Chapter 35 : Go Ahead, Strangle Me

“There’s nothing wrong, Master. Nothing at all.”

She should’ve known.

How could Stacy make such an obvious mistake?

The moment freedom was within reach, the temptation blinded her. She didn’t think. Didn’t question.

Now, caught and stripped, thrown onto the bed—she wasn’t surprised by what came next.

“Tell me, little Milly… you didn’t really think your act fooled me back in the castle, did you?”

Stacy sat beside her, not rushing. First, she’d break her mind.

“What do you mean?”

An “act” in the castle?

Milly replayed those days—hanging, horror meals, forced bed-warming, soul-burning sigils. What could she have possibly faked?

Then—she remembered.

The “free time” Stacy gave her.

At first, to “familiarize herself with the environment.”

The castle wasn’t that big. Two sessions were enough to memorize the first floor. After that, she used the time to scout escape routes.

But she never found one. And before she could explore the second floor, Stacy moved them to Starlight City.

Surely, scouting for exits was just part of “getting familiar”?

So how had Stacy known?

“You’ve wanted to run from the very beginning, haven’t you?”

Milly stayed silent.

Stacy didn’t push. This was only the start.

“For someone enduring what I’ve put you through… most would’ve broken by now. But you, little Milly… you’re stronger than I expected.”

Her hand slid up Milly’s bare foot—slow, teasing—until a muffled whimper stopped her.

“If you wanted to run so badly… why did you come crawling back to me so quickly? Less than half a day, and you were already exposed—forced to rely on me to save you.”

Amusement danced in Stacy’s eyes. She’d hoped Milly would last longer.

Let her run. Watch her struggle.

But Milly had blown her cover in minutes, forcing Stacy to intervene.

Though, of course… Stacy had helped.

That transformation incantation? Not part of any language system she’d implanted. A hidden trigger.

“It was just… a small mistake.”

“Oh?”

Stacy climbed onto the bed, slowly lowering herself atop Milly, savoring the softness beneath her.

She held back the urge to take her now.

“There won’t be a second chance. But even if there were… look at the mess you made today. By tonight, the whole city will know a demon walked among them. Do you really think the outside world will welcome you?”

Milly’s eyes dimmed.

Stacy was right.

No more escapes.

And now that her identity was exposed?

Every human would hunt her.

She wasn’t just fighting one tormentor.

She was fighting an entire city.

A weak, powerless girl like her—discovered outside?

What awaited her but death?

She let out a bitter laugh.

She’d told herself: Just escape. The outside world has to be better than this cage.

But now?

Inside: endless torture.
Outside: endless hunt.

Both were hell.

Cruel fate.

Last night, she’d waited, hoping for freedom.

Now, the outside wasn’t freedom.

It was a slaughterhouse.

But why… why did those wings appear? She’d never had them before!

Wait—

She remembered.

That night in the cage—when she passed out—the same tearing sensation in her spine.

She just hadn’t seen the wings then.

“The outside can’t accept you anymore,” Stacy said, voice softening. “And honestly… I don’t enjoy punishing you. So here are two choices: leave this world willingly… or prepare to be imprisoned forever.”

Again. The same demand. For the fourth time. Why was Stacy so obsessed? She’d already said she didn’t know!

The final thread snapped.

Milly exploded.

“Stacy! I told you—I don’t know! You think I like being tortured?! If I knew how to leave, I’d be gone—no one in their right mind would stay here!”

In an instant—Stacy’s hand clamped around her throat.

“Little Milly… watch your tone.”

“I’ll talk however I want! Go ahead—strangle me!”

“You really think I won’t?”

Stacy’s crimson eyes flashed. Her grip tightened.

Milly’s face flushed, veins bulging at her temples.

Struggles weakened. Eyes rolled back.

Just before unconsciousness—Stacy released.

Milly gasped—air flooding her lungs—

Then—again.

Fingers crushed her neck. Darkness crept in.

Released.

Gasping.

Crushed.

Again.

Again.

Until delicate bruises bloomed across her pale throat.

“Have you learned your lesson?”

“Stacy… you… skipped breakfast or something?”

A vein pulsed at her temple.

This girl’s mouth was harder than expected.

Even more defiant than predicted.

“In that case… you brought this on yourself.”

Tendrils shot from under her skirt—plunging into Milly’s skull.

Like with Lily, if Milly wouldn’t speak—she’d take the truth.

But seconds later—Stacy yanked them out, face twisted in fury.

“Damn it.”

A barrier in Milly’s mind blocked her.

Unless Milly chose to reveal it… the secret was untouchable.

Stacy looked up—as if speaking to empty air—her voice a venomous hiss.

“Meddlesome trick… you really think this stops me?”

She grabbed the ancient tome from the bedside, flipped through pages—then set it down, eyes clouded with rare conflict.

Unlike other records from the Church’s shadows… Milly was different.

But no matter.

“There’s a way to force the trigger,” she murmured. “One method works every time.”

A tendril coiled around Milly—hurled her back into the cage.

From outside, Stacy smiled—cruelly.

The girl was right. She couldn’t kill her. Couldn’t truly harm her. That protection mechanism would activate.

She’d made Milly’s life too easy. No real despair. No true desperation.

So Milly hadn’t found the key yet.

Fine.

If “unlucky little Milly” couldn’t find it on her own…

She’d help her.