Teasing and Playful Bullying

One day, as Maxi was sweeping the floor, the Duke entered the room and stood behind her. She didn't realize he was there until she felt his hand on her waist. She jumped, dropping the broom, and turned around to face him.

"Your grace," she stammered, unsure of what to do.

"Relax, Maxi," he said with a smirk. "I just wanted to see if you were paying attention."

Maxi's heart raced as she realized that the Duke had been teasing her. She tried to compose herself and went back to sweeping the floor.

The Duke continued to tease Maxi whenever he got the chance, and she found herself becoming more and more flustered around him. One day, as she was dusting a painting, the Duke snuck up behind her and whispered in her ear.

"Maxi, you're doing it all wrong," he said, causing her to jump again.

"What do you mean, your grace?" she asked, trying to keep her voice steady.

"You're supposed to use long strokes, not short ones," he replied, his breath warm on her ear.

Maxi blushed at the implication of his words and tried to focus on her work. The Duke laughed and walked away, leaving her feeling both confused and flattered.

Despite his teasing, the Duke also began to show Maxi more kindness. He would offer her sweets and tea during their meetings, and she began to see a different side of him. She couldn't help but wonder if he had any romantic intentions towards her.

As she was leaving his study after completing her chores, the Duke called out to her.

"Maxi, wait," he said, walking towards her.

"Yes, your grace?" she asked, looking up at him.

"I just wanted to thank you for your hard work. You've been a great help to me," he said, his tone sincere.

Maxi smiled, feeling a warmth in her chest. "Thank you, your grace. It's my pleasure to serve you."

The Duke looked at her for a moment, and Maxi felt her heart skip a beat. But just as quickly as it had come, the moment passed, and the Duke walked away, leaving Maxi wondering if she had imagined the look in his eyes.

That afternoon, as Maxi was walking through the garden, lost in her thoughts, she bumped into the Duke.

"I'm sorry, your grace," she said, looking up at him.

The Duke smiled at her, and Maxi felt her heart skip a beat. "It's quite alright, Maxi. I hope you are not hurt." he said, his tone softening.

"I'm fine, thank you, your grace." she replied with a smile.

The Duke leaned in close and whispered in her ear. "You look beautiful when you smile, Maxi," he said, his breath warm on her skin. Maxi blushed and stammered out a thank you, and ran away from there feeling a rush of excitement at his words.

Just as quickly as he had flirted with her, the Duke would also pull away, leaving Maxi feeling confused and frustrated. She couldn't understand his intentions towards her, and it was driving her crazy.

Despite her confusion, Maxi found herself looking forward to her meetings with the Duke. She enjoyed their playful banter and the moments of kindness he showed her. But she couldn't help but wonder if there was more to their relationship than just a master and servant.

As she lay in her bed that night, Maxi felt that her running into the Duke was quite often these days and wondered what that was all about. She then thought back to the masked ball and the mysterious stranger who had kissed her. She wondered if he was the same person as the Duke. But she quickly dismissed that thought and fell asleep dreaming about the stranger and his kiss.

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