Chapter 51: A Social-Death Yukata? No—A Shameful Restraint Suit!

Lilith lifted the black velvet cloth from the Tea Tray.

Lilia stared at the items inside, her mind shutting down for three seconds.

Several black Leather Belts.

A few Lace Panels so thin they were almost transparent.

And a pile of Silver Ring Buckles.

“……Meow?”

She looked up, blinked, then looked down to check again.

“Lilith Onee-san.”

Her voice was dry.

“Isn’t there something missing from this Tea Tray…?”

“Like, say, fabric? Meow?”

“Nothing is missing, Miss.”

Lilith’s expression didn’t waver at all as she picked up the longest belt.

“This is the complete set.”

“Her Majesty calls it a ‘Hot Spring Yukata.'”

Hot Spring Yukata.

As Lilia heard those four words, Lucia’s smiling face echoed in her mind.

She looked down at the pile of ‘parts’ on the Tea Tray again.

Then suddenly took two steps back.

“What does this have to do with a Yukata?! Meow!”

“This is clearly just a bunch of Dog Leashes! Meow!”

She pointed at the belts and buckles, her voice cracking.

“You want me to go out wearing this?! Meow! I’d rather run around naked! Meow!”

“Miss, please calm down.”

Lilith picked up a triangular Lace Panel.

“This is the Front Guard Panel. It covers the key area.”

She picked up another piece with a hole in the center.

“Rear Guard Panel, it leaves room for the Tail.”

She held both Lace Panels up in front of Lilia.

“See? The coverage area is actually quite reasonable.”

Reasonable, my ass!

Lilia stared at the two pieces of fabric, which together were barely the size of her palm, tears almost bursting from her eyes.

“I’m not wearing it! Meow!”

She turned and bolted for the door.

“Click—”

The door was locked.

“Miss.”

Lilith’s voice sounded from behind her.

“This is Her Majesty’s order.”

“I don’t care what order it is! Meow!”

Lilia yanked on the door handle with all her might, but it wouldn’t budge.

She turned around, pressing her back against the door, watching as Lilith approached with the Tea Tray.

“Don’t come any closer! Meow! If you do, I’ll bite you! Meow!”

Lilith stopped three steps away.

“Miss, you can refuse me now.”

She paused.

“But when Her Majesty comes in person, what do you think will happen?”

Lilia froze.

A scene flashed through her mind—

Lucia doing it herself, those hands running over her body, buckling each strap one by one.

Then leaning in to whisper by her ear: “How is it? Comfortable?”

Damn it.

She bit her lip, slid down from the door, and hugged her knees on the floor.

“I’ll wear it…… Meow……”

Her voice was muffled.

“But! Meow!”

She looked up, eyes red.

“That pervert is not allowed to watch me change! Meow!”

“Understood.”

Lilith nodded.

“But after you’re dressed, you must go see Her Majesty in person.”

“……Deal.”

Lilia lowered her head in resignation.

At least she could die one less time.

“Please take off your clothes and lie face down on the bed.”

Lilith walked over and began undoing her Gothic Dress.

“Face down? Meow?”

“This Yukata needs to be secured from the back.”

A few minutes later.

Lilia lay naked on the bed, face buried in the pillow.

She bit the pillowcase tightly, her whole body stiff.

A Leather Belt wrapped around her waist.

It looped up over her shoulders and neck, crossing at the back and fastening with a Silver Ring Buckle.

Then came the Lace Panel with a hole in it.

It was attached to the belt at her waist, barely covering a small area.

A black cat Tail threaded through the hole in the lace, flicking anxiously.

The belt continued downward, looping around the tops of her thighs, converging at her lower belly.

Finally, the triangular Front Guard Panel was fastened to a Silver Ring Buckle on her abdomen.

It just barely covered the most critical area.

Throughout the entire process, Lilia didn’t move a muscle.

She almost bit through the pillowcase.

“It’s done, Miss.”

Lilith stepped back two paces.

“You may get up now.”

Lilia sat up stiffly on the bed.

She looked down.

Most of her skin was exposed to the air.

Her chest was bare except for two diagonal belts.

Her waist and stomach were also bare.

Only a semi-transparent black lace hung in front of her lower belly, and a few belts barely held the whole ‘outfit’ together.

Wind could blow in from every angle.

“Uuu……”

Her tears flowed again.

“Lilith Onee-san…… This isn’t clothing at all, meow……”

“There’s also an outer layer.”

Lilith handed her a large black Silk Robe.

Lilia hurriedly put it on, wrapping herself tightly.

The Silk Robe covered most of her body, and she breathed a small sigh of relief.

But the robe was semi-transparent.

The belts and lace inside were faintly visible, making it look even more provocative.

“Let’s go, Miss. Her Majesty is waiting for you.”

Lilia dragged herself off the bed, her legs trembling with every step.

She followed Lilith to the study door.

Lucia was sitting behind her desk, sipping tea.

When she saw them enter, she set down her teacup.

Her gaze fell on Lilia.

She looked her up and down, slowly.

Lilia wished she could sink into the floor. She clutched the Silk Robe tighter, wrapping herself even more.

“Come here.”

Lucia curled her finger.

Lilia shuffled forward, head down, not daring to look at her.

“Turn around.”

Her tone was full of amusement.

Lilia froze in place.

“Hmm?”

Lucia made a dangerous nasal sound.

Lilia trembled all over, squeezed her eyes shut, and stiffly spun in a circle.

The wide Silk Robe floated up.

Her body, wrapped in black belts and lace, was revealed before Lucia’s eyes.

“Not bad.”

Lucia stood up and walked over.

She reached out and lifted the Silk Robe at Lilia’s chest.

Her fingertips traced the two crossed belts.

“Meow!”

Lilia jumped back a step.

“Mistress…… Don’t……”

“Don’t what?”

Lucia’s hand slid down along the belts, stopping at the triangular lace on her lower belly.

She pressed it lightly.

“Is it a little tight here?”

Her voice dropped low.

“Do you need me to loosen it for you?”

Lilia’s cheeks burned. In broad daylight, she—

“No need! Meow!”

She shouted with all her strength.

“It fits perfectly! Meow! Not too big or small, just right! Meow!”

“Is that so?”

Lucia withdrew her hand, curving her lips dangerously.

She turned to the coat rack and took down a black Magic Rune rope.

One end had a Silver Collar.

When Lilia saw the rope, her heart squeezed hard.

A Leash.

That thing again.

“Then let’s go.”

Lucia walked over with the rope, crouched down.

She fastened the Silver Collar to the ring on Lilia’s neck.

“Click—”

A crisp sound.

Lilia felt something shatter inside her.

Not the collar.

Her last shred of dignity.

“Let’s go.”

Lucia tugged the leash in her hand.

The collar around Lilia’s neck tightened.

She stumbled forward, following the black silhouette out of the study.

The hallway of the Evernight Palace was quiet.

Occasionally, a Servant carrying a Tea Tray would pass by. When they saw them, the tray would crash to the floor.

Those people froze, bowed their heads, and backed away against the wall.

Lilia buried her head even lower.

The Silk Robe covered almost nothing.

When she walked, the fabric floated up, and the strappy Yukata inside peeked through.

The Bell on her collar jingled with every step.

Every ring made her wish she could die on the spot.

“Your Majesty.”

Lilith walked up from ahead, now dressed in a black combat outfit, her silver hair tied in a high ponytail.

“Everything is ready.”

Lucia kept walking forward, holding the leash.

Ahead was a massive Obsidian Gate, etched with glowing purple Magic Runes.

“This is the portal to the Central Plaza of Magic City Yasra.”

Lucia didn’t look back.

“Let’s go shopping first.”

Lilia’s mind exploded.

Magic City?

Central Plaza?!

She wanted her to go shopping dressed like this?!

“No way! Meow! I’d rather die! Meow!”

She spun around, trying to run.

“Hmm?”

With a flick of her wrist, the leash went taut.

Lilia was yanked back, nearly falling.

“I beg you, Mistress! Meow!”

Her tears streamed down.

“Can’t we go somewhere else? Meow! Somewhere with no people! Meow!”

Lucia stopped.

She turned her head, crimson eyes fixed on Lilia.

Then, she raised her hand.

And snapped her fingers.

“Whoosh—”

The only Silk Robe on her body combusted.

It turned into black embers and vanished into the air.

Lilia looked down.

Her pale body was exposed in the light.

Only a few belts and lace pieces remained.

“Ah—!”

She screamed, hugging herself, and crouched down.

“Now.”

Lucia looked down at her.

“Will you go, or not?”

Lilia curled up on the floor, trembling.

She opened her mouth but couldn’t make a sound.

If she refused again—

What awaited her would be even more terrifying.

“……I’ll go……Meow.”

The words squeezed out through her teeth.

“Very good.”

Another snap of fingers.

The Silk Robe reappeared on her body.

It was as if nothing had happened.

But Lilia’s hands were still shaking.

“Lilith, open the door.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

Lilith walked to the portal, placing her hand on the Magic Runes.

“Buzz—”

Purple light surged.

Inside the gate, a swirling starry vortex appeared.

Lucia tugged the leash and stepped in first.

Lilia closed her eyes.

And followed.

A wave of dizziness passed.

Her feet landed on solid ground.

Noise rushed at her from every direction.

Voices, carriage wheels, hawkers, pounding sounds—