24

The light that had been so bright it made me squint was gradually beginning to dim.

The sensation of floating in midair was slowly returning to normal.

When I opened my eyes, it felt like I had suddenly been thrust out of nowhere, floating in a place I had never seen before.

As soon as my feet touched the ground, I collapsed as if I were falling face-first.

"Ugh…"

I braced myself with one hand on the ground, covering my mouth with the other as I dry-heaved.

"Is this your first time teleporting?"

Athena sat beside me, gently patting my back until I felt better.

"Huu…"

"Are you feeling better now?"

As my senses slowly returned, I grabbed Athena's collar with a shaky hand.

"Athena…!!"

My beloved family.

Lily and Dania.

Athena hadn't even given me enough time to properly say goodbye to them.

Filled with resentment, I lifted her collar, and with almost no effort at all, her body rose into the air along with it.

But she didn't seem to care in the slightest. She spoke in a low, calm voice.

"…Hera… what are you doing?"

"Shut up! They were like family to me! You didn't have to take me away so suddenly!!"

For the past six months, we had spent every single day together.

Now that this bond was suddenly severed, an overwhelming sense of emptiness engulfed me.

"Hera, I know you're angry, but…"

As her golden eyes shone brilliantly, the air around us began to stir violently.

"But I can't allow this behavior."

With a flick of her finger pointing downward.

Thud—a force began to press me down onto the ground.

Crack—

I resisted kneeling, standing my ground, and the earth beneath me began to crack.

"Urgh…"

Athena looked at me for a moment, then sighed and extended a hand toward me.

"Sigh… I don't want to hurt you, Hera."

Her hand began to glow, and soon a magical chain formed around me, binding my body tightly.

When I didn't put up any further resistance, the chains eventually forced me to my knees and bound my hands.

I simply stared blankly at the ground, not wanting to do anything, consumed by a deep sense of helplessness.

Athena kneeled on the ground gently to match my eye level.

And as if trying to comfort me, she softly stroked my hair.

"I'll let this go for now, but next time, there will be consequences."

"My… family… huff… Lily… Dania…"

Ah, I shouldn't cry again.

Despite my resolve, tears started streaming down my face uncontrollably.

'How long has it been since we parted…'

I already miss them so much.

***

As I brushed away the fog of sadness, my surroundings began to come into focus.

In front of me stood a massive building, unlike anything I had ever seen.

It was so large that one might mistake it for a castle at first glance.

"…Is this… a mansion?"

I stood there, stunned by the grandeur of the structure before me.

"Do you like it?"

Athena spoke cheerfully beside me, seemingly oblivious to my feelings, and I glared at her.

I hated her. I hated her so much.

But no matter how much I hated her, nothing would change, so I pressed these dark emotions deep into my heart and hid them away.

"…It's too big."

When I didn't respond further, Athena chuckled and took my hand, leading me inside.

Creak— The massive front door of the mansion opened.

"Have you arrived, my lord?"

A tall knight, clad in armor reminiscent of the medieval era, came out to greet Athena with a formal bow.

"And Bordin?"

"Awaiting in the mansion."

"Go and tell him to come find me."

"Yes, my lord."

At her command, the knight glanced at me briefly before stepping back.

Athena watched him impassively for a moment before turning to me with a smile.

"Hera, aren't you hungry? Do you want to eat first?"

"Not… really…"

"Hmm… is that so? Well, let's go inside first."

As I followed Athena through the main gate, a meticulously maintained garden came into view.

Numerous decorations adorned the exterior beautifully, and the fountains placed here and there added a refreshing ambiance to the surroundings.

However, upon entering the mansion, I realized that the exterior was nothing compared to what was inside.

A vast space, too expansive to take in all at once.

Countless rooms stretched out in a long line, and a staircase that seemed to shimmer appeared to lead straight to heaven.

The luxurious interior was so lavish that it would not be surprising if royalty resided there.

As I stood in awe, lost in the incredible sight, I heard a voice.

"Athena, have you returned?"

A middle-aged woman, who seemed to carry an air of dignity despite her age, approached and bowed her head.

"Roselin."

"Oh my, who is this lovely young lady?"

The woman named Roselin smiled at me as she bowed her head.

Unaccustomed to such polite manners, I awkwardly mimicked her and bowed deeply.

"Ah… hello…"

"What a beautiful voice you have as well."

As she laughed softly, gazing at me, Athena placed a hand on my shoulder and introduced her.

"Hera, this is Roselin, the head maid of this mansion. If you have any questions about this place, feel free to ask her. And Roselin, this child will be assisting me from now on."

At Athena's words, Roselin covered her mouth with her hand, looking utterly surprised.

"Oh… my goodness… Lady Athena has finally chosen a personal maid!"

As Roselin's eyes widened in astonishment, I felt a sudden wave of embarrassment.

"I-I'm not a maid…"

"Fufu, but being a maid isn't so bad."

Roselin, her eyes sparkling with excitement, rushed over and grasped my hands firmly.

Her eyes were filled with an intense passion that made me feel quite uncomfortable.

"Eek…"

"So… when can I start training her?! Such a beautiful face. A lovely figure. A noble aura!! Ah, if it were her, she would undoubtedly make an excellent maid—"

"Roselin. She is not a maid."

At Athena's words, the blazing enthusiasm in Roselin's eyes was instantly extinguished.

She seemed somewhat embarrassed and cleared her throat a few times before speaking again.

"I apologize. Then, what role will she be taking on?"

"She's a slave."

"What?"

"My slave, who will stay by my side from now on."

"A sl… slave?"

Roselin looked at me with an expression of disbelief.

I lowered my head to avoid her gaze, my face flushing red with embarrassment.

"Even if she's a slave, she belongs to me. Make sure the other servants don't treat her poorly."

Roselin's face was filled with confusion.

After trying for a long while to understand Athena's intentions, she finally gave up and decided to simply follow her words.

"…I will let everyone know that she is someone you cherish."

"And take her to get cleaned up and dressed in something comfortable."

"What?"

"Understood. Let's go, miss."

Roselin grabbed my hand and started to lead me somewhere.

"Huh? W-what…?"

"Oh, you don't need to be embarrassed."

I began to be dragged away by her like a sack of potatoes.

"Wait… wait a moment!!"

'There's no way she really means to wash me herself, right…?'

***

"I heard you called for me, my lord."

As Athena entered her office, a middle-aged man named Bordin, who had been waiting for her, bowed in respect.

Without even glancing at him, Athena headed straight to her desk.

"It seems you are quite pleased with the gem you found this time."

Ignoring his words, Athena immediately gave him an order.

"In the western part of Drax, there's a girl named Lily and a woman named Dania. Bring them to the Empire."

It was a rather vague piece of information.

However, having served her for many years, Bordin knew exactly what she wanted without needing further explanation.

"Shall I arrange a place for them near Einhart?"

"No. Somewhere a bit farther from Einhart."

Athena did not want Hera to run into them by any chance.

"And inform the guilds in that area that they are under my protection."

"Yes. Is there anything else you wish to command?"

Without a word, Athena waved him off, and Bordin bowed and quietly withdrew.

As soon as he was gone, Athena frowned and propped her feet up on the desk.

Immediately, a golden mana fiercely radiated around her.

She was in a very bad mood.

Even though she had obtained the jewel she had desired so much, she didn't feel complete satisfaction.

It must be because of them.

A little girl named Lily, who looks cute on the outside but is as sly and sinister as an old serpent on the inside. And Dania, a woman who evokes a vague sense of resentment when you look at her.

Hera considered them to be her most precious family, always thinking only of the two.

No matter how submissive they seemed to her, whenever they were involved, Hera always prioritized them.

She didn't like that.

"Family… family, huh…"

Athena thought about those who were once her family.

She didn't want to recall those disgusting things ever again, but she thought that perhaps she might find a clue to what Hera so desperately desired from her relationship with them, so she slowly reflected on her past.

But.

"Tch. It only made me feel worse."

As expected, there seemed to be nothing Hera wanted in there.

It's fine.

Time was on her side, after all.

Not some false relationship like family, friends, or comrades.

A clear contract of master and servant.

Hera would not be able to escape from her.

And she, too, would never let Hera go.

What a perfect relationship this was.

It didn't matter if Hera thought of them before her for now.

All she had to do was slowly inscribe her mark on Hera, teaching her, bit by bit.

Eventually, Hera would wag her tail for her alone.

As Athena imagined Hera, her face flushed red, smiling at her, a sense of dangerous desire seemed to sprout somewhere within her.

"Heh… I'm looking forward to what's to come."

Like raindrops slowly seeping into a rock.

Slowly. Very slowly. She would fill Hera's heart entirely with herself.

***

"Huh?! No, I can wash myself!!!"

"Miss! Please leave these things to us!"

"N-no..! It's just that I'm uncomfortable with this..!"

"Hehe… you're quite shy, aren't you? You're so cute, Miss."

"I… I can wash myself… really!!"