Chapter 20: Someone Saw Me! This Is Beyond Embarrassing, Meow!

“My new pet.”

Lucia’s voice was calm.

Carmillo’s hand, holding the wine glass, froze.

The expression on his face paused for less than a second, then a polite smile immediately appeared.

But Lilia saw it clearly — his pupils shrank.

“So that’s how it is.”

Carmillo sat back down, his gaze falling on Lilia.

From the cat ears on her head, to the bell on her neck, then to the long fluffy tail behind her.

The glance was quick, but Lilia felt as if she’d been stripped and thrown onto a display stand.

Every nerve screamed.

“A truly… special pet.”

Carmillo’s voice carried the aristocratic drawl.

Each word seemed to twist on his tongue before coming out.

Special?

Lilia cursed wildly in her heart.

Special, my ass!

Are you blind?!

I’m being humiliated here, you bastard!

But she didn’t dare say a word.

She could only lower her head, clutching the hem of her dress, nails almost digging into her palm.

“Come here.”

Lucia spoke.

Lilia stiffly walked over, every step feeling like she was stepping on the tip of a knife.

The bell on her neck jingled nonstop.

“Pour wine for the Prince.”

Lilia took the crystal wine bottle.

The bottle was icy, and her hands trembled badly.

As she walked to Carmillo, she could feel his gaze.

Not a lecherous one, but purely… scrutinizing.

The wine flowed into the goblet.

Her hand shook, and the bottle knocked against the rim.

“Clink–“

The clear sound was especially sharp in the quiet hall.

Lilia’s face flushed instantly.

It’s over, it’s over, it’s over.

She’d embarrassed herself in front of a Monarch Rank.

Would she be executed on the spot?

“Thank you.”

Carmillo’s voice was gentle, even carrying a hint of amusement.

He took the glass, his fingertips lightly caressing the rim.

“Your Majesty trains so well, even pouring wine is this… cute.”

Cute, my foot!

Lilia roared inwardly.

I’m trembling from fear!

Not trying to act cute!

You blind fool!

But she didn’t dare show any expression on her face.

After pouring the wine, she immediately retreated behind Lucia, wishing she could bury herself in the carpet.

The banquet officially began.

Lucia sliced the bloody meat on her plate.

“How is the Soulfruit yield on the Bloodstained Plains this year?”

“Fifteen percent higher than last year.”

Carmillo answered quickly.

“Thanks to the Fountain of Vitality Your Majesty bestowed last time, the land’s magic density has increased greatly.”

Lucia nodded, slicing another piece of meat into her mouth.

Even when eating, her every chew was slow and restrained.

Lilia stood behind her, listening to the two discuss things she couldn’t understand at all.

Things like new armaments in the Ironblack Mountains.

Or the intelligence network in the Low Whisper Forest.

Her only task now was to watch Lucia’s every move.

If the glass was empty, refill immediately.

If a plate was finished, replace it at once.

If the napkin was dirty, hand over a clean one quickly.

She had never been so focused before.

Not even during the college entrance exam.

Because she understood —

If she made even one mistake, a more humiliating punishment awaited.

“Your Majesty.”

Carmillo put down his knife and fork, wiping his mouth with a napkin.

His movements were slow, every detail exuding noble elegance.

“Forgive my rudeness.”

He looked up at Lucia, then glanced at Lilia.

“This new pet of yours, is not Demon Race?”

Lilia’s heart jumped violently.

Here it comes.

She knew she couldn’t hide it.

“She used to be Human.”

Lucia’s answer was airy.

“A Human who wasn’t very obedient.”

The napkin in Carmillo’s hand paused midair.

He stared for a full three seconds.

“Human?”

His voice rose slightly.

He stared at Lilia, his deep purple pupils full of shock.

‘A Human, yet able to withstand such a high-intensity form transformation…’

He stood up slowly, walking to stand before Lilia.

Lilia was so scared she took a step back.

But Carmillo didn’t come closer, only circled her half a turn.

“This degree of Law Alteration would be difficult even for Monarch Rank beings.”

He turned back and bowed to Lucia.

“It seems, Your Majesty is truly… fond of her.”

Fond of her?

Lilia almost laughed out loud.

Is this fondness?

This is obviously twisted amusement!

“She’s interesting.”

Lucia picked up her wine glass, swirling the red liquid inside.

“In three hundred years, she’s the only thing that’s made me feel less bored.”

Carmillo listened in silence.

He sat back down, raised his wine glass, but didn’t drink right away.

Instead, he stared at the wine, lost in thought.

As Lucia’s confidant for three hundred years, he understood the weight of those words.

Your Majesty said ‘not bored’.

Those three words were heavier than any praise.

He looked at Lilia again.

Trying to find what made this weak, humiliatingly dressed little one so special.

But no matter how he looked—

Other than those stubborn heterochromatic eyes.

She was just an ordinary, powerless Human girl.

But the more ordinary she seemed, the more curious one became.

What exactly made Your Majesty so “bothered”?

The banquet continued.

Lilia felt every minute was like a year.

She carried the heavy crystal tray, moving back and forth along the table.

Her tail swayed behind her, and the bell on her neck jingled.

Every time she passed by Carmillo, she could feel his gaze.

Not lecherous, but an even more uncomfortable kind of scrutiny.

Like dissecting a frog.

Lilia gritted her teeth.

She swore in her heart

One day, she would make Lucia wear this outfit too.

Let her serve tea and pour wine in front of others.

Let her taste what it felt like to be treated as a spectacle.

“Clean up.”

Lucia’s voice shattered her fantasy.

The banquet was over.

Carmillo stood up, bowing once more.

“Thank you for Your Majesty’s hospitality. I shall take my leave.”

“Mm.”

He turned to leave, pausing beside Lilia.

He bent down, lowering his voice.

“To make Your Majesty so ‘bothered’, you’re quite something, little one.”

With that, he walked away without looking back.

Lilia stood frozen.

Bothered?

Quite something?

What did that mean?

Before she could understand, Lucia had already left.

Only she remained in the hall.

Along with the mess on the table.

Lilia stared at the dirty plates, cups, knives, and forks.

She took a breath.

And began cleaning, resigned.

She carried the tray, running back and forth between the kitchen and hall.

Once, twice, three times…

By the time everything was washed and put away, her arms felt about to break.

Her feet burned like standing on fire.

Dragging her exhausted body, she returned to her room.

Closed the door.

She collapsed onto the bed.

Burying her face in the pillow.

Tears finally flowed.

Too humiliating.

More humiliating than ever before.

That feeling of being displayed as a toy without dignity in front of outsiders.

It hurt her deeply.

“Lucia….”

She bit her lip, her voice muffled in the pillow.

“Just you wait… nya…”

“Someday… I’ll make you wear this too, nya!”

“I’ll make you… kneel before me… and pour me wine… nya!”

She swore, but the tears wouldn’t stop.

“Knock knock.”

Someone rapped on the door.

“Who is it? Nya!”

Lilia shouted irritably.

“Miss, it’s me.”

Lilith’s voice sounded.

Lilia wiped her tears.

“Come in, nya.”

The door opened.

Lilith walked in with a cup of hot milk, placing it on the bedside table.

But she didn’t leave as usual.

Instead, she stood there, watching Lilia.

“Miss.”

She spoke.

Her voice was still cold, but there was something else in her tone.

“Her Majesty… enjoys the ‘trouble’ you bring her.”

Lilia looked up.

“What do you mean? Nya?”

Lilith didn’t answer directly.

She took out a thin, coverless black book from her pocket.

And placed it on Lilia’s bedside.

“This book may be useful to you.”

She paused.

“Learn to control your New Trait, instead of only resisting it.”

With that, she bowed and left.

The door closed.

Lilia stared blankly at the book.

Control?

Instead of resisting?

She reached out and picked up the book.

Opening the first page.

A line of elegant, magic-infused ancient script appeared.

“Succubus Advancement Manual: How to Turn Innate Gifts into Weapons”