"Early to bed, huh?"

"Avril understood..."

Avril had been settled in her room early. Wearing the robe the maids prepared, she listened to Lorin arranging her rest. She nodded slightly.

Today, Avril—told by Shelley to obey—didn’t even ask why.

"Hmm..."

Obediently tucked under the blanket, she spotted an apple on her desk. Shelley had left it this morning.

"Don’t want to... don’t want to..."

"But I just ate yesterday..."

Though a bit hungry—and Bloodkin didn’t need blood daily—Avril closed her lovely eyes. She whispered to herself, trying to ignore food.

But yesterday, Mefia had deliberately underfed her. After days of hunger, the ache was inevitable.

Still, sleep wouldn’t come.

"What’s Shelley Sister doing...?"

Staying with Shelley all day had given Avril rare comfort in this strange place.

Now separated again, she felt her security slip away.

Yet Shelley had ordered obedience. She buried her curiosity.

The maids had just insisted she rest well.

"The Master is returning," they’d said.

Avril didn’t understand why his return meant hiding in rooms.

---

Next door to Avril’s room, in a space marked by a cute catgirl doorplate, Mefia sat at Shelley’s desk. Shelley perched on the bed, watching her.

Compared to Avril, she seemed far more at ease.

But today, doubts lingered.

"Master?"

"Won’t you visit little sister Avril today?"

Shelley’s soft, testing question came with ice-blue eyes fixed on Mefia’s face.

Fresh from a quick bath, Mefia’s damp golden hair draped loosely. She flipped open a book on the stand, twirling a sleek black fountain pen edged in gold.

"What? Unhappy I’m here, Shelley?"

Mefia smiled faintly, dodging the question with a tease.

Her "secret garden" had long belonged only to Shelley. The obedient girl had monopolized all her affection.

"No way~"

Though knowing it was a joke, Shelley pulled a chair close. She hugged Mefia’s arm, leaning on her shoulder.

"I was just asking..."

"I thought you’d visit Avril often, since she’s new."

"Didn’t expect you here instead~"

Shelley’s sweet, soft voice pleased Mefia.

Yesterday and today, Mefia had ignored Avril in her pet room.

This surprised Shelley—it defied her expectations.

She’d assumed the lustful Master would devour Avril eagerly.

That’s why she’d rushed to teach Avril obedience. Angering Mefia could bring harsh punishment.

As for sharing the Master’s love? Gentle Catfolk Shelley rarely considered such things.

"She knows nothing. Utterly dull."

Shelley’s obedient closeness warmed her. Mefia even fantasized about Avril becoming like this someday.

Distracted from her fake reading, she teased Shelley.

"No one’s as cute as my Shelley~"

Mefia turned, pulling her close. She whispered near Shelley’s ear:

"Especially in bed~"

The bold words flushed Shelley’s cheeks.

"Master~"

"Really..."

*But you still bought her back...*

Shelley pouted inwardly, biting back the thought.

"Today, you showed her the Fortress, right?"

"Teach Avril anything?"

"Tell me."

Mefia hadn’t come just to sleep together. Years ago, they’d exhausted every intimacy.

This sweet catgirl—body and soul—was already hers.

She needed updates. Avril’s training was faltering; her attitude was resistant.

Coldness was just a tactic, not truth about Shelley’s charm.

(Shelley saw through it.)

"I just toured the rooms—library, maid quarters, pool, gardens, music room..."

"Told Avril to obey the Master."

"Not to wander."

Shelley held back details—like Avril hating the Master, refusing to be a pet.

Sharing that might anger him. She’d shield Avril from punishment.

"That’s all?"

Mefia’s tone sharpened; the report felt thin.

"Um..."

Rarely lying to her Master, Shelley tensed.

Even she feared Mefia deep down.

One word from her decided fates.

"Avril didn’t understand much. So I explained why she must obey."

"Taught her the Master-Pet bond..."

Shelley stole a glance at Mefia.

"Mhm."

"Describe how you explained it. Avril’s response?"

Mefia’s approving nod held a smile.

"I—I just gave an example!"

"From before I was your pet..."

"My family kept a kitten."

"I asked if Avril had pets."

"She said she kept a canary."

"...

Mefia found Shelley’s odd logic intriguing.

"A canary?"

"Yes, Master."