Stefan’s POV
The Queen held my gaze for a long, measured moment.
The gold light from the tall windows caught in her eyes and turned them into something almost liquid.
Then she spoke, in a cool, precise voice;
"You are very audacious."
At that, I gave her my most charming half-smile, the one that used to open doors and legs with equal ease back on Earth.
"I will take that as a compliment, Your Majesty."
She blinked once, slowly, as if she couldn’t decide whether I was brave or simply defective. The silk of her robes whispered when her shoulders shifted the smallest degree.
"Know this, that is enough wish-granting for one day," she said firmly.
"I will consider another when you have proven yourself useful further, when you have done something else worthy of my attention. For now, enjoy the grace I have already shown you."
I exhaled lowly as I felt a familiar mix of amazement and exasperation settle under my ribs. She really was a careful ruler. Every concession measured down to the last breath. Every door left only slightly open so she could slam it the moment I stopped being convenient. I had dealt with politicians and rich women who played the same game, but none of them had ever worn power this naturally.
"No problem," I said, keeping my tone light. "I will keep proving myself useful until Your Majesty has no choice but to keep granting me wishes. Expect the next one soon."
The Queen’s eyes narrowed a fraction, but she only answered, "Very well." Then she flicked her fingers in dismissal.
Throughout the entire exchange Belladonna had remained silent. She stood at the Queen’s side like a drawn blade, the golden honor resting in her hand, her eyes never leaving me. The System kept flickering warnings at the edge of my vision about her mood. Burning rage. Always burning rage. I was starting to wonder if the woman even knew how to feel anything else.
I turned and walked out with my spine straight and my mind already racing.
I had secured the right to stay in the palace. That was something. But I still hadn’t gotten free permission to go out as I pleased. That meant if I wanted to see Kara again or anyone outside these walls, I would have to use the same quiet route she had shown me. One wrong step, one Flower asking the wrong question, and the Queen’s people would have my head on a spike before sunset. The thought sat uncomfortably in my gut as I made my way back through the gold corridors.
When I pushed open the door to my rooms, Jonquil was already there.
She sat on the edge of the bed, her hands resting on her thighs in a posture as perfect as always. The short training wrap she wore left the strong lines of her shoulders and the heavy curve of her breasts bare to the light. The System flickered the moment I looked at her.
[JONQUIL — Current Mood: Longing]
I felt a small, unexpected pull in my chest at the word. I crossed the room without hesitation and pulled her into a firm hug. She allowed it the way she always did - solid, warm, her body fitting against mine like she had already decided this was where she belonged for the moment. I rested my chin against her hair and breathed her in.
"Missing me already?" I asked, my voice lighter than I felt.
Jonquil tilted her head slightly, not understanding the phrasing. I rephrased, slower.
"Would you feel my absence if you returned to that Bloomhold?"
"Yes," she answered simply. No hesitation. No extra words.
So she had come to say goodbye. I had expected it, but hearing the quiet admission still landed heavier than I wanted to admit. The thought of her going back to the Bloomhold while I stayed tangled in palace politics and secret circles left a sour taste in my mouth.
I wouldn’t mind just sleeping and waking up beside this woman without needing to worry about a single thing.
"Come with me," she said.
"Why?"
"I will feel your absence when you are not beside me." she divulged simply.
The System chimed immediately, bright and unwelcome.
[SIDE MISSION]
Change Jonquil’s mood.
Reward: 50 EXP, +10 Charm
Time Limit: 20 seconds
Penalty: –50 EXP
Twenty seconds. Of course. The System never missed a chance to remind me I was still failing at the softer parts of this whole Incubus arrangement.
The time started ticking...
00:00:19
I pulled her closer, one hand sliding up the strong plane of her back, and spoke as gently as I knew how.
"I’ll feel your absence too, Babe. But there are things I still need to finish here in the palace. I’ll find ways to reach you. That’s a promise."
I kissed her slowly, the kind of kiss that had always worked on her before. When I pulled back I kept my hands on her waist and added, "And you should smile more often. It’s necessary for a good life."
Jonquil looked at me but her expression remained unchanged. Those golden eyes stayed steady and unreadable.
00:00:04
She did not smile.
The timer hit zero with a soft, accusing chime.
[MISSION FAILED]
Penalty applied: –50 EXP
[Evaluation: Host still does not understand how to love.]
I grunted under my breath. "Thanks for the pep talk."
Jonquil stepped back, already putting distance between us the way she did when duty called. "I need to go."
She left without another word, the door closing softly behind her. I stared at the empty space she had occupied for a second longer than necessary, then shrugged toward the air where the System usually hovered.
"If I don’t know how to love yet at least I still know how to con women. That has gotten me this far." I said.
[An Incubus is required to be complete in all matters of romance and affection. Host must learn.]
I hummed, acting like I didn’t hear what the system had said, already moving toward the wooden chest that held my new wealth. "I will learn love later. Right now I’ve got other things to handle."
I packed a solid portion of the currency into my pouch, tied it shut, and straightened my clothes. The mission to pull the truth out of Kara was still ticking down in the corner of my vision. The Queen expected further proof of usefulness.
I had work to do.
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