"How does it feel, my friend? The adoration and praise of the masses? If you're not careful, you'll get lost in their flattery," Merlin advised.
"You speak as if they intend harm, Merlin. Flattery will never bring down a ruler, nor will criticism alone improve them. What we must take seriously is sincerity. Any malicious intent should be either obliterated or eliminated. It is malicious praise and malicious critique that we need to guard against, not the sincere ones. Look, Merlin, they are grateful to their king from the bottom of their hearts. So, in return, I should respect them and graciously accept all their flattery."
Uther chuckled as he waved at his people, tossing gold coins to someone in rugged clothing and messy hair, personally sharing his wealth with the poor.
"It seems my worry is unnecessary, my friend," Merlin shrugged.
Of course, Merlin understood what his friend meant. Sincere praise comes from those who truly appreciate you from the bottom of their hearts. They are genuinely grateful, while malicious praise comes from those who seek something in return. The same applies to criticism: sincere critique stems from a genuine desire for your improvement, whereas malicious critique is filled with spite and passive-aggressive undertones, like a child throwing their problems at you without taking responsibility.
What Uther meant was that there was no need for concern—he could still distinguish between the genuine and the malicious.
This realization made Merlin admit to himself that his friend possessed a spirit capable of discerning right from wrong at a mere glance.
"Not really. You can remind me if I've truly mistaken sincerity for malice and malice for sincerity," Uther replied, his tone calm but thoughtful.
Merlin's clairvoyance was indeed invaluable for this task, but at Uther's words, Merlin's expression darkened, and he rolled his eyes in frustration.
"Ugh... I didn't hear that, my friend. I think I may have forgotten my appointment with a charming lady at the brothel. See you later," Merlin quipped, his tone dripping with sarcasm.
Without waiting for Uther's response, Merlin slapped the reins in his hand, urging his horse to gallop away without hesitation.
He knew all too well what awaited him if he stayed: a relentless march where his clairvoyant abilities would be mercilessly exploited by Uther, leaving him no time to rest. It had traumatized him before, and he wasn't eager to repeat the experience.
He wanted to have fun, not work.
So, yeah.
Fuck with work.
...
Home sweet home indeed.
After returning to his residence, Uther noticed that Baobhan Sith hadn't left yet. She was diligently cleaning the desk, dressed in a maid's attire.
Uther approached her quietly from behind, savoring the scent of her hair as he inhaled deeply. His cock brushed against her buttocks, causing the Fae to nearly jump in shock.
Before she could even attempt to escape, Uther grabbed her firmly from behind. His cock strained against his pants, almost ready to burst free.
Without hesitation, he guided his hand to her wet panties, swiftly pulling them off and discarding them onto the floor.
He hastily removed his pants, freeing his cock, and began rubbing it against her clitoris.
At the same time, he groped her breasts from behind, thrusting himself back and forth with an unrestrained lust.
With each movement, he felt the tension from the long and arduous march slowly dissipating.
Finally, after reaching his release, he collapsed onto the edge of the bed, feeling an overwhelming sense of relief.
His mind, previously burdened, now rested in a calm ease.
When Baobhan Sith turned to look at him, her eyes were filled with resentment, but she quickly masked it with a stiff, forced smile.
"Why did you return so early, King Uther?" she asked, her voice betraying her inner turmoil.
She had thought this man, hailed as a national hero, would restrain himself and embody the noble image ingrained in her mind—chivalrous, heroic, and respectful towards women. But in the end, he was still as lecherous as ever, grabbing her the moment he arrived without a single word of permission.
If it weren't for her fear of disappointing the queen, she would have refused his advances long ago and slapped this man.
But she had seen how happy the queen had been when she shared the news about becoming her father's private maid.
The queen, who had always been distant, had praised her personally. For the first time, Baobhan Sith had felt a sense of pride and joy. As long as she could continue to receive the queen's acknowledgment and praise, she would endure this king's unwanted advances.
Even though she told herself this, her pride still resisted his touch.
"Of course, I'm. Don't tell me you're unhappy with my presence, Sith? If you are, I can always assign you a different role, one that doesn't require you to serve me personally," Uther said in a tone that feigned regret.
"No, no, I'm happy, really." She hurriedly said.
"Since you're happy to serve me, then come and use your mouth. I've endured a long, tedious march and need your service," Uther commanded.
Baobhan Sith hesitated for a brief moment, but then reluctantly knelt before the king, taking his cock in her soft, trembling hands.
No matter how many times she saw it, she couldn't help but be both fascinated and intimidated by its sheer size.
As she began her reluctant task, Uther's fingers ran through her smooth red hair, offering her a rare bit of praise.
"Good girl," he murmured with a satisfied grin. "I'll tell you all about my march against the Saxons, personally. If you're obedient enough."
Baobhan Sith's eyes lit up at the promise. If she could bring this news to the queen, perhaps she would be loved and praised even more.
Without much reluctance, she eagerly took the king's cock into her mouth. Her throat nearly choked as she impatiently and eagerly swallowed its full size in one determined gulp.
Uther groaned in pleasure, allowing Baobhan Sith to do her work while he relaxed at the edge of the bed.
As long as she didn't make a mistake with her teeth, there was no problem with her clumsy eagerness.
All he wanted was to bask in the pleasure of a woman's touch after the long, grueling march that had lasted four arduous months.
Hah...
What a life indeed.