Velma's cheeks flushed immediately, and she covered her face in shame. She had accidentally exposed something that was supposed to be a secret.
Ethan shifted closer to her and affectionately rubbed her arm. He could see her enormous cleavage had turned rosy pink. "Why did you do that, Mom? Isn't that going too far?"
Velma lowered her hands and grabbed her son's fingers. She was surprisingly strong for a woman.
"It is my responsibility as a mother," she replied sincerely. "My son's survival is of utmost importance for me. Therefore, I checked for erections every night and early morning. But I never found one until today."
"I thought your maturity was delayed, and that was a reassuring notion. However, Minnie's molestation triggered your first erection, and now we are in trouble."
Ethan looked down at his now throbbing groin. "I did get one due to Minnie… And another one in the bath…" He checked his arms and torso for signs of turning to stone. There were none.
Velma smoothened his hair lovingly. "Don't worry, dear… Only about an hour has passed since your first erection. We have enough time to take care of it."
Ethan sighed and relaxed. "Oh, that's a relief! But I don't know how."
All the sex talk and the perverse backstory had again led to a tent in his pants. He shifted uncomfortably and glanced at his mother with guilt. Even though they had had a long conversation on sexual topics, was it okay to get horny in your mother's presence?
Velma eyed his crotch with concern. "Let's get you some help, okay?"
"What help?" the boy asked curiously. "Do you mean someone is going to lend a helping hand?" He eyed Velma's hand resting on his thigh, and his eyes narrowed in suspicion. Her nails were inches away from his prick.
Ethan assumed something forbidden was going to happen. He steeled his nerves for it. 'Go on… I won't resist…' he subconsciously urged his mother. He remembered the popular saying—if it walks like a duck and quacks like a duck, then it is probably a duck.
"I…" Velma began. Her cheeks turned red in embarrassment again.
The boy licked his lips and gulped anxiously. This was it! His mom was about to take the first step of incest!
"Son… You've lived in the castle's protected areas since birth," Velma said, avoiding his gaze. "Adulthood for fertile male royals like you does not get the crown's sanction by default. As the future Count of the Cromwell family, even though you are eighteen, you are still considered a minor."
"Adulthood legally begins for you after a three-month waiting period, during which you'll be trained in mature activities under my supervision."
"Only if you pass the tests in flying numbers will you be bestowed upon with legal consent rights. Therefore, I must protect your body from the Asmodeus curse. I'll do what needs to be done..."
Ethan felt Velma's grip tighten on his thigh. His groin responded to the proximity, and blood rushed into it, giving his youthful pole a lift.
"Mom…" he murmured in discomfort and edged closer to her. "I won't blame you for fulfilling your parental obligations. Do what you think is right."
Velma leaned towards Ethan and said, "My sweet baby… Let's get rid of your first erection… Today, I'll take you to the barracks… The elves are waiting for you…"
***
Growing up, Ethan's access to Cromwell Castle was limited. He took his meals with his three sisters in a private dining hall. The boy could play in the garden or spend leisure time in the recreational rooms. He was permitted to visit the library as long as he didn't read from the restricted section.
Ethan wasn't allowed into the Countess' Office, where his mother worked, and he was categorically forbidden to visit the Barracks, where the soldiers were lodged.
Velma had succeeded her late husband as the Countess. She managed the castle staff, which included knights, maids, and counselors. A group of villages around the Cromwell estate came under her dominion.
It made sense to remember that Promiscua was a woman's world. Apart from Ethan, every single member of Cromwell Castle was a female.
The boy figured out why he had never met an elf before. While knights were in charge of castle security and were exclusively humans, they were not the same as soldiers. The latter lived outside the castle premises, in the barracks, and consisted only of the elf race.
Elves were a unique species, usually as tall as or taller than humans. Their lithe, shapely bodies caused jealousy among other races. However, they were also hardy, strong, and light on their feet. Their outstanding physical attributes made them fit for the military.
The only drawback of the elven race was their below-average intelligence. Moreover, they had no ambition to rule or form a kingdom. It made sense to recruit elves into the military and take advantage of their superior gifts.
A Countess like Velma was allowed to retain a small army of three hundred soldiers. However, since the budget was tight nowadays, she had only one eighty-seven elves in the barracks. Only a few of them were veterans.
The sun had set, and darkness had begun to color the sky. Velma led her son out through the garden maze. The duo took a cobbled path until they reached an inconspicuous, low gate. It bore the sigil of a six-pointed star.
While Ethan was fascinated that he was discovering more of the fantasy world, he was anxious about being led into a gathering of elven soldiers. Often, in reincarnation stories, such locations were death traps. You made a small mistake, and you ended up dead.
The mother and son reached a rectangular building with stables on either side. Velma asked the guards following them to stay back and led Ethan inside the barracks through the back door.
As the duo walked into a torch-lit corridor, they heard merry-making and singing noises. Freshly cooked meat and the smell of cheap wine stung their nostrils.
Ethan was about to meet elves for the first time in his life.