Despite her apprehension, Reia undid the ties at the back of her dress and slid it down her body. Just do what you’re told. Then she kicked off her shoes while untying the sides of her underwear before slipping inside the water.

The room was bright because it was lit with a crystal chandelier that housed many candles. It felt unnatural sitting naked in a bathtub with so much light, her eyes wanted the dimness she was accustomed to.

The woman appeared moments later with a towel and placed it on the ground next to the tub.

“Here, I’ll get rid of this for you.”

She bent over to pick up Reia’s dress by pinching it, like it was a disgusting thing, and Reia shot forward while reaching her hand out over the rim.

“Hey!” she exclaimed. “You can’t take that.”

“Don’t worry,” she laughed warmly, her lips pouting with humour. “I’ll bring you something nicer to wear.”

“No,” she rebutted. “I would prefer to wear it.”

Her smile suddenly fell, and she unfurled the bundle in her arms to hold her dress up in the air by its short sleeves. She crinkled her nose at it as her lips twisted with disgust.

“But why? I have plenty of dresses that are made of the finest velvet, silk, or cotton you could wear. A lot of it is

stolen from the castle ruins back on the surface, or I’ve gotten the best Demon tailors to craft them – and they weren’t easy to find since most of them suck at creating anything human.”

Reia’s cheekbones warmed.

“Because I made it.”

And because Orpheus had given her the materials to do so. She had a light blue one she was halfway through making that was nearly the same, but she liked this one.

“I was wondering why you suddenly weren’t wearing the white dresses or the ones you tried to dye with food.” She looked over the dress once more, her face of disinterest still present. “Well, if you want to wear it that much, I’ll lay it on the bed so it doesn’t get dirty.”

That’s right, they said they couldn’t see inside. That meant they didn’t actually know what they’d been up to.

Relief sailed through her, thankful they wouldn’t have been able to see the private and intimate moments of her and Orpheus being together.

It was theirs, and nobody, especially not these people, deserved to see them.

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Reia made sure her bath was long, wanting to be away from this strange woman as much as possible.

The less time she spent with her, the less likely they’d discover that Reia was planning to escape. She had questions, but if she was too eager, she worried it would reveal that she cared for Orpheus.

Will they question why I want to know their plans?

She placed her hands over the sides of her head, digging her fingertips in. Why is this even happening?

If they wanted to harm Orpheus, why not just do it at the cabin? It was obvious that the Demon King had power, so she didn’t understand why they were going through the trouble of taking Reia. The woman had said it was to help her, but why help her at all?

He said he’d taken other humans from him. But they’d never said if they’d rescued them or killed them themselves.

Why harm Orpheus at all? Unless they didn’t want to harm him and just wanted to take something from him. Did he steal something from them? She couldn’t see him doing something like that.

They obviously like to torture him. Laughing at his pain, his loneliness, his grief at losing the offerings he’d probably

tried so hard to befriend, just like he had with Reia.

Orpheus told me the Demon King doesn’t like Mavka because he can’t control them. Was it so simple? Because of a tyrant not being able to make a creature submit to his will? But it’s the woman that wants him.

Fuck. She dug her fingers in harder. This is so messed up.

After some time passed, Reia only left the water because it had chilled. She grabbed the towel and dried her body before wrapping it around herself.

Maybe I can sneak out of the castle and wait for Orpheus outside. Then there would be no need for him to face them.

She exited the washroom, hoping to find the room empty, only to see the woman sitting at the vanity table staring at herself in the mirror. She’d been brushing her already brushed hair while smiling at herself.

“Finally,” she sighed, the brush thudding against the table as she placed it down. “I was beginning to think you’d drowned in there.”

“Sorry, I was thinking.”

“I understand. I’m sure you’ve got a lot to process.” She turned to face her while remaining seated. “Just know that everything is fine now.”

“Thanks,” Reia answered as she walked towards her dress.

Is she really going to make me change in front of her?

She was just sitting there, sparing Reia no privacy.

She tilted her head expectantly, and Reia stemmed the desire to groan. She wasn’t uncomfortable walking around naked in front of a Duskwalker, but the idea of being bare in front of a human woman was making her anxious.

“Like I said, you don’t have to be ashamed.”

Once again, that word ashamed was being brought up. It made Reia more insecure.

The woman was curvy, with large breasts and a very beautiful face. Reia wasn’t comparing herself to her, but she couldn’t help feeling as though this woman was doing just that, and obviously felt superior.

Shoulders slumping in defeat, she lowered the towel.

Trying as best as she could to hide her breasts and squeeze her thighs together, she reached for her dress.

Reia didn’t miss the disgusted twitch in the woman’s upper lip, her eyes dark with an ugly emotion.

“I knew it.”

Reia stopped reaching and instead faced the woman bare, refusing to show a single shred of bashfulness. There was nothing wrong with her body, and she wouldn’t allow this woman to make her feel as though there was. Orpheus thought she was beautiful, and that was all that mattered.

“Knew what?” Reia snapped at her.