Feel conflicted, but aroused by the control and attention.

Elion stood still, his body exposed and **** before Lady Vaelra. He could feel the warmth of her gaze as it slid over him, lingering on his delicate frame. The coolness of the air contrasted sharply with the heat rising in his chest. His body was betraying him—his pulse quickened, and his breath came in short, shallow gasps.

He told himself he should be ashamed, that he should fight back against this humiliation. But despite the burning shame, there was something else. A deep, unspoken yearning stirred within him—an urge to be seen, to be acknowledged in a way that went beyond the expectations of a prince.

“Does this feel uncomfortable?” Vaelra asked, her voice soft yet commanding, as she adjusted the fabric of his Academy dress. Her fingers brushed against his skin, sending a shiver through his spine. Elion’s mind screamed to pull away, to regain control, but instead, he found himself nodding, his voice barely a whisper.

“I-I… I don’t know…”

Her eyes sparkled with something dangerously close to amusement. “It’s alright. Many of the noble girls struggle with this at first. But it will become second nature.” She stepped back, giving him a once-over with a look of approval. “You look beautiful, Eliona. Perfectly poised, like you were always meant to wear these robes.”

The words rang in his ears. He should’ve been furious, or embarrassed beyond measure. But instead, there was a flutter in his chest. The sensation was confusing, thrilling even. The idea of pleasing Lady Vaelra, of embodying what she wanted from him, made him feel both trapped and liberated at once.

“You will be the pride of House Selanil,” she said, her voice a soft purr now, “if you can learn to embrace this path. Learn to be the perfect lady. And learn to submit.”