“Ngh…”

When I opened my eyes, my vision was shrouded in darkness. Through the open curtains, the fading sunset left crimson shadows, and thick darkness rolled in above them. 

While watching that scene, I unconsciously turned my head and saw a man’s face hazily. I barely held back a scream by biting the tip of my tongue.

‘Wh-who is this man?’

As I slowly fumbled through my blank mind, I remembered pestering Luina to transform me into a flying squirrel. After that, I recalled everything in order—encountering Thadeus and the scene of messy *ntercourse too obscene to watch with open eyes.

‘I’m crazy, I’m definitely crazy. Clea!’

Clearly in that moment, I’d been swept up by an uncontrollable impulse. Perhaps the expression ‘beast in heat’ would be more natural. And of all people, the person in front of me had been Thadeus.

It was unfair. No, beyond unfair—devastating. I’d had no intention of discarding my purity so easily. I’d vowed that no matter what, I’d spend my first night with someone I loved.

I bit my lip hard, feeling like crying. I was afraid that making crying sounds might wake the sleeping Thadeus.

I tried to quietly sit up while watching for his reaction, but my whole body hurt like someone had beaten me, making it hard to move. Naturally my limbs had no strength, and my lower parts burned and ached so much I didn’t think I could even walk properly.

‘Luina must be waiting…’

I barely managed to raise my creaking body to escape the bed when Thadeus, who I’d thought was asleep, grabbed my arm. Then he pulled me sharply and trapped me in his embrace.

“Where are you going?”

“Y-you weren’t asleep?”

“That’s not what I asked.”

Remembering the earlier *ntercourse made it hard to meet Thadeus’s eyes. Perhaps because I’d seen those indifferent, languid black eyes stained with lewdness. My heart pounded at the closer-than-usual distance and touching breaths.

“I have… something urgent.”

“Urgent enough to go n*ked?”

Whoosh. My face turned red like a freshly picked apple. Would I have thought to go n*ked unless I was crazy? Of course I’d intended to look for something to wear.

“Or were you planning to f*ck me and run away?”

“F-f*ck…!”

What kind of frivolous expression was that? I felt so ashamed I wanted to cover Thadeus’s mouth tightly with both hands. To be honest, I had quite a few grievances of my own. But he didn’t give me time to make excuses and fired off words rapidly.

“If not that, then what?”

“So this is…”

“Don’t avoid my eyes. Speak properly, Clea.”

Then Thadeus suddenly twisted my n*pple with his finger. In an instant, unbearable pain passed along with dizzying pleasure.

“Hngh…! Are you crazy?!”

“The crazy one isn’t me, it’s you.”

I wrapped my body tightly in the blanket in case Thadeus’s bad hands appeared again. He scoffed like it was ridiculous.

Honestly, I wanted to clear up all the misunderstandings too. But if I explained everything in detail, it would put Luina, who’d trusted me and cast the spell, in a difficult position. She’d barely gotten into the magic guild as a commoner. If she lost her qualifications because of me, I’d have no face to show her in the future.

“It’s obvious. That commoner girl who’s been following you around must have helped.”

My worry was pointless—Thadeus grasped my thoughts immediately. I nearly stopped breathing for a moment. Even if I tried to play dumb and deny it, I couldn’t manage my expression.

“Wh-what?”

“Is your goal Schwein? Why? Were you going to confess?”

How did he know? I’d never once told him I liked Schwein. The atmosphere wasn’t one where he’d believe me if I said no. When I pressed my lips shut, Thadeus laughed and scratched at my insides.

“But isn’t your scheme a bit too sordid? Transforming into an animal to stay by his side? Then jumping into his bed when he shows an opening?”

“It’s not like that, okay?”

“Then what? What you did to me.”

That was the part I most wanted to know. Why my fine body had suddenly heated up like a beast in heat. But when I actually recalled that moment, everything was hazy. Only the thought that I had to relieve this hot fever came to mind.

“That… I really don’t know either. My body suddenly became strange…”

“Making excuses.”

“It’s really not an excuse…!”

“Let’s say that’s true. Then how will you take responsibility now?”

“Take responsibility? For what exactly…?”

“My purity.”

For Thadeus to talk about purity. I checked his reaction thinking it was a joke, but there wasn’t a trace of amusement on his face. In the heavy silence, I stared blankly at Thadeus’s face growing darker when his low voice rang out eerily.

“Don’t tell me you’ll just leave without taking responsibility?”

I gulped at his fierce expression. How could I wisely get through this situation?

If I couldn’t stop Thadeus’s mouth, my family’s honor would be at risk of falling to the ground. If Father found out, he’d surely shave my head bald and send me to a convent. Plus the damage Luina would suffer wouldn’t be small either.

“…Um, can’t we talk about this again later?”

“How can I trust you? Just say it here.”

My attempt at reality avoidance failed miserably. Even if I tried to propose suitable conditions, I had no idea how to entice him. At times like this, it would have been nice to have the rational Luina by my side.

“So what do you want from me?”

At my words, one of Thadeus’s eyebrows twisted crookedly. But what could I do? I wasn’t skilled at negotiation, and it seemed better than saying something half-baked and hurting his feelings.

“What I want…”

Thadeus’s eyes lit up like he’d discovered an interesting toy.

“You’ll grant anything if I say it?”

“…For now.”

“What should I choose? Especially if it’s something you’d hate, Clea, that would be even better.”

He pulled his face close to mine. My heart nearly dropped at the suddenly shortened distance. Thadeus smiled strangely and spoke in a gentle voice.

“I’d prefer your body, ideally.”

“What…? My body?”

Though I was wrapped in the blanket, I covered my chest with both hands. It was an instinctive movement. Thadeus snickered like it was laughable.

“We already had s*x anyway. A few more times here won’t change anything.”

Though he was right, I really didn’t want to do that. What had I endured without getting engaged until now for? I’d wanted a fateful love like a novel protagonist. Not this physical pleasure. That’s why I’d taken the risk to come meet Schwein.

“…I don’t want that. Say something else instead.”

“Clea, you don’t seem to understand something.”

Thadeus’s voice dropped instantly. His twisted expression showed raw. It was an intimidating presence like he’d bite my neck with his fangs at any moment.

“Do you think you’re in a position to demand things from me?”

My body flinched. His black eyes flashed ferociously. Grief welled up at his expression that seemed to say, ‘You know full well what will happen to your family and your precious friend with one word from me, don’t you?’

If I had to express my current feelings, ‘despairing’ would be closest. But if I just kept my mouth shut here, Thadeus’s mood would only worsen. I forced my coldly frozen lips to move.

“…So what do you want?”

“Whenever I want. Have s*x with me.”

“Whenever you want… don’t you think that’s a bit unreasonable?”

“Then for the next month. Let’s set a period. How about it?”

The next month. Coincidentally, it matched the date Father had declared. And the only period I could convey my feelings to Schwein. To think I’d have to mix bodies with Thadeus, whom I had no feelings for, during that time. It truly couldn’t be a more ironic situation.

“If I just do that… you won’t tell anyone about today?”

“Right.”

“Then I’ll do that. But help me get out of this estate.”

“What?”

“If I get caught by the servants leaving anyway, rumors will spread everywhere. Then wouldn’t promises and everything be pointless?”

If Thadeus had decided to use me, I should do the same. My grand plan had already gone wrong anyway. I’d just commit to the current situation, escape the estate, and think about it again later.

“Ha, really.”

Thadeus glared at me with a displeased expression before leaving the room. After a moment, he brought a bundle of clothes from somewhere and casually tossed them to me.

“Wear this.”

“What is this?”

“Clothes the servants wear.”

Looking at the clothes, it was the outfit maids wore. A typical noble would get angry saying how could I wear such lowly clothes, but I was different. My heart pounded so much I couldn’t stand it.

‘Is he planning to disguise me as a maid and send me outside?’

It matched exactly with a situation from a novel I’d read. A recent one—the novel that had made me transform into a flying squirrel and come to Schwein’s estate.

The protagonist, a duke’s daughter, had someone she loved deep in her heart but faced a political marriage with someone she didn’t even know. The conflicted lady made a big decision. 

To convey her feelings to the person she loved, she’d disguise herself as a maid every night to visit him.

I’d been deeply moved by that protagonist’s appearance. Because her figure, not submitting to predetermined fate but progressively advancing toward love, seemed wonderful.

That’s why I’d also decided to transform into a flying squirrel to convey my sincere feelings. But of all the many places, to fall into the room where Thadeus was sleeping.

“Stop dawdling and put it on.”

I pouted at the continued nagging. Then I turned around and started putting on the maid’s outfit. 

Usually when going out, my dedicated maid Rachel helped me dress, but trying to put on unfamiliar clothes alone had more than one or two annoying aspects.

“Am I wearing this right?”

At my struggling appearance, Thadeus let out a deep sigh. Then when I accidentally stuck my leg into where my arm should go, he finally got up from his seat, unable to bear it.

“Can you help me?”

Though I didn’t really like receiving Thadeus’s help, there was no benefit to dragging out the time. It was uncertain how long Luina, who didn’t know this situation, would wait for me, and without the original clothes she was holding, returning home would be difficult.

“If you help, well. Thanks.”

I’d expected him to sneer again, but unexpectedly Thadeus carefully examined my clothes. He accurately confirmed where to put arms and legs, and didn’t miss even one crookedly tied ribbon, straightening it along with my disheveled outfit.

Stepping back to check my appearance, he suddenly hardened his expression. It was a somehow thirsty gaze. Because what lay at the end of those stained eyes was none other than me. Feeling increasingly strange, I pretended not to notice and spoke.

“What will you do now?”

Only then did Thadeus, returning to reality, answer in a low voice.

“We have to go outside.”

The plan he’d thought of was roughly this: I’d pretend to be a maid and follow beside Thadeus. Since I was an unfamiliar face that might draw suspicion, I’d keep my head bowed as much as possible. 

If we went together outside the estate pretending he was sending me on an errand, I’d escape this place without any problems.

Though it wasn’t much of a plan, it sounded plausible enough. Just looking at the clothes, it would be hard to distinguish whether I was a noble’s child or a maid employed at this estate. 

Since I’d entered without the estate people knowing anyway, leaving quietly without anyone knowing seemed possible too.

An unexpected obstacle would be something like encountering Schwein while walking the corridors. But even that would only be a problem if Schwein looked at me carefully.

“Not bad?”

“If you understand, follow me.”

Perhaps because it was evening, there weren’t many servants walking the corridors. I stuck as close to Thadeus’s side as possible while walking.

How could someone with such a nasty personality also have such long legs? 

To follow one of his steps, I had to take two or three steps. And in that process, my swollen lower parts brushed against each other, throbbing with each step.

“Ngh…”

I’d tried not to show I was in pain, but a m*an leaked out eventually. Thadeus stopped walking abruptly and looked back at me. His expression showed some dissatisfaction.

“What’s wrong?”

“It’s nothing.”

“Liar.”

Then I heard footsteps of people walking from far away. I bowed my head deeply. The people who’d gotten close bowed politely to Thadeus. Then their footsteps grew distant again.

Just when I thought we’d gotten past it smoothly, Thadeus let out a deep sigh. He ran his hand through his hair irritably and looked back at me with sharp eyes. His voice was tinged with annoyance.

“Ah, you’re really frustrating.”

Thadeus strode toward me and lifted me like a sack. Then he placed me on his shoulder. It happened so suddenly I had no chance to resist.

“Are you crazy? Put me down right now!”

I struggled while keeping my voice as low as possible in case someone heard. But Thadeus instead got angry, saying he’d take care of everything so just stay still.

“Even so…!”

“If you don’t want to get scolded, listen.”

When my struggling intensified, Thadeus slapped my b*tt with his hand.

Smack—!

In an instant, my mind went white with shock like lightning had struck. My precious b*tt that even my parents had never hit once when I was young. And of all people, someone like Thadeus had touched it.

“You just…! Are you crazy? How dare you touch a lady’s b*tt?”

“What’s the big deal? We did even more than that together.”

“You pervert! You jellyfish-like bastard!”

As I flailed my fists around, I had an ‘oh no’ moment. I seemed to have made too loud a noise in a situation where staying quiet wouldn’t even be enough. 

But regardless, if we got caught, it would all be Thadeus’s fault. Because if he hadn’t done such shameless things, I wouldn’t have either.