The Warmth of Submission
The bathtub, spacious enough to easily accommodate two people, was filled to the brim with perfectly warm water. I soaked in it alongside Rika. It felt as though my entire body was melting into a state of blissful languor. Rika, too, seemed to find relief as the tension drained from her exhausted, near-collapsing frame, and a touch of vitality returned to her face.
"Haaah..." Yet, even as she enjoyed the hot water, Rika seemed utterly amazed by its very existence. "How is there so much hot water...? Is there a hot spring running beneath the building?"
"No, I don't think so. Probably." I had never heard of a hot spring in Lurie. If there were, I wouldn't have had to travel so far away for my recuperation.
"Then how...?"
"Well, it is the power of money and technology. Unless it is a top-tier hotel, you cannot use hot water this lavishly."
"Is that so...?" Fascinated, Rika moved her arms, stirring the water in the tub. To Rika, who hailed from the northern tribes, the concept of bathing in hot water might have felt entirely foreign. However, soaking her weary mind and body in a warm bath seemed to bring her immense comfort. But then, that would be true for any human being.
Watching her, I spoke up gently. "Rika, how is your body feeling? What about your back passage? It is a delicate area, so if you feel any discomfort, we must address it immediately."
My tone was entirely different from when I had made her wail like a dog earlier. Perhaps recalling those recent memories, Rika replied in a small, hushed voice. "I-I believe I am fine. My body is quite resilient..."
"Did it hurt a lot?"
"It did not... hurt. It was simply... a sensation I had never anticipated..." Her face, already flushed from the heat of the water, turned an even deeper shade of crimson. She was clearly recalling the shock of having her rear invaded.
I asked in a sweet, gentle voice, "Are you perhaps wishing to climax?"
Rika waved her hands in frantic denial. "N-No, absolutely not! Since it was a punishment Your Highness bestowed upon me... I intend to accept it gratefully. I would never harbor such thoughts..."
"It is fine. This is not a trick question. Please, answer me honestly."
"Ugh..." Rika blinked as she stared at me, before finally whispering, "I... I wish to... go..."
"Fufu, very well. Since you have reflected sufficiently and answered honestly... I shall grant you a special pardon this time."
Feeling the resistance of the water, I glided closer to Rika. Watching me approach, she swallowed hard, her throat tight with anticipation.
"Hngh...!"
Submerged in the warm water, Rika's clit and folds were incredibly soft. The moment I slipped my fingers into her wet slit, her body shuddered violently. Her teased body, her exhausted mind, and the warm bath melting everything away... Rika was perfectly primed for the ultimate climax. And I was more than willing to gift it to her.
Without any intention of teasing her further, I parted her folds wide and began to thoroughly work my fingers inside her.
"Haaah... Ngh... P-Princess...!"
Just then, Rika's arms suddenly wrapped around my shoulders.
"R-Rika...?"
"I-I am sorry, Princess... Ah... When you treat me so gently... I..."
She hugged me tightly with a strength entirely unlike her usual hesitant self, where she barely dared to touch my body. For some reason, my own heart fluttered slightly.
"P-Princess... May I... kiss you?"
Her face was desperate, as if she were making the most important request of her life. I smiled softly and replied, "Yes, you may. Kiss me."
Held fast in Rika's embrace, I accepted her kiss. Inside my mouth, her tongue eagerly sought out my own, driven by pure desire. Even as we kissed, I did not stop the fingers ravishing her wet heat.
"Mmph... Ngh...!"
Rika's walls clamped down hard around my fingers. I felt the muscles in the arms holding me tighten. Stirring her tongue inside my mouth, Rika surrendered to her climax. Her orgasm lasted for a remarkably long time, likely because she had been teased for so long. In the warm water, Rika's face looked completely melted, as if she had dissolved into the bath itself.
"Princess Sera..."
As if she had forgotten all the hardships she had endured today, her gaze was filled with nothing but profound happiness. Looking down at her, I smiled playfully. "You held back for so long. Do you really think just once will be enough?"
"What? P-Please, let me rest for a moment... Hngh...!"
Ignoring her plea, I thrust two fingers back into her wet slit. Contrary to her words, her tight walls clamped firmly around my fingers, sucking them in greedily.
"Fufu, your lower mouth says otherwise."
Wearing a provocative smile, as if licking my lips, I began to vigorously stir inside her. The sound of splashing water and Rika's sweet groans echoed continuously throughout the steam-filled bathroom. All through the night.
"The Black Hand Mercenary Group... Good, I like them," Rika said, scanning the men seated in a corner of the guild. On paper, they certainly seemed experienced and reliable. However, it was up to Rika to judge whether they were truly useful.
I watched Rika from a slight distance, my hood pulled low over my face. There was no benefit in revealing the Princess's face unnecessarily. As an amateur in these matters, all I could do was trust Rika. Still, judging by their appearances, they didn't look much different from a band of bandits. Perhaps that was just how mercenaries were.
I spotted a few faces that clearly didn't belong to the Rustie Kingdom. There were even quite a few northerners, just like Rika.
"Next is the matter of payment. The amount written on that paper will be split into two installments: one upon signing the contract, and the other upon completion of the mission..."
Just then, one of the men raised his hand high. Rika looked at him and asked, "Do you have an objection?"
"Well, you could say that. We'd like a little extra compensation."
"You want more than this? I believe this is a fair wage."
"Oh, the money is plenty. Heheh. But when you show off breasts that huge, a man can't help but want to get his hands on them. How about we add a clause to the contract? Once the job is done, we get to do whatever we want with those tits of yours."
Ha... The Black Hand Mercenary Group, was it? I didn't care about the deal anymore. It was time to concoct some charge and test their combat capabilities. Let's see how well they could fight against the Royal Guard. Just as I was quietly suppressing my murderous intent, Rika uttered words that made me doubt my own ears.
"Very well."
The man let out a vulgar chuckle, grinning repulsively. Laughing that crudely was practically a talent in itself. Was she serious? Accepting such an absurd condition... I wondered if I should smack the back of Rika's head to snap her out of it. Just as I was about to take a step forward—
"But is there any need to wait until the mission is over? You there. If you wish, you may come and touch them right now."
The man who had spoken up stepped forward, practically beaming with joy. His tone, which had at least attempted a facade of politeness, turned completely crude.
"For real? Heheh, talk about a jackpot. This is gonna be a fun job."
Reaching his hands out vulgarly, the man approached Rika. But those hands never made contact with her breasts.
*SLAP!*
"...Geh?!"
The cheek of the man approaching Rika flushed a violent red. The force of the blow was enough to tilt his entire upper body sideways.
To the dazed man struggling to process the sudden pain, Rika said, "What is the matter? Did you not wish to touch my breasts? Continue."
"Y-You bitch...!"
Enraged, the man lunged at her with full force. But once again, Rika's slaps completely shattered his momentum.
*SLAP! SLAP! SLAP!*
After several repeated attempts, the man finally seemed to realize the truth: Rika was completely dominating him with just one hand, without her breathing changing in the slightest. Dejected, the man let his arms hang limply by his sides. He clearly had no intention of trying again. Rika averted her gaze from him and addressed the other mercenaries.
"Is there anyone else who wishes to try? If not, then I suppose it was not a particularly important matter. I shall dismiss the request."
With those words, Rika calmly resumed reading the next terms of the contract. From then on, the process of finalizing the agreement proceeded without a single hitch.
"Are you sure those guys are going to be alright?"
"Yes, Your Highness. They appeared to be well-accustomed to rough work. They have been executing their contracts diligently as well. Is there something you are dissatisfied with...?"
"It's not so much dissatisfaction... but it is my first time seeing someone make such vulgar remarks during a formal, important contract negotiation."
"Well, that is about average for mercenaries. He likely harbored some resentment about having to follow my command during the mission. It is a cliché tactic—trying to fluster the opponent with absurd nonsense."
So they never expected her to agree to it in the first place. On top of that, the idiot who spoke up was thoroughly beaten as an example. In other words, they were the ones who had been completely intimidated. If that was the case, the guy who actually stepped forward to touch her breasts would probably be treated as a pariah within the mercenary group from now on.
"Hmm... Do you think they might harbor a grudge? Maybe not just that one guy, but the whole group..."
"If they wish to abandon their mercenary careers and live as mere bandits, perhaps. However, they did not all seem to be such fools. A low-tier mercenary group of that caliber would have been wiped out or subjugated long ago."
I nodded at her words. When it came to evaluating mercenaries, Rika, with her experience as a commander, would be far more accurate than I.
"Very well. Rika, I will trust your judgment."
"Thank you, Princess."
In any case, Rika's reserve force was now ready, even if a few minor procedures remained. Our preparations to depart for Lorencia and accept Tina Lorencia's invitation were now nearly complete.