Are brothels really that much fun?
If this had been in the past, Rita might have hesitated repeatedly before answering, or perhaps harbored unrealistic fantasies about such places.
But after tonight, her answer became more resolute than ever.
“Not fun at all!”
“If it’s not fun, then why go? There must be some kind of magic there.” Cecilia’s matter-of-fact tone made Rita’s hair stand on end.
There was a reason she went there! It was a matter of life and death; she simply couldn’t avoid it!
Worse yet, she went, the problem remained unresolved, and she even encountered some new, more serious issues.
Exactly! The problem wasn’t solved! Rita was still starving!
“Lady Cecilia!” Rita stammered for a long time, the words of explanation rolling around in her throat. Even though she was in the right, she just couldn’t find the confidence to speak up: “Th-this… there’s a reason.”
“Rita.”
Cecilia’s single call completely silenced her.
It was like when your mother suddenly calls your full name—no matter if you think you haven’t done anything wrong, you can’t help but be afraid.
Cecilia asked, “Are you still willing to continue serving me?”
This question—something was off about it!
Alarm bells rang in Rita’s mind as she desperately racked her clever little brain to find an answer.
As Rita struggled, Cecilia’s heartbeat thundered like a storm.
She felt a trace of fear toward Rita—someone who could see through curses and mysterious fighting techniques, whose body held countless mysteries.
Fear of the unknown was a human instinct.
A few days ago, Cecilia hadn’t called Rita over partly because she hadn’t yet recovered from the terror she’d felt in the bathhouse that day.
As for yesterday, it was unavoidable: between being disgraced and vulnerable to scoundrels breaking in, and facing her fear head-on, Cecilia would always choose the latter.
She was the kingdom’s Fourth Princess, and she absolutely could not show the slightest bit of fear in front of Rita.
If you want to tame a beast, you have to make it believe you’re stronger than it.
Cecilia waited quietly for Rita’s answer.
After a long pause, Rita finally gave up thinking and threw away her brain: “Of course I’m willing—I’ve always been yours.”
“Then, associating with people from the black market, going alone to brothels… do you admit to these?” Cecilia asked again, her heartbeat seeming heavier and clearer in her chest.
“Uh…” Rita opened her mouth, full of explanations, but felt like she was just making excuses, and weakly nodded: “I admit it.”
“The Code of the Holy Knight—you remember it, right?”
“I do…” Rita’s voice weakened.
“The Holy Knights are knights blessed by the gods, bound by a covenant. They must not marry, must not inherit noble titles, must not possess land, dedicating their entire lives to serving the royal family and the gods.”
Cecilia spoke the words Rita knew all too well, but her tone suddenly became much harsher.
“Can you be called honest when you lie to me repeatedly?”
“No…”
“Can you remember the knight’s honor when your body is numbed by desire?”
There’s a reason for this! I’m a succubus! If I don’t do this, I’ll die!
The storm roared inside Rita’s heart, but she dared not say a word.
“I don’t remember…”
“Since you’ve said you want to continue serving me, if others see what you’ve done, will it bring disgrace upon me?”
“Yes…”
“Although you have not yet become a Holy Knight, you are mine. Hiding things from me like this, without considering the consequences, does it not betray your loyalty?”
“Yes…”
Cecilia pressed her lips together and paused briefly.
“Then, as a future Holy Knight, as my subordinate, do you have any objections to accepting the punishment I bestow upon you?”
So she was just waiting for this moment!
No wonder Cecilia asked if she still wanted to serve her.
What could Rita say? What could she do?!
All she could do was pray that Cecilia wouldn’t dock her pay and answer pitifully.
“No objections, Lady Cecilia… please punish me…”
Thump.
Cecilia’s heart skipped a heavy beat.
What was this feeling?
Seeing Rita’s expression like this, a previously unknown feeling seemed to bloom inside Cecilia’s heart.
Unlike those servants and maids far beneath her rank who could only obey, unlike those who paid lip service while scheming to benefit themselves.
Rita, difficult to control, now lowering her head sincerely before her… somehow stirred an indescribable thrill.
“There are many ways to teach a lesson, but humiliation and pain seem more fitting.”
Cecilia steadied her chaotic breath, her tone returning to calm.
“Strip.”
Huh?
Rita couldn’t believe her ears.
Humiliation? Pain? And now she had to strip?!
“Y-you’re… not going to parade me around, are you?” Rita asked timidly.
“Of course not. I won’t share your shameful state with anyone.”
Shameful—what exactly was she going to do?!
Well, it wasn’t the first time she’d been humiliated! Strip then!
Rita steeled herself, emptied her mind, grabbed her waistband, and yanked down.
“Why are you taking off your pants?” Cecilia blushed, quickly grabbing the handkerchief on the table to pretend to wipe her mouth and hide the awkwardness on her face.
“Isn’t this what you meant…” Rita’s motion was only halfway done, pants down to the bend of her legs, frozen in a somewhat awkward but also somewhat sensual expression.
Of course not.
Discipline was not that vulgar.
Delivering pain to the sword-wielding hand, the foot firmly planted, and the face that symbolized dignity—that was the proper way to make someone remember today’s shame and cultivate self-discipline through pain.
The “stripping” Cecilia meant was only gloves and shoes and socks.
How could Rita not even know something so basic?
“Then, Lady Cecilia, should I… strip or not…” Rita bit her lip, her voice tiny. Her flushed cheeks and helpless expression made the strange desire inside Cecilia’s heart flicker again.
Cecilia cleared her throat and covered her heavy breathing with the handkerchief.
Normally, she should reprimand Rita and stop her.
But here, alone late at night, in this undisturbed room, after seeing the girl’s flushed face, now with an inexplicable surge of possessiveness…
An idea, far from proper but impossible to refuse, began to sprout deep within Cecilia’s heart.
“Lady Cecilia…” Rita still bent over, her trembling fingertips all in view.
Forget it. Let’s just go with it.
Cecilia put down the handkerchief.
“Take them off.”