"Sigh, not that dream again. She just won't get out of my freaking head…"
Lily murmurs to herself as she does her morning routine. After putting on her maid uniform and finishing the final touches, she checks herself in the mirror one last time before leaving her room.
"Here I go, just another day closer until…"
She pats her face and takes a deep breath, hoping to "wake" herself. Although she manages to keep her composure, the one that is expected of a maid, the girl in the mirror stares back lifelessly.
"I can do this. I made it this far after all. No matter what happens or what he does to me, I've endured worse from her–the woman I hate the most."
Knock Knock
"Excuse me, Miss Lily, are you perhaps finished with your preparations? Lord Olan refuses to wait much longer."
"My deepest apologies, I am now ready. I shall head out at once."
In an elegant fashion stereotypical of maids, Lily and Yami walk through the halls of the noble palace, bowing their heads as they pass by other maids. The only interruption to the complete silence is the small talk the two engage in in short bursts, though even the silent halls overpowered their voices. As they arrive at Olan's door, they naturally come to a halt, ensuring to show their master nothing less than the professional behavior expected of them.
"I sincerely apologize for my intrusion, Lord Olan. I have brought Lily to you as requested."
"Oh ho? By all means, come in, come in!"
In the rear of the office-like room, Olan sits in his large chair–the chair is made of rich leather and embedded with jade. Turning his attention away from his daughter whom he was speaking to, he gazes at his awaited visitors. In particular, his eyes stay glued to Lily's body, not hiding his pleasure with her developments. Aware of this fact, his daughter grits her teeth.
"My my, you look as beautiful as ever, lass!"
"I am grateful for your praise of me, but I am not fit for such accolades, Master Olan."
Lily slightly lifts up her skirt and bows, keeping her "maid face" to ensure she continues to betray her true heart.
"Nonsense girl, I wouldn't waste my breath! I wish to speak with you and only you."
Olan glares at Yami, ensuring that she does not misunderstand his message. Yami, clearly understanding her master's desires, bows her head.
"Understood, Lord Olan. I will be on standby if you ever need my service."
As Yami exits the room, she and Lily take one last look at each other, sending their final message to each other. To the uninitiated, it happened so quickly and discreetly that it looked no different than normal blinking.
"Endori, did I stutter? That includes you too."
"But father, what about our–"
"That can wait, Endori. Leave us alone at once! My next reminder won't be so nice, understand?"
"...yes, father."
Being unable to contend with her father's bellowing voice, Endori closes her eyes and obeys the command given to her.
"Now as for you…"
Olan pulls backward from his desk and spins his chair, revealing his previously concealed barren legs. Without saying another word, he gently pats his legs, letting his hands communicate on his behalf.
"Yes master."
Understanding the hands' familiar language, Lily gently bows her head and brings herself close to Olan. As to avoid smothering Olan's abdomen with her tail, she sits across his lap at an angle.
I can bear it. It's just another day.
"Good girl, good girl."
Olan caresses Lily's soft mint green fur with his burly fingers. His other free hand strokes her ears, feeling delight from their comforting warmth. Throughout this exhibit, Lily's stoic expression remains unchanging.
"I'm so proud of you, Lily. You are the best investment I have ever made!"
"Thanks, master."
Lily promptly responds to Olan's vain praises in a monotone voice.
"5 years is all it took for me to bring out your true potential.You may have been a dingy little scoundrel at first, but I knew that beneath the surface, treasure awaited me."
Working together for the optimal experience, one of his hands is placed firmly on Lily's clavicle while the other moves down to her tail. Even her tail remains unmoving, showing no signs of life.
I can bear it. I can bear it.
"You have become an even better young lady than my own daughter! That foolish girl keeps losing her husbands somehow; they must find her personality undesirable. Tch, what an embarrassment to the family name!"
Olan abruptly stops caressing her tail, taking a brief pause. Lily closes her eyes, embracing herself for his next move.
"But you? You are the one who can redeem my lineage. You have everything that I'm looking for…"
Olan's hands make contact with Lily's exposed thighs. As he speaks, he gradually ascends her body. Every inch he travels, Lily bites harder on her lips and swallows her spit.
I can bear it. I can bear it.
"You are the most obedient among my women, you have a youthful charm that most of the others lack, you're a demi-human but your genes carry strength that none of my other women do…"
Olan's hands arrive at Lily's belly, rubbing it in a circular motion before continuing upward.
I can bear it. I can bear it.
"I have decided that you are ready to become one of my wives–you will no longer be my slave. Isn't that wonderful?"
"Master, I am sincerely thankful that you think so highly of me, but I am not worthy to become your wife. I still have several more years of development that I must undertake."
"Hmm, perhaps making you my wife is a bit hasty of me–you would certainly be the youngest one by far. No matter, I will make you one of my concubines instead. You have developed so quickly and so proficient that I can't wait any longer! You will continue to develop as my concubine, then you will be promoted."
Olan's hands reach just above Lily's stomach, close to her beating heart.
I can bear it. I can bear it.
"It's about time that I reap what I sow!"
"!"
Olan's hands finally reach their intended destination from the beginning: Lily's breasts. He fondles them, completely erasing Lily's stoic expression. She seals her eyes shut and clamps down on her teeth.
I can bear it I can bear it I can bear it I can bear it I can–
"I can only imagine what kind of fine woman your mother is! Honestly, I hope to reunite the two of you together so that you can both be my wives. You'll finally get to reunite with your parents, a privilege that no slave gets. Aren't I so compassionate?"
The very moment Lily heard Olan mention her mother, her body froze. To her, all time has stopped in place.
"My…mother?"
Her eyes blanked out, Lily slowly lifts her hand up, unbeknownst to Olan who is too busy delighting himself.
"Excuse me, Lord Olan!"
A maid precipitously enters the scene, forcing Olan to promptly divert his attention to her. He returns his hands to a neutral position, attempting to erase his doings. Lily quickly takes after him.
"Serine? Why are you interrupting me?! Shouldn't you be tending to Endori's needs?"
"I apologize for my rudeness, but I came to pass a message from Miss Yami."
"Eh? What is it? Whatever it is, let one of my wives deal with it."
"The guests are here for you, sir. They would like to pay a personal tribute to you for your ceremony."
"So soon? It's a private event, but if the people really want to give what's due to me, then so be it. It had better be worth my time, else I will have those commoners thrown in prison for 2 years!"
Olan pats Lily on her back, giving her a cue to get up. Recovering from his time with his maid, Olan gets a grip on his lord persona and rises up.
"While I am attending to these guests and taking care of other matters afterward, I want you maids to help Lily prepare for our ceremony tomorrow. You know everything I expect, right?"
"Yes sir, understood."
"Good. Looking forward to our future time together, Lily!"
"I look forward to the future as well, master."
Olan leaves the room, leaving Serine and Lily remaining. Serine, her eyes filled with slight resentment, adjusts Lily's ruffled uniform.
"Miss Serine?"
"Your uniform is out of order, Miss Lily. Please allow me to readjust it for you."
"...thank you."
Serine circles around Lily, fixing imperfections in her uniform due to Olan's touch.
"Lord Olan didn't do anything to you? Anything like that?"
Lily shakes her head, averting her eyes.
"Master did nothing to me out of the ordinary. It's nothing that I am not used to already…"
"Is that so, Lily? Then…"
"?!"
"Explain this please."
Serine forcibly grabs Lily's hand, revealing claws protruding from her fingers. Though she doesn't verbalize it, Lily's eyes scream in panic.
"My apologies, but I-I didn't mean to take out my claws! It was an accident, my hand started moving on its own–I swear upon it!"
How did my claws come out? I normally keep them under control, but my body must have unsheathed them in defense. Did I…did I almost hurt Master Olan?
Serine pushes her finger onto Lily's lips, calming her down.
"Let's go, shall we?"
Serine, exhorting the same force, takes Lily along with her outside.
"Where are we going, Miss Serine?"
"We have a ceremony to prepare you for, remember?"
"So you're not going to inform master of my inordinate mishap?"
"Hmm? I am sorry, but I have no knowledge of what you are referring to. I am only doing what has been precisely instructed to me."
Serine winks at Lily, then she returns her attention in front, guiding the both of them.
"..."
Maybe…there's still life inside of me after all.
Lily places her free hand over her heart, wearing an expression that's not quite a smile, but not so stoic either.