Chapter 39: Walking a Pet Obviously Requires a Leash!

The moment Lucia was mentioned, Lilia’s smile froze.

But she quickly composed herself, raising her voice as she shouted:

“Alright, nya! Let’s go quickly, nya!”

“I can’t wait to show Mistress how I look in my new clothes, nya!”

She took the initiative, running toward the door on her short legs.

Lilith followed behind.

Watching the small back dressed in a pure white dress, the corners of her lips curled up.

The two walked one after the other through the long corridor.

Lilia held her head high, puffing out her chest, trying her best to look proud.

But with each step, the sensation of wind under her skirt and the friction against her skin became unusually clear.

She felt uncomfortable all over.

Her cheeks burned hot.

From time to time, Magic Golem Guards on patrol passed through the corridor.

Lilia could feel their cold gazes fall on her.

She forced herself to straighten her back, wagging her tail twice.

I have to look happy! I can’t let that pervert see any cracks!

But the more she thought about it, the faster her heart raced.

Before long, they arrived at the door of Lucia’s study.

The door was slightly ajar.

Lilia stopped in front of it.

Her chest heaved violently before she managed a smile.

She raised her hand and gently pushed the door open.

“Mistress! I’m here, nya!”

She called out in the sweetest, softest voice she could muster.

Inside the study, Lucia was standing by the window.

At the sound of the voice, she turned.

Her blood-red pupils landed on Lilia, pausing for a moment.

Lilia lifted her skirt and spun in front of Lucia.

“Mistress! Look! Does the new outfit look good? Nya?”

She tilted her face upward, her smile dazzling.

Lucia didn’t answer immediately.

She looked Lilia up and down.

From the black cat ears on top of her head.

To the ‘praise me’ expression on her face.

Then to the pure white, barely-there dress.

Finally, the small legs wrapped in white stockings.

She stared for a long time.

So long that Lilia’s smile almost collapsed.

What is this perverted Demon King staring at!

“Come here.”

At last, Lucia spoke.

Lilia’s heart leapt, and she hurriedly ran to her.

“Mistress, how is it? Nya?”

“Mm.”

Lucia reached out her hand.

Her fingertip traced lightly over the faint scratch on Lilia’s cheek, left from a failed sneak attack.

“It fits well.”

Her fingertips carried healing magic.

The wound faded before their eyes.

Lilia’s body tensed.

This pervert… is at it again.

Give a slap, then a sweet date.

“Thank you, Mistress, nya!”

Lilia thanked her sweetly, but inside she was ranting wildly.

“Let’s go.”

Lucia withdrew her hand.

“It’s time for a walk.”

She turned and headed for the door.

Lilia quickly followed.

Thank goodness, I finally bluffed my way through this.

As long as I keep up this ‘happy’ act during the walk…

Maybe Lucia will get bored and end this public humiliation early.

But she was happy too soon.

Just as she followed Lucia to the door—

Lucia suddenly stopped.

“Wait.”

“What’s wrong? Mistress, nya?”

Lilia looked at her in confusion.

Lucia said nothing, simply raising her right hand.

A rope of pure black magic formed in her palm.

Lilia stopped breathing.

This rope… she recognized it!

It was the very one the perverted Demon King used to pull her in the study yesterday!

“Of course, when walking a pet, you need a leash.”

Lucia’s voice was calm, but Lilia felt a chill all over.

Holding the Magic Rope, Lucia walked to Lilia.

Lilia instinctively stepped back.

“N…no, nya…”

Her voice trembled.

“Mistress, I’m very obedient, nya! I won’t run around, nya! It’s okay without that, nya!”

She was truly scared.

Wearing a Silver Collar, dressed in these shameful clothes, and now a leash—

That would truly, completely, make her a pet led by her Mistress.

“This is the rule.”

Lucia’s tone allowed no room for negotiation.

She crouched, bringing one end of the Magic Rope close to the black collar with a Silver Ring around Lilia’s neck.

Lilia wanted to dodge, but her body froze, unable to move.

She could only watch helplessly—

“Click.”

A soft sound.

The clasp of the rope locked precisely onto the Silver Ring, a symbol of humiliation.

Lilia shuddered.

She felt the pull of the collar around her neck.

That black rope extended directly from her to Lucia’s hand.

“Very good.”

Lucia stood up, holding the other end of the rope.

She gave it a gentle tug.

“Follow.”

Lilia’s body was pulled forward uncontrollably.

She lowered her head, her silver bangs hiding her face, shoulders trembling.

It’s over.

She really had become a cat on a leash.

The two walked, one ahead, one behind, toward the rear garden.

Lucia led in front, graceful, holding the black Magic Rope in hand.

Lilia followed, moving mechanically.

She could hear the Bell on her collar.

With each step, it chimed, “ding-ling, ding-ling.”

Each ring mercilessly reminded her of her situation.

The corridor was long.

From time to time, patrolling Magic Golem Guards and passing servants appeared.

Whenever they saw this scene, without exception, they stopped.

Then quickly lowered their heads, respectfully stepping to the sides, not even daring to breathe.

Lilia could imagine the looks behind those bowed heads.

Shock, curiosity, and perhaps… mockery.

Her cheeks burned hot.

At the end of the corridor was a giant archway of white vines and crystal.

Through the arch, Lilia could see the ‘sunlight’ and a riot of flowers.

She could hear the distant voices of servants pruning branches.

Lucia stopped at the door.

She looked back at Lilia.

“Are you ready?”

Lilia bit her lip, not answering.

Her tail was clamped tightly behind her, her whole body shaking.

“I’ll ask again.”

Lucia’s voice grew deeper.

“Are you ready?”

Lilia clenched her fists, taking a deep breath.

She lifted her head, meeting Lucia’s blood-red eyes.

“I’m ready, nya.”

Her voice was small but clear.

Lucia nodded in satisfaction.

Then, she pushed open the giant archway.

The Crystal Archway opened.

Light pierced Lilia’s eyes.

It wasn’t real sunlight, but magical light simulated by the Evernight Palace.

Before she could adjust, the leash at her neck tightened.

“Let’s go.”

Lucia pulled her, stepping into the rear garden.

Lilia heard the sound of scissors.

Snip, snip—

The sound of cutting branches stopped the moment she stepped through the door.

Then, the soft scrape of a feather pen on paper.

That stopped too.

At last, even the metallic footsteps of Magic Golem Guards vanished completely.

The entire garden fell so silent she could hear the Bell on her collar shake.

Ding-ling.

Lilia lowered her head further.

She could feel those gazes.

Piercing from all directions, landing on her.

Beneath the Heart-shaped Cutout on her chest, her skin began to burn.

A few thin straps at her waist bit into her flesh, and only then did she realize she was trembling.

Her tail was clamped tightly between her legs, but couldn’t be hidden.

That black, fluffy thing was exposed to everyone.

And this damn leash on her neck—

It extended from her collar to Lucia’s hand, proclaiming her identity.

Pet.

The Demon King’s pet.

“Y… Your Majesty…”

A trembling voice sounded.

It was the Secretary responsible for records.

She hadn’t noticed when he appeared by the roadside.

He was kneeling on the ground, head buried so deep it might as well be in the dirt.

Lilia could hear his ragged breathing as he spoke.

It was urgent.

Lucia ignored him, continuing forward.

Her pace was slow, almost leisurely.

She seemed to enjoy the walk very much.

Lilia was forced to follow behind, shuffling step by step.

With each step, a breeze blew under her skirt.

Cold.

She could feel the servants’ eyes travel from her cat ears to the white stockings on her legs.

And linger on her chest.

On the Heart-shaped Cutout.

Shame burned from her cheeks to her neck, then to the tips of her ears.

She wanted to escape.

To find a hole to crawl into.

But the leash on her neck held her fast, not even allowing her to retreat.

She could only keep walking.

Led on a leash, in front of everyone.

“It seems…”

Lucia suddenly spoke.

Her voice wasn’t loud, but it echoed clearly throughout the garden.

“My little pet doesn’t seem very happy.”

Lilia froze.

“Lack of exercise.”

Lucia muttered to herself, flicking her wrist.

The black Magic Rope suddenly lengthened, arcing through the air to fall on the lawn ahead.

The end of the rope even swayed.

Lilia’s heart sank.

No way.

She stared at the rope, and a terrible thought popped into her head.

This pervert… does she expect me to chase the rope?

“Go.”

Lucia’s voice confirmed her fear.

Lilia stood still, unmoving.

She would die before she did it.

Absolutely not.

She was already socially dead. She couldn’t die any further.

“Don’t want to move?”

Lucia tilted her head, raising her other hand.

At her fingertip, a Red Dot appeared out of thin air.

Lilia’s breath stopped.

That red dot—

No!

She squeezed her eyes shut, trying to block it out.

But it was too late.

Her body reacted faster than her mind.

She arched her back, lowering her center of gravity, hands spreading instinctively.

Her tail sprang up, standing straight with just the tip twitching.

“N… No… I don’t want to… nya…”

She bit her lip, desperately suppressing her body’s instincts.

But a faint, excited whimper escaped her throat.

Lucia watched her struggle, pleasure flashing in her blood-red eyes.

She flicked her finger.

The Red Dot shot out, landing on the lawn and bouncing about.

The last string in Lilia’s mind snapped with a ‘pop’.

“Nyaaah!”

She screamed, dropping to all fours and leaping forward.

Under everyone’s gaze—

The silver-haired loli in a pure white catgirl outfit—

Crawled on the lawn, madly chasing the Red Dot.

She pounced again and again, paws scrambling across the grass.

Her tail stood high, swinging excitedly.

The Bell on her collar jingled incessantly.

“Nyaaoo! Nyaaoo!”