A Journey Unwanted

[Realm: Álfheimr]

[Location: Heart Kingdom]

[Pulchritudo]

[Banquet]

True to Gretel’s earlier words, the banquet seemed almost impossibly vast.

Every corridor opened into another lavish hall, every doorway revealing yet another extravagant chamber no less magnificent than the last.

It took a surprising amount of effort for Paimon not to simply stop and stare.

She had long since separated from Gretel and Ella at Ella’s insistence, leaving her to wander the estate alone. While she understood the reasoning behind splitting up, it did little to ease the nervousness settling in her stomach.

Among countless nobles dressed in fancy suits and flowing gowns, the young woman in the red hood stood out far more than she would have liked.

She could feel it; eyes lingered. Some were merely curious, and others are not so innocent.

("I really don’t like the way some of these people keep looking at me.")

Paimon resisted the urge to fold her arms over herself.

Instead, she kept walking, pretending not to notice the occasional lingering glance that followed her through the hall.

Her blue eyes remained fixed ahead.

("Don’t look back, just ignore them.") She exhaled quietly. ("I need to focus.") Her fingers tightened lightly against the fabric of her cloak. ("If I can find the Duke, maybe I can actually speak to him.")

Hope still lingered, perhaps naïve hope. But it was hope nonetheless.

("If I can convince him... if I can just make him listen, maybe he’ll leave the church alone.")

The thought steadied her for only a moment. Because finding one man inside an estate this enormous proved far more difficult than imagined and accomplished.

["Pathetic."]

The single word tore through her mind without warning.

Paimon’s expression shifted ever so slightly, but she didn’t jump or stop walking. She merely frowned, lifting one gauntleted hand to rub lightly at her temple before giving the smallest shake of her head.

"Not now." The whisper barely left her lips.

She had grown familiar enough with that intrusive voice to recognize it immediately. Acknowledging it accomplished little, ignoring it was easier.

Fortunately, something else soon demanded her attention.

A sizeable gathering of nobles had formed not too far away. Curiosity alone would have drawn anyone’s eye. Dozens of finely dressed men and women stood gathered in an almost perfect semicircle, each wearing smiles that somehow looked strangely identical.

Each laughed, nodded, and spoke with exaggerated admiration. The insincerity practically hung in the air.

Paimon slowed her steps.

Carefully peering between shoulders and elaborate dresses, she finally caught sight of the person receiving such relentless praise.

A woman, a young woman.

She possessed striking red hair that flowed elegantly over her shoulders before falling down her back. Against her pale complexion, it appeared almost impossibly vibrant. Her features were refined with high cheekbones and delicate lips and eyes the same deep shade of red as her hair.

Despite the attention surrounding her, there lingered a melancholic expression on her face.

She looked tired.

She wore an elaborate black gown adorned with red embroidery that seemed almost floral in design. The high ruffled collar framed her face beautifully, held together by a dark jewel resting neatly at her throat.

Her hands rested gracefully upon her lap, long fingers with dark painted nails.

She sat upon an ornate chair befitting royalty. And yet her gaze remained utterly disinterested.

("Whoa...") Paimon found herself unconsciously slowing further. ("There are so many people surrounding her...")

She strained her hearing just enough to catch fragments of the conversation.

"Princess Iphigenia," a portly noble declared with an almost theatrical smile started, "it truly is an honor beyond words to stand in your presence. Your courage during the recent expedition deserves the highest praise."

Another woman gracefully hid her smile behind an expensive fan.

"Indeed. Journeying into the dominion of the fairies is no ordinary undertaking. Few would possess such bravery."

A third noble eagerly stepped forward before anyone else could speak.

"I’ve heard countless tales regarding the Black Forest. A dreadful place overrun with dangerous fairies and old horrors. I cannot even begin to imagine enduring such conditions."

Compliment followed compliment, and praise layered atop praise. Each trying to outdo the last.

Princess Iphigenia listened in complete silence. If she appreciated their admiration, nothing in her expression suggested it. Only after the final noble finished did she finally raise her eyes.

"The expedition has not concluded." Her voice was calm and cold enough to still the surrounding conversation. "The Black Forest remains vast; it is not so easily subdued."

Silence settled over the gathered nobles.

Then, without the slightest change in expression, she continued.

"Now, I would appreciate it if you stopped pestering me." Her red eyes drifted lazily across the crowd. "I came here seeking a moment of respite." Her gaze hardened by only the smallest degree. "Not to spend my evening being hounded by mutts."

The effect was immediate; several nobles visibly flinched. One awkwardly cleared his throat and another forced an embarrassed laugh that quickly died.

Murmured apologies spread through the crowd. One by one, they retreated. Within moments, the once eager gathering had nearly dissolved entirely.

Princess Iphigenia released the quietest sigh.

She closed her eyes briefly before lightly shaking her head, as though trying to rid herself of the lingering irritation they had left behind.

Paimon couldn’t help but smile.

("Why is everyone I meet so unbelievably pretty?") The thought came so suddenly she almost laughed. ("First Mikoto, then Gretel, then Shuten-dōji, Ella and even that black-haired woman with the green eyes...")

She rubbed the back of her neck awkwardly.

("Is everyone in this kingdom just beautiful?")

Her amusement slowly gave way to curiosity.

She studied the Princess more carefully.

("She’s a Nil too...") The realization settled naturally. ("Just like Gretel and me.")

She wondered absentmindedly, how strong the Princess truly was. Someone carrying herself with that degree of confidence, who could dismiss nobles without a second thought, surely possessed considerable strength.

Still, curiosity was one thing; approaching royalty without invitation was another entirely.

Paimon wisely decided against it.

"..."

Then radiant red eyes slowly lifted; they settled directly upon her.

"Hm..."

Princess Iphigenia’s eyes lingered on Paimon.

It wasn’t the indifferent, half-lidded stare she had offered the nobles only moments earlier. That boredom had vanished, replaced instead by scrutiny. Her gaze moved slowly, taking in every detail of the young woman standing across the room.

It almost felt as though she were trying to peel apart what lay beneath the surface.

Paimon resisted the urge to fidget.

("She’s... really staring.")

The thought crossed her mind almost immediately.

Whether it was because the Princess had recognized her as another Nil, or because the bright red hood stood out so awkwardly amidst the sea of expensive gowns and tailored suits, Paimon couldn’t tell.

Whatever the reason, the Princess made no effort to look away.

Neither did she speak.

The silence stretched just long enough for Paimon to assume she was being summoned rather than dismissed.

"...I guess she wants me to come over."

She cautiously stepped forward; careful not to appear disrespectful, she stopped a few paces before the chair and offered a small, uncertain smile.

"Hi... I’m—"

"Another Nil." The Princess interrupted her without hesitation; her voice did not sound rude for the sake of being rude, merely unconcerned with ordinary conversational etiquette. "Hm."

Her red eyes traveled briefly from Paimon’s hood to her boots before returning to her face.

"Name." It wasn’t quite a question; it sounded much closer to an order.

Paimon blinked.

A slightly weary look crossed her face.

("I was literally about to say it.")

Still, there seemed little point in arguing.

"Paimon." She gave another small smile. "It’s nice to meet you." A moment later she hesitated. "...Should I, um..." Her hands awkwardly hovered near her sides. "...bow or something?"

Princess Iphigenia’s expression didn’t change.

"If you bow," she replied flatly, "I’ll be tempted to throw myself headfirst off the nearest building." There wasn’t even the slightest trace of humour in her delivery; she sounded completely sincere.

Paimon stared.

"Oh." Her shoulders relaxed a little. "I won’t bow then."

The Princess shifted slightly within her chair, resting one arm upon the carved armrest before lazily propping her cheek against her fist.

Only now did her posture lose some of its rigidness.

"So far," she said, "you’re the first remotely interesting thing I’ve seen all evening."

It somehow didn’t sound like praise; Paimon smiled awkwardly.

"Thanks?" She tilted her head slightly, unable to hide her confusion. ("She doesn’t act anything like I imagined a princess would.") She had expected elegance or refinement, perhaps kindness.

Instead this beautiful woman spoke with an almost startling bluntness, as though social conventions were inconveniences she simply refused to entertain.

It was oddly refreshing and more than a little intimidating.

Princess Iphigenia continued watching her.

"I suppose you’ll have to serve as today’s entertainment," the Princess said after a brief pause,

She delivered the statement with the same blunt tone.

Paimon’s blue eyes widened.

"...Eh?" She looked around instinctively, almost expecting someone else to be standing behind her. When she realised the Princess truly meant her, she pointed awkwardly towards herself. "...Me?"

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