Chapter XV: A Secret Affair

A week had passed since the devil found herself ensnared within the confines of this fictional world, grappling with circumstances she had no desire to be a part of. The presence of her relatives, who had descended upon the grandeur of Falaguerra Manor, only served to compound her frustrations. With her relatives' visit to Falaguerra Manor, the presence of her ambitious aunt's overzealous "butler" had become an incessant nuisance, clinging to her like an unwanted shadow."I could've sworn this man was her lover," Medea muttered disdainfully under her breath, her tone laced with contempt. She bristled as the sound of the office door creaked open, signaling the butler's intrusion into her sanctum. With an impatient click of her tongue, she lamented his persistent presence. "Why can't he simply leave me be? I am neither his master nor in need of his service. I have my own retinue of personal maids, thank you very much."As the butler entered, bearing a tray adorned with a delicate cup of tea, he offered a gesture of kindness in an attempt to alleviate her stress. "My lady, I've brought you some tea to help ease your stress," the butler offered kindly, his voice carrying a hint of genuine concern.Medea rolled her eyes in response, refusing to acknowledge his presence as she returned her focus to the mountain of paperwork that cluttered her desk. "I did not remember requesting your assistance," she retorted curtly.Undeterred by her dismissive tone, the butler maintained his affable smile, placing a hand over his heart in a display of deference. "My apologies, my lady. I'll retrieve it at once. Please, don't hesitate to call upon me if you require anything—" he conceded gracefully, prepared to withdraw. However, Medea's abrupt interruption halted his retreat as she slammed her fountain pen down with a resounding thud, fixing him with a piercing gaze."I do not need your services," she asserted firmly, her voice commanding attention. With a pointed look, she conveyed her disdain for his unwanted attention. "Whether you act upon orders or of your own volition is of little consequence to me. You are not my butler, but my aunt's. Remember your place."As the butler retreated from her office with yet another apology, Medea released a weary sigh, her hand coming to rest atop her temple in a gesture of exhaustion. Reflecting on the ongoing ordeal brought about by her relatives' extended visit, she couldn't help but rue the day they had descended upon Falaguerra Manor. What was initially anticipated as a brief sojourn had morphed into an unwelcome "vacation" filled with ceaseless displays of wealth and prestige, coupled with a relentless barrage of intrusive inquiries and judgmental commentary."They seem to have forgotten the concept of a short visit," Medea muttered to herself, her lips twisting into a grimace of irritation as she reclined in her chair, her gaze drifting pensively to the ornate ceiling of her office. Despite her best efforts to deflect their prying questions and deflect attention from her broken engagement with the crown prince, her relatives persisted in dredging up the topic, much to her chagrin."Even after countless attempts to change the subject, they refuse to let it go," she lamented, a sense of frustration tingeing her words. It was a delicate balancing act, maintaining the façade of composure and indifference in the face of their relentless scrutiny.She cast a disinterested glance upwards, her gaze lingering on the ornate ceiling of her office, its grandeur a stark contrast to her inner turmoil. Lost in her thoughts, Medea found herself unwittingly drifting away from her troubles, her mind inexplicably drawn to another figure—the one she had not seen since "that" day.The memory of their last encounter lingered like a ghostly echo in the recesses of her mind.The sudden intrusion of such thoughts left Medea momentarily stunned, her usually composed demeanor faltering as a sense of longing inexplicably blossomed within her chest. Blinking in bewilderment, she quickly shook herself from her reverie, steeling her features into a mask of indifference as she forced herself to regain control.Straightening in her seat, Medea resolved to redirect her focus back to the task at hand—the endless stack of paperwork that lay before her. Yet, even as she immersed herself in the mundane task, her mind continued to wander, betraying her attempts at concentration."Of course, I made the conscious decision to avoid him," she muttered under her breath, a hint of bitterness coloring her tone. "I'm sure he's far too preoccupied to even notice my absence."Despite her outward composure, a flicker of uncertainty danced in her eyes as she continued to write, the words on the page taking an unexpected turn. Instead of the usual reports and correspondence, her hand moved of its own accord, tracing the familiar lines of his name with an almost unconscious precision.Medea's brow furrowed in confusion as she stared down at the paper, the inked letters glaring back at her like an accusation. For a fleeting moment, she allowed herself to linger on the name, a pang of regret seeping into her consciousness before she forcefully banished it.Summoning her powers with a flick of her wrist, she ignited the paper, watching as the flames consumed the evidence of her momentary lapse in judgment. As the ashes drifted through the air like ethereal remnants of her fleeting thoughts, Medea couldn't help but murmur to herself, "I must be losing my mind."Amidst the turmoil of her own thoughts, a sharp rap on the door jolted Medea from her reverie. Furrowing her brow, she sensed the presence of her maid on the other side. "Enter," she called out, swiftly regaining her composure before the maid's arrival.With a graceful demeanor, the maid entered the office, bearing a pristine white envelope in her hands. Approaching her mistress's desk, she offered a respectful smile as she presented the invitation. "His Highness has sent you an invitation, Lady Medea," she announced softly, her eyes reflecting a mixture of curiosity and deference.Medea's eyebrows shot up in surprise as she accepted the invitation, her fingers deftly tearing open the envelope to reveal its contents. "Prince Frederick?" she echoed, her tone tinged with incredulity as she scanned the elegant script.Once the maid had delivered her message and taken her leave with a respectful bow, Medea turned her attention to the invitation letter, her curiosity piqued. Unfolding the parchment, she began to read the words penned by the crown prince himself."Dear Lady Medea," the letter began, the formal address catching her off guard. As she delved further into the missive, her expression shifted, a mixture of skepticism and intrigue flickering across her features."I am writing to extend an invitation to you, not out of personal interest, but for matters of diplomatic importance," the letter continued, each word carrying the weight of the crown prince's authority. As she absorbed his request for her presence at his upcoming birthday banquet, Medea couldn't suppress a wry smile at his thinly veiled attempt at diplomacy."As the crown prince of the Genovian Empire, I will be hosting my birthday banquet on the fifth day of this month," the letter continued, its words carrying a weighty significance. "I wish to extend an invitation to you as one of my esteemed guests, with the hope of engaging in a peaceful negotiation.Sincerely, Frederick.""Well, well," Medea murmured to herself, a wry smile tugging at the corners of her lips as she contemplated the prince's unexpected overture. Folding the letter neatly, she tucked it away, her mind already racing with the possibilities that lay ahead.A sly smirk played upon Medea's lips as she gazed down at the letter in her hand, her eyes alight with a gleeful anticipation. "So, the prince has finally walked into the web of deceit," she murmured to herself, the thrill of manipulation coursing through her veins. With every word she spoke, the intricate threads of her plan began to weave themselves together, drawing the unsuspecting crown prince into a labyrinth of deception from which there would be no escape."The deeper the desperation, the more fruitful the negotiation," she mused, her mind already spinning with the myriad possibilities that lay ahead. As her fingers trailed over the seal of the Genovian Imperial Family, Medea's smirk widened into a malicious grin. "Once stained with the taint of sin, redemption becomes an elusive dream," she added, her voice laced with a chilling determination.The day drew to a close and Medea found herself oddly satisfied despite the looming crisis that now engulfed her. As night descended upon the manor, she remained seated upon her bed, a book open in her lap as she delved into its pages with a voracious hunger for knowledge. In the quiet solitude of her chambers, she allowed herself a moment of respite, knowing that the true test of her cunning lay just beyond the horizon.Engrossed in her book, Medea's attention was briefly drawn to the soft rustle of the door opening, though she remained outwardly unperturbed, her senses attuned to the subtle sounds of intrusion. Suddenly, a heavy thud reverberated through the room as the intruder's footsteps echoed across the floorboards. With a tired sigh, Medea raised her head, her gaze falling upon the figure of her aunt's butler, who stood before her clad in a disheveled white shirt and black trousers, his unbuttoned attire revealing a glimpse of his chiseled chest."Please, do what you please, my lady," the butler whispered seductively, his words dripping with an air of subservience. Medea offered no immediate response, instead closing her book with deliberate precision and setting it aside."I had hoped for more from you," she remarked coolly, her voice laced with an arrogant smirk as she leaned in closer, her hand grazing his jaw. "But alas, you prove to be nothing more than petty."The butler's smile faltered, replaced by a wistful sigh as he acknowledged his wrongdoing. "What I did was wrong. You can punish me, My Lady," he offered, his words tinged with a hint of resignation.Medea's laughter suddenly rang out, echoing with a sense of amusement as she leaned back against the headboard of her bed. "Do you truly believe I am so easily swayed by base desires? I have been observing everything ever since you started to follow me," she retorted, her tone dripping with disdain as she leaned in to whisper in his ear. "Tell my aunt it's been quite the entertaining game."The butler's expression registered surprise at the sudden mention of his mistress, his confusion evident as Medea continued to smirk knowingly. "I know you follow her orders," she declared, her gaze piercing. "You're not just a simple butler, but her obedient lackey. No one would stoop to such depths unless there was a coin involved."With her revelation hanging in the air, Medea watched as realization dawned upon the butler's face.Of course, what I said was just a mere guess. But this man's a fool, I finally confirmed it was true. Caught off guard by Medea's blunt response, the butler's embarrassment deepened, his cheeks flushing crimson as her words pierced through his facade. Hastily stepping back, he positioned himself beside her bed, his posture rigid with a mix of embarrassment and defiance."I may have had ulterior motives, but there's more to it than just coin," he countered, his tone defensive as he struggled to salvage his dignity in the face of Medea's mocking demeanor.Medea couldn't help but scoff at his feeble attempt at justification. "With that face?" she taunted, her voice dripping with derision as she regarded him with undisguised disdain.The butler clenched his fists, his frustration evident as he bristled at her mockery. "What's wrong with my face? Plenty of women have been drawn to it, even if I am just a commoner," he shot back, his words tinged with a hint of wounded pride.Seated upon her bed, Medea's smirk widened as she met his gaze head-on, her crimson eyes glinting with amusement. "And you think your appearance would have any effect on me?" she quipped, her tone laced with condescension."What?" the butler sputtered in disbelief, his brows furrowing in confusion at her audacious dismissal of his supposed charms.Medea chuckled devilishly, reveling in the discomfort she had elicited. "I've already encountered a certain man far more captivating than you," she declared, her words cutting through his misplaced confidence like a knife. "Your face simply doesn't entice me in the slightest."As the butler continued to blush furiously, Medea observed his discomfort with a mixture of amusement and satisfaction. She hadn't anticipated that her cutting remark would strike such a nerve, shattering his ego in the process. With a nonchalant air, she finally broke the silence that hung heavily between them."It seems my aunt had a rather elaborate scheme in mind," Medea began, her voice tinged with a hint of derision. "Perhaps she envisioned a secret affair between us, hoping to tarnish my reputation beyond repair."As she spoke, Medea deftly adjusted her night robe, her movements graceful and deliberate. "She likely believed that by spreading rumors of my involvement with her butler, she could effectively destroy my standing in society," she continued, a hint of bitterness creeping into her tone at the mere thought of such underhanded tactics."But alas, she underestimated my resolve," she continued, her tone laced with a quiet determination. "She may have plotted and schemed, but I am not so easily swayed."The butler remained silent, his lips quivering as he struggled to find the right words to respond. Caught in Medea's piercing gaze, he flinched involuntarily, acutely aware of the intimidating aura she exuded."If wealth was what you sought, you should have sought it elsewhere," Medea remarked pointedly, her tone laced with a hint of disdain. "There are plenty of women who would eagerly welcome a man of your... talents into their embrace."