Age Recommendation: 18+
When a young lord purchases a catgirl, he kicks off a series of events that will forever change the entire empire.
"Twenty Four." The priestess said with clear exasperation.
The golden-eyed catgirl stepped forward, ears twitching and tail coiled around her leg. She was trying not to hiss as some lord or another inspected the temple's current offerings.
He took her roughly by the chin, twisting her head this way and that. "No obvious blemishes. How old is this one?"
"An orphan, m'lord. We're not exactly sure. But somewhere in her early twenties." The priestess bowed to him, "But I'm afraid she has a temper."
The man raised an eyebrow at her, "Really?"
Twenty Four stuck her tongue out at him.
The lord laughed loudly and released her chin, "My, my. You are aware, lowly kitten, that few of your kind are given the opportunity to see outside these walls?"
"Don't care." She snapped.
The priestess backhanded her, "Lowly cat! How dare you speak in that manner!"
The man's green eyes seemed, to the neko, to almost glow. He spoke gratingly, "Lady Efina, I would prefer it if you didn't damage my property."
The catgirl spat a mouthful of blood on the ground, standing up to glare at the human man. "You choose me. What if Twenty Four doesn't choose you?"
The priestess barely stopped herself from hitting the cat again. "Twenty Four! Have you forgotten everything?"
"It's okay." The man raised a hand, "Cats always choose their masters. It is their way. I am Lord Sai, my little neko. If you do choose me, you will be fitted with a bell. Free to come and go, when you are not serving me."
She reached up and rubbed her sore cheek, "You smell arrogant. Proud."
"Is that so? I wonder how you smell?"
She snorted, and then cracked a small smile, "Something more. Beneath the musk of your self-infatuation. There's blood on your hands. Shame in your eyes."
"Yes." He confessed freely, surprising her. "I'm a lord. I have done terrible deeds in the name of my country. Peace is as much a lie as love. Yet, my advisers insist I have a mistress. So I choose one that will not run from me when they see what I am willing to do."
Her tail perked up.
She liked his calculating gaze. The wrath burning just beneath the surface in those emerald seas. He reminded her of her favourite of children's tales.
The monster that came to slay all the other monsters.
"You may own her, but in word alone." She threatened him, "Twenty Four is not some whore to be bought and toyed with. If you expect deference, choose one of the others. Elf will always serve well, pretty and meek. If you expect to try and break her, expect her to cut off something precious in return."
"M'lord, clearly this neko is damaged goods. I apologise for allowing you to see this. Perhaps one of the others -" The priestess began.
Sai cut her off with a raised hand, "Your terms are acceptable. Twenty Four."
As he gave her number, she felt her snowy cheeks pinken. There was a warmth in the way he spoke to her, even when she was trying to antagonise him. She doubted he knew the importance of a name, but it still filled her with warmth.
He held out his hand to her, "Will you be mine?"
© Copyright 2024, James Milne