[Two days after Lyla met with Felix…]
"Lalala~ Lalala~"
Jasmine hummed her favourite tune as she moved around the room, straightening up and tidying things here and there. From the corner of her eyes, she saw her master sitting in front of the writing desk by their bed, reading a book without blinking.
Jasmine couldn't help but smile at the sight of her master engrossed in his book. She continued to hum her tune as she carefully wiped the dust off the place, making sure not to disturb his reading.
She knew how important it was to maintain a peaceful environment for him, especially after how he was constantly bugged by Sister Becca these few days. Jasmine couldn't understand why that girl became so obsessed with her master all of a sudden.
She had a good laugh every time Sister Becca tried to flirt with her master only for him to remain clueless. By this point, if Sister Becca didn't realise that her subtle approaches were not working then she was never going to get her master's attention.
Jasmine shook her head, trying to clear her thoughts. She didn't want to dwell on these things. Instead, she focused on her task and continued to hum her tune, filling the room with a calming melody.
"Master, I am going to take a bath."
"Mmhhm."
Raymond nodded half heartedly as he was still immersed in reading the book in his hand.
Staying true to his thoughts he had spent this week holed up in his room. Fortunately, he had some books from the things he had taken from Mobi. So he didn't get bored staying indoors and entertained himself by reading.
It is in between his reading session he found the book he was currently holding. It was neatly wrapped in a cloth and placed below all the books in that chest.
Curiosity getting the better of him Raymond had picked up the book only to cringe as soon as he looked at the book title.
'Haughty Young Master and His Naughty Maids.'
'Who reads these kinds of books?'
That was what he thought when he initially looked at the book and kept it aside— not intending to read it ever again.
But that was never meant to be. Just as he kept the book away, Raymond started hearing voices in his head, promising him euphoria if he read that book. It was as if the whole universe was coming together to force him to read.
Raymond gave in to the temptation and started reading the book. He was quickly hooked on the contents of the book as he read further and further.
He was so lost in reading that he didn't even notice the shadow that sneakily entered his room.
'Why are these maids all named after flowers like Lily, Daisy, Jasm—'
-Voom!
Raymond tilted his neck to the left, his cheek clashing against his left shoulder stopping an invisible blade that was moving towards his neck in its track.
"What do you think you are doing, Miss Becca?"
Raymond voiced out coolly as he stood up from the chair. Turning around he was met with an impassive face of Lyla. Her eyes were vacant, devoid of any emotions.
Without answering his question, Lyla swung her invisible blade made of Darkmoon metal at Raymond. He quickly sidestepped to avoid it and swept his leg below her.
-Thud!
Lyla fell but just as quickly got back up and started channelling her mana preparing to use a spell.
Raymond's expression hardened. "Miss Becca, I advise you to stop this at once. I don't know what has gotten into you, but don't force my hands!"
Lyla ignored him and shot sharp tendrils made of shadows at Raymond.
-Crash!
-Crack!
-Bang!
Those tendrils stabbed into the writing desk and the chair, making loud noises as Raymond avoided them by moving out of the way.
"Master! What happened?"
Jasmine yelled from inside the bathroom hearing the commotion outside. She quickly wrapped a towel around her and stepped out of the bathroom.
She was horrified to see the scene playing in front of her. Her master was standing there looking down at something. As she followed his line of sight she found his foot planted on Sister Becca's neck.
Lyla twisted her neck in pain as Raymond's foot pressed down on her, cutting off her air supply. She clawed at his leg, trying to push it away, but it was like pushing against a solid wall.
"Master, what are you doing? Let her go!" Jasmine exclaimed, her voice filled with panic.
Raymond didn't answer, but his eyes were fixed on Lyla's face, watching as she struggled for breath. It was as if he was searching for something in her expression, something he couldn't quite find.
Finally, after what felt like an eternity, Raymond removed his foot from Lyla's neck and stepped back. Lyla coughed and gasped for air, tears streaming down her face. Even through all of these, her expression didn't change in the slightest, she still looked like a porcelain doll devoid of any feelings.
"Master, I don't understand. Why did you do that?" Jasmine asked, her voice trembling.
Meanwhile, Raymond stared down at Lyla with an expression of cold fury. "What the hell do you think you're doing?" he growled.
Lyla didn't answer, but instead leaped to her feet and shot another volley of tendrils at Raymond, who deftly dodged them.
"Arghh! What are you doing Becca? Stop it!"
"Jasmine! Stay back. There is something wrong with her!"
Raymond shouted as he appeared before Lyla and punched her in the gut. Spit and blood flew from her mouth as she crashed against a wall and collapsed on the floor.
'Damn! She didn't die, right?'
Raymond thought as he went to check on her. There was something strange about this whole incident. Why would she attack him for no reason? Sure, he had kept his distance from her for the past few days when he found out she was trying to seduce him. But that wasn't enough of a reason for her to attack.
'Is she one of those "If I can't have it then no one can have it" types?'
He was not as dense as Heartsbane thought he was. Raymond was just being cautious since her personality change was so sudden.
Why would anyone just start seducing you if they weren't up to something?
Especially, Becca, who was not at all interested in him when they first met but suddenly started showing interest in him after two days.
Looking at her unconscious figure Raymond felt his curiosity growing.
There must be something else going on considering how she was acting apathetic when attacking him. Either that or she was just crazy.
Raymond wanted to find out what was the case. Depending on the reason he would decide whether to kill her or not.
Jasmine stomped towards the bathroom furiously and came back with a mug of water.
-Splash!
All sense of politeness and gratefulness she had for Becca left her as soon as she attacked her master. She splashed the whole mug of water on her face intending to wake her up.
"Arghhh!"
Lyla woke up with a scream, her whole body was creaking and aching in pain.
"What happened?" She looked around to see where she was. "Why am I in your room, Jasmine?!"
Jasmine who was about to start her furious monologue stopped in her tracks and blinked her eyes in confusion.
[Keep going, you're doing great!]
Hearing Heartsbane's voice, Lyla's confidence grew as she continued her act.
"Oh god! Don't tell me… Did I do something wrong?"
Lyla asked in panic looking pale as if the blood had been drained from her face.
"Well, that depends! Do you consider attacking someone for no reason and trying to kill them as a wrong thing?" Raymond grabbed her by the collar and pulled her up, his face inches from hers.
"Tell me! Your life depends on your answer," he said, his voice low and dangerous.
Her eyes widened as if she had remembered what she had done. With her shoulders slumped and her head hung low she appeared feeling shamed by her actions.
[Perfect! They are buying your act, go for it!]
"I am sorry, I didn't mean to do it. I was orde—Aack!"
-Bzzt!
Raymond quickly let go of her choker as he felt something buzzing in his hand.
"What was that?"
"Nooo!"
Before he could get the answer he heard Jasmine's scream. She was looking aghast as if she had seen a ghost.
"Th-that's a s-slave collar!"
Jasime fell on her butt and muttered with dread filling her up. Memories of Master Thomas removing her collar back when she was ten came back to her mind.
But Becca's choker was so beautiful that she never thought of it as a proof of her slavery. It looked more like a piece of artwork rather than something as vile as a slave collar.
But there was no mistaking it. That was definitely the same thing she had on her when she was a child.
"What? Jasmine! Are you sure?"
Raymond asked as he came near Jasmine and helped her up.
"Yes, Master! This one is more intricate and beautifully designed but it is definitely a slave collar!"
Jasmine shivered remembering the familiar sound of buzz going around her neck whenever she went against an order given by her slavemasters.
Her breath quickened and grabbed Raymond's hands tightly refusing to let go.
"Master, I think someone has sent her to kill you!"
'Goddammit! Even when I don't go out I get attacked? Am I cursed by someone?' Raymond cracked his knuckles in anger.
"Come on, Jasmine. Let's find out who wants me dead." He whispered, his voice barely concealing the rage he was feeling.