey, no fair... Huh?"
Scolding the owl eyeing it hungrily, I spotted a letter on my desk and hurried over, eyes wide.
What's it say? New info? Perfect plan? Or...
Grabbing it, I tore open the envelope eagerly—but.
"...Eh?"
Inside was just a tiny memo. Disappointed.
Well, Serena's been busy lately.
I knew how swamped she was: tracking the escaped acting head, groundwork to seize Moonlight family fully, Clana's letter too.
So, this was fine.
"Huh...?"
Calming myself to read the memo, my jaw dropped, frozen.
Parents aren't home today.
Guess I'll have to go out tonight.
Looks like I have to head out tonight.