I opened my eyes to find an unfamiliar ceiling…

No, that wasn’t quite right.

It was a canopy—pink, laced with the delicate charm of a young girl.

Well, not exactly unfamiliar.

I saw it nearly every day.

And every now and then, I’d pick a sunny day to take it down, wash it, and hang it out to dry.

You could say we were old friends.

But… seeing it from this angle, lying directly beneath it, that was something new.

Quite novel, really.

I mean—this was my lady’s bed, after all.

How could a mere maid like me possibly have reason to lie on it regularly?

…Which brings up the real question:

Why am I lying on my lady’s bed?

I started combing through my memory for answers.

If I recalled correctly, the young mistress had called me to her room and asked me to make her a cup of tea…

“This is a rare black tea my dear brother just acquired.

Aileen, have a sip, won’t you?

You love black tea, don’t you?”

That’s what she said to me.

Ordinarily, as her maid, I shouldn’t have accepted tea from her hand.

But between her persistent coaxing and the rich aroma of the tea, my resistance crumbled.

I gave in and took a small sip.

The deep, mellow flavor spread across my tongue, captivating me instantly.

As expected from Lord Claude’s personal collection!

But before I could savor it further, the world spun around me.

I blacked out almost immediately.

Which brings us back to now.

…Could I have collapsed from exhaustion?

Sure, I had been busy lately, but not that much… right?

Out of habit, I reached for my ponytail—a little gesture I always made while thinking.

But—

Clank!

A sharp pain in my wrist stopped me.

I couldn’t move my hands freely.

Alarmed, I looked up.

That’s when I noticed the iron shackles binding my wrists to the headboard.

Clank!

Not just my hands.

My legs were spread and shackled as well—completely restrained.

“What… what is this…?”

Still groggy from sleep, I couldn’t fully process the situation.

Just then, a figure slowly emerged behind the canopy.

“You’re awake.”

The curtains parted to reveal a blonde-haired, blue-eyed beauty.

Golden locks inherited from the duchess, flawless porcelain skin—she looked like she was glowing.

Her elegant nightgown couldn’t hide her slender figure, instead adding a dangerous allure.

Her slightly upturned eyes gave off a fierce impression, but once you got used to them… they were actually kind of cute.

She was none other than my mistress—

The Duke’s daughter, Katarina Anisette.

I couldn’t help but shoot her a confused, questioning look.

She met my gaze with eyes soft as flowing water.

“I’m sorry, Aileen…

But this was the only way to keep you here.”

As she spoke, she climbed onto the bed.

“There are just too many pests buzzing around you…

If I’m not careful, someone might steal you away.”

The bed creaked slightly under her added weight, and for some reason, a chill ran down my spine.

I instinctively tried to flee, but with my limbs bound, there was nowhere to run.

“Aileen is mine.

No one else is allowed to touch you.

No one can lay a finger on you—

No, they can’t even look at you!”

Katarina slowly leaned closer.

The rich scent of black tea wafted into my nose.

“But… for your sake, I endured it all…”

At last, she straddled me.

She leaned down, and her golden hair brushed against my face—it tickled slightly.

At this distance, I could clearly see my own reflection in her vibrant emerald eyes.

“For that alone, don’t you think I deserve a little praise, Aileen?”

Her soft fingers slid across my cheek, then picked up a strand of my hair.

To my surprise, she brought it to her nose and inhaled deeply.

“My favorite scent…

That faint milky sweetness of yours…”

“That’s… that’s just the scent of soap, Milady,” I muttered, dryly.

“Aileen, you really have no awareness of your own charm, do you?

Even though you already have me, you still go flirting around with others.”

“Flirting!? I’ve never—”

“Then why were you trying to leave me?”

As she said this, she pointed toward the edge of the bed.

I followed her gesture—

and gasped.

A storage chest, flipped open and ransacked.

“That’s my suitcase! How do you even have it!?”

“I took it from your room while you were asleep.”

“You… snuck into my room!?”

“You belong to me.

Why shouldn’t I go into my own room?”

She puffed her cheeks in defiance, speaking as if it were the most natural thing in the world.

“…”

I knew arguing would get me nowhere.

So I fell silent.

“Don’t you remember?

We promised…

In sickness and in health, in happiness or hardship—

We’d always, always be together.”

Ah…

So long ago…

She still remembers that?

Her expression darkened.

The brilliance in her jade eyes faded into shadow.

“Then why?

Why did you try to leave!?

Were all those memories we made…

The laughter we shared…

Was it all a lie!?”

She shouted hysterically.

I could only avert my gaze, unable to look her in the eyes, hoping to ease my guilt.

“Was it some stray cat who lured you away…?”

She pressed a hand to my chest, her face twisted in anguish.

“Your heart…

Aileen’s heart should belong to me!”

I was about to reply, but her increasingly cold expression froze the words in my throat.

“I won’t allow it…

I won’t allow it!

Aileen belongs to me—every part of you!

I won’t give you up to anyone!”

She gently stroked the cold shackles on my wrists, a sickly sweet smile forming on her lips.

“So… all I have to do is keep you bound.

If I tie you here, you’ll never disappear from my sight again.”

“…Milady, I think you forgot to put the sparkles in your eyes today,” I quipped flatly.

She ignored my sarcasm.

Instead, she continued speaking in that same terrifyingly tender voice.

“At first…

I thought of cutting off your hands and feet.

That way I could keep you all to myself forever, caring for you day and night…”

“But without your hands, you couldn’t stroke my head…

You couldn’t cook my favorite dishes…

You couldn’t let me rest on your lap…

That would be too sad.

So this is better, right?

Don’t you agree, Aileen?”

As she spoke, she gave me the most radiant smile.

No, neither option is okay!?

I wanted to retort, but swallowed the words.

Carefully choosing my next line, I finally said:

“Milady…

Unlawfully detaining someone is a crime.

Lord Claude would never tolerate such behavior.”

The moment I said his name, her expression turned stormy again.

“Why are you bringing up my brother?

Don’t tell me…

He’s the one who stole you from me?”

Her voice quivered.

“I knew it!

That night, I saw you sneaking into his room…”

…Great.

Another landmine stepped on.

“Even if it’s my brother…

He can’t take you from me!”

“I was just going to resign!

And how do you even know about that!?”

The moment the words left my mouth, I knew I messed up.

“So it’s true…

You were going to abandon me.”

Her expression turned horrifyingly dark.

The entire room seemed to freeze over, the temperature plummeting.

“Aileen belongs to me…

You’re not allowed to leave me…”

Her hand pressed against my chest again.

In her other hand, she held a strange-looking object.

“Mmfh!”

“I need to remind you…

Who your true master is.”

“Wh-What are you planning!?”

“Hehe…

You’ll find out soon enough.”

I couldn’t even tell what kind of expression she was making anymore.

“Don’t worry.

It won’t hurt… much.”

“No—wait—stop—no!”