Part 1
Philip awoke to a slender ray of dawn slicing through the curtains, painting a gentle stripe of gold across the bed. He blinked groggily, a dull ache throbbing behind his temples, a stubborn reminder of last night's indulgence. Ugh... I should never drink that much again, he thought hazily. The sheets felt unusually warm, and sothing incredibly soft and inviting pressed gently against his side.
Still half-asleep, Philip shifted, seeking comfort—only for his hand to land upon sothing impossibly soft, warm, and enticingly curved. Beneath his palm lay the smooth, yielding sensation of bare skin. What on earth...? Philip's breath hitched. Breast? Tara? Wait—what?!
His eyes shot open in shock, imdiately coming face-to-face with Natalia's breathtakingly beautiful visage, serene in sleep. Her golden-blonde hair cascaded around her head, framing a face so exquisite it seed sculpted by an artist's perfect hand, her porcelain skin radiant in the morning glow.
"N-Natalia?!" he croaked, his heart jolting frantically. He jerked his hand away as if scalded.
At the sound of her na, Natalia's long eyelashes fluttered gently before two luminous blue eyes opened, gazing serenely into his own. A gentle smile curved her lips. "Good morning, Master," she murmured softly, voice sweet and soothing.
Philip's mind short-circuited entirely. Natalia was naked—in his bed. He stared in stunned confusion at the alluring outline of her lean yet femininely athletic figure beneath the thin sheet, her porcelain-white skin impossibly flawless. His cheeks ignited crimson, embarrassnt flooding his senses. He scrambled backward nervously, panic propelling him toward the edge of the mattress.
Losing balance, Philip nearly toppled over the edge—but Natalia sprang forward instantly with astonishing agility, her slender yet powerful arms swiftly pulling him back to safety. Philip lurched forward awkwardly, losing his balance again and landing flat on his face upon the mattress.
"Master, please rest more. I don't think you've gotten over your hangover yet," Natalia advised gently, leaning over him with earnest concern. As Philip lifted his head, his gaze was greeted by the full splendor of Natalia's body in the soft morning light: long, shapely legs; toned yet subtly contoured abdominal muscles; and the soft, alluring curves of her ample bosom fully exposed as the blanket fell dangerously low.
Blood rushed swiftly downward, and Philip's pulse hamred loudly in his ears. He hastily forced his eyes upward, past her toned stomach and flawless bosom, struggling desperately to et her srizing blue eyes instead.
His heart raced wildly as he scrambled for rational thoughts. What happened last night? The last thing Philip rembered clearly was Elora guiding him to his room, then darkness. Had he drunkenly done sothing with Natalia he couldn't rember? But why Natalia? If anyone, shouldn't it be Elora lying next to ...?
No, stop it! Philip reprimanded himself internally. He glanced down at himself and released a shaky sigh of relief. He was still fully dressed—shirt and trousers rumpled, boots off—but intact. Natalia, however, undeniably wore nothing beneath the covers. Surely, if sothing had truly happened, he wouldn't be so thoroughly clothed?
"N-Natalia," Philip finally stamred awkwardly, quickly pulling the loose blanket higher over her bare body, desperately trying not to linger on her tantalizing curves. "W-what exactly are you doing here? I an—why are you in my bed... uh... wearing nothing?"
Natalia sat up slightly, gracefully clutching the blanket modestly to her generous bosom. Her expression softened into innocent confusion. "I'm sorry, did I do it wrong? I thought this is how normal lovers tend to wake up together in the morning?"
Philip's voice cracked as he echoed in disbelief, "Lovers? Wait—when exactly did we beco lovers?"
So I did make love with her last night?! Damn it, stupid alcohol! What now?
He cleared his throat, struggling mightily to regain composure. "Can you tell ... exactly what happened after Elora left? Did I—we—do sothing last night?"
"Unfortunately, no," Natalia said with a sweet, regretful smile. "You completely passed out. So this is the best I could do to appear to be your lover."
Philip's confusion grew. "Appear to be my lover? Why exactly are you doing that?"
Natalia tilted her head slightly, worry creeping into her beautiful features. "I was following Miss Lydia's instructions. I thought it was your wish as well, Master?"
"Lydia's instructions...?" Philip echoed weakly. "Could you perhaps explain clearly, Natalia?"
But beneath his confusion, relief quietly washed over him—at least nothing had happened between them.
Natalia's expression brightened with relief as she carefully explained. "Certainly. Miss Lydia said that, for your safety, I must assu the role of your lover in the presence of others, while publicly pretending to hide the fact that I am your lover." Natalia spoke as if detailing an especially complicated concept. "The purpose, Lydia said, was to divert attention from my origin, as no one must discover that I am your Familiar."
Philip stared blankly, absorbing her words slowly. "Lover... for my safety... so no one suspects...?" he repeated slowly. For a brief mont, he genuinely wondered if he was trapped in so absurd dream. Yet his rapid heartbeat and Natalia's earnest gaze assured him of reality.
Countless questions swirled chaotically through his mind. He blurted awkwardly, "And how exactly does sleeping naked in my bed factor into this lover role?" Instantly, embarrassnt surged again, his voice rising squeakily.
Natalia, however, answered calmly and composedly. "I've studied how mistresses to noblen usually behave," she replied casually. "The books I read suggested that lovers typically wake up naked together in bed. Usually, the maids drop in on such scenes, and then rumors begin."
A slight crease appeared between her delicate eyebrows. "I apologize if I startled you. I thought you knew. I was only trying to perform the role convincingly. Did I do sothing wrong, Master?"
Philip nearly choked in a mixture of shock, embarrassnt, and amusent. Natalia—utterly gorgeous, innocent, and otherworldly—had calmly climbed into his bed naked simply because she believed this outrageous scenario was normal behavior.
"N-no! I an, yes—I an, you didn't exactly do anything wrong," Philip stamred, dragging a trembling hand through his ssy hair. "It's just... I wasn't expecting this! At all!"
He took a deep breath, attempting to steady himself. Natalia remained elegantly composed, perfectly poised amid the sheets like a statue, unbothered by her nudity. anwhile, he felt as though he might fall apart.
"So Lydia put you up to this," Philip muttered quietly, hastily arranging the blanket like a cloak around Natalia's delicate shoulders to avoid further temptation. He had a sinking feeling that seeing any more of her flawless body would betray him irreparably. "They told you to pretend to be my lover publicly... to conceal that you're my Familiar."
"Yes," Natalia affird with a sincere nod. "Lydia said if anyone discovered I'm a summoned Familiar, you'd be executed. I cannot let that happen." Her voice brimd with unwavering devotion.
"Don't worry, Master. I've learned a lot from those romance novels Miss Lydia gave ," Natalia proudly added.
Philip inwardly cursed Lydia for providing such misguided "research materials."
Before he could reply, a brisk knock interrupted their exchange. Without awaiting an answer, the bedroom door swung open abruptly.
"Oh no—! J-just a mont!" Philip yelped helplessly, but too late.
Lydia stepped confidently inside, Anna—the young maid—just behind her, carrying a breakfast tray. Anna's eyes widened briefly at the sight of Philip half-hanging off the bed and Natalia beside him amid rumpled sheets. Yet she swiftly composed herself, retreating politely as Lydia, feigning surprise, quickly turned and left the room, closing the door behind her while muttering apologies.
Philip's soul nearly left his body. His tongue tied itself into hopeless knots.
Part 2
That afternoon, in a quiet study overlooking the courtyard, Lydia stood calmly by the tall window, pouring tea from a polished silver service, while Albert paced restlessly near her, clearly troubled.
"I still don't like this one bit," Albert muttered, arms crossed tightly over his broad chest. Though he kept his voice low, his frustration was evident. "The boy's reputation is already hanging by a thread after that duel scandal. Now we deliberately plant a naked girl in his bed for the staff to gossip about? We've practically handed fresh rumors on a silver platter."
Lydia offered him a steaming cup with a composed expression. "Better they gossip about him being a libertine with a pretty mistress," she said quietly, "than discover Natalia's true nature as a summoned Familiar. If that secret gets out, Albert, it won't just be scandal—it's a death sentence."
Albert took the tea with a grunt, barely sipping it as his thick gray eyebrows knitted together in concern. "Lydia, we're making Philip look like a damned playboy who can't control himself, right after an assassination attempt and with another duel pending. The timing couldn't possibly be worse."
He shook his head irritably, pacing again. "The lad tries so hard to salvage his reputation, yet here we are engineering a scandal for him."
Lydia took a asured sip before answering, her tone gentle but firm. "You're not wrong. It will add fuel to the gossip," she conceded. A brief flicker of sympathy softened her elegant features—she cared deeply for Philip, and Albert's worries were understandable. "But consider the alternative. If even one person discovers Natalia's unnatural origin, if imperial investigators co poking around, Philip would be executed without rcy."
She set her cup down carefully, eting Albert's gaze directly. "We cannot allow that. If a fabricated love affair keeps suspicion away, then a philanderer Philip must appear. Better we control the gossip than let it run unchecked."
Albert sighed heavily, his anger giving way to reluctant acceptance. "I hate that you're right," he grumbled, glancing cautiously toward the closed door to ensure no one was eavesdropping. Lowering his voice further, he turned back to Lydia, looking tense. "But what about the Duke? How do you think he'll react when he learns his grandson is embroiled in yet another scandal—especially one involving a commoner?"
Lydia's lips curved into a faint smile. "Oh, I suspect the Duke will manage—once he learns our full reasoning."
Albert shot her a sharp, questioning glance. "You say that as though you've already inford him."
Lydia paused, carefully considering her words before stepping slightly closer. "In a manner of speaking. The Duke and I have been communicating regularly about the... peculiar events unfolding here."
Albert's eyes widened in surprise. He set his tea down on the table, suddenly attentive. "Exactly how much does his Grace know?"
Lydia leaned in, lowering her voice to a cautious whisper. "More than most would suspect. Albert, the Duke already knows about Natalia's true nature. He has known almost from the start."
Albert visibly stiffened in shock, nearly knocking over the teacup he'd just set down. "He knows?" he hissed incredulously. Duke Redwood, one of the most influential figures in the Empire, knew Philip had summoned a Familiar—and yet he had taken no action? "And he hasn't condemned Philip, or turned him in?"
"On the contrary," Lydia said quietly, with conviction. "He's made sure the secret remains utterly hidden from the Imperial Court. Did you really think those assassination attempts and sudden, mysterious orders from the capital were just coincidences? Powerful people suspect sothing about Philip, but they don't yet know exactly what. The Duke has been working behind the scenes to protect him."
Albert shook his head, astonished. "I had no idea the Duke was involved to that extent. After publicly condemning Philip following the Empress incident and then again after the hotel incident—I thought..."
"You assud he'd washed his hands of his wayward grandson, caring only about the Redwood family honor," Lydia finished calmly, her tone subtly wry. "Yes, that's precisely the image the Duke deliberately crafted."
Albert's brow furrowed deeply. "To what end?" he wondered aloud, puzzling through the revelation.
"To protect Philip," Lydia replied patiently, eting his troubled gaze steadily. "If enemies perceive Philip as abandoned or worthless, they won't see him as leverage against the Duke. It keeps Philip safe and gives him cover to discreetly support Philip when necessary."
Albert sighed again, rubbing his temples. "So the Duke has secretly supported Philip all along," he muttered, digesting this unexpected information. "Hell's bells. And here I thought we stood completely alone."
Lydia allowed herself another faint smile. "Hardly alone. The Duke has allies. He and a group of progressive nobles have been pushing hard to repeal laws against summoning living beings—not for Philip's sake, but because they fear our Empire is being left behind in the artificial-being revolution currently reshaping the global order. Nations like the Continental Republic and the Union of United Eastern States are rapidly developing and mass producing powerful entities similar to Natalia, and we risk becoming obsolete—like Osgorreich a century ago—if we miss the train by cling stubbornly to outdated beliefs."
Albert absorbed this thoughtfully, clearly surprised at the extent of the Duke's radical position.
Lydia stepped quietly to a small writing desk near the wall and retrieved a sealed letter bearing the Duke's roaring lion crest. Breaking the wax seal, she skimd the brief contents before handing it directly to Albert. "This arrived late last night. Read it."
Albert took the letter, adjusted his spectacles, and read quickly. As he absorbed the words, his expression darkened grimly.
The Duke's ssage confird he'd heard about the orchard assassination attempt. Far worse, he wrote that powerful individuals within the Empire had arranged for Philip's military unit to deliver armants directly to the dangerous Osgorreich-Arussian frontline, a war already claiming half a million lives. The Duke would attempt to delay or disrupt this deploynt, but he was closely monitored and had little room to maneuver. He ended with an urgent plea: keep Philip safe at all costs, explicitly naming Natalia as Philip's strongest protection against assassination and battlefield threats.
Albert lowered the letter, visibly shaken, hands trembling slightly. "They're sending him into a foreign war zone... to die," he whispered thickly, anger and fear evident. The letter's reality hit hard: Philip would beco an imdiate target for enemy magic and attacks.
Lydia nodded solemnly. "Yes. Though the Duke contained Natalia's summoning, his enemies still want Philip dead. Perhaps to frighten other progressive nobles with vulnerable heirs."
Albert's jaw clenched tightly. "Cowards. Afraid of the Duke himself, they choose to terrorize his grandson instead." His concern deepened suddenly, eyes widening with realization. "Lydia, what about Lady Elora? If she learns Natalia's being positioned as Philip's mistress, she might beco reckless—or deeply hurt."
A shadow of regret passed over Lydia's features. "Elora's feelings for Philip have grown stronger, and this plan will wound her pride," she admitted softly. "But Elora's intelligent. She likely already suspects Natalia's nature and will understand our reasoning."
Albert looked doubtful. "Are you certain she knows?"
"No one explicitly told her," Lydia clarified, "but she's sharp enough to have deduced it. Just to ensure clarity, I sent her a ssage implying that sotis a man's pride necessitates a mistress, even without genuine affection."
Albert sighed heavily, clearly uncomfortable but accepting the necessity.
They both stood quietly for a mont, each lost in their thoughts, until Albert finally spoke the question weighing heaviest upon his mind. "Lydia... with assassins plotting, powerful figures pulling strings, and now this looming deploynt, tell honestly—is Philip truly safe? Even with Natalia's protection... will he be all right?"
Lydia hesitated, uncertainty flashing clearly in her eyes for the first ti. She glanced upward, as if toward Philip's room above, before eting Albert's gaze again. Her voice lowered ominously, heavy with foreboding.
"For now, yes," she said carefully. "But Albert—this is rely the calm before the storm. And when it breaks... neither Philip nor the Empire itself will ever be the sa."
User Comments
0 comments from readers