Uni broke the silence, her voice trembling with concern.

  "Trixie," she said softly, her heart heavy with worry. "Are you alright?"

  Trixie didn't respond at first, her eyes fixated on the floor, her mind consumed by conflicting thoughts. She wanted to reassure her friends, to tell them that she was fine, but her submission prevented her from voicing her true feelings. Instead, she swallowed hard and said, "I... I'm fine.”

  Uni and Esther shared another worried glance at Trixie's response. They could tell something was off, but they didn't know how to address it. Uni reached out to touch Trixie's shoulder, but Trixie flinched slightly at the contact.

  Esther wrote a note, her eyes brimmed with concern. It read: "This isn't like you, Trixie. You never used to be this...submissive. What happened to you?”

  Trixie read the note, her heart sinking. She knew Uni and Esther were worried, and they had every right to be. But she was unable to express her true feelings, her submission holding her tongue. Instead, she replied weakly, "I'm...learning.”

  Uni and Esther exchanged another worried look, both of them increasingly concerned at Trixie's submissive behavior and vague responses. The fact that she wasn't acting like her usual confident and independent self was a stark sign that something was very wrong.

  Uni's expression hardened, her protective instincts taking over. "Learning?" she echoed, her voice filled with skepticism. "Learning what? To be completely submissive to someone who clearly doesn't have your best interests in mind?”

  Trixie couldn't deny the truth in Uni's words. She knew that Sarolta wasn't exactly the kindest or most understanding person, but she couldn't help but feel a strange attraction to her authority. Still, she couldn't express this to her friends. She simply repeated softly, "I'm learning.”

  Uni's frustration and worry deepened, her concern for Trixie becoming almost palpable. "Learning what, exactly?" she pressed, unable to contain her emotions. "How to obey blindly? How to abandon all sense of self and free will?”

  Trixie looked away, unable to meet Uni's gaze. She knew her friend was right, but she was unable to break away from Sarolta's hold. She mumbled softly, "I'm learning...how to be disciplined.”

  Uni's concern turned into outright worry. She wanted to shake some sense into Trixie, to make her snap out of this brainwashing. "Disciplined? That's what you call it?" she asked incredulously. "This isn't discipline, Trixie. This is manipulation.”

  Trixie couldn't argue with Uni's words. She knew deep down that Sarolta was manipulating her, using her submission to mold her behavior and thoughts. But she was powerless to resist, her submission holding her in its iron grip. She said weakly, "Please... Just leave it be.”

  "No," Uni said firmly, her worry turning into determination. "I won't leave it be. You're not thinking clearly. You're letting yourself be manipulated and used. What happened to the ass-kicking, cool and confident Trixie we've known for all this time?”

  Trixie felt a pang of guilt. She knew that Uni was asking a valid question, but her submission prevented her from admitting the truth. Instead, she muttered weakly, "I'm growing... I'm learning obedience.”

  Uni shook her head, frustrated and worried. She wanted to shake some sense into Trixie, to make her snap out of this submissive state. "This isn't growth, Trixie. This is indoctrination. You're losing yourself. You're not learning, you're letting someone else take control of your life and decisions—"

  Just then, a knock was heard on the door, and it opened to reveal Sarolta, looking at Trixie still on all fours with her hips raised, a pleased smile spreading across her features. "I can see you're having a little conversation here," she said, her tone calm yet authoritative, "but I'm afraid it's time for Trixie to come with me now.”

  Uni and Esther both tensed up, reluctant to let Trixie go but knowing that they couldn't stop her. Uni spoke up, her voice firm but concerned. "Where are you taking her?”

  Sarolta's smile widened as she replied. "That is none of your concern. Trixie belongs to me now, and I'll do with her as I please." She took a step closer to Trixie. "Come, my dear. We have a schedule to follow.”

  Uni's eyes narrowed with anger and helplessness. "Trixie-" she began, but stopped when she saw the cold edge of Sarolta's glance.

  "Enough," Sarolta said firmly, her tone brooking no argument. "You're not in a position to make demands. Trixie is under my care now, and I'll decide what's best for her."

  She took Trixie's arm and gently lifted her up from the floor. "Come, my dear," she repeated. "It's time for your training.”

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  Uni and Esther watched helplessly as Trixie stood up, her movements obedient and almost docile. The sight of her friend, once so lively and confident, reduced to this submissive state was heart-wrenching. As Sarolta led Trixie out of the room, Uni's worry and frustration boiled over. "This isn't right," she whispered hoarsely.

  Sarolta, who had nearly exited the door, paused and turned back to them. Her tone was cool and slightly mocking. "Oh, but it is right," she said, her gaze locking with Uni's. "Trixie has chosen this path, and she's willingly submitted herself to me. She's learning discipline and obedience, which she sorely needs as the top agent of my corporation. I don't expect you to understand.”

  Uni's jaw clenched with suppressed anger. "Maybe I don't understand your twisted idea of discipline and obedience," she retorted, her voice trembling with emotion. "But I do understand that you're manipulating and using her. Trixie is not some mindless puppet you can mold to your will.”

  "Oh, but she is," Sarolta countered. "She's my pup now, and she's learning her place under my command. You'd do well to accept that. Trixie is under my control, and she has willingly submitted herself to me. Your concern is touching, but it's unwarranted. Trixie is learning and growing under my guidance, whether you like it or not.”

  Uni felt her rage boiling inside her, but she knew arguing was futile. She exchanged a helpless glance with Esther, seeing the same mixture of worry and helplessness on her friend's face. They could do nothing but watch as Trixie willingly followed Sarolta, her once vibrant spirit now subdued.

  As they watched Trixie and Sarolta exit the Visitor's Room, Uni felt a wave of helplessness wash over her. She wanted to argue, to protest, to do anything to get Trixie back to her normal self, but she knew any protest would be useless. Sarolta had made her claim, and there was nothing they could do to change that. At least, not for the time being.

  Once the door had closed behind Sarolta and Trixie, Uni finally let out a frustrated sigh, collapsing back onto the bed. Her thoughts and emotions were in turmoil. She couldn't bear to watch her friend being reduced to this obedient state, but she knew any fight, for now, was hopeless.

  Esther, her usual mute demeanor enhanced by her worry for her friend, approached Uni and placed a sympathetic hand on her shoulder. Uni looked up at her, feeling a mix of gratitude and despair. "What are we supposed to do, Esther?" she asked, her voice shaking slightly, "We can't just stand by while Trixie is being manipulated like that.”

  Esther nodded, her eyes reflecting her own worry. She knew the situation was dire, and they had to act before things got worse. She took out a notebook and scribbled something down. When she handed it to Uni, it read, "What do you suggest we do? We can't exactly confront her openly."

  Uni read the note, her expression hardening with determination. "I don't know yet," she admitted, "But there has to be something we can do. We can't just let Trixie be brainwashed like this. We need a plan.”

  Esther nodded again, her gaze intent. She jotted something else on the notebook, "We need to be subtle about it. We can't let Sarolta know that we're planning anything. She'll keep a close watch on us from now on.”

  Uni nodded grimly, understanding the gravity of the situation. "You're right," she agreed, her mind already starting to strategize. "We need to be careful. We can't let our concern and anger get the best of us. We need to...play along, for now at least.”

  Esther's expression remained neutral, although her eyes betrayed her concern. She scribbled down another note, "We'll have to be patient and smart about this. We need to find a way to break through to Trixie, to make her see that she's being manipulated.”

  Uni nodded, taking in the wisdom in Esther's words. "You're right," she said, her voice steady despite the storm of emotions inside her. "But the question is, how? How do we do that without Sarolta knowing? She's already got her hooks into Trixie's mind. She's completely submitted to her.”

  Esther considered the question, her gaze fixed thoughtfully on the notepad. She took a moment to think before scribbling down once more, "We need to be tactical. We have to be subtle, gradual. We can't do anything that will tip Sarolta off. But we need to find a way to reach out to Trixie, to remind her of who she is and what she used to stand for."

  Uni nodded, taking in everything Esther was writing. The truth was, she didn't have a plan yet. She didn't know how to get through to Trixie, especially when she was under Sarolta's influence. "But how?" she asked, desperation creeping in her voice, "How do we even approach her without giving ourselves away? Sarolta already knows we're concerned. She's not going to let us get close to Trixie.”

  Esther's eyes darkened slightly as she considered the situation. It was true; they needed to find a way to reach Trixie without Sarolta's knowledge or suspicion. She grabbed the notepad once more, her handwriting swift and elegant. "We need to be clever about it," the note read "We can't act suspicious. We have to find a way to get time alone with her."

  Uni nodded again, her mind racing with possibilities, each one seeming more implausible than the last. "That's a good start," she agreed, "but when? And how? We're not exactly free to move around here, and Sarolta will most likely be watching us like a hawk.”

  Esther's expression was almost grave now as she considered the new challenge. She took a long moment to think, then scribbled something down on the notepad, “We need to create an opportunity. We have to be patient and wait for an opening.”

  Uni's expression hardened as she read the words. The thought of waiting and having to watch Trixie under Sarolta's control for longer was torturous. But Ester was right; they had to be patient. They couldn't afford to do anything rash or hasty. "Alright," she said, her voice firm but quiet, "But how long are we supposed to wait?”

  Esther's expression softened, sensing Uni's frustration. She quickly scribbled another note, “As long as it takes. We can't afford to be impulsive.”

  Uni sighed, feeling the weight of the situation bearing down on her. She knew Esther was right, as always. It was just so hard to watch Trixie like this, to see her submitting herself so completely to someone like Sarolta. "I know," she said, the words almost a growl, "I just...I just hate feeling so helpless. I dunno, let's go down to the lobby and get some breakfast, maybe we'll be able to think better when we put something in our stomachs.”

  Esther nodded silently, appreciating Uni's need to take a moment and gather her thoughts. The two of them stood up, their minds still fixed on the problem at hand but understanding the need for momentary respite.