Glenn finally crossed the bridge connecting the castle to the royal consort candidate's tower. His legs carried him hurriedly back to his refuge after exhausting days of battle.
His battle mage robe, soaked in sweat and marked by combat tears, seemed to weigh twice as much with each step. His muscles ached, and his mind was tired and lethargic.
As he opened the door to his room, a wave of welcoming warmth and the subtle scent of incense enveloped his senses, like a comforting embrace.
Hera was waiting for him.
She wore a light green silk robe that accentuated her ample bust, with embroidered details reminiscent of alchemical runes. A long slit on the side revealed her shapely thighs, covered by white, semi-transparent thigh-high stockings.
Her brown hair seemed even shinier that night, matching the comforting atmosphere of the room.
Her smile was calm, but her golden eyes sparkled with a mix of relief and admiration as she saw him enter.
"Finally," she said, her voice as soft as a whisper of wind. "You did it, young master, just as I said you would." She walked slowly and enveloped him in a cozy hug.
Glenn smiled wearily, collapsing his body weight into Hera's arms. His head nestled into her shoulder, while his heartbeat slowly began to calm down.
His inner energy was practically depleted, his muscles twitched in sporadic spasms, and his knees struggled to keep him standing.
Hera's agile hands began to work, delicately removing the parts of the robe that had once been magnificent and well-crafted. She unfastened the straps and buckles with precise and careful movements, as if she knew exactly where each piece fit and how to remove it without causing further discomfort.
"Your body is as cold as ice, young master," she teased, with a slight tone of reproach. "We need to take care of that."
"Hmmm..." Glenn replied, letting Hera take the reins of whatever her intentions were.
Glenn felt immediate relief as he was freed from the battle garments. Hera placed the pieces in a side basket in the corner of the room.
Glenn's body, though cold, was drenched in sweat, which had formed small frozen fragments clinging to his skin.
But Hera had everything under control. Glenn was now only in his underwear.
She guided him to a cot covered with soft sheets, where incense burned in a small bronze burner, releasing a calming and comforting fragrance of lavender and sandalwood.
"Lie down," she ordered gently, helping him settle. "You need to relax before thinking about anything else."
Glenn obeyed, feeling the cot give way under his weight.
Hera began to massage his shoulders, her skilled hands relieving the accumulated tension. Her touch was firm but gentle, and the heat from the incense seemed to penetrate his muscles, dissolving every knot of stress and raising his body temperature.
"You did something incredible out there," she murmured as she worked on his shoulders. "Your name will become known inside and outside the demonic territory."
"I know!" Glenn replied, melancholic. "At first, I thought I was just a puppet raised to be constantly humiliated."
"I thought Selene had put a target on my head just to make me understand my situation, that I was nothing but dust in the grand scheme of things."
"But?" Hera questioned, applying a firmer massage to his muscles.
"Pheww..." Glenn sighed. "But, after I won the first matches, I realized it might be possible. Even in the toughest matches, I... I enjoyed the feeling, the adrenaline rushing through my veins, time slowing down in crucial moments," he admitted.
"Young master, can I tell you something if you promise it won't leave this room?" Hera said sensually into Glenn's ear.
"Alright!"
"Master Elian said you're a battle addict. That, although you have many qualities of today's geniuses, what really sets you apart is that you enjoy fighting, hahaha," she finished with a light laugh.
"Look who's talking about me, the unwashed scoundrel!" Glenn retorted. "If it weren't for the extensive schedule of simulated battles he put me through, how could I be like this today? It's almost as if he gave me addictive substances."
"Hahahaha," Hera laughed lightly.
"Anyway, we all bet on what your score would be by the end."
"You bet? And who won?"
"Well... Hmm... I bet on fifteen wins and the rest on draws and losses. I lost badly, young master. I apologize for not believing in your potential," she said in a tearful voice.
"Dahlia, Lesley, and Rose weren't any better. They both bet between fifteen to eighteen wins and the rest divided between draws and losses."
"So it was Elian in the end! That damn guy is scary!" Glenn commented.
A small silence took over the place before being broken by words that left Glenn incredulous.
"It wasn't Master Elian either."
"It wasn't? What score did he bet on?"
"Twenty wins, ten losses, and six draws."
"Not too different from what I achieved, except that I suffered fewer losses. It was a balanced guess. And yet, someone got even closer to my actual result. Who?" Glenn questioned, unable to link the idea to anyone else.
"Yes, Her Majesty, Queen Selene, bet on five losses, twelve draws, and nineteen wins."
Glenn's body tensed momentarily at Hera's words.
'She was only off by one fight? How is that possible?'
"Are you telling me the queen was also in on the bet?"
"Yes, young master. In fact, she was the one who proposed the idea when Lesley commented that she was the person who knew your potential the best. But, apparently, both Master Elian and Queen Selene seem to know you like the back of their hands."
'This is madness. How much of an analyst do you have to be to guess my fight results so closely?'
"Hera?"
"Yes, young master."
"Just out of curiosity, what was the prize for the bet?"
"Sorry, young master, unfortunately, I can't share such confidential information," Hera teased.
"Hera!!!!!"
"Sorry, young master. You'll have to find out for yourself when you meet the queen!"
"Phew... Not only did I have a hellish month of battles, but I'm also the subject of a bet."
"Yes, young master. Your life brightens our days with happiness!"
"Hera, are you saying you enjoy seeing me suffer?"
"Hahahaha... Who knows!" she said in a seductive voice.
Suddenly, I felt two soft mountains begin to slide along the length of my back. Two hard points at the center of the mountains lightly scratched my skin, sliding through the aromatic oils.
"But now it's time to take care of you."
Her hands slid to the front of my body, massaging my balls, while her breasts pressed against my back in movements that increased my curiosity to turn around and look.
My body relaxed, but my cock got hard, very hard. Before I could say anything, Hera's hands pressed firmly on my body, turning me over.
One of her hands massaged my balls, while the other massaged my pelvis. Her ample breasts gently enveloped my cock.
That sensation was akin to being swallowed by the clouds.
All the pain in my body faded away, and a soft mouth with a voracious tongue pressed against my lips. Our kiss was hot and lustful, our tongues intertwined while her hand gripped my penis firmly, masturbating me.
The scent of her body, the taste of her saliva, and the softness of her breasts dispelled all the worries from my mind. All the accumulated stress from the past days, as well as all my doubts about the future, disappeared.
Our warm bodies bubbled with arousal, while a hot, uncontrollable liquid burst from my balls, spreading through the air and drenching Hera from head to toe.
"Look at this, young master made a mess. Now we'll have to take a bath to clean up," she said in a naughty voice mixed with expectation, guiding Glenn to the bathroom.