Days passed again, and at last, Lucy completed the reconstruction of all the walls. The entire perimeter was now reinforced—stronger, sturdier, and more resilient than any ordinary fortress. The once-broken boundaries now stood proud and unyielding, as if to say no threat would ever breach them again.
Finally free from the endless repairs and construction, Lucy called out to me. I sighed quietly, already expecting her to cling to me like she always did—wrapping herself around me like some oversized cat who refused to let go of her favorite toy.
But this time… she surprised me.
"We're going to the Song Kingdom," she announced, her tone uncharacteristically serious. "We need to establish diplomatic relations there."
I blinked, taken aback. "The Song Kingdom? That's the first time I've heard of that name," I admitted, tilting my head.
She nodded as if she'd anticipated my curiosity. "Like the name suggests—it's a kingdom known for music and sound-based Spell. Do you remember Aira? The red-haired girl who saved us from the zombie horde?"
I nodded slowly. "Yeah. Her Spell was truly astonishing"
Lucy's eyes lit up. "Exactly. She uses one of the Song Kingdom's spells—so powerful it can shift the entire rhythm of a battlefield. Even the undead hesitate when they hear her melody. That's how potent their arcane arts are."
"Huh," I muttered. "Interesting. When are we leaving?"
"Tomorrow," she replied with a satisfied smile. "My two sisters already left. They're working on establishing ties with other nearby kingdoms. It's our turn now."
I gave a short nod, expecting the conversation to end there.
But then, without warning, she suddenly bound me with her power over me and tackled me into a tight hug like a child clinging to her favorite plushie.
My eye twitched. "Again…?" I mumbled under my breath. Though I was slowly getting used to her sudden outbursts of affection, it still felt strange having someone lunge at me with such force and zero personal boundaries.
She giggled mischievously. "It's been a while since I bathed you~" she purred, her grin slowly turning devilish.
I didn't respond. I'd long since learned that resistance was futile. And, to be honest… while I found it deeply uncomfortable, I couldn't bring myself to outright refuse her either.
With a snap of her fingers, we teleported straight to the massive, elegant bathroom—steam gently curling into the air, scented oils already prepared. She had clearly been planning this.
Before I could even take a breath, she snapped her fingers again, and my clothes disappeared.
"Wait—hey—!"
Too late. I was already submerged into a warm, fragrant bath.
Lucy hummed softly as she scrubbed my body meticulously. Despite how absurd the situation was, she treated it like a sacred ritual, washing me as if I were made of porcelain. I simply closed my eyes and let her do her thing, trying not to overthink the situation.
Then, with another flash of light, I found myself dressed in... a new maid outfit.
More detailed than the last, this one even had frills and embroidered patterns. I didn't even ask where she got it. I was too tired to react. Lucy squealed in delight and hugged me tightly, pulling me into bed like I was her personal stuffed doll.
And just when I thought the day couldn't get any weirder...
Her voice suddenly turned low and possessive. "Tell me," she whispered, her grip tightening around me, "who do you think is the most beautiful girl you've ever seen?"
It was a simple question. But something about her tone sent chills down my spine. I didn't catch on to her real meaning. Naively, I gave the most honest answer I could muster.
"Hmm… I'd say Evelyn. Then Elizabeth. And then… you."
I felt the room's temperature drop almost instantly. A shiver crawled up my back. I opened one eye cautiously. Lucy was smiling.
But it wasn't her usual smile.
It was dark… mocking.
"Out of all people… my mother?" she repeated in a voice that could freeze oceans.
I blinked innocently. "Yeah. She's… beautiful. I mean, you are too, but Evelyn has this aura and elegance and—"
Veins bulged slightly on Lucy's flawless face. Her lips curled into a terrifyingly charming smile.
Before I could react, she straddled me. Her eyes gleamed with something dangerous.
"H-Hey! What are you—?!"
I tried to move, but the slave mark activated, freezing my limbs. I had no idea why she was suddenly angry. I had just answered honestly, right?
"You're seriously… annoyingly innocent," she muttered.
Then she leaned in and bit my neck.
Not hard enough to bleed—but enough to hurt. A jolt of pain surged through me.
"Ow! What are you doing?! Are you mad?!"
She didn't reply.
Instead, she continued biting—my shoulders, my collarbone, even my chest—leaving trails of saliva and shallow bite marks. It was like she was branding me, marking territory.
"Stop! That hurts!"
But she ignored me, lost in her own storm of jealousy and affection. After what felt like an eternity, she finally sighed and hugged me tightly again as if nothing had happened.
The pain lingered. My neck throbbed. Carefully, I whispered a healing spell under my breath, and a soft glow soothed the sting. Thankfully, she had fallen asleep, her breath warm against my neck. If she were awake, she wouldn't have let me heal myself. That much, I was sure of.
The next morning arrived like a gentle breeze.
My body fully healed, we went through our usual morning routine. I prepared breakfast, and she, as always, watched me with a playful gleam in her eyes.
Just as we were about to leave, she grabbed the back of my collar—her usual habit—before teleporting us to the carriage waiting outside.
She didn't mention anything about the previous night.
Neither did I.
I sat silently, still puzzled. I just told the truth… Why did that make her mad?
I stared out the window as the carriage began moving, the distant mountains of the Song Kingdom barely visible in the far horizon.
Understanding girls… might be harder than mastering any spell