VIII. The Merchant’s Daughter

The cobblestone path was bustling with activity as Cassia walked toward Maidenhead Academy. Her leather satchel bumped against her hip, weighted with spare clothes, scrolls, a wax tablet, and her brass stylus, while the crimson ribbon Lara had tied her braid with caught the sea breeze like a battle standard. She had dressed carefully, a simple but well-cut tunic, practical sandals, and her sire mother’s silver signet ring on her index finger. First impressions mattered at the Academy, and Cassia intended to make a good one.

The Academy’s white marble columns were visible now, rising above the red-tiled roofs of the merchant district. Cassia could see other young futanari walking the same path, some in small groups, others alone like herself. Her stomach tightened. These would be her rivals, her allies, her potential undoing. Among them walked future senators, generals, maybe even a consul or two. And somewhere among them walked those who would try to take her will.

My will. My body. My choice.

She repeated the words like a prayer.

“Hey Cass, wait for me!”

The voice cut through her thoughts, bright and familiar. Cassia turned to see a figure sprinting down the street, dark curls bouncing wildly, one hand clutching a satchel while the other waved with theatrical desperation. The young woman wore an expensive silk tunic in Tyrian purple, a shade reserved for the wealthiest merchant families, and her smile was so wide it seemed to split her face in two.

Cassia found herself smiling back before she could stop herself. “Antonia?”

“Who else would be yelling at you like a fishwife?” Antonia skidded to a halt, doubled over, gasping for breath.

Antonia was shorter than Cassia, built like a dancer, with curves that strained against her fine clothing. Her skin was the color of warm honey, and her eyes an electric shade of green. “Gods below, I thought I’d missed you. Mother insisted on one more lecture about ‘upholding the family name’ and ‘not embarrassing us in front of the senator’s daughters.’ As if I’ve ever embarrassed anyone.” Cassia laughed despite herself. She had known Antonia since they were children, when the merchant’s daughter had moved into the villa next door and immediately demanded to see Cassia’s room, her toys, her garden, and her opinion on whether frogs could be trained to wear tiny hats. (Cassia had said no. Antonia had spent the next three weeks proving her wrong.)

“You didn't tell me you were attending the Academy too!” Cassia beamed.

Antonia straightened, finally catching her breath. Her grin turned sly. “I wanted it to be a surprise. Mother pulled some strings. The Academy has been relaxing their admissions policy for a while now. Well, for houses with enough coin.” She linked her arm through Cassia’s without waiting for permission, falling into step beside her. “But more importantly, now you can't escape me! You're stuck with me Longwood. Forever. It'll be just like when we were growing up, except now we’re going to learn how to stab people and argue about taxes.”

“I don’t think the Academy teaches stabbing.”

“Then what’s the combat training for? Impolite conversation?” Antonia snorted. “Please. My Sire's been hiring me private tutors since before I could walk. She says the only way to keep your will in this city is to be faster, smarter, and meaner than everyone else. And I quote, ‘If you can’t win a will duel, don’t get into a will duel. If you can’t avoid a will duel, cheat.’” She lowered her voice conspiratorially. “She taught me where to kick a futa to make their balls retreat up inside them. Instant submission. Very undignified.”

Cassia stared at her. “That’s… horrifying.”

“It’s effective.” Antonia shrugged. “Anyway, how are you? I haven’t seen you since your primacy. Happy birthday, by the way. I would have swung by, but Sire had me taking inventory of a new shipment. Eighteen crates Cassia. Eighteen. And she made me count each item by hand to ‘teach me the value of commerce.’” She rolled her eyes dramatically. “What is the point of 'this will all be yours someday' if she works me to **** before I take over? Absolutely off her rocker my mam.”

Cassia smiled, warmth blooming in her chest. This was what she had missed, Antonia’s effortless chatter, the way she filled every silence with crazy stories of her adventures, spinning even the most benign of events into tales that would have Cassia doubled over in laughter.

Cassia knew Antonia’s Sire Valeria, was a formidable alpha, a Septimus, if rumors were true, who had built her families trading empire from nothing and had kept it strong, defending it against dozens of her rivals.

“So,” Antonia said, her voice dropping, “have you met any of the other students yet? Is anyone note worthy?”

They were approaching the Academy gates now, where a cluster of students had gathered. Cassia could see the guards in bronze and leather armor, instructors in their white robes, and students sizing each other up like gladiators before a match in the arena.

“I just got here,” Cassia said. “I haven’t had time to meet anyone.”

“Pity.” Antonia’s smile turned wolfish. “Because I’m dying to find someone to fuck. And I mean dying, Cassia. You have no idea.”

Cassia nearly tripped over her own feet. “Antonia!”

“What? It’s true.” Antonia’s voice was perfectly casual, as if she were negotiating a trade agreement. “Ever since my primacy, I’ve been insatiable. I wake up horny. I go to sleep horny. I spent an hour last night just touching myself because I couldn’t think straight enough to do anything else. Mother asked me to review a shipping manifest, and I had to excuse myself three times to go rub one out in the latrine.”

“I don’t need to know this.”

“You absolutely do. Because you’re my friend, and friends share.” Antonia squeezed her arm affectionately. “Besides, I know you’re the same. Everyone is, after primacy. It’s like someone lights a fire inside you and you can’t put it out, no matter how many times you, well... You know.”

Cassia’s cheeks burned. She thought of her own sleepless night, her fumbling hands, the dreams she couldn’t escape. She thought of the way her cunt still yearned to be filled, the way her own length throbbed at the thought of being sheathed.

“That’s different,” she said weakly.

“Is it?” Antonia raised an eyebrow.

“Because from where I’m standing, it sounds exactly the same. You’re eighteen, your body’s finally ready, and every fiber of your being is screaming for release. That’s not shameful, Cassia. That’s biology.”

“It’s dangerous.”

“Oh, absolutely.” Antonia nodded cheerfully. “Which is why I’m not going to just fuck anyone. I’m going to find someone I can make a deal with. Someone who wants the same thing I do. A nice, consensual tumble in the sheets, no strings attached.” She sighed dreamily. “Preferably another futa who’s just as **** as I am. Someone who won’t judge me for moaning too loud or coming too fast.”

Cassia stared straight ahead, watching the Academy gates draw closer. “You’re impossible.”

“I’m honest. There’s a difference.” Antonia released her arm and stretched, her tunic riding up to reveal more of her honey-colored skin. “Look, I know the whole ‘primacy’ thing is serious. I know people lose their wills every day because they get careless, or ****, or stupid. I’m not any of those things. Mother drilled that into me from the cradle.” Her voice softened, losing some of its playful edge. “But I’m also not going to spend my life afraid of my own body. I want to fuck, Cassia. I want to feel someone inside me, or be inside someone, I’m not picky. And I’m going to find a way to do that safely, because I refuse to believe that the only choices are celibacy or slavery.”

Cassia looked at her then, truly looked. At the set of her jaw, the determination in her green eyes, the way her hands had curled into fists at her sides. This was the Antonia that few people ever saw, not the bubbly merchant’s daughter, not the charming socialite, but the young woman who refused to live on anyone else's terms.

“You’ve thought this through,” Cassia cautioned.

“I’ve thought about little else.” Antonia’s smile returned, softer this time. “I know what I want. I just have to be smart enough to get it without losing myself in the process.”

They had reached the gates now. Students streamed past them, casting wary glances at the two. Cassia could feel eyes on her, weighing her, assessing her for any signs of weakness. She straightened her spine and lifted her chin.

“So,” Antonia said, her voice bright once more, “shall we go inside and begin our illustrious educations?” She offered her arm again.

Cassia hesitated for only a moment. Then she took Antonia’s arm in hers and let her friend lead them through the gates.