"You... Hmph!"
Li thought back and realized he hadn't said "borrow money" outright. Her anger softened, but she still turned away, pouting. "I don't care, that's what you meant!"
"Yes, yes, yes, Your Highness sees all, clear as a stream. My admiration for you runs deep as a great river."
Wally heaped on praise, then changed his tune. "So, Your Highness, do you wish to own this circus?"
Of course she did.
Inwardly, she mused. If it were hers, she'd have a fine reason to escape the palace for amusement. It far outshone the dull operas the elders favored.
"Anyway, I'll not borrow from you again, so don't even dream of it!"
Wally's crafty eyes flickered, his mung-bean pupils darting like a turtle's. He put on a show of thought, then laughed. "Heh heh heh, no borrowing, of course! I'll buy it for you free, with one small condition you can fulfill now."
"What?" Li blinked, confused. Such a bargain was unheard of.
Yet her instincts warned her he was scheming.
"It's only..." Wally's belly grew hot, his control slipping. He breathed heavily, torn between excitement, fear of death, and the thrill. His cock hardened more, bulging his pants into a great tent, his voice shaking. "Let me see your jade feet again."
"What?!"
Li gasped, old memories rushing back. That day, in a flurry, she'd pulled off her white shoe, flung her silk sock at this man, and run.
"No, don't even think about it!"
She snapped, furious, shoving the VIP box door open, storming out.
Downstairs, she met the brown-haired, green-eyed western tamer by a huge cage with the white-maned lion.
"Hello, I'm Ella."
Seeing Li step from the box, the tamer bowed swiftly, her Bright Hua speech halting. "Thank you for sheltering us, noble one. May the spirits grant you endless peace."
"Huh? Sheltering you?"
Li grew more puzzled, lost. "What do you mean?"
"You're Li Jiang, yes?"
"Uh... No, I'm not!" she denied quickly. Still dressed as a man to sneak from the palace, how could she confess her name?
She drew a folding fan from her chest, posing like a scholar. "Can't you tell I'm a man?"
There might be other Li Jiangs in the world, but in the capital, only Bright Hua's princess bore that name.
Admitting it would summon the imperial guard to drag her back in a grand sedan.
"Then it's surely you." Ella smiled faintly. "Your steward said you enjoy strange pastimes outside, like dressing as a man."
"..."
"..."
"...Wally Wang!!!"
Li growled through clenched teeth, then raced upstairs, kicking the box door wide.
"What a strange one." The tamer watched her dart off like a hare, shaking her head at her new mistress.
"Roar..." The white-maned lion rumbled low, pulling Ella's attention back.
The lion panted, its wild eyes fixed on her, sharp fangs gleaming under its mane, growling deep.
At the odd sound, Ella shivered, a flush rising on her face. Her legs shifted together unwittingly. Through the thick red curtain, she glimpsed the beast's red cock emerging, thick and long like a carrot, blood-red with pink barbs, hooks made to grip a lioness in mating.
Now it aimed at her, twitching, warm.
"Aidan, calm now." Ella breathed softly, stroking its mane. "Finish this task, and your little lioness is yours tonight."
Upstairs, Li and Wally knew naught of the circus manager's secret with her "pet."
"Bang!"
Li burst in, finding him sprawled smugly in a soft chair, grinning like a leering Buddha, oily and foul.
She shut the door and sat opposite, silent.
"Don't be so cross, Your Highness." Wally took a rare earnest tone. "This is but a small gift from me. That talk before? Only jest."
"Just this once."
A whisper slipped out, so faint he thought it a dream.
His heart leapt, his fat cheeks trembling. "What did you say?"
"Just this once!!"
Her face blazed red, her fair features glowing like dusk clouds. Her delicate ears turned crimson, her voice sharp, burning with shame and rage.
"Good, good, good! Good, good, good!"
Wally moved fast for his bulk, his belly rippling like water. He rolled to her feet like a meatball, quivering, his lecherous eyes locked on her straight, chopstick-like legs, their fine curves clear even in men's garb.
"You... Too near!"
Li snapped, half-wroth, half-bashful. His fat face nearly grazed her legs, making her stiffen. He jolted, kneeling clumsily, chuckling as he edged back.
"Hoo, hoo."
Breathing deep, the young maiden braced against her shame. She slowly raised her joined legs, her jade fingers shaking as they clutched her pant hem, lifting it little by little.
As the trousers rose, her slim ankles appeared, her calves smooth and perfect, like still amber under moonlight. Silk white socks clung to her small feet, shy as lilies guarding a maiden's purity. But as the pants climbed, the socks couldn't hide her flawless, tender calves, a marvel of creation.
After so long, seeing this craved sight again, Wally held his breath, his mung-bean eyes wide, unblinking, fearing it might fade.
"Shoes, shoes!!!"
Though he saw her dreamlike, ivory calves, she stopped at her knees, still. His cock pulsed painfully, the tip leaking clear fluid, soaking his pants, a wet stain spreading like spilled tea. The thick root strained his undergarments tighter.
"Be quiet!"
At his urging, her face flamed like cherry blossoms. A pure maiden, she knew not what followed.
She could only snap back in shamed defiance.
Yet with trembling hands, her slender fingers slipped into her fine shoe, easing it off, baring her silk-socked, matchless feet.
"The socks too."
Wally panted, his cock more eager than ever. Even past conquests paled beside this thrill.
"Stop pressing me!"
Under his prodding, her face flushed like wine, her eyes shy and teary, her voice mingling anger and shame. She slowly peeled off the silk sock from her exquisite feet, the fabric sliding down her smooth ankles, warm with her scent, dropping to the floor.
He held his breath, scarce daring to breathe, unable to fathom such perfect feet!
Beneath her silky, ivory calves, her small, round feet gleamed like golden lotuses aloft, five toes like clear pearls, perfectly set, outshining the emperor's crown jewels. Her soles were smooth, without a crease, their soft curves like river hills, tender yet firm.
Her youthful arches bent gracefully, flawless and milk-white, faint blue veins peeking through like jade in emerald, lending life and innocence to her beauty.
A shy maiden in bloom, a beauty blushing, this was as enchanting as an old painting of a girl washing her feet.
But before her stood no clear stream, only a grossly fat, ball-like man. He panted hard, his cock near bursting his clothes. He stared, spellbound, at these peerless feet and legs, drool spilling from his thick lips to the floor.
His cock twitched, and after days of restraint, his swollen balls tightened. A small spurt of cum shot forth, soaking his pants more.
"Princess..."
His breath raced, his eyes ablaze with wild lust and greed, barely held, startling the already tense and shy maiden.
"What are you doing?"
That oversized cock tenting his pants, though hidden, quickened her pulse with instinct, her legs quivering with fear, strain, and a strange thrill.
"Young Master! Are you there?"
Hana's voice called from outside, yanking them back to the moment.
Li ignored her bare feet, swiftly donning her shoes. As she reached for the sock on the floor, Wally lunged quicker, snatching it, stuffing it into his robes, flashing a greasy, sleazy grin.
"You..."
She gaped, furious but silent, fearing Hana might hear. She sat straight, smoothing her pants, taking a proper pose.
"Hana, enter."
The maid pushed the door open, frantic. "Young Master, curfew nears! Why linger here?"
"Oh... Oh, oh, oh!"
Li faltered, dazed. Seeing her mistress so slow, the anxious maid hurried over, pulling her up, rushing her to the carriage back to the palace.
After she left, Wally drew out both socks she'd left, cradling them, pressing them to his face, breathing deep.
Her sweet, girlish scent flooded him, overwhelming his mind, wiping away thought, worry, all... leaving only raw desire and joy.
"Hoo."
After a long spell, like a mad lecher, he stopped, grinning foolishly with greedy intent.
"I'll have you... my little princess!"
"Our game is far from done."