A knock on the door caused our laughter to halt.
"Who is it?"
"It's me, Clyde, the lady called for your company"
"Okay then you can return to your station" she ordered while contemplating for the cause of her summon.
"Steve I have to leave now, I hope that you find what you are aiming for"
"I will" I said as I smiled.
***
As Clair knocked on the door while gracefully carrying herself, a feminine voice resounded, "Who is it?"
"It's me Clair, my lady", she responded.
"Come in."
"Then please excuse me," she said as she pushed the door open and entered the room. The door closed behind her with a thud.
She saw her lady sitting crossed leg at the corner of the room.
The room was dimly lit only around where she sat. If a person entered this room at the moment he might not be able to sense Clair's presence due to how dark the room was even though it was bright outside due to the afternoon sun. Needless to say, as it was the room that lacked any ventilation.
The smell of herbs is prevalent in the air. The smell is diffusing from the desk in front of Lapis laden with herbs.
"Have you prepared a proper report?" Lapis asked.
"Yes, I have observed his actions as per your order. Needless to say, although he has an eccentric way of fighting he has proved his combat abilities"
"His ability in that field is decent, but I am not concerned about that. So, cut the chase and come to the point"
"Neither he seems tormented by his past nor has his eyes lost the will to live, in fact, how do I put it? He is kind of cheerful? His demeanor seems to be an anomaly among the summoned"
Lapis nodded at Clair's words and then continued, "Then will he be able to do it?"
"If you ask me, the answer to that is not as simple as yes or no. He doesn't possess any heaven-defying ability or any such that will help accomplish your goals but if you ask me, he might prove to be your greatest ally"
At this, a tight-lipped smile floated on Lapis's face.
"It seems that superficial means to gauge his value won't work anymore. He must have been keeping secrets" she tapped the desk with her forefinger. "Lapis, I have decided. Tonight you will sleep with him and get closer to him, as a woman"
"Pardon?!" Clair spouted in shock.
"Do you not understand? Tonight, you will offer him your body and try to understand him as much as possible. Is that clear?"
"Yes, my lady," she responded in a feeble voice submitting to the power harassment she was subjected to.
"You can leave now," She said as she went back to reading her book while Clair left the room.
***
Today she attended her maidly duties with a heavy mind. Fervent of emotions swayed in her mind.
Has she fallen so low that she has to now sleep with men who she harbors no feelings for? Would she now have to sell out her body to survive?
But what other choice does she have? Defying her master can either lead to her death or her being shunned from society as an outcast and knowing her master it will be the first of the two.
"I didn't want things to end like this. Now what should I do?".
For some reason, Steve's grinning face flashed across her eyes. "Perhaps if he refuses... No" Clair shook her head, "he has no reason to refuse".
Although she doesn't take pride in her beauty, she is more or less aware of it and knows that it will be very hard for a man to avoid such a temptation.
However, she didn't deem him responsible for her miserable situation, the fault was in her stars. She has no choice but to accept the situation as she has always done.
If she is lucky, then maybe she might experience love in her next life. In this life, however, there is no choice for her other than to be controlled by others, there is no hope for freedom.
***
"My lady has sent me to remind me of your task tonight," said a male butler to the redhead maid.
"I understand, you can return to your quarters Clyde," she said with a soft smile.
As the butler left she breathed out a sigh. "I guess it's time"
She walked through the hallway reaching her destination and then lightly knocked on the door while her hands trembled.
She was scared, if she had any courage she might have run away or might have taken her own life but, alas a coward like her can only dwindle in fear. Strangely there was no response from the room.
She knocked again but to no avail. Suspecting that Steve might have dozed off already she pushed open the door, only to find the room empty. A faint sound of splashing and splitting came from a closed door.
A wooden door, simple but without any defects.
This is the guest room of the mansion. Needless to say, it has its restroom unlike the soldier barracks or the servant's dorms.
That wooden door was a door to that very place. It seemed that Steve was inside.
She sighed again.
She sat on the bed and began undressing so that she doesn't need to explain the situation to Steve.
As she pulled down her uniform, her perky breasts were stood in their glory, which couldn't be hidden by her undies alone.
Her buxom figurine endowed with the best curves and her meaty ass, which were encapsulated till then were revealed for the world to ogle at.
She reached out her hands to her back, probably to remove her bra but stopped mid-way for an unknown reason. Something was still stopping her from going for the deed, her hands trembling no less.
"Clair, what are you doing here?!" Steve exclaimed as he witnessed the sight.
Seems like he just came out of the restroom.
It was not his fault, after all, anyone would be startled by this situation. Clair turned around to face Steve but didn't utter a word. Steve didn't say anything either waiting for her to reply.
The room was hushed with a strange silence that seems to indefinitely continue.
Neither of them uttered a word, one expecting the other to speak while the other one not having any courage to face the situation.
'Why is he standing there as if he is clueless? Seeing me half-naked in his room in the darkness of the night should be enough to explain what my intentions are, doesn't it?' That's what Clair thought.
She had already given in and just wanted to get done with the miserable night already.
As if to break the awkward silence, Steve continued, "I don't know if you are just being bold or if you have any feelings for me, but we can't do this, I already have someone I love."
Clair was taken aback by his dialogue and opened her mouth to speak but even before she could utter a word Steve continued, "In case you have any feelings for me, then I am sorry I won't be able to return the same."
'So it's the lady in the end, huh?'
"You don't have to worry about betraying my lady, she has ordered me to warm up your bed tonight", Clair finally spoke something even though she had decided to not utter a word tonight.
Steve seemed to be racking his brain when Clair said, "So you have nothing to worry"
"Nothing to worry? Of course, I have a lot of things to worry" Steve shouted seemingly annoyed.
Clair thought that maybe he felt offended due to the situation, but then she changed her mind as his actions showed otherwise.
He came close to her and placed both of his hands on her shoulders, holding them tightly.
He was about to push her down, or at least that was what Clair thought but was proved wrong by what followed.