Speak to Matthieu "alone"

You weren't sure if Helmid could comprehend just how weird it was going to be for you to sit across from your former recruit commander and chat with him, using his wife's bedroom as a backdrop for the conversation, but if she really wanted you to do it, you'd oblige her. You nodded to Helmid, telling her that you and the recruit commander would catch up.

"Oh, splendid! I know it's a bit strange, but it will do me a world of good to see you boys getting along!" she thanked you, taking your hand for just a moment and squeezing it with a bright smile upon her face. After rising to her feet, she placed one hand upon the mirror lovingly. "Thank you, Matthieu. You're being such a good sport about this. I know Geod appreciates it as much as I do."

The man sighed deeply and knit his brow. "Very well. Leave me and the young man to catch up. I'm sure you've got more to attend to before you sleep, as do I," the man nodded, not returning the romantic gesture.

"I do, actually, have something to attend to," Helmid responded, wearing a smile that seemed larger and more childish than her previous one. Just what was going through her mind?

As she walked out of frame, her first husband took the time to stand up and move closer to the mirror in his office, crossing his arms behind his back as he did. It was a familiar scene you thought you'd left behind when you exited the academy: your stone-faced commander, pacing the floor while watching you with cold eyes. "Squire. How is the life treating you? I know you're keeping those saintesses well. The smile on my wife's face confirms that," he murmured, raising one hand to stroke his chin thoughtfully. "She cares not so much for her own safety, but that of her teammates concerns her greatly. Had anything distressing happened to one of them, she would certainly not wear the expression she does today. So first off, let me thank you for your work so far."

Your chest swelled with pride. Now, divorced of your student/teacher relationship, you felt like perhaps the recruit commander could express his admiration a bit more openly. You thanked him, telling him that you hoped his health was well and the new recruits were a promising crop.

"Hmph. My health is fine. I may not be the age for the front-line any more, but I can handle whipping these young whelps into shape. All of them are just like you when you came in: raw. Excited by the promise of sleeping with famous heroes, but having none of the talent or experience to back that up. We'll see if I can make something out of them." He stood close to the mirror and crossed his arms back behind himself. "Do you remember your first day, squire? You were shaking like a leaf when I called you out to the front of the students for a demonstration of-"

Whatever he said next soared completely over your head, as you suddenly realized that Helmid, who you'd lost track of after she wandered out of frame, was now crawling on her hands and knees below the vanity. Without her chainmail on, she was capable of moving rather quietly, but she'd brushed your leg on her way. No surprise there, because the spot she'd ended up was right between your legs where you were sitting. She gave you a sympathetic smile and placed one finger at her lips with a nearly silent "shhhh."

The commander continued on, heedless. "-mastery, on the very first week, certainly surprised me. Pains me to admit it, with how hard I drove you your whole time at the academy, but I knew from the very first day you were squire material. Matter of fact-" he droned on.

It was very, very difficult to pay attention to a word he was saying, as Helmid slowly began to rub one hand over the groin of your trousers, then to slowly unfasten the buttons. The look on her face was like that of a girl half her age: excited and eager, like she was unwrapping a present during the holidays. Things were about to escalate.