"Ugh... Where am I? ... Didn't I die?" Allen murmured, confused. His small hand gently touched his head. Darkness surrounded him, except for a faint glimmer of light slipping through the window curtains. He didn't know his location, but the soft sensation beneath him confirmed he lay on a bed.

He was certain he'd died—even recalling how he'd teased the Dark Lord before his end. The memory made him chuckle: "Heh heh heh~"

That laugh should've sounded sinister, yet it rang out clear and crisp like silver bells.

Suddenly... something felt off. His hair felt different under his fingers, and the voice from his throat wasn't his own. If anything, it sounded more like a girl's.

Panic seized Allen. He sat cross-legged on the bed, frantically running his small hands through his hair. It was incredibly long—he couldn't reach the ends while seated. He scrambled up, still unable to touch the tips. From the brush against his legs, he guessed it reached his knees.

"Hey... seriously? Why does everything feel wrong...?" Allen whispered to himself, his voice so soft only he could hear.

His panic deepened. He needed to confirm his body's changes—the best way was... well, you know...

"What... what kind of joke is this? It's gone!?" The girl on the bed frowned and shouted. But in the unfamiliar darkness, her voice cracked on the last words.

After a brief daze, Allen decided to figure out where he was. He still had his wits. He paced a few steps on the bed, bounced lightly to test his body, then prepared to get up. Staying put wouldn't help.

Without thinking, he leaped off the bed's edge. But his left foot snagged on something strange—a chain-like restraint. He couldn't move forward and crashed headfirst. "Aah!! Thud!" His skull slammed onto the wooden floor, back of his head hitting first. He blacked out instantly...

Hours later...

"Eh~ Master! Look! She's awake!~" A red-haired, cat-eared maid in a black-and-white dress cried out. Her cute face showed surprise, yet her tone held a trace of excitement.

"But... she's asleep again..." the cat-eared girl added. Allen lay unconscious in a bizarre pose—one leg tied to the bedpost with a purple silk ribbon, the back of her head against the floor, silver hair spilling past her knees. Her delicate face rivaled the Dark Lord's beauty, but her skin was snow-pale, not the Dark Lord's soft white. Her nightgown had ridden up from gravity, nearly exposing her. Her legs formed a 'V', and her expression still held a hint of terror from the fall.

"Luna, your voice is too loud. Remember your manners—you're a maid," the Dark Lord chided, displeased with Luna's boisterousness.

Since Luna joined her, the Dark Lord had changed—no longer aimless, her expressions richer. She'd even taught Luna to speak, though Luna remained a bit airheaded. Despite calling her a maid, the Dark Lord treated Luna like a sister, worrying over her constantly.

"Yes!~ Lilith-sama!" Luna bellowed, signaling she understood.

Lilith sighed, rubbing her forehead. Clearly, she didn't get it at all.

"Ugh... Who's there?" Allen woke at Luna's shout, rubbing her eyes. Two blurry figures came into view.

"Luna, your turn," Lilith whispered.

"Got it, Master~ Heh heh heh~" Luna grinned, cracking her knuckles as she crept toward Allen...

The knuckle-cracks sent chills down Allen's spine. Goosebumps erupted uncontrollably. She shrank back against the bed until her back hit the wall—nowhere to run.

"W-what do you want!? I-I'm really strong! D-don't come closer!" Allen stammered, her voice trembling with fear as she curled into the corner.

"Don't be scared~ It won't hurt~" Luna replied, slowly raising her tiny fist and bonking Allen's head...

*Thud.* Allen felt no pain—but instantly fainted again.

"Drag her to the parlor," Lilith said from the bed, watching the chaos and sighing again.

"Sure~" Luna drawled out the word.

Lilith sighed once more, unfastened the restraint chain from Allen's leg, and walked off alone, leaving Luna with Allen. Luna grabbed one of Allen's ankles and dragged her carelessly down the hall.

Allen bumped into corridor cabinets, shattering vases that rained down on her. Water soaked her nightgown. She only whimpered faintly—"Mm, ah, ugh"—whenever she stirred. If she showed signs of waking, Luna would punch her without hesitation, sending her back into darkness. Each time Allen roused, she heard Luna's eerie giggles and felt her beast ears twitch before blacking out again...

Demon Castle was enormous. Walking slowly, it took about five minutes to reach the parlor. Rumor said sprinting its full length would take eight minutes just to reach the opposite wall.

Lilith arrived quickly at the parlor. Luna, dragging a person and bumping into things, arrived slightly later.

Lilith saw Luna hauling a bloodied, barely human-shaped object. Her heart ached. She'd only meant to quiet Allen for the trip, but this... Allen seemed near death. Her weak breaths and the long blood trail down the hall proved it.

"Luna... let's take her to my bedroom instead... I think she's dying..." Lilith said, looking at Allen slumped in a chair.

Allen's once-bright silver hair was matted with blood and grime. A trace of tears glistened at her closed eyes. Her white nightgown was torn from dragging, skin scraped raw in places. Lilith gently stroked Allen's head.

"Mm..." Allen whimpered softly at the touch, instinctively voicing her pain.

Lilith noticed faint wounds on Allen's scalp. She turned sharply, glaring at Luna. Luna trembled under that stern gaze—she knew she'd gone too far.

"Luna! Did you overdo it again?!" Lilith snapped.

In their years together, Luna had never seen Lilith this angry.

"Sniff... Master... Luna's sorry! Won't do it again!" Luna pleaded instantly.

Seeing Luna's puppy-like remorse, Lilith sighed and frowned. "Fine. I'll let it slide this time."

Luna beamed immediately, all sadness gone.

Lilith paused. "But no dinner tonight."

Luna's face fell into a pout—then brightened again just as fast.

Lilith sighed inwardly. *Am I sighing too much lately?*

"Master, I'll carry her to your bedroom~" Luna offered cheerfully.

Remembering the dragging scene, Lilith shuddered.

"No. I'll do it myself..."

Lilith lifted Allen gently, cradling her in a princess carry.

Even with careful movements, Allen stirred...

"Mm... ugh..." Her soft moans made Lilith handle her more tenderly—but it barely helped...

After minutes of walking, Lilith finally laid Allen on her bedroom bed. She sent Luna for healing potions to tend to Allen's wounds... Allen's faint whimpers continued throughout.