Alice troubles

Footsteps echoed in the narrow corridor as Alice ran, as if her life depended on it. Her steps were unsteady, her knees shaky; she occasionally stumbled but pressed on with indomitable persistence.

In that moment, her body felt hyper-sensitive—even the lightest breeze made her flinch. Her cheeks were flushed, a mix of happiness and frustration reflected in her expression.

"Ugh, that pevert ! How dare he make me feel this way?" She clenched her fists, the memory of playful moments with Michael flashing in her mind. Anger bubbled inside her, igniting a heat that coursed through her, reminding her of the confusion he stirred.

She was barely dressed, her private parts exposed for all to see. In the heat of the moment, she had rushed out, forgetting to grab her underwear.

"Damn it, I can't let the mistress see me like this. I didn't pack any spare clothes! This was supposed to be a simple test—I never imagined it would end up like this."

She thought as she glanced at her spatial ring, which was very empty.

"Mistress, she's a woman too. She'll understand. I'll just tell her I was exploring myself—if it comes to that," a determined glint sparkled in her emerald eyes.

She thought as she took wide strides toward her room, located in the left corner of the corridor.

As she opened the door, darkness enveloped her; all the lights were off.

She let out a sigh, realizing that she was the first to arrive.

Remembering she had an appointment with her mistress after visiting the Chamber of Pain and Pleasure...

Then she stepped into the corner and activated a magic array. Runes flickered to life in the ceiling, illuminating the room as brightly as day, as if a miniature sun had taken residence within. These were Grade 2 runes, capable of fully lighting the space—far more effective than the candle Michael had been given for light.

But when the room was illuminated, her heart nearly stopped as she took in the shocking sight before her.

*****

In the room, she reclined on the bed, the silk nightgown embracing her curves with an enticing allure. The fabric clung to her thighs, hinting at the fullness of her hips, drawing the eye as she gracefully flipped through the pages of her book. Her calm expression radiated confidence—the kind that could captivate anyone who dared to look her way.

Her long, dark hair cascaded down her back, framing her face and accentuating the delicate horns that peeked above her head, adding an enchanting mystique to her presence. With each subtle movement, the soft fabric shifted, showcasing her maturity and the elegance of her form—a striking balance of strength and femininity.

In that stillness, she possessed an undeniable charm, a magnetism that seemed to ignite the air around her, making it impossible for anyone to resist stealing a glance, their hearts racing at the beauty of the moment.

Her eyebrows arched slightly as the room brightened. Her deep black eyes focused on Alice's bare body, surprise flickering across her face before she quickly suppressed it. She spoke in a steady tone,

"So how did it go?"

Alice felt the heat rise in her cheeks, embarrassment washing over her like a wave. For a moment, the world around her blurred, her heart racing as what she feared the most came to be. "Damn, the mistress is here! How did she get here? And how long has she been watching?". Just as panic threatened to take hold, Charlotte's soothing voice broke through, pulling her back to reality. She regained her composure and bowed gracefully.

But she didn't know how to reply. In the past, she would have offered an honest answer. Yet after what she had experienced today, her thoughts were clouded.

The mistress wanted to use Michael as a tool to further her strength; this could harm Michael in the process, but she didn't care. On the other hand, she saw her helpless self in Michael, and this made her cold heart soften just a little.

"What if I tell my lady the truth and she decides to take him now?" Complicated emotions flickered in her emerald eyes. She had never lied to her mistress before, but this time the situation forced her hand. She couldn't let her mistress take him away before she had fully enjoyed him. What if the ceremony broke him in the process? What if his thing never gets up again? Those possibilities made her body flinch.

Seeing her hesitation, Charlotte raised her eyebrows slightly.

"Is there something wrong?" she asked in a considerate voice, while placing her book to the side.

"No, my lady," Alice said, her voice steady yet tinged with uncertainty. "I just feel the boy isn't ready for you yet. I need to spend more time observing him before we can be certain he is safe."

For the first time, Alice lied.

Eeh... didn't you go today to confirm that? How much time do you need?" Charlotte asked, impatience creeping into her tone.

"I did, my lady, but I'm not sure. The boy looks innocent and almost too perfect. I'm still waiting for him to reveal some of his flaws; after all, he is an invader. We don't know what kind of tricks he might have up his sleeve. Although we used hypnosis to uncover more about his origins and name, you also noticed that something was preventing us from obtaining complete information about him."

Alice's words made sense now. They had first used a tier 4 enchantment spell, the Ring of Truth, to put Michael into a hypnotic state. While under, they asked him questions about himself. Aside from revealing his name and his love for his little sister Rosie, everything else was blocked. It seemed a powerful force was obscuring the information, one that surpassed even tier 4 magic.

Hearing Charlotte's words, Alice nodded in understanding.

"Okay, but hurry, Alice. You know I can't postpone the ceremony for long. I need to break through to tier 5 quickly, and that boy is my key to making it happen."

She said as she got up. Slowly, she pulled down her gown, teasingly revealing the delicate curve of her hips, The soft fabric cascades to the floor like a gentle sigh. With each graceful step, she walked toward the door where Alice stood.

She stood to his side and said, "You have a week to observe him. After that, I'll take action." With that, she strode out of the room, her footsteps echoing behind her.

When Charlotte closed the door, Alice sank to her knees, overwhelmed with emotion. She began to sob, the weight of the situation crashing down on her.

"What's wrong with me? Why did I lie to my mistress? What was the point? It was just about a boy I barely know."

Her fist clenched tightly, the image of a groveling Michael flashing vividly in her mind. She saw herself reflected in his desperation.

"Damn it, damn it all..."

With a frustrated huff, she kicked off her boots, flinging them across the room in a futile attempt to release the tangled emotions swirling inside her.

On one hand, loyalty to her mistress pulled at her heart; on the other, the thought of anything happening to Michael felt unbearable.

A scream erupted from her lips as she sprinted toward her bed, collapsing onto it.

"Everything will be fine. I just need some sleep... and this nightmare will end," she whispered to herself, hoping to find some solace. Fatigue washed over her like a gentle tide, pulling her deeper and deeper into the embrace of sleep and the land of dreams.