I clench my jaws. This is not a best-case scenario. Honestly, I want to do it with him, but not in this way. I want to have love between us. I… Who am I kidding? Tears fall again and I sniff.
Calais groans and massages his head. "Ugh, I am becoming a trash, huh? Forcing a Duke's daughter to bare herself in front of me."
He looks away from me, takes a blanket, and covers me with it. "If you are planning to change, you need to understand that you can't do this, even for me."
"But it's the only thing you need."
"Lyrica, same as you, I changed my mind. Tomorrow, I will go with you to the magic practice area. I'll try my best to minimize the damage you will do there. Is that fine?"
I nod. "Early in the morning? You won't get drunk tonight and you will not be late tomorrow?" I ask.
"I won't. Besides, I will also take you up on your offer. I will sleep in the guest room."
"Promise me," I whisper, because I know that Calais can't break a promise.
"I can't," he says and I look down at my hands. "But I will do the best I can to thwart the temptation."
I look up at him again. "Fine," I say. That's good enough for me.
Calais gets up and then goes to the door. I watch him open it and reveal Aiko, who is standing behind it. She's holding a tray of food. She bows at Calais before entering my room.
"Miss, Master Jonathan mentions you need food," she says as I stare at the door before it completely closes behind her.
Aiko takes in the mess of the room, then places the tray of food on a bedside table.
"Miss, did something happen between you and General Calais at last?"
"Nothing happened," I say as I wear my clothes again. She might have thought that we are doing something that we should not—based on my nakedness and the mess on my bed. I sigh and stare at the food in front of me. After what transpired with Calais, I don't have the appetite for food now.
"If something already happened, please tell me. I will help you sign up for the Queen Selection."
I look at Aiko. Didn't I say that I have already given up the Queen selection? That is, as long as Calais will love me. Maybe she knows that Calais is in love with Eliana? That's why she's certain I will join the selection instead? But I think the best explanation for this is that she thinks that once I have Calais and got bored with him, I will break the engagement and go off to the Selection.
Instead of responding to her, I start to eat my meal. Besides, I've been going to the library and telling Duke Dunnett that I am preparing for the Queen selection. If I try to change her mind, she will just get confused and question me.
Now, I should focus on making sure that Calais will not swindle his life, and to find out what really happened to Tiana's son. But for that, I need money. I look at Aiko, who is cleaning up my room.
"Aiko, where's the remaining allowance from this month?"
She stops and looks at me. She looks at the door and then back at me. She sits beside me on the bed and whispers, "You bought a slave for it. A few weeks ago, you used magic on yourself to forget about slaves, drugs, men, and all of those things you enjoy. You say it's to clean you up so you can join the Queen selection without a problem."
I frown at her.
"You've done a fantastic job, Miss. As you ordered, I've thrown all the drugs to rehabilitate yourself. I have also been taking care of all your charges."
"Charge?"
Aiko leans closer to me and whispers, "Your slaves and monsters."
My frown deepens. So, the rumor about Lyrica is true? And the reason there is no proof is because she made herself forget? In addition, Aiko helped her to hide it from everyone. This Lyrica. Aside from being evil herself, she also got a cunning maid!
"I can't believe it myself. You are such a great mage! You selected the memories you'd like to forget and did it splendidly. I didn't know that it was possible. You are like the second coming of Rexford Gram Levenstein, the greatest mage who ever lived!"
Only, Lyrica didn't really forget. She is replaced by another person—Me.
"Is that why you think I will win the Selection?"
"Of course! You even dabbled in dark magic just so you'll win it. But to be honest, I got confused and afraid when you mentioned you're no longer joining the Selection. It's like you've become a completely different person!"
"I forgot about the bad, evil things, so it is no surprise that there will be a change in me."
"You warned me about that, too. But I guess, the personality will not change that easily, huh? As for General Calais, when are you planning to have sex with him? He seemed to hate the idea before."
"There is no plan like that," I admit.
"Don't you worry, I am certain that it will be soon! Give it a month or two and he will willingly climb on your bed. You are very beautiful. No man can resist you!"
If that is the case, how did I not get pregnant? "Am I infertile?" I ask. That should not be the case, right?
Aiko shakes her head. "Of course not! You drink pregnancy control pills. I've been mixing it with your food, so you don't need to worry. Just enjoy your time with General Calais and once you're bored with him, tell me, and I can stop putting in the meds. Besides, as a Queen, you need to get pregnant."
I swallow and finish up the last morsel on my plate. Seriously, Lyrica, how despicable can you get?! I groan. Well, I am no different either. I like Calais and after what happened earlier; I know I want him too. Not the same feeling as Lyrica, but similar.
"My slaves and monsters, where are they?" I ask.
"At the basement. I have the key. Do you miss them?"
"I'd like to visit them once Calais leaves."
"At last! This is the mistress that I am familiar with!" she exclaims, smiling. "I will make the preparations."
What kind of preparations? I'd like to ask, but instead, I respond to her smile. "Please do that. For tomorrow, I will need to spend the day with Calais. Once I return, we will go and visit them."