Cheryl was breathing heavily.
She tensed every muscle in her body and pulled the bedsheet so hard that it stretched like a bowstring. After making sure there were no wrinkles, she tucked it under the feather mattress and clapped her hands in satisfaction.
"Cheryl is done. Lily, how much longer?" she asked her friend.
Lily finished wringing out the floor rag and wiped the beads of sweat from her forehead with her sleeve.
"Yes, it's surprisingly clean today, and the new mop Grey invented is much more convenient than a floor rag. I no longer have to strain my back to clean under the bed, and wringing it out is much easier, too."
Lily fell silent for a split second, but then continued.
"However, I have to say, I used to come across all sorts of interesting things while cleaning. Now, the job has become nothing but a routine..."
"And what exactly did you see?" Cheryl asked curiously.
"A lot of things," Lily drawled mysteriously. "For example, your mother keeps some kind of ritual implements under her bed, while Monica hides a huge number of portraits. She probably draws a lot in her free time."
"That sounds interesting. Who does she draw? And how would you rate Monica's artistic skills?"
"She really is talented. Although she only draws with a pencil, her drawings have both depth and shading. The faces are almost indistinguishable from the originals. It's just that her dedication to her work seems a little excessive..."
"Why?"
"There are just so many portraits of Grey from all sorts of angles. It's almost as if she's spying on him."
"Seriously?" Cheryl covered her small mouth with her hand, unable to hide her surprise. "How many are we talking about?"
"Ten or fifteen. I didn't count. There are portraits of us, too, but only a couple. I have to say, our crazy friend's obsession with him is a little scary." Lily shuddered as if a chill had run down her spine. "I know he's handsome. But does she really have to be such a fanatic?"
"Don't say that!" Cheryl covered her best friend's mouth and whispered into her ear. "Lily should know that Monica lost her son several years ago. The other maids told Cheryl that she nearly went mad back then. To her, Grey is like an emotional crutch that helps her keep going."
"I know, I know..." Lily waved her hand dismissively. "I'm just telling you about it, not judging anyone. By the way, did you come across anything interesting while cleaning?"
Cheryl glanced around as if afraid someone might overhear their conversation. Then she lowered her voice even further and whispered so quietly that Lily could barely make out her words.
"Recently, Cheryl was cleaning Lady Veronika's chambers because Aunt Lydia asked her to fill in. You can't imagine how dirty it was... Empty wine jugs were scattered everywhere, and dresses were piled right on the floor, as if a hurricane had swept through the room."
"But what surprised Cheryl the most was the bed. There was a huge pile of tear-soaked handkerchiefs underneath it. I think someone broke our Lady's heart, which is why she so rarely leaves her room."
Lily's eye twitched.
No matter how hard she tried, Lily couldn't imagine such a scenario. The very thought of someone rejecting such a wonderful woman seemed almost blasphemous.
Lady Veronika was so beautiful and seductive that even Lily dreamed of seeing her naked. What was more, she was so powerful that even her own mother wouldn't dare challenge her.
If Lily lived on Earth, she would consider Lady Veronika her greatest idol and role model.
These weren't just words. Lily genuinely believed that.
The entire city gossiped about Lady Veronika's beauty, and the rumors had spread so far that many independent adventurers flocked to the city just to catch a glimpse of the hem of her dress.
What kind of man would dare reject such a goddess?
"Whoever that man is, I'm absolutely certain he's gay," Lily grumbled. "I just can't imagine who else could reject a beauty like our Lady."
Cheryl gave her friend an uncertain look, unable to understand why Lily was so eager to defend Veronika's honor, but she decided not to argue.
"Alright, let's stop talking nonsense. You remember we agreed to meet Hope, Aileen, and Irene in our room, right? I think they've been waiting for us for a while now."
Cheryl nodded and cheerfully followed her best friend.
Lately, the girls had been feeling carefree to an almost ridiculous degree. Their daily schedule was very relaxed. Their only duties were cleaning the rooms every day and helping in the kitchen. The rest of the time, they could do whatever they wanted.
Their current work schedule couldn't even be compared to the experience they'd endured in the slave camp.
The difference was so enormous that the girls sometimes wondered if they were dreaming.
The atmosphere in the brothel was friendly, and everyone treated them like family. Even Cheryl had gradually stopped seeing the place as something dirty and disgusting. She no longer judged her mother for the choice she'd made.
Humans were strange creatures. They could get used to anything and accept anything if they spent enough time in one place.
As for Lily...
Lily was a demon. More specifically, a demon of lust, a succubus.
To her, working in a brothel seemed more like a perfect opportunity to combine business with pleasure, and she was even getting paid extra for it.
The girls weren't as worried about the cultists as Grey was, since they hadn't experienced the same horrors the teenagers at the mansion had endured. Their lives were so relaxed and carefree that they'd recently even developed a new habit: holding small girls' nights in their room.
Hope, Aileen, and Irene were always happy to join them and discuss girly matters they felt too embarrassed to share with adults.
And today was no different.
The moment Cheryl and Lily entered the room, the twins immediately bombarded them with an endless stream of questions.
"What did you think of Grey's performance today? We spent a long time preparing and rehearsing, so we're really looking forward to hearing your honest opinions," Aileen asked with a smile, grabbing Cheryl by the hands.
"Did we do well? Did you like his singing? What about the musical accompaniment? Did it make you want to dance?" Irene chimed in with the same enthusiasm, wrapping an arm around Lily's waist.
"You two are so clingy," Lily grumbled, pushing the twins' faces away.
At first glance, she spotted Hope curled up on the bed, trying to make herself as inconspicuous as possible. Apparently, the sisters' enthusiasm had thoroughly worn her out while she was left alone with them and forced to answer their endless stream of questions.
At that moment, Lily genuinely felt sorry for the little witch.
And yet, all three girls kept returning to Grey's magical performance that afternoon.
The shimmering, multicolored lights that resembled the night sky, the pleasant music, and the voice that seemed to sing directly into their souls.
Hope, Cheryl, and Lily exchanged embarrassed glances as soon as they recalled the details. Their cheeks involuntarily flushed, and each of them suddenly wanted to hide her face in her hands.
Even Lily, who was usually anything but shy, now resembled a boiled lobster.
"C-Cheryl really liked it..." the rabbit girl stammered. Her voice was so quiet that it sounded like the high-pitched buzz of a mosquito.
Aileen and Irene hadn't yet reached the age when such things took on a different meaning, so they didn't notice the romantic atmosphere at all. Instead, they eagerly leaned forward.
"What exactly did you like? The lyrics? The music? Or the dancing? Tell us more!"
Cheryl's long ears immediately stood straight up, and she froze as if the two harmless girls in front of her weren't a pair of innocent little girls, but predators ready to devour her at any moment.
"I... liked Grey," she finally breathed out. "It felt like he was singing just for me. I immediately wanted to... hug him. And even kiss him."
Lily rolled her eyes. She wanted to slap herself in the face.
She couldn't understand why her usually shy friend had suddenly become so talkative around the twins. Couldn't she have put it another way? Why did she have to share her most intimate feelings so openly?
Still, she couldn't blame Cheryl, because she felt something similar herself, even if she was ashamed to admit it.
One way or another, Grey was a charming guy. There was no denying that.
His well-defined features, large blue eyes, and fragile appearance that concealed an unexpectedly strong core... He was more than attractive to any girl their age.
And Lily was no exception.
Still, she understood that nothing more could ever happen between them.
And it had nothing to do with them belonging to different races. This insignificant detail didn't bother her in the slightest.
There were far more obstacles, and each one was more serious than the last.
Lily had no doubt that sooner or later, she would become a powerful expert, just like her mother. That meant her already long life as a demon would become even longer.
And Grey was crippled.
Could she come to terms with the fact that her beloved would only remain by her side for such a short time? Besides, she understood that Grey was the true heir of darkness, and who knew what a union with such a being might bring her? Even demons knew about the famous prophecy.
Let's put all the other problems aside and simply imagine that they fall in love. Would Grey himself accept it?
Lily had serious doubts about that. A man's pride could be very fragile.
Grey simply couldn't accept her true nature, the nature of a succubus. He would never agree to share her with anyone else or allow her to be with other men. For her race, however, this wasn't a whim but a necessity, the only way to advance.
Besides, in her eyes, marriage was more of a convenient political tool than something connected to feelings.
So why cling to something impossible?
It would be far more sensible to reach out and help her best friend, who had fallen so hopelessly in love...
"Maybe you should confess your feelings to him?" The words escaped before Lily had a chance to think them through. She felt an unpleasant pang in her chest but chose to ignore the strange sensation.
Cheryl froze like a little deer caught in the headlights.
In an instant, all the girls' eyes focused on her fragile figure.
"W-what... what are you saying, Lily?" Cheryl desperately shook her head. "That's not what Cheryl meant. I-I..."
However, that was the end of her vocabulary. Any explanation would only make things worse, so she crouched down and simply covered her face with her hands.
"Oh, come on, Cheryl," Lily narrowed her eyes. "You didn't think we wouldn't notice, did you? Every time he looks at you, you immediately turn away and blush. And whenever we get together to talk, you somehow always steer the conversation back to him. Just go and confess."
"Cheryl can't..." A quiet, almost pitiful voice came from behind her hands. "Please, don't make Cheryl do it. Grey already has so many problems... Cheryl doesn't want to burden him even more... Cheryl is already happy just to live under the same roof as him and help him from time to time."
Lily gently reached out and ruffled Cheryl's soft chestnut hair.
"Then start small... You don't have to force yourself," she said softly. "Just tell him about the new ability you awakened. You wanted to show off a little, didn't you? Now's the perfect time. Otherwise, our little Hope might get ahead of you... and steal all of Grey's attention."
"Don't drag me into your games, Lily! I just wanted to ask him for advice because my witch ability seems useless! I'm not in love with him like this rabbit girl!"
Hope frantically waved her hands. She looked confused, embarrassed, and angry, but she couldn't understand why she had been dragged into this in the first place.
Noticing that everyone was staring at her suspiciously, she snapped back.
"Besides, aren't you the one who spends the most time with Grey, Lily? You're always trading jabs like an old married couple. If we're looking for Cheryl's rival, it should be you."
Lily felt guilty, but she reacted like a true succubus.
She pointed a finger at Aileen and Irene.
"What about them?" Lily pointed at the twins. "They may look completely innocent... But I bet they'll grow up to be first-class seductresses. Just think about it. They've been growing up under Grey's care for several months now. They're constantly alone with him when they practice. Do I really need to explain that sooner or later, they'll develop feelings for him?"
"We just want to be useful," Irene retorted. "You're shameless, Lily. Stop stirring up trouble for no reason."
Aileen turned away and began whistling, awkwardly tracing circles on the floor with the tip of her shoe.
Cheryl felt confused and bewildered as she looked from one friend to another. She didn't feel the slightest bit jealous, since in this world, it was considered normal for a talented man to have multiple wives.
"Lily is right. Cheryl will go and discuss her abilities with Grey. Maybe I can help him somehow," she decided unexpectedly.
When the door slammed shut, the girls exchanged glances, feeling embarrassed and nervous.
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