Be Fascinated - Chapter 6

-Chapter 6-

Philia was uncomfortable. She had felt a tingling sensation as she was having her bath. She tried not to show any signs of discomfort to Paula, who was at her service.

It stung even more when she washed herself with the water. She felt a strange sense of discomfort. The water had seemed even hotter when she really paid attention to it.

“Should I ask for some medicine?”

But, she couldn’t ask for any as she was too embarrassed. She had always lived with purity and innocence as her strongest values. It was impossible for Philia to ask for medicine from Claude just because she felt ill after intercourse. 

“I’ll get better with time,” Philia murmured to herself as she sat in her chair, looking out the window. 

“The Capital is big…”

Philia still couldn’t believe she was here. 

Philia smiled faintly and recalled the conversation they had had over dinner. All of a sudden, she was embarrassed as she recalled their discussion about her body from the night before.  

Her heart softened, but the more she had talked, the more those subtle details became even more apparent. The way his fingers, that were currently cutting some meat, had delicately touched her. How obscene his polite voice had been when he was excited. Even the way his body, that was now clothed, had been so strong. It all started to come back to her again.

There weren’t any lingering effects from the aphrodisiac, but her vagina was itching and tingling again. When Philia sensed this, she unconsciously brought her legs together and closed them tightly. She felt a little better that way. Perhaps it was an after effect of the drug that was causing her to tingle like that. 

“I’m going crazy.” 

Philia knew that that feeling meant ‘her body was desiring’. 

Am I in heat? 

Philia began to blame herself for her lust. However, due to the effects of the aphrodisiac, she was already familiar with such pleasures in an intimate way, from the man she desired.

I will probably never forget that ecstasy I felt for the rest of my life. 

As Philia muttered to herself bitterly, she heard a knock.

 “Come in.”

The door opened and Claude entered.

 “Philia.”

After their conversation over dinner, Claude was now familiar enough with Philia to call her by her given name.

 “Yes, what’s the matter?” 

“I’m here because I think your body isn’t doing well.” 

Since she was now a mere commoner, Philia had told Claude not to use such formalities, but he continued to speak politely in this way.

 “What? My body?” 

“I didn’t know because you didn’t say, but I saw you looking uncomfortable as you were walking earlier.”

“…”

“Paula reported to me that you seem to be unwell.” 

Philia was so surprised that her face turned red. Her lips quivered.

 “I, well… I’m fine…”

“I should’ve said that the favor would be accepting my kindness.”

 “…”

“I’ve got the medicine.”

“T-Thank you,” Philia replied, her voice like that of a mosquito. She was glad she had medicine, but she was already worried about how to apply it.

Claude gave her the medicine and then got up. Philia gazed at Claude’s back. He didn’t utter a word, as if he had really only come to give her the medicine. Philia felt a little disappointed in him.

***

Claude went outside and looked through the window. Philia’s shadow could be seen through the glass. Seeing it, Claude smiled.

“Your Highness, are you going to leave the young lady like that?” 

Upon hearing the words of his attendant, he rolled his eyes and looked at her. The servant lowered her eyes under his silent gaze.

“I apologise.” 

Claude took a step forward. The attendant immediately knew where he was headed.

Claude was headed for the dungeon he had prepared inside the mansion. In that dungeon was a man, naked and with his limbs tied.

“Ughhh…”

At Claude’s orders, the guards poured cold water over the man as he opened his eyes. 

“Y-Your Highness…”

The man’s name was Logan, the knight who had tried to rape Philia. He looked at Claude as his jaw trembled. The presence of a great paladin was nowhere to be seen.

Claude picked up an iron skewer that was lying around and stabbed it into Logan’s thigh.

“Aaaacccckkkkk!” 

Claude remained calm despite his screams and the blood flowing down Logan’s thigh. He waited for Logan to slowly calm down from the pain.

“Why… Why on earth, why!”

“You’re asking me why before begging for mercy. Acting just like a knight, aren’t you?”

“Urkk… Wh-Why are you doing this to me!”

“Why? Isn’t it obvious?”

The lights in the dungeon flared. Claude’s copper eyes, filled with fire, were gleaming with anger.

“Because, Sir, you touched what’s mine.”

Logan’s eyes widened. He immediately recognised what ‘mine’ was in reference to.

 “Urk, you too. That woman… Were you yearning for her as well?”

“Yearning?”

Claude grinned. 

“Yearning. That woman was mine to begin with.”

“…”

“You were the one who stole her and even touched her.” 

Claude twisted the skewer into Logan’s thigh. Blood trickled down his leg again. If Logan survived, he would be crippled for the rest of his life.

“Aaaaccckkkk!” 

Claude had no intention of keeping him alive. But, he didn’t want Logan to die so easily either.

“If you head up three flights of stairs, that woman is there right now. And she is very comfortable.”

“Aaaaaccckk!”

“Unaware that the man who attempted to violate her is being subjected to this down here.”

A man being tortured in the basement. Above ground, a woman was being treated with great care and the utmost respect. Did he feel any pleasure from that deception?

Logan thought Claude was just a quiet Imperial Crown Prince, but Claude was more insane than he could’ve ever imagined. Logan realized he had misunderstood his opponent.

“I-I was impudent. Please have mercy! Your Highness, have mercy!” Logan cried out. Claude merely laughed bitterly at his desperate scream. 

Suddenly, Claude smiled brightly. For some reason, though he had lived a life without any amusement, he could feel two emotions welling up.

Fury and murderous intent.

“Aaaacccckkk!”

Of course, he knew that if he showed Philia this ‘merciless’ side, or if she knew that his emotions were as dull as they were, she’d run away. Of course, he couldn’t let that happen.

Her terrified face would be pretty. Surely it must be a beautiful color as well. But, he liked her other expressions more.

He was able to act like a humane person for Philia’s various attitudes. For it was the first time she had had such intense feelings.

Control and possession…the desire to chew and devour that soft body. The sexual desire to present his alter ego to her and make her body shake.

Claude, who recalled Philia’s face, smiled brightly. She used the space that he had prepared as a sanctuary, laying down her small body, eating the meals he provided, and easing the vigilance she had towards him. What a joy this was.

“Aaaccckk! P-Please spare me!” 

Claude stuck yet another sharp iron skewer in Logan’s other leg.

Ahh, I can’t wait to see you. 

It was bizarre to see a man smile with blood on his face.

***

Philia still felt a strange, awkward sensation. She thought she had applied the medicine well, but the pain didn’t seem to have gone away.

“…Should I ask for a doctor?” 

She was too embarrassed to say that she didn’t know anything about this feeling. So, she locked herself in her room in an attempt to minimize her movement.

Paula seemed to notice, but she didn’t ask anything. Philia prayed, meditated, and tried to forget the pain. That evening, Claude visited again.

“Uh…”

“What’s wrong?”

“Are you going to come to the mansion everyday?”

“What’s wrong with that?” 

“No it’s just…you said this is a place to rest…”

“Oh my, are you saying that I shouldn’t rest?” 

Hearing Claude’s words, Philia laughed awkwardly. He was even dressed more casually than usual. Seeing his disheveled appearance, Philia unconsciously avoided his gaze. This was because the movement of his Adam’s apple, that could be seen through his shirt, looked strange.

“I’m a little tired. I’ll be resting here for a few days.”

Claude sighed. Philia had a worried expression on her face.

“You always have a lot of work to do. It must be difficult.”

“That’s because His Majesty is unwell.” 

“Oh, what’s wrong?” 

“Nothing, I just thought you’d feel bad if you heard Father was sick.” 

At that moment, Claude couldn’t hold back his laughter upon hearing Philia’s concern.

“Your Highness? Why…”

“No. It’s nothing.”

Claude didn’t say a word. It was impossible for members of the Imperial Family to worry about their own flesh and blood. He didn’t hate that innocence, rather, he was more than happy to see her worrying.

“So, I’m going to rest. For three days.”

Philia had a worried look on her face. Can the Crown Prince of a country rest? She alone had quite a lot of work to do. Perhaps the demands of the Imperial Palace were different. Philia decided not to say anything more. 

“That’s a good idea” 

“…”

“I thought I’d be bored and alone waiting to hear from you, but this is good.” 

Philia was very cautious in expressing her sincerity in wanting him to stay. Listening to her words, Claude smiled faintly.

“Rather, it’s me who won’t be bored, since Philia is here during my break.” 

Philia smiled brightly in response.

“Then, after dinner, shall we take a walk around the mansion?”

“What?” 

“I’ll show you around the mansion.” 

Philia nodded happily. A rose-like smile appeared on her lips. Philia had a genuine interest in the person standing before her. And… 

Philia looked down again. At the same time, she felt fond of him, and the memories of their union last night were becoming even more intense.

Yesterday, she had a strange vision while looking at Claude’s body. Gazing at his moving lips reminded her of the time they had kissed, when Claude’s breath and his flesh had all blended together.

Philia quickly came back to her senses. Claude’s favor was very pleasing, but she feared that her lewd thoughts would be exposed. She was thinking about it every time she saw Claude.

“I’m delighted to receive Your Highness’ favor. It is alright with me.” 

Claude didn’t even spare it a second thought, rather it was Philia who was stuck in the moment. It was bad enough to be disrespectful to him, to constantly remind him of those past events, but it was utterly wrong to be hung up on the excitement brought by the strange stimulus alone. What a vulgar affair.

If this man knew what she was thinking, he would most certainly loathe her.

Because of that, Philia drew the line at voicing her thoughts, not knowing that it was testing Claude’s patience.