Mmm... My wings ached faintly.

Now I understood. These two maids had never seen me as human—just a helpless pet to toy with at will.

Like a house cat...

I hated it. But trapped in this child’s body, I couldn’t fight back. They stuffed fruits into my mouth—no, *forced* them down my throat—then brazenly stroked my wings as if I were theirs.

*Eating these fruits makes me stronger. Being petted is just a small humiliation to endure. Once I’m strong enough, I’ll escape. Endure small discomforts to achieve greater goals...* I gritted my teeth against the electric tingles surging from my wings through my whole body.

Truth was, I hated admitting how weak this body felt...

"Your Highness," the maids chimed respectfully. The hands pawing my wings vanished instantly.

"Hmm. How’s the little one?"

"Don’t worry, Your Highness. She’s eaten plenty of Dragon Mark Fruits. She should recover from this weakness soon."

*His voice.*

A strange flutter shot through my chest. I scuttled backward on instinct until my spine hit the icy wall, eyes locked warily on him.

"She’s still afraid of me? Honestly, am I that terrifying?"

"Your Highness, the fear from the Forced Contract won’t fade in mere hours. You should—"

"Mmm... I know, I know. Win her over with kindness..."

Silence. A traitorous warmth surged through me—*my master wants to be gentle*. No. How could I feel happy about someone who bound me like this?

I pressed harder against the wall, frozen.

"Come now, little one," he murmured, catching my tiny flinch. A soft chuckle escaped him as he leaned closer.

Warmth flooded my senses—a comforting, honeyed scent that melted my thoughts to mush. The pink ceiling blurred, replaced by his crimson silhouette. His breath brushed my ear. I jolted back to reality, squirming under his gaze, fingers clutching my collar.

*If I hadn’t snapped out of it... I’d have nuzzled him like a spoiled kitten.* Damn this Contract.

My lips pressed tight, sweat beading on my forehead.

"Calling you ‘little one’ feels odd... Tell me," he declared, "what’s your name?"

"I’m called—"

The words tumbled out instinctively under the Contract’s pull. Then I choked.

Not just from snapping back to myself—but from the horrifying truth crashing over me:

*I didn’t know my name.*

No matter how I clawed through my memories, nothing surfaced. Not even a nickname. It was as if I’d never had one.

"No name?" He frowned at my trembling hands clutching my head. "Unacceptable. My strongest Contract Beast deserves a name." His tone softened. "How about... Yiyi?"

"Thank you, Master..." The reply slipped out before I could stop it.

"Yiyi," he mused. "It suits you. Soft. Adorable."

The maids’ cooing snapped me back to reality.

*Wait... Yiyi? Since when—? Such a childish name...*

But the Contract coiled warmly in my chest—*Master named me. I love it.*

*How can I love this? It’s not my real name!*

*Then... what is?*

*Why can’t I remember?*