The viscount and countess rose to their feet, “Your Majesty,” they spoke in unison, “we will forever be loyal to the crown.”
The King gave them a nod. “See that you do. Loyalty such as yours will not go unnoticed or unrewarded,” he said.
The Viscount and Viscountess shared a glance as a deep understanding passed between them. Their loyalty had brought them to the brink of ruin and now lifted them to a place of honor.
The Viscountess stole a quick glance at Julian with awe in her eyes. A single scheme from him had turned their world upside down. All of it, every honor, every advantage they had received, came through Julian’s calculated maneuvering.
It was also reminder to the Viscountess that the power Julian had just granted them could be stripped away just as effortlessly.
A shiver ran through her as she realized that the kingdom’s real power didn’t lie with the dukes, the Grand Duke, or even the king.
The real power of the kingdom was Julian who was hidden behind a mask of grace and charm. His ability to manipulate even the highest ranks and wield influence over even the mightiest figures marked him as the true force within the kingdom.
She suddenly remembered her sexual encounter with Julian, and a faint blush crept onto her cheeks. But the thought vanished as quickly as it had come, replaced by humiliation she had felt.
Though he had saved her family, the cost was a wound to her pride and she knew she would never forget the feeling.
Julian smiled, his tone smooth as he said, “Congratulations to the Count and Countess of Azazel.”
The newly promoted couple exchanged an uneasy glance before replying in unison, “Thank you, Your Grace.”
The King then rose as he commanded with authority, “Let us proceed, we must prepare to march now.”
The dukes bowed deeply before following the King’s lead.
The King nodded and commanded, “Well then, Count, prepare the teleportation array. We must depart at once.”
The Count bowed respectfully. “Yes, Your Majesty. Please, follow me.”
The King along with the dukes followed him as he led the way to the grand chamber where the array awaited.
Julian however remained in place without moving. Alden turned and asked, “Aren’t you coming, Julian?”
Julian gave a calm smile. “I will, Father. I just need to gather my belongings. I’ll join you shortly.”
With a brief nod from Alden, the group continued ahead.
As others departed, Julian and the Countess found themselves alone in the silent hall. The Count glanced back towards his wife with a look of deep concern.
But the Countess met his eyes with a steady and reassuring expression. After a silent exchange, she gave a small nod signaling him to go on.
The Count turned away hesitantly, leading the others towards the teleportation array.
“Well then, Viscountess—oh, sorry, Countess,” Julian said as his eyes twinkled with amusement.
He took a slow step towards her as he continued, “It seems the world has shifted quite a bit for you, hasn’t it?”
The Countess stiffened slightly at his words, but she kept her composure.
Julian smiled as he asked, “Do you remember the deal we made?”
The Countess stood there with her head slightly bowed. “Yes,” she whispered.
Julian’s gaze sharpened, “What was the deal” he asked.
The Countess hesitated as her face flushed with humiliation and forced submission. Taking a deep breath, she uttered the words that had sealed her fate.
“My body, my soul, all belongs to you,” she said.
Julian leaned in closer, his grin widening as he spoke, his voice low and filled with authority.
“Yes, you belong to me,” he said as his eyes locked with hers.
“My partners are all divided into two categories,” he said with a sly grin. “Wives… and slaves.”
The Countess’s eyes widened and her heart skipped a beat as the weight of his words sank in.
Julian leaned in closer, his voice dropping to a teasing whisper. “And what do you like to fall under, my dear Countess?”
The Countess’s mind raced furiously, caught in a whirlwind of conflicting thoughts. Both options were traps, each with consequences she couldn’t escape.
If she chose to be a wife, she would be betraying her husband, the man she had once pledged her loyalty to. The thought of dishonoring him in such a way made her stomach burn, but she also knew that it might offer her some security. After all, wives held a position of power and influence.
But if she chose to be a slave… The word alone made her shiver. She couldn’t even begin to fathom what Julian would demand, what horrors he might subject her to in the name of his dominance.
Julian’s voice broke through her spiraling thoughts. “Well, my dear Countess,” he said, his grin widening, “which will it be? Wife or slave?”
The Countess, her thoughts swirling, weighed the options before her. With the title of wife came security and acceptance, something she could still hold onto.
She flushed deeply, her voice barely a whisper as she made her choice.
“I will be your… wife, my lord,” she said, her face burning with a mix of embarrassment and reluctant submission.
Julian’s grin widened, the amusement clear in his eyes as he leaned in just a little closer. He studied her flushed expression, savoring her discomfort.
“Ah,” he teased. “Do you also want me to give you children, my dear wife?”
The Viscountess’s breath hitched and her body tensed as the weight of his question landed.
Her blush deepened, and for a moment she couldn’t even find her voice. Julian’s teasing had crossed into something more—something unsettlingly intimate.
The thought of being pregnant with Julian’s child was deeply degrading to the Viscountess. She had a husband, a man she had once pledged herself to, yet now she found herself facing the prospect of bearing the child of another.
But at the same time, a part of her wondered… perhaps, if she carried his child, maybe, just maybe, Julian would treat her better. Maybe he would see her as more than a pawn, more than just an object to be used.
The idea though fleeting and desperate lingered in her mind. A twisted hope that, by giving him what he wanted, she might be able to earn some of kindness from him.
“Yes, my lord,” she finally whispered, her voice shaking. “If it pleases you… I will bear your child.”
