Master of Minds, Master of Me

Waking up today is harder than ever. Felix really drained all my energy yesterday with his stupid teasing and his stupid stone. Stupid jerk.

Okay. It was also freaking good. Probably one of the best orgasms I have ever had. But still. My body feels exhausted. I have no idea how I'm going to manage to dance today. But I force my body to cooperate.

Knock knock.

Already? It’s not time for class yet. I open the door and find Milna standing there.

“Lady Lorelia, His Highness is requesting to see you.”

I freeze. How could Felix just ask to see me so openly? Our thing is supposed to be a secret. Apparently, Milna catches on to my discomfort, since she continues talking.

“Don’t worry, Lady Lorelia. I already know about you and His Highness. So if you could just follow me, I can escort you to his office.”

“You do?” I ask in disbelief as we start walking.

“Yes. Soon after the Selection began, His Highness made me report things about you to him.”

“He has? Like what things?”

“Mostly just what you do.”

I can’t believe him. Making my personal maid act like a spy. He really is a jerk. Okay, maybe I shouldn’t judge since I was stalking him too. I apparently sucked at it, but I still did it.

“I’m sorry that you had to do that. He should not have asked you such things.”

“Oh, I don’t mind it. It has been rather fun. Seeing how differently His Highness acts nowadays is a good thing. It’s clear how much he adores you, Lady Lorelia.”

My cheeks flush. I really can’t believe he made our thing so obvious to Milna. But I guess it’s nice to know that I don’t need to hide things from her.

She continues. “I just hope he is not too harsh on you. You are rather fragile, after all.”

“Too harsh on me? What do you mean?”

“I’m talking about your bruises. I didn’t mention anything this morning; I didn’t want to make you feel uncomfortable.”

Oh, please God. Please hide me. I want to crawl and hide again. I can’t believe I have bruises. I didn’t know. I didn’t look at my naked body in the mirror at all; I had no idea. I have to say something. I don’t want Milna to think that Felix is treating me poorly or anything.

“I’m fine. He is not treating me poorly at all.”

“If you need any healing ointment, just ask. I’m just happy that you have so many dresses that cover your neck. Since I’m not sure makeup could even hide anything well enough.”

My neck? I thought I might have bruises on my waist, since Felix grabbed me so tightly. But did the belt leave a bruise on my neck? Oh God. I fall silent, since I’m way too embarrassed to say anything. Luckily, we arrive at Felix’s office, and when we enter, Milna leaves us alone.

I immediately glare at Felix.

“Felix! Do you have any idea how embarrassed I am?”

He is sitting behind his desk, but gets up and walks closer to me.

“Embarrassed that Milna knows?”

“No! I mean, maybe a little. But Milna just told me that there are bruises on my neck. What if someone sees?”

When he reaches me, he slides his finger under the collar of my dress and peeks beneath it. He is just smiling, pleased. Like he’s looking at some kind of trophy or something.

“I noticed them already forming yesterday. And goddammit, seeing them, knowing how those bruises were made, makes my cock twitch with excitement.”

“Felix!” I burst out.

“What? It’s true. And the bruises on your waist are absolutely top-tier too. If I could paint your naked body right now, I would definitely put it in my imaginary scrapbook.”

So there are bruises on my waist too. No wonder I feel so sore everywhere. He really is insane sometimes. Not that I mind. But covering his marks is just a little uncomfortable.

“Why didn’t you tell me? And what scrapbook?”

“Telling you would not change anything. Milna would see them anyway. And I have a mental scrapbook of you.”

“A mental scrapbook?” I ask, confused.

“Yes. I have stored some extra precious moments there.”

“Like?”

He wraps his hands around me, pulling me close.

“Hmm… like how you looked the first night after I came back from the war. All tied up in your bed, looking so fucking hot.”

I roll my eyes at him. I should not have been surprised by his words.

“So are all the things something dirty?”

“Of course not. It also includes the first time I saw your genuine smile. Or heard you laughing. Or the first time I saw you play the piano. You looked so happy and free then.”

I avert my gaze, suddenly feeling rather shy. I don’t know what to answer that, so I change the subject.

“So why did you call me here?”

“I need you to pretend to be sick.”

I snap my eyes back to him.

“What? Why?”

He sighs heavily.

“Duke Callum is giving me a hard time. He was pretty shocked by the fact that Florentia passed out and lost some of her memories. He is requesting that I let Florentia visit him for a day. Which means he is taking a free day too. So I need to do his duties.”

“Do you think it’s okay that she goes? When she is not even the real Florentia?”

“Well, whoever she is, she clearly has at least some of Florentia’s memories, so I think she will be fine. And everybody knows how much Duke Callum adores her and pampers her. Florentia has not been receiving any good treatment here at the Palace. I feel pretty bad because of it. But I can’t exactly change things yet, since no one knows that she is not the real Florentia. So I need to wait until she tells the truth, and only then can I make life better for her without raising suspicion among everyone else. So I think she would appreciate a day off from all the death stares. She is treated much better at the Callum mansion. It’s like a mini vacation.”

“I guess you are right. I do feel bad for her too. But I don’t understand why this means that I have to pretend to be sick.”

“Because I can’t come to dance with you. There is too much work right now.”

“I understand that, but I still fail to see the point of why I can’t dance.”

“It’s obvious. I don’t want any other man laying his hands on you.”

“What? Please say you are joking.”

“Absolutely not. No one touches what is mine. I regret enough that I let you dance the last time with strangers. So you are sick until I manage to have free time to come dance with you.”

I just stare at him, dumbfounded.

“It’s just a dance, Felix.”

“So are you saying you want to feel some random man’s arms wrapping around you? Feeling his heaving chest against your breasts?”

“Of course not.”

“Good. So from now on, you are sick.”

“But—”

His hand grabs my throat, and he pulls my face closer to his. It’s painful, probably thanks to those bruises. But that makes my muscles clench in excitement. His voice turns lower, darker.

“No buts. I will not tolerate disobedience in this. No one is touching what is mine. And you are mine. Understand?”

I swallow loudly and nod. He lets go of my throat and smiles innocently. Like he didn’t just choke and threaten me.

“Glad we agree on that. You just go rest in your bed and have a lazy day, okay?”

Honestly? That doesn’t sound too bad. My body is exhausted, after all.

“Okay. Will I see you later today?”

He leans in to kiss me.

“Of course. I’ll come to see you after my training.”

“Why not after work?”

“I will probably work pretty late, and I can’t miss my training.”

I feel a little disappointed. He really trains an awful lot. And it’s not only sword fighting. His magic training takes even more time than that. But I don’t want to complain. I know he does it so that we can deal with the future. I know how important it is that he is more in control.

So I nod and give him another kiss.

“Okay. I’ll wait. Don’t strain yourself too much, okay?”

He smiles heartbreakingly warmly and tucks a strand of hair behind my ear.

“I won’t. And oh! I almost forgot to tell you that I asked Theodore here today.”

My pupils widen with excitement. I really am way too immersed in this little love story. I know my new addiction to romance novels is making my imagination run wild. But I just can’t help it.

“You did? What for? Especially if Florentia is visiting home.”

He looks so smug. “I’m going to tell him that she is not here, wanting to see his reaction. To see how he reacts when he can’t stalk her while she is away. And I’m going to tell him that I don’t need him to stalk Florentia anymore.”

“Ooh! I bet he is so confused. Do you think he will agree to stop the stalking?”

“I don’t know. If he does agree, maybe his interest in Florentia isn’t as obsessive as I thought. Or he is not obsessive enough for me to catch on to his thoughts. But if he doesn’t agree, then even he knows that I will start suspecting things. So I can finally confront him about his little game with Florentia.”

“Felix! I so want to hear what he says! Please, can I watch too?”

“I would happily allow you to watch. But I can’t use my illusion magic so close to Theodore. He will notice. So I can’t hide your presence inside the room.”

“What about a communication stone? I could listen through that if you just hide it somewhere Master Loneflare can’t see.”

He falls silent for a while, clearly thinking about it.

“Please. I promise I will be dead silent. I’m spending the whole day in bed anyway because of you. I will be bored, locked inside one room. I need to have something to do.”

“Fine. But if the connection is cut off, it’s because I feel that Theodore will realize what I’m doing.”

I squeal with excitement.

“Yes! Thanks, Felix!”

He takes two communication stones out of his pocket and gives one to me. I notice from the color that it’s the same one that he gave me yesterday. Or more precisely, shoved at me.

Wait. But shouldn’t Tedracil have the other half?

“Felix?” I ask, suspiciously.

“Woah, that sounded more like a warning. I thought you wanted the stone?”

“Is this the same stone you used on me yesterday?”

“No. I have the one you had yesterday. It’s my good luck charm now. No way I would give it to anyone else anymore.”

“In that case, shouldn’t this one be with Tedracil?”

His expression changes, clearly realizing what I implied. Then he starts to smirk.

“Do you really think I would let some other guy make you whimper and drip down your thighs?”

That stupid jerk.

“So were you there the whole time? Watching? Did you purposely end the connection just when I was about to come?”

“Yes, I did, I wasn’t going to let you come that easily. But I wasn’t there from the start. It took some time to find Ted and take the stone from him. But after that, I watched you. And honestly, you should thank me for it.”

“Thank you for fooling and torturing me? Why?”

He leans closer again.

“Do you really think you managed to contain your lustful act so well that no one would notice?”

Crap. I did think I managed to do just that.

“I didn’t?”

“No. But I made sure no one noticed. So be grateful that I’m such a gentleman.”

I narrow my eyes at him.

“I am grateful. But I don’t think a gentleman would have made me end up in a situation like that in the first place.” I shrug my shoulders as I turn toward the door. “But I forgive you.”

“You forgive me?”

“Yes. Since you are rather cute when acting crazy like that.”

I can’t contain my smile. I open the door, but then Felix’s hand slams it shut, and soon I’m pinned against it, his hand on my throat.

“I’m cute?” he asks with a dangerous voice.

I nod.

“You think I’m cute right now?”

I stare at him. And no, I can’t say he is cute. He looks at me like doom coming to collect me. And I clench my thighs together, suddenly needing the friction.

I shake my head.

His lips start to brush against my neck, and I tilt my head. My lips part as I exhale loudly from his touch.

“Do you know what I’d like to do to you right now?” he murmurs against my skin.

“What?” My voice is hoarse, already imagining all the things he could do.

“Hmm…” He thinks while still kissing me.

Then he straightens and takes a couple of steps back.

“Sorry, I forgot you are sick. And I should most definitely not tease an ill person. I’m a gentleman, after all. I apologize. So please, go rest and get better soon.” His smile is so freaking annoying.

I just glare at him before opening the door and shutting it. I march back to my room.

God, I hate how fast he can get my pussy all riled up. And I hate how easily I fall for his stupid tricks every time.