"I know. Let’s adjourn the meeting here. I have more urgent matters to attend to. We’ll reconvene another day!"

"Oh… I see. Huh? Lord Dolin, how did you…?"

Prince Dolin, who had just been lying on the floor, was now walking unscathed toward Hestia.

She’d endured such searing flames—even her head had been burned.

Yet, with astonishing regenerative power, she’d healed completely. Her face remained flawless.

Only her clothes bore charred traces.

"Even if she didn’t flee this time, what about next? Or the time after? Can you guarantee she’ll never run? So, Lady Hestia, wherever you go, you must ‘hold’ your pet tightly…"

Her words reached Hestia’s ears clearly.

"Is that so? Don’t worry. My pet has self-discipline. Even if I let her run, she wouldn’t."

Hestia left this declaration-like statement.

Then, she gripped the chain attached to Mirena’s collar firmly and walked slowly toward the door.

"That attitude… really grates on me…"

Dolin glared angrily at Hestia’s back.

Mirena felt the pull on her collar and realized Hestia was furious.

But she didn’t know how to appease her.

Mirena could only follow obediently behind her and climb into the carriage.

The carriage began moving slowly.

Hestia’s demeanor shifted abruptly.

She clamped tightly around Mirena, seated beside her, and demanded,

"Why didn’t you run?"

"Why would I run? Master treats me so well. Why escape?"

"Liar! Don’t think I don’t know what’s in your heart. Spit it out!"

Mirena felt Hestia’s oppressive aura and lowered her head silently.

"Guh… I daren’t. I’m scared Master will lock me in the Dark Cell. So I daren’t run…"

"Is that so? Then here’s another order: no matter where, when, or what you’re doing, never leave my sight."

"Eh? Even… even for the toilet!?"

"Exactly. Even for the toilet, you do it under my eyes."

"O-okay… I understand…"

Mirena replied to Hestia as if steeling herself.

—She hadn’t run, yet Hestia’s surveillance tightened instead.

This was so unfair—

Hestia read Mirena’s inner complaint through mind-reading.

"Any problem?"

"N-no. Since it’s Master’s order, I have no issue…"

Mirena answered helplessly, terrified of provoking her.

What now?

If every action had to stay within her sight, didn’t that mean zero freedom?

Hestia read Mirena’s thoughts. She knew exactly what she was thinking.

She craved freedom—

But it was only a thought.

The more she thought it, the less freedom Hestia would grant.

Someday, she’d train Mirena until even her thoughts obeyed Hestia.

"Master… you’re hugging too tight. It hurts…"

"You’re mine. Can’t I hold you tightly?"

Luce glanced back slightly, puzzled by the two, while driving the carriage toward the palace.

—No wonder Miss seemed odd today. She hadn’t brought that rabbit.

So Mirena was its replacement?

Luce observed meticulously.

Unconsciously, Hestia had indeed treated Mirena as Youji’s substitute.

But in Hestia’s mind—

This ‘Youji’ might flee anytime.

She even pondered severing Mirena’s tendons to cripple her walking.

Then Mirena would stay forever.

Not yet, though.

If she tried escaping next time, that’s when Hestia would cut her tendons.

Mirena didn’t know Hestia’s thoughts.

But whatever it was, it had to be terrifying.

Just thinking that, Mirena felt genuine fear.

Snapping back to reality, she found Hestia staring at her with blood-red eyes.

Would even her right to think be stripped away?

Mirena felt her future looked bleak.

With Hestia beside her, mind-reading could max out anytime.

What should she do?

"Haa…"

Mirena sighed deeply, feeling the softness beneath her.

She cast a resigned gaze at the scenery outside the carriage.

How she longed for freedom.

But now, even a shred of it felt like a luxury.