"Letter from a Herdial praetor …. The cultist stronghold has been conquered… thanks to the immense contribution by the RazenHeir champion …. On top of contributions on the battlefield … Her presence was a boost to morale …. Desertion rates fell to zero … "
Ria stretched her arms. The quill had been in her hand for the entire day. All the paperwork, the logistics of a campaign, compensation negotiations, death and injury benefits for the troops.
"Hikari and the troops will be back tomorrow. "
She stood up and started walking around her room, stretching her numb legs. Opening a drawer, she took out a poster. It was a recruitment poster, a portrait of Hikari in full steel plate armour.
Her fame as an exceptional combatant was expanding. Requests were flowing in, some on a scale that Ria wouldn't consider. The RazenHeir house had been specialized in the 'lighter' requests, leveraging their flames in hit and run tactics. But now it seems a proper raiding party centered on Hikari is a strong possibility.
Ria stared at the poster. As a knight, Hikari was infinitely stronger than her in every metric. As a woman, Hikari was infinitely more beautiful than her. "Ohhh.. she's just so superior to me. My noble birth means nothing before her. The way she makes me crawl at her feet, it's not humiliating at all. It's just so… natural."
It was night time already. She put on her cloak, hoisted her backpack and went out the balcony and then climbed down. Her hood was kept off. She was never sneaking past the sentries anyway, so she just smiled as she passed them.
She was in Hikari's room. It was pitch black. She took out her lantern covered in thin cloth to dim it. "There it is." A curved white cloth surface, thick rubber base. "The tip is clean, the left side too. I just need to re-apply the white dye. Oh before that."
She prostrated herself before Hikari's shoes, bowing down before each one and kissing the tips.
"Time to get to work." It took her half an hour to cover the cart side shoe. Once done, Ria climbed into the shoe and pressed her face into the insole. Sniff! "Oh… Hikari's running flats…. The smell of her hard work… her dedication…. " She then started kissing the insole slowly. "Kiss, kiss … this is the closest I'll ever get to her …. Oh I mustn't forget her heels … "
She took out another bottle. Black polish for Hikari's high heels sandals. Fine leather with embedded steel core to support her weight. She wrapped the polishing cloth along the strap with one hand and dragged it along its entire length. Once the straps were done, she took a clean cloth and began polishing the fist sized ruby.
Then she kissed it. "Oh, Hikari … you are just so great … so powerful … so beautiful … so omnipotent. You are the perfect knight … you deserve to be way above me, kiss* kiss* … I belong at your feet …. Below them …. Serving them … worshipping them … "
Ria got up. "Time for bed now, before I get caught. Oh, what's this? Hikari's boots? Oh dear, I must have missed them in the dark. They are a bit muddy" She took out a chisel from her bag and got to work." The boots were a little too big for her tiny hands, but she at least chipped off the really muddy patches. "Whew, it's time for bed I guess."
Oof! She bumped into a cotton wall. Click! The room suddenly lit up. Ria looked up in horror at Hikari's bemused face.
"Greetings Lady Ria.
Ria's face was redder than a polished ruby.
"Oh, Hikari!? When did you get back? "
"My tent got shredded by a wyvern."
"Oh umm… haha! It's pretty incredible that you can get back so quickly… It's really getting late. Good night, my brave knight!"
A soft ringing sound echoes throughout the room. Several runes on the walls lid up. A barrier over the entire structure was raised.
Hikari walked to her couch, sat down and crossed her legs.
Ba dum! Ria's heart started racing.
"We have some privacy now."
"um… its getting late Hikari.. Why don't we.."
Tap, tap, Hikari taps her foot
"Come."
Ba dum! Ba dum! She has been caught . No choice now. She got down on her hands and knees and crawled.
"No, walk to me."
Ria was rooted in place. Trembling. She managed to stand up, barely keeping balance, but she reached Hikari's sock.
"Sit beside me." Ria climbed up the ladder and sat down.
"Closer". Ria crawled closer. She could feel Hikari's warmth, the pounding of her heart. She smelled fresh. seemed like she already showered.
Hikari telekinetically pulled the flats to her and put them on. She then raised her foot and examined the shoes.
"Not bad. You did all of it yourself?"
"Umm.. Yes…"
"I guess these are my fencing flats now. They will still get really sweaty though."
Ria was shivering where she stood. A giant finger the size of her arm stroked her head.
"Good work. I haven't had such clean shoes in a while."
"I … can make … arrangements …. "
"Did you like doing it?"
Ria continued shivering. She was squeezing her hands together.
"It's ok. You can tell me."
Ria took a few moments, she was breathing heavily.
"Yes… I like doing it … its feels so … good … "
"It feels good?"
"Yes. It feels good to … umm …. "
"Yes?"
: "Serve you?"
"HeHe. That's odd."
"it is."
"Clean shoes, have you done it"
"I wouldn't have dreamed of it."
"Oh?"
"You are a very special person. You saved my life after all. And I feel really safe with you around. I just want to… show you some more… respect."
"Respect? Hmm.. thats sound nice"
"Eh. but it's so… indecent. I can't"
Hikari lifts Ria's chin by the finger.
"You are safe here."
Hikari stood up and turned around, facing the couch.
"That black dress, did you like it?"
"You looked absolutely gorgeous in that."
"I'm going to wear it now."
Ria blushes : "Now? Umm.. I'll be honored. But what for?"
Hikari smiled.
"For you, to show me some…. Respect. Or whatever is it you wish to do."