Page 84 of A Crown of Lies

Rowan gave him a look that said he shouldn’t talk, so he pressed his lips together.

Attaching them didn’t hurt, but getting them on meant Rowan had to pinch a part of him that already had heightened sensitivity. The spanking had been much worse, and he was sure there was worse coming. The metal ring fit around his balls. It was a snug fit, and a little uncomfortable going on, but once it was there, it wasn’t so tight that he was worried about losing circulation. At least, not until Rowan spun it. Then he yelped as the ring tightened.

Rowan laughed. “You like that? It’s a dial. I’ll loosen it for now, but you’ll thank me for it later.”

Ieduin doubted that.

The king gestured widely at the displays he’d set up. “Get dressed for the evening, boy.”

Ieduin walked over, eying the items Rowan had laid out for him. He was disappointed not to see a corset this time, though there was a delicate lacy thong, midnight blue. There were knee-high stockings with garters, stiletto heels, and a navy silk dress that someone forgot to attach most of the bodice. It was covered in ruffles.

“Why the feminine clothes?” Rixxis asked Rowan as Ieduin pulled on the thong.

“It’s actually not about the clothes at all,” Rowan explained. “It’s the humiliation. The embarrassment aspect of being de-masculinized is a turn-on for him.”

“Yes, butwhy?”

Rowan shrugged. “That’s a personal question that even he might not know the answer to. Perhaps it’s rooted in a fascination with the taboo. Perhaps it’s simply because of some early sexual experience that he subconsciously wants to recreate. Or it could be some way to confront negative personal beliefs about himself safely. Maybe it’s just how he is. The why doesn’t matter. Only that he has this need, and I can help him fulfill it. Even now, just talking about him behind his back like this as if he’s not present? I guarantee you, he finds it exciting. Isn’t that right, boy?”

“Yes, sir.” Ieduin’s cheeks were probably as red as his ass, which still stung in places.

He didn’t understand it either, this strange satisfaction he got from being so embarrassed. Maybe it was its association with innocence. He’d been everywhere, done everything, had sex every which way it could be done. But on the rare occasion someone would make him blush, he felt like a kid again.

The clothes did that, too. It reminded him of how his sisters used to dress in their mother’s clothes and play pretend. Happy memories from a time long before when the world wasn’t full of death and horny men with spare coins to give him.

So maybe that was it. Or maybe it was just like Rowan said. Maybe even he didn’t know the answer for sure.

He put on the dress and the stockings before he slid his feet into the heels. Everything was a perfect fit. Perfect enough that he was sure Rowan must’ve had it all custom made. Knowing that warmed him from the inside out. Rowan had invested so much time and thought into this. It was so much more than he deserved.

Ieduin moved over to the standing mirror that’d been set up nearby and turned, getting the full view of himself. The dress had been cut with a deep v in the front that left the clamps Rowan had attached exposed. It tapered to a point just above his navel. In the back, it went down even lower, stopping at his lower back. If a woman had tried to wear the dress, it would’ve left far too much exposed to be decent, but on him, it was perfect.

“What do you think, boy?”

Ieduin stared at himself in the mirror. He almost looked… beautiful.

Rowan rose from the throne and came to put an arm around Ieduin’s shoulders, walking him away from the mirror to a small vanity tucked into a corner of the room. “There’s one more thing I want you to do for me. I’d like you to put on some makeup. Some lipstick, at the very least.”

Ieduin frowned. He’d never been very good at makeup. That was always more Katyr’s thing than his. Any attempt he’d make would just be messy, but if it would please Rowan, he’d try. He sat down at the vanity, winced at the reminder of his earlier punishment, and shifted to the edge of the seat, sorting through the wide array of makeup provided.

Rixxis came over to join Rowan, who was standing behind him at a distance. “How did you know? About the embarrassment… thing?”

“I watched him,” Rowan said. “Listened to him. And we negotiated once before in Trinta. It became very clear early on.”

They were quiet for a few minutes while he tried to find a suitable color of lipstick to go with the dress.

“How didyouknow?” Rixxis asked quietly. “That you were like this? What you liked?”

Rowan chuckled. “Oh, I’ve always been this way. I like power, Rixxis. I like to be worshipped and adored. You’d think that’d make for a poor king, but my da taught me well. Made sure I never forgot the price of power. A king is only king if he has happy subjects. The same is true here. If I were ever to abuse the power Ieduin has entrusted to me, I’m well aware I would lose him. It’s an honor that goes both ways. A mutual respect.”

Ieduin applied a shaky layer of lipstick and frowned before wiping it off a second time.

“Oh, by the Maiden. Here, let me help you.” Rixxis was suddenly beside him, holding up a tin of rosy lip paint. “Purse your lips like you’re going to kiss me. Now don’t move.”

“I didn’t know you knew anything about makeup, Rixxis,” Ieduin muttered, trying to keep his lips as still as possible.

She snorted. “I can look like a woman when it suits me.”

“You always look like a woman. You don’t need makeup for that,” he replied, and something in her face softened. It made him want to kiss her, but he stopped himself. Rowan would not be happy if he did, and it would mess up his lipstick, anyway. Rixxis had finally gotten it right.

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