Note: This story is a work of fiction. It has many content of adult nature. If you do not want to read such content, please close your browser window or press the convenient back button.
This story uses the same setting as my other story "Momon, Big Black Changeling". Essentially, Ainz Ooal Gown is the same type of creature as in that story, although this and that story happen in different worlds.
It had been a long time since he'd come into this part of Nazarick. Thankfully, he was able to come in alone, as Albedo and the others had their assigned tasks somewhere else.
He was happy to see that the NPCs had taken his lectures to heart, and thus were able to find some measure of purpose without him having to personally give them orders. They were free to pursue hobbies of their own, moving independently of the functions they stubbornly clung to.
For example, Narberal Gamma had taken the initiative and had taken on an apprentice to teach magic. He, of course was not sure of the exact reason why, but he was pleased to see she had been engaged at least.
And then there had been Albedo, and her little side project with Lakyus of the adventurer group Blue Rose. Her earnest desire to shape the woman into something "worthy of Ainz-sama" was the reason for her frequent disappearances into the Kingdom. While the inherent reasoning was suspect, Ainz at least saw it like a child enjoying its new hobby. Perhaps even Albedo would be able to glean new insights on her role in life. Along the way, she'd gather valuable information about the Kingdom, which altogether would be win-win for Nazarick.
It was for this reason that he sought out the Treasury Room of Nazarick. It was not to consult with his own creation, Pandora's Actor-he had already met his passionate NPC a few times before, to iron out the kinks in his physiology as a Dire Doppelganger in the new world compared to Pandora's Actor's normal doppelganger status. That "shameful display of his past" had been quite enthusiastic with the various demonstrations, almost reminding him of an eager newcomer to the office who would wag one's tail for even the slightest word just to get along with everyone else. It was cute, but sometimes it was a little too much.
Thanks to their new policies involving the New World, Pandora's Actor had been given a role outside that of guarding the Treasury. Thus, presently, that one was not here, but the Treasury alone wasn't the purpose of Ainz's visit.
"Ah, there you are."
"Hello, Lord Ainz!" a chorus of four voices greeted him crisply in unison. A rush of footsteps approached, and Ainz looked down to see his four mercenary NPCs lined up in of him.
During the twilight days of the VRDMMO game Yggdrasil, Ainz had been virtually left to fend for his own by the rest of his guild, most of whom had quit for their own reasons, leaving the Guild base a dull husk of itself. In order to pay for the enormous upkeep, Ainz had to venture out every day to gather resources for himself. As a high-level player with illusionist specialties, it was rather hard, as he could not solo lucrative bosses by himself. Grouping up with others was a no-go-considering few would even deign to party up with a heteromorphic race; not to mention the risk of being betrayed or ambushed. And with Ainz as guild master he could be forced to give up the whole of Nazarick...
So he had to turn to mercenary NPCs. Designed as stop-gap measures for when one was missing enough friends to party with, they each had a level cap a bit lower than an actual Player's. The developers only intended for the things to supplement the missing piece in a party, and not to replace a Player altogether. As such, they were only able to follow rudimentary commands like "Attack", "Follow", and a few others.
Ainz had not minded at the time. Since he was only farming the easier dungeons, it was enough just for the NPCs to draw the attention of the enemy, before Ainz obliterated them. And if they died, then he didn't care. He'd just revive them for cost, or even just buy a new NPC entirely.
Still, he'd grown attached to four particular NPCs. He wondered if part of the reason why was that they were beautiful females. They each fulfilled a role that Ainz determined for them.
The first was Dee, a tank/striker hybrid, committed to the front-lines of every battle. Despite her appearance of wearing black, skintight clothes, with thick, thigh-high boots and a cape of midnight ebony, she wore tough, high-level armor that was resistant to all types of attacks. Her long, flowing jet-black hair framed a mature, beautiful face, which had turned a lot more expressive in the transition to this new world. She was the only non-heteromorph: being of the aesir-type divine race, something which he decided after witnessing the brute strength other Players of the same race demonstrated. The bonus stats to defense and strength were useful for her class archetype.
The second was Nina, the backup support. She was a sorceress, with levels in alchemical crafting. Owing to the need for bonus poisoncraft and herblore levels, she had been ordered with a lahmia race, fitted into a human disguise using a simple item. It was easier to craft items by going back to Nazarick with all the ingredients, as the Guild had already set up rooms for that purpose. But Ainz did not like the hassle of the back-and-forth, and still needed the mercenary to process the materials on the spot, just so he would be able to save up on inventory space. Nina wore a calm but playful expression, curly brunette locks framing her pale face. She wore alchemical clothing of pure midnight, with a fur-lined cape and thick, leather boots.
The third was Yenn Rivia, the other magic caster among the lot, who was also built as an enchantress. She wore a crisp gray military blouse under a long, imposing sable overcoat, along with thigh-high boots made of the finest leather. Like Nina, she also filled the spot of a crafting profession that Ainz had no access to, and also something for which he could cut down return trips to Nazarick. Belonging to the siren race, she was in a bit of an odd spot, as Ainz had outfit her to be able to do mundane independent tasks near the Shores of the Drowned, a lucrative low-level farming spot for materials. With her spells and race she could stay down underwater for far longer, and could also fight when it came down to it without being handicapped by the water.
And finally, there was Albion, who wore an olive-colored military uniform. Of all the others, she looked the youngest, but that was just a superficial observation. Albion was one of those mercenaries he literally "built" using items, to create something similar to CZ2128 Delta-a cyborg hybrid with enough class levels to become a mercenary healer. Her only job in the game had been to mindlessly spam healing spells on anyone who needed it. She had little to no offensive ability, in terms of spells. But her unique cyborg enhancements ensured she could live and fight another day, and she had remarkable defensive stats.
All four of them were level 80, and wore powerful armor with data specifically tied to their class specialties. Owing to Ainz's single-minded attention to Nazarick's upkeep, he was not able to indulge in them as he should have (well, they were mercenaries).
Now, in the transition to the New World, the mercenary NPCs still somehow found a way to accompany him. They had gained much the same sentience as the Guardians of Nazarick and the other NPCs. There was only a subtle difference, as Pandora's Actor described it. Those from Nazarick recognized them as honored guests of Ainz, and only Ainz. Thus, they occupied a certain hierarchy, but since they were not formally from Nazarick, they were still considered outsiders at best.
It was difficult for his NPC to describe, but Ainz supposed it was the same as one's in-laws coming by to stay at one's house. Except for a piece of paper and a binding ceremony, that in-law may as well be a stranger. That was why Albedo had never seemed to be worried about these mercenaries.
There was also the fact of the attitudes of the mercenaries themselves.
"Dee, reporting for duty."
"Yen is ready."
"Albion, standing by, Lord Ainz."
"Nina, all systems go."
Despite their more human-like actions and emotions, they still acted like a group of people solely answerable only to him. They displayed more adherence to the business-like aspect of their relationship; different from the gushing adoration the Nazarick NPCs displayed. It was refreshing, but the way the mercenaries acted painfully reminded him that ALL the NPCs had once been computer programs.
"At ease," Ainz said, making the four relax their stiff bearings. Still, they continued to stand before him, as if waiting for their word. He paused, and saw that the four were still literally waiting for what he would say next, like dogs waiting for their master's commands.
"I trust you have all received the new mandates regarding operation outside Nazarick?" he announced first, looking from one to each of them. These new commands were important guidelines regarding each NPC's responsibilities when they were commanded outside Nazarick. It was the same set of commands he'd given the Floor Guardians a while back, disseminated with the help of Albedo for the rest of the NPCs to read and digest. Nazarick needed to remain in the background in the foreseeable future, to bide time, gather information, and most importantly of all to remain hidden.
"Yes, Lord Ainz," they said in chorus. "We thoroughly understand the commands."
"However, that will be difficult for us, my lord," Nina said. "None of us are equipped for that kind of stealth mission."
"I have various items," Ainz said vaguely. "They will help you when it is needed. The guidelines are only there so you do not treat the various natives of the world outside in a way that would draw suspicion to Nazarick."
"We shall certainly try our best."
Inwardly Ainz frowned. While the examples put forward by those like Albedo, Nabe or Solution Epsilon and Sebas showed that NPCs would not act overtly differently in the outside world when under direct orders(outside of their natural dislike of humans), he was likewise unsure about these mercenaries. But he had tasks for them, so the only thing he could do was trust in their abilities.
"For now I shall be separating you four to perform tasks that are equal to your specialties," Ainz said. While not at the level of a Floor Guardian, these mercenaries were still equal to a strong existence. They were a resource he could not ignore, particularly since they had no duties within Nazarick itself.
"Dee and Yenn, you shall form part of a duo that shall undertake a mission in the so-called Baharuth Empire. However, as all the pieces have not yet been assembled, you shall remain on standby to train until further notice. Yenn, then, in the meantime will aid Nina in her endeavor in the nearby village of Carne.
"Nina, you shall set yourself up as an alchemist of some renown. You will observe another pair of alchemists in their work, while at the same time I would like for you to use ((Transmute: Gold)) to see if we can begin creating gold we can use for our use. Yenn, you shall help Nina until you are needed with Dee."
"It shall be as you say," Yenn said.
"Finally, Albion. You shall be deployed by the end of the day. We shall use a Gate to send you over to Sebas Tian and Solution Epsilon in their mission. Your healing skills are not divine based, correct?"
The cyborg nodded. "I have been equipped with nanite fields, my lord, which repair tissue on a microscopic level. That was my role when I aided you in your travels."
Ainz nodded to himself, intrigued that such a unique form of "magic" was present in the form of the cyborg mercenary. He was half-tempted to keep her here, but Sebas and Solution needed it for part of the plot to prop up "Vanessa" as a legitimate presence in the Kingdom. "You shall aid Sebas Tian and Solution Epsilon, as part of the latter's household. Further details will be shared with you later."
"Yes."
Ainz stared down at the confident faces of his mercenaries. On the one hand, he was glad they didn't immediately go and try to flatter him with so many words, or attempt to hug him, in the case of Shalltear or Albedo. On the other hand, the fact that they remained largely impassive, like soldiers lining up, made him uneasy. It reminded him a little too much of their nature as NPCs, something which he had largely forgotten, ever since he'd given in to the temptation and slept with Narberal Gamma.
The Tesaveren Estate was one of the more prestigious gathering halls in the Re-Estize Empire. Having been built by the Tesaveren family, which had died off long ago, the Estates had long since reverted back to the Crown. Marveling at the sheer opulence of the manor and its gardens, the subsequent monarchs kept the Estates for themselves, and used it as one of the primary places to hold important functions, like balls or parties.
Naturally, it meant that only those of the nobility could enter. Even the working staff were all scions of noble houses: sons and daughters unable to inherit. Yet to work at a place like Tesaveren was a distinct privilege, equal to working on the royal palace directly. The royal standard had to be kept, and that meant that Tesaveren was very nearly a small country of its own, a place where the most prestigious service was conducted.
Not anyone could thus enter the Estate. Even nobles had to be given invitations. The likes of high-ranking adventurers like Momon or Blue Rose; or the visit of a foreign dignitary, like the Bloody Emperor (a supposition, as the man was a cautious sort and would never agree to visit), would not even be able to get invitations to Tesaveren. To be invited here was the same as a royal audience: it was rare, and it spoke volumes of one's association with the Crown.
That was why it was strange...
It was strange that Lakyus was here; and more to the point, she was here with Amelia, inside her private privy at the guest room they'd given to her, as two adamantatite adventurers sharing a lewd, sensual embrace.
Amelia had a strong and dominating scent, which filled her nostrils as their bodies wrapped around each other, practically sharing each other's warmth. The other woman had her hands under Lakyus shirt, on both her front and back-massaging her navel and the lower part of her back at the same time. The simultaneous stimulation concentrated a budding heat down towards the secret part in the middle of her thighs, which made her legs squirm in something that was not quite discomfort. Lakyus exhaled a long, panting breath, her breath fogging up the surface of the mirror.
What would anyone have thought, if they'd seen them? Doing this, even in secret, was almost equal to spitting on the invitation that had been given to them, two mere adventurers. Although Lakyus came from noble stock, she was regarded as an adventurer now, a commoner by technicality. So it was more of wiping their lowborn, debauched quim on the invitation letters.
Even if they had been nobles, such a thing should not be. It was unnatural, according to the temples. Those who came from the Slaine Theocracy pressed the value of natural procreation between man and woman, in order that a strong child might be born, who would one day shoulder the burdens of humanity. Lakyus was not unfamiliar with the dalliances that might spring between woman and woman, or man and man. She'd been an adventurer long enough to have seen and known many examples.
But she had not expected it to happen to her. Neither had she expected to openly pursue the forbidden pleasure, like it were something she should definitely indulge. She had thought herself above such petty things, but apparently even she could not escape the torment of her flesh.
In some ways, it reminded her of the current dilemma.
"...You're so tense, my dear," Amelia said, her whispering breath so warm against her nape. She shuddered under the other woman's expert touch, as her fingers roamed where no one should be, where only lovers are allowed.
"Can't... help... it!" Lakyus said, through gritted teeth.
"Ah, you're hopeless, my dear. I'd like for you not to surrender to the pleasure. Why, it would most certainly end up in a fashion disaster for your underwear, and you cannot be wearing a soggy old pair while you converse with the nobility." Then Amelia smiled. "But if you would surrender, then all the better, too. I'd like to taste you, my dear." She leaned in, licking up a bead of sweat from her neck. "All of you."
It all felt so wrong, to be so close to another woman. Yet at the same time-by the gods-it just felt so right!
"Besides, it's not like it's my fault, my dear," Amelia continued. "You just felt so... so attractive strutting around out there, like a cute little beastie with incredible fur... It was all I could do to not just scoop you up in my arms then-and there!" She smirked, as she had suddenly assaulted the outer fringes of Lakyus' nethers, which made the poor girl gasp loudly.
"Amelia...!" Lakyus whimpered, her hips bucking while the other woman began to toy with her beneath her panties. Her arms, once easily fending off the massive burly arms of ogres, hung powerless over the other woman's shoulder. "Haahn! Ahhhn! Please..! This dress is..! I cannot get it... Haaah! Dirty...!"
"Not to worry, my dear," Amelia said, her voice like a purring predator's. "This is why I dragged us here to the privy..!"
Lakyus felt Amelia drag her, moving crisply as a professional ought to, and position her ass right over the porcelain privy. She quickly understood what was intended, which of course made her protest all the stronger.
"I cannot possibly do this, Amelia," Lakyus said, even as she squeezed the woman's arm with all her might to bear the spine-shuddering pleasure emanating from her nethers. Amelia continued to flick her there using her expert finger technique. At the same time, Lakyus felt a slight sense of helpless humiliation as the hem of her upper dress was lifted up, whereupon Amelia flicked down her panties to gather around her ankles.
"Tsk. Tsk," Amelia remarked. "Your underwear's all messed up my dear. I'm afraid you'll have to go without after this. You're such a naughty girl, to be leaking this much." She put a finger to her mouth, and made a loud, sucking sound. "But I guess that's what I like about you."
Her heart clenched in pleasure, though there were many things wrestling for control of her mind in that moment. The private room now positively echoed with the wet, schlicking sounds of Amelia's fingers buried in Lakyus' cunt.
"As I keep telling you, Lakyus, don't fight it," Amelia said. "Give in to it. Let your screams out, for all the world to hear. Let... yourself... melt...!"
Lakyus screamed; though she wasn't able to hear herself, as her whole world erupted in white. Her inner core burst with a fierce passion, enveloping her entire body in waves of mind-shattering pleasure. Through the dangerous storms, she was only able to cling desperately to Amelia, as her pussy leaked its juices all over the other woman's hands. Whichever did not dripped down onto the porcelain, immediately filling the whole room with the powerful scent of female arousal.
"There now... That wasn't all bad, wasn't it?" Amelia said, while caressing her back. "Oooh, you certainly made a bigger mess, but at least none of it got onto your clothes. But you can't wear your panties anymore." Amelia smiled impishly. "That means you'll need to go without."
Lakyus groaned in protest, but did not disagree. After a few moments of freshening up (and cleaning up the mess) Lakyus stood before her lover with a visible pout on her face.
"Oh, are you displeased?" Amelia said, making a little "ohohoho" sound, while covering her mouth.
"Amelia..."
"Do you feel a little more relaxed now?" the other woman said quietly, as she wiped off her fingers with a piece of cloth.
"Eh?" At Amelia's pointed look, she shrugged to herself. "I don't... Well, maybe just a little." Thanks to Amelia, she was able to largely forget about the dilemma currently facing her, in favor of a brief, heated dalliance with someone she deeply respected. Yet now, reality called, with a problem that she could not solve for the first time in her life as a high-ranking adventurer.
Her dear family's estates were in danger of being lost, and only if she would not agree to marry. It was a devilish, sickening plot that had seemingly come out of nowhere, and had upset the equilibrium that Lakyus had maintained, ever since she'd renounced her claims to inherit the Aindra's estate.
She strongly suspected that there was a conspiracy here, and her fellows at Blue Rose agreed. But it was dangerous to use their own resources and investigate, as the Adventurer's Guild were exhorted to keep out of the Kingdom's affairs, no matter what. If there were sinister forces within the nobility who wished harm on her or on her family, then she could not strike back at them effectively-at the least since she did not even know the face (or faces) of her enemy.
Why now, of all times, Lakyus asked herself, raging at the unseen force acting from the shadows. She had already left that life behind. Not even the king could restore her status, unless she willingly gave up the rank of adventurer, which she could never do.
Amelia had been very supportive, and had even voiced her own solutions, most of which involved brute force. Of course, as more veteran adventurers, she had been quick to chastise the woman, and repeated the Guild's policy of non-involvement.
"You're thinking again, my dear," Amelia said, her voice interrupting her thoughts. "Such a gloomy frown... it has no place here."
"We should go," Lakyus said bitterly, checking to make sure a stray droplet of quim hadn't made its way on her dress before she headed for the door.
"Wait, my dear," Amelia said, tapping her shoulder. "I did have a reason to bring you to this room, and I can assure you that fornication was the second thing on my mind. Well, I figured I would make you relax first, before bringing it up."
"What is it?"
A cold, almost predatory gleam came over Amelia's eyes. "You mentioned that there were no stipulations as to who you would marry."
"None." And that was the strange part about it. It would have been simpler if this or that noble had been presented as a candidate that Lakyus needed to marry. Then at least Lakyus could have put a name and a face to the conspiracy, even if there were some slight chance that the man himself was wholly innocent, merely a pawn in a greater game.
Her father was unable to elaborate further on who exactly had threatened him, but by the implications, it must be someone with much clout in either the Royal or Noble Faction. And that showed exactly how deep this conspiracy went. She didn't know why she was in the middle of it all, but she didn't care for being used, not at all.
Amelia continued: "Then, do you think it would be remiss if you considered marrying our Lord?"
"Your... huh?" Lakyus gaped, open-mouthed, her turbulent mind having gone to a complete halt. "Marry... your lor-Sir Momon? You want me to marry sir Momon?"
"Oh please, don't look that enthusiastic about it, my dear," Amelia said. "I jest. But it is a solution which I think would have merit."
Lakyus' eyes burned with something that felt something like betrayal. "...But, Amelia, I don't want to marry anyone. I don't want to settle down and be... be someone's wife."
"And Lord Momon will not expect you to," said Amelia. The woman lowered her voice, as if she were imparting a secret. "Truth be told, this was not our, and by 'our' I mean Eclipse Nebula's, idea. We have contacts with the Adventurer's Guild, and suffice to say, they would be more than willing to support your cause if you agreed to marry Lord Momon."
Albedo watched the expression shift in Lakyus face. She was still somewhat confused. "The Adventurer's Guild?"
"They know of your plight. More importantly, they can break the stalemate. They would prefer it that if there would be anyone you married, it would be sir Momon. And if you agree, then they will protect you and your family from the conspiracy that surrounds you. Yes... even if the whole Kingdom were to contest it-though I doubt the whole place is as foolish as I think-the Guild will respect your decision, will expend every resource to defend your family."
It had been easy enough for even Albedo working alone to trace the line that threatened her new toy all the way back to the Eight Fingers, the nemesis that Blue Rose had acquired for itself. She had reported it to Lord Ainz, who had then approved of her plan to use the Adventurer's Guild against them. Such unworthy insects needed to be crushed; but she reflected that it would be easier to just subvert them later on.
As Eclipse Nebula, they had approached Ainzach, Guildmaster of the Kingdom. For some reason, the man had looked pleased when Lord Ainz broached the prospect of his marrying Lakyus. After hearing of Lakyus' dilemma, the man had turned grim. After a bit of a lecture, where Ainzach expounded on the grim realities of the Kingdom's underbelly, the man had then pledged his support to Lord Ainz's proposal.
"But can the Guild really do that sort of thing?" Lord Ainz had asked. "You might antagonize the whole Kingdom."
"The Guild's charter extends to all human-controlled territories," Ainzach had said. "And we are empowered to act as we see fit if we deem the situation necessary-as is the case here. Should the Kingdom not take steps to remedy the internal corruption that essentially plagues Lady Lakyus, then they shall be declared anathema to the future of humanity, and all other human nations will see the Kingdom as an enemy, leaving it alone and isolated. That is what we can provide, sir Momon."
"All that for the union between my lord and Lady Lakyus?" Albedo had wondered.
"Indeed." Ainzach hesitated, pursing his lips. "Such unions should be... celebrated. The Guild encourages these... types of things." From the way Ainzach acted, there seemed to be something more to it, but Lord Ainz did not press.
Back to the present, Albedo said to Lakyus, "... You should not fear to be stripped of your rights as an adventurer, my dear. My lord is not that kind of person."
"But Amelia..." Lakyus still looked doubtful. "I mean... this is awkward. Isn't he your liege?"
Albedo giggled. "Of course. Are you worried what he'll think about us, my dear? Oh, don't you worry your little head. I'm sure we'll find a way for everyone to be happy."
"I... I see..."
Albedo stared at her for a few seconds, calculating just the right amount of time for silence, before she shrugged and said. "Do not decide here yet. Take as much time as you need. Come, let us return to meet your princess. If we spend a little more time here, everyone will think we're actually doing something nasty." She winked at Lakyus, who flushed in response.
Their invitation to the Tesaveren Estate had come from the Princess of the Kingdom, Renner There Cardelon Ryle Vaiyself. Apparently, Lakyus was acquainted with the girl. Naturally, the fact that the invitation was extended to Amelia was also because of Lakyus.
Albedo disliked the girl already, before even meeting her: after all, she had specifically invited only her, and not Lord Ainz. As a point of principle, she would have declined the invitation, but this had become a rare opportunity. While she was not the heiress of the Kingdom, she was still royalty, and if there was a way to subvert her now, Albedo would certainly take it.
And then of course, there was poor Lakyus to consider, who might have become perplexed if Albedo had really refused. Though she would have liked to see her flustered face, Albedo judged it prudent to play along, for now.
Lily-Anne Gen Mitra Bannry sipped from her wine, and observed the two adventurers talking within the group of nobles. Was it envy or hero worship in their eyes? she wondered. Though Lily-Anne was firmly of the opinion that the nobility's power remain with them, it was hard not to feel some sort of emotion when faced with these exemplars of humanity. To the nobles of the Kingdom had been gifted the might and the right to rule over vast tracts of land, and yet they themselves held only a sort of symbolic power, limited within the bounds of the Kingdom. In the Empire, for example, few nobles had been left from the Bloody Emperor's merciless rampage.
In another age, the adventurers might have become proper nobles in their own right: Kings and Queens even. They certainly had the power. In fact, that Lakyus had actually been a noble.
And the other one, the one she had been ordered to observe, seemed even more of a noble. She had a radiant, elegant beauty to her, that combined with her reserved wit and well-bred manners lent more credence to the rumors that she and "Eclipse Nebula" had been royalty in some other far away land. It was hard to believe either of these two women were actually battle-hardened adventurers.
"It all seems a tad farcical, don't you think?" A noble nearby was saying, behind Lily-Anne. "There's not been adventurers in Tesaveren for years!"
"Only a year, my dear Count," another noble replied. "Do you not recall? Prince Barbro called for a ball to celebrate Red Drop's soaring success. And that Lakyus' uncle was here, as a result. I believe... yes, it was last year. Were you not invited, by any chance?"
"Harumph! As it happens, important matters called me away at that time... I am a busy man."
"All perfectly understandable, my dear Count. All perfectly understandable..."
Lily-Anne looked up just in time to see that someone had collected the pair of adventurers from within their circle of nobles, and was ushering them towards the side doors, which led to the private rooms. She fought to suppress the urge to sigh in frustration.
"The Princess will see you now."
Albedo noticed plenty of things when they walked down the side corridor towards the guest lounge, where tea with the young Princess Renner waited. Lakyus, who had acted as an exemplary noblewoman (for her species anyway), loosened the act when they left the nobles behind. Albedo resisted the urge to roll her eyes in contempt at the memory of the vile, disgusting things. They had fat, grubby little grasping hands, none of which were fit to even grace her Lord's presence. Only Lakyus remained unique, remained distinct, the diamond in the rough.
The door to the inner chamber opened. "Princess, your guests are here," the maid said.
"Oh my, thank you very much!" came a bright, perky voice which made Albedo blink.
In the next moment, they'd reached the guest lounge, and she and Lakyus made the expected curtsy before royalty.
"Princess, it's good to see you again."
"Thank you for responding to my invitation, Lakyus! I really appreciate it." Albedo raised her head, and locked eyes with the Princess.
The Princess was a pretty little thing, like an animated doll. Her eyes were just the right shape, color and consistency as an actual doll-wait, oh my...
Albedo almost let the surprise show on her face, as the long moment continued. Instead, she settled on her usual, serene smile.
The moment passed. While Lakyus turned and introduced Albedo formally as the adamantatite adventurer Amelia, Albedo saw the princess's face freeze, as if she'd seen something in the depths of Albedo's gaze that struck her like a thunderbolt.
The silence went on for a while that Lakyus cocked her head quizzically at the Princess, and asked, "Is something wrong, Princess?"
Like waking up from a dream, the Princess shook her head, eyes blinking rapidly. Her smile returned, seemingly so genuine that many could be fooled. But Albedo did not miss the speculative gleam in her gaze as she spoke, like a brute poking at Albedo with a stick. "I was merely surprised for a second... Your friend is really beautiful!"
"Oh! Right... um..."
"I am honored to hear you say that," Albedo said, smiling at the girl.
"Shall we have some tea first, then?" the Princess said, collecting herself, and gesturing towards the chairs opposite her.
After going through the initial motions of exchanging pleasantries over tea, the topic of discussion swiftly turned towards Lakyus' predicament. It seemed that the Princess had her own means of keeping track of the situation.
"I wish I could do more to help," the Princess said in the most plaintive voice Albedo had heard in her life. "But my hands, are, regrettably tied. I do wish they hadn't pulled you into their silly little games, Lakyus."
"It's just so unfair," Lakyus said, her voice cracking. "My whole life I've devoted to putting all that behind me... And now it's just back."
"Sometimes we find our lives are not as wholly ours as we expect them to be," the Princess said. "The most we can do is pray, and do the best with what we have."
"...Or seize the best possible opportunity," Albedo said.
"Oh?"
Then Albedo explained to the Princess about the proposal for Lord Momon to marry Lakyus.
"Oh, but that sounds like a wonderful idea!" the Princess said, clapping her hands together. "And quite romantic as well! Imagine that, two strong and heroic adventurers, united in love! That sounds like a tale made by a bard."
"See that, my dear? Even the Princess thinks it's a good idea."
"Do you really think I should go for this?" Lakyus asked, her attention turned towards the Princess.
And there it was again. That brief moment of hesitation on Princess Renner's eyes, showing, even for an instant, the curious little creature nesting inside the doll. It was such a cute little thing.
"I am sure you will make the right decision, Lakyus," the Princess said, hedging. "After all, if Amelia said it, then it must be a good idea, no?"
"Heh? But Amelia is..." Lakyus stuttered, flushing.
"Oh my..." the Princess giggled.
When Lakyus excused herself on the account of blushing too much, the silence left behind in the lounge was so loud it could be ringing. The Princess seemed to be working hard not to cross eyes with Albedo.
Eventually, it was the Princess who broke the silence. "What a frightening thing it must be, to be ensnared. I pity Lakyus."
"You are certainly observant," Albedo said quietly. "But do you really pity her?"
The Princess shuttered her yes, before turning to match her gaze with Albedo. The latter almost smirked at the way she looked now, with the doll's face removed. She was a little more beautiful this way, in the same way that even the likes of Neuronist Painkiller would find attractive.
"May I be frank, my lady?"
Albedo smiled, but nonetheless accepted the flattery of being called "my lady". It was interesting to see she'd at least found fertile ground here at the very heart of the Kingdom.
Yet another chapter commissioned by anonymous, thank you.
If you'd like a story commissioned, feel free to contact me here, or on my tumblr at "theruffpusherdottublrdotcom".