The convoy drove on. There were no more clouds to be seen between the treetops, only the sparkling night sky.

Meia had finished her bowl. Violet was still eating.

"Wasn't there something else you wanted to ask me earlier?"

"Ah, yes. Can you tell me about your swords?"

"Sure, what do you want to know?"

"What kind of alloy is it?"

"The alloy... Do you have another question?"

"You don't know?"

"No, I'm sorry."

"Then do you have any guesses as to what the swords might be made of?"

"No." She seemed to think for a moment. "I'm afraid I don't know much about metal."

Meia didn't know if she should ask another question. On the one hand, it didn't seem like Violet was trying to avoid her, but on the other hand, she had certainly taken the swords to a blacksmith for maintenance. Any blacksmith would at least have an idea. That Violet still didn't share anything perhaps meant she didn't want to answer the question.

"Sorry if I'm being intrusive. You don't have to tell me anything if you don't want to."

"No, no, that's all right. Feel free to ask any question. I don't seem to know anything anyway, fufu."

"Then can you tell me what you know? Where did you get them?"

"I got the swords from my father, but I don't know where he got them. They're quite sharp and sturdy. You can stand on them and they still won't bend. There are hardly any weapons that are like that, which makes them somewhat valuable. If I sold them, I wouldn't have to work for a while, fufu."

"..." ~Somewhat valuable? They look like you could buy a house with them.~

"You look disappointed. I'm sorry I can't help you."

"No. Thank you very much for telling me."

"Maybe you should ask a blacksmith if you want to know more. The swords are quite well known. My father has presented them to the Metal Guild several times in the past."

Meia would ask if she could have a look at the swords, but she had the impression that Violet would decline. A professional never revealed his tricks. "Thanks, I guess I'll do that then." Meia would probably have to ask a blacksmith indeed. "Earlier you mentioned a Count Rauch. Was that about the owner of Rauch Wächter?"

"Yes, he's a recurring client."

"You know him? Do you know him well?"

"You could say that. We're close."

"Very close?" Meia asked with admiration.

"Sometimes."

"If that's the case and you've been there recently, have you seen the new models?"

"Maybe I've seen weapons, but if so, I'm contractually obliged not to reveal anything about them."

"Wow." ~She did.~ "Do you get to meet many such important people as an adventurer?

"Adventurer? I'm a mercenary."

"But you go to new places and discover unknown things?"

"Hmm, I do go to places I haven't been before, but I don't discover anything." Violet said in her normal tone. She didn't seem to mind.

"But you spend a lot of time in nature and experience exciting things?"

"I'd rather do without it... Besides, I have a house. I hardly ever do jobs that long."

A fork in the road came into view. Maybe it led to the watchtower. Meia went straight to the next question.

"Aren't you worried that we've been exposed?"

"Oh, because of him? He's harmless. As long as you don't have a problem with being spied on in the toilet at least."

He was a peeper! Meia had known immediately that he was somehow strange. Was that why they were separated, because he had secretly peeping on her? Meia couldn't help but imagine Violet in a swimsuit. It was skimpy, but stylish. Her body was a perfect hourglass. Strong muscles and obscenely large breasts - Meia was perhaps a little jealous. - Violet wasn't at the seaside, but in a bathtub. How was he watching her there? Through a hole in the wall? If that was really the case, would anyone really want to continue any relationship with a peeper? Violet didn't seem angry enough for that to make sense. Maybe Meia was deceiving herself. It was all just speculation anyway.

"He peeps on women? Shouldn't he be arrested then?"

"I guess so, if you can prove it..." Unconcerned, Violet shoved the next spoonful into her mouth.

~Is it that hard to prove it to him? Is he some kind of professional peeper? With abseiling?~

Violet was way too relaxed. Maybe you had less to hide when you were a beauty? Is that why she wasn't so angry? Meia noticed Violet's breasts again. They were still obscenely large, but that wasn't the point. It was about how they were displayed. The vendor had built an extra stand in the middle of the street for his overgrown melons. That was completely inconsiderate. The other vendors had to close their stands because the fruit was stunted in contrast, but that wasn't the point either. Violet did it on purpose. Meia didn't know her goals, but she certainly wanted the looks. Meia didn't judge it, after all, who didn't want them?

Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit.

Once a week, the soldiers exercised with their upper bodies bare in the courtyard so that the maids on the logias could see their muscles. This was not official training. Once a week, the maids stood on the loggia so that the men could look up at them. It wasn't work. They all came voluntarily because they wanted to be seen. - But not all of them.

Who didn't want the looks? The answer was: Someone with shortcomings.

Violet was like a goddess in her beauty, so she was relaxed. That was probably how it was.

Violet swallowed and continued. "It's just my opinion. He's idolized by others as a genius. It's gone to his head."

"Um, a genius?"

"He too is a mercenary. He gathers information about targets or offers it on his own initiative. Everything is always true and people think he's a genius."

"But isn't he a genius if everything is always true? Where else does he get the information from?"

"He's just a persistent guy..."

Violet had avoided her question. Apparently she didn't want to talk about him anymore. She probably resented him after all.

As Meia looked towards the front of the carriage, she noticed a glitter. The fairy was hovering at the side of the wagon and scolding Falko.

"Can you tell me how she floats?"

"That's another thing she can do by nature."

"Can you learn it?"

"You can't. She can't teach you something she hasn't learned herself."

"I was expecting it. I have another question."

"Sure. Hit me."

"How did you do that, with your voice?"

"Oh that... It's a little trick that someone once taught me. If you know how to do it, it's quite easy to resist. It also only works if what you want seems plausible. That's why I threatened you first, to make it more believable. Besides, you remember it later. Pretty useless, isn't it? I mainly use it in the bar." Violet started to whisper. "You have to serve the woman with the purple eyes first. If she goes, so do the others. - Kinda like that."

~It seems like she's serious.~

"Ah, okay, it still sounds rather useful. How long does it take to learn something like that?"

"Would you like too?"

Violet seemed pleased for once.

"Y-Yes."

"I guess you don't want to be a maid anymore, or do you just want to give work to your colleagues. Like I said, they will remember it, you know."

"I just want to learn it. There's no reason."

"Fufu, So?~ Hmm, But unfortunately you won't be able to learn such abilities."

Violet just made an assertion and apparently expected a reaction.

"Why not?"

"You don't have the necessary aptitude. If you had it, you'd already know."

"Couldn't I learn it anyway?"

"You could, but it's not worth the time. You should stick to the sword or other things you are good at."

"..." Meia believed Violet's assessment. She knew herself that she had no talents whatsoever. Still, she had hoped to hear something different for a change.

"Sounds disheartening, doesn't it? It's supposed to be. It's better to trip up someone who's reaching for the stars." Violet continued to eat, "Or something like that." she added quickly.

Meia had the feeling the phrase was either flawed or incomplete.

"Don't be disappointed. Not everyone has to be able to do everything."

For someone who could seemingly do everything, that was easy to say. In the end, starting capital counted for more in life than commitment. Meia nodded nonetheless.

"But how can I defend myself against that now?"

"Oh, that's easy. Don't believe me, fufufu."

"How am I supposed to do that?"

"Hm... You wanna try again?"

"Will it do any good?

"Maybe it will. Let's see. Ready?"

"Erm... Mhm."

Violet put her hand on Meia's leg. She leaned in close and breathed to her: "Someone is touching your neck."

At that moment, Meia felt as if someone was grabbing the back of her neck. Meia was shocked. She leaned forward to escape. The bowl fell off the bench with a clatter. Just as Meia thought she was safe, she grabbed her neck to check. She had expected to touch fingers. She had expected a large hand with a lot of strength. But there was nothing.

Violet immediately bent down to Meia. She looked her in the eye and her gaze seemed concerned. "Are you all right?" At the same time, she grabbed her upper arm with the flat of her hand and left it there. Only when Meia had sat upright again did she let go. In passing, Meia also picked up the bowl.

"I'm sorry. People usually react different. How did it feel?"

"Like someone was trying to drag me away."

Meia could still feel it now. It was as if a hand had been around her neck.

"I apologize again. It was not intended like that."

"It's all right. Wait... I didn't have a chance to do anything."

"Yes you did, you had a chance. You just trust me too much. I do appreciate it, but what did I do to deserve it? Just because I got you out of the carriage? If you hate your work so much, why don't you quit? Or is someone forcing you to stay?"

What she suspected was not entirely wrong. "I don't hate my work." Meia said nonetheless, trying to sound credible.

Meia couldn't just quit. It would ruin the name of her family, which had been entrusted to her. Even if she didn't like her father, she still had a brother who had to live with this name.

Violet placed her bowl to the right of her, then took her bowl from Meia's hand and placed it in the other. When that was done, she took Meia's now empty hand and reached around her head with her other hand. Meia didn't understand what it was all about at that moment. "What-" Suddenly, Violet pushed her head down. Actually, it wasn't really a pushing. It was more of a driving. Meia felt her soft palm on her ear and fled with her head. Meia hadn't expected Violet to do something like this. She couldn't decide quickly enough what to say or if she should say anything and just stuttered. Violet drove her exactly where she wanted her without any resistance.

In the end, Meia lay with her head in her lap and her hand under her ear. In the corner of her eye, she saw her index finger resting on her cheek. Violet had no nail polish. Her nail had a natural beauty. The position was awkward. Especially the warmth under her face was awkward.

Violet's fingers moved. She gently moved them along her ear and neck.

"How does this feel?"

Meia didn't know. She couldn't concentrate on it. Her heart was beating too fast. Meia was sure Violet could feel it through her legs, which only made it beat faster. If things went on like this, horizontal would be a posture she would adopt permanently.

"Um... Good." Meia could barely get a word out because she was so embarrassed. Her face was probably as red as her cape.

"Next time you think about someone touching you, think about this."

"Mhm." This time Meia said nothing. Was that the only reason she was doing this?

"Good."

Violet's hand moved away. It seemed to be over. Meia was relieved, put her hand next to her on the bench and pushed herself up again - at least that was her intention, but Violet noticed the escape attempt and skillfully prevented it by grabbing her hand, placing it on her leg and then holding it there.

"No, you're still lying down."

It was with a smile, but it gave the impression of an order. Did she not actually understand how Meia felt? That was almost impossible. At the same time, she started stroking her again. That was- That was coercion. Meia didn't know exactly what coercion was, but that was probably it. Meia was being force-mothered.

"If you purr now, I'll feel right at home, fufu."

Did that mean she had a cat? Violet wouldn't let go of her. Meia had no choice. She couldn't fight back. She heard her half-laugh. She laughed like that quite often. She was never really laughing. She always laughed like that. Was it rehearsed? Her fingers were very soft. Meia had noticed that the whole time. They weren't the hands of a swordsman. How did she manage to keep her skin so soft? Her legs were soft too. Her pants were wet, but her legs were warm. It was like two pillows. Was this what it was like to have a mother? Meia smelled wet leather from her boots and raspberry from the dust and ... Meia didn't want to think it was sweat. Sweat didn't sound right. It was a scent. Why was she doing this...

.../ End Part