Chapter 3: About Suddenly Becoming Lovers!

Phyllis sat up abruptly in bed, staring at Carola in shock. Her already large eyes widened even further.

'It's not like this in a Galgame! 

You're supposed to chat with me more! 

Then you raise my affection level, give me gifts once in a while, and have special interactions during holidays. 

Finally, after some mysterious event in my heart, you're supposed to confess, and then I agree to be with you! Then you show me my special CG... not just go straight to...'

"Lo... lovers?"

"Yes~ lovers..."

Carola sat down in front of Phyllis, reaching out her hand to caress the girl's face.

Phyllis tilted her head back as far as she could, trying to avoid Carola’s touch. Unfortunately, in such a cramped space, there was no way for her to escape the vampire's clutches.

"Since the 'shackles' of the contract didn't completely lock you down, we'll just have to switch to a firmer 'connection.' 

Isn't the bond of lovers much deeper than that of master and servant?"

Carola’s fingers slid gently from Phyllis's temple down to her chin, meeting no resistance.

"I... I don't even know your name. Becoming lovers all of a sudden like this is impossible!"

Phyllis was so overwhelmed by Carola’s logic that she didn't know how to argue back. But she understood one thing.

She couldn't easily agree to this.

No matter how she thought about it, this wasn't right.

"Then, allow me to introduce myself. I am Carola Bruch. And you?"

Carola’s crimson eyes stared intently at Phyllis's face.

'The Bruch Clan, one of the thirteen vampire clans, known for their prowess in close combat.'

"Ph... Phyllis."

Phyllis answered truthfully.

"Now that we've been introduced, that means..."

Carola leaned closer to Phyllis.

"We aren't a good match, meow~ Besides, we're both girls, and we aren't even the same race... You're a vampire, and I'm a Cat-kin..."

Phyllis tried to find more reasons to convince Carola.

"Shh~"

Carola’s index finger gently pressed against Phyllis's lips. Though the movement seemed tender, it carried a forceful, undeniable weight.

"Whether we are a match or not is for me to decide."

"B... but a forced melon isn't sweet, meow~" Phyllis tried to argue with her own theories. "And feelings need to be nurtured. It requires mutual consent..."

"Whether it's sweet or not, you can only know after tasting it~" Carola leaned in even closer. 

"Besides, how do you know you won't eventually be willing? We have a vast amount of time to 'nurture' things. One year, ten years, 100 years..."

Hearing this, Phyllis felt a chill crawl up from her tailbone.

This... this woman seemed to have a yandere personality?

It was over!

Being targeted by such a being, would she spend the rest of her life imprisoned in some small room, being ravished in all sorts of ways?

Phyllis shook her head slightly, tossing out the increasingly terrifying scenarios in her mind.

'Should I just agree to it? No! How can I just easily...'

"I... I need time to adapt, Lady Carola. All of this... it's too sudden."

Phyllis avoided Carola’s burning gaze, her voice small and soft.

There was no shame in bowing one's head when under someone else's roof.

For the sake of her own life, she would agree for now.

Besides, she had her golden finger!

As long as she found an opportunity, she might be able to escape this place.

"You can take your time to adapt, little kitten~ This castle will be your home from now on."

Carola licked her lips, clearly satisfied with Phyllis's answer.

"However, don't go planning any... naughty behavior~" Carola stood up. "Even though the contract is incomplete, I can still sense your general location. And..."

Carola raised her hand slightly. 

The shadows in the corner of the room writhed, and two palm-sized, pitch-black bats with blood-red eyes flew up soundlessly. 

They landed on the bedpost at the foot of the bed, cocking their heads to stare at Phyllis.

"... my little darlings will keep a good eye on you for me."

The back of Phyllis's neck felt cold.

Surveillance?

As expected, it wasn't that simple.

"I... I understand."

Phyllis lowered her head, assuming a submissive posture. Even her cat ears drooped down in cooperation.

"Very good. Are you hungry? I'll have someone prepare food for you. Cat-kin... they like fish dishes, right?"

Carola stood up and walked toward the room's large door.

"Get some rest. I'll come see you again tonight~"

The door closed silently after Carola left.

Phyllis sprang up from the bed. First, she looked around. The two little bats were still perched on the bedpost, their blood-red eyes never blinking.

Phyllis gave a tentative wave, but the little bats didn't react.

'It seems they are just for monitoring and won't interfere with my other actions.'

Phyllis breathed a small sigh of relief and sat on the edge of the bed to silently open the system interface.

    [Status Window]

    Name: Phyllis

    Race: Cat-kin

    Attributes: 
    Strength: 6
    Defense: 3
    Agility: 15
    Intelligence: 8
    Luck: 6
    Charisma: 20

    Status: Slight Blood Loss, Weakened
    Talents: Cat's Agility (Intermediate), Night Vision (Beginner), Keen Sense of     
    Smell (Intermediate)
    
    Skills: Claw Strike (Basic), Stealth (Novice)
    
    Special: Master-Servant Contract; Cat God’s Protection 
    (Immune to contract     control below God rank)

The attribute panel was pitifully simple, and her skills were only those inherent to the Cat-kin race. The only high-level thing Phyllis currently possessed was the permanent blessing, Cat God’s Protection.

She couldn't be blamed for this. After all, she had only activated the system a short while ago. Before she could even begin to develop, she had been captured by Carola.

'First, let's check the surroundings!'

Although Carola said all that nonsense about being "lovers," Phyllis knew very well that it was just another form of possession and control. She absolutely could not pin her hopes on the other party's "feelings."

Besides, how could a girl who had turned into a cat-girl fall in love with a yandere vampire princess?

'Even if I agreed just now, it's only a stalling tactic!'

Phyllis didn't bother putting on shoes; as a Cat-kin, her feet had thick, soft pads. Her sharp claws were usually retracted, and the surface of her pads naturally produced a renewable oil film that kept them clean.

She walked to the window and pulled back the heavy curtains. The window was made of thick stained glass. Phyllis pressed her face against a clearer section of the glass to carefully observe the outside.

The sun was slowly rising outside. In the distance was an endless forest. The castle she was in seemed to be situated on high ground, but she couldn't see any other buildings within her field of vision.

Phyllis tried to open the window but found it was locked tight. Only a small transom window at the top could be pushed open. Cold wind rushed into the room, carrying a damp scent.

Phyllis tried to stick her head through the small transom to look down.

'The height is at least 20 meters. Jumping straight down would mean death or at least being crippled. While it might not be a problem for a Cat-kin, there seems to be something moving down there...'

Phyllis narrowed her eyes, considering the possibility of escape.

The chances were low.

Even if she could use her flexibility to escape through the transom window for now, would she be able to escape Carola’s senses afterward? She was, after all, currently bound to Carola by a master-servant contract.

In that case, then...

*Creak*

Just as Phyllis was thinking, the door to the room suddenly opened again.

'Hmm? Carola's back?'