32. Before the Succession Ceremony and the Tentacle Armor Tryouts

Kiara had a lot on her mind. She wanted to go meet the Count again, but then found out that the Count had left for Sodenterlend. She thinks she wants to accept the deal, but then, she wasn't so sure. She wished she had someone to discuss such a terrible thing, but yet, she couldn't bear to reveal the truth to her mother.

They were having tea, while aides briefed them on the affairs of the Kenarias lands. Her mother, Erenia, exuded an aura of peace that she didn't want to disrupt. She seemed a lot happier now, nodding as the aides narrated the events. It was a lot better than the visibly torn and tired appearance she had back when she was at home, in... captivity. Even her attendants agreed.

"It's good to hear good news coming out from the Kenarias land at last." Erenia said, as her own aide read out the week's update. In fact, some of the other nobles started to reach out, and Kiara sat there as her mother read the letters from the other ladies of the Imperial Court. There was a stack of missives, mostly congratulatory, on the table next to her.

There was a pleasant smile on her face that she couldn't quite explain, a sense of relief. Erenia, smiled at her daughter. "It feels nice to be in charge of our own life again. Things are finally getting better."

Her daughter sat there, and looked at her mother. She wondered how her mother could just lie to her. "Mother, are things really getting better? Is the deal with Count Edmund-"

"It'll be fine." Her mother smiled and said with incredible conviction. "The Count's just a lecherous old man who thinks with his nether regions. I've dealt with many such men before, so don't worry. All you need to do, is stay away from him. Let me handle him."

"You'll 'handle' him, eh." Kiara repeated.

Her mother placed her hand on Kiara's shoulder. "I may be an old woman, but yes, I can handle him."

Kiara looked at her mother, and just sighed. Lies.

"Oh, this one's for you."

It was a letter from another lady her age, her mother didn't open it, but just passed it to her. One of the other catty-ladies for their social circle. She read it, then she immediately tore it up, and cursed.  "Stupid, stupid woman."

The content essentially was a thinly veiled insult. Accusing her of fighting for the hero and serving him like some kind of cheap whore.

Erenia smiled. "She's a petty one. Get used to it."

Kiara looked back at her mother, and then asked. "Mother. I've got a question."

"Oh?"

"What would you not do for family? Is there anything that you consider as a step too far?" Kiara asked.

Erenia smiled and gave her daughter a hug. "Nothing is a step too far, my dear. Nothing. If I had to burn the world down, and rebel against the King to protect you, I will."

"Would you kill yourself to protect me?" Kiara asked, bluntly.

Erenia looked at her daughter, took a deep breath, and nodded. "If it really would protect you, yes. "

"Why?"

"Because you are family, and I love you as your mother. You will inherit this house, this land. You will have children of your own, while I am just an old woman temporarily playing the role of the head." Kiara sighed, and realised, she was a fool. She felt her mother's love then, then thought about the Count's offer. "I'll do everything I need to do, to make sure you get ahead, to protect you, to make sure you live another day."

Kiara was just quiet, and her mother gave her another hug.

"It's just politics in the end. The games played by nobles like the Count was around since the beginning of time."

She had been too naive, this was the game of politics in the end. The Royal Court was filled with such games, and this was just something they played. Their sexuality was nothing more than a tool to get what they want. Even in her own education, she remembered that the King frequently arranged marriages for the princesses, to the Hero, to the neighbouring nations, all to ensure continued peace and allies. The concept of 'chastity' and 'loyalty' was propagated by the church, but that absolutely didn't apply to the nobility.

"Does the end really justify the means?" Kiara asked.

"Don't be silly, darlin." Erenia squeezed her daughter a bit tighter. "The world is what it is. Wishing and behaving in a way that doesn't conform to reality will get you nowhere."

Mother had a point.

***

The Count returned two days later, and Kiara immediately snuck out to see him at night.

"You were looking for me?" The Count said. Kiara noticed a few new chests, and two completely new suits of armor in the Count's study. They were incredibly well made, easily better than the ones she had now. Even the sword looked magically enchanted.

"...yes."

"What is it?" Edmund asked. He had a stack of documents on the table, and he seemed busy.

"I... I-" She couldn't say it, and she realised her conviction was weak. She wanted to agree, but then, she had doubts. Doubts she couldn't quite quell. A feeling in her heart telling her to run as far as possible.

Edmund looked up, and then back at his pile of paper. "If you have nothing to say, please leave. I have work to do."

Kiara walked out, absolutely embarrassed at herself.

***

"That's the last of it! Now, I want you to try wearing this armor!" Erenia said to her daughter the next day, as she finished signing all the invitations to the other nobles. The Count had duly gave her a list of people who supported her succession, and the King would send a representative for the ceremony.

Kiara nodded. She agreed with her mother, that it was not worth it to get more debt.  She saw that if she forced it through, her mother would have to serve the Count longer, so she didn't push it. She'll take this minor insult. There's always a time to get even.

She looked at the armor, and Kiara had to admit it was extremely well made. Erenia's eyes brightened up, and immediately encouraged her daughter. "Well, get in? I can't wait to see how you look in it."

Kiara nodded, undressed to just a simple cloth innerwear, and then began to suit up. The armor was incredibly fitting and tight. It made her tingle a little. Two maids helped her to suit up properly.

"Everything alright?"

"Yeah." She moved and swung her arms, and felt it was smooth. Whoever made it got her proportions exactly right, and she had to wonder how they did it. Edmund, now an entire hallway away, smiled. He could now feel Kiara's body through the suit of armor.

"You look great! Come, look in the mirror." Kiara stood before the large mirror, and had to agree with her mother's assessment. There was something magical about a gorgeous set of armor.

"Wow." She began to feel a little hot inside, but that was fairly normal with armor. Armor always trapped heat, and the Count's tentacles began to attach itself to her skin, and injected minor quantities of numbing agent.

"Let's walk around the hallway." Erenia offered, and led her daughter around the Count's manor. Kiara felt a little, minor tingle every time she took a step. She thought it was just the cloth rubbing against her joints, but little did she know that Edmund's tentacles had began to wiggle and touch her.

Along with the numbing agent, the tentacles also secreted stimulants, easing her body into the sensation. She walked, and felt good. The suit of armor looked good, and she felt like she was powerful. She didn't know why, but she felt a sense of pride from wearing the ceremonial armor. Some of the other attendants that saw her immediately complimented her, which only amplified the sense of 'high' she felt.

The tentacles from the armor snuck through the gaps of her innerwear, and attached themselves to the nipples and her clit. The tentacles fondled her gently, matching each touch to her steps, each touch stimulating her.

Bit by bit-

Kiara began to feel pleasantly buzzed. She thought it was all the compliments and the heat from wearing a suit of armor. Eventually, they came to one of the practice areas around the manor, where a few of the Count's guards were having practice drills. The Count was there too, and Edmund smiled at them.

She didn't know why, but she didn't feel any repulsion at all. The Count even looked.... attractive.

"Ah, Lady Kiara, you look great in armor!" Edmund smiled at Kiara. His compliment made Kiara blush, and the tentacles squeezed her nipples gently. It just made her feel a little more... buzzed.

Lady Erenia nodded. "Indeed. She looks really dashing in armor."

The Count smiled at Kiara. "Since you are in such a beautiful armor, do you want to give a few swings at the practice dummy? You could show my men some of your skills. My men would love to see the skills needed to travel with the hero."

One of the guards immediately retrieved a practice sword and offered it to Kiara. Kiara nodded, and a small demonstration was fine. She grabbed the practice sword, walked to the dummy and began to do a few swings.

Edmund smiled, as he watched her attack the dummy with her skills. She was good, really good, the motions of her swing, and the flow of her body was very natural, each attack easily leading to the next. In fact, she was much better than Edmund at the basics of swordfighting, and he could tell his captain was impressed.

"She's really good, milord. Truly, she inherited her father's skills and some."

Erenia beamed in pride, a proud mother watching her daughter display her abilities. Edmund clapped, and asked for more. "Impressive stuff, milady. Would you be able to show us a [skill]?"

Kiara nodded, and got into position. She entered a stance, and at that very moment, the tentacles squeezed her body parts. She was slightly beyond buzzed now, and she activated her ability. "[Flash Slash]!"

Her practice sword glowed and in a snap, the practice dummy was instantly split in half. Everyone clapped, and Kiara genuinely looked proud. It was at that moment, Edmund amplified the stimulation of the tentacles. The tentacles dug into her nether regions and her breasts, squeezing them gently. She didn't realise it because of the heat and the attention from the guards, but at that moment, her panties was absolutely drenched.

Edmund walked closer and clapped, and he noticed her flushed, slightly confused expression.  "That was really impressive, Kiara. Do you mind showing it to us again? It was too fast for me to catch and I wanted to see it again."

Kiara wanted to say no, but then noticed her mother nodding along, that she agreed. She felt strange, a little sweaty and honestly, she felt high. She felt like she was drunk, buzzed and her body felt pleasant. She looked at the Count, and then, thought about having sex with him.

'What was that?' Kiara couldn't help but feel a little high and horny. She was slightly dazed, her mind kept returning to sex.

She blushed, and then Edmund's words snapped her back to reality. "Milady, can you show it to us again?"

"Ah. Yes." She looked at the second practice dummy, and got into position. She cleared her mind-

Then she imagined herself having vigorous, rough sex with the Count.

She shook her head again. "Sorry. Let me... Let me gather my thoughts for a moment."

"Take all the time you need." The Count said, as all the guards watched in anticipation for the second display.

Kiara took another breath, and this time, she successfully cleared her mind. "[Flash Slash]!" The second dummy was also cut in half. This time the practice sword couldn't bear the brunt of the impact, and snapped in half.

"Wow." Everyone clapped, and the tentacles attacked at the same time as all the applause came in. She felt high, and the Count nodded. She didn't know why her eyes looked at the Count for so long, and when he nodded at her, the buzz just went to her head.

"Alright. Lady Kiara's a busy woman, get back to practice and replace the dummies!" The Count ordered. Edmund realised that was enough for today, and commanded the tentacles to back off.

Kiara and her mother returned to their rooms. Her mother was really happy and proud. "You were amazing, my dear! That was some real skills!"

"Thanks mom." Kiara wanted to return to her room. Quickly. She felt her body burning in sexual desire.