"Hah..."

Shelley lay atop Mefia, silent. Or rather, utterly drained of strength thanks to her tail.

Finally spared, Shelley quickly tucked her little tail behind her.

"Good girl. I won’t take you this time."

"Wait here nicely. Tonight, I’ll come back to devour you again."

Lifting Shelley’s soft body in a princess carry, Mefia added lightly, still unsatisfied.

Mefia didn’t mind showing affection before her little Pet and the Maid.

But she cared about her dignity.

Normally, being teased by Shelley wouldn’t bother her. After all, she could always make Shelley cry and beg.

Yet Lorin had seen it. Her new Pet had too. It stung her pride a little.

Not worth anger, of course. But she’d definitely teach her a proper lesson later.

Teasing her adorable Pet satisfied both body and soul.

Especially seeing Shelley like this—tear-filled eyes, limp in her arms—filled her with indescribable joy.

She could never get enough of this sight.

"Wait here obediently for me, okay~"

Carrying Shelley to her bedroom, Mefia affectionately patted her head and tucked her in.

Her earlier irritation vanished completely. A smile tugged at Mefia’s lips.

Determined to pamper her Pet thoroughly tonight, she glanced at Shelley’s still-flushed face and slowly left the room.

"..."

Shelley, just regaining her strength, gently touched her slightly sore, recently kissed lips. She pulled the soft blanket over half her face.

I did my best.

She couldn’t help it.

If Mefia refused, she couldn’t follow.

Trapped here, she couldn’t even warn Avril about precautions.

"Sorry, Avril..."

The Catfolk girl whispered under the blanket, worry deep in her heart.

Helpless, she didn’t know if Avril could handle emergencies.

She could only comfort herself...

As Mefia’s Pet, even mistakes wouldn’t bring real trouble...

As for the Master’s promise to pamper her tonight—she’d ask later.

"Master..."

Outside.

Avril, her small hand suddenly grabbed by Mefia, called out nervously.

Having witnessed everything, Avril didn’t fully grasp what happened. She lacked that knowledge.

But... Shelley Sister seemed in pain?

And the Master had touched her forbidden tail.

Avril felt a flicker of jealousy.

She was curious about tails too.

But Shelley Sister never let her touch hers.

Still, the little girl’s envy was pure. She dared not show it before Mefia.

Now, she couldn’t focus on Shelley Sister. All her attention fixed on Mefia.

"Hmm? What is it?"

In a good mood, Mefia smiled warmly at the Vampire Lolita.

Gently ruffling her silver hair, she asked softly.

"We."

"Where are we going?"

The Vampire Lolita’s soft voice trembled. Afraid to speak loudly before her Master, she looked up pitifully, fear and reluctance clear in her tone.

Leaving the basement.

Avril instinctively resisted.

She’d just arrived here—a strange place.

But compared to the slave trader’s cage...

Compared to Mefia’s room with bedpost chains...

Compared to the bathroom where hot water could scald vampires, forcing her to strip naked...

She preferred this spot.

Quiet.

No sunlight.

No Mefia.

No slave traders.

Sweet apples.

And the kind Shelley Sister.

"To meet someone."

"Just don’t speak out of turn later."

"You need do nothing."

Mefia avoided the hated name. Skipped the fake ‘sister’ title.

Rarely, she’d called Lucy "a person."

Lucy, upgraded from object to human, owed Avril thanks.

Expecting Mefia’s mercy was impossible.

She phrased it simply—Avril might not understand otherwise.

"Oh..."

"I understand."

Personally trained by Mefia, warned by Lorin, Avril was now perfectly obedient.

She didn’t know who they’d meet but nodded and followed.

Her free hand, not held by Mefia, secretly slipped into her dress pocket.

Inside hid a delicious red apple.

Avril was hungry.

No—she’d never been full.

Bloodkin could eat apples.

But they gave little magic.

For a starving Vampire Lolita, beloved apples were a blessing.

Yet she’d never dare mention hunger to Mefia again.

The first punishment linked collar removal and blood requests with pain.

"Hehe."

Finding joy in hardship, the little one followed Mefia upstairs, absentminded. The stranger was forgotten.

Her mind buzzed only with the tasty apple.

Of course, she wouldn’t dare take it out now.

"What are you so happy about?"

Mefia, walking beside her, didn’t know Avril’s thoughts. Just puzzled—her mood shifted too fast.

Nervous moments ago. Now seemingly cheerful.

But Mefia didn’t care to dig deeper.

A child’s whims—maybe she recalled something happy.

"N-no, not happy!"

Mefia’s question snapped Avril from her apple daydream. She shook her head frantically.

Her lie was obvious, full of cracks.

Mefia ignored it. Not worth her focus now.

Still, having hidden the truth from her Master, Avril carefully withdrew her hand from her pocket.

Reluctant to part from her little apple.