The word he used to call her lingered in the room even after he spoke.
Dog.
Mildred remained still for several seconds, her eyes vividly glowing a faint pink as she hugged her trembling shoulders beneath the plain grey dress. At first, it seed she was lanting... maybe even regretful of her actions.
Until one saw her distorted smile, showing her pearly white teeth, a strange, maddening smile that gave the young woman an almost deranged air.
Despite his lack of commanding it, she lowered herself further, almost kissing the floor where he stepped a few monts before, as if willingly accepting the title and collar he’d locked around her throat happily.
"Yes, Master."
Luka stared at her for several seconds; this should’ve made him feel better.
Yet it only left a strangely sour taste in his mouth and a churning heat in his loins.
A heat he all too well understood now.
’How irritating.’
He wanted to hate her without hesitation.
To be so overwheld by the seething rage in his chest, keeping his thoughts clean and simple.
Yet the woman kneeling on the floor was so broken by mories that she couldn’t possibly have imagined that everything beca complicated, and he resorted to this distorted punishnt.
However, when she ntioned events that he didn’t know and only considered the possibility, his dark thoughts beca clouded further, and the image of their screams of agony and cries in terror continued to echo in the depths of his mind.
But most of all, what he found the most unforgivable was the raging erection in his pants... and his rampant desire to completely sully and ravish this beautiful, untouched woman before him.
’Why am I aroused like a dog in heat...?!’
She continued to worship him practically, and he knew there must be another reason, so hint as to why she acted this way.
Despite that, contradicting her betrayal and his murder.
’If she was this crazy from the start... was there so other reason for her actions?’
Though he refused to forgive her.
These were his parting thoughts the mont he stepped through the iron-bolted doorway.
Luka turned away before the ugly feeling in his chest grew any worse.
"Remain here until I decide where to place you."
"Yes, Master."
"You will answer when called. You will not speak to anyone about your mories, your miasma, or our relationship. To others, you are just another one of my retainers, an aide, or, if it’s easier, call yourself my woman."
The last one was a test.
A test she failed miserably.
Her eyes beca clear, vivid and a burst of lustful miasma leaked from her entire body, before quickly vanishing as if she sucked it back inside.
To hide her intense emotions.
[You have Absorbed Mildred’s Rampant Lust]
[Sinful Energy Greatly Increased]
’Oh, how twisted and broken we are... forgive , father, for your son has fallen.’
Then, like a ek little rabbit, she whispered in her delicate, sensual voice.
"Yes, Master."
"If you try to flee, the bond between us will cause you great pain and suffering until you die in a miserable state. If you try to harm , the pain will return to you many tis over. If you try to harm soone under my protection, I will not need the bond to punish you."
Her fingers dug into the mud between the stone floor.
"I understand."
Luka glanced back.
"Do you?"
Mildred slowly lifted her head.
Her tear-stained face looked pale in the torchlight, but the dark pink haze in her eyes had settled. It no longer dispersed wildly across the room. Instead, it gathered inside her eyes like a dense sphere, trembling whenever his gaze touched her.
"I belong to you now."
"Good girl, if you do well. I might allow you off the leash from ti to ti."
He knocked once against the door.
The lock clicked from the other side, and the heavy iron-reinforced wood opened with a groan. Levi stood beyond it with his usual calm expression, though his eyes shifted once towards the shattered table and cracked floor inside the room.
The old steward said nothing.
Luka stepped into the corridor.
"Keep her here for now. Give her water, food and a change of clothes. Nothing sharp. Nothing made of glass. From this mont on, she too is a part of Babylon; however, do not allow any visitors, especially Galatea or Vaun."
’I cannot let such a bad influence rub off on them. Luvia is bad enough.’
Levi bowed.
"As you command, My Lord."
Mildred remained kneeling inside the room, head lowered, silently waiting. Luka did not look back a second ti as the door closed.
Once the door closed tightly, Levi finally gathered the will to speak.
"My Lord, may I inquire what you intend for that woman?"
"No."
The old steward sighed.
"Then I shall ask in a way that makes it sound like I am not asking."
"Do not make trouble."
"If she is dangerous enough to be held below the manor, yet valuable enough to be treated better than a criminal, the guards will wonder how they should regard her."
"She is not a prisoner."
Levi’s brows lifted slightly.
"Not a prisoner?"
"She is not free either. Give ti, first let’s solve the other issues, then I will deal with this woman and how she should be treated."
The old man fell silent, but didn’t seem completely convinced.
Luka walked past the row of lamps, his boots striking the damp stone with a steady rhythm. From the side passage, Cedric’s voice still rose and fell in bitter complaints, though it had grown hoarser than before.
He no longer tried to gain Luka’s attention, though he did sling insults and try to provoke him in this manner.
So Luka just played the sa ga.
He turned to the guards and gave them a simple order.
"Reduce his food and water, let him suffer."
However, it seed Levi couldn’t forget the sight of the beautiful woman on her knees as he asked while following half a step behind Luka.
"Then what is she, My Lord?"
"For now, she’s my dog... a loyal hound that will answer to alone."
The answer made even Levi pause for a fraction of a breath.
Luka noticed, but didn’t stop walking.
"She eats when I allow it. Moves when I allow it. Serves where I place her. If she proves useful, she remains useful. If she does not, she returns below."
"That is a harsh fate."
"If not for saving her, she would be nothing but a plaything of the goblins right now, Levi. Is this fate so cruel when you think of that?"
"That is also true."
They reached the stairs leading back towards the manor’s main level. The air slowly changed as they climbed.
No longer wrapped in miserable, damp grey stone walls... warmth from the decorated corridors filled with distant voices greeted them. The servants carrying laundry, guards changing posts, and the usual restless flutter of a house that had suddenly rembered its purpose and began to wake.
Babylon was no longer a sleeping lion.
Levi glanced at him.
"The Queen’s knight remains our most imdiate political issue."
"Though he carries a large threat, if we communicate properly and show we are not her enemy, the queen should forgive certain discrepancies."
"Even though he’s here under Royal Command?"
"Levi, the queen likes beautiful n."
Luka turned back with a twisted smile. "If she makes an issue, then I’ll just seduce her and make her forget the little knight in our dungeons." He scoffed, knowing the thought disgusted him and yet, if it were for Baylon, he would do it.
"Consider him an honoured prisoner."
Levi’s mouth twitched.
"Honoured guests with guards at every door?"
"Naturally. We are a poor border house. We must be careful with valuable guests."
"How considerate."
Luka ignored the dry tone.
"What about Amol, My Lord? When do you plan to leave... the original ti you suggested is almost past..."
"Ah, Amol and those damn dark elves..."
Levi’s expression grew more serious.
Oblivious, Luka continued to speak.
"Lady Iris appears concerned by the pace of repair. Sir Gerard has n working well, but Amol lacks labour. The western road is not fit for heavy wagons, and its walls are in great need of hard labour."
"Then you intend to ride to the west?"
"Of course, however, first there is sothing more important to complete beforehand. Do you rember asking you to gather information on the families with wastrels, unemployed and useless mbers?"
"Ah... of course, My Lord."
Luka’s eyes sparkled as he held Levi’s shoulders tightly.
"Gather them all at the square, for I shall make them an offer they simply CANNOT refuse."
Levi looked at him with weary eyes, his lips trembled slightly as Luka reached the corridor and slowed his pace to glance out a small arched window overlooking Babylon’s town and beyond the manor walls.
The people who worked hard deserved rewards, while those who lounged around or chose lives of decadence would soon suffer.
’I will use everything Babylon has to rise.’
"Amol needs hands, and we have plenty of them!"
"Yes, My Lord."
Levi followed his gaze through the window, and for a mont, the old steward said nothing. He quietly narrowed his eyes, as if he had begun to understand his Lord’s idLord’sen light returned to his sunken, deep-set eyes.
"There are people in this town without work."
"There are many."
Luka’s smile widened as he leaned out the window.
"Babylon has countless n to carry stone, repair walls, and create a road leading from west to east, won who can cook, nd clothes and bear children. The boys can haul water and beco squires who serve Gerard."
"The possibilities beyond re scoundrels are great, Levi!"
"That is true, but gathering them will create disorder if handled poorly."
"Then handle it well."
Levi turned his head towards him.
Luka finally looked away from the town.
"Send criers through Babylon. Every able person seeking coin, bread or steady work is to gather in the square before midday. Make it seem like this opportunity will vanish if they miss this call... also, send servants and pretty maids out with so bread and food from the castle stores, show them the carrot."
"The carrot, sir?"
"Hmm... just a phrase...."
’As for the stick, they’ll discover that upon reaching Amol, haha.’
Luka smiled faintly and started walking again.
"Wait and see, Levi. I will show you a Babylon that your sickly Lord could have imagined."
The old steward stared at his back for a mont.
"As you command, My Lord."
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