Just dominate me queen

The banquet hall was a sea of opulence—long tables covered in silken cloths, adorned with golden candelabras and platters overflowing with roasted meats, vibrant fruits, and decadent pastries. The hum of conversation and the occasional burst of laughter filled the air, mingling with the faint strains of music from a small group of musicians stationed near the far wall.

I stood near one of the grand windows, doing my best to look helpless and out of place, which wasn't hard given the circumstances. My linen shirt was deliberately left slightly undone, just enough to hint at the muscle beneath without being overt. My hair, naturally messy in a way that screamed effortless charm, caught the flickering candlelight. I let my eyes wander nervously over the room, occasionally fiddling with the edge of my shirt like I didn't know what to do with myself.

It didn't take long for the first one to approach.

"Are you alright?" came a smooth, confident voice.

I turned to see an Amazonian-looking woman in a finely tailored military uniform. Her long black hair was tied back in a severe braid, and her piercing green eyes studied me like I was a puzzle to be solved. She carried herself with the air of someone used to getting what she wanted.

"Oh, um..." I stammered, widening my eyes just enough to look a little lost. "I'm fine, really. Just...not used to crowds like this."

Her lips curled into a knowing smirk. "A shy one, are you? Don't worry, I won't bite."

"Thank you," I said softly, letting my gaze drop to the floor for just a moment. "It's just...everyone here seems so confident, so important. I feel out of place."

She tilted her head, clearly intrigued. "Confidence can be learned. You just need the right teacher."

Before I could respond, another voice cut in. "Excuse me, but are you bothering him?"

I turned to see a woman in a flowing emerald gown, her blonde curls cascading over her shoulders. She had a softer demeanor than the soldier, but her eyes held a spark of competitiveness as she glanced between me and her rival.

"Not at all," I said quickly, offering her a small, apologetic smile. "She was just being kind."

The blonde's expression softened, and she placed a delicate hand on my arm. "Well, if you need anything, don't hesitate to ask. These banquets can be overwhelming for someone who's not used to them."

"You're very kind," I said, making sure to meet her gaze for just a moment longer than necessary. "Thank you."

That's when the floodgates opened.

Over the next several minutes, more and more women approached—nobles, knights, scholars—all drawn by the image of a handsome, vulnerable man in need of guidance. They surrounded me in a semi-circle, each one eager to offer their "assistance" in some form or another.

"Are you sure you're alright? You seem pale."

"You really should sit down. Let me find you a chair."

"Here, try this wine—it's the best in the kingdom."

"Oh, ignore her. She's just showing off. If you want real advice, talk to me."

I smiled at them all, doing my best to look overwhelmed but grateful. "I don't want to trouble anyone," I said, letting my voice waver slightly. "I'm sure you all have more important things to do."

"Nonsense," one of them said, her tone firm. "You're clearly in need of assistance, and we're happy to help."

"Well, I really appreciate it," I said, bowing my head slightly. "It's so kind of you to take the time."

I made sure to sprinkle compliments sparingly, just enough to keep them hooked without seeming insincere. To the soldier, I said, "You must be so strong to carry yourself with such confidence." To the scholar, "Your knowledge is incredible—what's your secret?" To the noble, "You have such grace—I could never pull that off."

Each one of them beamed under the attention, their competitive spirits driving them to outdo each other. Meanwhile, I played the part of the naïve, inexperienced man perfectly, letting their words and actions paint me as someone in desperate need of guidance.

"You're so brave to come to a banquet like this," one of them said, her tone filled with admiration.

"Brave?" I repeated, tilting my head as if the idea had never occurred to me. "I don't know about that..."

"It is brave," another insisted. "Most men wouldn't even try. You should be proud of yourself."

"Well," I said, letting a small, sheepish smile tug at my lips, "if you say so."

The blonde in the emerald gown stepped closer, her voice low and soothing. "You shouldn't doubt yourself so much. You have a charm about you—anyone can see it."

"Really?" I asked, feigning surprise. "That's...very kind of you to say."

"It's not kindness—it's the truth," she said, her hand brushing against mine briefly.

The soldier scowled, crossing her arms. "Don't let them coddle you. What you need is discipline, not empty flattery."

"Discipline?" I echoed, raising an eyebrow. "I wouldn't even know where to start."

"I could teach you," she offered, her green eyes gleaming. "Under my guidance, you'd find strength you didn't know you had."

"Tempting," I said with a small laugh, "but I'm not sure I'm cut out for that."

As they continued to argue over the best way to "assist" me, I couldn't help but marvel at how easy this was. A little vulnerability, a dash of charm, and I had them wrapped around my finger. It wasn't just about stroking their egos—it was about making them feel needed, important. And in this world, where women thrived on power and dominance, that was a currency worth more than gold.

I caught a glimpse of Liora standing across the room, her sharp blue eyes watching the scene unfold with an unreadable expression. For a moment, I thought she might intervene, but instead, she turned away and disappeared into the crowd.

I filed that reaction away for later. For now, I had a room full of powerful women vying for my attention, and I intended to make the most of it.

***

The ballroom's opulence was overwhelming—golden chandeliers cast warm light over a sea of expensive gowns and tailored suits. It wasn't the kind of place I fit into, but as Liora's spy, fitting in wasn't the point. My job was to observe, blend in just enough to overhear whispered conversations and extract the information she needed.

After an exhausting round of socializing with noblewomen who treated me more like a curiosity than a person, I excused myself to the washroom. The cool hallway was a welcome change from the stifling atmosphere of the party.

After washing my hands and taking a moment to breathe, I headed back toward the ballroom. The first sign of trouble came when I rounded the corner. Two guards lay slumped against the wall, their helmets tilted to obscure their faces.

Something was wrong. My instincts screamed at me to turn around, but my feet refused to move. I stepped closer, cautiously. They weren't bleeding—just unconscious. Their breathing was shallow but steady. Someone had taken them down without a sound.

"What the hell?" I muttered under my breath, my heart pounding. The air felt heavy, charged with unseen tension. My hand instinctively went to the amulet around my neck, the one Liora had insisted I wear. "Just in case," she'd said.

The faintest sound, like a whisper of wind, broke the silence. Before I could react, a dagger flew through the air toward my chest. I froze, my body refusing to move, and braced for the impact.

The amulet erupted with golden light, forming a shimmering barrier that stopped the blade mid-flight. It clattered harmlessly to the ground, but the force of the strike knocked me back. I landed on my butt, the breath knocked out of me.

"Damn it!" I gasped, scrambling backward.

From the shadows, a figure emerged—a hooded assassin cloaked in black, moving with the grace of a predator. Twin iron claws gleamed in their hands, the metal wickedly curved. They said nothing, no taunts or explanations, just a quiet, deadly focus.

The assassin charged, their claws slashing against my barrier. Each strike sent sparks flying as the shield absorbed the impact. But cracks began to spread across the glowing surface. I scrambled backward, panic rising as the golden light dimmed with each hit.

"Come on, hold!" I whispered desperately. The amulet didn't respond—it wasn't some magic genie granting wishes. The barrier shattered with a sound like breaking glass, the light fading into nothingness.

I was defenseless.

The assassin lunged, claws poised to tear into me. I raised my arms in a feeble attempt to shield myself, knowing it wouldn't matter. But the killing blow never came.

A loud crash shattered the tension as a figure burst through the nearby window. Glass rained down like jagged stars, and the sound of metal boots hitting the marble floor echoed through the hall.

"Stay down!" Eris barked, her voice sharp and commanding.

She stood between me and the assassin, her longsword drawn and shield raised. Even in full armor, she moved with a steady, deliberate purpose. Blonde hair spilled out from her helmet, catching the moonlight streaming through the broken window.

The assassin hesitated, their posture shifting as if reassessing the situation. Then they attacked.

Eris didn't flinch. The assassin's claws struck her shield with a metallic clang, the force reverberating through the hall. She countered with a powerful swing of her sword, the blade cutting through the air with precision. The assassin dodged, retreating a step, but Eris pressed forward.

"You will not harm him," she said, her tone flat but resolute. "Yield."

The assassin answered with another flurry of strikes, their claws a blur. Eris blocked each one, her shield absorbing the impacts with practiced ease. Her movements were economical, every step and swing deliberate, like she was more machine than human.

I watched, still on the ground, as the fight unfolded. The assassin was fast, almost unnaturally so, but Eris was a wall. Her shield seemed immovable, her sword an extension of her will. She didn't waste words or energy, focusing entirely on the fight.

The assassin feinted left, then slashed toward her exposed flank. Eris turned just in time, her shield meeting the attack with a resounding clang. She countered with a shield bash that sent the assassin stumbling.

"Why are you here?" she asked, her voice calm despite the tension.

The assassin didn't answer. Instead, they pulled a hidden dagger and hurled it at me.

I ducked instinctively, the blade embedding itself in the wall behind me. My heart thundered in my chest as I realized how close I'd come to death. The distraction gave the assassin a chance to retreat. They somersaulted backward, landing gracefully before darting into the shadows.

Eris hesitated, her eyes scanning the hallway. She didn't give chase. Instead, she turned to me, her expression unreadable beneath her helmet.

"You hurt?" she asked simply.

I shook my head, still trying to catch my breath. "No, thanks to you."

She nodded, offering me a gauntleted hand. I took it, and she pulled me to my feet with surprising ease.

"They got away," I said, my voice shaky.

"They will try again," she replied, her tone matter-of-fact. "You must stay alert."

Her calmness was almost unsettling, as if saving me from an assassin was just another day's work. She adjusted her grip on her sword and glanced at the unconscious guards.

"They live," she said, as if that were enough explanation for why she hadn't checked on them earlier.

I leaned against the wall, my legs still wobbly. The shattered window let in a cool night breeze, a stark contrast to the tension hanging in the air. My mind raced with questions. Who had sent the assassin? How had they known where I'd be?

"You think they were after me?" I asked, my voice barely above a whisper.

"Yes," Eris said bluntly. "You are... vulnerable."

Her words stung, but I couldn't argue. She wasn't wrong. If she hadn't shown up, I'd be dead.

"Thanks," I said, my voice soft.

"Do not thank me," she replied, her tone firm. "It is my duty."

She turned, gesturing toward the faint light of the ballroom in the distance. "We must return. It is not safe here."

I nodded, forcing my legs to move. The weight of what had just happened settled on me as we walked back toward the party. This wasn't some random attack. Someone had targeted me, and they wouldn't stop until they'd finished the job.

Eris glanced back at me, her expression as serious as ever. "Stay close. I will protect you."

For the first time that night, I felt a flicker of relief. As much as she annoyed me with her stoic, blockheaded demeanor, I couldn't deny that Eris was exactly the kind of person I needed by my side.

Whoever was after me, they'd have to get through her first. And judging by what I'd just seen, that wasn't going to be easy.

Q: Are you good at socializing?