Guilty Pleasure

Visenya was just walking into the palace when she noticed Lucian coming around the corner, his face filled with disgruntlement. She didn't pay much attention to it, as Lucian always seemed to have that look on his face.

"What the hell took you so long?!" He blared at her.

"I believe I made good timing, Master," Visenya calmly replied.

"Well, you didn't!” He snapped. “In fact, it seems like you're taking even longer!"

Visenya sighed, feeling the need to defend herself. "I can't help it that I have to venture further and further to hunt. All the animals are fleeing to the hills."

"Maybe if you weren't out there fooling around, you wouldn't be gone for so long and could attend to your other duties!" Lucian shot back.

"I'm not fooling around," she said, her voice steady. "I am doing exactly what you told me to do."

"Do not lie to me!" He retorted sharply. "I saw you with my own eyes... bathing out in the lake... shamelessly exposed! Do you think anyone wants to see such a repulsive display?"

Visenya lowered her eyes to the floor, the hurt caused by his callous remark was hidden in her lowered gaze. He always went out of his way to remind her how revolting he found her, and she couldn't help but wonder why she cared so much in the first place.

So what if he didn't find her attractive or desirable? She despised him with every fiber of her being. Sure, he may be physically appealing, it didn't negate the fact that he was hideous on the inside. At least she had a kind heart, she reminded herself. His, on the other hand, was cold and rotten, and it had been that way since the day she met him.

"I'm sorry, but I have to bathe," Visenya said, her voice soft but resolute.

"I will dictate what you should and shouldn't do, not the other way around!" Lucian thundered. "You are not to bathe in that lake again, do you understand me?!"

"I have nowhere else to bathe, though. There is no tub in my cell," Visenya lamented.

"Does that look like my problem?" He responded sharply.

Visenya let out a defeated sigh, acknowledging that her streak of avoiding the hole was about to come to an end. "I'm not going to stop bathing in the lake. I cannot spend my life reeking of sweat and body odor. If you want to put me in the hole for practicing good hygiene, then I suppose you'll just have to do so. But unless you plan on keeping me down there forever, I'm just going to go right back to that lake and wash myself again."

Her tone remained calm, devoid of any hint of provocation. Lucian scrutinized her carefully, taking a moment to gather his thoughts. She kept her gaze to the floor, hoping it would only go to show that she was not trying to be rebellious, but that this particular matter was non-negotiable. Though she knew better than to hold her breath, she couldn't help but anticipate his swift retribution, expecting him to whisk her away to the hole at any moment.

"Get your ass in that kitchen and start making my breakfast," he barked.

"Yes, Master," she replied, concealing her surprise at his unexpected decision to forgo punishment.

Visenya's legs propelled her away from Lucian with lightning speed. She swiftly delivered her kill to the butcher before heading to the icebox to retrieve some eggs. Meanwhile, Emi diligently tended to the oven, preparing it for cooking.

"Where is Josiah? He was supposed to teach me about spices today," Visenya inquired, scanning the kitchen for any sign of him.

“He’s been reassigned,” Emi informed her.

“Reassigned?” Visenya said, her voice filled with disbelief. "But why? He should be here in the kitchen."

“I don’t know, but I heard that he really angered the Dragon Lord,” Emi whispered. “I heard that the Dragon Lord gouged one of his eyes out.”

“He did what?!” Visenya blurted out, unable to contain her shock.

“Please keep your voice down, My Queen. No one is supposed to be talking about it,” Emi cautioned.

Visenya stood there, completely frozen, with a mortified look on her face. She couldn’t imagine what Josiah could have possibly done to warrant such a reaction from Lucian.

She cooked Lucian’s breakfast without Emi’s help, just as Lucian instructed. Apparently, he believed that after two weeks, she should have become some kind of master chef by now, but Visenya still struggled.

She broke the yolks while flipping his eggs and overseasoned his meat. The only thing she didn’t screw up was squeezing the juice out of the oranges.

As always, Lucian detested the meal that Visenya prepared and threw it at her feet. Emi swiftly entered with his backup meal, and Visenya diligently cleaned up the mess as Lucian belittled her. Finally, Lucian flew off to wherever it was he left to every day, granting Visenya a rare moment of respite from his suffocating presence.

Her soul felt at ease during these moments of freedom and she looked forward to the days when she could escape the confines of the palace to hunt. Although the animals seemed to be scattering further away, it gave her and Delilah a chance to stretch their legs and run free for a while.

Visenya decided to seek out Josiah, searching throughout the palace, but he was nowhere to be found. After inquiring with others, she discovered that Josiah had been assigned the task of cleaning the stables. A wave of concern washed over her as she caught sight of the horses lying on their sides outside. Her immediate assumption was that they had perished. Yet, as she drew closer, she discovered that they were merely sleeping.

"Nettle moss," Josiah spoke, slightly alarming Visenya in the process.

"Nettle moss?" She repeated, her voice filled with curiosity.

"It's an herb that I used to put them in a deep sleep," he explained. "Have to be careful though... too much can be deadly. I just thought they could use some rest."

"Yes, I'm sure they appreciate the gesture," she acknowledged, her words tinged with understanding. "They're very high-strung being so close to a dragon and all."

"Aren't we all," Josiah muttered.

Visenya's gaze fell upon Josiah's injured eye, which was bandaged with a bit of blood seeping through. She couldn't help but feel a surge of concern. "Are you in pain?" She asked, her concern evident in her tone.

"Not at the moment. I took some herbs to help with that," Josiah reassured her.

"Why did he do that to you?" She asked.

Josiah hesitated, his eyes avoiding hers. "You shouldn't be here, My Queen. I'm not allowed to speak to you or be anywhere near you."

"Me? Why, though? I don't understand," she said, her confusion growing.

"Please... I don't want to be punished again," Josiah pleaded.

Visenya immediately stepped back, realizing the gravity of the situation. "No... I wouldn't want that either. I'll go," she said softly, her footsteps retreating from the stables.

"My Queen..." Josiah called.

She turned back around to face him, and his wandering eye lingered momentarily over her barely clothed body. He quickly fixed his gaze on her eyes, a gesture of respect despite his undeniable desire.

"Don't you want to be free of him? The Dragon Lord?" Josiah inquired.

Visenya was taken aback by his question. "I suppose we all do," she replied, her voice betraying a hint of vulnerability.

Josiah stood in contemplation, his silence casting a subtle shadow over Visenya's thoughts. For some reason, it made Visenya feel uneasy, and she retreated back into the palace, immersing herself in her chores. Lucian would be returning in a couple of hours, and she needed to wash his bedding and lay out fresh clothes for him after his shower.

He always came back covered in muck, and she couldn't help but wonder if he was digging her grave somewhere out there. Perhaps she would get lucky, and he would fall into it instead. The thought of him buried in the ground for another ten years sounded quite appealing right now.

It was yet another mundane day, following the same monotonous routine. He would return to the palace, trailing dirt all the way up the stairs and into his bedchamber. He stripped off his soiled clothing and boots and got into the shower, while Visenya diligently swept and scrubbed the floors that he had dirtied.

Afterward, she washed his clothes and boots, ensuring they were prepared for the relentless cycle to repeat on the morrow. He always seemed to return in an even worse mood than when he left. He was more irritable and snappy, craving nothing more than a shower and some rest.

This was the only hour during the day that Visenya could sneak some food from the kitchen and rest for a bit herself. She was just about to head to the kitchen when Lucian stopped her in her tracks.

"Did you finish all of your duties for the morning?" Lucian's voice pierced the air.

"I have, Master," Visenya replied, keeping her words measured and her frustrations concealed.

"Good... follow me," he commanded, his tone brooking no debate.

Visenya suppressed the urge to release a heavy sigh, as she had learned to do countless times before, and obediently trailed behind him. The weight of trepidation grew with every step, her mind filled with apprehension over what new chore he had concocted for her this time.

He led her to the fourth floor and into the very first door on the left. It was a somewhat modest space that had likely served as a servant's quarters in bygone days. Upon entering, they encountered two slave women, diligently gathering their buckets of cleaning supplies.

Among them was the same blonde woman who had attempted to seduce Lucian in the south tower that very morning. As soon as she locked eyes with Lucian, a seductive smile played upon her lips, accompanied by a provocative sway of her hips as she made her way toward him.

"It's all clean to your liking, Dragon Lord," the blonde said, her voice laced with a sultry undertone. "Did you want me to freshen up your bedchamber for you?"

Visenya's disbelief surged as she witnessed the scene before her. Was this little hussy really throwing herself at Lucian? He looked at the blonde with the same blank stare that he seemed to give everyone, and for the first time in her life, it really bothered Visenya to not know what he was thinking.

Though Visenya reluctantly admitted that the woman possessed stunning beauty and an undeniable allure, she herself was a twenty-six-year-old virgin who had no clue how to exude sensuality. Shaking herself out of her thoughts, she reminded herself that none of this truly mattered. She despised Lucian and couldn't care less if he desired someone else.

"No," he answered sharply, his words cutting through the tension.

He waved her and the other woman off to attend to something else, dismissing them with a flick of his hand.

His gaze then shifted to Visenya. "This will be your room from now on," he declared, pointing towards an adjacent door. "Through there, you'll find a fully equipped lavatory with a sink, commode, and a tub. So, there will be no more bathing in the lake... Is that understood?"

Visenya's mind spun with confusion, trying to make sense of Lucian's unexpected behavior. Could it be possible that he was actually showing a flicker of kindness towards her? It seemed almost inconceivable, considering she knew all too well that Lucian only cared about his own interests. But what could he possibly gain from this act of generosity?

"Have you gone deaf, dog?" Lucian exclaimed, his voice filled with irritability

Visenya snapped out of her daze, her heart racing. "No... uhm... yes, I understand, Master. I won't bathe in the lake anymore," she stammered, trying to appease him.

That simple response triggered a flood of memories in Lucian's mind, reminding him of the intimate scene he had witnessed that very morning. His gaze wandered over Visenya's body, his imagination running wild with images of her naked, wet form. He could feel himself growing inside his pants as his body practically called for hers, wanting desperately to do what mates are intended to do.

He had to get the hell out of there because his mind and his body were at war with one another, and in moments like this, he wondered if his body was slowly prevailing. Right as he was about to leave, something unexpected happened, halting him at the door.

"Thank you," Visenya spoke softly, her voice filled with genuine gratitude, momentarily breaking the tension in the room.

She hadn't used that tone since the morning he told her about his plans to enslave her. Why was she thanking him? Did she think he was doing her a favor? Well, he wasn't... he just didn't want anyone else lusting over what belonged to him. But he'd never admit that to himself.

He left the room without a word, and Visenya wondered why she even bothered having any manners with him at all. As she looked around the room, she noticed it was clean, yet completely empty. The absence of any furniture or personal belongings made her question the purpose of this space. Despite the lack of comfort, she found solace in the fact that she no longer had to endure the filth and mold of her previous cell. Though the hard, cold tile would be her bed for the night, it was a small improvement in her circumstances.

When she opened the door to the lavatory, she was overwhelmed with giddiness. The sight of the tub was simply breathtaking, a true feast for the eyes. Though smaller than any of the luxurious tubs she had enjoyed in her palace, it didn't matter in the least.

With a delighted smile, she turned the knobs, relishing the sensation of warm water cascading against her skin. Finally, she could indulge in a long-awaited, relaxing bath. Noticing the array of essential oils and fragrant bath soaps on the edge, she couldn't resist adding them to her bathwater.

As the tub filled to the brim, she undressed herself and stepped gracefully into the inviting water. Instantly, she sank into its comforting embrace, feeling as if she had entered a realm of pure bliss. The tranquility of the moment enveloped her, lulling her into a peaceful slumber that awaited her just beneath the surface.

Lucian, on the other hand, was completely wired, his mind consumed by glimpses of his captivating mate. He lay in bed, eyes closed, as he indulged in the intoxicating images that danced through his thoughts.

With a sigh of anticipation, he imagined her delicately caressing her luscious breasts with one hand, while the other traced a tantalizing path down to her navel. The throbbing ache in his pants compelled him to free his large, aching cock, and he began to stroke himself to the vivid and explicit fantasies of her.

In the sanctuary of his mind, this was his private domain, where she could fulfill his every desire. He envisioned her gazing at him with ardor, a reflection of her own intense longing. Perhaps she would even bite down on her plump bottom lip, her fingers tracing a seductive path from her navel to her intimate sweet spot.

His strokes quickened, his imagination running wild, as he pondered what she would look like pleasuring herself. How her juices would drip from her core as her muscles clenched tightly around her fingers. He envied her fingers for having the luxury of being inside her.

He could only imagine the blissful sounds that would accompany her pleasure. With her soft, feminine voice, he envisioned her moans as the melodic notes of a goddess singing an enchanting ballad.

A few strokes later, Lucian erupted like a volcano, his body pulsating with an overwhelming release of pleasure. It had been well over a decade since his body had experienced such intense gratification.

Precisely ten years had passed since the day he discovered that the Gods had bestowed upon him Visenya as his complement. The anger he harbored towards her resurfaced, but he was too exhausted to give it any heavy thought. He succumbed to his fatigue and fell into a deep slumber.