Goblin's Note: This chapter is a direct continuation from the previous chapter in this series—I recommend re-familiarizing yourself with Chapter Ten before you proceed! Or don't. It's a free internet; I'm not your boss. :)
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Lady Vinifera—or Miss Scarlet, as she preferred to be called—was a most gracious host. She had Kitten, who seemed suddenly quite eager to serve as his catgirl maid, pour them both tall glasses of a rich, almost purplish red wine. Senya's plate bore nothing save a small ceramic bowl full of something like curried eggs. It was delicious, and incredibly spicy. Miss Scarlet ate daintily, a small smile never leaving her ruby lips.
"You are enjoying your meal?" she asked, after a minute or so of eating in silence.
"Y... yeah." Senya lowered his fork and stared at her, wondering if he was being rude. He never understood the terms of formal dinners, and this felt
very
much like a formal dinner. A small voice at the back of his head told him that it was very strange to have a formal dinner in a wine cellar on a ranch inhabited by lusty fey, but that voice had been very disrespectful of Miss Scarlet the entire time he'd known her, and he was certain it was not a voice to be trusted.
"I only ask because you have gotten a bit..." Miss Scarlet's lips quirked. "... messy."
At that, Senya went bright red, and his face went hot—not just because of the spiciness of the food. He suddenly realized his lips were positively dripping with the dark orange sauce. "O-oh," he managed, looking around for a paper napkin. Was he allowed to use the nice handkerchief Kitten had given him? Was that just for show? "I, um... excuse me!"
Miss Scarlet giggled. "Kitten, why don't you help our guest?"
"Yes, Miss Scarlet," Kitten said happily. And the black-haired catgirl stooped to Senya's level. She was dressed in an incredibly revealing black-and-white maid outfit, complete with corset with highly visible cleavage, short skirt, black tights, lace, and, he saw as she bowed over, a big red ribbon bow on her rear. She retrieved the handkerchief from his lap and gently dabbed at his face, cleaning it.
Senya squirmed. It was uncomfortable having someone else see to him as a child, especially when that someone was so incredibly attractive and giving him a very good view of her smooth, pale breasts.
"Don't squirm, darling," Miss Scarlet said primly. "Are you
bothered
by Kitten's figure? Would you perhaps like me to take her place cleaning you?"
"N-no!" Senya replied, half out of mortification, half out of fear. Mortification that he was being so rude—and he quickly went still, allowing Kitten to clean him like, well, a doll—and fear because he was naked, and unbearably attracted to Miss Scarlet, and the little annoying rude voice told him that he might not want her to get so close to him, especially given how close Kitten's mouth needed to get to his so she could see where to... where to clean...
"That's enough, Kitten," Miss Scarlet said, sounding pleased. Senya realized with a start that Kitten was licking his face, her rough tongue lapping over his cheeks, his lips, the tip of his nose...
Kitten pulled back, giggling. Senya stared at her, eyes wide.
"My dear." With a start, he turned back to Miss Scarlet. He'd been ignoring his host! He was being so rude. She had a bite of the curried egg dish on her fork, and she twirled it as she talked. The light of the enchanted lamp caught the metal fork just slightly as she spun it. Almost hypnotically. Senya did his best to keep staring into her eyes, hopingto avoid being hypnotized. They were such pretty, purple eyes. "I must say, Kitten and I have
longed
to have you since the moment you arrive."
"Uh—huh?" Senya nearly dropped his fork. He silently cursed himself.
Don't be clumsy,
he chided.
They'll think you're a dolt!
"Oh, yes. Over for dinner, I mean." Miss Scarlet beamed at him, eyes twinkling mischievously. "I trust you're enjoying our company?"
"Y-yes!" Senya nodded eagerly. "You... you're very kind, Miss Scarlet."
She laughed. It was a lovely musical giggle, reminiscent of water hitting water. "You are very generous. But I'd heard as much." She frowned. "You aren't enjoying your food, though?"
"Wh—oh!" Senya quickly started eating again. He was completely off-balance, and desperate to please Miss Scarlet. She was such a... such a beautiful woman. He carefully kept his eyes on her as she watched him. She was so
dignified
. Senya had grown up struggling to nail beams together to get food and medication for himself and Anya, and he'd never, ever been in the prolonged presence of anyone so...
important
.
"You're unused to this sort of
intimacy
, aren't you?" she asked. "High society dinners, I mean."
He winced. "That obvious, huh?" Oh, that sounded a bit casual. Miss Scarlet would never talk like that. "I-I mean, is it so... transparent?"
She smirked. "My darling, it is
charming
! You mustn't worry so. One must simply follow the rules of a high society dinner and one need never fear embarrassment."
"But what if... one doesn't know the rules?"
She flashed him a brilliant smile. Before her, in a foreground Senya was desperately trying to tune out, the little fiery woman in the red bottle stroked and squeezed her breasts, wiggling her hips enticingly. "Oh, don't worry about that! It is acceptable to make... the odd mistake. And I can always offer you my help."
"I'd be ever so grateful, Miss Scarlet," he said, managing a smile. "I-I'm sorry, I must seem so..." He shrugged. "I must appear so, um... poor."
She giggled. "Oh, I find you refreshing, darling. Speaking of which..." She pouted slightly. "You haven't touched your drink, darling!
That
is the first rule: When your host offers you a harvest from one of her finest years, indulge! Be a good guest! I promise, my wine is a particularly...
sensual
delight."
He nodded, staring uncertainly at the drink. Senya was pretty sure he had an above-average tolerance, but one never knew with the drinks on this Ranch. But Miss Scarlet said it was important, and she'd promised to help him.
He took the glass and took a cautious sip. His eyebrows arched, mirroring Miss Scarlet's—it was
wonderful
. Tart and tangy, with a strange tropical aftertaste. It left his throat feeling dryer than before, and so it was quite easy to take another sip, and then another.
Before he knew it, Senya was halfway through his glass, and with a gesture from Miss Scarlet, Kitten gently took the glass away from him and set it back onto the table.
Senya stared across numbly at Miss Scarlet. She was suppressing giggles, and seemed quite delighted with him. "Very good!" she said, giving three little claps with just her fingers. "I trust it arouses your palette?"
"Ar... arouses..." Senya blinked. It was strong—stronger than he'd realized while drinking it. He still wanted more, but the room was already getting a bit uneven when he turned his head too fast, like giants were picking up the cellar and shifting it slightly whenever he looked away. He blinked again, trying to clear his vision. "Yes."
She tilted her head. "Darling, the second rule of being a polite guest is that when a beautiful lady does something kind for you, you must thank her. Say 'thank you, Miss Scarlet'."
Senya was having trouble fully parsing her words, but he understood enough to just go along with what she was saying. He barely even thought about it. "Th... thank you, Miss Scarlet."
