Elene turned on her heel, her short skirt swaying dangerously and nearly exposing her lingerie.

  Seeing that she truly intended to leave me there, a sudden wave of panic washed over me. I knew that with my Vitality at 2 and Strength at 1, physical bor without magic support would be pure sadism.

  “Mistress!” I called out quickly, the bell on my tail chiming pathetically. “What about my Ethereal Stamina Core?”

  Elene didn’t even bother to turn around. Her demonic, spade-tipped tail flicked the air in a gesture of pure impatience.

  “I’m not in the mood to give it to you today,” she replied coldly, walking further down the corridor. “Besides, you only have one room to look after today, so you should be able to manage until sunset.”

  I watched her retreating back, feeling my ankles buckle.

  She’s really pissed this time, I thought with dread.

  I knew that "only one room" in her mouth sounded like a light shift, but for someone in my condition - trapped in a tight, frilly maid outfit and shoes that drove the heel into my foot with every step - it was a mountain I couldn't climb.

  I let out a heavy sigh, frustration-fueled tears pricking my eyes. But I had no choice; Elene did not tolerate failure when it came to assigned duties.

  I reached for the Ethereal Dust Absorber - a massive device that felt like it weighed a ton in my hands.

  I gripped it with both hands, feeling the fabric of my white gloves slip against the metal handle. I took my first, wobbly step into the pink kingdom, desperately trying to keep my weight banced on those three-inch stilettos. Every movement caused my short dress to ride up and my petticoat to rustle against my stockings, reminding me of every single inch of my humiliation.

  As soon as Elene disappeared into the depths of the hallway and the heavy doors clicked shut behind me, my heart leaped into my throat. I stood on the threshold of a pce that defied all logic regarding space. The room was gargantuan - at least three times the size of my already massive bedroom. Every inch of the hall was bathed in pastel pink, from the soft, plush wallpaper to the vaulted ceiling where crystal chandeliers in the shape of dragon hearts hung.

  The space was organized in a way that triggered an instinctive unease in me. The entire floor was covered in thick, magical mats that yielded under my heels, making bance even harder to maintain.

  Along the walls stood massive pens carved from white wood, decorated with silk ribbons and protective runes. Inside them were heaps of pillows, and above each pen hovered a levitating mobile with miniature, living stars that hummed soft lulbies when activated.

  My cat ears twitched as the delicate jingle of my bell echoed through the silence, sounding unnaturally loud. I looked toward the center of the room, where low tables were lined with dozens of baby bottles and rows of crystal pacifiers that pulsed with a soothing pink light. Around them y giant plush beasts - chimeras and manticores with fur that looked softer than silk.

  Everything here was designed for childcare.

  I looked up at the strange magical clouds drifting under the ceiling. Every so often, they released a rain of glittery dust that vanished the moment it touched the floor.

  I tightened my grip on the handle of the Ethereal Dust Absorber, feeling the weight twist my gloved hands. My short skirt and multi-yered petticoat rustled with every uncertain step, and I had the distinct feeling that all those plush eyes were watching my disgrace. The realization that I had to bring this pink byrinth to order without the support of the magic core made my shoulders sag. In my legs, imprisoned in heels I couldn't remove because of the locks, I already felt a painful throbbing.

  I exhaled a shaky breath, trying to calm my racing heart.

  “Time to get to work,” I muttered under my breath, approaching the giant pink bed to start by changing the heavy silk sheets.

  ***

  Six hours ter, I let out a soft groan and colpsed limply onto the freshly made bed, pain pulsing through every inch of my petite body. It had been pure agony. Normally, despite the room's enormous size, cleaning shouldn't have taken more than a few hours. However, without the help of the Ethereal Stamina Core, those three hours had turned into six murderous blocks of bor.

  I’d had to take breaks every few minutes, sitting my butt directly on the pink floor just to take the weight off my feet. In my mind, I thanked the architect of this pce - the fact that they’d thought of the children’s comfort and lined the room with soft, magical mats was my only salvation.

  “I didn’t expect... such tenderness from demons,” I mumbled into the pillow. “The professionalism in designing a nursery is actually... incredible.”

  I squeezed my eyes shut, and suddenly a notification I’d received during the battle with the dust fshed in my mind. I looked at it again.

  [CONGRATULATIONS!]

  [New Passive Skill Unlocked! ]

  [Skill: Cleaning]

  [Description: Instinctively facilitates the identification of dirt and impurities. Increases the efficiency of cleaning tools by 10%.]

  I sighed with heavy irony.

  Great.

  Now I have two whole skills, I thought. One is [Perfect Skin], which makes my skin fwless and so sensitive that every fold of this tight maid dress drives me insane. And the second is [Cleaning]...

  I huffed, though after a moment I had to admit that at least the second one would actually be useful in my current professional "career."

  Suddenly, I heard the door open. I didn't have the strength to even twitch, let alone lift my head from the bedding. Lying sprawled on the bed in complete disarray - with my dress slightly hiked up exposing the petticoat and the bell on my tail giving off a single, exhausted clink - I spoke in a raspy voice:

  “Good evening, Mistress Lilith...”

  I knew only one person in this castle visited me at this hour.

  Lilith stood in the doorway, a wide, amused smile on her face.

  “My sweet kitten must have worked very hard, judging by the way you look right now,” she remarked, her voice dripping with btant satisfaction.

  I didn't even have the energy to deny it. I felt like a squeezed lemon, and the fact that the Demon Queen was seeing me in such a defenseless and pathetic state was just another entry in my diary of humiliations for the day.

  Suddenly, I felt the mattress dip under someone’s weight. I didn't need to open my eyes to know who it was. The scent of her body was far too distinct.

  Lilith crawled onto the bed with the grace of a predator and settled over me so that her long, shapely legs were on either side of my small, exhausted body. She took my face in her hands. Her skin was cool and smooth - a blissful change from the stinging dust I’d been fighting for hours.

  She leaned down so low that her red hair tickled my cheeks and whispered directly into my ear:

  “What happened today, sweetling... that my little kitten has such a terribly tired face?”

  I felt all the emotions from the entire day - from the humiliating dressing-down under Elene to the struggle with that heavy dust absorber - suddenly surface.

  “Elene...” I choked out. “She didn’t give me the stamina core. I had to clean that giant pink room all by myself. Without support, it was pure torture... everything hurts. My stats are so hopelessly low that I feel like I’m dying with every step in these shoes.”

  I told her everything. How the room was three times the size of my bedroom, all the magic toys, bottles, and mats I had to personally set right. I compined about my weak stats, about how with a Strength of one , even lifting a pillow felt like a challenge.

  Lilith listened, that mysterious, slightly malicious smile lingering on her lips. When I finished pouring out my grievances, her eyes fshed with amusement.

  “It seems my kitten really wants stronger stats...” she murmured sweetly, starting to stroke my ears.

  I shivered.

  Her hands moved with practiced skill, bending my cat ears and teasing their delicate edges. I knew she was completely addicted to them - whenever she had the chance, she pyed with them as if they were her favorite toy. I squeezed my eyes shut, letting the bell on my tail give a soft, involuntary clink as I began to purr despite myself.

  Suddenly, I felt her hot breath against my skin again as she leaned in closer.

  “You know... I can solve your problem with the stats, sweetling,” she whispered, sounding like a demon promising a sweet candy to a small child.