CHAPTER 44: CHAPTER 44: I WANT YOU TO FUCK ME

Min-jae turned his head slightly, voice calm. "And I’m walking away. You’ll find the difference quite educational."

The tone, precise and cold, carried enough command to make Icarus hesitate. Just for a moment.

Then the man chuckled under his breath. "You’re not like the others. I see why the king keeps you close."

Min-jae stopped mid-step. He didn’t look back, but his voice dropped an octave. "You’d do well not to mention him in my presence."

"Touched a nerve?"

"Keep pushing it" Min-jae murmured, "and you’ll find I’m much less polite when I’m not being watched."

He walked off again, his coat sweeping behind him like a flick of disdain.

Icarus watched him go, amusement flickering across his face. "Feisty little whore.." he muttered. "This might be fun."

Min-jae, already several corridors away, rubbed his temples. Just his luck...to run into that man before finding Syris.

"Next it’ll be the heroine hiding under a table.." he muttered to himself. "Wouldn’t surprise me at this point."

He turned into the southern hall, the faint scent of perfume and ink in the air. The sound of laughter carried faintly through the open doorway ahead.

Finally.

He spotted Syris sitting by the window, her hair catching the sunlight, oblivious to the storm gathering around her.

Min-jae smiled faintly.

"So this is where you’ve been hiding."

The quiet voice reached her before she could turn. The tip of her quill slipped, trailing ink across the page. She looked up, startled, but the faintest smile curved her lips when she saw him standing there.

"Lord Kaizar."

Min-jae’s shadow stretched long across the marble floor, cutting through the sunlight pooling by the window.

"You startle easily.." he said, his tone measured. "That won’t do you any favors in a place like this."

Her fingers tightened on the parchment. "I was only thinking."

"Thinking." His gaze shifted to the window, then back to her desk. "That’s dangerous work, Syris. Especially for someone with your ambitions."

The girl looked down, flustered. Min-jae stepped closer. The faint rustle of his coat filled the silence.

On the table, the scattered notes caught his attention, each line written in careful, hesitant script.

He skimmed a few words, eyes unreadable.

Compliments.

Flattery.

Practice greetings for the masquerade.

He sighed, that won’t do.

"He’s made no mentions of you, you’re wasting time Syris. Now there’s a ball coming up, if you mess this up, then there’s nothing I can do to help you.."

Syris clenched her fists, she had tried, she really tried her best to get close to Radomir but nothing she tried worked.

"I understand he’s a tough cookie to crack. So that’s why I’m going to tell you everything about him. Right from his dislikes to likes, I’ll even tell you the type of dress to wear.."

Min-jae stroked his chin, she was beautiful and she had a nice figure. Just what was she lacking?

"Are you still a virgin?"

-_-

"My Lord!"

Min-jae rolled his eyes, he was asking because he needed to know her experience in bed.

"It’s a simple question. Yes or no.."

Syris blushed and nodded "Yes, I’m still a virgin. But I have friends who work in a brothel, I’ve received alot of tips."

-_-

Min-jae stroked his chin, he guessed they would have top notched techniques.

Min-jae leaned closer, his shadow falling across the page. His voice dropped to a murmur, smooth and deliberate.

"I suppose giving you a few modern tricks wouldn’t hurt."

Syris blinked, confused. "Modern... tricks?"

He smiled faintly. "Let’s call them techniques."

He bent near enough that his breath brushed the shell of her ear, whispering a few soft, measured words only she could hear. The effect was immediate.

Syris froze, her hand gripping the edge of the table as her face flamed red. "My—My Lord! That’s—!"

Min-jae straightened, entirely unbothered, his tone calm and analytical. "Don’t look so scandalized. You said you wanted to win him, didn’t you?"

Her lips parted, but no sound came out.

"Now, you’ll be dressing like a swan, he likes white. Wear a mask that bears similarities to a swan.."

He looked out the window, the light catching faintly against his lashes.

"I’ll give you a perfume the day before the ball. It will make him remember you, even when he tries not to."

Syris exhaled slowly. "And if he does not look my way?"

"Then make him." Min-jae’s eyes met hers again, sharp as glass. "Do not flatter him. Challenge him. Speak of things he does not understand. Make him think, make him curious. Laughter, intellect, provocation..these are your weapons."

He turned then, his coat sweeping the marble like the closing of a book.

"Remember." he said without looking back, "a queen is chosen for her beauty, but reigns with her wit."

Bowing, Syris smiled "Thank you for all your help my Lord. I will not fail this time.."

Min-jae didn’t look back, he also hoped she wouldn’t fail. It would his job alot easier if she didn’t.

Meanwhile, the carriage Odysseus used, rolled on the road in a steady pace.

Vanadis sighed, too close to the door but he didn’t want to be close to the snake next to him.

"You make it seem as though I have a deadly illness.."

-_-

Odysseus smiled as he inched closer to Vanadis, the master had brought in the perfect prey for him to play with it.

"Stay back!" Vanadis warned, he was like a vixen, he was sly and slippery. If he lost his guard, this man would eat him.

"Can’t you be nice to me?" Odysseus huffed, what would it take for him to give in? Or should he take things to the next level?

He shook his head, then he’d scare the poor thing.

"Why should I be nice to you? You have an agenda, bringing me along on this trip. What do you want from me?" Vanadis frowned, it was clear at the point, he wanted something from him.

Odysseus shrugged, since he was asking there was no need to hide it.

"I want you to fuck me."