Chapter 77 : Good Dog
The Year Two Class A classroom fell into a deathly silence. Every student’s gaze was riveted to the delicate yet menacing black leather collar on Ailiya’s desk, like iron filings drawn to a magnet. The air thickened with shock, confusion, jealousy, and a palpable cloud of misunderstanding.
Aurora and Isabella’s expressions were particularly vivid—Aurora’s jaw nearly unhinged in disbelief, while Isabella’s shock mingled with a strange, fervent excitement.
Liliane ignored the stares, her flawless gentle smile unwavering. She picked up the collar, gliding around the desk to stand behind Ailiya. Her movements were impossibly gentle, as if adorning a cherished doll with a precious accessory rather than imposing a public ordeal.
“What are you doing?!” Ailiya sprang from her chair like a startled wildcat, fur bristling. She clutched her neck, backing away until she hit the cold wall, trapped. A collar? For me? Why?! Some new punishment game? I haven’t done anything wrong! Her mind raced. The whole class is watching… If I’m seen wearing this, I’m done for at this academy!
“I’m not wearing that!” Her voice trembled with panic. “It’s like… a pet collar!”
Liliane didn’t flinch at her defiance. She advanced slowly, pinning Ailiya between the wall and herself, an inescapable cage. Cool fingertips lifted Ailiya’s chin, forcing their eyes to meet. “Disobedient children…” Liliane’s voice was a lover’s whisper, laced with irresistible authority, “…get punished. Or would you prefer I use a firmer method to put it on?”
Her gaze flicked to Ailiya’s nervously bobbing throat, her violet eyes dark with unreadable intent. Under the class’s probing stares and Liliane’s oppressive gentleness, Ailiya’s resistance crumbled. She shut her eyes in defeat, nodding stiffly, humiliated.
The cool leather collar clicked around her slender neck, the snap like a lock sealing her fate. Ailiya touched it, the silver bell jingling crisply, making her flinch as if shocked. “Why… why me?” she stammered.
Liliane tilted her head, her smile angelic. “A whim, I suppose. It suits you.”
Taking Ailiya’s cold hand, ignoring her weak struggles, she led her toward the door. “Come, it’s nice out. Let’s stroll the city.”
“Stroll?! With this?!” Ailiya nearly wailed.
Liliane paused, turning to face her, their breaths mingling. She flicked the bell, eliciting a string of clear rings, then traced a finger along Ailiya’s collarbone, slow and intimate. “Look,” she whispered, audible only to them, “everyone’s watching. If you refuse loudly, what will they think of our relationship?” Her voice carried a chilling amusement. “Or should I wait here until you agree, in front of everyone?”
The words struck like lightning. Ailiya envisioned the mortifying scene, her face burning. Through gritted teeth, she muttered, “…Let’s go.”
On the capital’s bustling streets, Ailiya shrank into herself, head down, hands clutching her skirt, wishing she could burrow into the ground. Each step made the bell jingle, announcing her presence and the shameful collar to the world. I want to die… Everyone’s staring! They must think I’m a freak! The bell’s incessant ringing screamed in her ears. Shut up already!
A child pointed, asking innocently, “Mommy, why’s that lady wearing a cat collar?” Ailiya’s face deepened to a new shade of red, practically combusting. A fruit vendor, seeing their closeness, gave a knowing grin and a wink. Ailiya yearned for a teleportation spell to vanish.
Liliane, as if deliberate, chose crowded routes. She stopped to greet a group of elegantly dressed noblewomen. “Good afternoon, ladies.” After their polite replies, she pulled a rigid Ailiya forward, her hand resting intimately on her shoulder. “Allow me to introduce,” she said, her tone proud, almost boastful. “This is Ailiya.” Pausing, she glanced at the flushed, near-tearful Ailiya, adding slowly, “My… very important possession.”
The word “possession” shattered Ailiya’s defenses, her mind blanking as shame overwhelmed her. She barely noticed the noblewomen’s departure, dazed by the public humiliation repeated two or three more times.
Finally, she tugged Liliane’s sleeve with trembling fingers, voice barely a whisper. “Lady Liliane… when can we go back?”
“Back?” Liliane’s smile was devilishly sweet. “The day’s just begun. I plan to parade you all day.”
“All day?!” Ailiya’s expression drained, her soul seemingly sucked out.
Seeing her despair, Liliane relented, her tone mock-merciful. “But since you’ve been so good, I’ll offer a chance to remove it early. Let’s make a bet, Ailiya.” Her eyes gleamed with childish excitement and cruelty. “A simple game. Win, and I’ll take it off now, and you’re free. Lose…” She didn’t finish, instead pulling a slender, sturdy silver chain from her ornate bag, its hook designed to clip onto the collar’s ring. She dangled it, the chain clinking ominously. “What do you think?”
Ailiya stared at the glinting chain, her face paling, a tidal wave of shame drowning her.