"Can you untie me now?"
Being alone in a room with Adela felt like a terrible life decision.
Not that I had a choice.
Sure, she was beautiful.
She was also the kind of person who might dissect me for fun.
"Wait until I finish my inspection."
…Inspection?
That word should not be used on living people.
Adela stood up from the chair and walked toward me.
Calm. Slow. Like this was completely normal.
"Let's start with the upper body."
…Nope. Don't like that.
Rip—
"What the hell are you doing?!"
My shirt didn't even get a chance to defend itself.
It died instantly.
I was now half-naked.
Great. Fantastic. Exactly how I wanted to start my day.
"Oh~"
Adela leaned in, staring like she'd just discovered a new species.
"Not bad. For a normal human."
"Wow. Thank you. I've been working out by almost dying daily."
She ignored that.
Of course she did.
"…Hey."
Something was wrong.
"Adela. Your mouth."
She was drooling.
Not a little.
A lot.
"Hey. Let me touch."
"That didn't sound like a question."
Too late.
Her hand was already moving—slowly, thoughtfully—like she was inspecting furniture.
Shoulder.
Chest.
Stomach.
"This is harassment."
I said it with conviction.
"We're family. That doesn't count."
She said it like it was written in law somewhere.
"Yeah, I'm pretty sure that's the exact opposite of the law."
Ignored again.
Impressive consistency.
"Now… lower—"
"Nope."
Immediate.
Firm.
Full rejection.
Her hand paused.
I seized the moment.
"I'm underage."
There was a brief silence.
Then—
She chuckled.
"Didn't you just turn eighteen the other day?"
…Wow.
Not only insane, but also accurate.
Worst combination.
I stared at the ceiling.
Tied up.
Half-naked.
Arguing legal definitions with a lunatic.
Yeah.
I missed when I was just getting beaten up.
Life was simpler back then.
By the time I came back to my senses, it was already afternoon.
My hands and feet were finally untied.
Progress.
Unfortunately, I was still on the bed.
Curled up.
Emotionally ruined.
"You pass."
Adela sat in the wooden chair again, casually writing in a small notebook like she hadn't just traumatized someone.
"For the position of my servant."
"…Should I say thank you?"
I clutched the blanket tighter around me.
Dignity was gone, but I was trying to preserve what little was left.
Adela glanced up.
"I didn't sexually assault you. Why do you look like that?"
Her voice sounded… slightly tense.
Wait.
Was that guilt?
…No, impossible.
"I'm going back to my room."
I stood up, still wrapped in her blanket like a very angry burrito.
The thing was way too long, though.
So I started tearing off a piece.
Rip—
"Hey. What are you doing to my blanket?"
Adela finally reacted.
Too late.
"You ripped my clothes. I'm not walking out there naked."
I kept tearing.
Fair trade.
Honestly, I was being generous.
"Huh?"
She blinked.
"I have clothes in my cabinet. Just pick something."
Pause.
"You don't even have to return it."
…What?
I slowly turned to look at her.
Her face was completely straight.
No reaction.
No hint of a joke.
…She was serious.
"…You're telling me," I said slowly, "that instead of committing blanket murder…"
I held up the torn fabric.
"…I could've just borrowed clothes?"
"Yes."
"…From the beginning?"
"Yes."
I stared at her.
Then at the blanket.
Then back at her.
"…I want a refund on this entire experience."