"Hmph."

    I let out a dramatic little huff and cross my arms, doing my best to glare at Eris. She just smirks back at me, completely unbothered. Smug. Unrepentant.

    Like she knows she''s won.

    Then, as if the little spat never even happened, she turns to me with a casual smile.

    "Anyway… these homunculi. Think we should give them names?"

    My ears perk up immediately.

    "Oooh! Yes! We definitely should!" I bounce on my heels, all my grumpiness instantly forgotten. Just like that, excitement takes over.

    Eris chuckles and gives me a playful wink. "Then I leave it to you, Felicia."

    She says it like she''s bestowing a royal quest. Like this is some sacred duty only I can fulfill.

    …

    Gulp.

    Okay.

    Suddenly this feels like a lot of pressure.

    I glance over at the five homunculi lined up before us.

    Now I''m faced with the hardest challenge of the day: naming these five homunculi.

    I mean… I''m not exactly great at naming things.

    What if the names I come up with are super lame?

    But—

    "Don''t worry," Eris grins, giving me a big thumbs up. "We believe in you!"

    Alvero nods in agreement and flashes a thumbs up of his own.

    …I inhale deeply. Then slowly exhale.

    Alright.

    Here goes nothing.

    Time to name some magical catgirl maids!

    Now… I''m ready.

    I take a deep breath, then step forward, just like Alvero instructed. My heart''s fluttering a little, but my hand stays steady as I gently reach out and place a finger on the forehead of the blonde-haired catgirl.

    "This one…" I murmur, narrowing my eyes dramatically, like I''m peering into the divine realm of inspiration itself. "Her name shall be… uhh… Meowrelia."

    Ding!

    A soft shimmer of light flickers in her eyes. A second later, she kneels. Her voice is clear and reverent.

    "Servant, Homunculus Meowrelia, at your order!"

    I freeze.

    My ears perk straight up. My tail flicks back and forth like it''s lost control.

    UOOOOHHHHHH!?

    "E-Eris!!" I squeak, practically vibrating. "Did you see that!? This is amazing!!"

    Something deep within me stirs—something powerful, majestic, possibly a little unhinged. I don''t know what this feeling is, but I like it. The authority! The elegance! The sheer meowjesty!

    Mwuehehehehehe!!

    Eris watches with her usual cool, arms folded as she gives a small, approving nod. "Humu. Meowrelia? I like it."

    "Yeah, that''s a solid name," Alvero adds with a smile.

    I puff out my chest, pride swelling like a balloon.

    Okay. I''ve got this.

    One down. Four to go.

    Stepping over to the pink-haired maid, I tap her gently on the forehead.

    "You… shall be called… Purrlina!"

    Ding!

    Another shimmer. Another elegant kneel.

    "Servant, Homunculus Purrlina, at your order!"

    Her voice is sweet like honey but wrapped in unshakable loyalty.

    I can''t help but sparkle with delight.

    "Fufu, another great one," Eris muses with a smile.

    And just like that, I go down the line, waving my finger with absolute authority.

    "Servant, Homunculus Nyabelle, at your order!" the blue-haired catgirl says.

    "Servant, Homunculus Mintchii, at your order!" the green-haired catgirl says.

    "Servant, Homunculus Tangerinya, at your order!" the orange-haired catgirl says

    Now, all five kneel before me, their heads bowed in perfect unison.

    I stand proudly, hands on my hips, the very image of noble smugness.

    "Alright!" I announce, voice echoing with the full force of a tiny tyrant. "I, Master Felicia, have bestowed upon you the holiest of names! Meowrelia! Purrlina! Nyabelle! Mintchii! Tangerinya!"

    My tail swishes as I raise one hand dramatically to the heavens.

    "From this day forth—you are the invincible Magical Catgirl Maid Squad! Protectors of Noctis Sanctum! Codename: Twilight Whiskersz!"

    "YES, MASTER!" they all say in perfect unison.

    "Nyahahahaha! Gooood! Very good!!" I laugh maniacally, basking in the glorious absurdity of it all.

    But then… I glance to my side.

    Pfffft!!!!

    "Haha," Eris is laughing, bent over, holding her stomach. "T-Twilight Whiskersz!?

    Alvero doesn''t laugh… but his lips are twitching. He''s holding back with the strength of a monk. Sёar?h the ηovelFire.ηet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "HEYYYY!!" I yell, stomping one foot. My tail poofs up like a startled squirrel. "If you think it''s so easy, you try naming five magical catgirl maids in a row!!"

    "No, no!" Eris says quickly, patting my head with a warm smile and a glimmer in her eyes. "I love it! Your naming sense is amazing! I was just… very surprised, that''s all!"

    "Really?" I blink up at her, tail swishing with cautious hope.

    "YEAH!" she beams.

    "Indeed," Alvero chimes in with a smooth nod of approval. "Miss Felicia here is the most creative namer I''ve had the pleasure of witnessing in my entire career. Truly… inspired."

    "Hehehe~" I can''t stop the silly grin creeping across my face. I scratch the side of my nose, pretending to be modest, but I know I''m glowing. My cheeks are all warm, and my chest feels like it''s filled with fizzy soda bubbles.

    Too much praise all at once, I might actually pop.

    Then Alvero steps back, straightening his coat. He places a hand over his heart and bows low with deep, graceful gesture.

    "Well then," he says with calm finality, "that concludes our arrangement. Miss Eris, Miss Felicia, thank you once again for choosing the Hearthcarvers Guild. Should you need anything else, whether it''s maintenance, enchantment upgrades, or future custom work, you need only call. We are always at your service."

    "Thank you, Guildmaster," Eris replies, her voice soft but steady, a note of satisfaction in her tone.

    "Thank you too!" I echo, trying to sound proper and dignified even though I feel like bouncing.

    With a final nod, Alvero turns and makes his way down the garden path, disappearing between the hedges and crimson flowers.

    And just like that…

    Silence.

    A soft hush falls over the entry hall, like the house itself is taking a quiet breath.

    It''s done.

    Noctis Sanctum… is ours.

    Really, truly ours.

    --------------------------

    Later, after the guildmaster is gone, Eris and I begin unloading our stuff into the main chamber. The giant black-and-silver doors groan softly behind us as we close them, shutting out the outside world.

    Eris opens her hand, summoning her dimensional storage box in a brief shimmer of deep blue light. The ornate cube floats beside her, lids unfolding like petals to reveal all our packed belongings neatly stored.

    I watch, then blink curiously.

    "Hey, Eris… now that I think about it—what''s the difference between a dimensional box and a dimensional ring?"