Lilith's expression grew increasingly severe, her eyes exuding the dignity of someone in a commanding position.

“Didn’t you hear what I just said?”

Tia instinctively shrank back, lowering herself slightly.

But the grievances in her heart, the overwhelming sorrow and indignation, made her stand firm.

For the first time, she dared to face the young lady's questioning directly.

Though she refrained from speaking words of defiance, her sorrowful eyes, clenched fists, and unyielding posture clearly conveyed her stance.

She didn’t believe she was wrong.

In fact, she found the young lady’s actions incomprehensible.

Lilith’s displeasure only deepened.

Since when had this maid become so disobedient?

Both Tia and Shia were her people. Shia’s actions were for her own good.

Why did Tia insist on being at odds with Shia?

Lilith could tolerate Tia vying for her attention, even her dislike of Shia.

But when these emotions grew so intense as to interfere with her decisions, it crossed a line Lilith couldn’t accept.

“Kneel!”

The harsh command, sharp and authoritative, was unlike anything Tia had ever faced from her mistress.

She stared blankly at Lilith, her expression frozen in shock, her beautiful eyes brimming with grievance.

The ingrained habit of obedience slowly bent her knees.

Yet her gaze remained fixed on Lilith.

It was the gaze of someone staring at a betrayer.

A mix of sorrow, despair, grievance, and indignation filled her eyes, making Lilith feel an inexplicable guilt, as if she were the villain.

The discomfort in Lilith’s heart intensified.

It seemed she had been too lenient with Tia, allowing her to forget her place and develop delusions she shouldn’t have.

“Turn around,” Lilith ordered.

Though Tia felt indignant, she obeyed Lilith’s command.

Her heart, however, was consumed by anguish.

“I’ve been far too indulgent with you,” Lilith’s voice came from behind, emotionless.

“So much so that it’s led to this.”

“Today’s punishment is to remind you of who is the master and who is the servant!”

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As her words fell, Tia felt a sudden sting on her backside.

The whip struck her plump ass, causing her soft curves to jiggle noticeably.

It was an undeniably bouncy sight.

Tia bit her lip, a muffled moan escaping her involuntarily.

Her face turned pale.

The pain was sharp, cutting straight to her core.

But the physical pain was nothing compared to the emotional wound.

In truth, Lilith hadn’t struck her hard—it was meant as a lesson, not torture.

The physical discomfort was trivial compared to the ache in Tia’s heart.

She felt as if she were suffocating from the hurt.

Though the whip lashed at her body, the real agony was in her heart, which felt like it was shattering.

She had only been acting for the young lady’s benefit.

So why was her mistress standing with the villain and punishing her instead?

Crack!

Another lash fell.

“Ugh~!”

Tia let out another muffled cry.

The sound, unintentionally seductive, carried a strange allure.

The whip’s contact sent ripples through her quivering figure—a mesmerizing motion.

Lilith found herself enjoying the sight.

Another lash followed.

“Do you admit your mistake?”

Tia didn’t respond.

She lay against the sofa, her silver hair falling over her face.

Her body trembled with each strike, her slender hands clutching tightly at the sofa.

Her lips were pressed into a firm line, devoid of any curve.

Her cold, beautiful eyes stared blankly, devoid of spirit.

It was as if her soul had been drained, leaving behind a lifeless shell.

Such a mistress wasn’t worth her devotion.

Such a mistress deserved punishment.

Perhaps only after falling from grace would she understand Tia’s painstaking care.

In that moment, the light in Tia’s eyes completely vanished, replaced by utter darkness.

The young lady she loved had personally pushed her into the abyss of despair and blackened her heart.

---

Shia, oblivious to the fact that a foul-mouthed maid was being punished for advising Lilith against trusting him, was brimming with anticipation.

He felt that his efforts in shaping Lilith’s loyalty were progressing to a new phase.

Her trust and submission had reached another level.

Next, he needed her to willingly let herself be conquered.

When the time came, he would reveal the truth.

He couldn’t help but imagine her reaction.

Just picturing her possible expressions made him feel elated.

However, the future had yet to unfold. For now, his goal wasn’t to fully subdue Lilith.

Instead, his focus should shift to White.

According to the game’s strategy, conquering this aloof vampire beauty started with bloodsucking.

In the game, there was a health bar that allowed him to gauge his progress. It ensured his safety while letting him max out affection levels and unlock the second seal of the ring.

In reality, there was no such health bar.

This made the method unsuitable.

The earlier bloodsucking encounter was evidence enough.

Although his pale complexion wasn’t very noticeable, the process had drained him considerably.

His entire arm had nearly been sucked dry.

Thanks to the divine power he possessed, he had managed to endure.

Even such a minor wound caused such a dramatic reaction.

This highlighted how long the vampire had been restraining her desires.

If her instincts were fully unleashed, he doubted he could handle the consequences.

He Wants to Conquer the Target, Not Be Drained Dry

For now, the best plan Shia could come up with was to help White gradually adapt to her vampiric instincts.

Acceptance first, then adaptation, followed by gradual control.

This would minimize the risks of her losing control during bloodsucking and doing something dangerous.

Another crucial aspect was strengthening his own physique.

Shia lowered his gaze to his left hand.

The wound on his fingertip had completely healed, as if it had never been bitten open.

Yet the sensation of being drained still lingered.

Currently, his physical condition wasn’t strong enough to immediately help White adapt to her instincts.

But improving his physique… that was achievable.

In an instant, Shia disappeared from where he stood.

---

Amid the chaos, a streak of light flashed.

The handsome figure of the young man appeared in a space where a glowing container sat before him.

A cluster of pale golden light glimmered softly, radiating an aura of calm and joy.

Just looking at it was enough to make one feel at ease.

Observing the reserve of divine power within the container, Shia roughly gauged its capacity.

This divine power was sufficient to refine half his body.

He shook his head slightly.

While it seemed like a lot, it still wasn’t enough to completely refine his entire body.

---

“You’re here?”

A lazy voice reached his ears.

The sound came from behind him, faint and drained, as if the speaker had been utterly exhausted.

When Shia turned, he was startled by the sight.

It wasn’t just that the voice sounded drained; the person truly looked like they’d been overused.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by lotustale.com