Gordon Mason, formerly Gordon Grimoire Jr., wore a tight grimace as he allowed Fen to dress him. Though allowed was a strong word. Like everything else in his life, he had no control over the event. No matter how he felt about the wardrobe choices made for him by his previous servant, he could do nothing to change them. Resistance only led to punishment.

Not for the first time, he wondered how things had gotten to this point. His childhood…it hadn’t been easy, as his father was a hard man to please, but he had grown up with the knowledge that he was the heir to a powerful family. The Grimoires didn’t have the strongest knights or the largest wallet, but their name commanded respect. Or instilled fear, but he had learned that there wasn’t much of a difference between the two. It didn’t matter if people followed you because were a saint or a devil, as long as they followed you.

That’s what his father had instilled in him. Recent events, however, had shown there was one major difference. Being beloved by others meant they were more likely to help when it all went to the abyss. Being hated meant the many enemies you’d accumulated would laugh at your demise and dance on your grave.

No one had spoken up when his father apparently lost his mind and staged a pointless rebellion in the capital. Gordon knew there was more to the story. The succubi likely had something to do with it. Unfortunately, his father had fought to the very end and there was no retrieving answers from his corpse.

Somehow, in the wake of his death, the succubi had turned on the Masons. Not a single one was beholden to the orders of their summoners, though that was something only the summoners themselves knew.

The creatures put on a good show in public. To outsiders, it appeared that the young new head of the family had simply made a few radical decisions. Only the men and women of the Mason family knew they were prisoners of their own minds, enslaved by their once servants.

Their actions and thoughts were their own, to an extent. Gordon could do what he wanted. He could lash out with all the frustration of the last year and assault the thrall that mocked him daily. However, consequences would follow. Torture was elevated to another dimension of horror when his tormentor could enhance the amount of pain he felt, ensure he stayed conscious without dying from shock, and heal him up to start again anytime she pleased. A single cut was unbearable agony, something he knew from the demonstration she’d given him at the start of their new relationship.

Similarly, he could think what he wanted. He could spend all day trying to figure out how Lou had won the succubi over. And not just won them over, but instilled a near fanatic loyalty. Fen had looked genuinely offended when he insulted his rival summoner. Her, a creature that he had…well, done many shameful things with and subjected to worse without the woman batting an eye.

Of course, the mystery had an obvious answer. Succubi obeyed stronger succubi. No one had ever managed to secure a contract without such a clause, no matter what they offered. The creatures simply refused. Over time, it became par for the course. Physical affinities weren’t common and the kingdom had far more interest putting the few wielding them to more productive fields, such as healing.

With the Masons jealously guarding the knowledge of Burning Earth and actively sabotaging anyone who took an interest in summoning, there was no need to worry about someone summoning a higher ranked succubus.

The Tomes of course had the knowledge but the only way to take it from them was to kill the family to the last child. However, they had refrained. No matter what leverage the Masons had with their stolen secrets, the king wouldn’t tolerate them annihilating a noble family without cause. It would be too blatant a show of disrespect.

His father let them be. No one thought they had anything to worry about. The Tomes had no resources and hadn’t produced anyone with anything other than a basic elemental affinity in generations.

How wrong they were.

Somehow, Lourianne Tome had managed to contract a succubus stronger than his father’s circle five virtue, Belolial. It was the only explanation that could explain how he was driven from their house that day, how he had lost his mind, and the subsequent actions of the succubi.

But, if it was true, then Lou was hiding some very big secrets. Mainly that she had an elemental that could threaten any of the royal knights at her side, something the crown would be very interested in knowing. And that she effectively had an army within the capital, which the crown would want to know even more.

He could think about his conclusions all he wanted but he couldn’t say anything. Whenever he tried, he found he physically could not form the words to tell others about his suspicions. Any attempts resulted in his jaw locking uncomfortably and more punishment.

He didn’t know what was worse; the fact that he would likely be the thrall’s prisoner for the rest of his life or that the elementals were running around the human kingdom with only that degenerate woman to corral them. Succubi were dangerous, something he’d known even before the recent demonstration of their ruthlessness. His father had always warned him to never underestimate the creatures and that was when they had oaths controlling their every action.

Now that imbecile Lou was letting the damn creatures run amok with zero supervision. He shuddered to think what they were getting up to.

“There! All ready for the day.”

With perfect timing that Gordon doubted was a coincidence, someone knocked on the door. A moment later, the door was opened by a female servant carrying a tray. In the brief moment their gazes met, Gordon saw admiration in her gaze. Then she lowered her head. “I’ve brought your breakfast, my lord.”

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“Thank you~” Fen stepped forward to take the tray. With clear reluctance, the servant retreated, closing the door softly behind her.

The thrall giggled. “Poor creature. She must have been so excited to have been given the duty of delivering your meal. Many a maid have made a fortune entertaining their masters. Why, she looked positively eager for the chance.” She stepped forward, running a finger down Gordon’s broad chest. “What do you say? Should I call her back? We can spare the five minutes it would take for you to satisfy yourself, haha.”

He didn’t bother answering the jibe. That would only amuse her.

“Oh, but I am being a bit unfair, aren’t I? It was five minutes for me and I was trying to get the event over with as quickly as I could without being too obvious. Having a heavy man-child huffing over me is not exactly my idea of fun.”

Gordon couldn’t contain the slightest flinch and of course she noticed. A hand gently patted his cheek as she giggled. “Even now, you can’t believe that I didn’t enjoy a moment of your, hm, affection. I wonder. Is that the famous Grimoire arrogance? Or maybe I simply outdid myself with my performance.”

He knew that succubi played to men’s desires. On some level, he knew what they had was fake. It was always fake.

“Oh, not always, Junior. Our bodies are made to enjoy sex. Otherwise, our time here would be quite tedious. And there are times when I have enjoyed myself. Like with Lou.” She shuddered. “Though she is a terrible tease. Wouldn’t even let me have a lick of her glorious self. And that wife of hers. Mm.” She licked her lips. “You are simply inferior. Disgustingly so.”

He grit his teeth, pushing down his rising indignation. His stomach growled, providing a welcome distraction.

“Yes, yes. Breakfast. Go on.”

Without a word, Gordon knelt. Fen balanced the tray of food on the end of her tail as she tied a napkin around his neck. She grabbed a small sausage and pinched off a piece, holding it over him. Gordon opened his mouth, sticking out his tongue as she fed him. “Thank you,” he said after swallowing the bite.

“You’re welcome, pet~”

She continued to feed him and he thanked her after every bite. He had to if he wanted to finish his meal, something he had learned the hard way. It was a simple thing but it was a stark reminder that everything he had, every tiny amount of happiness or bit of luxury, was at her whim and could be snatched away at any time.

The last time he had forgotten to thank her, she had refused to feed him for two weeks, using her magic to keep his body functioning. Despite suffering no ill side-effects, his mind and stomach remained convinced he was starving. A unique torture, one of many the thrall had devised.

He finished the meal quickly, having also learned not to waste the thrall’s time, and they exited the bedroom. Two imps joined them as they headed for the door, humanoid figures shorter than his knees the color of ash. They ran on their knuckles, thick, lizard like tails swishing behind them.

He had never liked the creatures, with their big eyes and sharp teeth. They enjoyed skulking about far too much. During his father’s time, they were ordered not to be seen but were always there when called for. It had unnerved him as a child.

The two imps held open the doors as he left the estate. A large carriage with the Grimoire, now Mason, family crest, an open book laid out over a five-pointed star, on the side waited nearby. Along with an irate older man.

Gordon inwardly winced seeing the man he had grown up calling Uncle Thomas. The man was a good friend of his father and a close confidant. He handled many of the family’s business investments in the capital. While his father had concentrated on the nobles, Uncle Thomas juggled the greedy interests of the merchants. Or at least he used to. When Gordon took over as the head of the family, “he” fired the family friend without so much as a conversation.

It had been months since Gordon saw the man he had once greeted with a smile nearly every day for most of his life. Thomas’ already balding head had lost even more hair and what remained was almost entirely gray. His pants were obviously tight on him and he didn’t bother buttoning his vest over his protruding stomach. Dark bags hung under his eyes that widened with excitement when he spotted Gordon and the man hurried over.

“Junior!”

“…Uncle Thomas,” he replied slowly. He swallowed as Fen hid herself behind him, placing a hand on the small of his back. A reminder…and a quiet threat. “It’s been a while.”

“Yes, yes. Too long, eh? The two of us should have a drink. For your father’s sake.”

“Maybe. First, why are you here?”

Uncle Thomas wrung his hands. “Ah, you see. I was wondering if you had a job for me, good nephew? Not in my old position, haha!” The laughter was strained and filled with desperation. “You probably already have an eager young pup filling that role now. But these old hands can still balance an account book. I’ve heard you’ve been doing well for yourself. Your father would be proud.”

He had no idea how well the family businesses were doing. Fen didn’t allow him to have any important information, another way of controlling him. He felt for his ‘uncle’ but there was nothing he could do for him. Gordon didn’t even have the independence to feed himself. He had no leeway to help shoulder another man’s burdens. “I’m sorry, uncle, but I don’t need any help.”

Fen pressed lightly on his back and Gordon took the cue to step away…but Thomas blocked him. His sickly-sweet smile had collapsed, his thin lips pressing together tightly.

“You…I helped raise you. I helped build this family into what it is. Do you think your father could have become a royal advisor without me there to help fund his many schemes? I have been nothing but loyal to this family. Do you know what that’s cost me? No one, anywhere, will hire someone with the Grimoire taint on them. And yet, you throw me out on my ass without so much as an explanation. I deserve better than that!”

It wasn’t up to me, he wanted to say.

[Kindly remind dear Uncle Thomas why he was thrown out on his ass, as he says,] Fen’s voice whispered in his mind.

“Uncle, you gave me no choice. How could I keep you on when you were stealing money? Not even a fool keeps a dog that bites the hand that feeds it.”

“You!” Thomas flushed with anger. “I was only taking that money to pay a few debts! I always put it back. Your father and I had an understanding.”

“And I am not my father. I think I can do better than a financial advisor who gambles away my money. Though, you are right that you are skilled. Anyone would be lucky to have you if you’ve mended your ways. Don’t give up hope.”

“Bastard!” With two large steps, the desperate man reached for Gordon’s collar but pulled his hand back with a yelp as Fen’s tail struck the offensive limb. One of the imps slammed into Thomas’ leg, sending him sprawling to the ground. The other landed on his chest, hissing at him.

[Time to go, Junior.]

“For the sake of our past, I’ll forgive you. I truly wish you the best,” Gordon said as he headed for the carriage, ignoring the hot glare on his back.

“You bastard! You can’t treat people like this!” Thomas roared, squirming as the two imps dragged him away. “You’re a piece of shit, just like your father! Don’t think this is the end, boy! You’ll get yours! Your whole cursed family will get what’s coming to them!”

We’ve already gotten it, uncle.