Ch127: Waking Up & Having a Chat Over Breakfast

“Hhhhhn...” Krvavy sighs and slowly stirs. It feels as if she is floating in a soft cloud... wrapped up in a cozy warmth that hugs her very being... “Nnnhhhh...” A rumbling tremor rolls through her body, clawed toes curling and strong arms squeezing tight around a large object, its heat pressed close against her chest. “Nnh...?”

Confusion washes over the Drakling’s drowsy mind, though that feeling quickly fades away as she recalls justwhat– or reallywho– she got up to last night, as she realizes justwhereshe is right now. Her emerald eyes crack open, confirming her suspicions.

This is the Countess’ bed.

Which means that the object held in her hugging embrace is... a simple, if rather firm, pillow...?

The barbarian blankly blinks, staring down at that bit of bedding. She... is alone in this large and luxurious bed, surrounded only by the soft silken sheets and the wonderful warmth contained within. Her shoulders shrug slightly, arms squeezing tight around around that padded pillow. Her heavy eyelids droop back down, fluttering shut. She just wants to... to fall... back... asleep...

“Ahem.”

Krvavy jolts upright, heart hammering away beneath her bosom as the rather insistent sound of someone clearing their throat sears away her lingering sleepiness. Rather startled, she sweeps her gaze across the room, peering past the pulled back and parted curtains, stopping and staring down towards the foot of this big bed.

Standing there, staring back at her with a stern scowl, is a maid. One with snow-white hair and pale pinkish eyes glaring through the lenses of some fairly thick glasses. “Please go and freshen up.” Not a single hint of warmth can be felt in this maid’s tone. That was an order, not a request. “You are free to use the bathroom through that doorway.” An arm is raised halfway to the height of her shoulders, that gloved hand gesturing off to the side.

The Drakling’s gaze darts in the opposite direction, looking over to the dresser where she placed her clothes last night. Its top is clear and empty. Not a single piece of her outfit is in sight.

“Yourclothes,” that wordoozeswith contempt, “have been cleaned and are awaiting you in the bathroom.” The maid icily states. The softthmp thmp thmpof her foot tapping into the carpeted floor can be clearly heard as she does absolutely nothing to hide her impatience.

Krvavy softly nibbles on her bottom lip, slowly glancing between the unapproachable albino and the bathroom door all the way across the room. This stern servant doesn’t seem particularly intent on giving her any privacy. So...

The silken sheets slide off the barbarian’s body, her inhuman feet pressing down onto a nicely cushioned carpet. The pleasant air almost feels cold on her bare skin. She does her best to ignore that mild discomfort, standing up and straightening her spine. Her fingersnearlytouch the high ceiling as she stretches her arms above her head.

The albino maid’s expression darkens as she watches the Drakling climb out of that enticingly warm bed. Her dainty nose crinkles, pale lips twisting into a grimaced sneer as her pinkish eyes lock onto the stiff morning wood jutting out from the crotch of thatsavage.

Krvavy ignores that maid’s increasingly hateful and undeniably disgusted gaze as she crosses the room, walking through the door and clicking it shut behind her.

Soft sunlight filters in through a few decently sized windows, diffused into a dim glow by those translucent glass panes. With just a flick of a switch, the polished crystals set into the ceiling begin to shine like miniature suns, bright but not harshly so.

Beautiful scenes of rolling meadows and colourful flowerbeds decorate the tiled walls, those lively and calming mosaics framed with bands of repeating geometric patterns. Off to the side stands an impressively large porcelain tub with an articulating faucet, its thick and ornate legs styled to look like the talons of a bird resting atop a perch. Just an arms reach away from that bathtub is what appears to be a spacious shower stall, its crystalline glass fogged with the faintest bit of moisture.

That whole view, plus the barbarian’s nude body, is reflected in an expansive mirror which stretches from door to window. And beneath that mirror rests a countertop of a reddish, orangey-beige stone speckled with flecks of black and grey. Granite, according toInspect. A great addition to her home. Having a bit of colour would be nice.

Clawed toes click across the comfortably heated floor as Krvavy makes her way over towards her neatly folded clothes, placing the little cube of rock that she justharvestedinside one of her two untouched coin purses.

This bathroom... is surprisingly modern looking. At least in what it contains, if not in style. Which... shouldn’t actually be much of a surprise. After all, the designs that Inanna came up with for toilets, sinks, and showers were all pretty ‘modern’ too. Suppose a bathroom is a bathroom and not much can be done to change that.

Now, Krvavy shouldprobablyuse this fancy bathroom before that maid gets suspicious. Maybe she should even have a quick shower? Themessthat she and the Countess made last night may have been cleaned with magic, but it still wouldn’t hurt to have a quick rinse...

“This way.” The albino maid coldly repeats herself, shooting a glare back over her shoulder.

It doesn’t take a genius to see that this servant isn’t exactly happy with the fact that it is apparently her duty to lead the Drakling through these fancy halls. But really, she shouldn’t complaintoo much. Krvavy is being ledoutof this castle mansion, after all.

Or... at least that is what Krvavythought.

The incredibly icy maid suddenly steps aside, impatiently ushering Krvavy through an open doorway and into a room well-lit by the morning sun as its light streams in through an array of large windows, all of which overlook the gorgeous garden grounds below.

Resting against the wall, centered beneath the biggest of those windows, is a round table that looks large enough to comfortably fit four people. Yet it only has two chairs. Only one of which is empty.

“Good morning, I hope you slept well.” Rina warmly greets the barbarian, a radiant smile filling her face. The black, almostpurple, colour of her painted lips contrasts so wonderfully with her pearly white teeth and vibrant pink skin... “Please,” she vaguely gestures towards the empty seat across from her, the loose sleeve of her low cut dress just barely brushing against the edge of this table. “Sit and join me for some breakfast.”

Caught slightly off guard by this beautiful view, both beforeandbeyond those windows, Krvavy can’t help but accept the elegant noblewoman’s offer. Doing her best to not seemtooeager, the barbarian crosses over to the chair that has already been pulled out for her, fumbling just a little as she awkwardly slips her tail through the convenient gap between cushion and backrest, before finally lowering herself down into that seat.

Krvavy’s emerald eyes trail across the covered table, appreciating the ornate silver cutlery, fancy porcelain plate, and the crystal chalice laid out before her. But more than that, the Drakling’s attention is drawn towards a large platter covered by a metal dome, the pair of polished jugs standing beside it, and the few small bowls filled with freshly picked berries.

Her stomach rumbles softly.

“Thank you, dear.” The Moon Elf tenderly smiles towards her albino maid, a simple gesture which seems to be enough to make that icy servant... blush. Even if just a bit. “That is all. You may be excused.”

The white-haired girl bows her head in a respectful nod, before turning and leaving the room. She pauses just as the door is about to click shut behind her, glancing back at the Drakling with hate and murder in her pale pink eyes as darkness engulfs her.

“I... don’t think that she likes me very much.” Krvavytriesto make that sound like a joke. But the way her gaze lingers on that closed door betrays her honesty.

“Don’t mind her.” The Countess smiles across the table, sunlight catching on her silver knife as she cuts a small square off of a... awaffle...? “Vera is not fond of anyone I choose to spendpersonal timewith.” That small bite of breakfast is popped past her painted lips as soon as she is done speaking.

“Oh, are you...?” Krvavy trails off before she can ask her, almost certainly impolite, question.

“Hahaha~!” Rina softly laughs at the barbarian’s social awkwardness, amused and not even a little offended by what is partially implied. “Please, help yourself to the food. This jug is full of syrup. Use as much as you would like. And here is some powdered sugar.”

The Drakling nods her head as she wordlessly reaches out and lifts the metal dome, revealing a large stack of waffles. Using her own fancy silver fork, she places a couple onto her plate before pouring just a little bit of syrup onto one of them. If a diced pear was almost too sweet for her last night, then what is essentially liquid sugar will definitely be too much. A small taste quickly proves that thought right, unfortunately.

“To answer you question,” Rina abruptly speaks up, her painted lips curling into a playful smile as she watches her guest bite into an unevenly cut piece of waffle. “Yes. I am indeed, as one may say, sleeping with‘the help’.”

“Khh...!” Krvavy almost chokes on her food, coughing as that sudden admission catches her so thoroughly off guard.

Musical laughter fills the air, each note beautiful and enchanting. “Hahaha~! My apologies, I simply could not help myself~!” This elegant and alluring Moon Elf brings a rich purple handkerchief up to her lips, letting the slightly more subdued sounds of her joy echo across this room.

Krvavy grabs the jug thatisn’tfull of syrup, giving it a glance and a quickInspectto confirm as much, before filling her glass up with what is effectively a non-alcoholic wine. A slow sip of that helps to clear her throat.

“To clarify... I am onlysleeping withthat one servant. With just Vera. But it is more fun to say‘the help’, is it not~?” A playful gleam fills the half-Elf’s amethyst eyes as she asks that teasing question, idly cutting off a tiny piece of her breakfast before bringing it up to her mouth. Like the noblewoman she is, the Countess chews and swallows her food before continuing to speak. “She can get a bit jealous, but that is how it is. Our relationship is...” she pauses for the briefest of moments, “rather complicated.”

“I can... imagine.” The barbarian hesitantly comments, placing a spoonful of strawberries and raspberries on her waffles. Those berries are still quite sweet, but not overwhelmingly so. Not like the syrup...

“Oh, you do not know the half of it. I am more than just her boss, the one she is sworn to serve.” Rina sighs, cutting another small piece from her waffle. “And I do not mean that in the sense that she is also my lover. No, sometimes I feel as if... as if I were hermother. Or perhaps her older sister?” The Countess’ long, raven-black hair sways side to side as she slowly shakes her head. “I am the closest thing to family that the girl has. I... more or less gave this life to her.”

Krvavy slowly raises an eyebrow, not quite sure why Rina is being so...open... with her. Not knowing what to say, the barbarian simply places a large chunk of waffle into her mouth, giving her an excuse to not talk

“That level of devotionisuseful in a servant,” the Countess closes her eyes and takes a deep breath, “but not so much in acompanion. Not anequalone... Vera is a naturally subservient woman, at least when it comes to my commands. She will happily doanythingI tell her to, as she takes great pleasure in simply doing what I say. Yet she struggles when left to her own devices, when she must take the initiative herself. Looking past the occasional awkwardness that I find in our relationship, she is an amazing and wonderfultoy. I could not ask for a more fulfilling and enjoyable submissive.”

Rina briefly pauses, cutting free another small piece of food and delicately bringing it up to her alluring lips, only continuing after chewing and swallowing it.

“The issue is that I would like her to be more than that. I do not alwayswanta submissive companion. I spend all day giving orders and commands, having others do my bidding. Sometimes I wish to unwind, to give control over to someone else. And, sadly, Vera isterriblein that role. She knows my body almost better than I do, she knows what I enjoy and what I do not. Yet she cannot help herself from constantly stopping to make sure I amindeedenjoying myself, if she is doing too much or too little. It... spoils the mood rather quickly.” The pink-skinned woman lets a bit of frustration enter those words, before that tension dissipates with a sigh. “Though I suppose that is for the best... Her inability to put on a convincing display of dominance drives me to occasionally find someone else to spend time with. Someone like yourself. That is surely healthier than constantly indulging her desires, herobsession...”

“Why are you telling me all of this...?” Krvavy idly wonders, unable to stay silent any longer. “It is... ratherpersonal.”

“I am not entirely sure, to be honest.” The Countess admits with a shrug. She doesn’t seem particularly bothered about essentially being called out for venting. “Perhaps our conversation last night, or the otheractivitieswe got up to following it, left me more comfortable with you? Perhaps it is simply the fact that, as I said before, you are rather safe to speak with? But if you would rather not listen to me complain of something which others would surely kill for, then we may talk of other topics.”

“No, it’s fine. And I get what you mean. Relationships and jealousy are both, well, touchy and complicated topics. My own gir...l...s...” Krvavy quickly trails off as she notices animmediatechange in Rina’s demeanour, the Countess’ previously open warmth becoming guarded and cold within the span of a single second. “Is... everything alright...?”

“I was not aware you were in a relationship.”

“Y...yes...?” Confusion fills Krvavy’s expression as she slowly quirks her brow, not quite sure why Rina is suddenly acting so...weird. Especially not after everything the Countess just said. “It’s okay...? That isn’t a problem, I –”

“Despite whatever you may think of me, and despite my own unorthodox relationship, Idespiseinfidelity.” The Countess’ words are sharp and forceful. A cloud passes over the sun, cutting off the bright warmth that filled this room moments ago. “Unnecessary pain and suffering is oft brought upon by those lies, and any excuses to justify it are hollow.”

“No, no, no! It isreallynot like that!” Krvavy hastily interjects, a bit of panic in her voice. “I havepermission! I was evenencouragedto sleep with another woman while here in the city! I wasn’t planning onactuallydoing it until, well, uh...” She awkwardly trails off once more, not really wanting to sound like she is blaming Rina for what they did last night.

“Oh.” The half Moon Elf woman slowly sighs, leaning forwards and bringing a hand up to cover her eyes. “How embarrassing... Twice now you have drawn a faux pas from me...” Lifting her gaze just a little, Rina glances across the table, her amethyst eyes meeting Krvavy’s emerald pair. Remorse and embarrassment alike fill her otherwise elegant face. “I deeply apologize for how I acted just now. I... acted far too defensive of my sinful self, and... and I immediately assumed the very worst of you. For that I am deeply sorry.”

“It’s... it’s fine.” The barbarian clumsily brushes that incident off, trying to act cool despite how quickly her heart is still beating. That the sun has returned, its warmth soaking into her black scales, helps to calm her nerves. “I should have mentioned it before we, well, you know...”

“No, you have nothing to apologize for.” Rina diplomatically states, gently shaking her head. “I propositioned you after doing little more than exchanging names. You did not get the chance to mention it, nor did you even need to if your partner had given you permission to sleep with other women.”

Krvavy isn’t really sure what to say after that, so she simply eats her berry covered waffle in slightly awkward silence. But, luckily, that quiet doesn’t last very long.

“I... am curious about the kind of woman who would have such a relationship with you.” The Countess casually comments, a gentle and rather comforting smile playing at her lips as she tries to resume their conversation. As she tries to move past that embarrassing blunder. “If you are alright with speaking about such a topic, that is.”

“No, yeah, I don’t mind talking about them. Honestly, I’m probably more comfortable talking about my girls than myself...”

“Wait.” Rina holds a single finger up, her delicate brow furrowing faintly. “Are you talking in theplural? I cannot quite discern if you are or are not. Not to be rude, but I can tell by your accent that we are not speaking in your native tongue. I do not want to have any further... miscommunications.”

Krvavy’s lips can’t help but curl into a proud, and ever so slightly arrogant, smile. “Yup~! I havemultiple girls.Four, in fact~.”

“Really?” The Countess cannot contain her surprise, leaning forwards as her amethyst eyes involuntarily widen. “How does that work...? How do you keep all of them from being jealous of each other? I struggle with just Vera and the occasional fling.”

“I...” The barbarian trails off before she can really even begin, taking a moment totrulyconsider that question. Her brow furrows. After a few moments, she simply shrugs. “I’m not quite sure. I guess I’m just lucky that my girls get along well enough? Or maybe it’s because I, uh... Well, I have a very high sex drive, so... Let’s just say that I make my attraction to each of them incredibly obvious. They all get alotof attention from me.”

“A very high sex drive, hmm~?” A playfully teasing expression enters Rina’s face as she skewers a strawberry on her fork, slowly bringing it up to her beautiful lips. “I can see that, yes. Your erection hardly wavered after those twolargeorgasms~. I can see whyyour girlswanted you to find someone to help soothe thathardissue of yours~.”

A shiver runs down Krvavy’s spine as the Moon Elf seductively speaks. She stares at that strawberry, captivated by the sight of a delicate little tongue licking across itsswollensurface, black painted lips parting further to accept the tip of that succulent berry...

“Hahaha~!” The Countess covers her mouth with a delicate hand as she laughs in joyous amusement, their earlier awkwardness all but forgotten. “Your reactions are soentertaining~! You are so easy to tease~!”

“Careful, there. You are playing adangerous game~.” The Drakling jokingly warns Rina, though her words are really quite serious. “I get a bitemotionalwhen worked up, and when I getemotionalmy self control becomes an afterthought.”

“My oh my~.” The pink-skinned Moon Elf leans back in her seat, arms crossing beneath those sizable breasts in such a wonderful way, squishing those alluring globes upwards andnearlycausing them to spill free from her low cut dress. “I suppose that I would have been in quite some trouble last night, had you not had such a long day~. I amalmosttempted to see just what you are capable of, but alas, I do not have the luxury of spending all my time engaged in such activities.”

Krvavy breathes out in relief as Rina shows a measure of restraint, taking a moment to calm herself down. “Also, I should mention one more thing... I can get quitepossessiveof those I considermine. So try not to get too romantic. It... is probably best if Idon’tcatch feelings for you. Well, unless you want thisbig scary Draklingto swoop in and take you back to her cave~!”

“Oh, I will keep that in mind~!” The Countess playfully returns, stifling an amused giggle. “I would not want any of my knights to fall trying to slay such amighty and fearsome Dragon~! Not that I would need their help, of course~.”

A cold purple flame suddenly sparks to life at the tip of Rina’s fork, followed by more abruptly appearing around the two of them. Those violet embers dance through the air, their light burning away the perception of all beyond this table. A wide smile spreads across the Moon Elf’s face, though it doesn’t reach her glowing amethyst eyes.

“I may not be a battlemage,” a flickering crown of purple flames appears atop the Countess’ raven hair, “yet neither am I a damsel in distress. There is a reason why I hold this position: none have yet been able to wrest it from me.”

An oppressive pressure builds up in the room, growing and growing before... abruptly disappearing along with the arcane flames. Krvavy lets out a breath that she didn’t know she was holding

“Hahaha~!” Rina’s expression returns to one of amused joy as she begins to laugh so warmly. “Sorry, sorry, but I just could not resist doing that~! It is not often that I have the opportunity to so freely and casually flex my powers for mere intimidation~! And you should have seen your face, your reaction! Soadorable~! It was as if you had bitten off more than you could chew~!”

“I might have...” The barbarian honestly admits, trying to act casual as she scoops some blueberries onto her plate.

Rina’s eyes twinkle playfully as she brings another small piece of food up to her beautiful lips. “Please, do tell me more about thosefour girls of yours. I am ever so curious, you see~. I will even refrain from teasing you,ifI can rein in that urge, of course~.”

A smile finds its way back onto Krvavy’s face as her very favourite topic is brought up once more.