Anastasia felt her strength slowly returning as the effects of the medication began to stabilize her. Though the paperwork and ongoing discussions about exports had consumed much of Julius and Rem's attention, Anastasia found herself increasingly detached from those concerns.
She had more than enough wealth, and her sharp business acumen ensured that even if mistakes were made, her trusted employees would notify her. Right now, the paperwork was trivial. What mattered more was her next step—the next phase of her plan.
"It's time to start planting the seeds," she thought, her lips curling into a mischievous smile.
That evening, after Rem had finished her tasks and left for the day, Anastasia slipped into the mansion's staff quarters. Her destination: the changing room, where the maids kept their uniforms and personal effects.
The space was neatly organized, with each maid having a wooden locker marked by a small, engraved nameplate. The polished wood gleamed faintly under the room's soft light, and Anastasia's eyes quickly scanned the names until they landed on one in particular: Rem.
Her fingers brushed over the smooth wood of the locker door as she opened it with care. Inside, everything was meticulously arranged—Rem's spare uniforms, a set of folded tights, and beneath them, her lingerie.
Anastasia couldn't help but smirk at the precision of Rem's organization. "Even her locker is perfect. Of course it would be," she murmured to herself, a flicker of envy mixing with admiration.
Carefully, she pulled out Rem's uniform and laid it out. The crisp white apron, the black dress, the delicate tights, and the understated yet elegant lingerie—all of it screamed Rem's unassuming allure.
Without hesitation, Anastasia began to change. She removed her own attire, piece by piece, and began to don Rem's outfit.
The dress was slightly larger on Anastasia's smaller frame, but she managed to adjust it enough to fit snugly. The tights were a bit of a struggle—Rem's legs were longer and more toned, but Anastasia stretched them enough to slide them on. Finally, the lingerie—soft and modest, yet undeniably feminine—completed the transformation.
Anastasia stood before the full-length mirror, tilting her head as she examined herself.
The black dress clung to her form, though not as perfectly as it would on Rem. The tights hugged her legs, but they were slightly loose in places, a reminder of her smaller stature. Even so, she couldn't help but admire the image she presented.
"No wonder Julius struggles not to look at her," Anastasia mused, smoothing the apron over her hips. Her gaze lingered on her reflection, imagining how Julius would react to Rem wearing this—especially one size too small.
She adjusted the neckline, feeling a slight thrill as she thought about how Rem must feel in such attire every day. "It's no wonder she seems so irresistible."
Anastasia allowed herself a moment of indulgence, twirling slightly in the outfit and imagining what it must be like for Julius to see Rem working so diligently in this very uniform. A surge of determination flared within her.
"This is the first step," she thought. "If Julius is already drawn to her, I just need to give him the push to fantasize about her more. To want her more."
Anastasia stood before the full-length mirror, tilting her head as she examined herself.
The black dress clung to her form, though not as perfectly as it would on Rem. The tights hugged her legs, but they were slightly loose in places, a reminder of her smaller stature. Even so, she couldn't help but admire the image she presented.
A daring thought crossed her mind. She smiled, a mischievous glint sparking in her eyes. Instead of changing back into her own clothes, Anastasia adjusted the maid uniform to look as flattering as possible and set off for Julius's office.
Julius looked up from his desk, surprised to see Anastasia walk in unannounced. His surprise deepened when he noticed her attire. It took him a moment to register that she was wearing a maid's uniform—a uniform that bore an uncanny resemblance to Rem's.
"Anastasia?" he asked, a mix of confusion and amusement in his tone.
Anastasia shut the door behind her, a playful smile dancing on her lips. She placed a hand on her hip and tilted her head, mimicking the posture of a confident maid. "No, my lord. I am here to serve. Shall I take care of you tonight?"
Julius raised an eyebrow, stifling a laugh. He leaned back in his chair, folding his arms across his chest. "I see. And what exactly do you mean by 'take care,' my... maid?"
Anastasia walked toward him slowly, her steps deliberate, the heels of her shoes clicking lightly against the floor. She ran a hand along the edge of his desk, her gaze never leaving his. "Anything my lord desires. After all, isn't that what a good maid does?"
Julius couldn't help but chuckle at her act. The sight of his wife playing the role of a maid—especially in such a familiar uniform—was both amusing and endearing. "This is quite the performance," he said, his voice tinged with amusement. "Should I be concerned about where you got that uniform?"
Anastasia leaned closer, placing her hands on the desk and lowering her voice. "Does it matter? What matters is that I'm here now, ready to serve."
Julius shook his head, trying to suppress his grin. "And how exactly do you plan to serve, my dear maid?"
Anastasia straightened up, feigning a look of mock offense. "Dear maid? Surely you mean to say your favorite maid." She twirled, letting the skirt of the uniform flare slightly before settling back into place.
Julius couldn't contain his laughter any longer. "Anastasia, you never fail to surprise me. But tell me, what prompted this... theatrical display?"
Anastasia walked around the desk, standing beside him now. She leaned in closer, her voice soft and teasing. "Maybe I just wanted to see how well you could resist temptation."
Julius smirked, shaking his head. "You're impossible." He reached out, taking her hand and pulling her onto his lap. "But I must admit, you're making this impossible act rather entertaining."
Anastasia felt a thrill rush through her. Though she had initially planned this to plant seeds of fantasy for Julius about Rem, the warmth of his laughter and the light in his eyes reminded her of their bond. She wrapped her arms around his neck, enjoying the moment.
"So," Julius said, his voice low, "are you going to tell me what this is really about, or shall we continue this little charade?"
Anastasia smirked, leaning in to kiss his cheek. "Maybe both."
nastasia stepped closer to Julius, a sly smile playing on her lips. She adjusted the skirt of the maid's uniform, the fabric shifting slightly to reveal the sheer tights clinging to her legs. With a playful tilt of her head, she traced a finger along the edge of his desk.
"You and Rem have spent so much time here this past week," she began, her voice soft and teasing. "Working so hard together. She's so diligent, isn't she? And with her always looking so... professional, showing off those legs and that perfect figure while she works... I can't help but wonder."
Julius raised an eyebrow, a mixture of amusement and mild confusion flashing across his face. "Wonder what?"
Anastasia stepped even closer, her hands sliding to the edges of the desk as she leaned in. Her lips curled into a mischievous smile. "If maybe you've been a little... frustrated? After all, Rem is bold, isn't she? Always so seductive in her modest way, working hard while being effortlessly alluring. Showing off her legs... that round, perfect—"
"Anastasia," Julius interrupted, his cheeks faintly tinged with color.
She laughed softly, leaning closer to kiss him on the cheek. "Oh, don't be embarrassed, my love. I don't blame her. After all, you're the best husband in the world." Anastasia pressed another kiss to his temple. "And the best master." She punctuated her words with a final kiss on his lips, savoring the way he smiled against her.
Pulling back slightly, she brushed her fingers over the bodice of the maid's uniform. "I know she looked better than I do in this," she teased, twirling lightly so the skirt flared. "But if this excites you even a little..." She let the words hang in the air, a playful lilt in her tone.
Julius chuckled, shaking his head in disbelief. "You're impossible."
Anastasia's eyes sparkled as she leaned in again, this time adopting a softer, sweeter tone. She tilted her head, her voice dropping to imitate Rem's. "Lord Julius," she said, her tone breathy and earnest, "I admire you so much. You're such a strong and capable man... so much better than my husband, Subaru. It's no wonder Lady Anastasia is so fortunate to have you. If only..."
She trailed off, letting the suggestion linger as she gazed up at him with mock adoration.
Julius blinked, his jaw slack for a moment before he erupted into laughter. "You're truly incorrigible," he said, his voice filled with affection. "And your impression of Rem is... concerningly good."
Anastasia smirked, leaning closer so their faces were just inches apart. "Oh, don't you know?" she whispered. "I'm just trying to keep up with the competition."
Julius reached out, pulling her gently into his arms. "You don't have to compete with anyone," he murmured, his voice earnest. "You'll always be the one I love."
Anastasia stepped closer to Julius, a mischievous glint in her eyes as she adjusted the hem of the maid's uniform. She placed a hand on his shoulder, leaning down slightly to kiss his cheek. Her voice was soft, yet teasing. "Do you know whose outfit this is, my dear husband?"
Julius raised an eyebrow, intrigued by her unusual playfulness. "I assume it's one of the maids' uniforms, but why do I feel like there's more to this?"
Anastasia smirked and stepped back, her hands smoothing down the skirt of the uniform. "It's Rem's," she said, her voice dripping with mock innocence. "I thought you might appreciate seeing it up close."
Before Julius could respond, Anastasia moved swiftly, sitting herself on his lap, straddling him face to face. She guided his hand to rest on her thigh, her tights smooth and slightly cool to the touch. "Do you like how it feels?" she asked with a playful smile, her tone filled with deliberate seduction.
Julius was caught between amusement and bewilderment, his face slightly flushed. "You're certainly full of surprises tonight," he said, his voice low.
Anastasia leaned closer, her lips brushing against his ear as she whispered, her tone suddenly turning more sultry. "You'll always be the one I love."
As she pulled back, she smiled wickedly and whispered again, her voice dripping with a playful kind of malice. "But Rem is good competition, isn't she?" she teased, watching his reaction closely. "I hope you haven't crossed her out of your mind just yet. She may have a husband, but I'm a woman, Julius—I know how these things work. I bet she dreams of you. And if she doesn't... well, maybe it's time for you to man up and earn her affection."
Her words left Julius flustered, his mouth slightly ajar, but before he could respond, Anastasia captured his lips in a deep, passionate kiss. Her hands framed his face, pulling him closer as the kiss lingered, heavy with emotion and intent. When she finally pulled back, her cheeks were flushed, her breathing quickened.
Slipping seamlessly into her playful act, Anastasia tilted her head, her voice adopting a mimicry of Rem's tone. "Lord Julius," she said, her words deliberate and filled with a mock yearning. "I've wanted you for so long. Every time I removed my tights, it was to show you my legs... because I need a real man."
She leaned in again, capturing his lips in another heated kiss. As they broke apart, she grinned wickedly and added with a sly chuckle, "My husband, Subaru? He's not even half as good as you."
Julius finally laughed, shaking his head as he pulled her closer. "You're unbelievable, Anastasia."
Anastasia knelt gracefully in front of Julius, the hem of Rem's borrowed maid uniform brushing against the floor. Her mischievous smile deepened as she gazed up at him, her voice shifting into a soft, demure tone that perfectly mimicked Rem's. Her hands rested lightly on his knees, and the teasing glint in her eyes left no doubt about her intentions.
"Oh, master," she purred, her voice a lilting melody of playful submission. "You've worked so hard these past few days. I think you deserve a little reward... Wouldn't you agree?"
Before Julius could respond, Anastasia's hands moved deftly, unfastening the belt of his trousers with deliberate, languid movements. She looked up at him through her lashes, her expression one of mock innocence.
Her fingers paused briefly as she leaned closer, still in character. "Lady Anastasia isn't here, you know," she murmured, her tone soft but edged with wicked amusement. "Right now, I'm Rem. And Rem takes care of her master in ways no one else can."
Julius's face flushed, a mixture of surprise and amusement. "You're incorrigible," he muttered, but the corners of his lips betrayed a smile.
Anastasia tilted her head, her eyes sparkling with a mixture of teasing playfulness and calculated charm. "Master," she continued, her voice a whisper of seduction, "don't you think it's unfair? Subaru-kun could never satisfy me the way you can. You're so much... bigger in every way."
Julius's blush deepened, and he let out a soft laugh, his hand brushing through Anastasia's hair. "I never thought you'd be this bold. But it's good to see you smiling again. Even if you're completely shameless."
Anastasia grinned, leaning in slightly closer. "I told you—Rem knows exactly what her master needs. You should be grateful I'm here to remind you of that."
Julius chuckled, shaking his head. "You're impossible, Anastasia. But I'll admit... I can't imagine anyone else keeping me on my toes like this."
Her lips curled into a wicked smile, and as her roleplay continued, she whispered against his ear, "Good. Because Rem wants to make sure you'll never forget her."
As Anastasia knelt before him, Julius leaned back against the chair, his body tensing at the unfamiliar mixture of sensations flooding his senses. His breath hitched, a low groan escaping despite his usual composed demeanor. His thoughts swirled, overwhelmed by the sheer devotion his wife displayed in this moment.
Even now, as her health wavered, Anastasia proved once again that she was unlike anyone else. How did he deserve someone like her? She was brilliant, sharp as a blade, and yet here she was, playful and tender, throwing herself entirely into this role for his sake. It was exhilarating, intoxicating, and deeply moving all at once.
A smile tugged at his lips as he thought about the mischievous sparkle in her eyes moments earlier, the way she'd teased him in that perfect mimicry of Rem's voice. "You'll always be the one I love," she had said, and in this moment, Julius felt the truth of those words in every fiber of his being.
His fingers instinctively curled into the armrests of his chair as he tried to steady himself, though his resolve melted away with each passing second. His mind drifted to their years together—the challenges they'd faced, the sacrifices Anastasia had made. She was extraordinary, capable of carrying entire kingdoms on her shoulders, yet here she was, kneeling before him, her every action speaking volumes of her love.
He tilted his head back, closing his eyes as the intensity of the moment consumed him. There was no one else in the world like Anastasia. She was his anchor, his spark, his everything. How could someone so sick, so delicate, still have this much fire? Still find ways to make him feel like the most cherished man alive?
She's perfect. In every way. And she's mine.