The door had opened in a grandious united way, as were the long awaited council men and woman, altough they briefly stilled. Looks of confusion crossed each and every one as Sophie sat relaxed on the chair that was his.
Acacius could see the way their lips formed words of concern, they stared at him, some more worried than others. The woman he had flirted with opened her mouth to start something, her eyes steady upon him, so she saw his shake and acted accordingly.
Keeping her mouth shut, wisely so, he still had use for her.
They were taking in his tense figure as he stood beside his used to be chair, emotionless in all but the flare of worry and unease in his eyes.
An itch was present under his skin as his sister in law sat upon his chair, a chair that he had gotten attached to after all those months but it didn't matter as it had seamlessly gone to the next.
It didn't matter to the council either as they shuffled to their assigned seats as the thick doors closed.
He had never seen Sophie so casual, happily waiting with a small smile as she gave every member a once over.
''You did a great job, Acacius.
What a fine council.''
Half closed eyes immediately veered up, hesitantly answering the praise he recieved.
''...Thank you.''
''It must have been hard, with your shy and incompetent nature.''
Balling his fist, face lowering simultaneously, Acacius did just what was expected and stayed silent in anger. His....well now her members of the council watched on with wide sausages for eyes, they couldn't believe what was happening.
''Sit down."
Head kept low, Acacius listened attentively but no action sprung forward, causing Sophie to drawl out in a lazy voice.
"I'm talking to you, Angel. Be a good boy and sit right down here.''
His eyes swerved,jerking backwards as her hand tapped on her lap. Realising that she was intending to humiliate him through the action, he could only applaud her in his mind.
It was smart, in a way it woud leave a lasting impression on him as a person and an imprint of who had the real power to the council. All in one move but it would be lasting.
"You can't be serious!?''
"Where else? Clearly all seats are taken."
With sparkling eyes and glowing in triumph she gazed at him, the lost look he showed made more and more members realise the truth at hand.
That he wasn't the one in control, not by a large margin.
''I-I would...-an audible gulp later he continued-...rather stand.''
The denied request caused the air to simmer with unexplained heat, as that went up Sophie's expression turned sour.
''Are you....denying me?"
"...no''
''Good, now come here!''
While he gladly played along, not denying the fact that was indeed somewhat embarrassing, he still waited and tested Sophie's patience.
Atmosphere boiling up so quickly that sweat started racing up and down everyone's chin, urging him to move quicker and blaming him for their anguish.
Flushing in both warmth and embarrassment he ultimately moved and sat on the spot she had patted previously, expression as unsure as one could get.
It wasn't enough, a fact that didn't surprise him, as a second later a hand snaked around his waist pulling him firmly in place. Barely reigning in his gasp, unlike the entire council, looking into her eyes he could see just how alive she felt inside.
Awakened by his spell, the moment after the spell her eyes were dull but looks like she already adapted, even as a luxurious prisoner they never quite shone like that!
Lipstick stained lips briefly brushed his nape, whispering for him to be good otherwise more humiliation would follow.
How predictable, nonetheless he nodded in confirmation, folding his hands and staring straight ahead. For all intent and purposes already facing humility.
''Care to enlighten me as to how my puppet has been faring?''
The sentence was a blow to those who seemingly believed in him, they scowled. His uncle, the woman,the youngest and a few others.
As they believed in him so did others believe in her, smirking at her actions.
''Don't act so surprised, like a foolish eighteen year old could do this all on his lonesome.''
A moment of silent was all it took before the first one acknowledged her new position.
''Welcome back, your majesty.''
"A pleasure to be, lord Hawkings.
How have you been?''
''Just fine, I don't want to bother you yet seeing as you have just retained your rightful place.''
'Unconciously' scowling at lord Hawkings spoken words, he was reminded by a tap on his leg that he should mind his behaviour.
''No, please speak the truth.''
''Not as well as I had hoped.''
"What seems to be the problem?"
Scoffing, he could see what she was doing. Playing friendly on her first day would earn her much more loyalty than already ruling with an iron fist. Sophie was viewing who she could take as an ally and who was clearly on his side.
"It's just that the emperor has repeatedly denied my request to help search for my daughter."
"Ah yes, Eelerana right?''
''Yes, yes indeed.'' Hawkings didn't seem to realize the slight drop in temperature as she said the name and while he struggled to avoid a chuckle he still didn't forget to draw in a hesitant breath as the drop of the name.
Much to her displeasure, glancing away from her searching gaze he focused on Hawkings, provoking as he smirked in a slight manner.
"Your majesty, I urge you to make a decision.
He targeted my daughter, his gaze was blood thirsting."
"Why would he do that?'' Sophie had more patience than him, entertaining that idiot.
''Purely for his vindictive pleasure, your majesty.''
If only he knew of her carving pieces of skin from a defenceless person, he atleast never did that.
''Really now?" Hissing , pinched out of his thought process, he glared. Not at Sophie, he liked his skin thank you very much but at Hawkings. Said male's triumpanted grin didn't pass by him.
"I shall inquire further on the subject later with him, while i'm on that Lord Hawkings you should prepare all documentation and enlighten me about you daughter and all other important events that happenend in all those years.
The other was disappointed but Sophie quickly intervened and handled it with care.
''No need to worry, I shall find your daughter and give the appropriate punishment."
Thank you, your majesty!"
Unbelievable, he had actually pushed his hopes on her bare statements.
Sophie would indeed punish but he wouldn't be the one that got the strongest punishment.
Even if Eelerana was still alive, he was essentially sending her to her death!
\---
It was hours later that they left the room, luckily for him he had only been forced to sit on her lap for half an hour but being left standing for hours still left him stiff and annoyed
Nonetheless those weren't exactly things he was allowed to show as he still had to try and uphold his image, following behind her he couldn't help but wonder what went through her head.
"Tell me Acacius, how do I make you feel?''
Stilling, her stopping just a few steps before him, he stared. Surprised at the sudden question, he didn't say anything.
Merely waiting for her to clarify.
"You know I have never felt so free, it's as if all the power is within my hands."
"A fact you very well enjoy.'' Snapping out he looked down upon her ferocious stare.
''I don't deny that but the thing is...while I always wanted power I never expected that I would ever take you. I had accepted the fact that I liked you, not when you were a child ,the sages forbid.
I didn't know you when you were younger but then we saw each other every week and I guess in the end it was unavoidable. What did you expect, I only saw you for years.
I never intended to but it was too strong, I needed to have you and now I do.
It's like this weird fog lifted over me and it made me realise and take all the things I ever wanted."
So even without the spell she had yearned for him.
Shuddering at the weird happenings, he ultimately took a step back. ''Sophie..I..''
It was the only answer she needed as he found himself trapped within her hold and the hallways wall, ofcourse one that also had a camera and on top of that a spying June in an alcove.
Most of the time June had kept himself hidden, only a few servants had seen him and they had been scared so they would definitely shut their mouth.
Staring down, face impassive, his chest rose up and down way too quickly. Betraying his so called nervousness as teeth bit down his collar bone, just how quickly had she moved his clothes?
There was no one else in the hallway and as Sophie hadn't noticed June she just kept going. Breath collided, her more under control as he let his hitch ever so often.
Her voice started mumbling some more against his skin. ''This feeling...it forces me to take the things I have always wanted-''Sophie could feel the way he gulped as her tongue swirled upon his smooth, pale skin, igniting a flame inside her more and more.''-I wasn't going to do it.''
''I really wasn't.''
''-wait."
"But you left me no choice."
He didn't, once more gulping, he blinked and looked sideways.
Obvious intent to lean away but instead exposing more of his sensitive skin.
Applauding himself at his acting, he carefully noted the facial expressions of June through the system.
''How obedient you are now, seems the display in there worked wonderfully.''
Pursing his lips, annoyance now truly covered his face before vanishing as she bit down harshly again. A pained cry left him as he let his hands flung to her shoulders, trying and failing to create a distance between them.
"Why did you not kill her?"
''...there seemed no need for it, you need not concern yourself.''
It was obvious she didn't as her wandering traced from from his toned abs up to his shoulder in an excruciating slow manner.
''Her father didn't seem to like you and yet you still let her touch you.
My disobedient pet."
"Not your pet.''
The fierce sounding words were erased as hands roughly tugged his lose robes of his shoulder, only stopped from flying down by his belt upon his waist.
Grunting, his body tensed visible for a second, eyes wide as his lips pursed and a slight blush appeared on his cheeks.
She was pleased, a smile on her face as she kept dragging her nails over his chin and quite rapidly ripped his hair loose. Grunting in shock, he watched as his hair turned in it's permanent silver.
''That is new.'' Not the reaction he was expecting but he didn't get anything else or....maybe her real reaction still had to come.
"Haa, ha." Arching, Sophie roughly bit his neck once more before moving away and leaving with smooth movements.
And there he went, sinking to the ground as his breath quickenend and hands covered his face completely.
Acacius could feel the way his eyes started to strain, tears brimming out of sheer force.
"...your highness.'' June sounded hesitant but had apparently decided to still act upon his feelings.
''...please get up.'' With a soft grasp he was lifted up, cold hands on his own naked skin, grabbing the wrists instinctively he glared but the effect was abyssmall as June only softened.
Tears, a weapon in more ways than one and yet if used for too long it would become useless.
His voice cut sharply through the air and as if cut June distanced himself.
''You better remember your place, Asani's spy."
And with that he was gone, still with half naked torso, on his way to open the letter June had discreetely handed him.