Damien released Sabrina's hand, pretending not to notice her immediate step away from him. He wiped his palm dramatically on his pants and fixed the captain with a haughty stare.
"I'm inquiring about the monster problem my maid informed me of," Damien said, gesturing vaguely toward the east.
"Sabrina tells me creatures from the forest are threatening the town with increasing frequency. I'm wondering why the town guard seems unable to address this issue. Are you bad at your jobs? Or does my father simply not pay you enough?"
The blue-haired lieutenant's face flushed red with anger. "We patrol with half the men we need and equipment that should've been replaced five years ago," she snapped, taking a step forward.
"Maybe ask your father why he takes our taxes but sends nothing back!"
"Lieutenant McKee," Captain Vrell warned, putting a restraining hand on her shoulder. "Mind your tongue."
Cassidy McKee fell silent, but her amber-red eyes burned with barely contained fury as they bored into Damien.
[She's wonderful! Look at that fire! And those curves! The uniform can barely contain her!]
Damien studied the woman with new interest. The novel had never mentioned a female lieutenant in Harrow's End.
She was a deviation from the original plot already – or perhaps a character the author hadn't bothered to develop.
"No, no," Damien said, waving away the captain's concern. "I appreciate the lieutenant's... passion. It's refreshing to meet someone who speaks their mind." He wiped his hands again on his handkerchief. "In fact, since she has such spirit, I think Lieutenant McKee would make an excellent escort."
"Escort?" Captain Vrell frowned.
"Yes. My maid and I plan to visit the adventurer's guild tomorrow to inquire about the nearby dungeon. I'd like the lieutenant to accompany us."
Cassidy's eyes widened. "You want to go to the dungeon? You'll get yourself killed."
"Perhaps," Damien shrugged. "But I'll never know until I try. Consider it my contribution to town safety – a firsthand assessment of the threat."
Captain Vrell stroked his beard thoughtfully. "The guild would be a better resource for dungeon exploration than the town guard, my lord. Our jurisdiction ends at the town borders."
"All the more reason to have Lieutenant McKee with us," Damien insisted. "To ensure our safety within town limits on the way there and back."
"I'm not a babysitter," Cassidy protested.
Captain Vrell sighed heavily. "Lieutenant, Lord Valtor's family funds our operations. If he requests an escort, we provide one."
"Yes, Captain." Cassidy turned to Damien, her eyes cold. "What time tomorrow, my lord?"
"Nine in the morning. We'll meet at the guild."
"As you command," she said.
[+100 IP! She really hates you now! This is delicious\~]
"Until tomorrow, then," Damien nodded to them both before turning away. "Come, Sabrina."
As they walked away, Sabrina kept a careful distance between them.
"What are you playing at?" she asked in a low voice once they were out of earshot. "You've never shown interest in dungeons before. You can barely lift a sword."
"People change," Damien replied.
"Not this much, not this quickly."
Damien reached out in a blur of motion. His hand wrapped around Sabrina's arm, yanking her close against his chest while his other hand dropped lower, grabbing a firm handful of her ass through the thin blue fabric of her dress.
"What are you—" Her words cut off in a strangled gasp.
"You keep questioning me," Damien whispered, his mouth inches from her ear. His fingers squeezed, kneading the soft flesh possessively.
"Every time you question me, I'm going to stop whatever I'm doing and do this instead."
Passersby in the town square froze, jaws dropping as they witnessed the young noble groping his beautiful companion in broad daylight. Sabrina went rigid against him, her red eyes wide with shock.
"You can't possibly—"
"Just did." Damien squeezed harder, feeling the supple curve of her ass beneath his palm. "Want to try for a third time?"
Her breathing quickened, cheeks flushing crimson with rage and humiliation. The slave crest beneath her dress prevented her from slapping him or pulling away. The magical binding forced her to stand there and endure his touch.
"My lord, people are watching," she hissed through clenched teeth.
"Let them watch." Damien leaned closer, his lips brushing against her earlobe. "Or would you prefer we return to the manor where I can do far more than just this?"
Sabrina trembled, whether from anger or something else, he couldn't tell.
[Oh Master\~ This is perfect! +200 IP for public humiliation! The whole town will be talking about this by sundown!]
'This isn't just about points,' Damien thought, keeping his expression smugly pleased for onlookers. 'It's about establishing a pattern I can break.'
"So what will it be, Sabrina?" His breath tickled her neck. "More questions? Or shall we continue our tour without further interruptions?"
"No more questions," she whispered, hatred burning in those crimson eyes.
Damien released her ass with one final squeeze, keeping his arm around her waist. "Excellent choice."
He could feel the heat radiating from her body, anger pulsing off her like steam. She wanted to kill him.
That was fine.
Hate was a foundation he could build on. Confusion would follow, then curiosity, and eventually something far more interesting.
"Now, I believe the market square is this way?" He guided her forward, his hand resting at the small of her back. "I'd love to see what passes for commerce in this backwater town."
Sabrina moved with him, her back stiff, her expression locked in a mask of forced neutrality that didn't match the murder in her eyes.