“Sorry, dear. The Holy Maiden is still not feeling well right now, so she can’t come out to see you.”
Idledra gently patted Little Mary’s head and looked at her with a bit of regret, but she still very gently took the slightly wilted flowers from the child’s hands and softly closed the door.
But before the door closed, Mary curiously and somewhat shyly tugged at her.
The black-haired big sister in front of her looked somewhat familiar, yet she didn’t recognize her.
She felt like she had seen her before, yet she also felt unfamiliar…
“Big sister, please make sure to take good care of the Holy Maiden, okay?”
Although she was still a little worried, and she didn’t even know the name of this black-haired big sister, she somehow gave her a very reassuring feeling.
But because of the protection knowledge adults had taught her—
“Big sister… may I ask your name?”
No matter who it is, even if they look familiar, kind, or very beautiful, she must know the other person’s name.
Otherwise, they could be a very dangerous adult.
Idledra froze for a moment.
Originally she wanted to casually use Hailey’s name to brush it off, but after only a brief pause, she mischievously smiled and pinched Little Mary’s cheek, pretending to look like she was about to eat someone.
“What a cunning little kid. Go home quickly. Big sister’s name isn’t very pleasant to hear. Hmm… my name is Lilia. Lilia Selene.”
“T-Then, goodbye Lilia big sister… I will come back to visit the Holy Maiden!”
After sending away the somewhat reluctant Little Mary, Idledra held the bouquet in her hand and returned to the living room.
Looking at the weak and useless flowers in her hand, Idledra somewhat disdainfully placed them back into the vase.
There was no helping it. Since it was something given to Hailey, even if it looked unpleasant she still had to protect it well.
Anyway, it wouldn’t affect what she and Hailey were doing. A little girl couldn’t possibly create a flower spirit, right?
“Hailey, I’m back. Another believer came to see you today, but Little Mary is still too young. It would easily affect your rest.”
As she walked, she thought about her newly created “new name.”
Lilia… it actually sounded quite suitable for someone mysterious like her.
The only mistake was that she shouldn’t have said Selene as well.
As for why she no longer planned to continue using Hailey’s name to disguise herself, she thought about it while leisurely walking into the bedroom.
On the balcony, Hailey, wearing home clothes, was absent-mindedly kicking her legs.
“Because my Hailey must be a unique existence. Whether it’s people or names, everything related to Hailey must be unique.”
Idledra quietly appeared behind Hailey.
As if speaking to herself while explaining, she gently hugged her from behind and greedily enjoyed the fragrance of the girl’s hair mixed with the freshness of morning dew.
Hailey trembled in fright when she was suddenly hugged like that.
Only after sensing who it was did she angrily sit back down, staring at her with resentful eyes.
Wasn’t all of this because of her!
“You… wasn’t it you who said I had to stay with you these days? I was soft-hearted and fell for your trick…”
Last night she had pleaded sweetly beneath her. Her cute appearance had clouded Hailey’s judgment, and she had actually agreed to such an outrageous request.
Thinking about it now, she wished she could slap herself twice.
Because she promised that during this period she would stay with her all the time, she originally thought it was just a little girl afraid of loneliness asking for attention.
She thought it would be enough to accompany her more often… but this wasn’t companionship anymore. This was imprisonment!
So it wasn’t an exaggeration that other people weren’t allowed to see her…
Now she could only lazily lie on the balcony and photosynthesize like a useless green plant, doing nothing but staring blankly.
“But Hailey still agreed to it, didn’t she? So Hailey shouldn’t feel so wronged. Having me accompany you is enough.”
Idledra lightly rubbed her face against Hailey, who looked disgusted, and she didn’t get angry at all.
After all, if Hailey really wanted to leave, she wouldn’t stay here fooling around with her.
Hailey was the best…
Of course, even if Hailey really wanted to leave, she probably wouldn’t be able to.
After all, Hailey already belonged to her.
How could Idledra allow her things to slip away from her side?
“And besides, Hailey, I asked for your opinion again and again. This can’t be called imprisonment. This is something you agreed to voluntarily…”
Idledra’s bewitching voice whispered softly beside Hailey’s ear.
Hailey tried to push her away in resistance, but instead her hand was caught.
Idledra affectionately pressed her face against Hailey’s palm.
When Hailey’s cheeks began to heat up from being teased by her and she tried to leave the balcony, Idledra gently pulled her back with one hand.
Looking at Hailey leaning in her arms with a humiliated expression, Idledra couldn’t help teasing her.
There was no way around it. This kind of Hailey was simply too cute. It made people unable to resist teasing her.
“Let go of me. I don’t want to stay here anymore. I… I want to go rest!”
“But aren’t we already on the bedroom balcony? If Hailey wants to rest, you can just rest in my arms.”
Hailey still wanted to struggle, but when she saw Idledra’s determined gaze, although she was still smiling, she faintly emitted a sense of oppression that made Hailey feel a chill down her back.
That gaze was the gaze of someone looking at prey.
It was very similar to the greedy and obsessed look she had when she pinned Hailey beneath her at night… yet there was also a faint calmness and threat within it.
It was like when a cat catches a mouse, pressing one paw on its tail while letting it struggle, while also telling it—no matter what, this little mouse cannot escape and will always remain in its grasp.
Although comparing herself to a mouse felt a bit strange, the situation was exactly the same as what Hailey felt.
Although she now had a little courage, she still obediently leaned in Idledra’s arms.
She couldn’t win in a fight, and she couldn’t escape. She might as well accept fate.
“Anyway, she couldn’t possibly eat me… right?”
She wouldn’t actually eat me, would she?!
“Alright, I knew Hailey was the best. For lunch, I want juice and bread.”
After saying that, Idledra gently hugged Hailey again and then softly let her go.
After all, Hailey couldn’t escape anyway.
Inside this villa was a world that belonged only to her and Hailey.
As long as Hailey didn’t leave her side, she could do whatever she wanted.
“Wait, she just let me go like that?”
“Isn’t she worried I might sneak away while she isn’t paying attention?”
Hailey froze for a moment, then quietly looked at Idledra beside her, who was absent-mindedly staring into space as if nothing had happened, still faintly smiling.
Great, she doesn’t seem to be paying attention to me.
Maybe I can take this chance to sneak downstairs…
“Hailey, you must not think of any bad ideas about running away. You promised to accompany this poor little girl whose heart was hurt.”
“Tch, I knew she was still watching… “
She even learned how to act spoiled and play pitiful.
“How am I supposed to refuse that?”
With no other choice, Hailey could only grumble unwillingly while walking toward the kitchen.
“I don’t know who ever heard of a kidnapper making the hostage cook…”