A Journey Unwanted

[Realm: Álfheimr]

[Location: Heart Kingdom]

[Pulchritudo]

[Banquet]

Paimon still wasn’t entirely sure what had just happened.

One moment, she had been standing in front of Princess Iphigenia, trying to figure out why the woman had taken such an interest in her. The next, the Princess had simply declared that Paimon would serve as her entertainment for the day and expected her to follow.

There had been no explanation and no real request. Just an assumption that Paimon would come along. And, unfortunately, Paimon couldn’t exactly refuse.

Defying royalty was already a bad idea under ordinary circumstances. Doing so while the church was still in danger seemed even worse.

So she followed.

The difference between them became increasingly obvious as they moved through the banquet.

Iphigenia walked with the pace of someone who had never needed to wonder whether she belonged somewhere. Her posture remained relaxed, yet people noticed her immediately.

They bowed as she passed, some stepped aside, and others watched with open admiration. A few looked as though they wanted to approach her, only to reconsider the moment they caught sight of her bored expression.

Paimon noticed it happening several times.

Someone would straighten their clothes or someone else would prepare to speak. Then Iphigenia would glance in their direction with the smallest hint of irritation, and whatever courage they had gathered would disappear.

("She really does scare people without even trying.")

Paimon followed a few steps behind, occasionally glancing between the Princess and the people around them.

("But what did she actually mean by entertainment?")

The question had been bothering her ever since Iphigenia said it. Paimon couldn’t imagine the Princess wanting to play cards with her. Or perhaps some other noble game she didn’t know about.

Either way, the uncertainty made her slightly uneasy.

("Though, I guess this actually works out pretty well for me.") Her expression became more thoughtful. ("Goiim said the Duke organized this whole banquet because of the Princess.")

Her eyes shifted toward Iphigenia’s back.

("So if I stay with her, maybe I’ll eventually run into him.")

That thought made the strange situation considerably easier to accept.

At the very least, she had a reason to remain there.

The Princess soon reached a grand staircase.

The steps curved upward in a sweeping spiral, their surfaces polished. Paimon followed, her boots making quieter sounds against the stone than the Princess’s footsteps.

They ascended without speaking.

At the top, the banquet seemed to change.

The second floor was just as extravagant as the one below, perhaps even more carefully decorated, but it was noticeably quieter. There were fewer guests here, and those who had been allowed upstairs appeared more interested in enjoying themselves than performing for everyone around them.

Several nobles sat at private tables with glasses of wine in hand while demi-human servants moved between them, delivering small plates of delicacies.

Paimon glanced around.

Even here, everything looked expensive.

She was beginning to suspect there wasn’t a single ordinary room in the entire estate.

Iphigenia eventually turned toward an elaborate booth tucked somewhat away from the main flow of people.

It was empty.

Without ceremony, the Princess walked over and sat down.

She didn’t wait for Paimon to ask whether she was supposed to join her. Instead, she rested comfortably against the seat and gestured toward the empty space opposite her.

"Things are far too nosy with those mutts downstairs," Iphigenia remarked. "Everywhere I look, someone is trying to listen, flatter me, or find some excuse to involve themselves in my business."

Her eyes shifted toward Paimon.

"Sit. It’ll be easier to talk up here without half the banquet listening in."

"Uh... right." Paimon carefully climbed into the booth. She sat a reasonable distance away from the Princess, leaving enough space between them to avoid seeming overly familiar. ("Probably better not to sit too close.")

She had barely settled before a servant approached.

The young woman had feline ears poking through her neatly styled hair and wore the same refined black uniform as the other demi-human attendants throughout the estate.

She stopped beside their table and lowered herself into a dignified bow.

"Is there anything I can do for you, Princess and honored guest?"

Iphigenia’s expression softened slightly.

"Something non-alcoholic, please. And some of those strawberry tarts." Her request was surprisingly courteous.

Paimon’s eyebrows rose as the cat-eared servant bowed again.

"Of course, Princess."

She turned and departed; Paimon watched her go, then she looked back at Iphigenia.

The Princess had already noticed.

"What?" Iphigenia rested an arm against the back of the booth. "Does it surprise you that I exercise basic decency with a servant?"

"Kinda." Paimon scratched her cheek. "I mean, from the way you talked to all those nobles downstairs, I kind of assumed you’d talk to everyone like that."

Iphigenia stared at her for a moment, then the smallest of smiles appeared.

"You don’t dance around the subject." It was barely there, but Paimon noticed it. "That’s rather good." Iphigenia folded her arms. "I suppose there’s more to you than merely being a Nil."

Paimon blinked.

"Really?"

"Yes." The Princess looked almost amused by her reaction. "You’ve been remarkably honest since approaching me. Most people spend their first few minutes trying to determine what answer I want to hear."

Paimon frowned slightly.

"I don’t really know what answer a Princess would want."

"Exactly." Iphigenia leaned back. "That is probably why you’re still here."

Paimon wasn’t sure whether that was a compliment; she decided to accept it as one.

After a brief pause, however, her curiosity returned, and she tilted her head.

"Then, if you don’t mind me asking..." Iphigenia’s eyes shifted toward her. "What did you mean when you called me your entertainment?"

Paimon hesitated.

"I mean, are we actually going to do something?" Her head tilted a little farther. "Like play cards or something?"

Iphigenia’s expression immediately flattened.

"Of course not."

"Oh." Paimon looked slightly disappointed.

The Princess sighed quietly.

"But you’ve seen how most nobles react around me."

Paimon nodded. "Right." She glanced toward the lower floor. "That did look pretty uncomfortable."

"Uncomfortable for them, perhaps." Iphigenia shifted slightly in her seat. "For me, it’s simply tiresome."

Paimon listened.

"I came here to rest." The Princess’s voice lost some of its earlier sharpness. "I don’t usually bother attending banquets like this. They’re crowded, loud, and filled with people who have something they want from me."

She glanced toward the surrounding tables.

"Still, I do enjoy good food."

Paimon couldn’t help smiling a little.

"So that’s why you’re here?"

"Partly." Iphigenia leaned back, looking more relaxed now that they were away from the crowds. "But annoyances follow Princesses like me wherever we go." Her red eyes narrowed slightly. "And I don’t particularly enjoy being annoyed."

Paimon considered that, and then she looked at the Princess with genuine curiosity.

"Then what do you enjoy?"

Iphigenia answered without hesitation.

"Interesting stories." Paimon’s expression changed as the Princess’s gaze settled directly upon her. "And you look like you’ve got one. That’s why we’re speaking now."

Paimon stared at her for a moment; she finally understood. The Princess hadn’t brought her upstairs because she wanted a servant, a plaything, or some amusement.

She was simply bored.

And Paimon, for whatever reason, had caught her attention.

Iphigenia rested her cheek against one hand again.

"So." Her eyes remained fixed on Paimon. "Tell me something worth hearing."

("An interesting story?") Paimon mulled the words over silently.

That was a problem.

She had plenty of stories that could probably qualify as interesting. More than enough, in fact. The problem was that most of them weren’t the sort of stories she could casually tell a Princess at a banquet without accidentally revealing something she probably shouldn’t.

There were too many things she couldn’t explain and too many people she couldn’t mention. And far too many complications surrounding the church, the Heart Kingdom, Mikoto, Goiim, and the others.

Paimon lowered her eyes for a moment, thinking carefully.

("What am I even supposed to tell her?")

She didn’t want to lie outright.

At the same time, telling the complete truth seemed like an even worse idea.

Eventually, she looked back at Iphigenia.

"Maybe..." She hesitated, rubbing one finger against her cheek. "Maybe if you ask me a question, it’ll be easier for me to tell you something." It was a modest suggestion, but Paimon seemed genuinely relieved to have arrived at it. "I don’t really know where to start when someone just tells me to tell an interesting story."

Iphigenia considered that for a moment.

"Fine." The Princess shifted slightly in her seat, settling more comfortably against the back of the booth. "How did you come to be at this banquet?" Her tone remained casual. "That’s a rather simple question, isn’t it?"

Paimon’s expression stiffened.

("Oh, come on.") Of all the questions she could have asked...

That one?

She had to think quickly.

("Shoot. Anything but that.") Her mind raced through possible answers, she couldn’t tell Iphigenia the truth.

Not the whole truth, anyway.

She couldn’t explain that Goiim had arranged their involvement, nor could she mention what they were actually intending to do inside the estate. Paimon was still trying to formulate something believable when that familiar voice suddenly cut through her thoughts.

["Say you bought tickets at an auction."]

The voice was as unpleasant as ever.

Paimon’s expression barely changed, though a small tension passed through her shoulders.

She knew better than to argue.

"I bought them at an auction." The answer came immediately.

Iphigenia’s eyes remained on her.

"I see." There was little reaction in her voice; if anything, the Princess sounded mildly disappointed. It was obvious that the answer had done almost nothing to satisfy her curiosity.

Paimon could tell.

Iphigenia could tell that Paimon could tell.

The Princess’s eyes narrowed slightly before she adjusted the question.

"For what reason, then?" She rested her cheek against her hand. "You don’t strike me as the type who would particularly enjoy an outing like this."

Paimon blinked.

"Hm..." She considered that one more carefully; the Princess wanted an interesting story. If Paimon gave her another boring answer, she suspected the conversation would end almost immediately.

And, strangely enough, Paimon didn’t want that.

There was something about Iphigenia’s bluntness that made speaking with her easier than expected.

So perhaps she could give her something real.

Just not everything.

"Well..." Paimon glanced down at the table for a moment before looking back up. "I was hoping to talk to the Duke." Iphigenia’s attention sharpened. "About a church." Paimon watched her carefully.

("It should be fine if I reveal this much.")

There was no reason to explain the rest.

She certainly wasn’t going to mention that she was working alongside people who were secretly intending to steal something from the Duke’s treasury.

That seemed like information better left unsaid.

"I see." Iphigenia’s expression had changed; her earlier boredom had given way to genuine curiosity. "A church?" One eyebrow lifted. "Tell me more."

Paimon paused.

For the first time since sitting down, she realized she’d actually managed to catch the Princess’s interest. That hadn’t been what she intended, but now that she had, she wasn’t quite sure what to do with it.

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