A Journey Unwanted

[Realm: Álfheimr]

[Location: Heart Kingdom]

[Pulchritudo]

[Banquet]

The size of the hallways they found themselves walking through still managed to impress Gretel, despite the turmoil that had been sitting uneasily in her stomach ever since she had agreed to come to the banquet. The marble walls stretched high above them, broken at intervals by massive pillars whose surfaces were threaded with elaborate golden decorations that seemed even more radiant whenever they passed. Expensive paintings filled the spaces between them, each framed in gold and depicting either scenes of battles, royal ceremonies, landscapes, or figures Gretel could not immediately recognize. Beneath their feet, a royal-blue carpet ran the length of the corridor, thick enough that their footsteps were almost completely swallowed by it.

It was beautiful.

Gretel’s silver eyes wandered across the decorations for a moment longer before returning to the people ahead of them.

Bluebeard and Trismegistus had taken the lead, walking side by side at an unhurried pace. The Duke occasionally glanced over his shoulder, and every time he did, his eyes settled on Ella. The grin that accompanied those looks was not subtle. Whatever thoughts were running through his mind were written plainly across his face.

Gretel found herself instinctively looking away from him whenever it happened.

The expression alone made her uncomfortable.

She then glanced towards Ella, who walked besides her with the same composed, almost irritatingly relaxed demeanour she had displayed throughout the banquet. There was no visible nervousness in her posture. If anything, she looked as though she were merely taking a casual stroll.

Gretel finally broke the silence.

"Was saying that earlier really necessary?" she asked, lowering her voice so the two men ahead would not overhear. "I mean, seriously. You couldn’t have chosen literally anything else to say?"

Ella turned her eyes towards her, one brow lifting slightly.

"What?" she asked, the smallest trace of amusement touching her voice. "After everything you’ve seen, that is what’s bothering you? That’s the part you decided was worth questioning?"

Gretel hesitated.

"When you put it like that..." She sighed quietly. "I suppose not."

Her eyes shifted forward again, watching Bluebeard’s broad back.

"I guess I’m mostly surprised you, of all people, opted for seduction," she admitted. "You don’t exactly strike me as someone who would bother playing along with a man like him. Usually you’d just insult him until he stopped talking."

Ella gave a tiny shrug, apparently unconcerned.

"Not like I’ll actually let the pig rail me," she replied matter-of-factly.

Gretel’s expression tightened.

"Seriously..." she muttered, almost wincing at the bluntness. "I didn’t know you of all people could be so... forward."

Ella’s expression remained the same.

"Well, this face isn’t as pretty as my actual one," she said, lifting one dainty finger and resting it thoughtfully against her chin. "But if I’ve been using a face like this, I might as well put it to use, no?"

Gretel stared at her for a moment.

There was something strangely casual about the way Ella said it. She spoke about seducing a lecherous Duke as though she were discussing how best to use a particular tool.

"Hm."

Gretel tilted her head, studying her more closely.

"You’ve been rather lax lately," she observed. "You’re usually much moodier than this. Normally you’re either brooding somewhere by yourself or insulting whoever happens to be standing closest to you."

Ella’s eyes narrowed by the smallest amount.

"I don’t know what you could possibly mean." Her voice was flat enough to make the denial almost convincing.

Ella turned her attention forward again, focusing on Bluebeard and Trismegistus, who were speaking quietly to one another as they walked.

Gretel watched her for another few moments before a small smile slowly appeared on her face.

"Oh, come on. You have been." She leaned slightly closer, her voice remaining low. "You’re way more amenable than usual. That’s not the Mi—"

She stopped herself as her lips pressed together.

Then she cleared her throat.

"That’s not the Ella I know," she corrected, the small grin returning to her face.

Ella’s eyes slid sideways towards her.

"Wipe that smile off your face, idiot." The words were completely flat.

Gretel’s smile widened.

"That’s more like it." She gave an amused breath through her nose before continuing. "It’s odd, though. I think I’ve actually grown immune to your insults." She looked at Ella expectantly. "Do you know what would really throw me off?" A brief pause followed. "Compliments." Gretel’s expression became almost challengingly cheerful. "Go on. Just one. Surely you can manage one sincere compliment without dying from the effort." She urged.

Ella stared at her for several seconds; she said nothing.

Then she simply huffed.

"You’ll get nothing from me." She said dryly.

Gretel’s expression immediately fell into exaggerated disappointment.

"Well, I tried." She turned her gaze forward again, though the small smile remained on her face. For all the strangeness of the evening, for all the reasons she had to be wary, the brief exchange had managed to make the walk feel almost normal.

("Though it’s not unpleasant how she’s acting.") Gretel thought after another moment. ("I hope it persists; she could do with a better attitude. Someone so young shouldn’t be moody.") She gave a small hum to herself. ("Hm, but if I knew she was so into sweets...") She smiled to herself at the thought.

Meanwhile, farther ahead in the corridor, Duke Bluebeard and Trismegistus continued their conversation as they walked, their pace unhurried despite the distance they still had to cover. Bluebeard seemed entirely at ease, his hands clasped loosely behind his back as though the entire estate belonged to him—which, of course, it did. Trismegistus remained besides him with his usual posture, his golden mask giving away nothing of what might have been passing through his mind.

"I have to ask," Trismegistus finally said, his voice carrying the same tone it always seemed to possess, "do you truly think this is wise, Duke?"

Bluebeard glanced sideways.

"Which part?"

"Exposing your private collection," Trismegistus clarified. "All of it, potentially, merely because you have found yourself interested in warming your bed tonight."

There was no confusion in the Royal Guard’s voice, no genuine disbelief, either. He simply seemed curious about Bluebeard’s priorities and whether the Duke had actually considered the consequences of what he was doing.

Bluebeard gave a low chuckle.

"You really do need to learn how to enjoy the finer things in life, my friend."

He glanced back over his shoulder towards the two girls following behind them, and the grin that formed on his face became considerably less dignified.

"But that girl..." His tongue briefly passed over his lips. "She’s got some fucking spunk." His grin widened. "Most people who come into my estate spend the entire evening trying to kiss my ass. They praise the food, praise the house, praise my wealth, and praise every damn word that comes out of my mouth. But her?"

His eyes narrowed with renewed interest.

"She looked me straight in the eye and told me she was disappointed." Bluebeard gave another laugh. "That takes nerve." His gaze lingered behind him. "And she’s young, beautiful, and apparently willing to put something valuable on the table if I show her something worth seeing. It’s not often that I get the opportunity to indulge in something that particular."

Trismegistus remained silent for several moments, his head turned slightly towards the Duke, though the golden mask concealed his expression.

("Carnal desires really are the weakness of even the most influential.") The thought came dryly.

Power, wealth, knowledge, and status—none of those things appeared to make people immune to the most ordinary impulses. If anything, Trismegistus sometimes suspected that having too much of everything merely made certain people more willing to indulge themselves.

Bluebeard, however, was clearly not finished.

"But tell you what." The Duke’s grin returned as he looked towards his companion. "We could share the two."

He spoke casually, with the tone of someone making an offer he already assumed would be accepted.

"A little fun for the evening. That pretty blonde looks untouched as well." His eyes turned briefly towards Gretel. "Seems like tonight’s already gone out of my way to provide me with options."

Trismegistus did not immediately answer, but the Duke waited. The Royal Guard merely shook his head slightly.

"I’ll have to pass." His tone remained the same. "I have work to attend to here in Pulchritudo, and unlike you, I have little interest in allowing personal indulgence to interfere with it."

Bluebeard snorted.

"Work, work, work." He shook his head with an amused sigh. "Always the scholar."

Trismegistus simply continued walking. Bluebeard’s attention returned towards the two behind them, his grin slowly returning.

"Well..." He gave a quiet, satisfied chuckle. "More for me, then."

("I should probably step in. Her Majesty does not particularly like Bluebeard, but his wealth is quite useful.") Trismegistus internally thought.

He was no fool; he may have only known the young girl for an extremely short while, but he liked to think he understood her personality somewhat.

She was not indulging the Duke.

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