55 Chapter 15 - Introduction and Sweet-talk

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As the Royal Guards took off their main armor, leaving behind the armor on their limbs, displaying the sexy bikini they were wearing, Merlin was excited. However, he hid his excitement behind a serious mask to appear gentlemanly.

Image is important, and he has to maintain his good image in front of these ladies, after all.

Leonora and her knights were bashful as they displayed their half-naked bodies to a man. They were inadvertently giving off a tantalizing view for Merlin's eyes to feast upon.

"Now then, Sir Hero~♪. Enjoy yourself and have fun~♪," Marie stated with a sweet smile.

(Oh, I'm gonna enjoy myself and have fun, okay!) Merlin wholeheartedly agreed.

There were many girls to pick, but he had to be careful to maintain his image. He didn't want to act like a clown like Naoki. He wanted to give a good impression to these lovely ladies.

Merlin stood up in front of the female knights and swept his gaze on them. He spoke, "Well, let's start with the introduction first. It will be awkward if we're going to do something intimate without knowing even the most basic information about each other, won't it? As you might have already known, I'm summoned as a hero. My name is Merlin Pendragon, but feel free to call me Merlin. I already know Leonora, Annie, and Tatiana. Now, would you like to introduce yourself?"

The girls exchanged a silent stare before giving Merlin a hesitant nod. "Good. So, who will be the first?" Merlin asked.

The most mature knight with brown hair and brown eyes, wearing a sexy dark grey bikini, stepped forward. "My name is Terese. 28 years old. I'm a member of the Royal Guards under Her Highness, Princess Marie. I am married and have a daughter. Pleased to make your acquaintance."

〈Terese Image〉

Merlin raised his brows. He realized that Terese was the most conflicted with this despite her calm expression. He was glad to have Empathy.

"You are married and have a kid?" He feigned his surprise, "Are you sure about this? I'm a principled person. I don't want to be a homewrecker, you know," Merlin shamelessly spouted bullshit with a straight face.

"That is..." Terese's calm mask cracked. Her inner turmoil came to the surface.

On the side, Marie was shocked and became agitated. She never expected Merlin to do this. She thought he was like a typical man who'd accept the ladies offered to him without a question. She quickly schooled her expression, though.

"Ohohoho~♪!" Marie laughed obnoxiously, catching the attention of Merlin. "Be at ease, Sir Hero. My knights are aware of what they are getting into. Isn't that right?"

Marie stared at Terese, who then nodded hesitantly. "See~♪," Marie stared back at Merlin.

"Well, if you're okay with this, then I won't question your decision, Terese. Thank you for telling me about yourself." Merlin nodded, but inwardly, he smiled wryly at the subtle power play before him. It was obvious to him that Marie was coercing Terese.

However, Merlin wouldn't back off since they were offering themselves to him despite the underhanded dealings and blackmails behind the stage.

Terese stepped back, and another knight stepped forward. She was a youthful girl with a slender form and a still-developing figure. She had dark red hair in a ponytail and green eyes.

She bashfully introduced herself, "M-my name is Lidie! I'm seventeen years old! I'm the youngest of the Royal Guards! Um... I have no experience with men, so, um, please take care of me, Sir Hero!"

(So, she's the youngest member of this knight order. If I remember correctly, she is supposed to be the eldest of a big family and has several younger siblings, isn't she?) Merlin recalled some pieces of information from his memory.

Afterward, he gave the nervous Lidie a comforting smile. "It's a pleasure to meet you, Lidie. Be at ease. I'll take care of you."

Lidie blushed deeply and averted her eyes. It was obvious that he'd charmed her.

〈Lidie Image〉

Lidie stepped back, and the next knight took her turn. She was a dark-haired beauty with a white bikini. She introduced herself, "My name is Eliza. 21 years old. I like reading books. Pleased to be your acquaintance, Sir Hero!"

〈Eliza Image〉

"The pleasure is mine, Eliza," Merlin replied charmingly, making Eliza blush and avert her eyes. Inwardly, he recalled a bit about her from his memory, (If I'm not wrong, she's Mila's reading buddy according to the character's introduction in Doujinshi, huh? I'll ask Mila later.)

The last knight was another youthful girl. She tied her light brown hair in twin-tails. Her reddish-brown eyes were furtively staring at Merlin. She began introducing herself.

"I'm Tula, sir! I'm 19 years old! My family has a well-known bakery in the castle town! If you would like, I could escort you there in the future!" said Tula shyly.

〈Tula Image〉

"Oh? Then, I'll hold on that, Tula." Merlin nodded at her, making Tula smile excitedly.

Afterward, Tula returned to the line.

"Now that the introduction is finished~♪! Let's begin~♪!" Marie suddenly exclaimed, clapping her hands loudly.

Merlin turned his head to her. Despite her pleasant expression, Merlin could sense her impatience beneath her mask.

Merlin inwardly sneered at Marie and thought, (Heh, do you think I'm gonna allow you take control, you silly girl. Sorry but not sorry! I won't let you do as you please! Let's see how far you can be patient!)

Merlin turned back his head to the blushing knights and spoke, "It looks like Her Highness is a bit impatient. But, be at ease. I'm not sure if, except for Terese, all of you have experience with men before. So I want to take it easy. I won't make you feel uncomfortable."

Merlin sensed a spike of irritation from Marie, though she kept her smiling mask. Marie then spoke, "Oh my, forgive me if I seem pushy, Sir Hero. But, please understand! I want to advance my research about the mysterious powers of the hero, so I can help my country and the world~♪!"

"I see... How diligent of you, Your Highness. Your dedication has moved me," Merlin replied, feigning his impressed expression. He also sensed the spike of irritation and wariness from Marie.

(Ops! I suppose I have my fun toying her. Let's not push her to the corner.) Merlin thought.

"Ohohoho~♪! Please, you make me blush, Sir Hero~♪!" Marie feigned her shyness as she blushed and averted her eyes.

What a scary girl. She could fake such a convincing reaction. She was a natural schemer indeed!

Merlin swept his gaze on the female knights. He quietly wondered who he should pick first. His gaze then stopped at Leonora.

(Well, she's their commander and a tough one to crack. I suppose I can start with her,) Merlin made up his mind.

"Leonora, if you wouldn't mind it, would you take the first turn?" He politely asked.

Leonora straightened her posture and put on a stoic mask. The rest of the Royal Guards seemed relieved because they didn't get the first turn. All of them were still nervous, and in some cases, conflicted.

"As a proud knight of Lesdea and the Commander of the Royal Guards, I am ready to offer myself for the betterment of my country, Sir Hero!" She stated calmly.

Merlin could sense her conflicted emotions. He approached Leonora and grabbed her hands, making her eyes widen slightly.

"Leonora, from the moment my eyes land on you, I have a hunch about your personality, and it seems like it's correct." (Merlin)

"I don't understand. Would you explain it?" (Leonora)

"I thought you were a diligent and dutiful knight who prides herself in her status." (Merlin)

Leonora was taken aback and averted her eyes. She never expected Merlin to see through her, but she felt pleased because someone acknowledged her effort.

Merlin continued, "But, I think you're forcing yourself."

"What do you mean?" Leonora sent a sharp glare to Merlin, feeling offended.

It couldn't be helped that she was getting offended. Merlin sounded as if he was questioning her conviction as a knight, after all.

"Well, I'm kinda worried, you know." Merlin placated her in a hurry. "I think you are forcing yourself to be an exemplary knight and rarely take care of yourself. It is as if you only care about your duty without giving yourself a proper break to unwind from stress. That's not good, you know. Let's think of the knights as the shield and sword of this country. They also need to be treated with care to maintain their perfect condition."

"Your worry is appreciated, but I have been taking care of myself well enough in my off time, Sir Hero." (Leonora)

"But, I don't think so!" Merlin countered vehemently, surprising Leonora. He continued, "I have a hunch that you are always repressing yourself. No, let me correct it. You're pushing aside the part of you that's a woman to fulfill your duty! That's the problem!"

"I don't think it matters! I'm the proud knight of this country! My desires are secondary to my duty as a knight!" Leonora stated firmly.

"That's the problem, Leonora! You're forcing yourself too hard! You ignore your real needs! That's not good! Using the metaphor from before, it's like you're a sword and a shield that only gets superficial maintenance, but never getting thorough and true maintenance to keep it in a top shape! That's why! For tonight! I want you to take a break! Stop forcing yourself! Put aside your duty only for tonight! You can return to be the knight commander tomorrow! Only for tonight, let me take care of you!"

Leonora was taken aback. Everyone else was also taken aback by Merlin's passion. However, they only watched silently.

Leonora seemed to struggle inwardly. However, when she glanced into Merlin's deep purple eyes, she felt her resolution shaken.

She wondered if she should accept Merlin's words and put the duty that bound her tonight to be a girl called Leonora instead of Leonora the Commander of Royal Guards only for tonight...

After weighing it a bit, she made up her mind. She averted her eyes from Merlin's mesmerizing purple eyes and shyly nodded her blushing face.

"I'll listen to you. Only for tonight, though. Please take care of me..." She bashfully muttered.

"Oh my!"

"Wow!"

Marie and the other knights clamored because Leonora showed an expression that fit on a face of a maiden instead of the Commander of Royal Guards.