Chapter 428: Covenant Bond Codex

Sigrid’s breath hitched. A subtle shiver ran down her neck. "What do you mean?"

But before he could say anything, she waved her hand dismissively.

"Do not attempt to intimidate me with threats of force, Sir Luca. I know for a fact that you can forcefully take me if you truly wished to...but more importantly."

Her gaze softened with absolute conviction.

"I know you would never do such a thing. You are an honorable, upright man. I would never have allowed you to lean against me in the first place if you were a predator. So your little scare tactics will not work on me!"

She practically puffed her chest out with pride, thoroughly convinced she had dismantled his ploy.

Luca, however, merely shook his head, a quiet chuckle escaping his lips.

"I’m not threatening you, Sigrid..."

Slowly, he shifted his weight, turning his body until he was leaning right into her space, his face inches from hers. The sudden proximity made her breath catch entirely.

"...I am simply asking you to abide by the rules."

Sigrid frowned, a instinctual sense of dread blossoming in her chest.

"What rules? I recall no centaur law stating a commander must expose her chest to a human guest."

Luca didn’t answer immediately. Instead, he reached into his inner pocket and pulled out a small, worn leather-bound booklet.

Sigrid’s eyes widened as she recognized the faded crest stamped into the cover.

"The...The Covenant Bond Codex?"

It was an ancient, official handbook, a rare copy of the formal laws established centuries ago between a Centaur and their designated Covenant Rider. It outlined every solemn oath, duty, tactical directive, and legally binding right shared between the duo.

Luca casually tossed the booklet in his hand. "Have you read this, Commander?"

Sigrid’s pride kicked in.

"Of course I have! I’ve memorized it! Every word, every code, every line. I know it better than I know my own sword techniques."

"Really?" Luca’s smile widened. "Then you can tell me—what’s written on page fourteen, code three hundred and one?"

She didn’t even have to think. The words came automatically, recited with the pride of a student who had studied her lessons well.

"’Code 301: The Rule of Absolute Tactical Unity. The bonded Rider and Steed are recognized as one entity in body, mind, and spirit upon the field of combat!"

"To achieve maximum maneuverability and combat efficiency, all physical reservations regarding contact, bracing, holding, and spatial positioning across the steed’s body are entirely waived.’"

She smiled proudly, adding her own scholarly commentary,

"It is a foundational rule implemented to ensure survival in battle. It grants the Rider total freedom to shift angles, lean low against the flank, hang off the sides, or even duck beneath the centaur’s frame to strike or evade enemies without hesitation or modesty getting in the way."

She even leaned forward, her eyes lighting up as she shared an ancient lore detail.

"In fact, there is a famous historical tale of a Centaur warrior and a Beastkin ally! Surrounded by archers who were only after the beastkin, the Centaur commanded the Beastkin to cling directly beneath her belly, a deeply sensitive, private area."

"But because of Code 301, all modesty was cast aside for survival! They slipped right past the patrol undetected! It proves that when bound by the Covenant, all physical reservations must be completely abandoned!"

Sigrid finished her explanation with a satisfied nod, feeling immensely proud of her deep cultural knowledge.

...Until she looked at Luca’s face.

He was grinning from ear to ear, staring at her like a cat that had just been handed a key to the fish market.

Her smile instantly withered. The blood drained from her face, leaving her completely pale.

"N-No..."

She whispered, her voice trembling in sudden, horror-filled realization.

"You...you aren’t actually trying to..."

"Code 301..."

Luca declared happily, tapping the leather cover.

"Under the absolute law of our bond, I have total, unreserved access to touch, handle, and maneuver across any part of your body!"

He leaned in closer, his gaze sweeping over her from her flushed face, down her full chest, across her sleek waist, and down to her powerful, resting lower body.

"Basically, every inch of this majestic body is technically open for my exploration. So, just like that story you told me...if I wanted to crawl directly beneath your belly right now..."

He reached out, his fingers lightly gripping the hem of her long side-robe, slowly lifting the fabric just an inch.

"...I could slip right under your frame, and there’s not a single rule in your holy codex to stop me."

"Ah—that...that...."

Sigrid felt so utterly dizzy her head spun. Her heart was beating like a war drum against her ribs.

Before she could faint from sheer embarrassment, Luca softly let the fabric fall back into place. He reached up, patting her flank gently.

"But don’t worry, Sigrid. I’m a gentleman." He chuckled smoothly. "I won’t start with the lower half just yet. For tonight...I’ll content myself with evaluating your front."

Sigird face was burning so hot she felt like she might burst into flames. She clutched her dress tightly over her chest, desperately trying to find a counter-argument.

"T-That is a complete misinterpretation!" She squeaked out, her voice cracking slightly. "That rule was instituted for combat efficiency! To survive battlefield emergencies!"

"It was never intended for...for perverted, shameless fondling under the stars!"

"Now, hold on, Sigrid." Luca simply tapped his chin, putting on a deeply serious, contemplative expression. "Think about the future!"

"What if we are riding through a barren, unforgiving desert? What if our water supplies run completely dry? If my hypothesis is correct and your chest is storing high-density, nutrient-rich mana milk, checking it now is a vital survival precaution!"

"We need to know if you can act as a emergency liquid ration for the team!"

"THAT IS ABSOLUTE NONSENSE, SIR LUCA!"

Sigrid shrieked, swatting at his arm in a fluster.

"You possess spatial magic that can summon endless clean water from your original world whenever you please! Your excuse makes zero logical sense!"

"Rules are rules, Commander." Luca said smoothly, holding the booklet up right in front of her nose. "It gives me complete authority over your body during our bond. But..."

He lowered the book, rubbing his chin with a thoughtful sigh.

"I will admit...it does seem a bit unfair. I mean, surely other men could take advantage of this loophole to touch female centaurs, right?"

"That is impossible!" Sigrid gasped, offended by the sheer ignorance of the claim. "In our entire history, Covenant Riders have been strictly female-only pairings! You are literally the first and only man in history to hold this position!"

Luca chuckled warmly, leaning back.

"So, in other words...I am exploiting a once-in-a-millennium loophole."

"You are!" Sigrid huffed, biting her lower lip. "Do you feel no shame whatsoever for using such devious, underhanded tactics?!"

"Not a single drop." Luca replied instantly, reaching out to playfully pinch her soft cheek. "I’m a human, Sigrid. Cunning and deviousness run through my veins. A noble, rule-bound centaur like you stood no chance from the start."

He let go of her cheek, before getting up to stand right in front of her.

Even while reclining, Sigrid’s towering frame meant he was looking slightly up at her, but his gaze carried absolute, hypnotic authority.

"So, Sigrid." Luca whispered, his tone dropping into a low, thrilling timbre. "What’s your decision? Will you break the sacred, unbroken code of your ancestors? Or will you surrender those massive knockers to my scientific evaluation?"

His hand rose, and he gently flicked the tip of her breast through the fabric of her dress.

"Mmm!" The contact was light, but it sent an electric shock through her entire body.

Luca fully expected her to fight back, to hesitate, to argue for hours, or to demand a legal counsel.

But...that didn’t happen at all.

Instead, Sigrid closed her eyes for a single, heavy breath. When she opened them, her eyes were filled with a quiet, breathtaking resolve, despite the vivid, helpless blush consuming her entire face.

"I will abide by the rules, Luca." She whispered softly, her voice trembling slightly. "I will...I will allow you to do as you wish with my body."

Luca blinked, completely stunned.

"Wait...seriously? You’re not going to fight it?"

Sigrid swallowed hard, her lower lip quivering slightly.

"It...it goes against everything I was taught. Allowing a man to touch me in such a manner before marriage is deeply shameless...But the rules set down by my ancestors are absolute."

"If I cherry-pick which traditions to honor and which to abandon, I am no commander at all. I must follow it through."

Luca stared at her, genuinely speechless. Her unwavering, stubborn loyalty to her code was equal parts admirable and utterly terrifying.

’She’s so rigid with her rules she’d actually let me strip her...If she ever made a foolish bet with a bad person, she’d be ruined!’

What Luca failed to realize, however, was that Sigrid was not stupid.

Had any other man in existence attempted to use this loophole against her, Sigrid would have unhesitatingly drawn her broadsword and severed his hands at the wrists, rules be damned.

Her dignity and innocence were paramount.

Yet, as she looked at Luca standing before her, a quiet truth resonated deep within her soul,.a truth she barely dared to admit to herself.

She wanted him to touch her.

The thought of other male centaurs touching her made her skin crawl with disgust.

But Luca? The moment she pictured his gentle, skillful hands on her bare skin, her heart didn’t recoil in fear...

...it raced with a sweet, agonizing anticipation.

He had spent the entire evening treating her body with profound care, brushing her back, guiding her in dance, and holding her with absolute gentleness. She knew, deep in her chest, that his hands would bring her no harm.

Of course, she would rather die than voice such embarrassing, shameless thoughts out loud. So, she hid behind her sacred rules, using them as a shield to justify her own thrilling surrender.

—

Even with Sigrid sitting down, she was only slightly shorter than him, a testament to her formidable size. But in that moment, she felt impossibly small beneath his gaze.

"I should be honest with you." He said, his voice quieter now. "The truth is...I brought up the Covenant to test you."

Sigrid blinked. "What?"

"I wanted to see if your devotion to the rules was genuine, or if it was just posturing. I wanted to make you loosen up a little—to realize that not everything has to be so rigid."

He sighed.

"But your resolve is stronger than I expected. Much stronger. So I suppose I’ll have to work on that."

Before she could respond, he reached out and gently brushed a strand of hair from her forehead.

The touch was featherlight and yet it sent shivers cascading down Sigrid’s spine.

"Though...I suppose I can’t complain too much. If I can’t break your resolve tonight...I can at least break open this dress and see what treasures you’ve been hiding inside."

He reached out, his bare palms gently cupping the outer curves of her clothed breasts.