"Don't get the wrong idea. Master just wants to give you a massage. After all, managing a pet's physical condition is a master's duty."

"I..."

Mirena hesitated, glancing at her clothes.

Then she placed her trembling fingers on the buttons.

"Hurry up and take it off in front of Master?"

Mirena was now in an extremely embarrassing situation.

Hestia's deep crimson eyes were fixed intently on her body.

"Um... Master, maybe it's not necessary after all? I'm not in pain anymore, perfectly fine, see... guh..."

Mirena had just stepped down from the chair.

As she hopped around on the floor, she suddenly winced.

Hestia helped her back to the nearby chair.

"Don't push yourself. Let Master take a look. Managing a pet is part of a master's duty. Why is this not okay?"

—What 'duty'? You just want to see.

Mirena was overwhelmed with shame, unsure what to do.

—If she didn't deal with this pain now, how could she endure being pinned under her weight tonight?

So Mirena stripped off her top completely in front of Hestia, leaving only a small bra to cover her chest.

Forcing down her shyness, she lay face down on the large bed.

Then she exposed her back to Hestia.

"P-please, Master!"

"Alright, where exactly does it hurt?"

"My back, right here behind the shoulders..."

Mirena pointed to her back.

Then she silently closed her eyes, bracing for Hestia's touch.

"Here?"

Hestia pressed her hand onto the spot she indicated.

Feeling the warmth of her palm, Mirena replied softly.

"Mm, yes, right here..."

"I see. This area is indeed stiff. Relax a little. I'll start now..."

Hestia placed her palm on it and gently kneaded Mirena's smooth back.

—It really did feel much better.

I never expected Hestia to know massage techniques too.

"How is it? Comfortable?"

"Mm, Master's massage is unexpectedly so comfortable..."

A blush spread across Mirena's face.

She bit the blanket silently, struggling not to let out a moan.

—Seeing Mirena suppress her moans like this stirred a strange feeling in Hestia.

"Nana is really cute. It's just us here—you can let it out..."

"N-no... ah!?"

The moment Mirena released the blanket, Hestia ambushed her.

A slight squeeze of her right hand made Mirena's moan slip out.

"M-Master, you bad guy!"

Mirena bit the blanket again, burning with shame.

But Hestia wore a wicked smile, a terrifying grin on her cute face as if plotting something evil.

Mirena felt deep fear and tried to escape.

Hestia waved her "evil claws" and pounced toward her.

"Take this! Behold my vampire claws!"

"Ah! You evil vampire!"

Mirena dodged, and they wrestled on the bed like children playing.

After a while, Hestia pinned Mirena down.

"You can't escape anymore, Princess!"

"It's not fair, Master! How can my stamina compare to yours?"

"Hehe, Master isn't bad—it's just that Nana is too clumsy..."

"I'm not clumsy! Master is the big idiot!"

Mirena puffed out her cheeks and turned her head away.

Seeing this, Hestia's smile grew even brighter.

After seeing that innocent, childlike smile, Mirena was mesmerized. She never expected such warmth on Hestia's usually cold face.

Then she recalled—when she was little, she'd seen that same smile on someone else's face.

—Rei Nidoume.

"Rei Nidoume? Who is that? An acquaintance of yours?"

Without a doubt, Hestia had read Mirena's thoughts again.

"Th-this name... no, nothing. By the way, Master, you look very cute when you smile. Why are you always so cold?"

Pinned under Hestia on the bed, Mirena gazed up with innocent eyes.

"Nana, do you think Master is cold too?"

"N-no... I don't think so."

"Nana, Master has always been like this. With this position, only you and Luce can talk comfortably with me."

There was no doubt she spoke the truth. After days of observation, Mirena truly understood.

"Master treats you like a treasure. Nana wouldn't betray me, would you?"

...

Mirena fell silent. What she thought—Hestia knew best.

"Alright. Master likes honest Nana. If you believe that, go ahead and try to escape."

Hestia closed her crimson eyes as she replied.

"That's not the issue! How long will you stay on me, Master? You pervert! You lecher!"

"Nana is mine. Not just half-naked like this—even completely naked before Master, you must obey..."

—Completely naked in front of her? Just the thought made Mirena shiver.

As she sat up to dress, she realized her back truly didn't ache anymore.

"Weren't you in pain? I used magic to dispel your fatigue."

"C-can you really do that?"

"Of course. It's nothing for me."

Hestia said this confidently.

This isn't something to boast about, right? It's just like knowing massage. But for her—it was the Vampire Queen giving a massage. Truly the highest honor.