The count's favourite

Valdemar's POV

I left the vivisection chamber and locked myself up in one of the cells. I paced up and down the tiny damp cubicle trying to analyse my symptoms. Why did I not want to split her open? See her expression twist in pain and horror? What prevented me from cutting her chest in two identical halves? She is a human like any other, a being whose existence was meaningless, almost unnoticed by the greatness of the universe. No, she is not like any other, other humans have the benefit of complaining if brought here and being tortured unwillingly, but she is an intruder, and not any intruder: the count's favourite.Physically, I feel a something weird in my chest caused by a sudden squeeze in my heart, a halt in my breathing and the unmistakable feeling of wanting to throw up originated by a filthy knot in my abdomen. Even so, I must admit that whenever she is around, I find myself in the need of a second or two to recompose myself and act naturally trying to hide. Attraction, I would say. She is attractive, I guess. She has a sophisticated style and a brilliant obscure megalomaniac mind. Can I possibly be attracted to a human with delusions of grandeur? I chuckled at the thought.Nevertheless, what strikes me the most in this riddle, is what occurs at a phrenic level. When her remarkable e/c eyes dare land on me, I am engulfed in some sort of anxious state that keeps me from acting in my regular way. Around her, I find it rough to keep up with the ludicrous formalities. And my interest on her? She is the best subject I have ever had as she manages to bemuse me by the way in which she unfolds the board and plays whatever her game is. I frequently stop to think, was this a game of chess, I would make her my queen. In addition to the anxiety, I find myself thinking about her in no scarce occasions... I picture how it would be like to have her here, in the dungeon, with me... now I come to realize I might not want to dissect her body, but her mind. What are you up to, little rabbit? Why allow yourself be seduced by the count?

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Y/N POV

A few days before the masquerade, Lucio summoned us for a meeting to go over the masquerade plan. I sighed at the moment I received the invitation; it was the fourth meeting in the past two weeks just to discuss, fruitlessly, how the plan could be improved. In the end, everyone just engaged in informal talks of their lives; leading me to consider that Lucio required our company for he could not bare his extreme solitude in the palace.

When I reached the court room I found Lucio by himself, wantonly playing with the leaves of a tree that softly caressed the window's glass. I cleared my throat shyly, as if asking for permission to be in there."Ah, Y/N, you may come in. Thank you for coming", he said in a faint blush."I would not miss it for nothing, sir", I replied nervously, hoping to see any of the other courtiers soon. Even Valerius would ease my tension to be honest."I would not want you to miss it". He approached me, placing a hand on my waist."Uh, anyways, I positively believe we should wait for the rest to come, right? I would not want the meeting to begin without them. It would be most impolite", I answered, trying to escape the embrace, yet he only kept me closer."No use in running", he uttered calmly while shutting the door.

An hour later, we heard a loud knock at the door and a familiar impatient voice quavering:"Count Lucio, Count Lucio! Are you in there? I am afraid the door is locked"."Going", Lucio grunted while having me help him button his shirt. "You behaved well, my dear", he whispered hideously in my ear.I felt my stomach get tight and looked aside. Not like I had an option. Rumours of the count's violence to those who opposed him were not scarce and I certainly did not want to end up under the scourge's axe.Once I had finished aiding Lucio, I fixed my clothing and opened the door."Ah, Y/N, I was not expecting you here!", exclaimed Preator Vlastomil. "I really rushed this time and had my worms fed before coming! Still, I would not fancy stealing your time". A shy smile showed on my face. Vlastomil was a funny guy, and, conscious or not, he always managed to add a twinge of laughter to my day.

The rest of the courtiers must have followed to Vlastomil's entrance. I was not really paying attention. I felt rageous, humiliated, hurt. Curled up in my armchair in distress, I shed a single tear eyeing gloomily at Lucio who was having an animated conversation with the consul. In that precise moment, a voice that still managed to cause me goosebumps reached my ears:

"Y/N", said the quaestor staring at me curiously. "You look unwell today. Are you sick?", they asked.I shook my head in sadness."Are you not sick? You look pale and dim", one of their gloved hands laid on my bare shoulders whilst the other was pressed to my forehead. I felt their iciness quivering my nerves, yet, I did not complain; they made me feel at ease.Again, I shook my head."Oh but those scratches do not look well. What happened? Will you allow me to check on them?" they inquired, lowering slightly my sleeve now spotted with blood."N-nothing", I stuttered. "I fell down the stairs while coming here, I am clumsy, you know?", I lied."Oh, no. You are not. I have observed your movements. Grace and equilibrium can be easily spotted. Besides, you always grip to the railings."How did they...? Whatever, I should know that everyone in this goddamn place is overloaded with boredom, hence, why would it be weird to have anyone stalking me, right?"Moreover", they continued. "Having analysed the nature of your cuts, they were mostly positively occasioned by a clawed-like instrument. And the staircase has no claws."I leaned my head nearer to Valdemar's body and dared shed some other tears."You look out of sorts, Y/N", they said, holding my chin softly, their gaze piercing directly through my teary eyes. "And, up to what I have observed, you do not suffer from epiphora".My expression of sadness turned into the funniest of confusions."The way you death-glared Lucio... does that indicate something?", they asked in real concern.I could not help it but unleash the knot in my throat and cry my eyes out against their shoulder. They embraced me and excused us out of the room claiming I was feeling a bit under the weather. Lucio stared at me in awe and desire. "So this is what he likes", I thought. "Not only to obtain pleasure from others but also to leave those others feeling miserable. I could play that game too". And any pity I could bare for him due to his unhappy marriage, vanished from my heart.

We reached my room faster than I expected. The quaestor helped me lay on the bed and brought some alcohol they poured gently on my wounds."This will do for the healing", they stated while I internally cursed against the pain."Thank you, it was kind of you to help me", I blushed."I am more than honoured to have helped, Y/N. Is there anywhere else you happen to need healing?""Not really, you may leave with the rest. Thank you", I replied, still trying to hide the pain."If you insist on having me out... besides, you must have probably realized those meetings are useless... I truthfully believe we are just meant to entertain the count".I chuckled."That is right. But I think I really need to be alone, at least for a while", I sighed. "Thank you... again", I added blushing."My pleasure", they bowed, kissed my hand through their mask and headed to the door. "Oh, and... be careful with the stairs... more than one human being has died on them and brought me subjects", they smiled mischievously.