Master of Minds, Master of Me

My mood is up in the skies from yesterday’s talk with my pretty flower. And I even have a date with her today. I saved her for last, so all the annoying meetings are now behind us. Now all that is left is to just enjoy her company and, of course, convince everyone that we should ditch all the Selection protocols and make my pretty flower my Queen. But let’s do the enjoying part first.

I have masturbated like three times today already, just making sure I behave properly. I mean, I really don’t mind letting myself go out of control with her, not after yesterday’s little confession. But I just want to savour it after we are engaged, like it’s the perfect way to seal the deal.

With the other candidates, my meetings have been purely boring talks in the drawing room. But being with her is never boring. Unfortunately, we still have to be in a drawing room, since the boring old geezers who are going to pick the top three will be watching behind a fake mirror. So we can’t do naughty stuff either. At least not in reality, but I can always use my visions if needed.

Knock knock.

“Your Highness, Lady Lorelia has arrived.”

Finally.

“Come in.”

My pretty flower walks in, her gaze meeting mine straight away. And my heart skips a beat. Relax, Felix. Only one day and then all this is over. And then I can focus solely on her.

She walks closer to me and bows gracefully.

“Greetings to the little sun of the Empire.”

It’s been so long since I’ve heard the official greeting from her lips. She is so cute, trying to act like my tongue hasn’t been inside her wet pussy. Like we haven’t already passed the official greeting.

“No need to be that stiff, Lo. It’s just me.”

She straightens herself, looking a little uncomfortable as she glances around the room.

“I thought there would be some people observing us.”

Well, there are. But I’m not telling her that. I want her to be herself. The only risk of not telling her is the fact that she might say something about my illusion magic. So I just need to be on guard, ready to feed some false visions to those old geezers in case she does.

“Why would there be? It’s a private meeting after all.”

I gesture for her to sit down, and she does.

“I’m rather relieved to hear that.”

I hand her a cup of tea, and she takes it, a faint smile on her lips.

“Are you relieved because you wanted to spend some alone time with me?” I smirk.

“Don’t twist my words, Your Highness.”

“I’m not twisting, I’m just reading between the lines.”

“I have already told you that you are bad at that. So keep focusing on the actual lines for once.”

I love how straightforward she is with me. No sign of that stoic statue anymore.

“You never told me how the day went with Belia. Did she enjoy her time here?”

Her face softens, a warm smile spreading to her lips.

“She did. I think she isn't going to talk about anything else than her visit here for a while.”

“And you? Did you enjoy it?”

She lifts her shy gaze to look at me, suddenly a little embarrassed. She fiddles with the teacup with her index finger.

“I did. I was going to thank you for bringing Belia here, but I never got the chance to. I truly am grateful for that, Your Highness.”

I tilt my head. She is just way too cute.

“I would have wanted to shower you with gifts, but since I knew they would probably just make you awkward, I thought I would give you something you missed the most.”

Her cheeks flush, and she looks down at her teacup. I know I’m repeating myself, but goddammit, she is cute.

“Why did you even want to give me a gift?”

Okay, since this is not something I can say in front of the old geezers, I create something else for them for a while.

“Because you warned me about the ambush. Dealing with that smoothed things over very much, so we were able to stop Hilver pretty quickly. They never got beyond the first city.”

She just nods, probably not sure whether she should keep talking about the topic or change it. But I change it for her, only because I would rather not keep half of my focus on creating visions for the people on the other side of the mirror.

“You know, I have been rather curious about what happened at the first dinner among the candidates.”

She lifts her gaze, making my heart skip a beat once again. I keep saying how weak she is for me, but maybe I’m the weak one here. How can only her gaze have such huge power over my vital organs?

“What?”

“Why did you raise your hand then? I thought you didn’t want to be noticed.”

“I didn’t. I thought that everyone would raise their hand. That you were just testing us to see if we had paid any attention during the classes.”

“Clearly you had.”

“I did enjoy the classes. I mean, of course, since I work a lot with commoners, their problems are pretty obvious to me. But I had never had any ideas or solutions for their situation. And I’m not saying I have them now. But learning all that made me understand the situation more.”

“So do you think we should reform the tax system?”

She nods while taking a sip from her tea before explaining.

“I mean, the tax system is based on the size of the area, thinking that the bigger the land, the bigger the income and the bigger the taxes. But that’s just too simplistic. Like the farms on the outskirts of our country. The land might be huge, but that doesn’t mean you can use all of it. There is always bad, low-nutrient soil somewhere. And even if the whole land could be used, no commoner would have the resources or time to use it all to their advantage. They already have enough trouble storing the harvest, so how could they manage even more stock?”

Fuck, she is so sexy while talking economics like that.

“That’s true. I also think it’s stupid. I have tried to explain it to my father countless times, but he is too afraid to change anything, fearing that change will be our downfall.”

“I can understand why change feels scary. It’s always hard to step out of your comfort zone.”

“Are you speaking from experience?” I ask with a teasing tone.

Her cheeks flush, probably thinking more about the sexual things that drag her out of her comfort zone. She falls silent, so I keep the topic alive.

“Are there any other problems you have noticed while working among the people?”

“I guess I do think it’s a shame that so many smart people are left unnoticed just because they weren’t born as nobles.”

“What do you mean?”

“I mean that our society is too strict about letting only nobles fill certain positions. There are so many intelligent and good-natured people among commoners who could be a great asset to our country if they were just given the opportunity to show their talents. Like what they already do in the Mage Tower. They don’t care who you are; if you have the talent, they allow you to attend the school there and maybe even get hired.”

“Yeah, I kind of hate that Theodore got to do it before me. That bastard, posing as a do-gooder mage.”

Since he only wants power. He wants the most talented ones, not caring about status. Which, of course, is a good thing, but he doesn’t do it solely because he wants the well-being of commoners. He does it to gain more power and money. Sneaky bastard.

She looks at me, a little confused. “Is that a bad thing?”

“No, forget what I said. But I do want to change that too. That’s one of the reasons why some people don’t want me to be King. Nobles can be greedy, not willing to share their opportunities or wealth with others.”

“Do you think things will change now that Duke Callum is gone?”

No wonder she has heard the news about that.

“I hope so. Of course, there are still people who don’t accept me, but I do think they will back down at least for a while. And I will strengthen my position as Crown Prince, so they think twice before conspiring again. Change of topic. Did you find it hard to fake the test results?”

She freezes.

“Don’t panic, Lo. The tests are already over, and there is nothing even I could do about them. I’m just curious.”

“It wasn’t hard. And I didn’t fake all of them.” Her voice is quiet.

Hopefully loud enough that those geezers heard her confess that her results weren’t real.

“Really? Which ones didn’t you fake?”

She fidgets with the cup again with her index finger.

“Dancing. I’m really not good at that. I have barely danced in my life.”

I can’t help but laugh a little. Dancing?

“It’s not funny.” She glares.

“I do apologise. But I do find it rather hilarious that the only one you didn’t fake is the only one that doesn’t matter one bit.”

“How did you know I faked the results?”

“Actually, it was just a hunch, but your reaction yesterday confirmed that my hunch was right.”

“So you just fooled me yesterday?”

The tone in her voice hardens, along with my dick.

Relax, Felix. One more day.

“I just probed.”

“Well, why did you have the hunch?”

“I thought it was pretty suspicious that you were so average in every single subject. No one is equally good or bad at everything. And of course, it was even more suspicious that you didn’t even have a good score in religion. I would have guessed that a devoted daughter of a High Priest would have at least nailed that one.”

“Crap. I didn’t think of that,” she whispers under her breath.

“And when I asked about you from the teachers, they all said that you were very present during classes. So it didn’t seem like you were just slacking off.”

“I guess I wasn’t as sneaky as I thought.”

“Don’t feel too discouraged. No one else noticed. Only me. So you were almost sneaky enough.”

She still looks rather defeated despite my words.

“So you feel like you are ready to leave the Palace tomorrow?”

Her mind halts, and she squeezes the cup a little harder in her hands. She just nods.

I get up and sit next to her. She is so lost in her thoughts that she doesn’t even notice. I feel rather pleased that she clearly has mixed feelings about leaving. That means she isn’t too eager to leave me behind. Of course, she isn’t leaving. So she is stressing over nothing.

I feed some false scenarios to the old geezers, since I do want some privacy with my pretty flower.

I take the cup from her hands before she breaks it. She startles and only then notices me.

“Are you going to miss me?” I ask with a teasing tone.

Her button eyes stare at me like they are drilling through my soul, penetrating every fibre within me. She nods.

And goddammit, that makes me the happiest man in the world. I lift her chin with my hand, leaning closer to her.

“Our time is almost up. I’ll give you one last chance to tell me the real reason why you don’t want to be a Queen.”

She furrows her brows, clearly overwhelmed by some sad thoughts. I ask only because this is her first real chance to persuade me not to make her my Queen. But I honestly don’t know a single reason that would change my mind. So I guess her answer doesn’t really matter. I’m still curious, though. Because her previous answers have been clearly nothing but excuses.

“I have already told you, Your Highness.”

“Wrong answer, pretty flower.”

I lean in to kiss her, the rumbling in my chest intensifying. Her kiss feels different, like she is putting much more emotion into it. Like she really is saying goodbye.

Oh, pretty flower, I will prove you wrong. The only way you get rid of me is through death.

I withdraw from the kiss. My whole body screams against it, but the next time I see her, I can have her.

I take her hand and kiss the back of it, keeping my eyes on her.

“If I’m wrong for wanting you, I’ll happily sin again.”

She just stares at me. I let go of her and exit the room.

Now I just need to wait until tomorrow morning for the final meeting concerning this Selection, to convince everyone that she is the right choice. She is the only choice.

“Your Highness! I’m so happy you are here. I think we have absolutely great choices to present to you.”

Like I would care about their options.

“Is Lorelia Helesantra one of them?”

I think it’s better to get straight to the point. No need to waste anyone’s time anymore with this Selection crap. They all look confused by my question.

“No?” Count Trive finally says after a long silence.

“Well, I want her to be my Queen.”

They all look at each other in slight panic.

“Son, what are you talking about? You know it doesn’t go like that.”

I face my father.

“Of course I know. I just don’t care about that anymore. I want Lorelia, and I won’t accept anyone else.”

“You can’t just suddenly announce something like that. You don’t choose a Queen based on your emotions. You need to think about the country.”

I can’t help but show my anger. I have always done what was required of me, never demanding anything. But this? This is something I won’t yield on.

“I have thought about our country all my life. I have thrown away my life and freedom for it. I have never complained, never asked for anything for myself. But this? This is something I won’t budge on.”

“Do you love her?”

“More than that.”

“Then just make her your concubine. The Helesantra household brings no value to the Royal Family.”

“Her household maybe doesn’t, but she does.”

My father turns to look at everyone else around the table, clearly frustrated.

“Tell me how her results were compared to the ones you chose.”

Again, they look at each other awkwardly.

“Well… we can’t honestly say. Her results were average in every subject, but it turned out that she was intentionally faking them during the Selection.”

My father looks back at me.

“And you think that making her Queen is a good idea?”

“The best idea, actually.”

“Have you lost your mind? Give me one good reason why she would be a good Queen.”

“I can give you many. She is the only candidate who isn’t afraid to voice her honest opinion, even when it goes against common courtesy. I think a Queen should have the courage to speak her mind. I don’t need a woman who agrees with everything and constantly brown-noses everyone. And she genuinely cares about our people. She has seen life from a different perspective than we have. She knows how life is for the less fortunate and wants to improve their living conditions. She may not be the most knowledgeable yet, but she is a fast learner. And the will to help people is more important than anything else.”

Everyone listens intently, so I continue.

“She also gets along with everyone. I promise there isn’t a single person who would say a bad word about her. She doesn’t join stupid gossip circles or play social mind games. She faces everyone while staying true to herself.”

Okay, maybe I’m stretching the truth a little, since she’s more like a statue around others. But I like that she is different only with me.

“And she isn’t swayed by luxury or money either. She would never spend Royal funds on unnecessary things.”

“Do you think she can survive in high society? She has rarely attended any events. Living frugally isn’t necessarily a good thing when you are Queen. A Queen is above every other noble lady and must act accordingly. She could end up being a laughing stock if she can’t earn others’ respect.”

I’m not surprised by Count Trive’s words. Stupid old geezer.

I’m about to respond, but Baroness Alante speaks first.

“In my perspective, Lady Lorelia has been rather skilful in every social situation among the candidates. She may not be the most social person, but I believe everyone here likes her. It’s hard to imagine her becoming a laughing stock. She was very attentive during classes, and I was actually relieved to learn her results were fake. Since to me she seemed to be one of the smartest. According to maid reports, many candidates complained that the classes were boring or unnecessary, but she never did. She always said she enjoyed them, which is rare among noble ladies.”

I can’t help but smile. I’m glad at least one person is on my side. I turn back to my father, knowing he is the one I truly need to convince.

“And most importantly, she makes me happy. You know what life as royalty is like. Don’t you think it matters that the Queen is someone I can trust with my life? I’m going to spend the rest of my life with her. Shouldn’t it be someone I can actually enjoy living with?”

The room falls silent. I see hesitation in my father’s eyes, so I push further.

“I have rarely asked for anything for myself. You know that. The last thing I asked for was my parrot, and I was seven years old. Don’t you think I deserve something for myself once in a while? Something I truly want.”

I see his expression soften, the light in his eyes, and the corner of his lips softening. I’ve got him.

Unfortunately, Count Trive keeps spewing nonsense.

“So you’re saying we should just throw the whole Selection in the trash? We worked hard on it, and now we should ignore it because of your whim for some average girl?”

My chest burns as pent-up anger rises. I turn toward the bastard, place my hands on the table, and lean closer.

“Some average girl? I thought your eyesight needed fixing when you ignored her presence on the first day, but I didn’t know it was that bad.”

The air thickens, probably because my magic is slipping. I struggle to contain myself and lock eyes with him.

“She is the most amazing person I have ever met. And if you dare say one more piece of nonsense, I swear you’ll regret it. This is not a whim. I have been seeing her more than you know. You should know me well enough to know I don’t act on whims.”

He gulps visibly. I straighten up.

“Let me make this clear. Either I marry Lorelia, or I don’t marry anyone. The choice is yours. Because I’m not touching any other woman but her.”

I place the marriage proposal on the table, turn and leave the room.

It’s ridiculous that in noble marriages, the consent of the people getting married is irrelevant. Marriage is just a contract between two families, so only parental consent matters. In my case, that’s a blessing. Since I don’t need my pretty flower’s consent.

I only need her parents’ consent, which I already have. I was too eager yesterday and went to visit her house after our meeting. Her mother was delighted, as was her sister Belia. Her father… not so much. But I can be charming, and he eventually softened too.

Oh, that reminds me. I promised Belia her own room here when she visits. I need to arrange that.

My heart races. I’m sure my father will sign the marriage proposal. I saw it in his eyes. In just a few hours, the news will reach my pretty flower. I bet she will be shocked. She thinks she’s going home. That she escaped me.

Only to face the harsh reality that she can’t escape me.

She was afraid she would fall for me. Well, she has two options.

One: She falls in love with me, despite my tricks and deceit. And if she falls for me, she falls into my darkness too, accepting me wholly.

Or two: She doesn’t fall in love with me. And I will drag her down from the skies, straight into hell with me. For me, it will be heaven, because she’ll be there. For her? Probably not. She’ll think it’s a Devil tormenting her saintly life, when in reality it’s just an obsessed Crown Prince whose morals have vanished completely.

A Crown Prince who will never let her go.

A Crown Prince who will fuck her life up. And her.

Most definitely fuck her.

That’s the first thing I’m going to do with her.