Master of Minds, Master of Me

It’s Sunday, and I’m heading toward the secret garden. I can’t wait to see her. I really can’t get enough of her.

Then something bumps into me.

“Jesus Christ, that hurt.”

I look down and see Florentia on the ground, and my mood sours immediately. I have no idea what “Jesus Christ” means. Some coded language between her and her father? But why would she use something like that here, out in the open?

“What are you doing here?” I ask in a serious tone.

She looks up at me, her mind clearly a little confused. Then something snaps in her mind. I watch her get up and straighten her dress before bowing to me politely.

“Greetings to the little sun of the Empire. I apologize for my inappropriate behavior. I should have been more careful of my surroundings.”

“Yes, you should have been. Why are you carrying all this around the palace like some rat?”

She surely didn’t do this last time. As much as I want to arrest her for bumping into me with weird stuff like this, I can’t. I need solid evidence.

“I’m preparing for my presentation tomorrow. My maid brought me here for supplies, but left me with my guard. Because of that, I had no one who could offer help carrying all this. I should have made two trips instead of trying to carry everything at once. I apologize again, Your Highness.”

Okay. That’s way too many words coming out of her mouth. She never speaks this much. There is definitely something shady going on. And I hate that I can’t just lock her up when we all know she’s plotting treason.

“Sir Brian! Help Lady Florentia carry everything to her room. I don’t want her knocking down every passerby in the palace; she’s already enough trouble.”

The guard quickly lifts everything, and she’s about to leave. But I give her one last warning.

“I warn you, Lady Florentia. If you cause me trouble again, I will make sure you regret it.”

I sense a lot of hostility in her mind, more than ever before. Has she figured out some new way to kill me or something? I feel so uneasy about all of this. But maybe I shouldn’t have threatened her, since I actually do want her to do something bad. Something that gives us a reason to lock her up.

I keep walking toward the secret garden. I need my pretty flower even more now. When I see her, I pull her into a hug, feeling like I can finally breathe properly.

“Is something wrong?” she asks, wrapping her arms around me.

“It’s Florentia. I just bumped into her in the hallway. She’s acting so suspiciously that I hate it. I hate when things don’t go the way I expect them to, like they did last time.”

She chuckles, and I look at her, surprised by her reaction to my misery.

“I guess you now understand why I hated change so much back then. I also hated when things didn’t go the way I expected. It was unsettling.”

I smile. “You got me there. So how was your day?”

“Pretty busy. I read a book, I stalked you through your office window, ate, walked in the garden, and visited the greenhouse.”

“Oh, it indeed sounds pretty busy. But you left out the most important part.”

“What part?”

I lean in to whisper in her ear.

“The part where you came moaning my name against that glass wall in the greenhouse.”

Her body tenses, clearly remembering the feeling. She averts her gaze shyly.

“I just included that in the visit to the greenhouse part.”

“So is your presentation ready for tomorrow?”

“Yes. All good to go. I’m still rather nervous about it. I’m not a talented performer. I still don’t enjoy the spotlight.”

I lead her to sit on a bench near the pond.

“Just remember that it doesn’t matter how it goes. This Selection thing is just for show anyway.”

“I know. That doesn’t mean I want to look like a fool.”

I kiss her forehead.

“Well, I assure you that you are the cutest fool there is if that happens.”

“And that’s supposed to comfort me?”

“I’m just stating facts.”

“You really are a jerk sometimes. Your annoyance is going to be a problem, you know.”

I lean closer, smirking.

“In that case, I want to be your favorite problem.”

She smiles. “You are hopeless. But I have to admit, you definitely are my favorite problem.”

“Can I be more of a problem and ask you something?”

“Of course. I already told you that you can ask me anything.”

“I know. But I don’t want to bombard you with too many questions at once.”

“Just ask.”

“You said you’ve always sent the letter asking to drop out of the Selection because you knew I would end up causing havoc, right?”

“Right.”

“So what about the first time you lived your life? When you didn’t know what was going to happen. Why did you ask to drop out then?”

She falls silent and furrows her brows, clearly trying to think. I stay silent, letting her dig her memories in peace.

“I don’t know. I don’t remember. Actually, now that I try to think about my first life, I don’t think I remember any of it. I don’t remember how it felt when the Civil War broke out the first time. I only remember things when I already knew they were going to happen.”

“I’m sorry.”

“Don’t be. It’s not your fault. I’m not sure I even want to remember. Maybe it’s better that I don’t. It’s ancient history anyway.”

“So if there were a way to dig out those memories, you’d prefer not to?”

“I’m not sure. I would like to remember my life before the curse began. But I don’t mind forgetting some of my loops. None of them had many happy memories in the first place.”

My heart aches for everything she’s been through, and I hate that I can’t do anything about her past.

I feel her hand on my cheek and focus on her.

“Stop sulking. It’s in the past. Should we go somewhere to ease your mind?” Her warm smile melts my heart.

“Like where?”

“I don’t know. Maybe let’s just go outside and walk aimlessly. See where we end up. Explore or something. You never know what beautiful flowers you can stumble upon when you just walk around.”

I stand up, and so does she.

“I highly doubt the beautiful flower thing, since compared to you, everything is rather plain. But walking aimlessly with you does sound pretty good.”

We start heading toward my escape path.

“You really should stop comparing me to flowers.”

“Why would I?”

“Should I start comparing you to watering cans then? I have to say, the blue one in the greenhouse has a preeetty long spout. I bet it’s bigger than yours.”

I freeze.

“Did you just compare my dick to a watering can’s spout?”

She shrugs while still walking. “I’m just saying.”

She reaches the wall surrounding the palace and turns to look at me with an innocent expression.

“What’s wrong? I thought you liked comparing humans to objects?” she says teasingly.

Goddammit, I love my pretty flower so much.

I run to her, grab her hand, and slam her against the wall.

“You better watch your mouth unless you want me to use that spout to fuck you. Would you like that? Maybe then you could give your honest opinion on which one filled your needy cunt better.”

She clenches her thighs as she looks at me.

Wait.

I partly said it as a joke, just to mess with her. But she’s clearly aroused by the idea of me shoving something other than my dick inside her. Not sure if I should be excited or worried. Probably both.

She stays silent, just watching me. I press my leg between hers, and she immediately starts grinding against it. Always so fucking needy.

“It seems like you’d rather do something naughty than just go for a walk. Am I right?”

She nods. My cock agrees, but I try not to get too excited. I kiss her neck and let my hands travel over her body, slowly moving lower until I kneel before her. I slip my hands under her dress and slide them upward, kissing her skin on the way. I hear her heavy breathing. I slide my fingers under her panties and slowly pull them down.

Then I stand and place my hand on the wall, opening the path. She opens her eyes when she realizes I’m no longer kneeling in front of her.

“What are you doing?” she asks.

I spin her panties around my index finger.

“Going for a walk. Obviously,” I say innocently, tilting my head.

“But—”

“No buts. We’re going to take a walk just like you suggested. Come on.”

“Give me my panties back then.”

I tuck them into my pocket.

“No. They’re mine now.”

I start walking, and she follows.

“Felix! I can’t walk around without panties!”

“Why not?”

“I’m—”

“Dripping down your thighs?” I grin.

She glares at me adorably. I know how much she hates being interrupted, but teasing her is irresistible.

“Just give me my freaking panties, Felix!”

“No. I can’t. I need them.”

“Why would you need my panties? They’re dirty.”

“I know. That’s the point.”

“What?”

“It’s easy to compare your beauty to other flowers we pass, but since you’re so eager about comparisons, I thought I should compare your scent too. To see if yours is truly the best.”

I pull out the panties and inhale. They smell like my personal drug.

“So I need your scent with me for that.”

“You’re insane.”

“Can’t deny that.”

She suddenly lunges for the panties. I dodge, protecting my treasure.

“Felix,” her voice drops low.

“Yes, pretty flower?” I reply sweetly.

“Give me my panties.”

“Oh, I love hearing you be defiant like that. I’m so turned on right now. I bet your panties would be soaking wet already too, if you had any, I mean.” I wink at her.

She charges again. I laugh and run, and she chases me.

“Felix!”

“How about a deal?” I suggest, keeping my distance from her.

“You know I—”

“Don’t have good experiences making deals with me. I know.”

“Stop interrupting me, you jerk!”

I laugh even more. She’s so cute.

“Just hear the deal before saying no.”

She stops, and so do I.

“What’s the deal?”

“If you let me take off your bra and corset too, I’ll give you a kiss.”

“What?! That’s the worst deal ever! And it doesn’t even include getting my panties back!”

I laugh again. I see she is trying to hide her creeping smile. Clearly amused by the situation too.

“What? Why? I only see positive sides in that deal. And I never said the deal included your panties. I already told you I need them.”

“Well, I absolutely decline.”

She breaths heavily, probably a little exhausted from her sudden run. Even though she is clearly eating better and is a little stronger than last time. She is still pretty fragile. She leans against the tree.

“Ouch!”

She pulls her hand back.

“Did you hurt yourself?”

“It’s nothing. Just a splinter.”

She tries to remove it, but clearly struggles. I tug the panties in my pocket and walk next to her.

“Give it to me. I’ll take it out.”

“No. I can handle it. I’m not a baby.”

“Just give it to me.”

She sighs and gives her hand. I focus on finding the splinter, and suddenly she snatches her panties from my pocket.

“Thanks for the panties. Jerk.” She smiles victorously.

I stare at her in disbelief.

“What a scheming pretty flower.”

“You deserved it. I can’t walk without panties.”

I tilt my head, then grab both her wrists with one hand and pin her against the tree, lifting her arms over her head.

“Since you want your panties so much, I’ll give them to you.”

I take them from her hands.

“Open your mouth.”

She stares. I zap her lightly with electricity, and she yelps.

“I said, open your mouth.”

She obeys. I shove the panties in.

“Close it.”

She obeys once again, just like she should. I slide my hand under her dress, over her soaked pussy. She grinds against me instantly.

“You want me to touch you?”

She nods.

I rub her clit, listening to her muffled moans. After a while, I slip my fingers inside her, and she moves her hips eagerly against them.

“You really are a needy little slut, aren’t you?”

She nods obediently. I keep touching her, making her moans a little louder through the fabric. I stop just as her body starts trembling, her climax close, arousal dripping down her thighs.

I pull my hand away. She whimpers.

“Open your mouth.”

She does. I remove the panties.

“Why did you stop?” she gasps.

“Don’t worry. I’m not finished.”

I rub the panties against her pussy, soaking them again, then pull away and let go of her wrists.

“Okay. Now I’m finished,” I say, smiling.

“What?” Her frustration is obvious.

“They were getting pretty dry. I needed fresher arousal for my scent comparison.”

I walk away, tucking the panties into my pocket and smiling brightly.

“Felix!”

She yells after me. Clearly mad.

Goddammit. My pretty flower truly is the best.