pte

as hopeless as I

to the fullest, no matter what it took. I promised I w

n't a reason to give up on life. Slowly, I picked mys

e had only b

left me lying on that

n a situation I couldn't

bout to bec

not to me. Deep down, I had been wishing for

a world I knew nothing ab

ing at all. The room was small, with a single door and a tiny w

s right... thi

else, I sat in the corner and

his?" I heard Oscar ask, hi

a exclaimed. "Get her out o

ack. "And can you stay out of this? It's none of your business. She's my slav

ept my head down. I couldn't bring myself to

the intense hatred boiling inside me,

o understand what happens to those who disobey me. I don't care if she's transit

lt under the sun was gone. Now

because of the cold, the fe

t was a

were a com

her voice rising in panic. "Oh, my poor feelings! Look at her skin! I can't watch

the clicking of her stil

fixed on the marble floor. I knew Brixton and Oscar were

tra

lled with concern. I even he

fer anymore. I promise. No one will ever be able to hurt you a

ok my

o

ne superior to others. No matter how they tried to exp

ad dragged me into their m

was unf

's not a

is myself. She's my slave, after all. You already have your own Celeste. You dumbass don'

ntered the room,

r like this," Oscar retorted. "I won her over

sco

ucky, it's not you. St

alk too much

re grumpier than Mr.

footsteps fade i

he atmosphere in th

think I'm evil? Hate to break it to

away, only to stop

olerate your disobedience. Th

lifted

he wasn't even looking at me, as if his mind wer

if I did

read mine. I wanted to understand why he was lik

irk tugged

you'll never get

ow exactly what

I'm not. You're just a human. Emotional, pre

ed out and shut th

ched m

frustration building inside me, but som

aring blankly at the light fil

completely o

hen I noticed the

r cheeks. There was something haunting about the way she look

en she raised the blade and

op

ldn't breathe when she

es were unraveling. My eyes burned, and

r blood was dri

the lump i

feet. I was losing control, and I couldn'

i

choed somewhere

I pleaded desperately.

ean you'll be linked forever. Someday, that bond will break. If there's

oving before I

se. Think of it as a gift. As long as you have this gift, you have a ch

ts tig

e echoed thr

on Ca

to me. If he could hear my thoughts at that very

m to know I

that he had gravely under

uck, A

last words I he

me. She was staring blankly at me, s

dripped onto t

cent

xica

fallen asleep until a knock

ng fully. From the expression on her

to take your time,

ther outfit, and, o

his woman change clo

get ready before he arrives. H

o

ke meeting

st take a show

s even more beautiful now!" Sh

sed the door

myself before grabbing a towel to dr

led divine. My skin had never felt

t my reflection until a s

to meet th

of Brixto

arker, more terrifyin

bab

where Brix had inhe

eet another character

I sc

hy wou

and I'd probably

l around my body a

olling through her phone. The moment

me

and made me sit in front of the mirror. Then

long, silky black hair. I suggest we simply dry i

t dry it,"

rfe

y hair. Her touch was surprisingly gentle, as if

mes, Astra. Pick whichev

perfumes. I preferred mild scents because th

d styled, Nathalia help

tightened the bodi

it a little loos

better this way. Yo

she seemed determined

front of the mirror and

ll

oked

asn't particularly interested in dressing up like this. Sure, it felt nice to loo

wasn't co

," Nathalia mutter

ed tow

n idea of what you

arms and appeared t

w Brixto

ed hard a

ust him. All of us are practically pets to that man, too. He's strict and manipulative. E

ered dram

tra: just do what Brix tells you. He

led f

question about why Brix tre

we

and humans were practical

t it felt like to be powerles

fa

nd together we walked d

r hanging overhead. Now that I was feeling better, I

d at every corner, sile

athalia mumbled. "I just ho

ngs that I failed to notice the man

do paired with perfe

etter, I could finally t

d with his hands tucked into his pockets made it seem as thou

ia was

ess, he could easily pas

e wasn't

thalia announced as

ss on my cheek and walked away as tho

barely walk in heel

s throat, drawi

led from my ch

't make this difficult for both of

few seconds before b

fro

too much from me," I said sarcastically. "But don't worry. Consider this a f

longer hu

be one. A pathetic

s head, clea

He loved belittling others but couldn't

ge of his nose and

e faint scent of alcohol on his breat

before extending

red a

doing that? We're not in

hut, clearly strugglin

's called formality," he whispered sharply

t eventually hooked

ow firm his muscles w

demon smell

the same path Nathal

e food?"

cour

take so

. I had left without telling her anythi

her I had go

hy

o bring s

t to you afterward. Now, don't do anything stupid.

row

sed to eat with

dn't

ng he was about to explode before

e one who called out to m

e snapped, clearly irritated. "My fat

I broke Tita Ophelia's glass because of you. My allowan

on money, and now I

pesos?

all the insults you've thrown at me. I'm your slave, right? Then you

s later," he interrupted. "Her

I was immediately greeted by a m

eated beside Oscar, wh

ally need to dress

" Brix muttere

ing my attention toward the man s

ating while read

t curse

her, then the univers

he was around

mustache. His sleeves were rolled up to his elbows,

ake a seat when

Nathalia. She smiled an

ward the man who

" I c

ything else, Brix pul

nd mine. Her name is Astralla Martin. She's willing to serve n

es wi

use

for a moment, I thought

hand slid d

n he gently

s warm agai

hell was

er finally

t, it felt as though m

s ice-cold

one behaved like a pack of

and introduce yours

red my

ends call me Astra. I'm nineteen years old.

im my brigh

ound like you were old, grumpy, and hated the

aug

ing on his food. He quickly reached for h

ned his gri

noticed that his face

o

uldn't have

me to introduce

y instructed me to spe

ducing mysel

a faked

g happened so quickly. But don't worry. I'll make sure she learns everyt

brow at me before

cow

hat suppos

d Se

toward the

e. He poured some into Severo's glass, bowing respec

ttention back

absolutely

" I blurted out

choked

mself, claiming he ne

ng to suppress his laughter, I sus

nding beside me,

l his hand tremb

de

having

xton

vero spoke, the at

ately close

orry,

him in utt

he apo

e somethi

the one

t was happening, Lord Severo