Chapter 37: The Strange Palace and a Gentle Companion

As night descended.

Having spent the entire day traversing the palace, Bai Yu collapsed onto her bed, utterly exhausted.

“I gained absolutely nothing today.”

A wave of frustration washed over Bai Yu; she had hoped to unearth some clue about how to leave this place, her intuition stubbornly insisting there must be a way out.

Yet, the palace was utterly devoid of people, save for servants and maids; she hadn’t even spotted a single guard, let alone the Emperor himself.

What kind of place was this? It was unsettlingly bizarre.

What if the palace were to come under attack? How could it possibly function without any protectors?

Bai Yu furrowed her brow, a growing sense that this world felt incomplete, as if it hadn’t fully solidified.

Beyond these perplexing issues, one thing above all else left her utterly bewildered.

Every single person she had encountered since arriving here was a girl!

Indeed, every maid and servant she had seen throughout the day, without exception, was female; not even the faintest shadow of a man had appeared.

This situation felt inherently wrong. Could it be that men simply did not exist in this world?

However, Bai Yu harbored no aversion to this fact; in truth, she would have been displeased had she encountered any men.

Bai Yu felt a touch speechless. Ever since her transformation into a Witch, her attitude toward men had grown increasingly repugnant.

It wasn’t a matter of personality; rather, it was a physiological revulsion, an innate discomfort that she couldn’t shake.

Consequently, Bai Yu felt no dissatisfaction with her current environment.

“Master, the hot water is ready; you can come take a bath now~”

Lili peeked out from the bathroom, her pink-blue hair slightly damp, as if from the steam.

This, however, did nothing to diminish Lili’s adorable face; her earnest expression was something Bai Yu found endlessly captivating.

“I’ll be right there. I’ll just take off my clothes first.”

“Let Lili help Master.”

Lili quickly scurried over to Bai Yu, settling onto a stool and gently taking Bai Yu’s small foot, still clad in a leather shoe.

“Oh, no, no, I can do it myself.”

Bai Yu hastily waved her hands, feeling utterly mortified at the thought of someone helping her undress, as if she were a small child.

“It’s alright, Master. You’ve been walking all day; you must be terribly tired. I’ll even give Master a foot massage later, okay?”

Lili gazed at Bai Yu with tender eyes as she carefully removed Bai Yu’s small leather shoes.

“All… alright.”

Unable to refuse, Bai Yu could only let Lili have her way.

She had walked for a considerable time in the palace today, and her feet seemed to have perspired a little, which was precisely why she had been embarrassed to let Lili help remove her shoes.

Today, Bai Yu wore ordinary white ankle socks, revealing her fair ankles.

Unseen by Bai Yu, Lili secretly swallowed, then began to peel off Bai Yu’s socks.

The perfectly exquisite foot slid out of the small leather shoe, carrying a faint warmth that brushed against Lili’s face.

Clearly, Bai Yu’s walking had caused her to sweat slightly.

Witnessing this, Bai Yu grew even shyer, subtly retracting her foot and murmuring softly.

“Perhaps not, Lili? What if there’s a strange smell?”

Bai Yu’s face was flushed crimson; if there truly was an odor, she would surely burrow under the covers and never emerge.

Lili quickly shook her head.

“No, no, Master smells wonderful; there isn’t a strange scent at all.”

Lili swiftly removed Bai Yu’s white socks, revealing her delicate bare feet.

She then secretly leaned her face closer, her adorable lips almost pressing against Bai Yu’s skin.

“Lili, what are you doing?!”

Startled by Lili’s actions, Bai Yu nearly thrust her face into Lili’s mouth.

“Nothing, nothing, I just zoned out for a moment.”

Lili quickly snapped back to reality. She had, once again, been overwhelmed by desire. Her plan wasn’t meant to progress so rapidly; it wouldn’t do to make Bai Yu suspicious.

Lili decided to abandon her lingering attachment, quickly helping Bai Yu undress until only a bath towel remained wrapped around her.

“Let’s bathe together, Master. Lili can help you wash, you know.”

In short order, Lili also shed her clothes, preparing to usher Bai Yu into the bathroom.

“Eh? I can do it myself!”

Bai Yu hastily protested. She had initially intended to say that men and women shouldn’t touch, but realizing she was now a girl herself, the words caught in her throat.

Still, she couldn’t allow it. Even though she had transformed, she still liked girls! How could she possibly control herself bathing with such an adorable loli?

“Master, just relax. Lili will make sure to wash every single spot clean for Master.”

Lili deliberately emphasized the words “every single spot.”

“This…”

“Master, don’t put it off. We’ll be sleeping together later, too.”

And so, Bai Yu was half-coaxed, half-pushed into the bathroom.

She chastised herself inwardly.

‘Xingyao, it’s all this strange world’s fault! I didn’t want this!’

After soothing her conscience, Bai Yu followed Lili into the bathroom.

As expected of a royal private bath, the tub’s area was nearly the size of a small swimming pool, complete with flowing water.

In a place without an electrical system, how was this managed? Was it magic?

“Master, don’t run around! What if you fall?”

Lili quickly went to Bai Yu’s side, helping her settle into the bath.

“So comfortable~”

Bai Yu savored the warm spring water, feeling the day’s exhaustion melt away.

Leaning against the stone wall, Bai Yu closed her eyes, indulging in the moment.

“Master~”

Lili cooed softly, sidling closer to Bai Yu.

She practically pressed her entire body against Bai Yu’s. Though both were wrapped in bath towels, their completely flat chests meant their skin made extensive contact.

Bai Yu immediately opened her eyes, finding the adorable loli right before her, looking at her with expectant eyes.

Lili’s small hands began to wander naughtily over Bai Yu’s body, starting from her collarbone, caressing her back, and slowly slipping beneath the bath towel.

“Eek!”

Bai Yu’s body was particularly sensitive; she cried out instantly, her body trembling for a moment.

“Lili, what are you doing?”

Bai Yu turned her head away, not daring to look at Lili. She felt as though she had been soaking for a bit too long, her head feeling light.

In reality, however, those blue-pink ripples had reappeared in her eyes.

“That’s right, Master is mine. Just being with me is all that matters.”

Lili whispered softly, leaning close to Bai Yu’s ear, gently blowing warm air that made Bai Yu’s ear tingle.

“Mm~”

Bai Yu shivered slightly, as if she couldn’t control her own body.

“Master, was Lili good today?”

“Yes, Lili is very obedient.”

Bai Yu nodded, her eyes vacant and unfocused.

“Then, will Master descend upon Lili tonight?”

“Mm…”

Bai Yu continued to nod, showing no reaction to Lili’s movements on her body.

“Hehe.”

Lili chuckled, embracing Bai Yu’s body with a blissful expression.

“So, Master, just stay with me forever. Just stay here; everyone else isn’t important.”

“Mm, forever…”

Ultimately, amidst Lili’s murmurs, Bai Yu could no longer resist, collapsing into Lili’s arms and falling into a deep slumber.