The Struggle for Belonging

Minister Honest was sent flying by Esdeath's powerful kick, a mouthful of blood spurting from his lips. His large body tumbled through the air before crashing heavily onto the ground.

Even Akame was left speechless, and Kaguya was equally stunned.

"So much for the bond of teammates," Kaguya thought, her inner thoughts reflecting her surprise at how quickly this alliance crumbled.

Noticing Kaguya's reaction, Esdeath let out a condescending chuckle. "A filthy pig like him could never stand on the same level as me. He's nothing more than a swine fit for the pen."

Kaguya mentally sighed, but she could understand Esdeath's perspective. Esdeath's pride was immense, and a person like Minister Honest surely never caught her eye.

"I suppose I should feel sorry for this fat pig," Kaguya thought. From the very beginning, Esdeath never considered Honest as an ally.

"You…!" Honest, already heavily injured, was even more enraged by Esdeath's actions. After hearing her insult, he nearly passed out from fury.

Esdeath approached him slowly, extending one of her legs and placing her boot on his fat face. "What's the matter? Do you have a problem with what I said?"

"W-We had a deal! I would become emperor, and you would be made queen!" Honest gasped, his voice strained as he struggled to breathe under the pressure of her boot. His face flushed a deep red from both anger and lack of air.

"Trash like you?" Esdeath sneered coldly. "Did you really think I would serve under a disgusting, lowly pig? You must be more naive than I thought." As she spoke, Esdeath ground her boot against his face, pressing him deeper into the dirt.

"P-Please, we can talk this through!" Honest mumbled desperately. "I'll give you anything you want. I'll do whatever you say, just save me!"

"Anything, you say?" Esdeath removed her boot, her tone playful.

"Yes! Anything!" Honest quickly sat up, panting heavily, blood still oozing from his nose and mouth. He was a pitiful sight, a far cry from the once powerful minister who ruled with an iron fist.

"In that case," Esdeath said with a twisted grin as she raised her boot in front of him, "lick my boot. Maybe if you do a good job, I'll consider sparing you."

Hearing her demand, Honest froze. His grotesque face twisted with inner turmoil as his fists clenched reflexively. He had never been humiliated like this before.

"What's wrong? Are you hesitating?" Esdeath mocked with a smirk.

"N-No, I'll do it," Honest replied, swallowing his pride and crawling toward her like a dog.

He understood the importance of survival above all else. His ability to bide his time and endure indignity had allowed him to outlive two emperors. He had no choice but to submit now.

As Honest approached, Esdeath's face twisted with disgust. The moment he reached her, she swiftly kicked him in the head with blinding speed.

Blood splattered across the ground.

"Argh!"

The sickening sound of bones cracking echoed as Honest let out a pained scream. His body flew through the air, landing harshly against a nearby boulder. His scream was abruptly cut off as he went limp.

"I thought about it and realized that even letting you lick my boot is too disgusting." Esdeath waved her pristine hand dismissively, as if brushing off invisible dirt, her expression filled with disdain.

Kaguya's eyes twitched. "As expected of Esdeath," she thought. "No mercy at all."

Esdeath turned her attention to Kaguya and approached with a warm smile. "But if it's you, my dear, there would be no problem. I wouldn't even mind taking off my shoes."

"Sorry, girl, but you're overthinking it," Kaguya replied with a deadpan expression.

"You're so cute," Esdeath blushed slightly. "Even when you're angry, you're adorable." She wrapped her pale arms around Kaguya's, pulling her close.

"Please maintain some boundaries," Kaguya said sternly. "We are still enemies, after all."

"Oh?" Esdeath tilted her head playfully. "And what difference does that make?"

"It makes all the difference," Kaguya retorted. "As enemies, we can't be together unless—"

"Unless what?" Esdeath asked, her grip tightening around Kaguya.

"Unless you give all this up and stop being my enemy," Kaguya muttered, feeling the softness pressing against her arm.

"You're mistaken," Esdeath's expression became serious. "It's not about me being your enemy. It's about you being mine."

"Huh? What's the difference?" Kaguya asked, puzzled.

"Don't you see? You're not the one influencing me. I'm the one influencing you," Esdeath explained with fierce determination. "I will change you, not the other way around. Because you belong to me."

Kaguya sighed internally. "She's really a true dominatrix. Even such unreasonable things, she says with complete conviction."

"Belong to you?" Kaguya replied, shaking her head. "Sorry, but I belong to no one but myself."

"No," Esdeath insisted, her cheeks flushing as she pressed her soft chest against Kaguya's arm. "You're mine."

"You know that's cheating, right?" Kaguya muttered, half enjoying the sensation and half trying to maintain her composure.

"I'll stop cheating if you agree to be mine," Esdeath purred.

"Sorry, but I can't agree to that," Kaguya said firmly. "That's unreasonable and makes no sense."

As much as Kaguya admired Esdeath's strength and charm, she couldn't allow herself to be dominated. Especially by someone as controlling as Esdeath—who knows what madness would follow if she agreed.

Esdeath gently released Kaguya and smiled slyly as she unsheathed her sword. "If that's how it is, let's make a bet."

"A bet?" Kaguya raised an eyebrow, intrigued.

"If I win, you'll be mine," Esdeath declared confidently. "But if I lose, then I'll belong to you."

Kaguya couldn't help but sigh. "This is turning into some cheesy afternoon soap opera… It seems like only Esdeath and I would have time for such things."