In all my past lives before this one, I had never felt such satisfaction burning in my chest. Never had I experienced a happy ending, and I always ended up in a situation where people I loved betrayed me. And yet here, in this moment, watching Redmund silenced under Lucretius' words, for the first time in my life, I finally tasted a victory my soul had been denied in every past life.

It was strange yet almost intoxicating. I couldn't believe that I was able to change the course of my life just because of this man, an anomaly I could call, who had been such a great help to me.

Vengeance...

I could barely remember if I had done that during those lives I had been betrayed. I never reclaimed something I had lost. My dignity... My place... My strength... I lost them countless times.

If I recall, all I did was accept my defeat, never had an urge to stand on my own. 

In short, I was a coward.

As we were on our way to the carriage, my thoughts lingered on that satisfaction until Lucretius' voice snapped me back to reality. "You will not only need a ball gown for my birthday party, but in our engagement party."

I blinked at him, almost forgetting that we had another errand by stopping by the tailor shop in the capital. 

"When will our engagement party be, then?" I asked, feigning casualness. But my heart was racing because the moment of reality was here.

I was already engaged to him the moment I signed the contract yet it hadn't been formally announced. He would make it official at his birthday party, and the fact that he was thinking about the engagement party, Lucretius seemed like he wanted to prepare it early.

His lips curved into a meaningful half-smirk. "I'm thinking it shall be in a few days after my birthday party," he said as he mounted the carriage after the coachman opened the door for him. 

My jaw dropped at what he said, holding my breath. In a few days? Was he certain about that? Could this man make a preparation in a few days?

He was flaunting on my face how wealthy he was, huh?

"To the Gilded Stitch," Lucretius to the coachman before closing the door.

"Understood, commander." He saluted.

As the carriage door shut, I glanced at him sitting across from me, his eyebrow arched as he stared in my direction. "W-What?" I stammered.

Had I done something wrong for him to look at me like that? Why did it seem like I had committed a crime?

"You're not supposed to sit across from me," he said.

I furrowed my eyebrows, unsure if I had heard him right. "What do you mean I'm not supposed to sit across from you?" My hand caressed my seat as the carriage moved, and I felt a slight force of gravity pushing me forward.

His eyes flickered with something unreadable. Then he repeated in that same low, commanding tone, making me shiver a bit. "You're not supposed to sit there."

Bewildered, I tilted my head, my brows knitting more. I even glanced at my seat right now before turning to him, having no idea what he was trying to say. 

"Then, where am I supposed to sit?" Was I supposed to sit beside the coachman? I wanted to ask. 

That was when his gaze gleamed with mischief, and his lips curled into that slow, maddening smile of his. He leaned back with confidence, a confident air around him, his gloved finger tapped lightly against his thigh.

"Here," he replied huskily. "On my lap, my little soldier."

My breath hitched. "W-What?" On his... what?!

He didn't falter. His smirk deepened as if my reaction pleased him to the point that his stare was heavy and resolute. "I own you, remember?" His hand rested on his leg as if inviting me closer. "When we are alone, you're supposed to be near me."

My lips parted, but no words came out. It was as if his words had silenced me, unable to utter a word. But one thing I could feel right now was the heat crawling up my neck.

He was just jesting, right? Was this how it should be whenever I was alone with him? Being intimate with him?

"I..." I started, pausing to think rationally. "That's inappropriate..."

His eyes squinted. "Did you forget our contract already?"

The danger in his tone flinched me. Of course, I hadn't forgotten! Every term, every condition of my submission to him was etched into my memory. Even now, I could feel the invisible chain tighten around my throat, reminding me of my place.

I was just a toy for him... That should be a reminder to myself.

My fists clenched in my lap. There was a part of me that wanted to resist, to hold on to what little dignity I had left. But another part, I knew that I couldn't.

I was bound by the contract. That contract could be used against me every single time I resisted.

Swallowing the lump in my throat, I slowly stood up, arching my back to avoid getting hit by the ceiling of the carriage as I lowered myself onto his lap.

"Y-You're impossible," I muttered under my breath, cheeks burning. Even my body stiffened.

His smirk never faltered, and the feeling of humiliation was almost drowning me from our bodies so close.

I could even feel the warmth of his body radiating and coursing through the fabric. My heart was hammering so loudly I was certain that he could hear it.

"T-There," I whispered, not daring to meet his eyes. "Satisfied?" A slight frown remained on my lips to hide my embarrassment.

He chuckled darkly, his arm wrapping possessively around my waist to lock me in place. Then, his lips brushed close to my ear as he muttered, "Not yet."

I shuddered at the hoarseness of his voice. Damn it! My body was already reacting, and I suddenly felt hot.

"What do you mean by 'not yet'?" I asked in disbelief, trying to meet his eyes. 

This man was so hard to satisfy, wasn't he? What else did he want from me? 

Did he mean that he wanted us to do 'it' here?!

Lucretius traced the slenderness of my neck using his tongue, his hot breath fanning through my skin, making me shiver. "I must be rewarded for what I did earlier. I know I appeased you with my action."

"What..." I paused. My body shuddered one more time. It wasn't from fear. It was something else. Excitement? "W-What reward do you need?" I asked, my voice so soft that it felt like I sounded so small.

I knew what he was talking about. I didn't even need to ask. 

For humiliating Redmund in front of his unit was something that had made me feel contentment. I couldn't deny that.

He slightly adjusted me to his lap, causing me to feel his hardness pressing beneath me. 

"Lucretius..." My hands were gripping the lapel of his uniform as though to steady myself.

His smirk didn't change pace, and his gloved thumb brushed along my trembling lower lip. "You already know what I want, my little soldier." His breath became ragged when he pressed his groin on my sensitive heat in between my legs, making me gulp.

My heart froze. I did know. His heated gaze, the way his hand cupped the back of my neck, guiding me lower without a single word... It was clear as day. I wasn't that naive. I had read some erotic romance novels back in the day because of the idea that I wanted to do it someday to my mate, and there was one thing men wanted to be pleased...

Blood rushed to my cheeks. "Y-You can't be serious," I muttered. I had never done that thing even to Redmund. But the curiosity was filling me, and the protest I yielded sounded so weak.

"Do not make me repeat myself," he uttered, his tone commanding and menacing. "I told you... You're mine, Euphyllia. And when I want to be rewarded, you will obey." He coerced me to face him by pressing my cheeks together and drawing his face closer. "Who knows, I might do the same thing to you. I am really dying to see you whimpering on my touch again."

I involuntarily closed my eyes, gulping at his words. At the same time, my throat tightened because at any moment my pride would falter me. 

The curiosity of pleasing a man was hypnotizing me.

"I..." My voice cracked as I bit down on my lower lip, fighting the humiliation nagging in my chest. "Fine. If that's what you want... Your wish is my command."

His satisfied hum sent a shiver through me. Fingers tilting my chin up, he murmured, "Good girl. Now, on your knees. Show me your obedience."

I secretly clenched my teeth, my heart hammering so loudly in my chest. 

This was wrong. This was degrading. And yet... I couldn't deny the pull of how dangerous the thrill of surrendering was, that my control was slipping away from him.

My mouth parched as I licked my lips. I slowly slid down from his lap and settled in between his legs. 

My eyes settled on his bulging crotch, enough to make me gulp. I had seen how long and big he was, yet something ticklish was squeezing inside. Anticipating was eating my whole being as I reached for his belt.

I counted three, trying to relax, but my heart was pounding as I tried to recall what I had read in the erotic romance novels. I gawked at Lucretius while unbuckling his belt and caught his eyes flickering with lust and agitation while watching me.

I returned my gaze to his crotch and held my breath, the moment I freed the monster that had been aching to be unencumbered. The sight of it was enough to make me feel something in my body.

The peaks on my breasts hardened and the wetness between my legs, soaking my undergarments were the evidence, and it was hard to ignore it knowing that his cock in front of me was saluting.

My hand reached for it. The memory of that night roared in my mind. I remembered Lucretius teaching me how to stroke him during my sober state. I even recollected the part where he almost cummed from my action.

And this cock had been inside me so many times that I lost count and brought me to heaven before passing out.

I lowered my head and licked my lips one more time before taking him whole inside my mouth. I almost gagged when the tip hit the back of my throat after the carriage had become bumpy on the road, and I realized that I had only taken half of him. 

But I got distracted when Lucretius groaned and fisted my hair. "Fuck, Euphyllia..."

My body trembled in need upon hearing that. When I looked up at him, he was already leaning on his seat, his eyes watching me intently.

I began to thrust his cock inside my mouth, trying to accommodate his wide girth. His hand on my hair tightened, catching him gulping.

My hand was stroking the lower part while licking and sucking his tip and the half of it. My other hand was busy massaging his balls, which made him lose his mind as he hissed and thrust his hips.

"Oh, my little soldier... Yes... That's..." At the moment, he shoved my head towards him when I began to hasten my pace, making my eyes widen in shock, and I almost gagged when it hit the back of my throat. "Take me in. Whole. Yes... Be a good girl for me, Euphyllia."

I shut my eyes when he moved my head. This time, the pace didn't match mine, and it was getting fast that I was close to gagging. But still, I took him whole just as he wished. After all, I was a submissive only to him, and he deserved to be rewarded.

I felt his cock twitch. I could feel his warm cock getting close to his edge, and in a few seconds, I felt the warm liquid shooting inside my mouth.

"Don't spit it," he commanded, his voice throaty, catching his breath. "Swallow it for me."

I nodded obediently, swallowing his essence. A musky and salty taste hit my tongue with a hint of faint sweet flavor. 

So, this was a taste of a man's essence whom I had just pleased... I didn't know it was a delicious taste and addicting, especially when I see him getting pleased.

Watching Lucretius writhing in pleasure while I had his cock in my mouth was fulfilling.

But I wasn't done yet. I must lick him clean.

He was licking his lips when I began what I had to do, making sure that no essence would stain his undergarment and trousers, before carefully shoving his cock back to where it belonged. When I was finished, I looked up at him, moistening my lips.

"Did I... Did I satisfy you, commander?" I asked, nervous that I might not have done the job right.

The corner of his lips arched a lopsided smile before fishing out a handkerchief. "Yes, you did well," he vocalized when he lifted my chin and gently wiped the corners of my mouth. "Good girl, my little soldier. Good girl..."

His gratitude words satiated me. And before I could react, Lucretius captured my lips to catch me off guard.