If that was an invitation, Dimitri wouldn't dare to touch the king's concubine.
"And have you always been true to yourself?" Dimitri asks out of curiosity. He hasn't moved on from the smile she showed earlier.
He continues to rub sore spots on her foot soles, this time avoiding the places that make Maridawn ticklish.
"I always show the better version of myself, Dimitri," she answers, nonchalantly. "As a matter of fact, why would anyone in existence actually show themselves in public? It's like baring yourself naked for everyone to see."
His fingers stop and he adds with a bit of his musings. "Aren't we always shown naked after we change wolf forms?"
She stares at him, dumbfounded with his question. "As a Silverfang alpha female, I won't dare to change to my human form without the presence of my beta servants ready for my clothes."
She still calls herself an alpha, Dimitri thinks, trying to hide his disdain. As her alpha attendant, he has to consider her feelings and at the same time he needs to give her a reality check. Well, he would worry about that later when they cross that bridge.
"So, what does the king look like?" She asks, deciding to change the topic.
"Funny story," he says as he continues to pull her toes, giving a good euphoric cracking sound. "For the years I've stayed here in the palace, I have never seen the king in person at all."
"True," she hums, the relief shown on her face as he continues to focus on the aching spot that needs to be massaged. "Even the media could never grab a photo of the current king. I believe he's still quite young?"
"Yes, he's a bit older than you. If we do the math, the king is around his early thirties."
"Which reminds me, if you don't mind me asking, how old are you, Dimitri?"
"Me?" Dimitri notices that Maridawn likes talking about him. Another mental note is not to be closer to her beyond just an alpha attendant and his omega in charge.
Yet, his mood for teasing his charge earlier doesn't end like that. So his lips form into a mischievous grin. "You have to guess, Miss Silverfang."
She in turn, responding to that annoying grin with a frown. After all, she doesn't expect to see this side of him even though her impression of this young alpha has the charisma of an aristocrat.
"Err, no?" Dimitri looks crestfallen, a dramatic sigh as he goes on with his massage.
"22."
"Hmm?"
She sighs, submitting to his childish guessing game. "I thought you were 22 when I first met you."
He chuckles a bit, delighted to see her open up to him. It's important to have a friendly relationship with the omega, after all. "Close enough. I'm two years younger than that."
"Then you have been in the palace during your teenage years," Maridawn says, looking rather surprised. And not to mention…twenty?! Dear Lord, Dimitri is like a fowl coming out from its nest to taste the real world!
"I have only been in the palace for three years. I started applying at 17, befriended Kevin since he was a year older than me and then learned the ropes of becoming a fully-pledged alpha attendant." He stops his fingers as he stands up.
"Okay, Miss Silverfang, I hope your feet are fine now."
She curls up her toes and touches her heels. "Feeling much better than I thought," she says.
"I'm glad to be in your service then," he says as he does the slight bow to Maridawn's annoyance and excuses himself to the room.
"If you need anything else, feel free to reach out to me or any of the beta servants."
Before he touches the door knob, he halts, remembering something. "One more thing, Miss Silverfang."
He turns to his charge and Maridawn waits for him expectedly. "It's an obligation of the concubine to have herself educated about the palace system here."
"Like lessons of becoming a true concubine?" Maridawn waits expectantly for an affirmation and Dimitri just nods.
"You will be under the tutelage of Madame Ping as she was the head maid of the former late queen."
Fascinated, Maridawn places her thumb under her chin as she thinks for a while before smiling. "It will be interesting to know a bit of the political system, don't you think so? I wonder what kind of lectures she has in store for me."
Dimitri doesn't answer but instead bites the insides of his mouth, his charge has to see it for herself after all instead of correcting her.
'I mean, it won't be difficult for her tomorrow, right?' He thinks as he smiles at Maridawn before he leaves the room.
<<<>>>
Apparently, no.
"This is outrageous! You must have hit yourself on the head if you think I would do this!"
He has been frowning since the beginning of the first day of the session as Maridawn continues to go from one outburst to another.
The merriment of seeing his omega has long gone because Maridawn is indeed raised by the most conservative wolf pack in the country.
Maridawn's maids have been scurrying around the pavilion house as they were making them move non-stop from the endless demands of their new master. She requested a lot of furniture, food for specific stores and clothes from designer labels that she prepared this morning.
And by the looks of the maids as her list fell on the floor, they knew they had to do this without a mistake, to please their new master.
Dimitri is starting to worry and knowing these maids, they will spread their gossip around the palace. Potentially reaching the ears of the king.
As an alpha attendant, he needs to make the situation under control.
Going back to the situation, Maridawn glares at Madame Ping as her hands are defending her bosom. Madame Ping, on the other hand, carries with her cane. Dimitri raises his brow, wondering why she needs it in the first place since she can perfectly walk well despite her age.
She doesn't back out in a fight. Her years of experience with omegas has shown here. Her eyes narrow, then she pokes Maridawn's forehead with her cane.
It catches Maridawn off-guard and although it wasn't painful, she remains stunned.
"Young lady, if you don't get rid of that attitude of yours, you won't be ready for the king."
Maridawn crosses her arms, her face flustered from the humiliation of being poked on the forehead. "What's the point of doing this, Madame Ping? As I've already said, I'm no longer a virgin! So checking if I were akin to one isn't necessary."
"But with a little herbal medicine and a faint use of magic, we could tighten your inner womanhood to please the king."
"That's why you're off your rocker if you think that magic still exists in this era!" She bellows. "Besides, I am perfectly fine as I am now."
The elderly gives a glaring look at Dimitri and he instinctively winces from her cold stare. He knows it is also his job to make her a perfect concubine after all. Sighing as he rubs the frontal temple between his eyebrows, he forms a lazy grin as he approaches his charge.
"Oh, we can't skip this process, Miss Silverfang," he says, carefully. He must not rile her up and he continues to observe her. "You and I know what duty is about."
Maridawn looks back at him. She exhibits both anger and humiliation in her eyes while scowling. Yet, Dimitri continues without letting her refute.
"Because since you don't believe in magic, think of it as a… placebo effect."
"You know that won't work if you say it right in the open there, Dimitri." She sighs. "I just don't want Madam Ping to enter her fingers…" she falters as her cheeks redden from the thought. "...inside of me."
"Ah, then as your alpha attendant, it is my duty to do it. Don't worry Miss Silverfang, my fingers won't hurt you."