"You ordered a lot of pizza, Prince Clovis. Did you like the pizza?" C.C. asked casually, sliding into her seat at the breakfast table, which was already set for the morning meal.
Her voice carried its usual nonchalant tone, but her golden eyes gleamed with a mix of amusement and curiosity as she glanced at the half-empty pizza boxes scattered across the table.
"I love the cheese and sausage, plus big ol' mayonnaise and sauce. Thus, I don't see any problem with my liking for pizza." Clovis replied, grabbing another slice of pizza.
The grease glistened under the light as he held it up.
And sinking his teeth into the slice with no hesitation, as if to emphasize his point.
"And what about you?" He wiped his mouth with a napkin, his eyes darting to C.C. "Do you enjoy the pizza too?"
"A lot of it," C.C. admitted with a small, knowing smile, casually picking up a slice from the nearest box.
She took a slow, deliberate bite, savoring the taste, but her expression remained cool, as though pizza was just one of the many minor pleasures of life she indulged in.
As if on cue, her demeanor shifted slightly.
She set the slice back in the box and leaned forward, her tone suddenly turning serious. "So, let me explain how your power works, Prince Clovis."
"For convenience, let's call it Ero Geass," C.C. continued, her smirk returning as if she knew the name would strike a nerve.
Prince Clovis's face darkened at the lame name that didn't sound so serious.
"Can you come up with a better name, Miss Witch?" Clovis shot her an unimpressed glare.
"It's a fitting name." C.C. smirked with that infuriating confidence of hers.
"Well, whatever. Go on, then—I want to hear more about this power of mine." Clovis sighed and gave in. He could complain all he wanted, but deep down, he had to admit... she had a point.
He really didn't have a better name than 'Ero Geass.' It didn't sound nearly as regal or commanding as something like Power of the King, and it sure as hell didn't strike fear into anyone. But for what the power actually was? Yeah, the name was painfully accurate.
Who even decided this ridiculous ability would be his? Still, no point crying about it. If this power could help him seize control, crush his enemies, and climb to the top—then so be it. He'd own it.
"Your Geass only activates when your desire for the target is overflowing with perversion, Prince Clovis," C.C. explained, folding her arms beneath her chest like she was lecturing a naughty student. "The more obsessed you are with them, the more powerful the effect becomes. My guess is, it stopped working on me because your lust faded. But when it comes back... well, good luck stopping it then. Oh, and as for range, the trigger is simple: eye contact. The rest of the details? We'll need to test further."
Clovis grinned and gave a slow, mocking clap. "What a thorough analysis."
"Of course. I experienced the effects firsthand, remember?" C.C. shot him a sideways glance, half-teasing, half-judging. "I know exactly how your dirty little power works—especially after what happened last night. Once your obsession with me cooled off, the Geass weakened dramatically. Honestly, I didn't think you'd harbor such... impure thoughts about me, Prince Clovis."
She clicked her tongue mockingly.
"Where's the cold-blooded man who once threatened to have me dismembered and scattered across the continents? You say one thing and think something completely different."
"It's not a contradiction, C.C.," Clovis replied coolly. "It's the duality of man. If you were a threat, I'd absolutely go through with it. But you're not. So all that's left is... well, lust."
C.C. raised a brow, smirking again.
"Every healthy man has a dirty mind when a beautiful woman is involved. It's just biology," Clovis added with a shrug, completely unbothered.
"Not every man is a pervert like you, Prince Clovis," she shot back with a smirk tugging at her lips.
"Of course not. Only men of culture like myself know how to appreciate fine art when it's right in front of them, Miss C.C." He gave her a slow wink that earned an eye-roll.
"Heh. Men." C.C. scoffed softly and leaned back.
"Anyway," she said, tone shifting to something more practical, "let's enjoy our breakfast. You've still got a mountain of work waiting after this."
Clovis gave a slow nod and turned his attention to his pizza, finally ready to enjoy a quiet morning—until a bald man barged in unannounced, breaking the atmosphere completely.
Clovis froze mid-bite, frowning in pure irritation. He didn't say a word, but the look in his eyes screamed you'd better have a damn good reason for this as he waited for the man to speak.
"Prince Clovis, your sister has arrived. She's waiting for you in the usual place—that's the message she asked me to deliver," General Bartley Asprius reported. At the same time, he cast a brief, suspicious glance at C.C., though he wisely chose not to question her presence.
Clovis caught that look and didn't miss a beat. "If that's all, you're dismissed, Bartley."
"Yes, Prince." Bartley gave a formal bow and left the room.
Clovis watched him leave, then let out a soft sigh.
"It's a shame, really. I'll be losing one of my generals. I never intended to do anything to him, but... he knows too much. If he stays alive, it's only a matter of time before the Emperor hears about your release. That's not a risk I can take. What do you think, C.C.?"
C.C. leaned back and crossed her arms. "I should remind you, Prince Clovis—your father can communicate with the dead. Whether Bartley lives or not, he'll find out eventually."
Clovis gave a dark chuckle, then smirked with that signature aristocratic cruelty. "Tch... what a pity. That just means his death can't be clean or innocent. No. He has to be involved in something so vile, so revolting, that even my father won't want to speak to him—or waste time investigating what happened."
"Oh...? What is it, Prince Clovis?" C.C. raised an eyebrow, clearly intrigued. "Maybe I can help."
"You'll find it disgusting," Clovis said with a cold smile. "But I suppose telling you won't hurt."
He leaned in, whispering the details of his twisted plan into her ear.
C.C.'s expression shifted as she listened—first a raised brow, then a clear frown. By the time he was done, she was visibly put off.
"Hah... you weren't exaggerating. That's beyond repulsive. It's evil, even by your standards."
"No wonder you're so sure Charles would refuse to communicate with him," she muttered.
She shook her head, clearly unsettled. "I honestly don't know whether to call you a genius or curse you for having no moral compass."
Clovis merely shrugged, unfazed. "I'll have someone monitor him. Make sure he doesn't get a chance to contact my father before everything's set in motion. Once the signs start showing, I'll just have him quietly imprisoned and announce to the world that he's vanished."
"Alright, alright. That's enough, Clovis," C.C. cut in, waving a hand dismissively. "Let's eat. I don't need the full detail of your twisted little plan. I trust you'll handle my secret carefully."
Clovis nodded.
And just like that, the two of them began to eat—sitting casually across from one another, enjoying slices of pizza, as if they hadn't just discussed one of the most ethically repulsive plots ever conceived.