The woman's eyes narrowed with suspicion.
"This hallway is reserved for the female guards," she stated.
Arthur remained unfazed. "I've been assigned to the security detail at the patriarch's daughter's residence," he explained, his voice steady.
The woman's brow furrowed in surprise, her posture rigid with confusion. "I wasn't informed of this."
"It's a recent development," Arthur replied with a casual shrug.
"Many of the other guards are aware. And you needn't worry—I have no interest in women."
A visible wave of relief washed over her. The tension drained from her shoulders and her hands relaxed at her sides, inadvertently granting Arthur an unobstructed view of her form.
He noted the harmonious balance of her voluptuous figure, his gaze instinctively tracing the curve of her slightly plump hips before he caught himself and quickly returned his eyes to hers.
"I think we're going to be very good friends," Arthur said with a disarming smile.
He paused for a moment, subtly focusing his eloquence talent to ensure his next words and gestures were perfectly calibrated. "I need to change into my uniform. Is it alright if I do it here?"
She bit her lip in thought, then asked uncertainly, "Should I leave?"
Arthur's fingers worked the fastenings of his tunic as he glanced at her. She stood her ground, though her eyes darted away each time they met his.
"You can stay," he answered, his voice low and steady.
"I don't mind."
"Have you recently arrived at the settlement?" she asked, seeking to fill the space between them.
He nodded, pulling the uniform pants over his hips.
"Yes. I come from a group of survivors further north."
Then, he decided to test a theory, leveraging his eloquence talent. He stepped closer and feigned fascination with the fabric of her top.
"This material is exquisite," he said, his tone dripping with genuine appreciation. "It suits you perfectly."
A small smile touched her lips.
Emboldened, he gently reached out, his fingers aiming for the spot where the fabric hinted at the firm peak of her nipple beneath.
She shivered and pushed his hand away. "What are you doing?"
"I just wanted to feel the texture of the fabric. You don't mind, do you?" he replied, his smile never wavering.
"No... I suppose I don't mind," she conceded.
This eloquence talent is remarkably effective, he thought, amused.
He let his fingers linger, applying a more insistent, yet tender, circular pressure on her nipple through the thin cloth. Another shiver ran through her.
Attempting to charm her further with his words, he smiled. "You have a truly magnificent figure, a graceful face, and a voice like crystal," he said, crafting a line that was both hyper-seductive and disarmingly smooth.
He simultaneously rolled her nipple gently between his thumb and forefinger.
I'm really starting to love this talent, he chuckled inwardly.
He pressed on, "Would you allow me to feel the fabric here as well?" he asked, gesturing toward the dark material that hugged her hips, backside, and the apex of her thighs.
She let out a nervous laugh, though her eyes held a glint of suspicion. "Are you teasing me, trying to make me think you want to do something with me, or what?"
He froze for a fraction of a second, then offered a charming smile. So the eloquence talent isn't all-powerful, he noted, but it's still impressive. With a little more time, I could probably win her over completely.
Her eyes traced the lines of his abdomen.
Arthur could see that his combined eloquence and charisma were still having a potent effect.
"Perhaps we could practice some wrestling exercises later tonight," he suggested. "I'd love to show you a few moves."
A deep blush spread across her cheeks.
He stepped into his boots, lacing them up. "Is that okay?"
"Yes," she said, her gaze now openly appreciative. Then she gestured vaguely in his direction. "But to be honest, I'm having a hard time believing you're not attracted to women, given how you've been looking at me."
Arthur straightened up, his heart pounding but his charming smile firmly in place. "And what do you think about all this?"
She blushed even deeper.
He leaned in closer, their breaths mingling. "Perhaps," he whispered, his voice intimate. "Perhaps I simply wished to share a room with a beautiful woman like you."
She blushed deeper. "What's your name?" Arthur asked.
"Elise," she replied, her voice barely audible.
"Elise," he repeated, committing it to memory. He gathered his courage and added, "Well, Elise, maybe we could stop just looking at each other like this and let our bodies express what words can't."
Her lips curved into a shy smile. "Perhaps," she said. "But not now; I have a patrol in five minutes."
Arthur's heart hammered with excitement. Elise's response, while not an outright yes, fueled his hope. He felt that his first sexual experience was now within reach. It surprised him how comfortable he felt speaking to a woman like this.
A thought crossed his mind, ''The eloquence talent is really useful.''
She dressed and left the room a few minutes later.
Arthur's heart sank as he watched Elise leave the room, but he understood her duty called.
Moments later, his thoughts were interrupted by the entrance of two female guards into the room, their expressions stern and closed-off.
One of them stepped forward, her voice firm and authoritative, "Are you Arthur?" Upon his nod, she continued, "Follow us. We'll show you to the patriarch's daughter's residence."
Arthur and the two guards exited the guard's quarters, stepping into the open air of the settlement. They traversed the bustling settlement. As they approached the residential area, they passed by the faction's headquarters.
The guards led Arthur to a large house that stood apart from the rest; it was surrounded by cherry trees and weeping willows. They passed through the entrance, where two female guards stood sentinel, their gazes sharp and assessing. Inside, another pair of guards patrolled with quiet efficiency, responsible for the security of the interior of the residence.
The accompanying guards introduced Arthur to each member of the security team, and he was met with nods of acknowledgment.
One of the guards who had escorted Arthur spoke up.
"Arthur, you will be assigned to garden patrols," she said, her gaze steady. "I am Martina, and I will be your partner on this duty. Our primary task is to deter any intruders, using weapons if necessary. You will be trained and armed accordingly."
Martina's expression was serious as she continued, "Should an intrusion occur, our protocol is to alert the mistress immediately. Remember, our lives are secondary to the security of this estate. Sacrifice is our duty."
"Understood," he replied, "I am ready to fulfill my responsibilities."
Martina led Arthur through the residence's opulent halls and out into the garden. The beauty of the meticulously tended flora took his breath away. As they began their patrol, Arthur's gaze was drawn to the terrace of the first floor, where a figure stood surveying the grounds.
She was a young woman. Her voluptuous and muscular form, framed by cascading waves of black hair, was accentuated by a striking black corset and white trousers. This outfit highlighted her exquisite curves, sensuous hips, and ample posterior.
Arthur couldn't help but stare, overwhelmed by a burning desire at the sight of her enchanting figure.
Noticing his gaze, Martina followed his line of sight and then explained, "That's our mistress, the patriarch's daughter, Victoria. "