Eminence in shadow Volume 7(My Edition)

The grandiose room assigned to Cid within the Shadow Garden's secret headquarters was nothing short of a king's chamber. There was only one, not so big bed in the middle of room with pure white sheet covering it. The room was illuminated by the faint, moonlight coming amongst the fluttering, giving the surroundings an ethereal glow. Despite the grandeur, Cid remained completely indifferent. To him, it was just a bed—a surface to lie down and think about his next "eminence in shadow" moves.

Cid sat cross-legged in the center of the bed, lost in thought. "I must refine my aura of mystery," he murmured. "A true master of shadows must project an enigmatic presence, even in sleep. Perhaps I should lie diagonally for maximum unpredictability."

As he contemplated his sleeping strategy, the door creaked open. Beta entered, carrying a stack of documents. She seemed nervous, which was unusual for her.

"Lord Shadow," she began, her voice wavering slightly, "I've completed today's reports. Shall I leave them on the table, my Lord?"

Cid waved dismissively, still focused on his internal monologue. "Yes, yes. Leave them wherever. Once within the shadows, eveything is becomes the flag of unseen dangers lurking in the shadows."

Either Beta's face flushed at his cryptic response or thinking of something else, that only god knows but she carefully placed the documents on the nightstand and hesitated. Clearing her throat, she said, "It's quite late. Perhaps... I should stay here to ensure you answer to anything that may be in your mind, my lord."

Before Cid could respond, the door burst open again. Epsilon stormed in, her composure as perfect as ever, though her eyes sparkled with competitive fire.

"Beta, don't you think Lord Shadow's rest would be better undisturbed?" Epsilon said, crossing her arms. "As his loyal subordinate, I will ensure he has the peace he deserves."

Beta's lips twitched, her calm exterior barely holding. "Epsilon, Lord Shadow's well-being is my responsibility tonight because don't you think that you should better keep an eye on that little princess."

Cid, observing the escalating battle of wills between Epsilon and Beta, proclaimed with stoic determination,

'The balance of shadows hinges on my dream-state reconnaissance.'

Without another word, he dramatically collapsed onto the bed, instantly "asleep."

Seeing their lord going to sleep both of them glared at each other, knowing exactly well what is going on in other's head.

And so, the battle began, the night still young, neither of them aware of their Lord's peculiar habit—a quirk shaped by years of sharing a bed with his sister and mother.

Later That Night

The bed, though massive, felt oddly crowded. Cid lay in the center, his arms crossed and his face serene, as though he were meditating. To his left was Beta, stiff as a board, her hands clasped over the blanket. To his right was Epsilon, who had somehow managed to drape herself elegantly despite the limited space.

"This is unacceptable," Beta whispered, glaring at Epsilon. "You're taking up too much room."

Epsilon smiled, her voice a saccharine whisper. "I'm merely ensuring Lord Shadow has ample space. Perhaps it's you who should reconsider your position."

Cid shifted slightly, muttering,"So...stiff"

Beta and Epsilon froze, their faces stiffening like statues, as though they'd accidentally eavesdropped on a secret too awkward to handle.

After a moment, Beta whispered, "He looks so peaceful."

Epsilon nodded, her competitive edge softening for a moment. "Indeed. Truly a Lord and master of the World draped in moonlight."

The peace didn't last long. Cid suddenly rolled over, unintentionally wrapping an arm around Epsilon. She turned scarlet, her composure cracking. Beta's jaw dropped.

"What are you doing?!" Beta hissed, trying to keep her voice low.

Epsilon, despite her embarrassment, smirked. "It seems Lord Shadow has chosen."

Beta's eyes narrowed. "Not if I have anything to say about it."

She slowly turned toward Cid and then moved slightly toward him but suddenly stopped while her whole face turned red as a tomato, because her twin mountain were touching Cid's back but, feeling the softness, he shifted again, this time wrapping Beta into his embrace while his face was just few centimeter away from hers, making her feel his gentle breathing while his chest was tightly pressing against the twins picks of her, making her mind stop in its track completely. 

Epsilon looked like she was about to explode. "This... this isn't fair!"

Beta's face was so red it rivaled the setting sun.

Cid mumbled in his sleep, "Sister… is comfy."

Beta and Epsilon exchanged looks. They both knew this was a battle neither could win.

The Next Morning

Cid woke up feeling surprisingly well-rested. Stretching, he noticed Beta and Epsilon sitting stiffly at the edge of the bed, their faces pale and their hair slightly disheveled.

Beta and Epsilon both forced smiles, their voices overlapping, said,

"Good morning, My Lord!!"

As Cid glanced at them feeling something unusual about them but then finally chose to pass thinking, 'Even if the King is the ruler of a country, one who rule the king is the very queen that elegantly takes the vow to stays in service to the king...such is the way of the world'.

Hearing the closing 'Thud', Beta and Epsilon glared at each other.

"This isn't over," Beta said.

"Not by a long shot," Epsilon replied, smoothing her hair.

The battle for Lord Shadow's attention had only just begun.

Present:

Hours had passed since Alpha's meeting with Beta in her office. Now, in the depths of the Shadow Garden's infamous basement—a place synonymous with fear and torment for those unlucky enough to find themselves there—an unusual and unsettling spectacle was unfolding.

Beta and Epsilon dangled upside-down from the ceiling, their once-pristine uniforms disheveled and clinging awkwardly to their forms. Their bodies were tightly bound in dark, undulating slime—a living restraint they had designed and proudly approved mere weeks ago. What had once been their pride and tool for precision was now the instrument of their humiliation, showcasing its dreadful efficacy on the very people who had vouched for its perfection.

The dim, flickering glow of magical lamps cast eerie shadows along the cold, stone walls. The oppressive silence of the chamber was interrupted only by the faint, wet squelch of the slime shifting against their restrained forms and their muffled, strained attempts at speech.

"We... we are... sooorrr... uuhhh... uunnnhhh..."

Beta's voice broke through the stifling air, distorted and barely comprehensible. Her apology, stammered for what must have been the hundredth time, was abruptly silenced as the slime snaked across her mouth, tightening its grip. Her wide eyes darted nervously toward the figure seated at the center of the room.

The golden-haired leader of the Shadow Garden sat with the poise of an empress, her ethereal face framed by cascading locks that glimmered faintly in the low light. Her icy-blue eyes bore into the two women with a mixture of cold amusement and simmering fury. A small, almost sinister smile graced her lips as she watched her subordinates' struggles with unsettling calm.

Apparently, after Beta recounted the events of that fateful night in her usual overly detailed and dramatic fashion, Alpha decided not to take any chances. Without delay, she dispatched Beta on an urgent assignment, conveniently forgetting to inform Epsilon of the need to synchronize their stories.

When Alpha turned her attention to Epsilon, her account was, predictably, entirely different—laced with just enough embellishment to make Alpha's eyes twitch.

Alpha's expression hardened as she pieced together the obvious: the two of them were simply spinning tales to toy with her patience.

Alpha leaned slightly forward, resting her chin on the back of her hand. "So, let me get this straight," she began, her voice deceptively soft, each word dripping with a menace that made the atmosphere even heavier. "According to one of you, after dinner, one of you stayed behind to guard the little princess, leaving the other alone with Lord Shadow. And then, somehow…" She paused, her smile widening. "Things escalated. Slowly. Naturally. Until you found yourself…" She coughed delicately into her hand, "…in a mercenary position."

Beta and Epsilon squirmed, their faces flushed—whether from embarrassment or fear, it was impossible to tell.

"And according to the other," Alpha continued, her tone sharpening, "you both went to sleep peacefully after dinner. Then, in the middle of the night, our esteemed Lord Shadow—" She narrowed her eyes, her smile turning venomous, "—decided to entertain himself. And what's more, he was so moved by your… enthusiasm for bondage that you both ended up—"

She stopped abruptly, her teeth gritting audibly. Her hands clenched into fists, her nails digging into her palm with enough force to draw blood.

"You know what?" Alpha's voice dropped to a chilling whisper as she stood, her elegant frame casting a long shadow over the bound women. "Since you both seem so eager to fantasize about such… pleasure on my face—how about I help you experience it? Fully. Thoroughly." Her lips curled into a predatory smirk. "I'll make you enjoy it… to the very last scream."

Beta and Epsilon's muffled cries of protest were immediate.

"No, not there! Please, not—"

"Anything but—!"

Alpha's boots clicked ominously against the stone floor as she approached them, the sound echoing in the tense silence. With a small gesture of her hand, the slime responded, slithering away from the upper half of their bodies. The cold air kissed their exposed skin, making them shiver as their mortified gazes met Alpha's unyielding stare.

The golden-haired leader tilted her head slightly, her smirk deepening. "Oh, don't worry," she said, her voice dripping with mock reassurance. "I'll be gentle… at first."

And so, the night began with howls echoing from the underground chamber, their tones alternating between anguish and disbelief. The Shadow Garden's basement, once feared for its silence, became a stage for the harrowing cries of two subordinates learning a lesson they would never forget.