Estimating the time was about right, Luce unlocked the door and slowly stepped inside.

"Miss, are you all right?"

Luce was referring to the act of locking her young mistress in such a place.

Truthfully, when Hestia first proposed it, Luce had refused outright—but Hestia insisted relentlessly.

So in the end, she’d been forced to comply.

"Ah, of course I’m fine. In fact, I rather enjoyed it."

"And… how is *she*?"

Luce was also curious about Mirena’s training results.

If this succeeded, that little girl would surely never dare act so arrogantly again—neither before her master nor before Luce herself.

"Don’t worry. She just fainted from fright. But after my training this time, she’ll obey me without question."

A dark smile spread across Hestia’s face.

She looked down at Mirena, collapsed on the floor from terror.

"No… no! Let me out… let me out…"

Mirena jolted awake at the voice whispering in her ear. She scrambled up from the floor, pounding desperately on the door.

She needed to escape this cold, shadowy place.

But no matter how hard she hammered—

—the lock clicked shut with cruel finality.

Dozens of rats scuttled in the cramped space, all staring at Mirena with blood-red eyes.

Mirena snapped fully awake, gasping for breath.

"Hah… hah… hah… W-where… where am I?"

Glancing around, she recognized the room the vampire had prepared for her.

Thankfully, it was well-lit—no fear took root this time.

Her lower half felt dry; someone must have changed her underwear.

—No. Wait.

I… I wet myself? I *wet myself*?

For the first time in her thirty-plus years, Mirena felt true shame.

She—

had wet herself.

Utter disgrace!

No. She *had* to escape.

Or this vampire would turn her into a living weapon.

But if she was to flee, she needed the perfect plan—one that saved every single companion.

"Wake up at last, Princess…?"

At that voice, Mirena’s nerves snapped taut.

Hestia Alia.

That dangerously unpredictable woman was back—

Thinking near her meant having her mind read without fail.

The golden-haired vampire entered slowly, carrying a bowl of rice porridge.

Her crimson eyes narrowed, fixed on Mirena sitting rigidly on the bed.

"How’s your body feeling…?"

"Thanks to you, I’m still breathing…" Mirena replied, her tone edged with sarcasm.

"Heh. Still refusing to drop that useless attitude? Or call me ‘Master’?" Hestia’s smile turned icy. "Seems you need another stay in the Dark Cell. This time, I’ll lock you in overnight. Watching you tremble in fear all night… it’s rather addictive."

—!!!

Lock her in again?

*Overnight*?!

One more hour in there, and she might lose her mind.

*When the roof leaks, you bow your head.*

For her own sanity, she had no choice but to submit.

Mirena’s defiance crumbled instantly.

"I was wrong! M-Master! Please don’t lock me in there again. I’ll obey you… anything you say…"

"Listen carefully," Hestia said sharply. "Know your place. You’re a pet. I’m your Master. Your duty is to serve me, always. Disobey once more, and I’ll throw you into that Dark Cell for ten days and nights—no questions asked."

Hestia never made empty threats. The thought of *ten days* sent genuine terror through Mirena’s bones.

"But," Hestia’s voice softened as she stroked Mirena’s azure hair, "if you obey… I’ll treat you as before. Share my meals. Sleep in my bed."

"M-Master… I’ll obey. I *will* obey. Just… never mention the Dark Cell again, please?" Mirena pleaded, clutching Hestia’s sleeve like a frightened animal.

"Oh my," Hestia chuckled. "If my sweet Nana obeys, the Dark Cell won’t even cross my mind."

Suddenly, the mark on Mirena’s thigh flared blood-red.

She collapsed onto the bed, face twisting in pain.

Her palm pressed hard against the bite-mark—but to Hestia, this reaction was utterly ordinary.

"The twenty-four hour limit’s up, isn’t it?"

"Ugh!? It hurts… it *hurts*… Master… what’s… nghh!?" Whimpers escaped Mirena’s lips.

Her blood churned violently, straining against her veins like it might burst free.

A feverish flush spread across her pale cheeks.

"It hurts… it itches… hurts… itches…"

—Two alien sensations tearing through her at once.

Her mind flooded with one desperate craving: *Let Master drink my blood.*

Mirena writhed on the bed, trying to escape the agony.

"This," Hestia explained, a sly smile playing on her lips, "is the Withdrawal Reaction I warned you about. A Blood Slave suffers this when denied their master’s bite for a full day."

Mirena lunged at her.

Fumbling with her nightgown buttons, she bared her neck to Hestia.

The smooth, pale column of her throat gleamed—her Collar removed during bathing.

Hestia’s fangs lengthened; her eyes burned crimson.

The urge to sink her teeth in, to taste that sweet, fragrant blood, was overwhelming.

Any ordinary vampire would have yielded instantly.

But Hestia held firm.

She shoved Mirena aside, voice cold and absolute:

"You’re just a Blood Slave. When I drink is *my* choice. You don’t get to decide."

This training wasn’t just about locking Mirena in the Dark Cell.

Hestia was using the Withdrawal Reaction to carve her place into Mirena’s soul—

*She could discard her anytime. But Mirena could never discard her.*

The pain ripped a raw moan from Mirena’s throat.