The Master’s Instinct

“Freya?!”

Inside the tavern’s VIP guest room, a soft white light flashed, and Saranya, dressed in plain clothes, materialized on the bed.

She surveyed her surroundings, confirming this was the very room she had slept in last night, before letting out a long breath.

The sky was just beginning to lighten, dawn’s light filtering through the gaps in the curtains, seeping gradually into the room. Guests in nearby rooms were stirring, beginning to converse, and the cooks and servants descended to prepare for the day. Her tavern slowly came alive with the bustle of morning.

The early morning hours were the most precious, not to be squandered.

Saranya yawned, then lay back down and pulled the covers over herself.

Back to sleep, commence!

Having lacked sleep the previous night, the moment she lay down, a hazy drowsiness swiftly enveloped her, threatening to pull her into dreams.

A sudden rap sounded at the door.

“My Liege…”

A timid voice drifted from outside. Saranya sat up, rubbing her eyes with a hint of displeasure.

“Come in.”

The wooden door was carefully pushed open. Miss Fox-girl, with her ears drooping, softly padded into the room. She carried a large wooden tray laden with a towel, a small basin, a cup, and a plate of steaming, golden-brown crispy baked goods.

“I apologize for disturbing My Liege. Today, you and Lady Kaelan are to go out to sea, so Lady Kaelan instructed me to come early and attend to your morning ablutions…”

Lenix.

The dryad lady who had lived for centuries, carefree in the forest, elegantly gracing high-class brothels, and even plotting to claim Saranya for herself—now stood before her, utterly transformed.

The fox-girl’s upper body was wrapped in linen bandages, her face gaunt. Her golden-red, shoulder-length hair had lost its luster, falling in disarray.

“This… does it have magic?”

A flicker of guilt crossed Saranya’s face as she pointed to Lenix’s neck, where a heavy, cold metal collar rested. The leash ring on the front hung low, jingling softly with Lenix’s every movement. Lenix’s delicate neck, already bruised, now bore a fresh red mark from the collar’s constriction.

Upon closer inspection, one could discern a faint, shimmering glow emanating from the metal.

“Um, yes, that’s right… this…”

Lenix placed the tray on the bedside table, helped Saranya sit on the bed, then knelt on the floor. She extended a rolled parchment upwards.

“Are these spells written on it?”

“Yes, Lady Kaelan said that whenever you wish… you may activate the collar with a spell to punish me…”

Lenix’s face was ashen, her eyes devoid of spirit. Her lips trembled as she spoke, yet she forced her stiff features into a fawning smile, like a marionette.

At Kaelan’s behest, Lenix had thus handed Saranya the means to control her. Having done so, she cradled Saranya’s bare feet, lowering her head to kiss them, and swore her allegiance in a tone of profound humility:

“My Liege, Lenix will forever pledge her loyalty to you, striving to atone for past transgressions and fulfill your every desire—”

“Enough, stand up.”

“My Liege… please let me finish… I’m sorry… it’s all my fault… I will be obedient from now on… I’m so sorry, I’m so sorry…”

Witnessing Lenix’s panic and her almost frantic apologies, Saranya narrowed her melancholic blue eyes.

‘The little fox-girl must have been privately ‘trained’ by Kaelan again…’

She longed to tell Lenix that she no longer owed her anything, that Saranya herself refused to become a pervert like Kaelan, and therefore, Lenix had no need to adopt such a posture.

Yet, upon reflection, Lenix’s current state was incredibly fragile. Such words would only heighten Lenix’s insecurity, pushing her further into despair.

“I will tell Kaelan that you have performed exceptionally well, and that I am very pleased with you. So, please, get up.”

As expected, at her words, Lenix looked as if she had received a royal pardon, straightening her back while profusely thanking Saranya.

“Go fetch some water for my bath, and bring my towel, soap, and balm with you.”

Saranya decided to bathe. Having spent time in Freya’s palace, she felt as though her body carried a scent alien to the tavern. Unless she was thoroughly clean, she simply couldn’t face her master with peace of mind.

“Then this…”

Lenix picked up the tray from the bedside table again, a look of unease on her face.

“Take these out for now.”

“N-no!”

The fox-girl lowered her head submissively, her voice filled with entreaty.

“Please, at least use a little, eat a little… If I take these out like this, Lady Kaelan will… ‘blame’ me…”

“Ah…”

Clearly, if Saranya didn’t cooperate with Lenix, Kaelan would punish her. Lenix’s use of ‘blame’ to describe that punishment was likely a vast understatement.

Outwardly, she and Kaelan were two masters sharing Lenix’s service. In reality, however, Kaelan held the ultimate authority, with Saranya merely ranking second.

As her master’s plaything, she could flirt with her, and at times even partake of her master’s body, making her a truly unique presence. Her master had, in her heart, reserved a special place just for Saranya…

The most tragic part was that whenever she thought this, she felt a twisted sense of happiness. Having entrusted her tender heart to her master, she had grown accustomed to this existence.

‘Perhaps, this wasn’t so bad after all…’

Based on her master’s many years of cultivation, brutality combined with perversion equated to power. To become strong by any means necessary was the truth Kaelan held dear.

It wasn’t difficult to deduce Kaelan’s true objective: to lead by example, personally demonstrating how to dominate the weak and extract every last drop of their value. In doing so, Kaelan aimed to gradually cultivate Saranya’s sadistic desires, corrupt her spirit, and mold her into the spitting image of the ‘Black Witch’…

‘This was an open conspiracy, a blatant manipulation.’

Saranya sighed, cupped a handful of clean water from the basin to splash her face, then picked up the cup to rinse her mouth. She then broke off a small piece of the baked good and placed it in her mouth. Hearing Lenix’s stomach rumble incessantly, she offered the remaining baked good to the fox-girl.

“Eat.”

“Yes…”

Lenix, her eyes red-rimmed, swallowed the entire piece of food whole, without even chewing.

“Gulp… Thank you, My Liege…”

“Go fetch my bathwater from the well in the backyard. Don’t use the main stairs; you know people here aren’t very friendly towards non-humans.”

Lenix thanked her again, then backed out of the room, her large, somewhat dirty tail dragging behind her.

However, the moment the fox-girl stepped outside the door, jeers and mocking laughter erupted from the corridor:

“Get out of the way, you filthy fox!”

“Not bad-looking. How much for her?”

“Oh, quite the kinky one, wearing a collar, too…”

“Did you just forget to take it off after last night’s fun?”

“Hahahahaha—”

The men’s crude remarks were met with a burst of laughter.

Faced with the patrons’ bullying, Lenix’s first reaction wasn’t to flee or resist. Instead, she slammed Saranya’s bedroom door shut, solely to shield her from the vulgar clamor. Lenix abandoned any thought of seeking help, choosing to face the taunts and insults alone.

****

The instant Lenix closed the door, Saranya yanked it open again.

She saw the fox-girl, clutching the tray, huddled in a corner by the door, almost pressing herself into the wall. Before her stood a circle of newly awakened, disheveled patrons, their faces twisted into lecherous, predatory expressions.

The dryad lady, once imbued with magical power, intellectual, and mature, could now only bury her head, tucking her tail tightly between her legs. She wept, trembling, silently enduring all the humiliation and abuse.

Fortunately, the sound of the door opening startled the patrons.

“What’s all this commotion?”

Saranya’s voice was not loud, her tone remarkably calm, yet it possessed an undeniable piercing quality that instantly silenced the entire corridor.

“Miss Haia…”

The men turned at the sound, their brazen expressions freezing. Upon recognizing the tavern’s proprietress, ‘Ranger Haia,’ their faces drained of all color.

Saranya did not look at Lenix. She lifted her gaze, sweeping it over each patron, her face bearing an expression of utter indifference that struck terror into their hearts.

“You’re in my way.”

Those three simple words jolted the patrons as if from a dream. They scrambled backward, retreating to either side, each one standing rigidly against the wall, not daring to utter a sound.

Only then did Saranya withdraw her gaze, turning it to the tear-stained fox-girl.

“Lenix.”

She issued another simple, direct command.

“Go fetch the water.”

“Y-yes! Yes!”

Lenix flinched violently, scrambled to her feet, and stumbled down the second-floor stairs.

After watching her depart, Saranya ignored the patrons, who now cowered like quail. She turned, re-entered her room, and firmly clicked the door shut behind her.

From the corridor, the distinct sounds of patrons scurrying away echoed.

Inside the room, Saranya leaned against the cold wooden door, slowly closing her eyes. Her formidable aura instantly dissipated, leaving behind only a profound sense of bewilderment.

She questioned herself, knowing that her impulsive reaction just now was certainly not an act of justice.

When Lenix suffered humiliation, Saranya’s subconscious thought had been, ‘Protect the master’s property.’

Indeed, Lenix belonged to both her and her master, and was not to be touched by others.

Even unwillingly, this mindset of a liege had become deeply ingrained in her heart, like a brand.

‘I am no more noble than those filthy wretches outside the door…’

The truth was simply that her power was greater. She was strong enough to achieve the outcome she desired.

‘It was truly regrettable; Kaelan’s indoctrination seemed to be entirely correct after all…’