[R18] King's Domination-Chapter 47: Slave Maid Kayla

"So, I want to hear more about this girl."

"Sure. As you can see, she is the daughter of the chieftain of the ’Fuuma’ clan, a catkin tribe living in the eastern forests near Freesia."

The chieftain’s daughter, huh. As expected, the slaves brought by a shady slave trader like this are of noble birth.

"Catkin are all small and boast agile athletic abilities. On the downside, they lack strength and cannot handle heavy weapons. Because of this, they’ve honed assassination skills since ancient times, and many have thrived as assassins. The Fuuma clan, too, has made a living through assassination work."

Hmm. Weak but highly agile, assassination does seem like the perfect trade. Their eyes and ears are probably sharper than a human’s too.

"However..."

Slei twists his lips into a sleazy grin, yanking the chain with a sharp tug, forcing the catkin girl to stumble forward a few steps.

"Cough, cough!"

The girl chokes slightly, the bell on her collar jingling with a "clink-clank."

"Her mother, the chieftain, betrayed the Zeres Kingdom, so their village was wiped out by the kingdom’s forces. As the chieftain’s daughter, she was reduced to a slave."

The Zeres Kingdom again. Not only did they try to execute me, but they’re doing things like this too. The girl doesn’t argue with Slei’s words, she just bites her lip, looking bitter.

"She’s been fitted with a collar that can’t be removed, ensuring she can never act as an assassin again."

Slei yanks the chain again with a sharp pull. The girl chokes once more, coughing painfully, "Cough, cough!"

The collar jingles again with a "clink-clank."

"As you can see, the collar has a bell attached, so her position is always known when she moves. This reduces the risk of her slitting your throat in your sleep, but it makes her useless as an assassin."

There’s no need to yank her chain just to explain the bell. It’s nothing but an act to torment and humiliate her. I feel a hot flame of anger flare up deep in my chest. To think that Reina was held by a man like this, even for a short time.

"There’s one more problem, she’s useless as a sex slave too."

"What do you mean?"

"As the chieftain’s daughter, she will never open her body to anyone except the man she acknowledges as the next chieftain. So, she’s essentially useless as a sex slave. Of course, you could strip her naked for display or bind her hands and feet and force her..."

"I don’t need assassination skills or sex. What I want is her skill and ability as a bodyguard assassin."

Slei’s words piss me off, so I cut him off sharply. Then, turning to the girl, I address her directly.

"Can you fight?"

"I can’t wield heavy weapons. I’m not suited for direct combat."

It’s the first time she speaks. Her voice is clear, strong, and beautiful. Her words, neither flattering nor exaggerating her abilities, feel trustworthy.

"I can handle enemies coming head-on with my magic. What I’m worried about is ambushes or assassinations. At the very least, spotting enemies first would be enough. Your eyes are sharp, right?"

"As a catkin, of course."

"Can you see in the dark?"

"Better than in the daytime."

"And your hearing?"

"Much better than a human’s."

Her answers satisfy me.

"You’d be tasked with guarding and patrolling by my side. Can you handle that?"

Her clear, beautiful eyes widen at my words, and she answers, "Yes."

"They say catkins are fickle and quick to betray. Ordering them to kill is one thing, but using them as bodyguards is unthinkable."

At Slei’s words, the girl’s face twists in frustration, and she looks down.

"Even if catkins are like that, it doesn’t mean she is. I trust this girl."

At my words, she snaps her head up, staring at me.

I could use Seiou’s "Expert’s Eye" skill to check her morale or loyalty, but I feel like I can trust her without it.

"Quite the eccentric choice. It’ll cost you a bit more, but here’s the price."

The amount Slei quotes is far higher than the market price I’d heard. He probably tormented the girl in front of me to stoke my desire to buy her. I could go along with it, but doing exactly what he wants rubs me the wrong way.

For now, I use "Kink Scan" to check his preferences.

(...Hmm, that’s his fetish, huh. Well, they say you can be both an S and an M.)

After confirming Slei’s fetish, I whisper to him so only he can hear, "You like strong-willed women, don’t you?"

"How did you—!?"

Slei’s face changes color. His fetish is being an M, dominated by strong women, and it seems I hit the mark.

"Don’t underestimate the information network of a Seiou like me. I know everything about your preferences."

"!?"

Slei’s face goes pale. Anyone would react like this when their secrets are exposed. Or maybe he thinks his wife or lover is feeding me information.

This is fun. Let’s mess with him more. It’s punishment for insulting the catgirl.

"Slei, do you know a merchant named Morris?"

"You mean the great merchant Morris? There is no merchant who doesn’t know him."

"I’m close with Morris."

"With Morris!?"

After all, I stole Iris from him, so you could say we’re close in a way.

"You’ve heard the rumor about him giving me black silk for free, right?"

It was a trade, I taught Iris how to give a blowjob, and he gave me resources for a stamina potion in exchange, but free is free. No money changed hands.

"...That rumor was true?"

"It’s true. Slei, I want to do business with you for a long time. If you cut me a deal, I’ll tell Morris you treated me well."

With a wicked grin, I whisper, "If you rip me off, I’ll tell Morris what you’re doing behind his back."

"No, please, anything but that!! If I anger him, I’ll never be able to do business again!!"

Slei’s face is ashen, drenched in cold sweat. He must be terrified of upsetting Morris, like everyone else.

Of course, I don’t know anything about what Slei’s doing behind the scenes (except his fetish). It’s all a bluff, an arrow in the dark. But since I know his most personal secret, it’s no surprise he thinks I know everything.

"I’ll give you a deal. I want a long relationship with you, Lord Seiou!!"

In a trembling voice, Slei immediately offers a new price. It’s a quarter of the original, even cheaper than the fair market price I’d heard.

"Oh, thank you. I’ll tell Morris you treated me well."

"Tch, thank you very much!!"

Sley bows deeply and scurries away as if escaping. Between the muscular jeweler and Slei, everyone changes their attitude at the mention of Morris’s name. He must be a bigger deal than I thought.

"You’re mine now."

"Yes, Master. Thank you for buying me."

The girl smiles for the first time and bows. It’s a clear, radiant smile that sinks into my heart.

"I forgot to ask two things."

"Yes, what are they, Master?"

"What’s your name?"

"I’m Kayla Fuuma."

Kayla, the Fuuma tribe’s princess. A good name.

"One more thing, can you cook and clean?"

"Um, I can do them about as well as most people..."

She looks at me, her expression asking why I’d ask such a thing.

"Reina’s been handling all the housework alone, and it’s a heavy load for her. It’d help if you could share the work."

"Yeah, that’d be a huge help!!"

Reina, who’s been listening, jumps in and hugs Kayla.

"Even someone as great as me gets tired from working day and night. I’m so glad you’ll help with the chores!"

She rubs her face against Kayla’s ears, nuzzling her fluff.

"Such a cute kitty, we’re keeping her at home~"

Reina’s thrilled, while Kayla looks confused by the hug. But since there’s no hostility, she doesn’t seem to mind.

"Hey, Kayla’s not a cat, she’s catkin. Don’t say ’keeping’ her. She’s also family."

"Just kidding~♪. Also, Master, your face is still kinda scary."

"Hm, is it?"

I quickly relax my expression. I might’ve been too serious.

"Is that how you always are during deals?"

"Well, maybe."

I’m tough with Morris, or at least with Iris, though in a different (more sexual) way.

"I see~ It was a bit scary, but kinda cool too. I hate Slei, he’s such a jerk, so it felt good to see him break down."

"...I agree."

Kayla nods. Seems like she feels the same way.

"I’m falling for you all over again, Master~♡"

"You’re so dramatic."

"Master, can I think of Kayla as my little sister?"

"Sure, a sister’s fine."

"I’ve always wanted a cute catkin sister~♡"

She rubs against Kayla again.

"Um... Master, who is this?"

"That’s Reina, my floor maid. Think of her as my concubine maid."

"Your wife!?...Okay, nice to meet you, Reina."

"Yup, you can think of me as your real big sister, Kayla!"

Reina’s delighted. I didn’t check with her first, but she seems happy with it.

"Kayla, help Reina with the housework while you’re at the mansion."

"Yes. Um, just so you know... I can’t do sex."

"Reina’s got that covered, so you don’t have to. You’re just a regular maid." 𝐟𝗿𝐞𝚎𝚠𝐞𝚋𝕟𝐨𝚟𝐞𝕝.𝕔𝕠𝚖

No sex means no wife status, just a regular maid, a housemaid in this country.

"Yes, thank you. I’ll serve you with all my effort."

Relieved by the reassurance, Kayla answers happily.

"I’d like to get you some weapons."

If she’s going to be my bodyguard, she’ll need some weapons and light armor. And clothes too. That collar can’t be removed, but her current ragged outfit is just pitiful.

"For her size, it’ll probably need to be custom-made."

A small catkin woman wouldn’t be able to use standard men’s weapons.

"Then I know just the person to introduce you to."

Princess Ellis, who’s been watching till now, joins the conversation.

"There’s a craftsman in the city. He’s a bit odd, but you might get along, Lord Seiou."

An oddball who might get along with me? Not sure if that’s a compliment, but I’m curious.

"I wanna buy weapons too, so let’s go, Master!"

At Reina’s words, I take her and Kayla and leave the audience chamber.