Faith's POV
Panic still lingered in my veins like a slow acting poison, the memory of yesterday's desperation fresh in my mind. I'd fled from Felix's office, my feet pounding the marble floor in a frantic bid for escape.
The maid's soft voice interrupted my thoughts, "Miss Faith, breakfast is ready." I rose from my chair, the wooden legs scraping against the floor, as I followed her to the dining room.
As I trailed behind the maid downstairs, the opulent interior of the mansion unfolded before me like a lavish tapestry.
The walls were adorned with intricate frescoes, their colors muted by the passage of time, while the floors were polished to a high sheen, reflecting the flickering light of the crystal chandeliers above.
We walked through a long, dark corridor, the air thick with the scent of old books and dust.
The walls were lined with cobweb shrouded portraits, their subjects eyes seeming to follow me as I moved.
The floor creaked beneath my feet, the sound echoing off the walls like a sigh.
We emerged into a grand ballroom, the ceiling lost in darkness, the walls lined with mirrors that seemed to stretch on forever.
The room was filled with a forest of crystal and silver, the tables and chairs glinting like a thousand tiny stars.
At the far end of the room, a massive fireplace loomed, its mantel carved with grotesques that seemed to leer at me as I passed.
The maid led me to a formal dining table, set with fine china and crystal. Felix already sat at the head of the table . The room seemed to shrink, the air growing thick and heavy.
The maid's gentle voice broke the spell, "Miss Faith, please, take a seat." Her eyes guided me to the formal dining table, where Felix already sat, his gaze fixed on me with an unnerving intensity.
My heart stumbled, and I felt a cold sweat trickle down my spine. I chose a seat five chairs away, the distance a fragile barrier between us.
Felix's eyes drifted from the plate of food in front of him, his gaze locking onto mine with an unnerving intensity.
"You're my treasure, Faith," he said, his voice low and measured.
"The one I saved from the brink of disaster. Do you remember that day?" His eyes seemed to bore into mine, as if searching for something.
He paused, his expression unreadable, before continuing.
"I found out my aunt was ill that same day. She needed me, but I was busy saving you. And in the end, she passed away alone."
A faint smile played on his lips, but it didn't reach his eyes. "But I saved you, my treasure. And now, I need you to repay that debt."
Felix's eyes never left mine as he spoke, his voice weaving a spell of guilt and obligation.
"Now, my family needs me to marry, to secure our legacy. And that contract , it's not about ownership, Treasure. It's about commitment. It's about you being mine, in every sense of the word."
The air seemed to vibrate with tension as he leaned forward, his eyes burning with an unnerving intensity. "Can you really deny me, after everything I've done for you?"
I searched Felix's face, my eyes scouring every inch of his expression, hunting for a glimmer of deception. But all I saw was sincerity, a deep seated conviction that made my heart twist with guilt.
He'd saved my life, and in doing so, had lost someone precious to him.
The weight of that realization settled heavy on my shoulders.
"Will I... will I have to spend the rest of my life married to you?" I asked, the words barely above a whisper.
Felix's gaze never wavered, his eyes holding mine with an unnerving intensity.
"No, my treasure," he said, his voice low and soothing. "It's just for a little while. And then you'll be free. Forever." His words were like a balm to my frazzled nerves, but something about them didn't quite add up.
A nagging sense of unease lingered, like a shadow in the corner of my mind. But I pushed it aside, letting guilt and obligation take its place.
Felix had saved my life, after all.
The least I could do was repay him.
"It's not the end of the world, right?" I said, trying to sound convincing, even as my heart whispered doubts.
"I'll sign the contract," I said, the words tumbling out of my mouth like a promise. Felix's lips curled into a smirk, but his eyes remained cold, calculating.
For a moment, I thought I saw a flicker of something else, something darker, but it was gone before I could grasp it.
He leaned back in his chair, his movements economical, precise. "Excellent," he said, his voice dripping with satisfaction. And then, in a whisper so soft I almost didn't hear it, he spoke a single word
"Fool"
The sound sent a shiver of unease through me, and I felt my heart sink, as if I'd just stepped into a trap.
The maid appeared, contract and pen in hand, and I felt a sense of inevitability wash over me.
I took the pen, my hand trembling slightly as I signed my name to the paper. And as I did, I felt a cold dread creeping over me, like shadows spreading across the floor.
*
*
*
Rules in the paper or the contract made by felix :
Article 1: I, Faith, hereby acknowledge that I am the absolute property of Felix, my husband and master. I am bound to obey his every command, without question or hesitation, and he reserves the right to do with me as he pleases, at any time, and in any manner.
Article 2: I am irrevocably bound to this contract, and any attempt to terminate or breach it without Felix's explicit permission will be met with severe consequences, including but not limited to physical punishment, emotional manipulation, and psychological torment.
Article 3: By signing this contract, I swear to obey Felix's every whim, no matter the cost to my physical or mental well being. I will surrender my free will, my autonomy, and my dignity, and I will submit to Felix's every desire, without hesitation or resistance. If he commands me to surrender my life, I will do so without hesitation.
Article 4: I acknowledge that I am nothing more than a mere object, a vessel to be used and discarded at Felix's pleasure. I have no rights, no autonomy, and no value beyond my utility to him. I am a slave, a chattel, and a possession, and I will be treated as such.
Article 5: I surrender my body, soul, and every aspect of my being to Felix, to do with as he pleases. I am his to command, his to possess, his to destroy, and his to discard. I am nothing but a mere plaything, a toy to be used and broken at his whim.