I approached the massive, carved doors, which slid open before me with the nearly silent hum of magic. As I stepped inside, the familiar, heavy aura of power washed over me. I bowed low, ensuring every movement carried the absolute respect my Mistress deserved.

  “The negotiations have concluded for today, my Lady,” I announced, keeping my head down until I heard the crisp rustle of documents being set aside.

  Lady Lilith slowly pulled her piercing golden eyes away from the mountain of paperwork that had buried her since morning. She scanned my silhouette with clear approval. Though she usually preferred to see me in my tight, provocative maid’s uniform, she had to admit that this elegant ensemble - worn for the diplomatic charade - possessed its own specific charm, accentuating my every asset perfectly.

  She signaled for me to stand. In a voice that was dispassionate yet ced with curiosity, she asked if any unforeseen problems had arisen during the talks. I let out a huff of irritation I couldn’t quite suppress.

  “It’s hard not to have problems when dealing with complete idiots like the messengers from the Demon King of Greed - who would sell their own mothers for a copper coin - or those arrogant pricks under the Demon King of Pride, who think their mere presence in this castle is a gift to us,” I spat out. I felt my blood pressure rising again but took a deep breath, not wanting to dispy too much emotion before Lilith. “However, despite their resistance, we are very close to ending this farce. The energy crystal mine should remain in our hands without much further trouble, securing a stable mana supply for the foreseeable future.”

  Hearing the good news, Lady Lilith offered a sincere, warm smile - a rarity she reserved for very few. She thanked me for my hard work and dedication. A surge of pride swelled in my chest, though I merely waved it off modestly, replying that it was my most sacred duty to look after her interests.

  Lilith, however, wouldn't be herself if she didn't pivot the conversation to something far more personal. Her smile turned devious as she asked point-bnk about Neko, wanting to know how her "test little acquisition" was faring.

  I returned the smile, the image of that tiny, pink ball of misery I’d left in the chambers fshing behind my eyelids.

  “When you see him tonight, you’re in for a truly delightful surprise. I took the liberty of dressing him in a way that brings out every ounce of his sweetness and vulnerability,” I said. I watched as Lilith immediately began to picture her "sweetling," clearly fighting the urge to toss her papers aside and bolt straight to his room.

  “And were there any issues with his behavior?” she asked, narrowing her eyes as if searching for any excuse to dole out a punishment.

  I shook my head, recalling how Neko had obediently - if with btant embarrassment - followed my every lead.

  “He’s a fairly compliant kitten, though I must admit he’s a terribly clumsy oaf who can barely manage his own tail,” I expined. Then, my tone shifted to something more serious; I couldn't ignore the facts. “However, I can't fault his work ethic. He completed every task I assigned with a level of precision I haven't seen in many of my subordinates. He kept at it even when I wasn't around to watch him.”

  Lady Lilith looked genuinely surprised. She knew well that I rarely handed out praise, especially not to sves with zero experience. She shot me a mocking glint, suggesting that the little pet had made a surprisingly good impression on me.

  I didn't want to admit it out loud, but I couldn't deny it either. I simply looked away, which elicited a light, melodic ugh from her.

  “If you say so, then perhaps there truly is more to him than just a pretty face,” Lilith said, waving a hand to signal that my service for the day was over. “You may go and rest, Elene. You’ve had a grueling day with those diplomats. I shall look after Neko myself this evening and see if he is just as ‘diligent’ in other areas.”

  I bowed deeply, knowing full well that in my current outfit, such a gesture gave Lady Lilith a perfect view of my cleavage - something that always put her in a good mood before a night's hunt.

  I straightened up and left the study, heading straight for my own quarters, while the faint jingle of the bell attached to Neko’s tail continued to ring in my mind.

  ***

  I let out a low groan and practically colpsed onto the gargantuan bed.

  The mattress dipped under my weight, and my legs - which had carried me well enough ten minutes ago - now throbbed with a dull ache and refused to move.

  Dammit, I really want that stone back. I’d give anything for it right now, I thought, burying my face in the pillow.

  Every second without that magic "recharge" felt like the life was being sucked out of me. For six straight hours of scrubbing the castle, I’d felt like I’d just downed a triple espresso thanks to that strange, fresh energy pumped into my colr. Now, after walking a mere dozen yards down the hallway, I was more exhausted than I’d ever been after running a marathon in my previous life.

  This morning, I’d hated this luxury bed with every fiber of my being. It was the pce where I’d been reborn in this freakish body, dominated by that red-haired, gold-eyed Lilith, and then forcibly dressed by Elene in this humiliating pink maid outfit - a getup that looked more like a costume from a fucked-up adult movie than actual work clothes.

  But now, with my body feeling like one big mass of fatigue, the incredible softness of the bed was the greatest comfort I’d ever known.

  With a struggle, I rolled onto my back. I could feel every yer of my new outfit - from the tight bra to those miserable stockings - clinging to my skin. It made my "little friend" in my panties twitch again, forcing me into a desperate attempt to suppress the rising instinct to just... take care of it.

  I y there in the silence, staring up at the violet canopy, and began to reflect on how bizarre my first six hours of work had been. I hadn't encountered a single soul besides Elene. Whenever I’d peered through the windows of the rooms I was cleaning, I saw only empty pins stretching to the horizon.

  If cleaning just a few rooms in one small wing took that much time, how huge is this castle? How many hundreds, maybe thousands of people must work here to keep it in order? And are they all, like me and Elene, dressed like high-end sluts? Judging by her morning attire, modesty seemed to be a concept entirely foreign to this pce.

  Looks like this world is even more twisted than I thought, if there are multiple Demon Kings and Lilith has a whole bunch of wives, I muttered to myself. Curiosity was slowly beginning to win out over my exhaustion. I wondered if this world worked like the fantasy novels I used to read - if there were "Heroes" out there trying to fight this demonic tyranny.

  Wait... are there even normal humans in this world? The thought hit me suddenly. The only beings I’d seen so far were those two breathtakingly beautiful but terrifyingly dangerous women who treated me like a house pet. Even though they had human shapes, their auras, tails, and that inhuman power made it clear they had absolutely nothing in common with regur people.

  I jumped on the mattress so violently that the bell on my tail let out a frantic series of those irritating, high-pitched chimes. My heart nearly burst through my ribs as the heavy oak doors slid open with a soft magical hiss.

  Lilith stepped inside.

  She stood there, framed by the doorway like some ethereal painting. Even though I’d seen her before, in the dimmed evening light of the bedroom, she looked even more stunning - almost impossibly beautiful. Yet, her divine beauty was still ced with that dark thrill of danger that made every tiny hair on my cat ears stand on end.

  “Everything alright, my sweetling~? You must have had a difficult day under Elene’s watch. She can be... demanding when it comes to the order of my castle,” the red-haired woman said. Her voice was low, honeyed, and so damn confident that I felt my legs turn to jelly all over again.