CHAPTER 386: OUT FOR A WALK

Melisa stared at the "ceremonial outfit" the Matriarch’s servants had laid out for her.

"You want me to wear THIS?"

It was barely fabric. Two strips of silk covered her tits—sort of—connected by gold chains that draped across her stomach. The bottom was worse: a skirt so short that if she bent even slightly, everyone would get a full view of her ass. The whole thing was deep purple, matching her skin tone so well that from a distance she’d look naked.

"Is something wrong?" Silviana asked from behind the changing screen. Her shadow moved as she dressed. Even her silhouette looked lewd. "The ceremonial garb of unity has been worn by nim dignitaries for centuries."

[Centuries of nim trying not to flash entire crowds, apparently.]

"It’s just... there’s not much of it."

"That’s the point! It shows you have nothing to hide!" The Matriarch emerged laughing from behind her screen.

Melisa’s brain stopped working.

Silviana wore something similar but somehow even more revealing. White silk that made her moonlight hair glow, barely containing her massive tits. Her cock was only technically covered, the outline visible through the thin fabric. Every step made something bounce or jiggle.

"See? We match!"

[I’m going to die. This is how I die. Not in battle, but from terminal horniness.]

"Now come! The people await!"

Before Melisa could protest, Silviana grabbed her hand and pulled her toward the door.

---

The streets were packed.

Kitsune and nim alike stopped to stare as they passed. Some bowed, others whispered, and more than a few openly gawked at the amount of skin on display.

"Matriarch! Lady Blackflame!" A young nim girl ran up, offering flowers.

Silviana accepted them graciously, then tucked one behind Melisa’s ear.

"There! Now you’re properly decorated!"

They continued through the market district. Melisa tried to walk normally, but the skirt kept riding up. Every few steps she had to tug it down, which only made her tits bounce in the barely-there top.

"Stop fidgeting, darling," Silviana said, her tone amused. "You look delicious."

"That’s the problem!"

"No, that’s the solution! See how the people react? They’re not seeing a threat. They’re seeing a beautiful nim walking confidently beside their leader."

A group of kitsune soldiers whistled as they passed. One called out something in a different language that made Silviana laugh.

"What did they say?"

"They asked if you’re available after the festival."

Melisa’s face went purple.

"Tell me you didn’t—"

"I told them to get in line!"

Melisa blinked.

They stopped at a fruit stand where the vendor, an elderly kitsune, immediately started fussing over them.

"Matriarch! You’re too thin! Here, take these!" She shoved melons into both their arms. "And you, little nim! You need more meat on those bones!"

"Thank you, grandmother," Silviana said warmly. "Your kindness feeds the soul."

As they walked away, arms full of fruit, Melisa asked:

"Does everyone just... give you things?"

"Usually! It’s considered good luck to gift the Matriarch." She bit into a peach, juice running down her chin. Melisa pictured herself licking the juice off and quickly shook her head. "Plus I fucked half the city in my younger days. They remember me fondly."

Melisa nearly dropped her melons.

"Half the city?"

"Conservative estimate. I had quite the appetite." She glanced at Melisa. "Still do, actually."

[Don’t think about it. Don’t think about it. Don’t think about—damn it.]

"You mentioned your younger days. What were those like?"

Silviana’s eyes got a distant look.

"Wild. I wasn’t supposed to be Matriarch, you know. I was fourth in line. But my sisters all declined or died, and suddenly there I was, twenty-three with nine tails and no idea what I was doing."

"How did you manage?"

"Badly at first! I nearly started three wars in my first year, mostly between kitsune factions. Kept trying to solve diplomatic disputes with orgies."

"Did it work?"

"More often than you’d think! Hard to stay angry when you’re getting your dick sucked."

An older kitsune approached, bowing deeply.

"Matriarch, the preparations for tomorrow’s preliminary events are complete."

"Excellent! This is Melisa Blackflame, she’ll be performing with Rakia."

The woman’s eyes widened.

"The nim mage? An honor!" She turned to Melisa. "My granddaughter speaks of nothing but you. She’ll be thrilled to know I met you!"

After she left, Silviana nudged her.

"See? You’re already famous. A few more walks like this and the whole city will love you."

They turned onto the theater district. Performers practiced in the streets, juggling fire and doing acrobatic flips. Several stopped to bow as they passed.

"Matriarch!" A young kitsune approached, shirtless and painted in swirling designs. "Will you honor us with a preview performance?"

"Not today! Save your energy for the festival!"

"Then perhaps the Lady Blackflame would grace us with a spell?"

All eyes turned to Melisa.

[Fuck.]

"I don’t think—"

"Show them something," Silviana suggested. "Just a small demonstration."

Melisa raised her hand, drew a spellsign, and muttered an incantation.

Her signature spell, naturally.

A sphere of blue fire materialized above her palm, casting an eerie light.

The crowd gasped. Someone started clapping, then everyone joined in.

"The stories are true!"

"A nim mage!"

"She’s incredible!"

Melisa extinguished the flame, her face burning.

"That was perfect," Silviana said softly. "They’ll talk about this for weeks."

"Good?"

"Very."

---

They found Rakia’s workshop in chaos, as usual.

Music blasted from somewhere, paint splattered the walls in new patterns, and in the center of it all, Rakia had Queen Aria standing on a platform while she prowled around her with fabric samples.

"No, no, NO! The silver washes you out! You need jewel tones! Something that makes those eyes pop!"

Aria stood there in what looked like three different outfits at once, fabric pinned everywhere, looking thoroughly overwhelmed.

"Rakia, I appreciate the enthusiasm, but—"

"MELISA!" Rakia spotted them and bounded over. "Perfect timing! Tell Her Majesty she needs the sapphire, not the silver!"

Melisa scratched her head, smiling a tad embarrassed.

"I don’t think I’m qualified to—"

Rakia grabbed her face and kissed her. Full tongue, no warning.

[Every. Fucking. Time!]

... Not that Melisa minded (much).

When she pulled back, she was grinning.

"Now you’re qualified! So?"

Aria’s face was red. Silviana was cackling.

"The sapphire," Melisa managed, swallowing. "Definitely the sapphire."

"See? The nim mage herself agrees!"

She bounced back to Aria, pulling pins and adjusting fabric. The queen shot Melisa a look that was part embarrassment, part something else. Maybe jealousy.

[Nah, wishful thinking.]

"Rakia, dear," Silviana said, "might we borrow your fitting room? I need to adjust Melisa’s ceremonial wear."

"Sure! Don’t fuck too loud though, I need the queen to concentrate!"

"RAKIA!" Aria and Melisa said simultaneously.

But Silviana was already dragging Melisa to the back room.

The fitting room was small, intimate. Mirrors on every wall made it feel both bigger and more overwhelming.

Silviana shut the door and turned to face her.

"Let me see you properly."

She circled Melisa slowly, occasionally adjusting a chain or tugging the skirt slightly lower.

"You wear it well. Not everyone can pull off ceremonial dress."

"Because most people have shame?"

"Because most people lack confidence." She stopped in front of Melisa, placing both hands on her face. "You’re overthinking everything."

"There’s a lot to think about."

"The festival, the politics, the remnants of the Shadow Mages, yes. But you’re here, in Yalmir, surrounded by beauty and pleasure and possibility. Don’t let the weight of it all crush the joy."

Her thumbs stroked Melisa’s cheeks. The touch sent heat through her whole body.

"The Matriarch of Yalmir probably shouldn’t be feeling up foreign dignitaries."

"The Matriarch of Yalmir does whatever she wants." Her face got closer. "The question is what do you want?"

[So many things I shouldn’t.]

"I want the festival to go well."

"Boring answer." But she pulled back, smiling. "Though I suppose responsible. You’ll make an excellent diplomat someday."

She moved to the door, then paused.

"Enjoy yourself, Melisa. Whatever happens with the festival, with the politics, with the Shadow Mages—none of it matters if you forget to live while you’re here."

Then she was gone, leaving Melisa alone with her reflection.

From the main room, she heard Rakia squeal about something, followed by Aria’s exasperated voice. Then laughter.

Melisa adjusted the ceremonial outfit one more time, took a deep breath, and went to rejoin the chaos.

[Two days left.]