Master of Minds, Master of Me

It’s been only a week and I’m literally dying here. My addiction to my pretty flower is really starting to get out of hand. Her little teasing trick shifted something inside me. If she was ready to play dirty like that, I will definitely return the favour. Okay, maybe my methods were already rather questionable. But now I’m making sure that I consume her mind completely.

Don’t worry. I haven’t only relied on making her see and hear things. I’m a gentleman after all. So I started to leave her little notes too. I would say that was rather romantic of me. Since our bet only included me not seeing her, there were no rules forbidding me from sneaking into her room to leave little cute notes among the chess pieces. And I think my idea of using chess pieces was rather poetic.

I slide through her door. She is out in the garden, so I thought this would be the perfect time to leave her my note. I take a piece of paper from my pocket and a pen. Hmm… What should I write this time? My storage of pick-up lines is emptying at a rapid pace with her. I make my decision and start to write.

On a scale of 1 to 10, you're a 9… because I'm the 1 you need.

Perfect. I put another pawn on top of it and leave the room. I thought I would start with softer messages, letting her get used to them slowly. But I will definitely change the nature of them along the way.

I exit the room and walk through the garden. I want to take one more look at her before going about my business. I find her by the fountain with her maid. She sits and slides her fingers in the water. Her face is blank as always, but her mind clearly isn’t. I can sense it. Her maid is talking to her, but she is barely listening, so lost in thought. Hopefully thinking of me.

Just in case she is not, I slip her an image of me suddenly sitting next to her, sliding my hand on the water, taking her hand to mine. In the vision she freezes. I grab her hand and lift it against my lips to kiss the palm, then the wrist, slowly working my way up toward her neck. When I reach the destination I whisper to her ear,

“Three weeks, pretty flower.”

Her lips part and a silent sigh escapes her.

Goddammit, she has some weird power to rile me up with such tiny gestures. I force myself to leave and head toward the city.

My interest in my pretty flower has been increasing alarmingly. I’m not sure if it is only because of the thrill of making someone so innocent fall. The excitement of luring her pure heart to feel something other than devotion to God, or if it is something else. Something more.

So I want to do a little experiment today. I’m heading to the underground: a darker place where people go when they want to do things in the shadows, be unseen and anonymous. My father thinks we should try to shut it down. But it’s impossible to get rid of all the illegal and shady stuff. I’m not that naive. I think it’s better if it happens somewhere specific, where it is easier to supervise and make sure it doesn’t get out of control or harm the country.

I actually enjoy the place. Usually it's the best place to find pretty girls to play with. I’m not planning a hookup today. I just want to see how my mind behaves there after meeting my pretty flower.

When I arrive in the right alley I place a masquerade mask on. I place my hand on the wall and let my mana flow, then the staircase appears. I walk down to the portal and step in. The underground is literally a small city beneath the city. The general atmosphere is dark and smoky. The scent of alcohol, heat and mischief lingers in the air.

I walk into one of the bars and take in the scene. People are dancing and conversing. I can clearly sense the excitement in everyone’s minds. There is a dance performance going on. Usually watching them excites me.

I let out a heavy sigh and go grab a wine glass, sitting at one of the empty tables. It’s just like I feared. All I can think about is how my pretty flower would look dancing up there.

I’m so doomed. Goddammit.

I was supposed to have only nice short flings before getting married and settling down. To have fun and let loose. But somehow I ended up being a little obsessed with probably the most religious girl in the country. Probably the hardest girl to have a fling with. Good job me.

And actually I’m not worried about her being so religious or her being hard to get. I’m worried about what happens after I get her. Since I’m definitely going to win her over. I have sensed how her mind and body react to me. It’s clear that she is attracted to me no matter how much she wants to deny it. But am I really going to be okay with marrying someone else?

I have stalked her results during the Selection. I found myself hoping that she would thrive and be selected in the end to become one of the three I could choose from. But her results are too average. I know she isn't going to get picked. I haven't even kissed her, yet the thought of marrying someone else feels wrong.

And of course there is the minor fact that she doesn't even want to be Queen. I know how suffocating life at the Palace can be. So I would never force her to be here. Goddammit, why does my heart have to throb so much just thinking about her?

“Hey, handsome. Why so down? Need someone to lighten the mood?”

I raise my gaze to a girl leaning against the table rather seductively. With a mask and a wig on I would never recognize her, but her voice is far too familiar.

I slam my forehead against the table in defeat.

“It’s me, Annie. Don’t bother.”

“Your High—”

“Don't say it, not here. You know better than that,” I mumble against the table.

Annie is a mage who works for Theodore, and I know her only because I’ve met her here so many times. She is a master at catching and seducing men. And don't get me wrong, we have never done anything. But we have had a lot of fun being each other's wing men. No one knows we know each other, not even Theodore. I hear her sit down next to me.

“Honestly, I never get used to how you look different every time. It’s like cheating. You can just make yourself look like a god. No wonder you get girls so easily.”

“Drop the jealousy. Like you have any problems hooking up with men.”

“True. So what's the matter? Can’t find any company?”

“I’m not here for company this time.”

“Okay… So what's bothering you? And please lift your head up, you look like a sulking widow or something. It’s disgusting to look at.”

I just turn my head so I can see her face, but keep my head against the table.

“I have a huge problem.”

“Yes?”

“I think I caught feelings.”

Annie looks genuinely surprised. “Feelings? Like feelings for a woman?”

“Yes.”

“Okay. So I presume she is not one of the candidates since you look so down.”

“She is.”

“Well, what’s the problem then?”

“She doesn’t want to be a Queen.” I turn my face back toward the table, feeling even more defeated.

“Oh… Well that sucks then. Does she like you?”

“Not yet.”

She chuckles a little. “Yet? So are you planning on seducing her?”

“Of course.”

“And what about when you get engaged?”

I finally lift my head and look at her like she is the dumbest person in the world.

“That’s why I’m sulking, you idiot. Isn’t it quite obvious?”

“Oh my, ease on the judgmental staring, you weirdo.”

“I’m not a weirdo, I’m Felix. Start calling me that.”

“No chance.”

What a stubborn mage. I just let out a heavy sigh as Annie continues.

“Well, if she doesn’t want to be Queen, you can always just take her as a concubine. It’s a pretty common thing to do. The Queen is for show and for the country’s benefit, and concubines are for love and feelings.”

“I thought about it. But taking concubines has never been something I would want to do. I think it’s wrong. And I’m pretty sure she would agree with me.”

“Then you just have to live with the fact that she is gone after your engagement.”

“I know, I know.” And I hate to admit that.

“I have to say I’m pretty curious what she is like to make you fall like that.”

I smile, since only the thought of her makes me happy. “How is she like? Kind of shy, extremely cute, pretty mysterious, sweet and kind. And she—”

“Okay, okay I get it already. Please stop. I’m going to puke soon.”

I chuckle at her. “Beware, you never know when you meet a man who is going to sweep you off your feet.”

“Oh that is never going to happen. How could I ever settle for one when the world is filled with handsome men?”

I’m not surprised to hear her say that. She really is hopeless. I lean back in my chair.

“Never say never.”

“Never. But since you sank in the same pothole as everyone else, I guess our fun times here are over.”

“That’s true. Next time I come here for fun, I’m going to drag my pretty flower with me. I can’t wait to see her reaction to this place. It would be so much fun.”

“Her reaction? So she’s like some goody-two-shoes?”

“Extremely,” I say with a smile.

“And you are into someone like that? I’m disappointed in you.”

“Oh she is much more than that. And I know she hides her true self deep within her. My mission is to dig it out.”

“Well then I can maybe understand a little. The need to convert someone like that and make her fall from her paradise. Like it’s a challenge.”

“It’s a challenge all right. But I will win. I always do.”

I get up from my chair.

“Where are you going? Done with the sulking already?” Annie asks.

“Yes. If I only have so little time with her, I should spend it with her, not here.”

“Good luck with that.”

“And good luck with the man hunt. Not that you would need any though.”

I exit and head back to the Palace. She hasn’t visited the church today. I really hope she will and I can talk to her at least there. She has clearly become more comfortable talking to the priest me. But she hasn't really talked about her attraction toward me anymore, which is highly disappointing. No confessions either.

I wonder if she found my note already? Did her heart skip a beat when she saw the chess piece in her room again? I have three weeks left. During these weeks I will make her so on edge that when I finally see her, her heart will start to pound just from the sight of me. She will probably be a little scared of me. But I don’t mind. I was willing to seduce her with a gentle approach, but that option is gone now. She made sure of it.

If I can’t lure her true self out by being a gentleman, I will be the devil she is so afraid of.