Be Fascinated - Chapter 5

He was the most perfect prince. Philia thought of Claude that way. Three years ago, it was the same when he came to the temple. He was always laid-back and seemed competent in everything.

She couldn’t believe Claude wanted to escape as well… He was, of course, a person of significance, but he was like her and wanted to run away.

Philia smiled unknowingly. She forgot the shame and the burden she felt, and the pure smile that came from human kindness was built. His red-brown eyes gleamed when he saw it.

“Why are you smiling?”

“Just now, I thought Your Highness is a human being.”

“Hmm, I guess I wasn’t human to you.”

“No, I don’t mean it that way. I thought you were the perfect person. I thought you were very good with things, to the point that you’ve gotten bored.”

“Hmm, that’s the kind of person I am in your eyes.”

Very naturally, Claude continued the conversation. She unknowingly let her heart be relieved. The incident that happened yesterday didn’t make any sense, yet he was the person who even gave her a hand.

And there was excitement. Philia began to open her lips as she looked into Claude’s eyes. Her shy cheeks were flushed red, and the pale pink hues shone upon her skin.

A smile began to form on Claude’s lips as well.

* * * 

Philia felt uncomfortable. She expected it, but when she took a bath, there was a tingling sensation there. She tried to not show it to Paula, who always listened to her.

It stung even more as she washed with water. She felt a strange discomfort. The more she paid attention, the hotter it got.

“Shall I ask for some medicine?”

But she couldn’t even ask for it because she’s embarrassed. She was a woman who had always lived with purity and innocence as her highest values. It was almost impossible for Philia to ask for medicine just because she was hurt after an encounter like that.

“I will get better in time.”

Philia mumbled to herself, sat in the chair, and looked out the window.

“The capital is big…”

She still couldn’t believe that she was here.

Philia smiled faintly and recalled the conversation earlier in the evening. The conversation they had over dinner was very enjoyable. Occasionally, she was embarrassed because she remembered the conversation she had with that person the day before.

Her heart softened, but the more she talked, the more her feelings bubbled. How delicately he sliced meat with fingers that had previously caressed her, how sultry his courteous voice was when simmered in excitement. Even how solid his body was even when covered by clothes. She kept trying to figure it out.

There was no lingering medicine left, but the place between her legs was itching and tingling again. Every time it did, Philia unwittingly clutched her legs together. Then it seemed to get better. Perhaps the tingling in the place now had an effect as well.

‘Have I gone crazy?’

Philia knew it was the feeling of her body being ‘aroused’. Was she in heat? Philia began to blame her own desires. But despite her celibacy, she already learned of pleasure. In an overly intense way. From the man she wanted.

She would probably never forget that ecstatic feeling for the rest of her life. She heard a knock as Philia mumbled bitterly.

“Come on in.”

The door opened and Claude entered.

“Philia.”

Over dinner, They became close enough that Claude began to call Philia by her given name.

“Yes, what’s wrong?”

“I came here because I think your body is not well.”

Philia was a commoner so she insisted that Claude should stop speaking formally with her, but he still regarded her with courtesy befitting of his equal.

“Pardon? My body?”

“I didn’t know because you didn’t tell me, but when I saw you earlier, it looked like you were walking uncomfortably.”

“……”

“Paula also reported to me that you’re ill.”

Philia was so startled that her face went red again. Her lips quivered.

“That, it’s… fine…”

“I would have said that it is also a form of gratitude to receive favors.”

“……”

“I brought some medicine.”

“Th, thank you.”

Philia answered in a very small voice. She was glad he brought some medicine, but she was already worrying about how to put it on.

Claude left the medicine and got up. Philia looked at Claude’s back. He didn’t say anything, as he was really only going to give her medicine. Philia felt slightly disappointed.

* * * 

Claude went out of the room, then looked into the window. Outside the window was Philia’s shadow. Claude saw it and smiled.

“Your Highness, are you going to leave that girl here like this?”

At the attendant’s words, he turned his gaze and stared at the attendant. He lowered his eyes at the silent gaze.

“Forgive my impertinence, sire.”

Claude walked away. The attendant quickly noticed where he was going.

Claude headed to the dungeon he had prepared inside the mansion. In the dungeon was a naked man with his limbs tied and his body drooping.

“Uuuggghhhh…”

At Claude’s instructions, the guard poured cold water on the man, and the man opened his eyes.

“Your, Your Highness…”

The man’s name was Logan, the knight who had tried to assault Philia. He looked at Claude, with his jaw trembling. The previous appearance of a majestic paladin was nowhere to be seen.

Claude picked up an iron skewer nearby and shoved it straight onto the man’s thigh.

“GAHH!”

Claude’s expression was calm despite the loud screams and the blood flowing from the thighs. He waited slowly for Logan to calm down as he trembled in pain.

“Why… To me, why!”

“If you ask me why rather than beg me for mercy, you are truly a knight.”

“Keuk… Wh, why are you doing this to me!”

“Why? Isn’t it obvious?”

The lights in the dungeon just blazed even more. Red-brown eyes filled with flames gleamed with madness.

“Sir knight. You dared to touch what’s mine.”

Logan’s eyes widened. He immediately recognized what Claude was referring to as ‘mine’.

“Heuk, you too… that girl… Were you aiming for her?”

“Aim?”

Claude grinned.

“You’re the one who aimed, that girl was mine from the beginning.”

“……”

“It was you who stole her and even touched her.”

Claude twisted the skewer on Logan’s thigh. Blood was dripping again. Even if he survived, he would be a cripple for the rest of his life.

“Ahhhhhhhh!”

Claude had no intention of keeping him alive. But he didn’t want to end him swiftly.

“Just go up three flights of stairs now and she’ll be there. She is very comfortable here.”

“Ahhhhhh!!”

“Here, she doesn’t even know that the guy who was trying to attack her is being subjected to torture like this.”

In the basement, a man was being tortured, and above, a woman was being treated with the utmost respect. Did she even feel bliss in that juxtaposition?

People thought he was just a quiet prince, but he was insane beyond imagination. Logan realized that he had misunderstood his opponent.

“I was presumptuous. Please have mercy! Your Highness, please have mercy!”

Logan cried out sadly. Claude only laughed bitterly at that desperate scream.

Claude smiled brightly. For some reason, in a life without any entertainment, emotions were developing.

Of anger and worldly matters.

“AHHHHH!”

He knew that if he showed her this ‘brutal’ side of him—or, no, if she knew that all his feelings ran this deep, she would run away. He wouldn’t let that happen, of course.

Her terrified face would be pretty, too. Surely it must have a beautiful color as well. But he liked the other colors better.

He was able to act like a humane person so he could see Philia’s various expressions. Because he had strong feelings for the first time for that woman.

For example, a possessive, monopolizing desire… one that gave him the urge to chew and swallow her soft body. A sexual desire to thrust his manhood into her completely.

Claude, thinking of Philia’s face, smiled. In the space that he had prepared just for her, she found her sanctuary there, laying down her little body and eating the meals he offered, alleviating her vigilance toward him. What a joy this is.

“HAAAGH! Pl, please save me!”

Claude pierced Logan’s other leg with the skewer.

‘Ah, I want to see you soon.’

It was a bizarre sight to see a smiling man with blood splattered on his face.

* * * 

Philia still felt a strange sense of uneasiness. She thought she had applied the medicine quite well, but she still felt the pain.

“…Should I call for the doctor?”

She was embarrassed to say that she knew nothing. So she locked herself in the room and minimized her movements. Paula seemed to notice something amiss, but she didn’t ask.

Philia either prayed or immersed herself in her thoughts, trying to forget the pain. That evening, Claude visited again.

“Oh…”

“Why?”

“Can you come to this mansion every day?”

“Is there a problem?”

“No, you said this is a resting place…”

“Are you sure you want to say that I shouldn’t rest?”

At Claude’s words, Philia laughed awkwardly. He was dressed lighter than usual. He looked at Philia’s disheveled appearance as she unwittingly avoided his gaze. It was because the movement of his Adam’s apple, which was exposed above his shirt, made her feel strange.

“I am a little tired. I will rest here for a few days.”

Claude sighed. Philia gave a worried look.

“It must be hard to work all the time.”

“His Majesty is ill.”

“Ah…”

“Why?”

“No, you said your father was sick, and I thought you would feel very bad.”

At the heartfelt concern from Philia, Claude burst into laughter for a moment.

“Your Highness? Why…”

“No, it’s nothing.”

Claude didn’t speak. How could the people of the Imperial family worry about their own blood? At least he didn’t hate that naivety. Rather, he was more than happy to see her worrying about him.

“So I will rest. For three days.”

Philia had a worried expression on her face. Could the Crown Prince of a country rest that long? For her alone, he had quite a lot of work to do. Maybe they had a different system at the Imperial Palace. Philia said no more.

“You considered it well.”

“……”

“I thought I would be bored by myself until I waited for you to contact me. But, this is good, too.”

Philia was very cautious about expressing her sincerity that she thought it was good for him to stay. Claude looked at it and smiled faintly.

“I’m sure it won’t be boring because Philia’s here during my break.”

In response to the reply, Philia smiled brightly.

“Then, after dinner, shall we take a walk around the mansion?”

“Pardon?”

“I will guide you through this mansion.”

Philia nodded her head happily. A fresh rose-like smile stood on her lips. Philia had a genuine crush on the person in front of her. And…

Philia lowered her gaze again. At the same time, she felt an affection for him, and the longer they were together, the more intense the memories when the two of them were.

Yesterday, she looked at his body and imagined strange things. Besides, she looked at his now moving lips and remembered kissing him. Even when she already mixed with his breath and flesh.

Philia suddenly came to her senses. Claude’s favor was truly delightful, but she feared that her own thoughts would be exposed. Every time she saw Claude, she was reminded of that.

“I am delighted with Your Highness’ graciousness. It’s alright.”

Claude might not even think of it as anything significant, but Philia kept staying in that moment. It was rude to him, yet she kept remembering what happened before. It’s completely wrong for her to be excited by this strange feeling all by herself. Just how desperate was she?

If he knew what she was thinking, this man would hate her.

So Philia drew the line. She might grate on Claude’s patience if she continued.

* * * 

After washing her body and drying her hair, Philia frowned as she felt the pain between her legs. She wanted to get better with the medication, but it didn’t seem to be effective.

“Shall we try it one more time…”

She couldn’t spread her legs at all, so it didn’t seem like the medicine was put on properly. As she sat on the bed and rolled up her skirt, the door swung open.

“……!”

This time there was no knock. Philia looked at the door in surprise. Claude, who was coming in, stiffened and stood there. His gaze rested on Philia, who was sitting with her legs slightly apart, her red skirt raised to the end of her thigh.

“Uh… Uh…”

When Philia said nothing, Claude spoke as if excusing himself.

“I heard you were taking a bath. I was going to wait in the room.”

“I just finished bathing…”

“It seems so. But, what are you trying to do now?”

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