"Hey there, little one, are you hungry? I have candy here..."

"Ignore that guy. Come here, big sister has fruit for you..."

Ugh... What’s with these expressions? Like they’ve spotted a cute pet and are scrambling to feed it.

"Candy’s way tastier, little one. Come on, try this—Mi Guo flavor. Seriously delicious."

Mi Guo... what is that? Some world-exclusive fruit?

"Oh, Xiao Wei, you don’t know? For Contract Beasts, this fruit restores magic power. It’ll make her a strong Contract Beast in a month. Her Highness specifically ordered us to feed it to the little one often."

"Alright, you keep the little one company. I’ll report to Her Highness that ‘it’s awake,’ then be back. Save me some fruit—I wanna feed it too. So adorable..."

I watched expressionlessly as the maids chatted and laughed, grabbing fruit.

Honestly, it smelled amazing—sweet and fragrant.

This fruit resembled an apple, but faint light-purple patterns were etched into its skin. They shimmered subtly, something glinting within the lines.

I hated being treated like an animal to feed. But hearing "restores magic" and "strong Contract Beast in a month"... I’d swallow this humiliation. For self-protection. To escape that so-called master as fast as possible.

Damn, my head ached again.

"Hmm? Little one, headache?"

A maid leaned in, studying my frowning face with concern after I shook my head.

"Maybe low blood pressure from just waking up."

"Can Contract Beasts even get that?"

"Well... I wouldn’t know either."

If I told the truth, these maids—staring and guessing wildly—might beat me senseless.

"Here, eat something. Your head’ll feel better."

Her hand ruffled my hair. Beads of sweat stuck my messy strands to my skin. Uncomfortable.

The pine-scented fruit pressed against my lips.

"Be good. Open up. Ah~"

Ugh...

Slightly reluctant, but my roaring hunger made me lean forward instinctively, mouth open.

Wait—what? Why did I act like a pet?

I’d meant to grab the fruit myself. But my body moved first... like when I’d blurted "master" to that guy. My small tongue licked the fragrant skin like a kitten’s.

Ridiculous. How did this Contract force such behavior?

"So cute... it bit right away!" My gaze flicked to the voice. The candy-offering maid’s eyes sparkled with stars.

Being called cute didn’t make me happy. But resisting her sweet gaze? Bad idea.

Girls fixated on cute things are terrifying. Before reincarnation, as a guy who’d dated, I knew that well.

"Of course—it’s Dragon Vein Fruit. Two gold coins each. Only Her Highness would spend this much on a pet."

Her Highness... my mas—no. That guy.

Hearing "Lilith," I snapped my head up, listening hard to the maids.

Perfect chance to grasp my situation. Two days here, and this world was still a blank to me.

"Um... if I may ask—why is your Her Highness spending so much on me?"