“And also…”

“The collar has a tracking function too.”

“Even if you did escape, Master could remotely activate it to punish you as a pet.”

“With the tracker, they’d know your location instantly.”

Because of this, Shelley had long given up on fleeing Mefia. She chose to obediently be her little Pet instead.

Of course, Mefia wasn’t unkind to her.

“So, Avril.”

“Don’t even think about running away, understand?”

“Master will never let you go.”

Gazing into Avril’s beautiful sapphire-like eyes, Shelley spoke solemnly.

Cradling Avril’s small face, locking their gazes, Shelley felt she could see straight into her heart.

Uncomfortable under Shelley Sister’s stare, Avril lowered her head.

“Mm… mm.”

Her voice held a trace of disappointment.

Shelley knew Mefia had high standards for bedmates—or rather, Pets.

A beauty like Avril, once inside her ‘secret garden,’ could never be set free as Avril hoped.

Absolutely impossible.

Obeying would earn Master’s affection.

Trying to escape would only bring unnecessary suffering.

“So this—never, ever mention it to Master.”

Avril’s perfunctory reply worried Shelley, forcing her to repeat the warning.

Seeing Avril’s sadness, Shelley suppressed her urge to stop.

Making Avril understand her situation to please Mefia mattered more than comforting her now.

After all, a happy Master rewarded Pets. An unhappy one punished them.

Gently cupping Avril’s soft cheeks, Shelley softened her voice to make it easier to accept.

“Avril, this might hurt you.”

“But from the day Empire slave traders captured you, your fate was sealed.”

“Don’t think about escaping.”

Shelley had tried before. She’d found zero opportunities.

Even without the collar, without Mefia’s permission, how could she leave this Fortress?

“…”

Avril just stared blankly at Shelley, no reply.

She hadn’t expected her casual question to trigger such a strong reaction—Shelley Sister kept stressing how serious it was.

But Shelley wasn’t finished.

“If you don’t run, if you obey, Master won’t punish you.”

“When you’re hungry, Master will give you blood…”

Last night, after confirming with Mefia that Avril would get food, Shelley felt relieved.

The clever girl also grasped Mefia’s mindset.

For Mefia, disobedient Pets needed ‘training.’

“Avril, I don’t know your past.”

“Have you… ever kept a pet?”

Not expecting Avril to understand Mefia instantly, Shelley planned a simple example.

If Avril had owned a pet before, she might get it…

After all, Shelley’s childhood home had a kitten.

Catgirls and cats shared a natural affinity stronger than humans’.

“Pet?”

“Dad once gave me a canary.”

Avril’s home, deep in the Fairy Forest, rarely saw outsiders except when hunting for blood. Her only pet memory was that little bird—a birthday gift from her father to ease her loneliness.

The Vampire Lolita murmured softly, confused why Shelley asked this.

“Canary?”

Shelley paused slightly. A dog or cat would’ve been ideal, but this worked too.

“Did you like it?”

Shelley guided gently.

“Yes…”

Avril nodded without hesitation.

Beyond it being a gift, with so little entertainment, a pet companion had made her happy.

“So… Master feels the same.”

“Master likes you, you know~”

‘Likes’ felt inadequate for Mefia’s feelings, but Shelley couldn’t find a better word.

As a Pet herself, she couldn’t badmouth Master—calling her a controlling loli-obsessed freak.

“Likes?”

Avril’s face showed disbelief. Even from Shelley Sister, she couldn’t agree.

She didn’t believe Mefia liked her.

Liking someone meant no punishments.

Yet… Master had given her blood yesterday. Avril stayed silent.

“It’s a Master’s liking for a Pet.”

Shelley added quickly, realizing her phrasing was off.

“Think: you loved that bird your dad gave you.”

“But if it flew away, wouldn’t you be sad?”

“Master feels the same. She wants you to be a good Pet.”

“Obedient. Not running. Submitting to her.”

Even saying this made Shelley uneasy.

But this was Avril’s fate.

Obeying for affection beat causing trouble and harsh punishment.

Yes—trouble. Shelley saw zero escape hope.

Leaving Mephya’s Castle meant the collar could make them miserable anytime.

The tracker would always find them.

Weak Catfolk like them would be hunted outside anyway.

Changing masters? Might be worse than Mefia.

Shelley hadn’t seen other nobles’ Pets firsthand.

But she’d heard terrifying, tragic stories.

“But… Avril doesn’t like…”

Feeling Shelley Sister’s words were wrong, Avril almost objected—she didn’t like Mefia.

But meeting Shelley’s gaze, she swallowed the words.

Don’t run. Don’t trouble Master.

Badmouthing Master was surely forbidden too.

This time, Shelley didn’t say it outright. Avril understood anyway.

A Pet must like their Master.

Disliking Master—or wanting to leave—must never be spoken in front of Mefia.