“Tama doesn’t understand!” My voice came out more whiny then I meant it. Saki just sighed at me.

  “Tama, We cannot.. Rojier’s kingdom is a powerful military force. As our ally they would normally send help during a war. We are going to need more than help. Kita is quite literally our slave. As Queen we can force her to send her entire army to defend us.” Saki explained and my heart sank.

  “But Saki.. that’s so wrong!” Saki shook her head.

  “Tama, this is serious, you need to trust me on this. I understand you aren’t happy. But we need her in charge, at least until everything stabilizes. Think of it as.. Friends with benefits who really love you?” Saki said, smiling at me weakly.

  “We cannot afford in our current weakened state to not use her enslaved power to our advantage. She did this to herself. We are just exploiting it.” She continued as we made our way to the street.

  We reached the gates and Kita stood there, naked, covered in blood, her tail lashing back and forth as she excitedly watched us come forward. “I know you are here Mixie, come out so we can talk!” Saki called.

  Mixie suddenly appeared next to Kita smirking. “Nice look.” Was all she said to Kita before walking over to us. Saki opened her mouth to speak, but Mixie cut her off. “You saw the notification. Let’s cut to the chase. You need our military and you won’t get it if Kita isn’t under Tama’s absolute control.”

  Saki’s eye twitched and she smiled sweetly at Mixie. “I feel like our nations have such a…”

  Mixie cut her off again. “No, Regent Alissa and King Rodrick had a great relationship. Excuse me if I don’t bend over backwards to submit to that thing you call a Queen next to you.” Saki’s illusion popped up, then vanished.

  “You didn’t seem to have a problem enslaving your daughter to her!” Saki snapped.

  Mixie giggled. “Indeed I did, and a more perfect plan there was not. Let me make this extremely clear, Saki. If Kita is removed from her throne, abdication or otherwise. Or Tama does not take control of my daughter. I will take the throne and you will have an enemy kingdom on your hands.. More than one based on the map I just saw.”

  She walked over and smacked Kita’s ass before turning back to us. “Have fun with my daughter, and don’t worry. She has no morals she will get caught up on. Her owner is everything to her.” and with that, Mixie vanished and Kita giggled.

  There was a long moment of silence. Then… “Admit you are a two timing traitor and a whore and your mother is a worthless slut!” Saki suddenly screamed at Kita. She was breathing heavily and clearly enraged.

  Kita bowed and spoke. “I am a two timing traitor, a whore, and my mother is a worthless slut.” She stated simply with a loving smile. Saki looked lost for a moment before saying. “Go.. go clean yourself and get dressed… we have a coronation to get to.”

  Kita bowed again. “Yes, mistress Saki.” Then turned, and walked into the castle naked.

  I quietly looked at Saki. “Saki… back when we first met. Saki.. Saki told Tama that charm was like pretty please with ice cream on top right?” My tail lashed back and forth as I considered my words carefully.

  Saki nodded but looked confused. “And.. When Tama bought Paige and Tristy, Anna, now Sabi, told Tama that I should just use them, that it was part of the way things worked.”

  Saki nodded again, her confusion even more obvious. I turned and looked at the castle in front of me. “Tama has been thinking about it. Tama doesn’t want slaves because slaves remove freedom. But… What about when someone wants to be a slave? This is the question Tama has wondered a lot about.”

  Saki went to speak but I held up a hand. “So, Tama began to consider this for a long time. At first, her response was simple. Slavery was bad and freedom was everything. But.. as time has gone on. Tama has noticed something.”

  I turned to look at Saki, stepping forward, I kissed her on the lips. “Tama thinks she is Saki’s slave, even without a collar. Tama has a choice, yes, but she always picks Saki. This makes me wonder if slavery that is wanted is any different.”

  Saki looked genuinely lost as she stared into my eyes, her finger gently touched her lips. I continued. “Tama still doesn’t care for slavery, but Tama thinks she is starting to.. Understand why.”

  “Tama thinks that Kita, Tristy, and Paige really wanted love. But they couldn’t find it. So they pushed and pushed until they found purpose in loving others. They wanted love so bad, they made irreversible decisions about themselves to receive it in the only way they ever knew how..” Saki swallowed and looked away.

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  “Tama cannot free them, but maybe.. Maybe Tama can teach them.” I finished quietly. With that, I blinked up and over the gate before walking through the front door.

  The moment I entered the foyer as Saki called it... I noticed Kita standing there. She had already changed and was wearing a pretty dress made of a light purple. “I am finished getting ready.” Was all she said as she smiled at me.

  I turned to blink away, but paused. “Kita, can Tama ask you something?” My tail lashed as I turned back to her.

  “Of course Mistress, I live to… serve…” She emphasized the word serve and giggled with enjoyment. I felt sick, but paused and really looked at her. I personally hated the idea of losing my freedom. But.. it wasn’t my freedom, and I hadn’t taken it, she had given it.

  “Tama wants to know why Kita doesn’t want to be free!” I spoke plainly. Kita looked at me puzzled for a moment before looking away, then looking back. The collar glowed bright and brighter until she finally spoke.

  “I… may I answer your question with one of my own, my Queen?” Her voice was soft and she seemed almost reluctant to speak. I nodded and after a moment, she continued. “Why do you value your freedom? What do you get from being free?”

  I paused as I considered that. “Tama gets to make her own choices and do what she wants!” I answered honestly. “No one can tell Tama what to do unless she agrees!” I tail lashed even faster as I felt my excitement rising.

  “And yet… you seem to obey Saki every single time do you not?” Kita asked seriously. I froze before shaking my head.

  “Nya, Tama does most of the time, but Tama has said no before and constantly questions Saki!” I answered honestly. Kita smiled like she had just won her point.

  She stepped closer and leaned in, she was over five inches taller than me. “What if all you ever wanted was to do what Saki said? What if the same joy you got from freedom came to you only when Saki spoke, when Saki told you to do something. Would you crave freedom if it meant you would never truly have that?”

  “But Tama doesn’t want that! Besides, even if Tama wanted that, wouldn’t Tama just stay free and follow… Saki…” I trailed off and Kita’s smile widened.

  She did a little twirl and giggled. “Exactly my Mistress, Exactly.”

  I jumped and pointed at her. “But it’s different, Tama can choose differently, Kita cannot!” Kita nodded and gently touched her collar before shivering.

  She sighed and looked me in the eyes. “My dearest owner, have you ever considered the mere act of making your own choice to be perilous?” I opened my mouth, but she continued and I let her. “For instance, in a few weeks I will most likely be Queen of Rojier. You of all people understand how.. Taxing that can feel even on its own. But imagine for a moment stepping into the shoes of a man so much greater than yourself. Expected to lead as good or better?”

  I looked at her as tears formed in her eyes. “To rule in such a way.. To make such.. Such complex and nuanced decisions. To know every single decision I made would cost the country dearly, affect every outcome. My words of choice would change everything.”

  I swallowed and took a step back almost.. Fearfully. She smiled kindly at me. “But what if there was a way out… a silly one, one so drastic and permanent that the very act would change your life forever… but it would free you from this.. This torture.”

  “But Kita enjoys being a slave!” I snapped at her. She giggled and nodded profusely.

  “Why is precisely why it was never a hard choice to make. To lead my country myself and make possibly horrible decisions, or to fall into the chains of another who I know would lead my people right and make use of me as she saw fit.”

  She had begun to pant slightly and her cheeks were turning red. “Why, such an act would be irresponsible to not attempt, would you not agree my Queen?”

  I took a deep breath and shook my head. “Tama thinks that sounds like running away. It sounds like Kita was afraid to lead her people and is trying to make someone else do it.”

  Kita frowned and shook her head. “Do you truly think so Mistress? That I am simply running from my responsibility? Then why did I not just step down? Surely my mother would have allowed such a thing?”

  I froze at that and looked at her confused. “Nya, why not just step down?” She smiled at me and twirled her dress.

  “Well, it’s really quite simple! There is simply no better ruler than a Tamaneko. Ever.” I frowned as she spoke and pointed at her aggressively.

  She giggled at that and said. “You seem upset, might I ask why as your humble slave?”

  “Tama is not the smartest or the bestest! Tama can’t even read! Saki always has to clean up after Tama!” Tears had filled my eyes. “Tama is a mess and she knows it!” I bit my lower lip.

  Kita nodded knowingly. “And yet, you attract people to you like honey. Your advisor is by far the smartest I have ever met. Your aunt made my father fall in love and retire. Your very existence shapes the world around you. I killed an ancient dragon earlier under your orders.”

  I winced at that, but she continued. “The Tamaneko line isn’t known for their intelligence, they are known for their heart and will. For their desire to help others and save people. You live up to that legacy perfectly.”

  I froze, I wasn’t sure how to respond to that. I felt Saki gently wrap her arms around me and kiss me on the cheek. “Normally I don’t agree with slaves, but Kita has a point,Tama. You truly are one of a kind. Having travelled with you for years I can genuinely say you have done more good than anyone I have ever met.”

  Kita nodded at that and giggled. “You truly are a Tamaneko. Honestly I was slightly fearful I would end up enslaved to a dominant masochist like the Regent… the other day showed me I had no reason to be worried.”

  I looked uncertainly between Saki and Kita. Saki sighed and looked over to Kita. “Kita, be a good slave Queen and make sure Tama is ready… emotionally and physically.” Saki’s hand went down and after a moment I yelped.

  She giggled before kissing me on the cheek again and whispering. “You are going to love Lyran!” and with that, she walked past me into the throne room.

  Kita giggled and covered her mouth. “With my Mistress’s permission… I would be happy to.” She sounded more than just happy.