5. Nobility
By the time their early morning departure brought them to Eliyum, night had already fallen. Crossing the labyrinthine city, the Rose River flowed silently through it, visible beyond the carriage window. Tainted by the red soil of the western continent, the water took on a ruddy ochre hue that earned it its name—but in the deepening twilight, it appeared simply black. A massive stone bridge spanned the broad, deep black river, where four-wheeled carriages with faintly glowing magical lanterns bustled to and fro.
The carriage carrying the ladies and Olens, followed by the one with their maids, crossed the bridge without pause. On the far side stretched a wide avenue, straight and neatly paved, flanked by grand mansions on either side. The twilight streets glowed bright from the brilliant lights spilling from those estates. Guards stood watch at the main gates of each.
The carriages pressed on until they halted before a particularly large gate, dimly lit unlike the others. A guard approached the coachman and swung open the heavy metal-barred portal. As the massive doors parted, the two carriages entered the manor grounds.
"Welcome to the Loren count's estate. I am the steward, Jane. We will serve you with utmost care during your stay. Lady Evril, if you would take my hand..."
As the carriage door opened, the steward offered his greeting. Evril descended with his assistance.
"My lady, fearing you and your companions might be weary from the journey, I have prepared a meal."
The steward at the entrance bowed deeply and courteously. Evril gave a slight nod of her chin and proceeded inside. Shaylin, Olivier, and Olens followed one by one from the carriage. As the nobles' carriage pulled slowly forward, Emily, Lisa, and Laura alighted from the black one trailing behind. Lisa and Laura were Evril and Shaylin's maids, respectively.
Emily had met Lisa last summer at the Loren count's estate in Auze Cirrus, but Laura was a stranger, making things a bit awkward. Yet Laura's cheerful nature had filled the ride to Eliyum with delightful tales that cheered the group. Plumpish like her mistress Shaylin, she shared a similar personality. In contrast, Evril's maid Lisa was short and slender, plain-featured, and rather taciturn. Even last summer at the Scren Mine estate, she had remained unobtrusively quiet, almost invisible.
Under the steward's guidance, the noble ladies and Olens entered the entrance hall, followed by the maids into the manor. The Loren estate on Poenneu Street in Eliyum was vast and imposing. Just inside the entrance stood a grand, ornate central staircase sweeping down from the upper balcony in lavish curves to the opulent lobby floor.
The group headed straight upstairs, trailed by servants unloading the luggage from the carriages. As in most great houses, passing the entrance lobby and ascending the wide stairs led along corridors to guest rooms, with the owners' bedrooms tucked behind inner doors further in.
"Jane, show the guests to their rooms. The guest wing should suffice."
Evril issued the order to the steward and hurried with Lisa toward her own inner chamber. Shaylin, who had a room she always used, went directly to a guest room before an inner door under another servant's lead. Olens and Olivier were given lavish guest quarters near the stairs.
After roughly unpacking, they descended to the first-floor dining hall for supper. Evril was already there, seated at the head of the table. Shaylin and Olivier sat side by side, while Olens took the first seat near Evril.
Dishes were laid out one by one, and the famished travelers began to eat. As Shaylin recounted episodes of the persistent suitors who had tormented her lately, Olivier dove eagerly into the conversation. Evril and Olens pretended to listen while exchanging heated glances. Each brush of Olens's gaze felt like silken threads of sensuality wrapping around her body; Evril bit her lower lip lightly and smiled.
Gazing at his soft brown hair, she had ached throughout the carriage ride to reach out and touch him—to clasp his hand and savor the warmth of his flesh, to tangle her fingers in those locks while gasping in ecstasy as heat pooled hot and wet between her thighs. The texture of his brown hair from their last encounter lingered in her palm. Amid their sticky, lingering looks, the meal drew to a close.
"Then let's retire for the night. Tomorrow, we'll visit Citéga to the southeast of Poenneu Street—the Eliyum Art Museum, the opera house, and the shopping district. Inside the shopping area are teahouses and the first western continent branch of Paralroma Workshop. Trevere dress shop is in the central area too. We'll eat breakfast and stroll leisurely."
Evril outlined the next day's plans, adding that fatigue meant an early bedtime. With elegant poise, she issued special instructions to the steward.
"Jane, Lady Pratt here dislikes crowds, and I've come to rest deeply this time, so ensure no staff except maids enter the second floor where the ladies are staying—keep it discreet."
The steward bowed courteously in response. Evril cast a fleeting glance at Olens, then dropped her eyes and whirled toward the stairs.
"Well, let's leave weary Lady Evril to rest and continue our chat? To my room."
Shaylin, having noted the vibe between Evril and Olens, rose as Evril departed, linking arms familiarly with Olivier and speaking in a bright voice. Olivier signaled Emily with a look to follow. Olens lingered in the now-empty dining hall before slowly ascending to the second floor. Behind him echoed the steward's orders to the staff: no one was to go upstairs where the young ladies resided unless summoned.
Evril dismissed her maid to rest and sat on the sofa in her room, waiting for Olens. Her chamber was the largest at the farthest corner of the inner corridor—originally the countess's, but with the mistress away, any family member could claim it.
Days of anticipation had set her whole body aflame; the carriage ride and their exchanged glances at dinner had left her already slick with arousal below. She had counted the hours recalling the tender ecstasy he had given her last time. Fortunately, Shaylin and Olivier had bonded instantly over shared interests, keeping them occupied without interference.
The slightly ajar door opened, and Olens slipped in, setting her heart pounding. He eased it nearly shut and strode straight to the sofa. His rough kiss and groping hand beneath her dress skirts made her quiver faintly. Nothing more was needed. Olens, too, pressed close with urgent motions, untying his breeches to seek relief for his inner heat in her welcoming wetness.
Evril half-reclined on the sofa, spreading her thighs wide to receive him.
"Haah..."
His raging shaft plunged deep into her already slick inner walls, and she arched her back. As he thrust downward, she bucked her hips to meet him. His penis filled her completely, fitting as perfectly as ever, her tight flesh gripping and squeezing it fiercely.
"Ngh... Ahk..."
Evril writhed at the heavy fullness invading her depths. The intense stimulation made her relax and clench in waves, her hot core heating further as friction built, warm fluids seeping out to slick everything. The slippery essence trickled down her cleft, dampening the sofa. Piercing sensations shot up her spine, tingling to her scalp.
She mindlessly spread her thighs wider, hips heaving.
"Mm, mm, mm... Ah..."
Olens gripped her wildly bucking hips to still them, pulling her flush against him. He drove forward fiercely. His hot, rigid length probed her swollen walls thoroughly, pausing deep before shaking up and down, withdrawing slightly only to plunge deeper, relentlessly ravaging her.
Gripping her pale, round ass, he hilted himself fully; she felt the slap of flesh against her sensitive perineum. As the heavy weight bore down on her drenched folds, grinding slowly, she clenched her buttocks tight at the grazing pleasure.
Squelch, squelch... Each thrust sent hot fluids overflowing within her. Every touching surface burned hot and raw, electric tingles sparking. Especially when she clenched, the perfect lock amplified the heavy pressure, driving her mad with excitement. As he delved in, soft, hot flesh enveloped him; at the end, her narrowing walls milked his tip.
Slippery nectar frothed white from friction, releasing a thick, musky scent like an intoxicating drug, making her writhe in rapture. Where his raging member met her puckered red inner lips, creamy white glistened; twin petals coated his thick shaft in long white cream streaks.
Repeating deep thrusts and half-withdrawals smeared the cream thicker, spreading to engulf her folds completely in white. The slick, sticky, chewy essence felt insanely good. Finally soaking to his root, it glistened transparently on his dark pubic hair.
"Ngh... Ahhht..."
Evril twisted, moaning uncontrollably, tensing her inner thighs. Muscles hardened and quivered faintly as his hips quickened. Her lewdly gaping, dripping petals suddenly clenched inward. The mounting fullness made her squeeze him fiercely from below.
Suddenly, the suffocating grip halted; her spasming walls convulsed irregularly around him. Her thigh strength melted away as a flood of hot fluid gushed from her swollen cavern. Limp in the waist, she clenched and released rhythmically, moaning.
"Ah... Mm..."
Olens savored her whimpering, full-body spasms before pistoning faster. Her hypersensitive flesh screamed, coiling around him. She clamped her thighs, rubbing deep to welcome his heat.
The countess's room on Poenneu Street filled with the wet, sticky sounds of their colliding flesh.