Elias stood in the grand dressing chamber of the Crestford estate wearing a coat suit that solely belongs to the nobles. He was staring at the reflection in the tall, cracked mirror. He didn't recognize the man looking back except for his face, even that looked gleaming under the sunlight.
"Baron Crestford!" The slave he once was, gone and now he rose as a noble.
Fine black linen clung to his broad shoulders, stitched with silver thread at the collar and cuffs. A deep crimson sash, bearing the faded insignia of the Crestford line. a serpent devouring its own tail was tied neatly at his waist. His unruly hair had been slicked back, and his face, once roughened by days of hard labor, now bore the clean sharpness of a man who did not know what hard work was. And it was all thanks to Seraphina's power. five quiet maids who worked in silence but addressed him as baron Crestford.
But it wasn't the clothes or the grooming that unsettled him, the meeting does. This would not be the first time he would meet nobles. But this would be the first time he would be one of them. He fixed his already perfect hair when the door opened behind him.
He turned to see Seraphina standing there, dressed in a dark velvet gown. Its slit starts from her upper thighs. her hair fell in waves down her back. She studied him with a critical gaze before walking a slow circle around him.
"Stand straighter," she said, adjusting the line of his coat. "Barons do not slouch." He stood straighter and she nodded.
"Are you prepared?" she asked with a smirk but he did not answer it immediately.
He hesitated, and she raised an eyebrow. "Who are you?"
"…Baron Elias Crestford," he said, the words unfamiliar in his mouth. It was like poison he had learned to swallow.
"Oh Elias! I expect much better from you." her hands roaming on his chest did not help at all.
"Baron Elias Crestford."
She stepped close, her voice lowering. "Not enough. Say it like you believe it. Like the title was born in your blood."
He met her eyes and this time, the answer came with a cold and bored look on his face.
"I am Baron Elias Crestford. And who might you be?" This was much better. She nodded, patting his chest but her hand still lingered. He felt the heat of it, and the flashes of the kiss they shared last night made him hot.
Even if she noticed it, she did not show it on her face. She just leaned closer as if she was sharing a secret with him.
"How does it feel when the maid serves you?" Elias looked at the young girl who was standing behind Seraphina with a glass of water. She would stand here for the whole day and night if he did not dismiss her. Now that he was the noble, he held the authority to do that.
"Come here!" he waved at the girl. The girl obeyed and walked closer.
"My lord." she bowed her head deeper bringing a smile on his face.
"You have worked hard." He took out two silver coins from his pocket and passed it to her. "You can go and rest now." the young girl was shocked.
She stared at the silver coins as if she was staring at a monster that could devour her at any moment. She did not dare to take them. But Elias was not angry. Neither he was in a hurry. He just stared at the girl foolishly with shock.
"You do not want them?" he asked in a teasing voice. The girl was jolted awake from her trance and in her shock, she dared to look at his face in confusion.
But the moment was scandalous. When she realized she had met the eyes of her master, she fell on her knees instantly.
"I… master, I didn't mean to. Please whip me so that I can learn from my mistakes." tears filled her eyes instantly.
Elias watched himself in the girl. That was his reaction when he had first stared at Cladria's beautiful face. He had been in trance too. The girl had not punished him despite being a slave. She had just smiled and brushed it off.
He had believed that she was kind and pure. Now that he was standing at her place, he knew. It was nothing but a way to win their heart.
"You were just confused for a moment. We do not need to be that stern over such a small thing. Do you find me handsome?" the girl blushed instantly and lowered her head. Those were the same words Cladria had asked him. And he had blushed like that too.
How easy it was! For those in power to sway the emotions of the commoners and slaves. Even just a simple thing like looking at their faces could get slaves killed.
"I.. you… you are very kind, my lord." The girl finally made a sentence and looked better.
"Just kind..?" he asked and finally Seraphina frowned and gave a good look to the girl. The girl was young, barely seventeen. She was fair and despite her calloused hands and a few whip marks evident on her arms, she looked innocent and sweet. It was completely opposite to her sharp and seductress look but matched completely with Cladria's look. Her eyes narrowed at once with something cold and sinister flickering in them.
"You… you are very handsome and attractive, my lord." she blushed deeper. Her skin almost dropped blood and she bit her lips to make sure she did not stutter.
"Hmm, your words flatter me. So I will not punish you for this mistake. In fact, you can repeat it anytime you want." he laughed softly. The sound was like music in the silent room.
The woman trembled slightly with excitement and joy. Elias let go of the silver coins. They fell on the ground with a thunk and landed just beside her kneeling figure.
"I was not joking or testing you when I offered the coins. There, you can have them. I hope you will take good care of this mansion and me."
"My lord, thank you for your generosity." she kowtowed him to show her gratitude ten times before silently leaving.
"Have you already found a toy to play in the large mansion, Elias?"