I could see the frustration on her face as she processed what I had just said.
« So… what’s next, genius? » she asked, her voice tinted with anger and weariness. « This twisted plan of yours… it’s not going to end well for me. There will definitely be some busybodies trying to kill me to rescue you. »
I grinned, a twisted thrill building up inside me. The satisfaction of seeing her like this, wary and cornered was intoxicating.
I wasn’t going to give her a chance to back out now. We were moving forward, whether she liked it or not.
I kept my tone casual, almost dismissive. « Perhaps but so what? It will only be a minority. »
Her jaw twitched as if she wanted to rip me apart right there. « Fine. I’ll play along, » she muttered through gritted teeth. « But I still think you’re playing a dangerous game here. What makes you so damn confident this will work? »
« Your acting will convince them. » I said smoothly, allowing a subtle smirk to curve my lips. « It’s your expertise, right? With [Art of Deception] at A-rank, I’m sure you can sell them the lie like a pro. »
She frowned. Her fingers curled slightly, twitching as though she had to hold back from throwing something at me. « Praises will get you nowhere kid. Give me a valid reason to trust you. The moon’s goddess promised she would shield me from the sun god’s wrath if things go south. I won’t follow you blindly if you don’t convince me. »
I raised both hands in mock surrender. « Alright, alright, no more jokes. I will talk seriously now. » I said lightly, to pacify her temper. « As long as we fulfill high-stakes wishes, it will work. »
She looked at me pensively, her sharp eyes assessing me, probably trying to weigh the pros and cons. « But what if a bunch of angry mobs try to kill me? » She asked with a frown. « I can escape but my reputation would be ruined. »
Her tone wavered slightly. Perfect. That hesitation, that worry, I could definitely use it to my advantage. I knew the temptation of gaining power, even if it was twisted, was a difficult thing for her to resist. If I played my cards right, she would be more than willing to be my accomplice.
« It won’t happen, » I replied smoothly, shrugging with confidence. « And even if it does, you will have a legion of fanatics ready to shield you, worshiping the very ground you walk on. People would kill to get their wishes fulfilled. They’ll flock to you, desperate, worshiping you like a queen. »
I paused and stepped closer to drive my point home. « That’s the kind of influence you’ll have when they believe you can give them anything. »
I was like the devil whispering in her ears, tempting her to sin again with sweet promises.
Our discussion continued for a dozen minutes, and when we finally stood up to start going through with my plan, half of the pastries plates present on the table had been eaten clean.
After Leticia explained to her superior that she had some personal business to attend to and changed her clothes, we stepped out of the temple, walking on the shining cobblestone of Bordeaux’s streets.
Our duo looked really cute on the surface, like a sexy big sis bringing her baby brother out to play. This was so far from the truth it made me laugh inwardly. We were the very image of innocence, perhaps we could just drop the whole dominatrix-slave concept and dive into the big sis taking advantage of her little brother power trope. Just kidding, this wouldn’t work, we were bound to meet people who knew her.
Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.
The bright streets of Bordeaux Road bustled with life. Children darted through the crowd, laughing while playing the robber and cop game, while shopkeepers stood outside their stores, greeting customers with warmth. It was the epitome of tranquility and unity. Those poor people didn’t know what was coming.
As we walked through the bustling streets, it became obvious that Leticia was the center of attention. People turned their heads, pausing mid-step or mid-sentence to watch her. The men’s gazes lingered on her, some with barely-concealed admiration, others with outright lecherous smirks. A few whispered amongst themselves, their chuckles and winks making their intentions clear.
Leticia, in contrast, was calm, her lips curving into a faint smile that made her seem untouchable. It wasn’t her first time dealing with this kind of attention, she practically radiated the kind of confidence that made her immune to the ogling.
I, on the other hand, found the whole spectacle amusing. These people saw her as nothing more than a stunning woman. None of them had the faintest clue that this sexy woman was a predator. If they knew she was a legendary mage capable of obliterating them with a flick of her wrist, they’d bow, not flirt.
Some daring idiot had the gall to approach her.
He was a tall blond man with blue eyes, somewhere in his mid-twenties. His outfit, a stylish t-shirt, skinny jeans, and a leather jacket made his good looks shine brighter. He looked like he’d just stepped off the pages of a magazine, all too aware of his good looks and charm.
« Hello miss, I feel like our meeting was predestined. I fell in love with you at first sight. Do you want to go out with me? »
The cringe almost killed me. I fought back the urge to retch.
When he spoke, she didn’t react at first, letting him finish his pathetic pitch.
« Did you steal your pick-up line in a bad romance TV series? » She started with a dark smirk. « Try harder next time, dude, you are cringe. »
The man blinked, momentarily stunned by the sharpness of her retort, but Leticia didn’t give him a chance to recover.
« Or better, don’t try at all, you suck. And do something about the thing between your teeth while you’re at it. »
Wow. That was harsh. She really stepped all over him.
The man’s confidence shattered into a million pieces as he froze in place, his face turning crimson before paling into ghostly white.
Leticia didn’t even spare him another glance, brushing a stray strand of hair from her face. « Honestly, some people really don’t know when they’re out of their league, » she muttered, her smirk widening as the poor guy stumbled away, humiliated.
« Remind me to never try hitting on you, » I said, shaking my head.
« You’d regret it, kid, » she replied with a smile, her tone as sharp as her wit.
Then, she stopped smiling and looked at me seriously.
« Alright, let’s go kid. We’re heading to one of the smaller districts, » she said low enough to avoid prying ears. « There’s an empty merchant stall I know of near the river. It’s discreet, and it won’t raise too much attention, at least, not initially. »
I grinned, deliberately keeping my tone casual. « Perfect. See? We’re already thinking like partners. »
She shot me a warning glare. « Partners? Keep telling yourself that, kid. The second this goes south, I’ll drop you faster than you can blink. »
I chuckled, undeterred by her threat. « You say that now, but when you see the power and adoration rolling in, you might just change your tune. »
Several minutes later, we reached the district she’d mentioned, a quieter part of the city. The main roads gave way to cobblestone alleys lined with small artisan workshops and modest homes. It had far less activity than the city center, and the only people present were a blacksmith and a tailor.
Leticia led me to the edge of the district where the river curved, and a row of stalls with worn wood and faded paint stood. She pointed to a stall at the far end, partially hidden beneath a big tree.
« There, that’s the one, » she said.
I examined it with mock reverence. « Rustic. Cozy. It’s perfect. »
« It’s falling apart, » Leticia retorted flatly. « But it’s remote enough, and if we fix it up, it’ll draw just enough attention to start things. »
« Alright, we will call it The Dream Market, » I began, pleased with my naming sense. « A charming little place where dreams come true and prices are negotiable. »
Leticia frowned. « And who would come to this ramshackle setup to barter for their dreams? »
I smirked. « Oh, you’d be surprised. Desperation breeds belief. News of someone able to grant wishes will travel fast. »
Leticia sighed, massaging her temples. « This had better work, or I’ll personally hand you over to the angry mob screaming I am an abuser. »
I smirked, unbothered. « You won’t need to. By then, you’ll be too busy being worshipped. »
We began the work in silence, cleaning the stall and reinforcing its old frame.
At this rate, this place would soon be as good as new.