Chapter 25 : You Refused It Yourself, You Know

“Starlight City?”

A sharp tug on the chain around her neck yanked Milly forward—out of the cage, like a dog on a leash.

“See, little Milly? Any desire to go out for a walk?”

Milly stumbled, knees slamming hard onto the wooden floor—forced into a half-kneeling position before Stacy.

As she looked up, the woman on the windowside sofa suddenly lifted her foot.

The tip of her black-stockinged foot pressed against Milly’s chin.

The arch of her sole formed a tempting curve—seductive, almost elegant.

To anyone else, it might’ve looked like a reward.

But this was Stacy—the pervert.

To Milly, this was just foreplay to another punishment.

She stayed silent.

Why was Stacy suddenly offering to take her out?

Too suspicious.

She’d rather believe the outside world was an illusion, a trap laid just for her.

Answer “yes,” and Stacy would immediately twist it:
“Oh? Milly wants to go out? Thinking of escaping, are we?”

Wait—why did that thought come up?

Had she really shown her desire to escape that clearly?

She’d only memorized the castle layout and scouted possible routes.

But then—she remembered the eyeball vines.

Hidden everywhere.

Watching.

Recording.

Her stomach dropped.

Stacy’s smirk confirmed it.

She knows.

But when? How much had she seen?

Milly’s mind raced.

No—she hadn’t done anything obvious.

Right?

Stacy’s black-silken foot slid from Milly’s throat to her collarbone, tracing slow circles over the still-pink, healing skin.

“The morning market in Starlight City is quite lively, you know. No interest in seeing it?”

Milly’s forced upward gaze fell on the bustling street—so real.

For a moment, it reminded her of the world she’d come from—just missing the roar of car horns.

The chain snapped taut.

Stacy’s heel pressed against Milly’s slightly parted lips.

“If you want to go… I’ll take you out later.”

Her crimson eyes shimmered with danger.

Milly hadn’t answered.

If she didn’t speak soon, Stacy would make her.

“N-No… I’d rather stay here.”

Stacy lowered her foot.

The pressure on Milly’s neck eased.

“I see… I was really looking forward to taking little Milly out.”

Was that… regret in her voice?

Milly blinked.

Wait—was Stacy actually serious?

Had her paranoia been wrong this time?

But that smirk—that glint in her eye—sent chills down Milly’s spine.

She couldn’t risk it.

If only she could read minds—know what that pervert was really thinking.

Stacy closed the curtains.

Since Milly preferred to stay… her wish would be granted.

From her sleeve, she pulled out a scroll covered in characters—prepared while Milly was unconscious.

“Since little Milly doesn’t want to go out with her Master… you’ll recite this perfectly before I return.”

Milly took the scroll.

Most of the words were familiar.

But several were new—unknown.

“Do I have to get every one right, Master?”

Without realizing it, the shame she once felt at calling Stacy “Master” had faded.

She said it naturally now.

At this rate… what would she become?

“Yes. Every single one. No mistakes.”

But the scroll had many new words.

To get them all right, she’d have to activate the magic in the remaining sigils—force the knowledge into her mind.

After yesterday’s torment, her body couldn’t take much more.

She glanced around the room.

No eyeball vines in sight.

But that didn’t mean she wasn’t being watched.

This was basically asking her to torture herself—on camera.

Like self-pleasure under surveillance.

The only difference?

Stacy hadn’t carved sigils there—below the waist.

Not yet.

But the existing sigils…

Some were in very sensitive places.

Touching them could send her spiraling into pleasure, not pain.

“B-But Master… some of these words are way beyond me.”

“But you were the one who refused to go out with your Master.”

Milly instantly regretted overthinking it.

If she’d just said yes, none of this would’ve happened.

But then—she remembered the collar.

She’d be led through the city like a pet.

A dog.

Compared to that kind of public humiliation…

Maybe this wasn’t so bad.

“I… understand.”

She obediently returned to the cage, scroll in hand.

If it got too much, she’d just bite her lip—anything to keep from making those sounds.

As long as Stacy didn’t see her like that.

Milly’s compliance surprised Stacy.

She’d expected more resistance.

She’d even planned what to do if Milly argued.

But Milly gave in so fast.

What a shame.

No excuse to escalate.

She locked the cage.

Before leaving, she placed a recording crystal in the corner—a silent watcher.

It would capture everything Milly did in her absence.

Then, stepping out, Stacy’s form shifted.

Her silver hair darkened. Her divine aura vanished.

In moments, she was a plain-looking girl in a maid’s uniform—Eileen, the servant who normally maintained the house.

The mansion was one of her old safehouses.

Since arriving last night with Milly via teleportation array, the real Eileen had been dismissed.

Now, Stacy wore her face.

How long had it been since she’d walked these streets?

She couldn’t remember.

And Starlight City?

Exactly the same.

“Morning, Eileen! Off to church again today?”

A street vendor greeted her warmly.

Stacy—now Eileen—smiled politely.

“Yes. My mistress isn’t feeling well, so I’m praying for her recovery.”

More greetings followed as she walked.

She played the role perfectly.

Following memory, she arrived at her destination:
The Holy Radiance Cathedral.

Truthfully, the “invitation” to go out was a lie.

No matter what Milly said—go or stay—she’d be left behind to suffer.

The question was just teasing.

As for what Milly would do today…

She’d find out when she returned.

For now—

Time to visit her old friends in the Church.