Ko-fi shop has been renewed, you can find the link at the end of the chapter.
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Diana held her breath. Felix observed the firm determination slowly rising in her eyes. The sight of a young and fragile creature struggling desperately to take flight was always captivating. As he thought about how this expression should be captured on canvas, Felix let his hand glide down her back.
“For now, focus on pleasing me.”
A sharp sound rang out as he brought his hand down, and Diana let out a breathy gasp. The lingering sting awakened dulled senses, bringing a new rush of awareness.
Just moments ago, Felix had been guiding her through the motions, teaching her how to move. Diana, gathering her trembling breaths, began shifting hesitantly.
The movements were unrefined, the rhythm uncertain, but there was a certain fascination in watching her efforts. As she struggled, Felix placed her hands on his torso and supported her lower back, helping her find a steadier pace.
“Ah… ha… mm….”
Her breath came in shallow pants as she instinctively sought out the sensations stirring within her. Strands of tousled hair clung to her flushed cheeks, and the faint scent of the forest deepened in the air around them. Her delicate frame trembled with every motion, the unsteady rise and fall reflecting her hesitancy.
Felix reached out, tracing the soft curve of her figure before giving in to temptation. The sensation beneath his fingertips was intoxicating, pliant yet firm, like ripe fruit yielding to a gentle touch.
“Ah…!”
At the slightest pressure, her body tensed in response. She bit her lip, shuddering, her movements becoming more fluid yet increasingly unguarded. A hint of satisfaction curled at the edges of Felix’s lips—soon, she would grow accustomed to this, embracing it without hesitation.
He pressed his palm firmly against her abdomen, feeling the tension coiling within.
“Where did you learn this? Did Aizen teach you?”
Diana flinched mid-motion.
“N-no, you… you were the one who taught me, my lord….”
“And before me? Has anyone else ever touched you? Even those who intended to?”
“No one… truly, no one.”
The sharp edge in his voice made her quicken her pace in response. The green of her eyes shimmered under the dim light, the pink of her lips slightly swollen, lending her an irresistibly enticing look.
A thought surfaced—was it really possible that no one had ever laid hands on her before now? She was blind, of lowly birth, and yet…
Felix stilled her movements, gripping her waist to halt her completely.
“You fled from Dorthes at ten, and you started working in the Defierre household at fifteen, correct?”
“Y-yes.”
“What about those five years in between?”
“…I wandered across Karman, going from place to place.”
“Always keeping your face hidden?”
Diana nodded. The abrupt cessation of movement left her breath hitching, a lingering ache settling in. The tension within her, once carefully built up, now teetered on the edge of frustration. Her body twitched involuntarily, yearning for what had been denied.
If she had never started, she might not have felt the absence so keenly—but now, she found herself restless, her breath growing uneven.
Felix regarded her intently before muttering under his breath.
“…Well, you’re certainly not ordinary.”
Without warning, he tightened his hold and lifted her with ease, only to bring her back down in one swift motion.
Diana’s breath caught in her throat as an overwhelming wave of sensation coursed through her. The sharp intensity left her gasping, her body responding instinctively to the depth of his touch. The pressure, the heat—it was almost too much.
“Ah…!”
Her head tilted back as a raw, breathless cry escaped her lips. Felix tightened his grip around her wrists, ensuring she couldn’t pull away, his movements gaining a relentless rhythm. The difference in strength left her mind spiraling, unable to focus on anything beyond the intoxicating pleasure surging through her senses.
“M-my lord… ah, you said… you would trust me…!”
Her words tumbled out in broken fragments, barely coherent between ragged breaths. Logic and emotion tangled together, struggling to form a single complete thought.
She knew—once this ended, a familiar sense of shame would come crashing down. Ever since she had surrendered her body to him, a bitter self-reproach had steadily taken root. The deeper she fell under his control, the more painfully aware she became of her helplessness.
It was humiliating. It was unbearable. And yet…
Diana forced herself to match his rhythm, instinct overpowering reason. Her thoughts dissolved into a haze of sensation, her world narrowing down to just this moment, just him.
Her lips parted in a silent cry as the pleasure crested into something sharp and consuming.
“Ah…!”
Felix groaned lowly, his breath uneven as he buried his face against her shoulder. His hold on her tightened, his fingers pressing into her skin as his control frayed.
The overwhelming intensity pulled them both under, stretching out the moment into something endless.
Even as the final shudders passed through them, the heat lingered, leaving only their unsteady breaths filling the space between them.
***
“Then, can I go to the forest after visiting the prince?”
Diana asked as she leaned against the man’s chest, nestled in his embrace. The robe draped over her bare body kept slipping off her shoulders. It was only natural—Felix’s robe was nearly twice her size.
“I’ll send you as soon as you return.”
Diana let out a sigh of relief. The man, still shirtless, radiated a body heat far higher than hers.
A promise made in the crown prince’s name wouldn’t be broken. She listened to the steady, comforting rhythm of his heartbeat against his bare chest.
Felix glanced at Diana, whose eyes were fluttering drowsily, then reached toward the side table. On the plate, which a servant had quietly placed there, lay a small pill. Though small, it was about the size of his pinky fingernail.
It was a drug taken by both men and women, known to be quite potent. A single pill was too much for her frail body to handle.
Felix crushed the pill between his thumb and forefinger, swallowing half. Then, he placed the remaining half in his mouth and kissed her. The pill dissolved instantly in Diana’s mouth, vanishing in her saliva.
The woman, unaware of what she had just swallowed, let out a small cough. The bitterness seemed to have jolted her awake, and she blinked blankly before reaching for his arm, searching for his pinky finger.
Felix chuckled as he watched her clumsily hook her pinky around his.
“So, you do know how to act cute.”
Of course, Diana wouldn’t be going there alone. Just as Aizen had planted numerous spies in the secluded palace, Felix was no different. If she managed to extract valuable information that had eluded even him, it would be a fortunate outcome. Even if she failed, Aizen wouldn’t have her executed.
He simply wanted to watch. To see the blind handmaid realize who her true master was and struggle for his sake. This was his final test for her.
Still, seeing her act like such a docile puppy made him wonder if a test was even necessary. Felix stroked Diana’s hair with satisfaction as she drifted off to sleep.
There was no harm in being thorough.
***
It had been a long time since she last rode in a carriage. Whether it was out of consideration from Felix or not, a carriage was waiting in front of the hunting lodge on the day she was to submit her routine report.
Despite her blindness, Diana kept looking back. Just days ago, she had sobbed over the string binding her ankle, yet now she didn’t want to leave this lodge. Even though the tether that had held her in place was gone, she still felt as if she were being dragged away.
“What are you doing? Get in already.”
The coachman urged her impatiently. His rough tone suggested that his master had already left.
Diana took a deep breath and stepped into the carriage. Before she could even settle into her seat, the coachman slammed the door shut. He had been all politeness when Felix was watching, but the contrast was stark now that the man was absent.
The same treatment likely awaited her with Prince Aizen.
‘It’s fine. If it’s something I must face eventually, I just have to steel myself.’
Felix’s words might be cold and ruthless, but he never made empty promises. Moreover, for the past five days, he had taken her nearly every night. During those moments, he had been so consumed by her that he hadn’t painted a single picture, despite his obsession. Even though she couldn’t see his face, Diana knew that Felix enjoyed the time they spent together.
He wouldn’t abandon her.
Diana braced herself once more.
The dice had already been cast.
All she could do now was give her best in the situation before her.
***
TL’s Note: Hello guys, really do apologize to my readers and supporters for this much delay of uploads. I have been very busy with stuffs, but fret not. I will keep uploading regularly from now. To my ko-fi supporters, I will renew the ko-fi on 15th May. Thanks you for being patient.
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The portrait of Pride has opened a ko-fi shop with 5 advanced chapters. Ko-fi shop will be updated with each update in website. Here is the: LINK
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Thank you for reading! If you enjoyed what you have read, do consider tipping me a little through: click here. An advanced chapter will be posted as a thank you once I receive 6$. Don’t forget to mention the series that you’re supporting!
