And into the Fire...

4th Maludae, the 26th day of the month of Semens (Sem), the 3672nd year of Salvation's Landing

After making his way to the upper eastern wing of the palace, Reglin had come to the ornately carved set of double doors that led to Princess Katya's antechamber. An attempt at the handle proved the doors to be locked, unsurprisingly. Grabbing the Watch keys, Reglin was able to unlock the door in moments and let himself into the entry room to the Princess’s apartments.

Opening the door and stepping in Reglin was as quiet as possible, recognizing the fact that it was still quite early in the morning. Making sure to close the door just as quietly, he turned around and was surprised to notice that the doors to the bedchambers were wide open, though he could see no one in there from his vantage point. So, he took stock of the antechamber itself first.

It was a large, rectangular room, looking like it was thirty feet wide by twenty feet deep. All around the perimeter of the room were sofas and chairs, for entertaining it would seem. The walls were adorned with numerous pieces of paintings, as one would expect from someone of the Princess’s station. There were also statues at each corner of the room, the figures in the sculptures were definitely risqué for Polivandria, showing both the male and female in its nude form in languid or sensual poses. There were small tables for occupants to place their drinks or whatnot. The floor was a marbled stone floor polished to a shine, except at the far ends where there were rugs covering the stone. All in all, classy and scandalous all at once if Reglin were to assess.

Moving on from what was in his current room, Reglin glanced into the bedchambers, but from the hall entry doors, all he could see was a giant wooden wardrobe that was currently closed. Just as he was looking however, a petite little redhead hustled by his view from left to right and was gone in moment. A few moments later, the redhead bustled back and happened to glance in Reglin’s direction.

With a startled little ‘eep!’, the handmaid was evidently shocked to find Reglin there, her eyes as big as saucers. She turned to him and took a step through the doorway between the two rooms, “G’ mornin’, Guardsman!” Her voice was excited and held a definite level of country in it. “Ya early. We dinna be expectin ya for a bit yet.” The breathy excitement slowing slightly, though her eyes were still plates.

Now that Reglin could take her in, she was a short little thing that had a pleasantly plump look to her. Reglin thought she might be the kind of girl that would be wonderful for a cuddle and tickle. He imagined her as having a cute little giggle. He would have to see if he could find out…

She did not warrant any real customs or courtesy from the palace guard, but courtesy did go a long way. And so Reglin gave the handmaid a bow that was more than sufficient for her station. Apparently, it was indeed more than sufficient, if the shade of red that came to the pale redhead’s cheeks were at all indicative, “Good morning, Mistress. I was told to report to Her Highness quarters this morning, and so I came. I fully expected to wait for a time in the antechamber while the Princess cared for her matters, but I would not keep her waiting on me, however.” Reglin wondered if he sounded at all smooth or if he was just rambling.

The handmaiden smiled widely, cheeks still quite flushed and then shook her head, “Ney, tha’ be no way to win Her Highness favor, fer shore. But ya be a glib-tongue guard, doncha?” Reglin wondered if she realized that she gave herself a quick fanning with her hand, “An’ no Mistress w’me. I’m Caterine if ya please.”

At that introduction, Reglin closed the distance between the two of them and offered his hand, which she took. He was happy to notice the little hairs on her arm stand with his touch. He bent his head down and saying, “And I am Reglin if you please… Caterina.” He kissed her hand gently as would be polite to the finer sex but let it linger a moment longer than. He saw the hairs stood higher still and he heard the odd combination of a squeak and a moan come from the adorable redhead, that led into a titter and a giggle that was just as delightful as Reglin had imagined.

Withdrawing her hand, Reglin was certain that she knew that she was fanning herself this time, “Glib-tongue indeed, Master Reglin! I-I need ta be telling the Princess that ye ‘ave arrived. You jus’ be waitin ‘ere…” the flustered handmaid turned to head back into the bedchambers and turned to the left.

Left alone again, Reglin took his post at the side of the hall entry door and stood at ease. He adjusted his Flamberge in its scabbard on his back, unconsciously setting it at the optimum place for his reach. Maintaining his role of silent sentinel, Reglin could not help but hear what sounded like mumbled voices from within the bedchambers that became more agitated as her heard footfalls coming toward the entry.

Coming around the corner was Princess Katya in nothing but her petticoats, the white undergarment showed quite a bit more flesh than her dresses, even the style that Katya preferred. Her hair was already done up in a delicate pile of braid atop her head, accentuating her elegantly long neck. As his head followed that neck, Reglin saw a scandalous amount of breast flesh, even seeing the outlines of her nipples in the white clothing. The tapered underdress had a corset incorporated into it that showed her narrow waist and flared hips. Below the hips though there was little else to see besides the ruffles. When his eyes came back up her, he could see the tips of her breasts were now much more pronounced than they had been.

When Reglin’s eye finally made it back to her face, Katya’s eyes were blazing fury, “You dare peer at me in such a manner! Your common stock has no right to be looking on me like that!” She crossed her arms beneath her breasts which only added lift and displayed them more prominently.

Giving her tits an obvious quick glance before looking back at her face but maintained his composure, “Your Highness, I am to assess to the situation. I am specifically your guard this morning. A responsibility I take very seriously.” Reglin continued with his stoic stance.

In an effort to gather herself, Katya took a deep breath but continued with more composure, but further accentuating her breasts, “Yes, you are to serve me… Not ogle me like some tavern whore.”

“Assess… I assessed.” Reglin too a gamble in interrupting her, “I do my job. It is not my responsibility to avert my eyes you choose to show off yourself in front of your guard. I have just reported to my station of duty for this day.” Remaining still the whole time.

The Princess made her way closer to Reglin, glare still in full effect, “I see… and this day you will do everything that is expected of you. You will make yourself available to myself or any of my companions. And that included answering questions that we may have. Understand?” She sniffed at him, eyes narrowing, “I expected you to smell like hay or dirt, farmboy… Not some whore you must have spent your night with.”

Reglin took only a marginally deeper breath to compose himself, telling himself that she did not know that she was calling Tabitha a whore, and how much anger roiled in him over it, “You Highness, the last I checked a vow of chastity was not required of the palace guard. How or who I spend the evenings with should be of no concern to the Royal family. It has no impact in how I perform my duties. I will perform quite well, as you will see.”

At that moment, there was a knock at the antechamber entry, causing Katya’s eyes to bulge as she rushed into her bedchambers with Caterina and another even more petite girl closing the doors after her.

It was not required, nor was it against procedure for a guard to open doors and so he did. When he did, his eyes fell on Lady Wilmyna’s face with a mischievous smile and glint in her eyes, “I had hoped it might be you that was telling the Princess of how well you will perform… Not that I have any doubts about your performance, farmboy.” The difference in how the Princess and the lady used that title for him was a complete contrast. The Princess used it with palpable derision, while Wilmyna, after her story about farmhands yesterday, almost made it sound like a term of endearment.

After Reglin opened the door further to allow the Lady and her handmaid entry. As she walked by and she sniffed him, “Though you most certainly do not smell like any farmboy I have seen.” Her smile sly, “And though it is none of my business, I still would not mind hearing of how you perform in your other duties.”

Reglin took in the statuesque northern Lady in her burgundy dress with a neckline much like yesterday, meaning his eyes were being assaulted by her marvelous bosom. As she walked by, she kept giving him a provocative side-eye.

With a clearing of the throat, Reglin’s eyes were brought back to the doorway to see Wilmyna’s handmaid. She was like Wilmyna’s big sister in almost every sense of the word. Tits, ass, hips… All like Wilmyna, just… bigger. She looked him in the eyes as she passed by, “And here we were hearing of how well you would perform, and you just let me come up on you from behind.” She raised a brow with an exact replica of Wilmyna’s sly smile, “And I think that is supposed to be your role.” As she passed, she placed a hand on Reglin’s wrist, “The Lady was not wrong… You are quite well set up, guardsman. I am Freighla, Lady Wilmyna’s Firstmaid.” She released her touch and followed Wilmyna to a pair of chairs where they sat down and talked among themselves quietly.

Composing himself after the quick onslaught of sensuality the two northern women, Reglin closed the door and resumed his post. He returned to his vigil and over the next thirty minutes had opened the door for the two other ladies that had accompanied the Princess yesterday.

First was Lady Falina, who looked like she could be a relative of Caterina with her fair skin, but more auburn in her hair color. Her eyes were a pale blue, like a sky’s color to Reglin. She was petite as well, but her figure would be seen as attractive, if not a bit average. Though Reglin hated to think of any woman a certain way due to the puritanical fashion of Polivandria. Her family was one of the largest landholders out on the Western Marches and she was fostering in the capital to remove herself from the conflict.

She was accompanied by her handmaid, Deela. Whereas Falina looked like she could be related to Caterina, she was definitely related to Deela. A close cousin or something. A lighter shade of auburn hair, but the same blue eyes and attractive, but somewhat average figure.

A bit later, Lady Vidala arrived. Long raven black hair that hung unfettered with loose natural curls. She had pale eyes of her own, but in her case, they were green and incredibly striking. But the most distinguishable feature of her face was without a doubt, her nose. It seemed as if it should be too long, but it fit her face perfectly. With her olive skintone, she had an exotic look to Reglin, though her figure was the biggest mystery to him. There just didn’t seem much to her with her dress.

Lady Vidala’s Handmaiden, Camilla if that what she truly was, was a different story. For one, she wore a gown that defied Polivandria custom like the northerners did, but in a different fashion. It had no petticoats, allowing the garment to cling to her body, showing off a very voluptuous figure. Secondly, she was distinctly older than her charge, and not by a small amount. If Reglin were to guess, she would be in her late-thirties to her early-forties. She had the same olive skin and black ringlet curls as Vidala, but her nose was less pronounced. But Camilla, was just sexy… The way her hips moved. The way she looked at you. Her lips. But it was all in her body language. She did not use innuendo or tease like the Northerners did.

Once all had arrived, the ladies clustered together to talk a bit, while the handmaids were allowed to do the same. Soon there were three to four different clusters of discussions going on in the antechamber.

At the second Daybell, the bedchamber doors opened, and Princess Katya entered with her three attendants, Caterina and the other two that Reglin had not made the acquaintance of yet.

Katya wore a dress of her House color this day. A crimson much the same as what Tabitha wore the day before, but with a bit more cleavage showing. Having already seen her in her petticoats, Reglin thought that she looked overdressed now. However cruel the woman could be, Reglin could not deny that she was lovely to look at.

With four more women entered the mix, the groups of conversations flowed fluidly between them all, with Lady Vidala’s attendant given a good amount of attention by both ladies and maidens. She smiled coyly through it at seemed to enjoy all the attention. Reglin noticed that second to Camilla, the women’s eyes tended to stray to himself with varying intents in those gazes. Taking inventory of who looked at him how, Reglin just logged that away for later use.

At the sounding of the second Halfmark, Princess Katya announced to the room that they would be leaving the chambers to take a stroll about the palace grounds at the sounding of the third Daybell. She then sent her cute little mouse of a handmaiden out who then returned with servant staff burdened with refreshments for all the women. As they replenished lost nutrients and wettened dried throats from talking so much, Katya then told those in attendance that they would be allowed to talk to the Guardsman if they so desired, stating that she had some information that she would like to gather from him in regard to Reglin’s time on the Western Marches.

When the striking of the third Daybell came, Reglin turned and opened the hallway doors, allowing the women in the room to meander their way out in a way that said they were in no hurry. But slowly they gathered in the hall, standing there and still chattering. Once there were all out, Reglin stepped out of the antechamber, closed the door, and stepped toward the front of the loose formation of women, intending to lead them down the halls, down the stairs and outside to the back of the palace. It appeared none took any issue as they did follow him, though their attention always was with their conversations with each other. He felt like a mother duck leading her chicks, all just squeaking along behind her.

He came to the massive glass doors that looked out on the estates and opened them for the women and prepared himself for what was to come once he was out there in the wild so to speak with the Princess and her court. Surprisingly, a good many of the women gave him thanks for the hospitalities that were but his duties truly, with a large percentage of those making eyes at him as well. It was a bit of a heady experience for him. But once they were all out, he closed the doors and joined them.

~This is knowledge for the Reader~

The Affection Multiplier

~Mana: 137 (+44) 181 ~

~Mana Channels: ~Labiae Passionii (Lips of Passion) free, ~ Corpu Vigorii (Vigorous Body) 100, ~ Uirtau Proelium (Martial Prowess) 100, ~Mensu Lucidae (Bright Mind) 100, ~ Tactu Beatae (Blissful Touch) 100, ~Plurem Amatrixae Normalii (The Normalcy of Many Loves) 500

~Tabitha~ Affectionae: 100 Erosii: 63 Libidae: 100 (Effective 19)
~Lim~ A: 29
~Boll~ A: 16
~Grahm~ A: 29
~Lina~ A: 29
~Asha~ A: 25 E: 2 L: 2
~Princess Katya~ A: -63 (+3) -60
~Maiden Caterina~ A: 0 (+12) 12 E: 0 (+1) 1 L: 0 (+1) 1
~Maiden Gwynfuir~ A: 0 (+5) 5
~Maiden Erynna~ A: 0 (+1) 1
~Lady Wilmyna~ A: 1 (+6) 7 L: 0 (+2) 2
~Maiden Freighla~ A: 0 (+3) 3 L: 0 (+1) 1
~Lady Falina~ A: 0 (+2) 2
~Maiden Deela~ A: 0 (+1) 1
~Lady Vidala~ A: 0 (+2) 2
~Maid Camilla~ A: 0 (+2) 2 L: 0 (+2) 2
~Night's Shift Guards~ A: (+6)
~Govren~ A: 2