Three years ago, Kohakugawa Manor, Storage Room.
"There is only one truth—the culprit is you!"
"None of your business!"
In the narrow, cramped storage room, staring at the evidence gathered on the floor, the impeccably dressed boy had driven the culprit into a desperate corner.
The villain attempting to commit the heinous crime of parricide appeared, on the surface, to be a childish, quiet, and even somewhat frail young girl. Her ear-length black hair lacked luster, and her pale skin had no healthy glow; she, who should have been beautiful and moving, looked as listless as someone recovering from a serious illness.
Fourteen or fifteen is precisely the age of greatest sentimentality, yet no anxiety about the future could be seen in her eyes. That deep and calm gaze held only the relief of having made a certain decision... though now, ripples of anger were stirred within it.
Her attire was completely nondescript, leaving no impression other than that of a "student." Her outstanding looks were dimmed by three shades under the concealment of plain glasses. She often kept her head lowered, appearing introverted, and even her speaking voice was so soft it seemed it could be blown away by a gust of wind.
This might have been a disguise, much like the protective coloration of small animals.
But upon careful observation, one would discover that while she seemed weak, her physique was not frail. There were no superfluous movements in her stance or gait, appearing very coordinated—proof of conscious training.
In other words, this girl was not the type to meekly submit to maltreatment. She had been silently accumulating strength. Even if it was just a healthy body, it could provide a bit of assistance at a critical moment.
...She must have been preparing for a long time, right?
Saving money to buy tools, repeatedly simulating scenarios in private, improving physical fitness for actual combat, diligently recording the "family's" schedule, and acting meek to lower the targets' guard—everything was to complete that final supper.
But fate is cruel. A deliberately calculated plan might come crashing down due to a random event, just as the strongest fortress might fall because someone forgot to close the gate.
A certain person accepted an invitation on a whim, accidentally stumbling upon a "family extermination tragedy" that had not yet occurred, and the perpetrator with malicious intent had nowhere to hide under his investigation.
Being watched by the playful gaze of a peer, the girl quietly tightened her grip on something in her pocket, but soon released it:
Killing him here would be meaningless.
Silencing a witness couldn't cover up the truth, nor could it continue to advance her plan. Because this guy had a special status, once he disappeared for a long time, it would definitely attract everyone's attention, launching a search throughout the entire manor.
She had neither the time to dispose of a corpse properly nor the means to make everyone forget about this matter and continue the banquet with peace of mind... Moreover, killing a stranger was not something she took pride in.
At this point, it was impossible to make the targets relax their guard anymore. This plan had failed thoroughly.
"Are you going to report me to the police?"
"It looks like you wanted to create a tragedy of carbon monoxide poisoning, but what are these oleanders for?"
The boy did not discuss when he would expose her but instead picked up a pink-white flowering branch from the ground with great interest.
It is famous that the entire oleander plant is poisonous, but when many people think of plant toxins, they subconsciously think of ingestion and skin contact. After all, similar examples are common in daily life.
But even the gas produced when burning oleander is highly toxic. As long as the area is properly sealed, it doesn't take much to paralyze and poison everyone in a hall to death.
"...Just in case."
"Burning charcoal suicide is a very classic Japanese way to die—certain authors should take responsibility for that."
The boy pondered solemnly and seriously: "The current Kohakugawa family is facing a severe asset crisis. In extreme circumstances, such a tragedy is indeed possible. But looking at these preparations, it seems you intended to die along with them. Was it necessary to set up a 'suicide scene'?
After all, you weren't thinking of escaping blame and remaining at large, right?"
"If I were judged arbitrarily by the outside world, I would be very troubled." The girl was now unscrupulous, snorting with a cold sneer, "A sinner who murdered her whole family—that kind of charge is too disgusting."
She was a killer, but not a "sinner," so she refused to be crowned with a dishonorable title.
"I see!"
The boy's eyes lit up, looking at her as if he had discovered some rare treasure.
"You really are a special person... If you don't want to stay in this house, would you be willing to come work for me?"
"..."
What is this person saying?
"Although you're still young, you should be useful after two years of training."
"...What kind of joke are you cracking? Stop talking nonsense and call the police already!"
"Police?"
The boy asked in return: "Why notify that bunch of tax thieves?"
"Genius boy solves attempted murder case, arrests unforgivable sinner—isn't this kind of news what you people like best?"
"But I don't think you are a 'sinner'."
"!"
He smiled: "The definition of a 'sinner' is someone who bears a fault, but what fault exactly have you committed?
Attempting murder? I don't think there's anything unforgivable about that."
"What... did you say?"
"You weren't originally short-haired, right? I saw it in the family photo."
The boy strolled around the warehouse, turning over items from time to time, speaking indifferently: "Was it glue? Or was it that you didn't want it to be grabbed casually by someone?
That Mrs. Kohakugawa must be very proud of her head of long hair, but stress and age made her start losing it. Even increasing maintenance efforts was of no avail—the time she started taking medicine matches the time you became short-haired in the photos."
"..."
"Tell me, how did she do it? Did she simply order you to cut your hair, or did she roughly grab it, dragging you back and forth like a doll?
Ah, and the small earthen mound in the backyard. Did a pet die these past few days? You seem to like the family's Pomeranian very much—"
A cold light flashed. A box cutter swiped from the side, easily dodged by the boy.
—Bang!
A heavy blow to the abdomen caused the girl's expression to twist instantly. She fell to her knees retching, clutching her stomach tightly.
She lifted her head with an ashen face, looking at the boy who acted as if nothing had happened, and gritted her teeth in hatred:
This guy saw through it!
He knew she was just using the knife to scare him, to interrupt his speech... but he still struck without mercy!
That force, there was absolutely no hesitation!
"Don't look at me like that. This kind of thing is the same as taming a beast."
He squatted down, his line of sight slightly higher than hers, a breezy smile still hanging on his face.
"If punishment isn't administered immediately, it won't know who it's baring its teeth at~"
"..."
"Nice look in your eyes. I quite like you. Come to my house."
Just like picking up a stray cat or dog on the street, he reached out his hand to the girl: "I will raise you well."
"...Actively keeping a murderer by your side, aren't you worried about being bitten back by the beast?" She growled as if threatening him.
That boy—Kuse Ryu smiled faintly: "You aren't a 'criminal,' at best you are just a killer.
No matter what kind of person, they have their uses. It just depends on how the owner uses them."
"I am not a house dog!"
Kohakugawa Ruri's fierce and cold gaze tried to pierce through the man's head like an arrow.
"I will no longer submit to anyone's manipulation!"
"Right now, you have no choice. Either give up on revenge, or stay by my side, continue to accumulate strength, and wait for the next opportunity."
"...You seem confident that you can definitely tame me?"
The girl met the boy's gaze without fear: "Give up on that idea! Even if I have to obey you, my heart will never submit!
Kuse Ryu, you're just an arrogant megalomaniac with a terrible personality. I...
I hate people like you the most!"
——
"Lord Ryu~ Do you like me like this?"
With the warm and soft body of the opposite sex leaning against him, Ryu surprisingly did not get excited; instead, he fell silent.
...She really has changed a lot, Ruri.
The girl from three years ago acknowledged no one, living in a cage woven from rejection and pain. A child is a mirror that reflects everything; since she received only malice from the outside world, she returned malice to this world.
When did she start to change? Ryu couldn't recall anymore. Perhaps because she had been by his side all along, it was harder to notice these changes.
She still kept short hair, but not because of psychological trauma, simply because she was unwilling to spend precious time managing long hair. Even knowing Ryu's preference, she only kept it above shoulder length.
Supple, smooth, as pure as a crow's feathers; touching it felt like the finest silk.
She retained the hobby of exercising and strictly followed a schedule, always paying attention to reserving her stamina to deal with any orders Ryu might issue at any time.
Her shoulders were still as slender, her back just as straight, but her entire person had grown much taller. Her posture was more elegant than before. Viewed from behind, she looked as beautiful as a lady from ancient paintings, giving people infinite room for reverie.
She no longer deliberately lowered her head when walking—
She would never bow her head again!
Unless it was like now, like a lamb awaiting judgment.
"...I understand."
Sensing no reaction from Ryu for a long time, hearing even his heartbeat so calm, a flash of disappointment crossed Ruri's face. She stepped back with a desolate look in her eyes, standing firm again.
"I apologize for causing you trouble."
The girl intended to turn and leave, trying her best to control her emotions.
But the moment she turned, she was roughly embraced. Powerful arms reached out from behind, wrapping around to her front and grabbing firmly. The maid outfit, which had not a single wrinkle, instantly sank in, imprinted with clear finger marks.
"Ah!"
Just as she let out a cry of surprise, another hand had already barred her waist, pressing against her soft lower abdomen. She subconsciously tried to push it away, but couldn't shake it in the slightest.
"Who allowed you to leave? Your mission isn't finished yet, is it?"
"Ugh, it hurts!"
The man seemed not to know how to be tender to the fairer sex. The force of his five fingers completely distorted the shape of the maid outfit. The girl couldn't help but dodge backward, but she leaned against a chest as solid as an iron wall, with no retreat possible.
"L-Lord Ryu?!"
"I haven't finished changing my clothes yet. Are you going to neglect your duty? Hmm?!"
The hand above loosened slightly, allowing Ruri to breathe a sigh of relief, but immediately after, the other hand lifted the skirt hem and the lining inside, diving down from within the clothes.
This action caused her rounded, well-proportioned thighs to tense up instantly. There was already no gap to speak of, and now they pressed inward with deadly force.
Her body went limp all at once. Her knees couldn't support her at all, relying entirely on her calves to barely stay on tiptoes.
"Mmph!"
The sudden electric current made her bite her finger. The white silk glove slipped off, firmly bitten by the girl, and a trace of transparent saliva slowly soaked the fabric amidst strange, suppressed sounds.
"Ah!"
As if liberated, Ruri let out a long breath. The glove fell to the ground, a clear tooth mark left upon it.
"L-Lord Ryu?"
Ruri, face flushed and expression panicked, turned her head to look back, only to have her chin gripped by three fingers, rendered immobile like a fawn having its neck broken by a tiger.
"I am very disappointed... that you would abandon your duty. It seems I've spoiled you too much these days. It is time to give you some punishment!"
"...Yes."
Ruri's lips moved slightly, but her toes curled up where they couldn't be seen.
I can hear it... the heartbeat is accelerating... both mine and Lord Ryu's are accelerating!
I can feel it, that scorching heat, slowly revealing its presence...
Is Lord Ryu excited?
—Thinking of this, she felt as if a certain place in her heart was being filled.
"If you don't mind... please take your time..."
This sentence was met with even more forceful pressure. Ruri even felt a sense of weightlessness as if she were about to take flight.
"Don't say it as if you're so aggrieved—look!"
Forcibly locked by his fingers, Ruri had to look to the side. As her body was also swayed, her entire appearance was reflected in the dressing mirror ahead.
...Ah, what an unsightly scene~
The disheveled girl wore a trance-like expression, a faint smile hovering on her lips. The originally neat and beautiful maid outfit had now become a captive's uniform, casually manipulated by the victor.
"You see it, right?"
"Mmhmm..."
"Tell me, why are you smiling?"
Ryu exerted force with his five fingers, making the girl in his arms let out a whimper: "Why!"
"Because!"
The girl could no longer figure out the situation. Since she couldn't maintain her dignity anymore, she spoke in accordance with her truest thoughts.
"Because I am very happy!
Lord Ryu is looking at me in this state; Lord Ryu got excited for me—it makes me very happy!"
"Ah~ This is truly... an unchaste maid."
Ryu reached out a hand and waved it in front of Ruri's eyes, making the girl even more ashamed.
"What about now? What does it feel like?"
"...Wet..."
"What? I didn't hear you clearly."
"From the start..."
The girl grabbed the man's wrist, covering her face with her other hand: "I was wet from the very beginning!"
"Good girl."
Ryu's movements became gentle, whispering softly in her ear: "I'm going to reward your honesty~"
[I will no longer submit to anyone's manipulation!]
She hugged the man's solid back tightly, like a koala, wishing she could merge her entire self into Ryu's body.
[Give up on that idea! My heart will never submit!]
In the instant her whole body's muscles lost control and her brain went blank, fleeting memories surfaced amidst the ocean waves.
[Kuse Ryu, you're just an arrogant megalomaniac with a terrible personality. I... hate people like you the most!]
I love you!
I love you the most!
I love you! I love you more than anyone!
So—
Please spoil me even more!
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