I Fell into a Gay Video Game Ch. 08

***AUTHOR'S NOTE***

This work will continue to feature themes of fictional rough, reluctant, dubiously consensual, or non-consensual sexual scenarios. All characters are 18 years or older.

Chapter 8: Royal Pain (Part 5)

PREVIOUSLY...

Since the emperor and both his children would be present, nobles were flocking to the party in great numbers. Hundreds of people--maybe over a thousand--would be in attendance. The most powerful families would all have at least one representative coming. After the festival, most families would stay in the city for the next two months or so just to attend parties and otherwise socialize in the capital. 'This is good!' I thought happily. 'More opportunities to rub elbows and build connections after the ball.'

Like that, three weeks came and went in a blink.

NOW...

It was the early morning of the first day of the festival. I startled awake as the prince slammed the heavy doors into my bedroom, loudly singing some bawdy tavern song. That part was unusual, but as it had become our ritual, I selected the OPTION to guide him to my bed. Instead of letting me take his hand when the scene unlocked, he grabbed me by the waist, lifting me and drawing me close to his chest. Reflexively, I wrapped my arms and legs around him, used to the feeling of my body clinging to his. He was in an especially good mood.

Locking his lips with mine, the taste of wine was faint on his tongue as it traced my mouth. He carried me to the bed and playfully tossed me onto the mattress. A jolt went through me as I landed on my guiche piercing, making me squeak in shock. Hubriste laughed at me, quickly discerning the cause of my outcry. Pushing aside my lace panties to reveal my pierced taint, he looped his finger in the ring and gave it a none-too-gentle pull. Toes curling, I let myself fall onto my back and raised my hips. The nerves of my clit and pussy were on fire with each tug of the ring.

What had I become? My body ached for his touch, whether I was overtaken by lust or not. On my own, I tweaked my puffy nipples, regularly hardened since they were pierced. The pain was a stimulating pleasure for my erogenous zones. Hoisting my knees up as high as I could to spread my cheeks wide, I presented my waiting hole for Hubriste, inviting him to take me. I barely spared a thought for Sir Videre, or for the guardsmen who watched me hungrily from the doorway. They may as well have been wallpaper.

"You're a randy little minx tonight," Hubriste teased, wasting no time once I was in position. Spitting a generous glob of saliva on my hole to aid his entrance, he eased his mushroom head inside me, pressing down on my thighs so that my legs spread wider. "Training you every day has been well worth it." He entered me all the way, his pelvis coming to rest flush against mine, pressing the guiche into my body and making my clit and hole twitch. Hovering over me, he was still smiling as he stared into my eyes. "I've made you perfect." Leaning down to kiss me again, I wrapped my arms around his neck and pulled him deeper, unable to refute what he was saying.

He'd made me into his absolute plaything, the ideal toy for a depraved prince. In those long hours of heated coupling, I was nothing more than that. I'd perfected becoming the doll he wanted, both in and out of the bedroom. What had started as a performance to earn his approval and mitigate any punishments had become harder to distinguish from my reality.

He spent in me quickly that morning, not letting me cum. Rolling off me to flop onto the bed, Hubriste yawned and adjusted himself until he was sprawled out and resting his head on my pillows. He looked at me expectantly, but I hesitated. Usually, we fucked until he collapsed on top of me, passed out. He didn't even bring out the jeweled rod, the use of which had become a favorite, near daily, practice of his. On all fours, I crawled across the bed and moved to take his member in my mouth.

Laughing, he steered me to lie beside him on my back instead, idly tapping my hard clit when I was settled beside him.

"I can't be playing with you all morning, my lady. I need to sleep and save my energy for tonight's festivities." Lying on his side, he kissed my ear and rested his hand on my belly, imagining his seed planting inside me, most likely. "Play with your clit until I fall asleep," he commanded, his eyes half-closed.

Thankfully, he was out quickly once I started to pleasure myself.

[LUST: (★★★★★/☆☆☆☆☆)]

When I was sure that he was fully asleep, I disentangled myself from the arm draped over my torso. It was far earlier than we normally ended, but I didn't want to sleep next to him. Being fucked, licked, sucked, and fingered was one thing (or a series of things, whatever), but I'd come to accept that treatment until I could get home. However, I didn't need to indulge in minor forms of intimacy, like sleeping in the same bed as him.

One hot shower later, I felt right as rain, my skin raw and sensitive due to my over-enthusiastic scrubbing. I read my books until Flos came to get me for my lessons with Madam Hera. My routine resumed as expected despite the unusual start.

My dancing at that point was nearly flawless. I flowed around the room like a flower petal on the breeze, lightweight and graceful. The madam rarely had much cause to strike me over the last week, I so rarely missed a step. I excelled in basically everything, save needlepoint, which I managed to be mediocre at after some persistence.

Lunch was a thin bean sprout soup that smelled savory, but offered little in the way of actual nourishment. The most satisfying part of the meal was the three boiled quail eggs. Accustomed to the meager fare, I was nonetheless unsatisfied and hoped dinner would prove more sustaining.

After food, it was on to household management and a rehash of courtly etiquette. Madam Hera was fretting over my debut into high society, so hours were spent on the latter subject daily--not out of some sense of kindness or concern for me, but for her reputation, which would ride on my success or failure.

My routine diverged once more when Flos came to retrieve me for supper. Instead of the typical dining room, I was brought up a long staircase to the fourth floor and down a strange hallway past large alabaster statues of Intacta, paintings of past Saints receiving her blessings, and tapestries showing the goddess in various battles. Parting a sizeable blue velvet curtain, she revealed a large terrace where maids busily set up a candlelit dinner.

Hubriste was standing on the far side of the terrace, overlooking the gardens below, his back turned towards me. The winds blew softly, tousling his golden hair and chilling me. I wasn't dressed for the night air. Wearing a white-colored crop top with a large blue bow at the neck and a matching pleated blue miniskirt, I was downright cold. I was thankful for the white knee-high stockings I wore, though the blue heels hurt my feet after walking and dancing in them all day. Underneath, I had a white lace bra with slits over the nipples, letting my piercings poke through the shirt, and a white lace thong.

Crossing my arms for some warmth, I approached Hubriste. Predictably, a glass of wine was in his hand when he turned to face me. A smile blossomed on his face, and he was the most beautiful man I'd ever seen. Resentment bubbled up inside me. It wasn't fair that I could hate him and find him so stunning. Despite those feelings, I smiled back at him, curtsying respectfully.

"I thought you'd be out in the city by now, Your Highness?"

"Even I must eat, Saintess," he chuckled, seating me at the table and pushing in my chair for me. We were served roast duck smothered in mushrooms and gravy. My mouth was watering at the scent. "You're getting too thin," he remarked over his chalice, sending the help away with a dismissive wave. He even sent Videre away, so we were alone on the terrace.

I stiffened, admittedly offended. He was the one who'd hired Madam Hera, and she was the reason I wasn't eating well; ergo, he was the reason I was losing weight. I forced a tight-lipped smile. "Madam Hera says a lady should be dainty and slim."

"There are limits, though. Thank Intacta your ass is still plump and full, but I can see your ribs too clearly, and your petite wrists look like they'd be all too easy for me to just snap." He was still smiling, but I felt a chill at his words. Reminders that he was much bigger, stronger, and capable of hurting me easily didn't seem necessary. Not unless he was trying to intimidate me, that is. But I was totally cowed at that point, playing along to my utmost. Threats didn't make much sense.

Deciding it was innocuous and focusing on the important takeaway that I could eat my entire meal for the first time in a month, I started digging in. Relishing every bite, I had to force myself to pay attention to what the prince was talking about, eagerly informing me of his evening plans.

"There's to be bull-baiting somewhere on Silver Street. That will be my first destination. I prefer bear-baiting, but in the absence of one, the other will do. Obviously, there will be street vendors; I'll have to make my way there to try any newly imported alcohol. Last year, some merchants brought this clear spirit that tasted of peaches. I had a bottle, and to this day, I've lost most of that festival." There was joy in his blue eyes. "I'll finish the night off with a trip to my favorite gambling house--aha, it's starting!"

I'd barely finished my bite when Hubriste was hauling me out of my seat to the terrace ledge, the drop guarded by a waist-high balustrade. "You haven't asked why we came to eat out here," he said.

[THE PRINCE HAS GENTLY CHASTISED YOU.]

[OPTION 1: PLACATE PRINCE HUBRISTE.]

[OPTION 2: ASK HUBRISTE WHY YOU'VE CHANGED LOCATIONS.]

Neither option was greyed out, and it seemed like he wanted to be asked. On the other hand, he also tended to like it when his authority over me was recognized, which felt like OPTION 1. Going with my gut, I chose the first.

"Who am I to question the Empire's Little Sun?" I countered, Jester's voice sweet and innocent.

Hubriste laughed, nodding. "That is an excellent point, my lady. I lead, and you follow without question. Just as it's meant to be." He caressed my cheek. "Come here, face the gardens and stand before me. Yes, just like that." He inhaled deeply of my scent as he pressed his body close to mine, his hands exploring me. Not my erogenous zones at first. His fingers traced up my bare outer thighs, over my exposed midriff, down my arms, the delicate hairs where he touched standing on high alert.

[SCENE UNLOCKED]

Just as I was beginning to grow impatient, a scream split the air, and a bright light shot up high in the sky. I jumped backward into Hubriste, who sniggered at my reaction. It wasn't until the light exploded into a beautiful red and yellow flower in the sky that I recognized it as a firework. But how did it take the actual shape of a flower?

"Is this your first time seeing sky-sparks?" he asked, wrapping his arms around my midsection and pulling me in close. I could feel his hard cock pressing into my lower back. My pussy twitched with expectation.

"Yes," I answered, assuming a rural commoner like Jester was unlikely to have seen a fireworks show in his young life.

"We hire a handful of additional mages from the Burning Tower every year for just this purpose, so you'll see it for the rest of your life," he assured me, starting to pet my lower stomach, just above my skirt. More fireworks went up, erupting into intricate patterns: blue and red fireworks in the shape of birds, yellow and orange cats, pink and blue fish, a multicolored dragon! It was captivating.

But even the light show couldn't distract me from Hubriste's questing hands when he decided to pay attention to my most sensitive spots. He reached under my shirt to scratch directly at my nips through the slits in my bra before yanking my barbells. Moaning, I leaned into the pain, simultaneously pushing my ass back and up into Hubriste's pelvis. He humped into me, riding my skirt up until nearly my entire ass was exposed to the night air. The fabric of his pants was smooth and fine against my skin, but the ties tickled me.

'This is the most alone we've been since we were in the carriage on the way to the palace,' I mused, as his hands strayed lower until they slid under the top of my skirt and down the front of my thong. He circled his finger around that damned cock ring, ever-present. I was fascinated by the sight of my clothes stirring with his movements.

[LUST: (★★★★★★/☆☆☆☆)]

Unsure if I was eager to start or finish, I reached behind me and began untying his breeches, releasing his manhood to spring out and flop down on my ass. "I can't wait," I said, spreading myself for him.

Hubriste pushed forward, but instead of entering, his slippery cock glided past my hole teasingly. He kept stroking my clit and pulling my nipple while he repeated the movement a couple more times. He bit on my earlobe and whispered low, "Guide me inside."

His cock in one hand, my asscheek in the other to keep my hole open, I led his head to my expectant hole. As soon as his wet glans popped inside me, I stood on my tiptoes and humped back into Hubriste's eager thrust, sheathing him mostly inside me in one stroke, but hampered by the lack of lube. Between his leaking pre-cum and the residual seed still high inside me from that morning's quickie, our motions became smoother and slickened until he was all the way inside me.

Working to please him, I clenched my hole around his member in intervals. He fucked me in small, choppy strokes, only half withdrawing from me before landing back home.

"Keep touching me," I begged. I laid my hand on top of the movement of my skirt, feeling his fingers shift and stroke me under the cloth. "Shit... yes... plow me... touch me... ha! Fuck my pussy!"

[LUST: (★★★★★★★/☆☆☆)]

Feeling slutty and dirty, I succumbed to the ecstasy, moaning loud and long. Grabbing my thigh so that I was balancing on one leg, he changed his angle and started fucking me at a breakneck pace. Pitching forward into the railing of the balustrade, I shouted, reaching out for Hubriste. He caught one arm, holding me half-suspended. The momentum would carry me face-first over the edge if he let go. My whole body tightened in fear. His cock responded by twitching inside me.

"Don't let go!" I reached out with my free arm to steady myself on the rail.

His grip tightened, a bruising force, and he swung his hips even harder, laughing as I continued to holler every time he let me jostle closer to the ledge. The drop-off to the gardens below was steep. If I was lucky, the fall would break my neck and kill me instead of leaving me paralyzed and at Hubriste's mercy. I shuddered at the thought. Death was an option I'd considered a lot since coming into the game, but I balked every time it seemed a genuine possibility.

At that moment, I needed to focus on maintaining my grip on the railing, and keeping my balance on one foot while getting slam-fucked toward both the literal and metaphorical edge. Hubriste loosened his grip on my arm, letting me lurch forward with his next thrust, my head and shoulders entirely hanging over the edge. The pit in my stomach widened to a yawning chasm. 'Why is he doing this to me? What did I do wrong?'

Craning my neck to see his face, I saw him grinning, looking from me to the fireworks. When we made eye contact, his smile grew wider. He leaned in for a kiss. "You're too much fun to tease," he said, humping me further over the edge one more time, making my hand slip at the awkward angle.

I cried out as I flailed my arm in front of me, feeling the weight of it add more leverage over the balustrade, putting me in greater danger of falling.

"Not to mention your cunt gives a wonderful performance when you're scared."

Of course my fear was a game to him. The man wouldn't know empathy if it bit him on the ass! Infuriatingly, my body continued to sing under his treatment. He fucked me over the ledge for a long while, my moans carried by the breeze to flutter over the blooming gardens.

[LUST: (★★★★★★★★★/☆)]

I almost wanted to slip into the Lust Haze; at least then, I wouldn't be so damned afraid of falling. But Hubriste was speeding up, approaching his climax. As another barrage of fireworks erupted in the sky, he burst inside me and said the magic words to give me release. My balls exploded, my body shook and convulsed, the force of my orgasm pushing his cum back out of my pussy in spurts to stain the front of his pants.

[LUST: (★★★★★★★★/☆☆)]

"Dammit, woman!" he snapped, pulling us away from the edge and pushing me to my knees in front of him. My hole felt needy at the sudden emptiness. "Hurry and clean me up," he commanded, his hands on his hips.

Catching his meaning, I restrained a sigh and leaned forward, using my tongue to lick clean the streaks of cum from the front of his breeches. It was salty and bitter, thick and voluminous, despite how frequently he emptied inside me. Even after cleaning myself out, I was basically constantly walking about with some of his viscous cum lining my inner walls.

By the time I was finished cleaning up his pants, his hard-on was raging and jutting in my face. Without needing to be told, I slurped up his manhood greedily, swallowing him whole down Jester's throat, his gag reflex successfully conquered after weeks of effort. Nose buried in his pubes, I looked up to make eye contact with Hubriste, but he was staring at the light show, blissed out by my skillful technique.

There was a burping sound as he popped out of my throat. I was sloppily wagging my tongue on the underside of his prick all the way, until just his glans were in my mouth. I looped my tongue under his foreskin, titillating the sensitive flesh. Suctioning my cheeks, I applied firm pressure to his cockhead, then slowly slid down his shaft until it was returned to the back of my throat, where I opened my throat to him again. He moaned, letting his head lean back and pushing his pelvis forward to go deeper down my gullet.

Groping at his thighs, eyes watering over, I fucked my own throat on his cock, trying to make him shoot down my esophagus. He didn't cum until my jaw was aching, and drool was dripping down my chest, making my white shirt see-through. Pushing all the way to the root of his pulsing cock, I felt his balls twitching on my chin as he let his load fill my stomach directly. When he signaled that he was done, I made sure his dick was clean before I tucked him back into his breeches and tied them tight. Leaning back on my heels, I waited for his next direction.

"As much as I'd love to keep fucking you, the night will get away from me if I'm not careful," he explained, straightening his shirt. Ding!

[THE PRINCE IS ON HIS WAY OUT FOR THE EVENING.]

[OPTION 1: SAY NOTHING AND LET THE PRINCE LEAVE.]

[OPTION 2: ASK TO ACCOMPANY THE PRINCE OUT TONIGHT.]

Like a deer in headlights, I completely froze up. For a month, I had yet to be given the chance to leave the palace, much less see what Hubriste got up to when he was out of sight. But I currently had cum dripping down my thighs, and my crop top was lewdly showing my bra beneath. It was definitely not the outfit to meet anyone potentially important, like any wandering nobles enjoying the festival's entertainments. Not to mention, Hubriste would surely use it as an opportunity to tease and abuse me. And if he was drinking, he might not pay attention to any nearby nobles who shouldn't see the way he treats me. Suppose the more religious houses found out that he had trained the Herald of Intacta's body in such a disrespectful manner. It would likely be seen as sacrilegious, and then he'd never gain their support.

Best to stay in for the night, I decided, choosing OPTION 1. I watched Hubriste take his leave without so much as sparing me a glance.

Having to admit that I was randier than customary because of a proportionally minuscule amount of fucking that day, I went straight for a cold shower once I was back in my room. Afterward, Flos passed along more information that she'd picked up on who was who in the capital city of Urbs, and even news about a few affairs among the nobility that could prove useful to know about.

"How are you coming by all this information, Flos? It's really quite impressive."

"Not so, Lady Valroy," she shrugged. "Servants know the ins and outs of their masters' lives. It's rare for a noble to pay mind to a quiet servant who does their duty. But a servant must always be focused on their master."

"But aren't most noblemen's servants sworn not to speak of their masters to outsiders?" Maybe that was a bit naïve. It wasn't as though I'd never heard gossip about a manager in the office. But the stakes for getting caught spreading rumors here seemed steeper than a trip to HR.

Another shrug. "It's in most contracts when getting hired, but it's difficult to enforce in practice when servants speak to each other." Interesting. That likely meant that news of my treatment by Hubriste was at least common knowledge among staff for who knew how many noble families... that was concerning.

Flos and I talked for a while, though she refused to sit with me and take a drink of tea, keeping a clear line between us. She was whip-smart and understood the social dynamics of her workplace. And though she was plain, she certainly wasn't bad to look at. In the real world, someone like her could do just about anything she put her mind to, but here, she was severely limited by the social class she was born into. Upward mobility would inevitably be tied to something unsavory, like Findel's arrangement with his assistants.

She wasn't just knowledgeable in matters of her day-to-day life; Flos was also quite informed about recent politics and the greater world. My knowledge was mostly limited to what I had access to in books, so my grasp on history and social customs was pretty good at that point, but politics over the last ten to fifteen years would be lost on me without her. The current emperor, for example, was a black hole to me, a gap she helped bridge in preparation for me meeting him soon.

Emperor Genitor was unpopular because of an early diplomatic fumble with the Untamed North, a region brimming with beastmen and demons bordering the northern region. He started a five-year conflict called the Border War that ended with the Erotinos Empire losing territory to people they considered little more than savages.

That was when he had first taken the throne, and it only went downhill from there. He was quick to fund explorative ventures across the Wretched Sea, a seemingly endless ocean full of dreadful sea monsters. A ship had never successfully returned. Yet, he kept trying. On top of that, he was prone to starting grand building ventures that he would quickly abandon when funds grew strained. None of which explained why he would favor his far less competent son over his near-ideal daughter.

Reading about his forebears, it was apparent that he was an outlier among his lineage, which the history book painted as fair, intelligent, honorable, and justice-seeking by nature. But every family would eventually have a black sheep.

Family. The thought twisted my stomach. My poor ma' must be worried sick about me.

Wait.

Why hadn't I thought about that sooner?! All that time, I'd felt a near-constant, dull panic pushing away the idea that my body might be dying in my apartment. But there was no way my ma' would let me go that long without talking to her! Relief crashed down on me like a wave. Most likely, she called my landlord or the police to check on me if she couldn't get a hold of me for any concerning length of time. I bet my body was in the hospital already...

Weightless, I drifted off to sleep that night feeling better than I had in over a month.

But nothing gold can stay.

Earlier than I'd like, the doors to my room came crashing open, and Prince Hubriste loudly entered, his arms spread wide as he belted out the last notes of his song, waking me up from a dead sleep. Laughter and merriment behind him had me stopping short as I prepared to climb out of bed to greet him. Ser Videre and the guards never carried on like that. It was against decency.

The source of the unfamiliar noise was close on his heels. Two men, well-dressed, their doublets made of shiny black velvet and their thick black boots made of fine leather. They both had sneers on their broad, oafish faces. I swallowed the lump in my throat at the sight of them. Ding!

[TWO STRANGERS HAVE ENTERED YOUR CHAMBERS.]

[OPTION 1: STAY IN BED AND WAIT FOR HUBRISTE'S LEAD.]

[OPTION 2: BOLT FOR THE GARDEN DOOR.]

The second choice was greyed out. I hadn't wanted to run in weeks, but I was admittedly nervous, and still, I had no real alternative. Reassuring myself that they were just here to watch us fuck--just new wallpaper to get used to--I selected OPTION 1.

"Are you feeling shy today, my lady?" he called when I remained in bed. I pulled the covers closer to myself, hiding my bare chest. I'd gone to bed in nothing but silk assless panties.

"I didn't expect you to bring company tonight, Your Highness," I responded, gently defending myself. He was walking over to one of my armoires, flinging it open, and rummaging around inside. Meanwhile, his guests flopped down on my sofas, making themselves comfortable while they drank from large wineskins.

"Videre," Hubriste called over his shoulder, still searching through the wardrobe. "Start the music crystal."

The knight rummaged through a bag on his hip, retrieving the fist-sized crystal. Setting it to play, he placed the magical item on the coffee table just as loud brass instrumentals started, accompanied by what sounded like timbales and bongos. The music that was used for the salsa-like dancing they had here. Madam Hera had spent minimal time on that type of dance, arguing that it was immodest.

[SCENE UNLOCKED]

Finding what he sought, at last, Hubriste approached the edge of the bed, motioning me to stand impatiently. Slipping out from under the covers, I revealed my body to the room, to the appreciative whistles from the bystanders on the couches. My prince paid them no mind, raising an intricate golden body chain. I raised my arms so that it could slide on me, settling over my torso to teasingly slip over my pierced nipples while he fastened it in the back. It delicately caressed my skin with each move I made.

"Who are those men?" I asked him quietly, hoping they were well-off merchants he'd decided to carouse with tonight.

"The sons of Duke Malum and Cerasum, just like you wanted," he replied, proud of himself for remembering that long-ago conversation. I felt my annoyance surge. Houses Malum and Cerasum were both headed by men, but they each had firstborn daughters they were training as their heirs. I knew because they were both reported to be attending the ball tomorrow evening.

He'd brought a couple of grasping second sons to watch him fuck me. Second sons from two of the most religious families in the entire Erotinos Empire! Without a decent marriage, they were useless socially and politically, but if they spoke to their fathers about what they saw tonight, they'd be a full-on liability. Their families would definitely take issue with the Herald of Intacta getting reduced to a voyeur show. But I could say nothing for fear of incurring the prince's outrage.

Pressing himself against me from behind, sniffing deeply at the nape of my neck, he commanded, "Dance for me," then joined the men watching me on the sofa.

Raising a single arm over my head and flexing my upper body forward with the beat, then raising my other arm, I let the music start in my fingertips and flow down my being until it was widely swaying my hips in time with the rhythm. Spinning, reaching outward, touching my body, shimmying to set the chains on me jangling wildly, I danced. My skin gleamed with sweat in the moonlit room, my heart pounded, and my breath came quick, but still, I danced.

[LUST: (★★★★/☆☆☆☆☆☆)]

The uglier of the two men, Lord Malum, was balding already and fat besides. He howled his appreciation while the skinnier, lanky-haired Lord Cerasum on the sofa next to him was already freeing his member. Hubriste wasn't done showing off yet, though. He retrieved lube and the string of pearls from my bedside drawer. Making me stand so that my ass was facing our guests, I bent over so that he could ease the stones inside me one at a time. Like that, I was made to continue dancing, feeling the shifting weight of the gems in my guts. If not for the cock ring, my twitching clit would be oozing pre-cum.

[LUST: (★★★★★/☆☆☆☆☆)]

Hubriste let that go on for upwards of twenty minutes while the men watched and socialized before he could take it no longer. Whipping me around so that my ass was facing his guests, he ripped the string of pearls out of me--ziiiiip!

"Fffuck yes!" I gasped, my eyes half-lidded with pleasure. My hole was wet and wanting, twitching for more. I heard heavy grunts and moans from the men on the sofas. Hubriste turned me back to face them, jerking their pathetic dicks like monkeys. Hooking his thumbs into my panties, he pulled them down and let them drop around my ankles, revealing my hard clit.

"She's got a dick?" Lord Malum asked incredulously, his hand slowing slightly. Lord Cerasum, on the other hand, didn't seem bothered.

Hubriste cast a cutting glance Malum's way. "In what world is an oversized clit like this considered a dick?" he retorted. Producing a diamond-tipped rod from his pocket and pausing to show it off to the gawking nobles, he poured lube over my clit so that he could insert the rod's tip into me and let it slide down my urethra. There was no longer any semblance of discomfort associated with the practice, either during or after. It was simply a titillating, invasive pressure that was inflicted upon me.

[LUST: (★★★★★★★★/☆☆)]

"Y-you're absolutely right," he stuttered, his stroking picking up speed.

Taking his place behind me, Hubriste slid inside me, fitting like I was designed for his cock, my tunnel shaped snugly to him. He alternately bit and kissed my neck, pushed the rod back in my urethra every time it threatened to slip out, and yanked at my nipple while he pounded me.

"You're so much better than that fucking sow," Hubriste muttered into my nape, so that only I could hear him over the music. I'd been confused the first time he'd said something like that, but by then, I knew right away that he was speaking of his sister. "You'll turn heads and charm every man there."

He got over-excited, thrusting forward as he pushed the rod down too deep into my clit. I groaned as it entered my bladder from the inside, making me feel like I needed to piss. "I'll do well, Your Highness," I promised in a gasping voice, my body delighting in the abuse.

His arm wrapped around my throat, exerting a gentle pressure that just barely allowed me to breathe.

"I'll--ngh--make you proud!" I wheezed.

"Yes, you will." He slowed to gently undulate his hips back and forth, dipping his cockhead in and out of my sloppy, lube-filled cunt, letting my hole suction his glans as he withdrew. Then he plunged down to the root. He dicked me for the next fifteen minutes before letting me cum around his turgid mast.

[LUST: (★★★★★★★/☆☆☆)]

Dull pain settled in my sac as my cum couldn't flow around the thick rod or back into my bladder, so it backed up into my balls that time.

Growing weary of our position, Hubriste released his grip on my throat and withdrew his hard member from me. Grabbing me by my neck, he dragged me over to the sofas, bending me over the arm of one of them. The men jumped to their feet, dicks still in hand.

I tried to maintain my composure in the face of even unimportant noblemen like these, but my body and psyche were too well-trained at that point. I felt my inner self shifting out of place as Hubriste re-entered me and slammed his hips into mine, setting my nerve endings alive as he battered into my hole with abandon, his balls slapping into my guiche piercing.

"Fuck... oh, fuck!" I moaned. "Deeper! Gimme that... fuckin' cock!" I tugged at my nipples, and Hubriste gripped my hips so hard I knew they'd bruise. But the hurt felt good on a primal level.

[LUST: (★★★★★★★★/☆☆)]

Lords Malum and Cerasum were rubbing out their dinky, little cocks less than a foot away from my face since they were standing right at the edge of the sofa. I was used to the guards and Videre standing further back. I could make out the details of their dicks. Lord Malum's was frankly distracting, with colors shifting from brown to dark pink and then a very light pink, almost white. His cockhead was narrow and small.

Trying to stand to put some distance between their rods and my face, I was immediately shoved back down by Hubriste's hand on the back of my head. "You worry too much," he grunted, as he continued hammering into me.

Whatever else he was going to say was lost as Lord Cerasum suddenly erupted, his cum spraying on my face, getting in my eyes, and making me blurt out a surprised squeal. Lord Malum quickly followed, hitting my cheek and into my open, exclaiming mouth.

The entire room froze, even the two dolts who had just cum on my face. In the stillness, I heard Hubriste say, "There was one rule," with an eerie calm.

I was wiping the cum from my watery eyes when the men nervously laughed. "Apologies, Your Highness, surely you understand a man can't always control where his seed lands?"

"There was one rule." Hubriste's face contorted. "Sir Videre!"

"Yes! Right! A-and we fully intended t-to..."

Videre was advancing on them.

They retreated. "Accident! It was an accident!" Lord Cerasum screeched, tripping over his own feet as he backed up.

Videre was on him, a dagger in his hand. A screaming like I'd never heard before, keening sharply, then red. Lord Malum was running as fast as his fat little legs could take him toward the doors, his hands on his junk. The guardsmen at the door barred his way. Swinging his arms as he turned around, flailing wildly and screeching in an attempt to ward off his attacker, Lord Malum put up a valiant effort to escape while his friend writhed in agony on the floor, clutching at his groin. It wasn't until Videre was wrestling him to the ground, his shrieking ringing off the walls, that I realized what the bloody lump of flesh next to Lord Cerasum was.

"What have you done?!" I exclaimed. The second lump was tossed to the side.

He'd just ordered the emasculation of two men, is what he'd done! Two sons of high-powered men! Even if they were second sons and didn't have any particular benefit, there was no way their fathers wouldn't care.

"There was one rule!" he roared at me, wheeling around and flipping over the sofa.

Flinching, I scurried backwards.

"Don't TOUCH what's mine! NOTHING of yours touches what belongs to me. That's the rule!" he raved over the cries of the fallen men. They could go into shock and die at any moment.

"Your Highness--Prince Hubriste, we need Dr. Carlisle! Or healing salve!"

He glared at me, advancing menacingly. Conscious of my size, I retreated and hunched in on myself, trying to look even smaller and non-threatening. I held up my hands in surrender, but he grabbed me by the wrist and hauled me towards the bathroom.

Shoving me into the shower, he turned the water to steaming hot, scalding me straight away. "Clean yourself," he commanded, stalking back out.

Shaking, I adjusted the water temperature and sat in the shower, my legs too weak to hold me after what I'd seen.

Fuck, what the fuck was wrong with Hubriste? He was completely unstable!

When I had cleaned myself off and gathered the courage to exit the bathroom, I found my bedroom empty, save Flos, who was cleaning the blood off the floor. She helped me remove the body chain and cleaned herself up once she was finished with that.

"Do you know where the prince went?" I asked.

"It seems he went for a night ride to let off some steam."

'Hopefully, the horse will toss him, and he'll snap his neck,' I thought darkly.

I attempted to return to sleep, but every time I closed my eyes, I saw an angry splash of red. Daylight couldn't come soon enough, but the hours slogged by awfully slowly. I was grateful for Flos when she came to get me up.

I was dressed in a black silk-and-mesh women's leotard that rode up my ass. The left sleeve was a mesh that ran from my shoulder across my chest to reveal my right nipple. A wide, white leather belt was cinched around my waist. My thighs were bare, but I had oversized, black silk leg warmers that stopped at the knee.

[SILK & MESH LEOTARD EQUIPPED: +3 SEX APPEAL]

[WIDE LEATHER BELT EQUIPPED: +1 SEX APPEAL]

[SILK LEG WARMERS EQUIPPED: +1 SEX APPEAL]

Madam Hera tapped her cane on the ground as I entered the room. Tap. Tap. Tap. Her hands squeezed the handle so tightly her arthritic knuckles were turning white. Squinting at me, her beak nose high in the air, she announced, "It's our last day together, Lady Saintess." Tap, tap, tap.

I curtsied as she expected of me, though I had no skirt to hold, so it looked a bit ridiculous. She put me through my paces dancing while quizzing me on who was who and what to do when I met nobility. Not once did she move to strike me, though the whole time she was nervously tap-tap-tapping.

Even at lunch, when she instructed me to eat my entire meal--but certainly not to overindulge at the ball tomorrow--she was tapping her cane. I ground my teeth. I'd busted my ass to learn everything she had to teach, and I'd excelled, if I do say so myself. So what if her reputation was on the line? My life was on the line! Comparatively, her problems were nothing.

Stewing, I begrudgingly finished our lessons, happily bidding her a final farewell when Flos came to retrieve me for dinner.

Hubriste was nowhere to be found when supper was being served, and I started to think he might not show up, so I'd be spared his presence. But alas, he arrived about ten minutes after me, chalice already in hand. He thumped the cup down, spilling wine on my sleeve and the table. Flopping down in his chair, he observed me with an expression I couldn't read, while a maid tidied up the mess. He said nothing for a long moment.

"Did you want those maggots' seed?" he asked, out of the blue.

Surely, I'd misheard him. "Excuse me?"

"You could have said something. You must have seen it coming," he said, accusingly.

[HUBRISTE HAS MADE A CLAIM. HOW WILL YOU RESPOND?]

[OPTION 1: {TRUTH} EXPLAIN YOURSELF]

[OPTION 2: {LIE} EXPLAIN YOURSELF]

I wanted to bite back at him, to point out that I'd tried standing, and he'd forced me back down, but I knew him well enough to know he would react poorly to that. "I didn't think clearly," I lied when I selected OPTION 2, my mouth twisting into an apologetic frown. "I was so focused on how good you felt inside me that I couldn't focus on anything else."

He looked at me suspiciously for a long moment, measuring my words.

[PERSUASION CHECK PASSED]

Wide smile back on his beautiful face, he straightened in his seat, motioning me to stand before him. "I forgive you, my lady. You are just a woman, after all. How can I hold you to account when even I misjudged their foolishness?" He reached up to caress my cheek with the back of his hand. "Now, turn around and grab your ankles... good girl." Ding!

[SCENE UNLOCKED]

Hubriste pushed aside the bottom of my leotard to expose my pussy and clit from behind. I jumped when I felt his tongue flick over my guiche piercing. He snickered softly before licking it directly, making the hoop flip up or down with the motion of his tongue and then in circles around it. When he sealed the spot on my perineum with his lips and sucked hard, I almost lost my mind.

"Ooooh, FUCK me," I gushed, my knees going weak.

Every suck sent electricity traveling to my clit and pussy. Then he moved to my hole, licking and sucking the entrance while he flicked my clit with his fingertips, causing me to fidget and twitch.

[LUST: (★★★★/☆☆☆☆☆☆)]

I was ready to burst after mere minutes, but Hubriste kept going, sliding his tongue inside me and wriggling the slippery, wet muscle around. Groaning in frustrated delight, I pushed my ass back, wanting his tongue deeper. He was jerking my little clit, eating my puckered pussy, and tugging my guiche so that my legs barely managed to hold me, shaking so much they were practically vibrating.

The pressure in my clit was unreal, a tightness that felt so aching, I thought the skin might just split. "So good," I husked, losing myself to the sheer bliss of the experience. "Lemme cum while--ffuh--lemme cum while you eat me."

[LUST: (★★★★★/☆☆☆☆☆)]

Unable to help myself, I squeezed him with my muscles, my hole contracting around Hubriste's tongue and pushing him out. He pulled back to spank me on the ass. Crack! He paused briefly, just long enough for me to get nervous when another blow came crashing down directly on my exposed perineum. The algedonic sensation exploded from groin to brain, staggering my entire being as my knees gave out and I dropped flat on my stomach.

[LUST: (★★★★★★/☆☆☆☆)]

It took me a significant delay to recover, and just as I was getting air back in my lungs, Hubriste pressed the bottom of his foot to my guiche piercing, exciting another wave of masochistic chills. "You're so cute when you hurt," he chuckled.

"Hurt me more," I mumbled, pushing back into the pressure until my head was buzzing and I was biting my lower lip.

"Who made you so flawless?" he laughed. Unfettering his prick, he kept pushing his boot into my exposed taint, flexing his foot and forcing me to hump the floor as I jerked every time he applied force.

[LUST: (★★★★★★★/☆☆☆)]

Rubbing his own dick, he played with my body lazily. My cunt ached and quivered with need, longing for the familiar fullness of his shaft buried in my guts. I wanted it, but he was teasing me, sadistically depriving me of what I'd been trained to desire. He said the words to release the cock ring and simultaneously gave a particularly sharp shove on my guiche. Cumming into the fabric of my leotard, my hole clenched on the thought of Hubriste's cock.

[LUST: (★★★★★★/☆☆☆☆)]

Hungry for more, I crawled over to my prince and reached for his rod, but he shooed my hands away and snatched a fistful of my hair. I opened my mouth when he brought my face closer, ready to taste him, but he kept jerking his own cock methodically and holding my head in place near it. His balls started to contract as he approached climax. I wanted him in my mouth, to have him cum down my throat and directly into my empty stomach. Instead, I ended up trying to jerk back as he erupted directly into my eyes and gasping mouth, but I was stopped by his hand in my hair.

He cackled. I wiped cum from my eyes. "You do look pretty with my seed on your face." He stopped me from wiping his material off my cheeks, using his thumb to push it into my mouth. I sucked his digit, swallowing cum and massaging the intruder with the tip of my tongue suggestively. I held his gaze with mine.

"We can't go another round, I'm afraid," he withdrew from my lips with a little wet pop. "Tomorrow is your debut; you must be in top form. That vacuous cow will try anything to steal my rightful place. Outshining her is your top priority. Now finish your meal, and it's off to bed with you."

I devoured the suckling pig on my plate, gone cold while I was distracted. A slick mixture of honey and grease clung to my fingertips. Wiping my hands on a dinner roll, I popped the fluffy bread into my mouth.

Hubriste didn't wait for me to finish eating, taking his wine and his leave. My body was uncomfortably aware of the lack of sex I'd had today. I hurried my food so that I could rush to my chambers and take a cold shower, giving myself hiccups.

The longer I thought about it, the more anxious and excited I was about the ball. Would I go home as soon as Hubriste was named Crown Prince? Would I have to go to sleep? Maybe there would be some mysterious fade to black, and then I'd wake up in a hospital bed? My muscles would have atrophied a lot by the time I returned. I'd have to really hit the gym to get my gains back. And probably hit the tanning bed too. I'd be as pale as Jester if I'd been stuck in a hospital the last several months.

But I could live with that, no problem. I was consistent with my routine. I'd be back on track in no time. Worst-case scenario, I'd need a little physical therapy when I awoke. Then I'd be fucking and sucking in no time again.

Thinking of using my real cock to fuck someone's eager hole after so much time exclusively bottoming felt like I was being naughty and breaking the rules. Like Hubriste could somehow know that I was rejecting femininity in my heart, and there was a me that he could never reach. Pushing that paranoia away, I refocused my energy on preparing for the big day.

...

...

...

I certainly didn't miss being attended to by multiple women at once. Maids bustled in the room, bumping into each other and squawking back and forth. Flos was the only one who maintained a sense of calm and restraint, whereas the others laughed and gossiped about the upcoming event.

"It's so grand, Lady Saintess! The Hall of Glass is supposed to be one of the most splendid locations in the main palace!" One of the girls declared, trying to include me in their conversation while they tended my hair and makeup.

I'd already gathered intel about the night, including the room she was talking about, but I humored her anyway, indulging the conversation with the young women.

"It's a dream of mine to see it someday. I've never seen a fish from the ocean before, and there's supposed to be at least thirty different kinds under the floor! I bet I could spot one of each," she said, happily. It was supposed to be a stunning hall with ornate mirrors lining the walls and extraordinary blown-glass sculptures and chandeliers. Most spectacular was the magically reinforced glass floor, beneath which were the exotic fish she was referring to.

Another maid piped up, "Well, I'd be most excited to take a midnight stroll through the gardens nearby and sit in the Lovers' Gazebo. They say if you and your beloved swear to each other underneath the light of its torches at midnight, you'll never be parted." She and the other girls giggled innocently.

"What are you most looking forward to, my lady?"

"Making a good impression on the emperor," I answered, honestly. The maids chattered with excitement, agreeing with my priorities.

We decided on a restrained, natural appearance today so as not to draw attention away from Jester's natural beauty: red lipstick, a touch of light pink blush, and a simple touch of eyeliner to make his eyes appear wider.

My curly black hair was long enough to put up in a small bun with a decorative hair comb sporting giant rubies. They matched the large ruby necklace fastened around my neck with a golden chain. Five ruby rings with golden bands were put on my fingers, three on one hand and two on the other.

[RUBY COMB EQUIPPED: +1 PERSUASION]

[RUBY NECKLACE EQUIPPED: +3 PERSUASION]

[RUBY RINGS EQUIPPED: +5 PERSUASION]

The dress I stepped into was a black velvet piece with a similar cut to the mermaid dress I'd worn before, but flared just after the hips instead of at the knees. It gave me a little more freedom so that my guiche piercing wasn't constantly stimulated. The choker-like collar connected directly to the straps holding the dress up in the front, creating a diamond effect that drew attention to my braless chest and tiny tits. There were cutouts at the hips, exposing the appealing curve and milky skin, unblemished since I went to bed with a healing salve on my bruises at Flos' advice. The final details were the golden chain embellishments framing the bust, back, and hips. So as not to create any lines, I went without panties, the fabric caressing my body seductively.

[VELVET CUTOUT FISHTAIL DRESS: +5 SEX APPEAL]

[OPEN TOE 2" BLACK HEELS: +1 SEX APPEAL]

I looked stunning, shocked to see that with Hubriste's modifications, Jester passed for a flat-chested woman. Worried that I might look too seductive, I prayed the night would go according to plan.

Hubriste was visibly impressed with my appearance when he entered my room to retrieve me, making me spin for him while he whistled appreciatively. "Remember, you're the star tonight. You mustn't disappoint me."

Sure, no pressure.

The walk to the main palace from the guest palace used to be tiring in heels, but after long days of practice, I effortlessly kept up with Hubriste. The path was all indoors, so I didn't have to worry about the chilly spring air. "After the party tonight, I'm going to fuck you senseless in celebration. And to make up for the break I gave you this morning," Hubriste informed me, cheerily.

'If everything goes well, there won't be an after,' I thought, hopefully.

"I look forward to it, Your Highness," I answered aloud.

There were guards at the door and a well-dressed footman with a brass horn that he promptly blew when we were standing in the doorway. "PRESENTING," he bellowed over the room, which fell into a hush as everyone turned to look at us.

My shoulders started to tense automatically, but I forced them to relax, swallowing the lump in my throat.

"PRINCE FASTUS HUBRISTE DESTINATUS! AND ACCOMPANYING HIM, THE LADY SAINTESS, JESTER VALROY!"

As we descended the staircase into the grandiose hall, I found it... a bit much, if I was honest. Indeed, the blown-glass sculptures and chandeliers hanging from the vaulted ceiling were quite stunning, but seemed to clash and add chaos to the atmosphere. The mirrors everywhere added an effect that screamed gaudy. But I was admittedly impressed by the aquarium under the floor. I had no idea how it worked or how the fish didn't go deaf down there, but it was pleasing to look at.

"Shit," Hubriste swore under his breath. "We got here before that fucking quim did! People will remember the one who arrived last more clearly." He released his hold on my arm and grabbed two glasses off a passing waiter's tray, handing me one. "This is already a poor start." He surveyed the crowd while I sipped my drink politely.

The crowd was of interest to me, and I to them. I saw eyes on me at every turn.

"I see Count Obellius; he has a debt to settle with me. Make nice while I'm gone." He leaned down to give my temple a quick kiss before stalking off.

A woman with wide green eyes approached me as soon as I was alone. Her eagerness and overly ornate dress betrayed her inexperience before she closed the distance. "My lady," she dropped into a neat curtsy, and I followed suit. She wore a silver heart necklace with a tiny emerald dangling in the hollow middle. The symbol of Intacta. "I'm thrilled to meet you! I never thought I'd meet a genuine Saintess in my lifetime. Sending us her Herald must mean she's forgiven us after all this time. She even protected your caravan from a goblin attack!"

I doubted the soldiers gang-banged by those monsters would agree with her assessment.

"Of course, the Goddess Intacta certainly watched over us that day. It's just more proof that Prince Hubriste himself bears her favor," I said.

"He must!" she agreed excitedly. "You're truly blessed. That much goblin activity would normally attract ogres. Especially with it being..." she blushed, glancing around to ensure no one was eavesdropping on our conversation. "Mating season," she finished in a conspiratorial whisper. "And they're such horribly territorial creatures! Males will even fight to the death over females! But if the victor smells a pregnancy, he'll wait and kill her offspring to reduce future competition. Such fascinating--um, brutish creatures," her redness deepened as she continued to speak. Flustered, she excused herself to get another drink. Ding!

[PRINCE HUBRISTE INFLUENCE +1]

Oh?

Oh!

Excellent! How many points did I need to meet my objective? Energized by a step in the right direction, I looked for my next opportunity.

Spying a couple of elegant older women, I strolled over and inserted myself into their conversation as if it were the most natural thing in the world. "My ladies, aren't you a bit young to be at this party unattended?"

They giggled, and we were off to the races. I spent the next quarter hour chatting up the Duchesses Pirum and Uva, extolling Hubriste's virtues where appropriate. They were from neutral families, having yet to declare their support for either candidate for the throne. It was only natural to try to court their allegiance. It's what the prince should be doing if he weren't busy shaking down a count for whatever pittance he was owed. Ding!

[PRINCE HUBRISTE INFLUENCE +2]

The horn blared again, cutting off all conversation in the room. "PRESENTING PRINCESS REGINA FILIA DESTINATUS!"

My confidence faltered as she entered the room. Resplendent in a midnight blue ball gown speckled with diamonds so that she shimmered as she walked, her simple movements conveyed a grace that I could never dream of cultivating, no matter how long I played at being a woman. Her long hair was in an updo with carefully orchestrated ringlets escaping hither and tither. She was equal parts modest and stylish, with a high collar that accentuated her long neck.

Her gaze locked in just behind me. She started in my direction. Come to find my prince returning to my side, glaring daggers at his sister's approach. "Brother. Saint Valroy," she curtsied just respectfully enough. Hubriste did not return the gesture with a bow. If she took offense, she didn't show it.

Rather, a smirk played on her lips. "I've missed your presence on the training grounds these last months, Brother. Our soldiers weep for your absence."

A glacial smile from the prince had me on edge. "I'm certain you keep the soldiers well occupied while I'm not around, Sister. In fact, I'm positive that you ride them so tirelessly they can spare a thought for little else."

"I'm admittedly a demanding Commander," she replied, ignoring the jibe. "Should you ever venture into battle, you might understand the need for that."

Hubriste reddened quite noticeably. The nearby crowd tried hard to pretend they were interested in each other, not the imperial children's conversation.

Shrugging, he relaxed his shoulders a bit too casually. "Should a battle worthy of me arise, I'll be the first to take charge. Make no mistake. Until then, someone of your caliber will do for the minor conflicts that have cropped up in the last decade."

"Careful, Prince Fastus," she warned. "Our competition is one thing, but to dismiss my campaign victories is to disregard the lives of the soldiers who fought and died under my command in service to our country." She stood up straighter as she spoke, and an agreeable murmur from those gathered indicated that the tides were shifting to her side.

It was unlikely anyone in that ballroom had served in Princess Filia's elite force. But as I'd been informed, she was well known as a skilled swordswoman and proficient commander served by brave men and women.

"If they were under MY command, they mightn't have died!" Hubriste snapped, petulantly.

And just like that, those close enough to hear decided who they stood with. Disapproving gasps were quickly stifled, but the look on Hubriste's face confirmed that he knew he'd lost that particular quarrel. Ding!

[PRINCE HUBRISTE INFLUENCE -4]

Ah, come on, man!

Blessedly, the horn blew once more, stopping that disaster of an interaction. "PRESENTING HIS IMPERIAL MAJESTY, EMPEROR GENITOR LUXURIA DESTINATUS, THE SUN OF THE EROTINOS EMPIRE!"

Stockier than Hubriste, the sixty-something man had a carefully coiffed mane of grey-blonde hair and a well-kept beard trimmed close. Dressed in a rich green velvet doublet with a sun embroidered on the front and black breeches, he strode to his throne across the room, his long cape trailing behind him.

Disengaging from his sister, Hubriste dragged me before the dais. Curtsying prettily while Hubriste bowed, I stole a glance at Genitor once we were closer. Though plump from a life of extraordinary luxury, the emperor was as handsome as a king from a fairy tale. Looking at least a decade younger than I knew him to be, with a broad smile that matched his son's and sparkling blue eyes that crinkled at the corners, it was obvious where the prince and princess got their good looks.

"My son!" the emperor exclaimed, rising from his seat quickly to tightly embrace Hubriste in an effusive display of affection for all those gathered to see. "Handsome as ever, you devil," he laughed, patting him lightly on the cheek. Then he turned to face me. "I've heard much about you, Lady Saintess. An honor, it is, to meet you!" Snatching my hand, he delivered a wet kiss to my knuckles. If it bothered Hubriste, he betrayed no sign.

"The honor is all mine, Your Imperial Majesty," I replied.

"That the Herald of Intacta chose my son is truly a blessing for Erotinos," he declared confidently, reseating himself. Ding!

[PRINCE HUBRISTE INFLUENCE +2]

"It's an honor that you think it so, Father."

"Go on, don't take up your evening talking to this old man! Go! Celebrate! Dance with your lovely partner!" Genitor affectionately shooed his son away to venture out on the dance floor. He quite notably didn't wait for the princess to greet him before he motioned for the music to start.

Taking me to the center of the dance floor, Hubriste led me in the traala dance, something like a blend of the waltz and the saltarello. Starting with our hands linked, we skipped forward three steps, out once, in once, and released hands so that Hubriste could dance around me in a circle before coming in close. He linked one hand with mine and clasped my waist in the other. I could feel the heat from him, even as we carefully kept our bodies from touching. He spun me in wide circles before settling into an easy rhythm with the music.

"Can you feel the gazes of every man in the room on you?"

[THE PRINCE IS TEASING YOU.]

[OPTION 1: "The only gaze I feel is yours, Your Highness."]

[OPTION 2: "I'll dance with and charm every man here, just for you, Your Highness." ]

Unfortunately, I needed OPTION 2, regardless of how Hubriste felt about other men touching me. Maybe he'd have an easier time with it since everyone's clothes were on. When I selected it, Hubriste's brow furrowed, but he didn't dispute what I said.

"I'll be keeping watch. If anyone tries anything indecent, I'll have their hands," he groused, spinning me out at arm's length before twirling me back into his arms. My stomach sank at his words, reminding me of Lord Malum and Lord Cerasum. I sent up a quick prayer that I not run into their fathers or sisters, having no idea what ultimately happened to the men. As the song ended, I curtsied to Hubriste, who in turn, bowed to me.

Hoping that no one would trigger Hubriste and cause him to do something to lose influence points, I braced myself as two strange men approached us. I recognized them by the insignia emblazoned on their silk jackets--the outline of a heart atop a field of sunflowers. Their family name was Helianthus, a ducal family of recent repute from the eastern region.

A decade ago, when the new Master of the Burning Tower came into power and recalled all the free-working mages under penalty of death, the head of their family had been instrumental in negotiating terms on behalf of the empire. Mages were absolutely vital to the day-to-day lives of the nobility. They simply couldn't go on without them; their magic was what technology relied on. Despite that, mages themselves were seen as little more than specialized commoners and held no place at festivities like the Foundation Ball. The only exception would be someone like the Master, but considering how far along the party was already, it was unlikely that either remaining male lead would attend.

The duke and his heir bowed, first to their prince, then to me. Solomon and Linus were their names. They weren't known for their devotion to Intactism like some other families, but they were eager to gauge Hubriste's suitability for the throne. Based on the information I'd gotten from Flos, the eastern region was struggling with an increase in the spontaneous formation of demon gates, portals that allowed demons to escape into the human realm as long as they were open. The emperor's solution up to that point had been to send Princess Filia to close the rifts that would form and slay the demons that escaped.

Before Hubriste could speak, I jumped in, curtsying and smiling sweetly. "Gentleman, it's an honor to make your acquaintance. I'm so pleased you sought us out. Prince Hubriste has been eager to discuss a plan to partner with the Church to more effectively address the issue of demon gates cropping up."

The men, Hubriste included, looked shocked. The prince recovered quickly. "Indeed! We need a more reliable method that gets to the root of the issue, rather than vainglorious seekers of fame doing the bare minimum before returning to unearned accolades."

The younger of the two, Linus, looked slightly uncomfortable with how he referred to the princess' efforts, but Solomon looked intrigued. "I'd heard some unsavory business about a dead high priest that had me concerned. But you're saying the Superior still supports you?"

A fist in the gut wouldn't have hit me as hard as his words. I thought of the kindly Father Shion with his gentle smile, then of his screaming and the shock of blood as he writhed on the ground.

Keeping composed despite myself, I forced a convivial smile. "I'm the first Saintess in one hundred years," I reminded him, confidently. "Of course, the Superior supports me." The sad part was, I wasn't even bluffing. What was one high priest compared to a living symbol of your goddess' blessing to the head of the Church?

Duke Helianthus saw the reasoning just as clearly as I did. Nodding agreeably, he was perceptive enough to take my meaning when I pointedly wrapped my arms around Hubriste's and leaned into him, wordlessly endorsing him with my presence. Ding!

[PRINCE HUBRISTE INFLUENCE +5]

We spoke for a bit longer before moving on to another group, a mix of young dukes and counts who were already Hubriste's hangers-on, so I didn't see a point in entertaining them. Breaking from Hubriste to socialize further, I chatted up a couple of young heiresses firmly in the princess' camp. I was able to glean two influence points for the prince by appealing to their sense of piety.

As a middle-aged count approached me, the horn blew again, shocking the room into silence. The footman hesitated, looking uncertain as he gaped at someone just out of my sight. "Uh... Pr--PRESENTING... THE MASTER OF THE BURNING TOWER, AMARE AMENTIA."

Though he didn't have Hubriste's angelic visage, he was positively radiant in his own right. Framing his angular face, his hair flowed loose like spun silver down his shoulders and back. The color was complemented by his flowing light blue silk robes under a midnight blue velvet cape fastened with a silver clasp inlaid with a large green emerald that matched his eyes. He settled on me from across the room, and I felt a thrill as our eyes met, as if I'd held the gaze of a tiger. It was keenly different from my impression of him the first time we'd met.

One second, he was up the stairs by the entrance, then there was a small puff of smoke, and he was standing in front of me, smiling cheekily and waving enthusiastically so that his many bracelets jingled. He was exorbitantly late and lacking all decorum. For mages to flaunt their powers so publicly was considered terribly rude, and there he was teleporting while all eyes in the room were on him.

Uncertain if it was the residual effect of his magic, I felt the atmosphere flex and shift as he drew near. The sensation I'd come to know intimately as the automated directions seemed to dance across my skin before scattering, leaving me feeling lighter somehow.

Before I could make sense of it, Hubriste was on us, indignation writ large in every step. I searched around for Sir Videre to make sure he wasn't also on the move to start a bloodbath in the middle of the ball.

"Master Amare," Hubriste bid him stiffly. "You never sent word you'd be here today. I'm not certain how things are run in the Burning Tower, but in Urbs, if one doesn't send word they're attending a function, they simply don't go," he admonished, as though he were speaking to a child.

The irreverent grin never left Amare's face. Despite the reprimand and the difference in physical size and social class between the two, he seemed utterly unbothered. "I just needed to see Jester," he responded, simply. "I've been dreaming of a dance, you see?"

Hubriste glowered. "Saintess Jester," he corrected, quietly. "Might I remind you that you swore to respect the outcome of the selection process?"

The mage tilted his head curiously. "Does asking for a dance disrespect the selection process?"

Tension was building in Hubriste. Afraid he'd escalate the situation and start having pieces cut off Amare, I laid a tentative hand on his arm, mentally imploring him to stay calm. The Burning Tower had never taken an official stance on the inheritance of the throne. It was a golden opportunity to court Amare's support and gain influence Princess Filia couldn't attain.

"I'm certain the Master didn't intend to cause any offense," I placated Hubriste in a hushed voice. "He's just unfamiliar with courtly customs. I'd like the chance to bring him to your side... if it pleases you, Your Highness."

"It doesn't please me," he complained, but conceded.

A shock, like static electricity, passed between us as I took Amare's offered hand. As we stepped onto the dance floor, he held me just a hair's breadth closer than was appropriate, a transgression minor enough to easily be chalked up to accident.

I could feel the repeated brush of the automated controls without any of the actual force behind it that puppeteered me; almost like it was trying to take over, but couldn't get a good grip. Was I still just feeling the remnants of the magic Amare had used?

"You look like a woman," he remarked, innocently. "Is this what you prefer?"

Caught off guard, I struggled to answer for a moment. I passed as a woman with a deep voice to the people gathered, but Amare knew the truth. Thankfully, I was the only one who heard him. "... I'm as Intacta intends me to be, so I can best serve Prince Hubriste and Erotinos."

"Is that so?" He raised his arm and spun me under in a turn on the balls of my feet. Holding my waist lightly, we followed the dance steps in tight circles. "What if I said I could take you away and make you as you were?"

I almost missed a step at his words. The controls were in a mad flurry, the warning pressure on my flesh getting more intense, but still not sinking its claws in. A notification chime sounded, and a familiar opaque, green-tinted window appeared above Amare's head. Just like the last time I'd been face-to-face with the mage, the letters of the message were all scrambled and indecipherable.

"I would say... that my choice has already been made," I answered carefully, but truthfully. "I have a... goal to see Prince Hubriste made the Crown Prince." Reflexively, I glanced at Princess Filia, dancing with Duke Livius, the head of a currently neutral house. "If you want to help me, you could officia--"

"I've no intention of throwing the weight of the Burning Tower behind that inebriate," he interrupted. "Not to mention, I've no appetite for politics. All I can offer you is escape."

Maybe escape from Hubriste, but who was to say I wouldn't be jumping from the frying pan to the fire? In our first real interaction, he'd already proven he was just as hungry for Jester as any other man.

Most importantly, I was definitely on the right track in making Hubriste Crown Prince. I could feel it. I couldn't see how many Influence Points Princess Filia had gained or had already, but I couldn't be disheartened by that. Or by Amare's refusal. There had to be a way I could use him to my advantage.

"I understand you don't want to get involved, but what if I just sort of... implied that you supported me and therefore the prince? No action needed from you, except to not correct me," I floated the idea, hopefully.

He chuckled, nodding in agreement as he stopped us in the middle of the ballroom. "I won't get in your way if you want to use my name. But you'll have to remember what a generous friend I've been in the future." He was beaming, quite pleased with himself.

The song came to a close, and the other couples on the floor came to a halt, glancing at us, curiously. Amare stepped back and impressed me by properly bowing.

Then he was gone, leaving behind an odorless puff of smoke that quickly dissipated.

Once I was alone, more men swarmed to me, eager to ask for a dance, giving me a myriad of chances to exalt the prince and rack up Influence Points. I danced, I played the coquette (very cautiously), I flattered Hubriste, and I name-dropped Intacta and Amare like crazy. Sure enough, as the hours flew by, I amassed over seventy-five Influence Points, near giddy with excitement.

When Hubriste found me, he was three sheets to the wind, but still moved with a dancer's grace. "I've had to watch other men paw at you all night," he pouted. "And now Father wants to see us, while I'd like nothing more than to sneak away and fuck you silly." He offered his hand, sullenly. Ding!

[THE PRINCE IS FEELING JEALOUS.]

[OPTION 1: TAKE THE PRINCE'S HAND AND APPROACH THE EMPEROR.]

[OPTION 2: TAKE THE PRINCE'S HAND AND SNEAK AWAY FROM THE PARTY.]

Ha! Like hell was I leaving that party when I was stacking up points left and right. Selecting OPTION 1, I took Hubriste's hand and encouragingly tugged him towards the dais. He half-dragged his feet, but walked with me toward Emperor Genitor.

The room quieted as we approached. I noted Princess Filia, who hadn't been summoned to approach her father even once that evening, looked rather sour. But even that expression couldn't mar her lovely face.

"You dance beautifully," Emperor Genitor spoke directly to me. "I've been watching you all evening." He rubbed his beard thoughtfully and eyed me in a way that wasn't exactly innocent. My prince didn't notice or didn't care. "I've always had a soft spot for a good dancer. Fastus' mother was the finest dancer I'd ever seen, but you put her to shame tonight. Give us one last performance to soothe this old man's heart before you go off to rest, my lady, if it please you."

'It doesn't please me,' I thought, parroting Hubriste's earlier sentiments. Ding!

[THE EMPEROR WANTS A SHOW.]

[OPTION 1: REFUSE THE EMPEROR'S REQUEST.]

[OPTION 2: INDULGE THE EMPEROR.]

Even if I'd been stupid enough to say no, OPTION 1 was greyed out, preventing its selection. When I chose OPTION 2, I felt the automated directions, apparently calmer than before, settle over my shoulders in a familiar sensation as I lost control of my body.

I curtsied and stepped into the middle of the ballroom, the only one on the dance floor. All eyes were on me. 'It's all just a game,' I reminded myself, holding my chin high. The music came to life, energetic and vibrant.

I swung my hips into the rhythm, spun in flashy circles so that my fishtail skirt flared around me like a black flower, and touched my body sensuously. The dance bordered on inappropriate, and I started to get worried that it might get a bit risqué when it came to an abrupt end. I stopped on a dime with the final beat of the instruments, and at the same time, my body finished a grand flourish.

The room was silent for nerve-wracking seconds. Ding!

[PRINCE HUBRISTE INFLUENCE +8]

With applause from just about everyone, I reached the goal Hubriste had set forth, at least--I was the star of tonight's ball without a doubt. The princess, too far away for me to make out her expression, politely contributed to the clamor with a modest clapping of her own.

Returning to Hubriste's side before his father, I curtsied again, my feet tired from being in heels all night. "Just as I thought, you put Ioanna to shame. Tomorrow, the two of you will join me for a small luncheon. Son, you stay with your dear, old father tonight! We've much to discuss."

Hubriste didn't even try to hide his disappointment at his father's request despite how favorable his public invitation was.

The old emperor stood, clapping his son on the arms consolingly. "Now, now. Your lady's maid can take her back to her quarters." Ding!

[PRINCE HUBRISTE INFLUENCE +5]

The three of us left the ballroom as a group, with Flos meeting us at the doorway. Parting ways, I navigated the halls back to the guest palace with Flos as my guide, impressed with myself that I'd managed to end the night, not just without mishap, but without even getting fucked. I felt victorious. Invigorated, even!

Of course, later that night, when I was trying to sleep, I had what I could only describe as a persistent craving in my ass as my body, conditioned for pleasure, ached to be taken. Resolutely, I ignored the feeling, annoyed with myself and more than a little disturbed. When sleep reached me at long last, it was fitful and fraught with unsettling dreams.

...

...

...

It started simply. I was in a bedroom I vaguely recognized, but in my real body. There was a naked woman next to me in bed, the only garment on her being a black strap-on and harness. We were both waiting for her husband to exit the shower in the attached bathroom, lazily making out and touching each other here and there as we did so. She was half of a DINK couple I'd met online looking for a play partner, and I was more than willing to accommodate the kind of service they were looking for.

My phone vibrated on the nightstand. Lee was calling. I ignored it and returned my attention to the woman in front of me, tweaking her brown nipple teasingly. I leaned back on some of the many pillows, jerking my seven-inch cock invitingly. She took my meaning and started to suck at my sensitive glans directly.

Her husband, a shy, chubby man, entered the room. Taking a deep breath from a tiny bottle, he swayed slightly on his feet before joining us. Then we three were a swirl of flesh on the mattress, each of us licking, sucking, touching every scrap of skin we could get our mouths and hands on.

I had him on his hands and knees, my large, muscled body easily maneuvering the smaller man above his wife's strap. As I was about to plunge into his prepped hole, eager for visitors, my phone vibrated again. Lee's name on the screen--a moment of guilt pushed away in favor of annoyance. I turned my phone off.

Then I was back on them, in him, gripping his sides hard and keeping him in place while I worked inside his plump ass. Once my rod was nestled in his warm hole, loosened and made ready by the drugs he had inhaled, she joined me. The feeling of lube and the pressure of her big, pink-silicone prick along my shaft was hot as we stretched her husband open. Letting him acclimate to our sizes, I started to move once he gave the okay, thrusting gently.

The room seemed to slowly spin in circles around us, lost in the ecstasy of fucking open his willing hole. The couple started to kiss and caress each other to exclusion, even as he slammed his hips down on both our cocks.

Vibrating caught my attention once more. My phone screen was blank. I turned back to face my partners, but was greeted with a green notification box.

[LEE CALLING...]

I scattered the window, still balls-deep. But they were different when I looked at my lovers... almost glossy looking and stiff in their movements. While I watched in detached fascination, the woman's eyes and mouth just... slipped away, falling off her face, down her neck and shoulders to race down and off the mattress into the waiting nothing below.

I tried to pull my cock out of the warmth it was nestled in, but I was stuck, deeply lodged inside. When my male partner craned around to face me, he mirrored her, like two dolls with the makeup wiped off.

The vibrating grew louder. The bed was an island in a sea of shadow. Something out in the darkness slithered and shifted. Panic started to grow in my chest and crawl up my throat as I continued to try to remove my cock from his hole. They reached for me, their fingers blackening and twisting into striking, hissing monsters.

Wrenching myself free, I slipped on the sheets and fell backward into the waiting dark. The air vibrated as I was free-falling, growing more and more insistent. A notification window hung in front of me, the only light I could see.

[LEE CALLING...]