At the mention of food, Nefu instantly perked up and hurried to the table. She still remembered Ophelia’s promise from that morning—a proper feast for dinner.

“Come and taste it.”

Ophelia’s voice whispered beside her ear. Nefu wasn’t curious what it was; the rich aroma had already reached her.

Roast chicken! Even made by that detestable woman herself—it smelled divine. In that moment, Nefu finally spotted Ophelia’s one redeeming quality.

Just as she was about to pounce on the food, Ophelia’s brows snapped together. “Down!” she barked sharply.

Nefu’s delicate frame trembled. Instinctively ducking low, panic flooding her little face, she had no idea what she’d done wrong to earn such a shout.

*She wouldn’t make me eat like yesterday again… would she?*

A faint shiver ran through her. Though reluctant, she obediently knelt, hands folded behind her back.

*Detestable human… I’ll crush your bones when I get the chance!* Humiliation burned her cheeks, yet she dared not resist. The memory of that bizarre sensation—her whole body acting strange, certain spots unbearably sensitive—was too vivid to revisit.

*Go on, bind my wrists… Ophelia, just you wait—*

Eyes shut tight, her silent vow was cut off.

“Huh? What are you doing, little Nefu?”

“Hm?” Nefu looked up, utterly bewildered.

“I told Blackfang to lie down there. Why are *you* kneeling?”

Glancing at Blackfang’s round, earnest wolf eyes, Nefu’s face flared as if hit by a fire-element spell—scorching hot!

*Oh. It wasn’t me.*

“Get up. Don’t tell me you *like* eating like this? If so, I suppose it’s not that—”

“No!” Nefu scrambled upright, gaze locked on her toes.

Seeing the pink creeping from Nefu’s ear tips down her slender neck, Ophelia’s heart skipped. *No good… little Nefu is too cute!*

For minutes after, Nefu kept her eyes down. The embarrassment was so thick even a monster wished for a hole to vanish into. Head bowed, she fumbled with the drumstick using knife and fork—relying on the little prince’s memories.

“Little Nefu? Still shy?” Ophelia teased with a soft chuckle.

“No…” Nefu stuffed meat into her mouth, shaking her head. Unseen by her, Ophelia’s expression shifted subtly.

“Come to think of it, little Nefu—you haven’t called me properly since this morning~ So? What *should* you call me?”

“M-Master…” she whispered, voice trembling. Humiliating? Yes. But better than the alternative.

“Good. That’s more like it.”

Ophelia’s frown melted into a smile. Nodding, she reached out and lifted the hem of Nefu’s skirt with one finger.

“Don’t sit so carelessly, little Nefu. Remember—you’re a girl now. Keep your legs properly closed~”

On “between your legs,” she jabbed her finger forward pointedly.

“Mmph!” Nefu clamped her thighs shut, a gasp escaping. That unsettling feeling from before surged back.

“I-I’ll remember.”

“Good. Relax your legs~ But next time won’t be this lenient.” Ophelia withdrew her hand, smiling. One lesson was enough—far better than endless lecturing.

“Yes… Master.”

For the rest of dinner, Nefu kept her legs tightly pressed together, terrified Ophelia might strike right at her most vulnerable spot again.

Still… something nagged her. *Wasn’t the little prince male? If I took his form, shouldn’t I be male too? Why does she insist I’m female?*

Recalling the forest discovery—that missing “accessory”—Nefu’s eyes flickered. *Where did it go wrong?*

After dinner, Ophelia made no further demands. She simply returned to her room, quietly flipping through a magic tome—the picture of a diligent student.

Nefu was relieved. Back in her room with Blackfang, she faced the mirror. The reflection showed a cute girl in a maid outfit. Only now did a faint strangeness stir.

Before Ophelia’s correction, she’d felt nothing odd. But now… this outfit brought a whisper of shame. Outside, she’d catch herself noticing human gazes.

*Wait—why do I even care what humans think?*

Dizzy, she decided: *It’s the little prince’s memories messing with me. The real me wouldn’t care.*

With nothing else to do, she propped her chin and stared blankly out the window—like a caged creature longing for freedom.

After a while, she stirred.

*Is Ophelia asleep?* Don’t be fooled by her stillness earlier—sitting like an exquisite sculpture. In truth, Nefu’s attention had been locked on the next room the whole time.

Once silence settled there, she stood, stretched languidly, and a captivating smile curved her lips.

Hunting time again.

She flicked her tongue over her lips, eagerness flashing in her eyes.

Watching Ophelia hunt monsters today taught her one thing: to repay every humiliation, hunting adventurers wasn’t enough. She needed *her* path to power.

For a Mimic like Nefu, devouring other species and stealing their abilities was the fastest shortcut.

She’d long scouted the place trafficking monsters as slaves—the perfect hunting ground.

“Blackfang…”

She turned, patting the wolf’s head. Facing a fellow monster, Nefu smiled—genuinely, for the first time.

“Be a good boy and wait here. I’ll be back soon with treats. Don’t wander off~”

With that, she slipped out the window. If all went well, by dawn she’d have that detestable woman pinned and thoroughly humbled.

A thrilled glow lit her exquisite face—already savoring the victory.

Now, she headed toward a special place.