Case 118: ”From now on, you are mine.”

For a while, I was dumbfounded.

Reasons told me that the cuff I was now wearing shouldn't be there in the first place, yet its weight on my wrist proved otherwise. Wasn't too heavy for its looks, but undoubtedly real.

My eyes traced the chain that was connected to it, eventually landing on the bed's frame, where it was nailed to.

''...What is this, Lyra?'' I immediately asked.

If this were a joke, then it would be a bad one. For one, my lovers were still present, so they...

...they seemed calm?

A sense of uneasiness crept up in me. As if agreed beforehand, they promptly ignored my pleading and questioning gaze, bearing guilty expressions.

''Don't worry. This isn't your punishment.'' Lyra chimed in, her smile thin. ''That comes later.''

''Y-Yeah, but why are you doing this...?''

''Since big sis is not compliant, you will stay here for a while. I'll personally take care of you every day, of course.''

With a blissfully innocent and matter-of-fact tone, my little sister replied. Naturally, I rejected the idea. Suddenly losing my freedom like this... wasn't ideal, to say the least.

''That's not allowed,'' I said sternly. ''Lyra, have I ever taught you to look down on people's rights like this?''

''Oh? Feeling saintly today, aren't we?''

Lyra, the ever-obedient little sister I had always doted on, rebelled. She reached toward me, looming, her slender fingers squeezing my cheeks helplessly, ''I'll do what I want, big sis. Unfortunately... your opinion doesn't matter.''

''W-What?! Nonsense! Get rid of this right now—''

I had intended to rip this shackle off and teach the unruly girl a lesson, as her big sister, yet the moment I focused my strength into it... I found that I couldn't.

The overwhelming power that had circulated in my body for the last five years dwindled by the second, eventually settling down at the bottom, like a calm lake. Like it wasn't there in the first place. At this state, even reaching out to Lucy proved difficult.

In an instant, my heart stopped beating.

Up until now, I have had the confidence to carry out various tasks. That was thanks to this power, one I always looked at with disdain. But without it now, I was nothing.

Just a beautiful puppet harboring a millennium curse.

My trembling eyes met with Lyra's.

For a moment, those voids nearly swallowed me whole. But I persevered. Deep down, I believed that she could still be... saved.

Gritting my teeth, I turned to my lovers, ''You guys say something! This can't be the correct way forward, can it?''

Yet, they only looked at me awkwardly. Signs of distress were apparent on Rachael's countenance as she sighed, ''You brought this upon yourself, Cecilia.''

''...Huh?''

Seeing the other two nodding along, I nearly fell into despair. What in the world were they thinking...?!

''It seems you are still clueless, big sis.'' Lyra seized my attention. ''Let me kindly explain to you.''

I swallowed a gulp.

''First, you disappeared without notice, making us worry. Second, you charged recklessly into a fight with the ancient demon. Barely any survival instincts. Third, you coldly ignored our messages. And fourth... you're too foolish for this cruel world.''

Every point she made nailed at me as if I were a death row criminal. Still, I had to refute her last sentence, ''Foolish? Are you insulting me?'' I said with my eyes narrowed, ''Have I raised you too courteously, I wonder? You are the naive one, Lyra. Release me this instance.''

Without a flinch in her demeanor, Lyra crouched, pulling her face closer to mine, ''Don't think you know everything about me. I've been through more than you can imagine.''

''You...''

Although I was frustrated, what she said was logical. I wasn't her, so I couldn't know everything she did. Under the former heroine's guidance, she might have become... more mature than what I had in mind.

But that wasn't a sensible reason to lock me up like this.

''Big sis.''

Once again, before I could retort, Lyra held my cheeks almost forcefully, and with a hint of desperation, ''The demons have started to move. It's a tense situation across the countries right now, so you, especially you... can't move around carelessly anymore. Do me a favor and stay obedient.''

''...''

My eyes widened. In a daze, I barely heard Lyra's last whisper, ''If not, I would use more forceful methods. There's no 'buts' here.''

By this time, my lovers closed in, consoling me apologetically.

''Sorry, Cecilia. I'll visit often.''

''Endure it for a while. Don't be too distressed, alright?''

''Text me whenever you like.''

They stayed with me until night, gently coaxing me with... reasons—good ones, frustratingly. Then, each gave me a kiss before leaving, citing work.

I could sense that they genuinely felt bad for me, and looking at their clinginess earlier, it was clear that they didn't want to leave.

''Why so kind for a demon, I wonder...'' I muttered, feeling bitter.

Lyra, who sat beside me, scoffed, ''Because they love you, of course.''

''Mhm...''

''You're kind, beautiful, and you might not know this, but succubi are quite coveted in the underground scene. Who doesn't want to sleep with a seductive woman?''

''...Since when were you so familiar with such things?''

As if rubbing it in my face, Lyra shrugged, ''You don't know my everything.''

I let out a hmph at that, but now that the topic had died down... awkwardness once again set in. I didn't know how to act in front of my little sister anymore. I knew she wasn't as simple as she appeared, but wasn't this too much?

''...Nn?!''

Suddenly, I felt a grip on my tail. Sensitive.

''What are you doing?!''

Almost instinctively, out of embarrassment, I hurled my feet at Lyra, hoping to push her away, together with that naughty hand. The chain clinked along my drastic movements, yet the heroine remained unbothered.

Clinked.

''...Huh?!''

And, before I knew it, another cuff snapped around my right ankle, its chain dangling ominously.

''Just for good measure,'' Lyra smirked, her cheek pressed against my calf.

The scene must have looked like a forbidden play. One hand gripping my thigh, one catching my tail, Lyra leaned in dangerously close to me, her momentum utterly unstoppable.

''W-What are you trying to do?! Insolent! Insolent!'' I yelled.

Before long, the girl had climbed on top of me. She bent down, silky black hair pouring onto the white sheet. Her head obscured the dim ceiling light, hands pressing down on my wrists, barely an imprisonment.

Close enough that we could feel each other's breath, Lyra chuckled, ''I was granted the heroine title this morning. They are preparing to announce it tomorrow. The emperor must have been impatient because of the demons.''

''...?''

''It means I now have absolute command over anything demon-related. No one is above me. No one can go against my decision.''

Her words fell like boulders, foreboding a rather frightening reality, ''And... I can do anything—anything to the demons I have captured with no consequence.''

''...!!''

Realization dawned, yet but too late.

Lyra got even closer, shrouding me in complete darkness. My mind nearly went blank. Then... with my heart beating wildly, I felt her lips on my forehead.

''From now on... you'll be mine, Cecilia.''

She whispered.