Louise woke up because she was suffocating.
There was something in her mouth, moving nonstop. Even breathing through her nose felt uncomfortable.
Slowly, the girl opened her eyes.
When she saw the man right in front of her kissing her, her pink irises shrank and her eyes flew wide. She nearly rolled her eyes back and fainted again.
Chuckling, Hayashi Maki released her lips and pinched her cheek.
"Don't pass out, Louise. This isn't a dream."
"Mm… not a dream? Really?"
She was still foggy—or maybe she just instinctively didn't want to accept what was happening.
"It's real."
He gently stroked her pink wavy hair, relishing the feel. The little noble mage from another world smelled wonderful. Her skin was snow-pale; only her chest was a bit… regrettable—scantier than even Yukino-chan's used to be.
Hearing him, Louise finally faced reality.
"If it's not a dream… then that means—" she muttered, her gaze turning dangerous. "You lecherous mutt—shameless, filthy familiar! While your master was unconscious, you did that kind of dirty thing to a noble like me?"
She shoved Hayashi Maki away and yanked a riding crop from the cabinet. With a slightly unhinged look, she smiled and cracked the crop down at him.
"Heh heh… you mutt! Go to hell!"
Crack!
Naturally, Hayashi Maki wasn't about to be hit; he caught the lash easily. With a twist of his right hand, he yanked—Louise squeaked as her body was pulled toward him.
"Kya!"
He slipped an arm around her slim waist, took the crop from her, and, holding her soft hand, leaned in with a smile.
"Don't get so mad—don't let anger mess up that illegally cute face, Miss Louise. How about we do something more interesting?"
When his handsome face drew close, Louise flushed, then rolled her eyes and looked at him coldly. Yes, he was handsome—but not enough for love at first sight. Still, she needed to get a grip on the situation now. He'd snatched her riding crop like it was nothing and was looking at her with that lewd gaze—unforgivable! And the strange feeling in her mouth while she was out made her burn with shame.
"If Miss Louise won't say anything, I'll take that as consent. Here I come."
Grinning wickedly, he hugged her soft body and leaned toward her lips again.
Louise panicked.
"Wait—lecherous mutt! Who said I consented? Let me go! I'm your master!"
She tried to break free—useless. The magic boiling up with her emotions didn't move him either; she still couldn't blast this shameless familiar away.
"Mmmph—"
And Hayashi Maki kissed her again.
Watching her eyes go wide with shame, he felt thoroughly amused. Yes, bullying a pretty girl wasn't good. But she'd tried to whip him—compared to that, a kiss was positively gentle.
"Mmm… mmm…"
Unable to escape, Louise felt wronged. The pressure of constant ridicule from her classmates and the humiliation of a noble's dignity being trampled all burst out at once. Big tears slid from the corners of her eyes and splashed on the floor.
"Uh…"
A pretty girl's tears were always Hayashi Maki's greatest weakness. Seeing her cry, he couldn't keep teasing; he let her rosy lips go and gently stroked her long hair.
"Sorry—I didn't mean to make you cry. You were the one swinging a crop at me—and I didn't hit you, did I? Don't cry, alright? I'll stop picking on you for now."
"I—I am not crying! You lecherous mutt, let go already!" Louise squirmed in shame and anger, shoved him away, and hastily wiped her tears. She looked so fragile it made one's heart ache. Beautiful girls weeping like pear blossoms in the rain naturally stir pity.
"Who said you could touch your master's hair? Ugh—looks like I really do need to teach you properly, or you'll think you can ride on your master's head! Hmph, Second Sis was right—dogs need to be disciplined with a whip!"
She snatched the crop again and swung.
Hayashi Maki shook his head helplessly. Miss Louise was still too hot-headed—and didn't learn.
And so, once again he caught the crop—then gathered her into his arms and pressed his lips to hers.
…
After a long time, Louise finally threw in the towel.
"Let me go, you lecherous mutt!"
"Mmf—"
Being called that, Hayashi Maki didn't indulge her—he covered her lips again.
Blushing, Louise struggled a bit, then gave up. After a moment, Hayashi Maki let her go and said seriously,
"My name is Hayashi Maki. Please remember it, Miss Louise. Don't call me insults—or I'll kiss you."
"Hmph! Y-you are lecherous. What kind of familiar threatens his master like that?"
She groused, pushing at him with her small hands.
"I won't hit you anymore. Let go. I am the master!"
Having been kissed for so long, she finally understood the difference in their strength.
Hayashi Maki released her for the moment and sat casually on the bed.
"You're not my master. If anything, you are my property."
"Hah? Insubordinate familiar—what are you babbling about?" Louise glared, eyes misting again. If a familiar wanted to sit on her head, fine—so long as she didn't admit it.
Having such a powerful familiar would let her flaunt it and wash away her shame. But now he didn't even acknowledge being her familiar—her chest tightened with hurt. The familiar contract was signed; she'd even given him her first kiss. How could he not recognize her?
Hayashi Maki nearly laughed at her about-to-cry face.
"I was never your familiar. Sure, you summoned me here—but look closely. Do you see a familiar's seal on me? Can you sense me? Can you bind me as your master?"
Louise's eyes went wide as she looked him over. "You've obviously hidden the seal!"
As for being unable to control him—that was too humiliating for a noble, so she chose to ignore it.