Yet even though Erik enjoyed seeing Elora manipulate other women into greater submission to him, it was a little different when they were women he loved. Thus, even though Elora would always complain when he undermined her efforts, he felt the need to clarify.

Currently still groping Astrid on his left side, eliciting soft moans from her, he leaned against his fist on the right and looked at Naeku with a small smirk. "Don't take Elora's words to heart too much, alright? Even if you refuse to participate today, or ask me not to mark the throne you just earned for yourself, it won't change anything between us."

His small smirk turned more confident and lustful. "Assuming you're not against using this throne, you can wait in my dimension. I promise I'll satisfy you properly after I'm done with these three…"

Unsurprisingly, Elora narrowed her eyes a little at him, but Naeku looked relieved and grateful. Yet, she didn't immediately take the out Erik gave her. Rather, she still looked uncomfortable and conflicted.

"T— Thank you," she gulped, "Sir…"

Erik's amber eyes lit up at her usage of the term they'd settled on during their first night. Clearly, she wasn't exactly opposed to her current situation. Naeku fidgeted nervously, which was difficult, as Elora continued to cling to her back.

"I— I don't mind the throne thing…" she muttered, her cheeks burning with shame as a small, perverted smile spread across her lips. Erik smirked seeing this, as her expression and the feelings from their bond told him she actually didn't feel indifferent about it at all… but in a good way.

But then she glanced around nervously at the other three women in the hall. "I— It's just… so many people… Up until recently, the only times I could remember someone seeing my naked, human body involved either teta Fatima, or aunt Leila…"

She glanced back at Erik again with wry resignation, her fingers still fidgeting. "I mean… up until recently, I could count the amount of people who'd seen my human face at all on one hand, and that number's more than doubled since meeting you!"

Her eyes widening, she quickly shook her head and waved her arms. "Not that I mind!" When she saw Erik's smile, the blush on her cheeks deepened, and she glanced away shyly. "I love what the past few months have done to my life…"

Erik chuckled, his left hand gently caressing Astrid's mound. "I feel the same way…" Then, he cocked a curious eyebrow. "So, where's that teasing, but obedient little princess from our wedding night gone to?"

Pouting, Naeku glared at him. "She's still there!" But then she shrunk a little and looked around apologetically at the people around her. "J— Just give her a little more time to come out during…"—she gulped—"…group events…"

Behind Naeku, Elora sighed with disappointment and finally let her go. "Such a shame…"

Smirking, Erik glanced at Elora, before smiling warmly at Naeku. "Alright, so if you don't wish to—"

"Hold on!"

Suddenly, a voice interrupted him, and its source surprised him: it was Emily.

His beloved Gothic slave, currently dressed in nothing but her collar, sensually sauntered over to Naeku, a meaningful grin on her full lips. Naeku watched her approach with wide eyes, unable to look away from Emily's pale, but firm and voluptuous breasts as they swayed with every step. She couldn't help but draw a comparison to her own modest chest…

"If you want to join us but feel too embarrassed right now, I can help with that…" Emily purred, her eyes shining with excitement. Erik, Astrid, and Elora all looked at her with curious eyes, wondering what she'd planned.

When reaching the young princess, Emily put one hand on her own hips, and placed the other above Naeku's heart. "Is that what you want?" she whispered enticingly, seemingly having picked up some lessons from watching Elora. "To stop worrying and join us?"

Naeku looked at her strangely, but then nodded slowly. "I suppose so, bu—"

"And do you trust me?" Emily interrupted, her grin widening. "Or rather," she continued, immediately noticing Naeku became hesitant, "do you trust our husband? After all, even though I am his beloved wife, I'm also his willing slave. I'm barely willing to twitch without his permission or explicit command. There's no way I'd do anything to harm you…"

Naeku was visibly conflicted by Emily's question. Among Erik's wives, Emily was the one she felt least favourable towards, but she did trust Erik with all her heart. Naeku hesitantly glanced in Erik's direction, who silently indicated his support, curious where this would lead.

With his nod, Naeku felt assured. She was still nervous, but looked back at Emily and nodded. "I— I suppose I trust you, then? W— What are you going to do?"

Emily became visibly excited, but shook her head. "That's a secret! Either accept my help and the consequences that come with it, or wait in our dimension until we're done." She wiggled her eyebrows teasingly. "I promise you'll be fine, but you can always join us next time if you're too scared right now…"

Naeku's breath hitched a little, and she glared at Emily. "I— I'm not scared! It— It just feels weird and uncomfortable!" She started to pout and narrowed her eyes. "But fine! If you have a way to help, then show me! I trust Erik to stop you if necessary!"

She knew Emily was a third-ranked Arcanist, where she was still just a second-ranked Runebound… She knew there would be no way for her to resist what this bombshell of a goth planned, if she tried to force the matter. The only reason Naeku was given a choice, was because of Erik, which also fuelled her desire to let Emily do as she wished, and then hope she'd fail.

Unfortunately for her… there was no chance of that.

As soon as Naeku accepted Emily's help, the latter's black and red eyes flashed with glee as an inky-black magic circle appeared on the hand she was pressing against Naeku's armour, just above her heart.

Instantly, Naeku felt something happening, and she drew a sharp intake of breath, her eyes widening. "Wha—"

Zoom

Emily cast her spell, and all the tension drained out of Naeku's body. At the same time, her eyes became a little duller, but not lifeless. To the others in the room familiar with Emily's enslavement spell, this looked similar, but not exactly the same.

Erik felt the emotions from her bond with him become… muffled, but still present. Currently, Naeku felt surreal and strange, but not exactly scared or panicked.

He sent her comforting emotions and then glanced at Emily with a cocked eyebrow. "Emily? Care to explain?"

After looking at her handiwork proudly for a moment, Emily turned to grin at Erik, her eyes shining with perverted lust. "After reaching the third rank, I've been focusing my training on the enslavement spell, Master… I've figured out how to do some interesting things with it…"