GameDev Reincarnated into His Own Creation

Vol 2 - Chapter 14.2: Binding

"You don't have to hide it," he said softly, his voice barely above a whisper.

Her eyes widened with shock, unused to such acceptance. The tension in her shoulders remained, years of conditioning not easily undone by a single kind gesture.

"Did you have any choice in this?" Vel asked, gesturing vaguely to the room, the bed, the arrangement that had brought them together.

Hileya's eyes dropped to the floor, her hands fidgeting with the folds of her gown.

"I was told to treat you with utmost respect and...give you the most pleasant night time," she whispered mechanically, as if reciting words that had been carefully chosen for her.

Vel's chest tightened. The words confirmed his suspicions—she was a pawn, moved across the board by unseen hands for someone else's gain. Lady Halen's, most likely. The realization sent a chill down his spine despite the warmth of the room. Taking advantage of Hileya felt fundamentally wrong, like exploiting a person's trust or betraying a friend's confidence.

He studied her more carefully now. The perfect posture that wasn't natural but trained. The way her fingers trembled slightly when she thought he wasn't looking. The practiced smile that never quite reached her eyes.

Had she been groomed for this role? How many others had she been sent to before him? Or was he her first assignment—a test of her obedience?

Vel sighed deeply and sat back up, creating distance between them. He offered her an understanding smile, one that held no expectation or demand.

The shift in his demeanor caused an immediate reaction in Hileya. Her shoulders slumped slightly, and something like sorrow passed across her features. The mask of dutiful compliance cracked, revealing genuine emotion beneath—not relief, but disappointment.

"Was I not good enough for you?" she asked, her voice small and fragile. "Have I failed my only duty?"

The question struck Vel like a physical blow. She wasn't afraid of him using her—she was afraid of failing at being used. Whatever conditioning she had undergone ran deeper than he'd initially thought. Her worth had been tied to her ability to please, to serve, to be whatever someone else wanted her to be.

Vel's heart hammered against his ribs, instinct and desire waging war against his conscience. Everything about Hileya—her delicate features, her silver hair, the vulnerable look in her eyes—called to him on a primal level. Yet something deeper than physical attraction held him back.

"No, Hileya," he said softly, his voice slightly strained as he fought against his own instincts. "I struggle to fight my instinct to be all over you."

Her eyes widened slightly, confusion replacing the disappointment.

"You have everything that I want," he continued, the admission forcing its way out despite his better judgment. "But this feels wrong."

He studied her face, searching for understanding, for some sign that she comprehended why he couldn't go through with this arrangement.

"Is this your first time?" Vel asked, the question hanging between them like fragile crystal.

Hileya's eyes dropped to the floor. She nodded once, a small movement that confirmed everything Vel had suspected.

"That confirms it," he whispered, more to himself than to her.

The realization strengthened his resolve. Whatever Lady Halen's schemes, he wouldn't be party to using this girl as a political tool. Hileya deserved better than to have such an intimate moment reduced to manipulation.