"I'll squeeze whenever I want. Got a problem with that?"

I leaned closer to Lily’s face, my breath warm against her cheek as I challenged her.

"Besides, look at you now—so full of life. Nothing like that gloomy wreck from earlier."

"...T-That’s only because of you..."

"Me? I’m just stating facts." I tapped her nose lightly. "So now you’re lost? Unsure where to go? Or whether to obey me completely—raising your blade against my enemies, even if they’re old comrades... or people you once swore to protect?"

Pressed against her fluffy ear, I whispered while she turned her head away, lips pressed tight, refusing to meet my gaze.

"Are you disappointed in your kingdom? What about the oath you made long ago?"

"...Stop. I know I can’t disobey you."

After a long silence, her voice cracked with unshed tears.

"Foolish girl."

"*Yipe!*"

I sighed, exasperated by her stubbornness, and flicked her forehead hard. She yelped in pain, clutching her head.

"Listen well: Castillia Kingdom’s *foolish rulers* betrayed you." I pressed my index finger against her trembling lips as she tried to protest. "They forced you into opposition. You owe them no guilt. No regret over broken vows..."

"Greed poisons souls. It fills the world with hatred and war, dragging us toward misery and slaughter—turning us cold." My finger trailed down to her chin, stroking her cheek. "But not everyone’s beyond saving... Tell me, Lily—do those power-hungry fools *deserve* your loyalty anymore?"

"I know your old comrades included Castillia’s king from three centuries past. And I know why you spent so long helping Hawthorn take human form—to grow stronger, to protect your homeland." My thumb brushed her jaw. "You never imagined his descendants would betray you like this."

"...D-Don’t... Xia, please stop..." Her eyes darted away, pleading.

"No. You must face this." I smiled. "Better a sharp pain now than a slow ache forever~"

"...You don’t understand my pain... Someone who enjoys others’ suffering could never understand." Her eyes glistened red.

"What pain? Tell me." I pressed closer, giving her no escape. "Betrayal? Death? Confusion? Simple problems."

"Cast aside the past. Start anew. You’re Lily now—not Daenerys, the human Sword Saint who made demons and even the First Overlord tremble. You’re a white fox girl. My maid."

"You make it sound easy..."

"Do I?" I murmured against her ear. "Then tell me—why don’t I have demon ears like the others...?"

"...Isn’t it just... your weird fetish?" She sniffled, forcing defiance. "You always add unnecessary flair. Always."

"Hah. You *do* know me."

I chuckled softly, then whispered one sentence into her ear.

"...What?"

Her eyes flew wide open.

"This... can’t be true! If it were, how did you become Overlord...? You’re lying!"

"I never lie to my precious girls. And you have no choice but to believe me." My finger sealed her lips again. "We’re the same... And now, you’re mine."

I kissed her before she could react.

"*Mmph!*"

Her eyes bulged in shock. I pulled back smoothly, grinning at her frozen expression.

"You... you... *pervert!*" she finally choked out.

"A pervert? Every man dreams of this..." I scooped up her petite frame, hands roaming her curves. "Hey! Stop it! Don’t touch my tail! This is *your* body—have you sunk this low?! Think carefully!" She squirmed, shrieking.

"Oh, I left something out." I rested my chin on her head, still holding the flustered maid. "I only used spare materials for this body... *yours* is still your original form. So don’t bother begging me to stop out of ‘morality,’ my dear maid."

"...*Eep?*"

She froze.

"W-Wait—"

"What’s wrong? Weren’t you ready earlier? Even asked me to ‘be gentle’?"

I pinned the trembling girl onto the bed, my smile sharp.

"Three hundred years ago, when I first saw you... I’ve wanted this. Nowhere left to run, little one."

"*Nngh... Help... someone save me... Eeek!*"

Her desperate whimpers cut off into a startled gasp.