Prayer of the Beast

“Y-Your Highness! Please, if you would just let go…!”

“This is a punishment, too, so take it obediently.”

“Punishment…”

The word punishment drained the strength right out of Lino’s fingers, which had been desperately gripping Grondil’s thick forearm. How could he possibly refuse a direct punishment?

“The past is the past, so it cannot be helped now. But going forward, you had best keep this strictly regulated.”

“…Yes, Your Highness.”

“While you serve as my escort knight, do not even entertain the thought of showing it to anyone else. Ah, and touching it yourself is forbidden as well.”

“That is a bit…”

“Did I not say it was a punishment?”