Chapter 231-232

I looked down in silence as Renka struggled against me, her thrashing growing more frantic by the second. Sounding half like I was issuing a formal notice, I finally spoke.

"Watch how you behave from now on."

"Wh-what...? My behavior...?"

"Yes."

"Are you crazy...? Watch what behavior...! F-first, let me go...! Get your hands off me...!"

"Tell me you understand, and I'll let go."

"You selfish bastard...! You piece of trash...!"

Judging by the fact that she called me selfish, she understood perfectly.

Renka truly was a slave by nature.

Time to push the boundaries a little further than yesterday.

"An accurate assessment."

Shrugging off her curses, I leaned in, bringing my lips dangerously close to hers.

"Hk!"

Renka sucked in a sharp breath. Pressing her lips tightly together, she froze, stopping all movement.

She realized that even the slightest flinch would cause our lips to touch.

Staring into her eyes, I resumed my lesson.

"If you understand, blink twice."

"..."

"If you don't want to, we can stay exactly like this. But you won't be able to greet any customers if they come in."

Renka's pupils trembled at those words, quaking as if struck by an earthquake.

I could feel the heat rising in our intertwined hands as I waited in silence for her answer.

"..."

Had she decided she just needed to escape this situation first?

Renka's eyes, which had been glaring so wide it seemed they would never close, slowly fluttered shut.

Blink, then blink again.

Seeing her eyelids open and shut twice, I let her go with a satisfied smile.

"Haa...!"

Renka immediately exhaled the breath she had been holding in. I reached out, wiping the cold sweat from her forehead, and spoke.

"Well done."

It was a tone fit for disciplining a small child, but Renka could offer no retort; she only stood there, panting heavily.

Her legs were so weak she looked ready to collapse to the floor. Seeing this, I grabbed my coat hanging in the Changing Room and draped it over her shoulders.

"Take a break before you come out. I'll handle the work by myself for now."

It was a gentle, kind voice, completely different from my tone just moments ago.

Dumbfounded, Renka's jaw fell slack. I left her standing there, stepping out of the Changing Room to calmly go about my work.