“Would you return tomorrow?” Utasia said. “Can I take care of you, too?”

“Don’t you want a sabbatical?” Iris said. “Staying here as me must’ve been stressful.”

“I won’t give any a chance to replace me.”

“Would you rest well knowing I’ve already acknowledged you?”

Utasia audibly gasped. Any task involving the board was highly competitive; any chance to form a relationship with the senior seats was worth more than precious gemstones and magical ingredients.

She, an ordinary Transformed One, managed to receive a senior seat’s acknowledgement?

The followers of a senior member attained a status below only the board, gained access to superior resources and intelligence, and had the privilege to, at any moment, receive their mistress’s embrace.

Was she now to become Iris’s, forever?

“I . . . I never thought I would be acknowledged. However, it would only strengthen my resolve.” Utasia struggled to breathe. “If I were to become yours, I must dedicate more of myself to you.”

“I look forwards to your dedication, my dear.”

“You . . . weren’t joking?”

“Was my tone too lighthearted, my manner too careless?”

“Not at all, Mistress.” Utasia bent down until her back paralleled the floor, trembling. “Please forgive your servant’s mistake.”

“You’re not a servant. You’re my attendant.”

“May I be your secretary?”

Secain was Iris’s maid, Lorient Iris’s knight. As the newest follower, Utasia looked for a suitable role that could coexist with her seniors. Her managerial skills led her to this position.

“That demanding role won’t have much time to stay by my side.”

“Working for you is already enough. The reward will compensate me plenty.”

“The danger, too, will rise to match your responsibility. There are many people aiming for The Court, and a few more aiming for my life.”

“I accepted that risk when I signed up to become your double. They’ll have to waste their opportunity on me if they wish to harm you.” Utasia smiled. “Please don’t worry about me, Mistress. I too am an Elemental-Type Monster Girl. Our resilience is unmatched by all but the selected few.”

Utasia, whose Monster Girl name was Clear Ocean Spirit, was the only Transformation Phase Water Elemental who resembled Iris both in appearance and magic. Though she failed to measure up to her mistress, she still possessed that ethereal fervour.

“A Water Elemental differs from a Slime Girl, but we’re similar enough that I could consider you my kin.” Iris beamed at Utasia. “Of course, any ordinary assassin cannot hurt you. But what I face is beyond your imagination; they could kill you with a simple graze of their poisoned blade.”

As Iris’s body double, Utasia had read the reports detailing Iris’s activity. Those Master Assassins, with daggers laden with Heart Stirring Poison, could kill even the most resilient Elementals.

How Lady Iris survived was a mystery.

“I trusted The Court’s ability to protect me.”

“Place your trust in me, too. I won’t let anyone harm you, my precious secretary.”

“I . . . I believe you, Mistress. Please give me your first order!”

Utasia deeply inhaled, her anxiety filling up and gushing out of her lungs. The surroundings faded from her view, leaving in her focus only her mistress, who willfully paused and grinned.

Warm breezes blew through gaps between curtains of ajar windows. The dark fabric fluttered, danced, and flowed in the air like a stream of praise, of congratulatory words. They prayed for Utasia, for her success, for her dream.

For the first order from her mistress.

“You’re now dismissed from this mission, my Dear.” Iris waved at the desk where all the scattered documents lay. “There’s no need to act as me anymore.”

Utasia couldn’t understand. “Why must you stripe away my work?”

“Can you not live without a mission?”

“Helping The Court is what I should do, so as helping you.” Utasia’s voice faltered. “There’s something I need from the treasury, something I must get at all costs.”

Seeing Utasia’s determined countenance, Iris didn’t press on. Everyone had their goals, no matter how unrealistic or grandiose. No one could persuade her away from her goal, and neither could she do so against someone else.

“I’ll reward you in full,” she said. “What I need of you is perfection, and I shall have you attain it.”

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“What if I cannot achieve it?”

“You will.” Iris pointed to a bookshelf where she stored fiction and nonfiction written by Delicate Snow. “You may browse through them to your heart’s content. Read them with the utmost care, and you’ll find secrets you need.”

“Mistress, I still don’t know what you require of me.”

Iris stepped closer to Utasia and grabbed her chin. She drew her secretary close and, as their faces almost touched, blew a puff of warm fragrance. That magical scent perfumed Utasia, who shivered excitedly, her disguise unravelling. Her skin dissolved into a blob of light blue water, which congregated around her core, revealing her true form as a spirit of the ocean.

With a smile on her face, Iris too unmasked herself. Her Slime Girl appearance expressed its delight, with bubbles beneath her membrane glimmering under the reflected radiance.

As Iris and Utasia stood ever so close to each other, their silhouettes fused, becoming one under the murky, purple-shaded shadow. The distinction between them vanished when they touched, stroked, and caressed each other.

“Mistress . . .” Utasia’s milky, pearl-like eyes drooled. “Please take good care of me.”

“You’re mine, Utasia; you shall exist under my tide.” Iris licked Utasia’s ear, which splattered cold water on her face. She moved to her secretary’s cheek, her neck, and her breasts. “You greatly resemble me, my Dear. I’ve decided: you’ll take my inheritance.”

“What do you—”

Utasia moaned as Iris glided her hands on Utasia’s back and reached farther downwards. Her fingers slipped between and on top of curves, which sizzled as embarrassment reacted with pleasure. Utasia couldn’t stop her voice from seeping out, even though her mistress had merely touched her.

Her legs gave up; she collapsed into her mistress’s embrace which, damped and sticky, enveloped her body as if it were a massive lake. Drowned in cool, soothing slime, she closed her eyes and let her mistress take over the lead, the movement, the sensation, the heart, and the soul.

She no longer cared if she could handle it; Mistress would take care of her.

“How cute.” Iris drew herself away from Utasia, who sat on a puddle of oceanic slime, which dirtied the floor and carpet. It blanketed the atmosphere with a sweet flowery scent. “Learn that art of mine, and you’ll have the privilege to taste the rest of me.”

Panting, Utasia lifted her head. Her eyes cleared up with resolve whose intensity was matched only by the pleasure she just experienced.

She looked down at her hands, which had been holding a leather-covered book. Its blurry title appeared indecipherable, but she didn’t care too much about that detail; she could smell Mistress’s scent in it.

No matter how much she thought, she couldn’t imagine what content lay within it such that it would connect her with her mistress. What kind of inheritance would her mistress impart?

“You won’t learn just by staring, my Dear.”

“Will you teach me?”

“You’re the first to see this book since its conception. Whatever you cannot grasp, you can only ask me.”

“I won’t disappoint you.”

“Although I’ve tried my hardest to make it approachable, the book is still esoteric in nature. Not understanding it on the first read is normal.”

“But, Mistress, you’re extraordinary. How can an ordinary Monster Girl serve you?”

“Flattering me already?”

Utasia pinkened. The atmosphere had led her astray. “When can I see you again?”

“Any time you believe you’ve read enough. Whenever necessary, I’ll give you an . . . intimate demonstration.”

“I’ll study hard!” Utasia carefully got up. Her straying thoughts returned to her. “Your secretary won’t trouble you anymore. Please, have a safe trip home.”

“Won’t you ask to escort me?”

“Any potential association between us is risky.” Utasia tensed up. “And I wish to study your material as soon as possible.”

“Lovely. If you desire something, reach out and grab it. I’ll be waiting for your hand.”

As Iris left the suite, she peeked behind her. Utasia sat on her desk and, with a quill and notes positioned around her, immersed herself in the dense, challenging text that only a few could understand. The slight frown on her face highlighted her charm, which dimly mirrored Iris’s.

Despite haven’t even inherited the legacy, she already possessed a disposition similar to her mistress.

What would she be like after she assimilated everything?

Iris stood in front of White Rabbit Café while sweeping her eyes across a busy street beneath the paint-like orange sky. The people heading home stopped by a few shops and vendors and bought handicrafts they fancied. Their constant chattering filled the drowsy air with mundane vivacity.

“Won’t you take a carriage home?” Antina appeared beside Iris. “I might not be as powerful as Mother, but I can still wake you up.”

“What do you think of her?”

“A fine seed, a loveable lady worthy of your touch. She’ll become extraordinary.”

“She’s always been extraordinary.”

Antina clicked her tongue. “Are you scared of falling asleep?”

“I am.” Iris chuckled. “I wish to take in this lively atmosphere. Sleeping right now will only make it harder at night.”

“Don’t you trust your lovely maid?”

“Secain has never disappointed me.”

Antina pouted. “I’m currently your only maid, Mistress.”

“My trust is difficult to earn, my dear Antina.” Iris carefreely pinched Antina’s cheek. “Merely a tease. That’s what I do with all my people. Are you upset?”

“Nothing your kiss wouldn’t fix.”

Iris drew back her hand while looking elsewhere. She couldn’t use the same excuse to avoid this advance. Antina was stronger, more devilish, and more honest than her. If she played around too much, she might corner herself, forced to receive the punishment for being wayward.

“My kiss won’t feel precious if I give them out too easily.” Iris gazed skyward. The hazy moon persisted against the backdrop of the setting sun. “Even the moon can feel feeble before the radiance of the sun.”

“And the stars insignificant before the moon.”

Along the path home, Iris stopped by a few humble stores of various types. An antique shop proudly displayed jewellery rumoured to be from a sunken ship of old. A bakery with a light mood advertised their blueberry cake. Iris bought everything according to her muse. She even gave Antina a pair of star-shaped earrings.

Antina admired her earrings in the mirror, with her mistress standing by her side, eyes sparkling. She had rarely seen Iris in this much delight, as if the drowsiness had weakened her restraint, pulling out her innate child-like curiosity.

“Shall we purchase this entire store?” Antina said. “With your wealth, you can have all the shops on this street, all the dessert you could ever want, and all the jewellery you could see.”

Iris’s stake in the skincare industry, coupled with her hidden wealth as a senior seat of The Court, was enough to buy multiple streets of Donhalgen. But where was the fun in that?

“Nothing beats mundane experience; picking a few gems from the wilderness is much more rewarding than sweeping the entire forest.”

“Indeed. Buying up the street wouldn’t result in this lovely date.”

Iris shook her head and left the store. The crowd parted way for her, stunned by her subtle yet radiant allure. Despite her modest attire, she still attracted all eyes, each filled with differing emotions, thoughts, and desires.

As she immersed herself in this satisfying feeling, the intuition arising from the depth of her soul snapped at her. She froze up, her eyes contracting. Amidst the sea of monotony, a singular gaze seized her body and mind, holding her before a forceful presence that drained all colours from her vision.

She looked over at a crimson-hooded lady standing between the strolling passersby. Concealed by her bright red hair, her eyes looked upon Iris, upon her appetising membrane, upon her pure soul.

The lady licked her lips, which curved into a mischievous smile.