Negotiation with Chloe (2)

I checked the system notification window again.

Even looking at it again, it was an aphrodisiac—a potent love potion. As expected, this villainous lady had no intention of letting me drag her around without a fight.

So that's why she went out of her way to take the teacup from Eirin.

Pretending to kindly hand me the cup, she'd slipped the potion in during that moment. Her sleight of hand was so masterful, I couldn't even pinpoint when she'd done it.

And the purpose was obvious.

Our contract negotiation just moments ago. There, Chloe had promised to make progress in the talks and grant whatever I wanted.

The Aiterne Merchant Group. Against her, there were countless things I could demand. Even I had a laundry list of items I could make her cough up right away.

Of course, if she just handed them over obediently, it'd be a massive loss for Chloe.

She'd want to minimize that damage as much as possible.

Her thinking probably went something like this: As a renowned alchemist, Chloe's potion would rob any ordinary man of his cool-headedness.

With the aphrodisiac pumping through his veins, his mind would be flooded with nothing but sex.

The potent arousal effect of the potion, combined with a seductive beauty ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠like Chloe gazing at him with those sultry eyes—he'd be in heat in an instant, thinking only of pinning her down on this sofa.

Then, all those prime conditions I could demand would be brushed off with a single romp in the sheets.

Plus, it would look like I was the one begging her for sex first, letting her reclaim some of the initiative she'd always lost to me. All around, it wouldn't play in my favor.

Of course, only if the potion had worked on me.

Chloe was gravely mistaken. Back in Neuber territory, when she'd tried to assault me in my sleep, I'd deliberately pretended to fall under her sleeping drug.

So there was no way she'd know about my Immunity to All Poisons.

That's why she's pulling this amateur stunt.

Having seen through her scheme completely, I could turn the tables and use the situation to my advantage.

I calmly drained my tea.

"You should drink up too, Chloe. Eirin's personally brewed tea has a unique flavor."

"Oh? Is it that good? Then I will."

The two of us lifted our cups and took sips together. Chloe had been watching me carefully, but after tasting the mint tea Eirin had prepared, her eyes widened in surprise.

"It's true. The mint leaves the count prepared must be premium, of course, but the depth of flavor and aroma is on another level. It must be the brewer's skill. That maid from earlier—Eirin, was it?"

It wasn't empty flattery. Chloe's face was filled with undisguised astonishment.

"You have a good eye, Chloe. That's why Eirin's my exclusive maid."

"I see, Count. I thought you hired her just for her looks. She's surprisingly skilled."

Chloe's expression as she said this was loaded with meaning. Eirin was undeniably pretty, so Chloe must have assumed she was my mistress.

"A vigorous young noble like you, Count—it's only natural to keep a cute maid like that on hand. That's why I figured it was something like that."

"Fair enough. But Eirin earned her place in our margrave household through skill alone. She's not what you're imagining, so don't get the wrong idea. It'd be rude to her."

From beyond the atelier, I could see Eirin's ears perk up at my words. I meant every bit of it.

Sure, Eirin attended me and we had that kind of relationship, but it rubbed me the wrong way for this villainess to reduce her to a mere sex toy.

Chloe continued smoothly.

"Oh, of course. A top maid handles secretarial duties perfectly too. But I'm not entirely wrong—it's common among high nobles in the empire."

As she spoke, Chloe subtly shifted to the seat beside me. She gave me a suggestive look and added,

"You can't fool around every night, right? Noble heirs your age, Count Yulian, are full of vigor. Having a maid for that isn't strange at all."

Chloe's hand naturally rested on my thigh. With her talk of a "sex maid," she was slyly steering the conversation toward something lewd. From her expression, she'd dosed her own cup with the aphrodisiac too.

She must really hate being led around by me.

And if she'd been tamed by my Tyrant, this villainess might be harboring some pent-up frustration. Dosing herself was proof of that.

"But... an exclusive maid is always around day and night, so it might get boring sometimes. And... haa... doesn't the atelier feel hotter somehow?"

Sure enough, as she said it, she pressed right up against me in her low-cut dress. The rich, intoxicating scent of a noble lady, laced with expensive perfume.

Chloe's fragrance was as luxurious as she was—potent enough to make any man weak to women hard in an instant. My Tyrant, though, remained unfazed, even as her hand stroked my thigh.

"Or maybe... being next to the dashing Count Yulian has me heating up without realizing it? What do you think, Count...?"

I spotted her hand inching toward my Tyrant and slapped it away with a sharp smack. Chloe's face stiffened for a moment, but she quickly regained her composed mask.

"Acting shy? With the maid here, you're minding your image. Fair enough—even a count like you is still a man. You couldn't possibly miss my signals."

Chloe was brimming with confidence. She figured I wanted to get lewd with her but was playing hard to get.

No wonder. I'd drunk the dosed tea, so even if I pretended otherwise, she'd assume I was burning up inside. That must be why she was pushing harder.

Chloe slid over a revised contract from Cecilia, packed with concessions on the terms.

"If the maid makes you shy, just send her on an errand. You need Cecilia's signature on this anyway, right?"

I agreed with that much. It was almost time to break this arrogant villainess of her habits, but I didn't want Eirin seeing it.

I gave Eirin her orders.

"Eirin! Head to Cecilia's workshop for a bit. Take some of the atelier's mint tea and teach her how to brew it properly. No rush coming back."

"Understood, Young Master."

Eirin gathered the documents and tea before leaving the atelier. Now it was just Chloe and me. She grew even bolder.

"Haa... just the two of us now. No one else will know what we do here. Haa... it's strangely hot... Does mint tea warm the body like this? Hnng..."

Letting out lewd moans, Chloe loosened her dress further. The top barely covered her nipples.

A cup smaller than Lilia's, but Chloe's breasts were still voluptuous, creating a lavish view.

And above them, her silver hair and crimson eyes gleamed with demonic allure. She was openly seducing me now.

Even without the aphrodisiac, no red-blooded man could resist. I ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠stayed calm, of course.

Still, pretending to fall for her trick, I told her,

"If it's that hot, stripping down isn't a bad idea. Like you said, no one's here but us."

Chloe couldn't hide the satisfaction blooming on her face.

***

Still in my atelier, I gazed contentedly at the barrage of proficiency notifications flooding the system.

The trait I'd activated was Artist with an Eye for Beauty.

And right before my eyes, Chloe struck an utterly embarrassing pose in nothing but her underwear.

"Next pose. Turn your hips toward me this time. Lift them high."

"Again... again?"

"Of course. Didn't you say you'd grant whatever I want in exchange for the sponsorship contract with Cecilia?"

That's right. This was an atelier—the perfect spot for artistic pursuits. So I'd demanded Chloe model for me.

"Not bad."

Chloe stood in the center of the atelier. She'd kept complaining of the heat, so I'd let her strip as much as she wanted.

Red lingerie that suited her perfectly. Now she wore only her bra and panties. Her face was porcelain-pale, and her exposed skin was just as white.

But flushed with shame and some inexplicable excitement, red blooms spread across her snowy body.

Obeying my command, she got on all fours and presented her rear. Her plump, juicy ass was as enticing as her ample breasts.

I leisurely sketched her with pencil. Since learning from Eirin last time, my artist trait proficiency had risen nicely.

I finished the drawing in no time.

"Done. Want to see, Chloe?"

She hurriedly covered her upper body with a towel and approached. I watched her reaction closely. I'd made her strike all sorts of humiliating poses.

Like this one, ass up like a bitch in heat. Or lying on the floor with legs spread lewdly.

Her face was a sight: humiliation and bewilderment, mixed with uncontrollable arousal—a contradictory mess.

Chloe's got masochistic tendencies. And with the aphrodisiac...

Her scheme was dead in the water with this one move. I hadn't demanded sex. Instead, I'd asked her to model.

She'd promised for Cecilia's sake, so she couldn't refuse.

Chloe was a beauty with a great figure, and being a good model boosted my proficiency nicely.

My body lacks artistic talent. Better stock up on proficiency when chances like this ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠arise.

The wastrel Yulian had fancied himself an artist anyway. Asking Chloe to model here wasn't suspicious at all.

But this was all to tame her. The proficiency was a bonus—and a ploy to amplify the aphrodisiac's effect.

If she cracked first and begged me to fuck her, it'd be my win again.

Meanwhile, Chloe desperately tried to compose herself. She snatched my sketchbook. A keen eye for art was essential for a skilled merchant.

Cornered, this was her chance to counterattack. Criticizing my drawing as an art critic would let her dent my pride.

Her eyes sharpened, hunting for flaws.

But it didn't last. Instead of criticism, praise slipped from her lips.

"Oh... I never expected... Count Yulian, you really have talent for art. But what do these... octopus tentacles mean...?"

Masochist tendencies and the aphrodisiac, held at bay by her lofty pride and competitive spirit. But one look at my drawing shattered her.

Chloe wore an ecstatic smile.

It was just like with Eirin two days ago. Instead of Chloe in lingerie, the sketch showed her being ravished by a tentacle monster.

"Stupid bitch. The Aiterne heiress can't even grasp the meaning of art? I overestimated you—disappointing. Do I have to spell it out?"

Truth be told, I had no idea what it meant either. But I berated her anyway.

"Haa... Count... sorry... my mistake... tentacles... haa... symbol of chaos? So profound... haa... and... it feels good to be violated..."

Even under my scolding, Chloe couldn't pull herself together. The reason was obvious.

Her masochistic side had ignited beyond expectation at the sight of herself being defiled. I'd intended it, but the effect was stronger than I'd imagined. I was a bit surprised.

She's a real pervert. The aphrodisiac amplifying it, maybe.

Or perhaps this chaotic drawing held some unexplained power. The ink brush I'd gifted Rozette had turned out to be a useful magic tool, after all. It wasn't impossible.

Either way, Chloe had thrown away her advantage from the start. In the end, unable to hold back her lust, she stripped off even her underwear.

"Underwear... haa... too hot, so just for a bit... no, that's ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠not it..."

Now fully nude, her large, perfectly teardrop-shaped breasts were on full display.

And between her thighs, her secret slit glistened, slick with arousal that sparkled in the light.

"Yes... the most beautiful artwork... haa... is the nude form of a beauty like me, right? Your... avant-garde tentacle piece was nice, but... the basics are best..."

"Not wrong. Then back to position and—"

As I reached for my pencil, Chloe grabbed my hand desperately.

"What's wrong, Chloe? If you hold my hand, I can't grip the pencil."

"Haa... Count Yulian... a pencil's... long and hard... but there's something even better..."

The aphrodisiac had peaked. Unable to endure, Chloe yanked down my pants and underwear in a frenzy.