Other activities? For some reason, when Iliana said those words, Ilus felt a surge of panic for no apparent reason.
At the same time, an ominous premonition kept reminding her not to fall for the demon’s trap.
“Is that so? Oh my, Young Lady, why do I feel like you are afraid? Rest assured, I won’t let you get hurt.”
As she spoke, Iliana kicked off her shoes and stretched out her small feet, which were wrapped in white silk stockings. Then, she used her toes to gently lift Ilus’s chin.
“Young Lady, look at me. You always seem to be avoiding my gaze~”
‘This bastard is humiliating me again!’ Ilus only looked up and met Iliana’s eyes for 1 second before immediately averting her gaze, terrified that the other woman would see the fear in her eyes.
However, as Iliana gently hooked her toes upward, Ilus was forced to tilt her head back.
From this angle, she could see Iliana’s slender legs, the patch of fair skin between her thighs and the edge of her stockings beneath the hem of her skirt, and those eyes that stared down at her. Within them swirled dangerous and intense emotions, as if they might swallow her alive at any moment.
“That’s right, this is how it should be. I like your eyes very much, Young Lady, but your gaze isn’t on me. That truly distresses me.”
While Iliana spoke in a pained tone, the hand holding the collar was secretly applying pressure, causing the Special Collar to tighten accordingly.
Ilus only felt a wave of suffocation hit her. She instinctively reached out to grab the collar around her neck, but she still could not alleviate the agony of being unable to breathe.
Just as Ilus was starting to see stars, Iliana suddenly let go.
“Ha… Haa — “
The girl gasped for air, and fine beads of sweat broke out on her smooth forehead.
“Oh dear, Young Lady, I am so sorry. Are you all right?”
This bastard Iliana… she — she did it on purpose!
Ilus clenched her small fists, cursing Iliana several times in her heart. ‘Is she warning me, or does she already know about my plan…?’
While Ilus was inwardly speculating, another tug came from her neck. This sudden force caught the girl off guard, and she stumbled, nearly falling over.
“All right, Young Lady. It is already late at night. Are you interested in taking a stroll with me through the Duke’s Mansion?”
‘What does she mean?’ Two question marks seemed to pop up over Ilus’s head. ‘Going out for a walk in the middle of the night? What does she want to do? Is she going to kill someone?’
Seeing Ilus’s confused expression, Iliana laughed softly and rubbed her cheek.
“It is just a simple walk. Does the Young Lady want to go with me?”
‘Just a walk? If it is just a walk, I should try my best to satisfy this demon first.’
Thinking of this, the girl nodded. Little did she know that Iliana’s next words would make her feel as if she had fallen into an ice cellar.
“Of course, Young Lady, you must stay on all fours and walk just like a kitty~”
‘She — she is going to…!’
Setting aside whether they would run into the maids who sneaked out for a drink at night, the bell on her neck would ring with every step she took. Wouldn’t that be the same as telling everyone else exactly where she was?
Iliana actually wanted her to perform this kind of shameful Outdoor Play. How — how was this any different from Cat Walking?!
Even though everyone staying in the mansion were maids, if — if the maids saw her like this, how — how would they look at her?
Ilus’s pupils suddenly constricted. Her sense of shame instantly surpassed its threshold, scattering her fear. Her face flushed red with anger and humiliation.
“You — you’re dreaming! Iliana, don’t go too far!”
Ilus gritted her teeth, her voice trembling.
The corners of Iliana’s mouth curled into a playful smile as her fingertips gently stroked the leather edge of the collar.
“I’ve gone too far? Well then, I won’t help you get that cake. You clearly could have gotten it yourself, Young Lady, yet you made me go. You weren’t trying to prank me, were you?”
She leaned down, her breath nearly brushing against Ilus’s ear.
“You — you are accusing me falsely.”
Ilus’s tone weakened. Iliana had to go get that cake tomorrow; there could be absolutely no mistakes regarding that point.
Even though she understood this in her heart, Ilus still hoped it wouldn’t come to this.
This time, before she could speak, she felt a subtle but unignorable stinging pain from the inside of the collar, as if countless tiny needles were lightly pressing against her skin. ‘Damn it, this collar…’
“You see,” Iliana’s voice was gentle to the point of being cruel. “If you are obedient, we have many ways to reach an agreement. Otherwise, I could make you crawl out of this room voluntarily — or perhaps, I could let you experience a more special taste while you crawl. Which do you prefer?”
Ilus’s body trembled slightly. Humiliation and fear wove into a net, binding her tightly.
She closed her eyes, trying to muster her last bit of will to resist, only to find to her sorrow that she seemed to have lost even the strength to scream.
The Duke’s Mansion seemed quiet at night, but in reality, there might be people in the shadows. If she was seen… or heard…
“I… I can’t walk.” She tried to make one last struggle, her voice as thin as a mosquito’s hum. “I’m wearing a dress; it’s not convenient…”
“Ah, that is indeed a problem.”
Iliana nodded as if realizing something, though there wasn’t the slightest bit of trouble in her eyes. She snapped her fingers crisply.
A few minutes later, the elaborate nightgown on Ilus’s body vanished. In its place was an extremely thin, almost transparent lace chemise, so short it could barely cover the base of her thighs.
The cool air pressed against her skin without any obstruction, triggering a shiver.
“This will do.”
The demon admired her masterpiece with satisfaction, her finger hooking the Silver Chain connected to the collar.
“Come now, Young Lady. The night is beautiful, perfect for taking my cute little kitty… for a walk.”
Those last words were like an ice pick, piercing through Ilus’s final psychological defense. She knew she had no way out.
The Silver Chain transmitted an irresistible pull. Ilus humiliatingly and slowly bent her waist, her trembling hands supporting her on the cold floor.
Her vision lowered as her knees made contact with the cold, hard ground.
She lowered her head, not daring to look at Iliana again, and certainly not daring to imagine the gazes that might exist outside the door.
“Look up, Young Lady.”
Iliana’s voice carried an unquestionable command.
“When a little kitty walks, its eyes are usually staring straight ahead~”
Ilus struggled to raise her neck, meeting those smiling, bottomless pale gold eyes. The Bell on the collar let out a crisp *ding-ling* with her movement, sounding exceptionally clear and piercing in the silent room.
“Very good.”
Iliana pulled open the bedroom door. The dim light from the hallway wall lamps flowed in, stretching their shadows.
“Remember, Young Lady, stay close to me. Don’t let the bell stop~”
After she finished speaking, she gave a meaningful smile and took the lead, stepping outside.
Ilus took a deep breath. With a sense of death-like despair, she moved forward on her hands and knees.
The first step, *ding-ling*. The second step, another *ding-ling*. The crisp sounds echoed rhythmically in the empty corridor. Every step felt as if she were stepping on her own dignity…