The Elf Who Wants to Defeat Theorad
The next day, in my study at Deharem Manor…
“Hmm…”
I'd spent nearly all of yesterday with the elf, and my work had piled up in the meantime.
Havid had organized the daily reports from the servants and slaves, along with records of the pepper farm's growth. It was tedious paperwork, but it couldn't be left for another day.
If I started skipping inspections simply because everything looked much the same as yesterday, that complacency would spread through the household. When the head of the family stopped paying attention, the people beneath him would soon stop taking their duties seriously.
Maltao, you fool. Drinking in the middle of the day again, even after I warned you…
I sighed, dipped my quill and wrote Three months' reduction in wages beside his name. If a warning wasn't getting through, perhaps an appropriate penalty would.
The other reports gave me no cause for complaint. Everyone else seemed to be attending to their duties properly, which was a relief.
After checking the farm's progress, I turned to the letters addressed to House Deharem. I answered them one by one, then began sealing the replies with our family crest.
A knock sounded as I set the wax-melting spoon on its stand.
“Come in.”
The door opened carefully. Havid entered, dressed as neatly as ever. There was no mistaking him for anything other than the chief chamberlain of House Deharem.
He bowed.
“My lord. I'm glad you're attending to your business, but it's time for lunch.”
“Lunch? Already?”
“Yes. The sun is nearly at its highest. Please come to the dining room.”
“I still have a few matters to sort out and letters to answer. I'll come as soon as—”
Havid lifted his head. His narrowed eyes stopped me cold.
“If you intend to use unfinished business as an excuse, I may have to give you a very stern look.”
“Chief Chamberlain, I'm not making an excuse…”
“Have you forgotten that you collapsed the other day? I've even been seeing to your exercise. You must eat on time, for the sake of your health and the household.”
I wanted to argue, but everything he said was reasonable. The longer I protested, the more certainly I would lose.
“All right. Let's eat.”
“A wise decision, my lord.”
Havid smiled and gestured toward the door. He looked so pleased that it was hard to believe he'd been glaring at me a moment earlier.
Isn't he being a little overprotective?
I made a face at his back, put down my quill and rose.
By the time I reached the dining room, lunch was already laid out. Steam rose from dish after dish, each more appetizing than the last.
There was one curious detail.
Every single dish contained oysters.
Are oysters even in season?
I took my seat, still wondering, just as the kitchen door opened. The chef came out, wiping his apron. The elf followed behind him.
The chef approached with a good-natured smile.
“My lord, I put my heart into today's meal. What do you think?”
“It looks delicious, of course. But where did you find so many oysters?”
“Ah, that.”
He gave the elf a hearty pat on the shoulder.
“She bought them at the market. She'd gone for provisions when a fishmonger from the principality happened to arrive. You know how good oysters from there are!”
“…A merchant came all this way to sell oysters from the principality?”
“Yes, my lord. That's what I heard.”
It made no sense. A merchant without an advance order or an arrangement with the kitchen had supposedly hauled fresh oysters all the way to inland Pelgaroin County, risking a journey with no guarantee of selling them.
The more I considered it, the more certain I became that the elf was involved.
She could travel through space. She'd probably gone to the principality herself early in the morning and bought the oysters there.
But why?
Why go to all that trouble to put oysters on my lunch table?
I looked over the dishes, puzzled. Then a thought occurred to me that sent a chill through my whole body.
Oysters are supposed to be good for a man's stamina…
People swore by their effect on sexual vigor. Even His Majesty was said to eat them frequently for that reason.
Which meant the elf might be trying to prepare me for sex.
She wants me to sleep with her…?
I swallowed hard. There was a promise I'd made in a moment of panic, hoping to escape an even more immediate danger.
Ten days from now, I'll rape you when you're in heat.
At the time, I'd believed those disgusting words would buy me some peace. Instead, I'd fastened a shackle around my own ankle.
How long had it been since then?
I counted the days in my head and nearly choked.
Two days…!
There were only two days left. I hadn't prepared a thing. One crisis after another had distracted me until I'd almost forgotten the deadline altogether.
No. I had to remain calm. If I let the elf see how badly frightened I was, who knew what she might do?
Yesterday might have been different, but today I had to resume my performance as the cold-blooded master of the “elf who wants to be humiliated.”
“Thank you for the meal.”
I picked up my spoon and began to eat, doing my best to sound composed.
When I stole a glance at the elf, I thought I saw a faint trace of satisfaction cross her otherwise expressionless face.
She turned and started toward the door with unusually light steps.
I set down my spoon.
“Where are you going?”
As if she'd expected the question, she turned back with a slight smile.
“If you're curious, finish eating and follow me. I'll be in my room.”
The elf went straight upstairs. Once inside her room, she untied her ribbon, removed her apron and tucked her hair behind one ear.
“Ahem. Ah… ah.”
She tried her voice a few times, then nodded to herself and went to the door. She opened it just a crack—enough for someone in the corridor to peer inside.
That's what Lerazie told me to do.
The dream demon had taught her a great many methods of captivating men. One suggestion stood out.
“Try leaving the door slightly open while you masturbate. Call Viscount Theorad's name while you do it. Very few men can resist that.”
It was advice Lerazie had given before leaving the mansion.
The elf didn't entirely trust it. But there was no harm in testing a technique she'd gone to such trouble to learn.
She wanted to subdue Theorad sexually. Their previous encounters had left her feeling humiliatingly defeated, and she couldn't bear how clearly the balance of power seemed to favor him.
If she could bring him under her sway, it might also make it easier to discover whether he meant to keep his promise from the distant past.
Two goals with one maneuver.
If she tempted Theorad into coming to her before the appointed day, he would have broken his own declared schedule. In her mind, that would count as a decisive victory.
Perfect.
Pleased with her reasoning, she climbed onto the bed and leaned against the headboard. Theorad would arrive soon. She needed to be ready.
She hastily undid the buttons of her dress and drew the fabric down over her shoulders. When it reached the curve of her breasts, she stopped.
The thought of Theorad watching her masturbate made her cheeks burn. They had already seen one another naked; why should imagining his gaze embarrass her so much now?
Tap. Tap.
Footsteps sounded in the corridor.
No one else ever came to this attic-like part of the mansion. It had to be Theorad.
If she hesitated now, her plan would fail.
She tugged the fabric down to her waist, baring her breasts and pale pink nipples, then looked down at herself uncertainly.
Could she really go through with this?
She shook her head and spread her legs. Merely showing her chest was unlikely to arouse a man who had already slept with her.
“….”
Her face crimson, the elf lifted her skirt, exposing her pale pink sex. She had been intimate with Theorad before, yet felt awkwardly inexperienced as she sat there.
I look like a prostitute…
Was Lerazie's advice really worth following?
She was still uncertain, but the footsteps were getting closer. Through the gap in the door, she saw Theorad approaching.
She brought a hand between her thighs.
And then a terrible question struck her.
How am I supposed to do it?
Lerazie hadn't actually explained how to masturbate. The elf had seen pictures in books, but she had never tried it herself.
She could hardly believe that after having sex with Theorad, she was now floundering over something so basic.
She began touching herself as best she could, imitating the illustrations she'd seen. She had no idea where or how she was supposed to touch to feel pleasure. Her fingers moved uncertainly over her genitals.
Aware that Theorad was watching through the crack in the door, she forced out a stilted moan.
“Ah… M-Master…”
It sounded as though she were reciting from a book.
Theorad stared for a moment. Then, as quietly as he could, he pulled the door shut.
The elf stopped before her attempt at masturbation had properly begun.
That was nothing like the plan. He was supposed to throw the door open and rush in, overcome by desire.
She was still staring at the closed door when a sheet of paper slid beneath it.
…What?
After a stunned pause, she pulled her clothes back into place and got up. She retrieved the paper and unfolded it.
In Theorad's elegant handwriting was a message that made her stomach sink.
To be honest, I don't know what you're trying to do.
Aren't we supposed to have sex in two days anyway? If you can't wait that long, I can give you the “dragon head” I received from Dremes the other day. You can use it to relieve your desire in the meantime.
“Ah…”
For a moment, all thought deserted her. The embarrassment was so overwhelming that she could scarcely understand what she had read.
Then the meaning settled in, and humiliation gave way to fury. Her lips twisted; her red eyes trembled.
He didn't even see me as a woman. He thought I was simply desperate for relief…
Her attempt at seduction had failed miserably. She had exposed herself, strained to put on a convincing performance, and received a polite suggestion that she use a device instead.
“Ah… th-that…”
Her mind went blank. Hiccupping helplessly, she sank to the floor and covered her face with her hands. Her slender shoulders trembled.
Lerazie… I'll make you pay for this.
If they ever met again, the elf had no intention of letting the demon off lightly.
But first she needed to do something about the unbearable shame burning inside her.
“I'll kill you… hic.”