Before Nieren got fully swept up in her mana lust. Rya, Dalia, and 2E came out of the laboratory to give the Wood Elf her privacy.
When they came out to the hallway of the basement. They could hear in the distance Arathar Coldforge pounding away on some metal. Most likely he was working on Rya's sword.
2E closed the door to the laboratory behind them while Rya sighed.
"So Woody can't handle her mana... I wish I could watch her getting knocked down a peg... She always mocks me for mating with my wolf. How dare she, right? If you have an amazing mate, you make sure to mark him. So, no other female tries to steal your man." Dalia said with a smirk.
"Hey, she may be opinionated but she's still a fallen princess. She was being trained to be a noble elf... It's hard to change your habits from living the palace life." said Rya.
"But you changed your habits? You wear fancy dresses that reveal your cleavage and legs! And you reek of your mate's scent... I remember you saying that you weren't interested in men because you used to be one... You've changed, Alpha. And it is mostly for the better." Dalia said while wagging her tail.
Rya's cheeks went red. 'I-I can't deny that I'm different... How can I not be... I'm a female Dark Elf now... I don't care if I used to be a straight man... I love Quin with everything I have. And Quin is my rock... Zoey... A part of me wishes to come home and see you one more time... I wish for your future happiness... You were the best girlfriend a guy like me could ever have...'
"Umm? Are you okay Alpha?" Dalia asked with concern.
"Yea, yea I'm fine. Just thinking about the past. And I'm just letting it go," Rya smiled.
"Good! The past can make things complicated... Just focus on the present and the future. For example, I plan on teasing Gamma about having children! Mating season is around the corner!" Dalia giggled.
Rya cracked into a smile and shook her head. 'Dalia... You don't need a mating season to get pregnant. Because you are already knocked up... But she won't believe me...'
Then Rya just sighed before taking the Seer Stone and sliding it in between her cleavage. The magical monocle was cool to the touch as it nestled in between her massive chest.
"Oooh, this feels good..." Rya moaned out loud as the artifact was safely secured against her body.
'It's not a cellphone but it's not a bad spot to keep the Seer Stone.' Rya thought as she used her hands to readjust her breasts and felt the artifact slide into a more secure spot.
"Hey, Dalia? Have you seen any other half-breeds? We've been in Ironside for a month now and I've only seen the dwarves pairing up with dwarves while humans are the same. With the only exceptions being Percy and Quinus. You would think there would be some inner mingling with at least one couple?" Rya said as she looked at her cleavage to make sure the Seer Stone wasn't moving around.
"Hm? I mean I wouldn't have imagined marking a human as a mate until you gave me the idea... I haven't really paid attention to the other races either. But now that you mention it. I haven't noticed any dwarves marking humans or humans marking dwarves," Dalia said as she tilted her head while thinking.
"It's just weird? Most of the civilians seem to enjoy living together but there isn't one half-breed human-dwarf? Or maybe I'm wrong and they're all in hiding? It seems the noble society is very conservative... But then there wouldn't be this city," Rya said as she scratched her cheek.
"Well, it's the other races loss. My human male is far superior to those wannabe Alphas in the Beastkin tribes. Speaking of which... Where are we going next? We can't stay here forever," Dalia said as she sat down on the floor cross-legged in her dress showing off her toned legs.
She was wearing an off-shoulder red dress that had many designs of flowers and vines woven into it. Her long black hair had many cute little bows in it. Dalia wouldn't have let herself be dressed like this in the past when she was a part of her beastkin tribe. But now she secretly has been won over by Rya's way of thinking when it comes to wearing nice clothes. And she was surprised that she was still able to fight in it too.
'Geez! I can see Dalia's panties when she was sitting like that!' Rya thought as she looked away from the wolfkin.
"Hmmm? Well, we finished the biggest objective I wanted to do... And I'm sure we'll be leaving Ironside to head to Tairal... I'm not going to worry about it, mostly because I haven't had breakfast yet... So maybe we go to the dining hall until Nieren finishes her session? Unless you have a better idea?" Rya said as she crossed her arms, which squeeze her boobs together.
"Oh! YES! FOOD!... And I could go for some of that pie they were making yesterday..." Dalia said as she stood up.
Rya smirked before teasing her friend, "Didn't you say you were going to go easy on the sweets? I don't want you to get 'fat', Dalia."
"Tease me as much as you want, Alpha. I'm going to enjoy myself!" Dalia said as she puffed out her chest.
Rya laughed and playfully slapped her on the butt.
"Eep! Hey! What was that for?" Dalia said as she turned around and glared at Rya.
Rya giggled and replied, "You seemed so high and mighty that I couldn't help but slap your butt! Sorry, it won't happen again."
"Ugh! You always like to ruin my fun... Fine... Let's go eat... But I get desserts though," Dalia said as she took Rya by the hand, pulling her towards the stairwell to head upstairs leading to the dining room.
2E just stood there and watched the two ladies running off. Leaving her behind, again.
She showed an annoyed gaze as her creator didn't give her any new tasks to do. So, she just stood there and waited by the door to the laboratory.
***
Dalia and Rya made it to the dining room where they saw several servants were busy cleaning up the tables.
"Ah! Good morning Lady Dalia and Saintess Rya! Do you wish to have a late breakfast or early lunch?" One of the servers asked politely.
"Oh! Lunch, please!... I can eat a whole horse right now if you have one," Dalia said as she walked up to the server.
"I am sorry, but the kitchen only has a roasted wild bore, my Lady," The server replied as he held out a plate of roasted meat.
"Ugh... I was joking, Shorty. But, I'll have that thank you," Dalia said as she grabbed a chair by the head of the table.
"I hate it when she calls me that..." said the Dwarven Servant.
"That's because you're short! Anyway, what would you like Alpha?" Dalia asked as she sat down at the table.
"A fruit salad with a side of chicken, please... And maybe a cup of tea to drink?" Rya asked as she smiled at the servant.
"Right away, my Saintess," the servant said as he quickly left the room.
"Ugh! I can't understand how you can eat that leafy stuff... It makes me want to puke just thinking about it," Dalia said as she cringed and shivered.
"Have you tried a salad?" Rya asked as she looked confused.
"It tastes awful! I don't know why anyone would want to eat those things in the first place?" Dalia exclaimed as she waved her hands in the air.
"Well, it's good to change up your diet from time to time. But maybe Wolfkins can't eat vegetables?" Rya said as she shrugged her shoulders.
"Hah! Fat chance you can fool me with that dumb excuse!" Dalia said with a snicker.
"Well I know how to discipline you if keep acting up, now don't I?" Rya said as she smirked.
"You-you wouldn't dare!" Dalia said with a scared expression.
"Yes, I would. So you better behave yourself," Rya said as she stared Dalia in the eyes.
"What? Oh... um... I mean, yes I will," Dalia said as she blushed.
"Good girl!... Oh? Thank you for bringing me my meal." Rya said as she thanked the servant who brought her, her food.
"My pleasure Saintess," he replied with a bow.
Rya took a sip of her tea and quickly started eating.
Dalia got excited when she looked at her roast. She couldn't help but lick her lips and rub her hands together as she was ready to dive in with her hands. And before Dalia could start chowing down, she heard Rya.
"Dallliiiaaa!?"
"W-what?" Dalia said as she looked up at Rya.
"Knife and fork," Rya said as she pointed her fork towards Dalia.
"What?! But they are pointless—"
"KNIFE AND FORK!... Or do you wish to have fruit salad for lunch instead...?" Rya said as she glared at Dalia.
Dalia closed her mouth and reluctantly grabbed both utensils.
"Thank you," Rya said as she ate her food. Dalia silently looked at her meal and began eating as well.
"Stupid... utensils... I hate it..." Dalia muttered under her breath.
"I hate having to change your clothes every time you only use your claws. You're making my life harder every time you do," Rya said as she scolded Dalia.
"Fine... But I deserve sweets if I'm forced to use these things," Dalia said as she glared at Rya.
'Haah... Fine... If she's being a good girl then sure...' Rya thought to herself.
"Alright, if you use your fork and knife properly, I'll allow you to have some desserts," Rya said with a smile.
"Ahh! Hooray! Thank you so much!" Dalia cheered.
Rya just smiled and started eating her lunch.
'Man, it's weird that this world has chicken, pork, and beef. I wonder if other planets in the universe have the same animals as on Earth and Tertius...? Whatever, it's time to dig in!' Rya thought to herself.
When Rya took her first bite of her salad her taste buds went crazy!
'Mmmm! Damn!... The salad is super delicious today... Mmmmh! Oh God! The second bite was better than the first bite! This is fantastic! Mmm! I love this flavor combination! I want more...' Rya thought to herself as she finished off her salad.
Dalia was inhaling her food as well.
"Mmmmk! The roast is extra good today! The meat is just exploding with flavor!" Dalia exclaimed as she was shoveling her food into her mouth.
Rya had to hold back from laughing at Dalia's enthusiasm.
'Hahaha... That smile of hers is adorable...' Rya thought to herself.
After finishing their meals, both of them were stuffed beyond belief.
The narrative has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.
Rya sighed as she placed her fork down.
"That chicken was superb... The chef outdid themselves today," Rya said as she looked up.
Dalia nodded her head in agreement.
"Can we have dessert, Alpha? I was a good girl and used those stupid utensils, so I think I deserve something sweet," Dalia asked.
'Haah... She really can down her food... Hmm?'
"So what kind of desserts were you thinking about?" Rya asked.
"Mmmm... Hmm..." Dalia said as she thought hard. "I want something sweet like that chocolate cake from earlier... Or maybe some apple pie that was baked yesterday... Ummm... Ahhh! I know! Why don't we have some fudge!" Dalia said as she clapped her hands together.
'Oh man, she gets excited fast... But I like the idea of having dessert myself... After all, we did create the Seer Stone... might as well celebrate, right?' Rya thought to herself.
"Alright, Devon... Can you bring out all three plates of desserts for us?" Rya asked.
The servant bowed and went to the back while two other servants cleared their dirty dishes away.
It took only a moment before Devon and two other maids came out with three plates stacked high with desserts.
"Here you are, ladies!" Devon announced as he put the plates down on the table.
"Thank you, Devon," Rya said as she gave him a nod of approval.
Dalia was drooling and was about to drive right in but stopped herself and looked at Rya.
"I-I will use the utensils! I promise, Alpha!" Dalia said as she quickly picked up the spoon and fork and began using them.
She took a small bite of the pie before she started inhaling it. She was on her third slice when she noticed Rya was staring at her.
"... W-What? Did I do something wrong?" Dalia asked.
"No, not at all... I was just impressed with how much you can put down." Rya said as she grabbed a small piece of pie.
"Hehe! A warrior like myself needs all the energy I can get!" Dalia said with a laugh before taking another bite.
"Geez! Hehe... You're too much sometimes, Dalia... Just pace yourself," Rya said as she chuckled.
Dalia nodded her head and took a smaller bite out of the apple pie. She finished her first plate of desserts before Rya started on hers.
'Hmm... The pie looks good. Okay, time to take a bite... Mmmmh... MMMMH!? OH GAWD!? IT-IT TASTES LIKE! AAAHHH! I CAN'T BELIEVE IT!' Rya thought to herself as she took a bite of the apple pie. It had a very nice sweet taste. The crust was flaky and the apples were soft. And her taste buds were assaulted by the sweetness of the pastry.
It sent shivers down her spine and felt a buzzing coming from her pelvis. 'This is so good... oh fuck!... I think I'm going to orgasm from eating this pie.' Rya thought to herself as she moaned.
"Mmmmh!" Rya moaned when taking a second bite.
'OH MY GOD! THIS IS SO GOOD!' Rya thought to herself as she closed her eyes and groaned.
Dalia looked up at Rya and saw the look on her face.
"See! I told you that the sweets are the best here!" Dalia said with a smile.
"Yeah... I-I can't deny that they are delicious..." Rya said while blushing as she reached for the next piece of pie.
'This one looks like a blueberry cream pie. 'Rya thought to herself as she took a big bite of her dessert.
'Mmmm!... Why do these desserts taste so good!? Aunh! Gawd! My stomach is buzzing with joy! OHHH! YUMMY!' Rya thought as she moaned with delight.
She couldn't help but take another bite and then another as she finished the blueberry pie. She thought her stomach was buzzing at first. But in reality, the strange feeling was coming from her womb.
'Oh my god! This is so good!' Rya thought to herself as she moaned and gasped.
She kept eating even though she felt her corset start to tighten around her waist.
'I need to stop,' Rya thought to herself as she began to feel a familiar tingling sensation in her pussy.
'I don't want to cum from eating desserts... But I want to eat one more piece!' Rya thought to herself as she grabbed another slice of pie.
"Damn Alpha... Here I thought I loved sweets... You are giving me a run for my money... Mmmmh! Oh! I-I think I'm having a sugar rush. Hehe!" Dalia said with a giggle. She couldn't help but lean her head back with rosy cheeks and looked like she was about to orgasm.
"Well since we're here we might as well enjoy ourselves," Rya said with a smile.
"Mmmmh... T-That's right," Dalia agreed as she was still on cloud nine.
Rya's corset had been tightening around her waist as she continued to eat her pie. It wasn't visible to the naked eye because her elegant pink dress was covering it up but it was tightening all the same.. and she could feel the wetness between her legs.
'Shit! I feel like I'm getting bloated... I need to stop... Fuck, they must have added more sugar or butter or something... AUNGH! I-I didn't know women's taste buds were so sensitive!' Rya thought to herself as she moaned and gasped from the sweet flavors coating her tongue.
"Are you okay?" Dalia asked with concern.
Rya put down her fork and tried to regain her composure.
"Yeah, I'm fine. Just a bit full is all... But now I understand why you love these sweets so much," Rya said.
"Haah... They are the best! I just wish they wouldn't make me so bloated." Dalia complained.
Rya looked at Dalia's little bump that was partly covered by her dress.
'...Maybe she isn't pregnant after all? But she's not getting fatter anywhere else on her body. But she isn't human so maybe this is considered fat for a Wolfkin? But I swear I can see her abs getting pushed out. Or maybe I'm just overthinking things?' Rya wondered.
"Awww, I'm sorry. Are you feeling alright?" Rya asked again with concern.
"Yeah, it's fine. Once we are on the road. I can stay away from these things and I'll be good as normal in a day or two," Dalia replied with a smile.
"Okay, I'm sorry for doubting you, Dalia. I see why you get so bloated when you eat these desserts... They are sweet and their gooey texture feels so good against your tongue and then they fill you up like a sponge... I feel like they changed up their ingredients because I don't remember these desserts tasting this Devine since the last time I ate them," Rya admitted.
"Nah, they've always been this delicious. Your tongue must have matured enough to appreciate how awesome these sweet are!" Dalia said happily.
"Ohh... That makes sense... Well, I guess I can't blame you for wanting to have desserts every day, Dalia. But you better watch out because you're getting a little bigger down there," Rya said with a giggle.
"I'm not that bloated! I swear! I think I'm just sensitive to sweets now that I'm older and my taste buds have grown up!" Dalia complained.
"Oh? But you're 19 right? I don't think you're that old... Well, if you say so," Rya said before taking another bite out of her pie. Her taste buds screamed with joy as the delightful flavors filled her senses.
'Mmmmmh! This is so good! Sweet, sticky, and just plain good! I never knew I could enjoy eating desserts this much! I should try some other pies and pastries to see if there are any other sweets as delectable as this one!' Rya thought to herself.
Before Rya could grab a different dessert the door opened to a Dwarven Noblewoman.
When she saw the Dark Elf and Wolfkin stuffing their faces with sweets she couldn't help but shake her head.
"So, you trying to skip out of etiquette classes for desserts, Lady Rya? You're lucky I didn't call the guards to take you back to your room!" The noblewoman scolded them with a scowl on her face.
'Shit! Lady Fyrella... I-I forgot I had a lesson today! I was so focused on the Seer Stone I totally spaced out!' Rya thought with guilt.
"I'm sorry, Lady Fyrella... My thoughts were lost after tasting this pie..." Rya confessed.
"Well, you know better than to mess around at the table! If you do it again I'll make sure the next pastry you try will be as hard as iron! Now stand up you two and follow me," Lady Fyrella ordered.
"But I wasn't finished with this-" Dalia was about to protest but stopped when Lady Fyrella glared at the wolfkin.
Dalia sighed and stood up from her chair.
"Come along now! It isn't Lady like to miss your appointments!" Fyrella said before leading the way to her study.
'She's going to make us stay longer isn't she.' Rya thought.
"Huh?"
Rya felt a funny fluttering sensation down in her pelvic area when she stood up.
"What did you say Lady Rya?" Fyrella asked with a frown.
"Uhh... Nothing... I just got dizzy is all..." Rya replied while blushing.
'Have I been having too much rough sex with Quin lately? It feels like my womb is reacting to him more often than usual,' Rya thought nervously.
"Hmm, I see. Well, I'm not going to go easy on you just because you have a sugar rush. You need to practice your etiquette and learn how to act properly. There is no reason why you shouldn't be able to do so with just a little bit of effort." Fyrella said with a grin.
"Y-Yes, I'm sorry, Lady Fyrella!" Rya apologized.
***
The Baroness dowager led Rya and Dalia to a small room where they would have their lesson.
"Now take a seat ladies. We're going to begin with how to properly address someone with rank and status when you are in a tea party," Lady Fyrella explained.
Rya and Dalia nodded before sitting down.
"Alright, so the first thing we will do is have you introduce yourselves to each other! Now, Dalia, tell us what your full name is!" Fyrella instructed.
"My full name is Dalia Nightshade Wolfkin stalker-striker. But I prefer to be called Dalia." The wolfkin answered.
"Dalia, you should always refer to yourself as Lady Dalia and you don't need to add in that you're a stalker-striker. Most noble women aren't warriors like us," Fyrella explained.
"Gah! That's just stupid... A female should try and see if they can be a warrior even if the males try and stop her. Like the women in the story of the Three Valkyries," Dalia complained with a scowl.
"I understand that you want to prove to everyone that you are capable of being one of the best warriors in Agon, but how can you be called a warrior if you shy away from the battlefield of wit and intelligence? Besides, there are plenty of women who are warriors in this world. Just because they aren't going around conquering lands doesn't mean that they aren't worthy of respect, Lady Dalia," Fyrella rebutted.
"Yeah, I guess you're right but... I still don't like it," Dalia confessed.
"If you build up your wit then you might have avoided getting enslaved," Fyrella commented.
"Well, that may be true, Lady Fyrella. But then Lady Dalia wouldn't be here if we didn't rescue her in the labyrinth. And besides, she's a lot stronger than before," Rya admitted.
"She is indeed strong, I'll give you that. But that doesn't excuse the fact that you two still need to improve your wit and etiquette. No matter how strong you are physically and magically. But it will all be for naught if someone who is cunning and intelligent knows how to exploit your few weaknesses. It's happened to many great warriors and it could happen to you. If you take my lessons lightly," Fyrella said.
'... Haah... She's right. I shouldn't take these lessons lightly... I can't solve everything by punching it to death,' Rya thought.
"She's right Dalia... If we get complacent in our ways then are growth will plateau and stagnate," Rya agreed.
"W-Well, I don't want to be surpassed easily... I guess you're right, Shorty— ah! I mean, Lady Fyrella," Dalia said while correcting herself.
The Baroness dowager had been watching them both with a stern gaze, but now she sighed in relief.
"Thank goodness... You were starting to remind me of my younger brother. Just so you know Lady Dalia. You can use nicknames in private with trusted friends only," Fyrella commented.
"Yeah, I promise to only use nicknames in private unless I smell the stench of nobles. Then I will act as a proper lady, Shor-Lady Fyrella," Dalia responded.
"Fine, that's acceptable. But if you ever call me anything else other than my given name then I will punish you severely. Understood?"
Dalia nodded her head.
"Good. Now please focus on what I am about to teach you. When attending a tea party with possible foes it's imperative to analyze their body language. And sometimes if they are good at keeping up a front. You will have to ask probing questions or snide remarks that will force them to reveal their true selves. For example, let's say you meet a potential enemy. Things might be going smoothly but they may ignore your compliments by just sitting there in silence while showing you little to no emotions or they will reply with kind words but say them in a sarcastic way in order to insult you.
"So if you observe this behavior you need to return in kind and see what comments start to strike a cord. Usually, you'll see them falter if you are close to the truth. But it can't be an outright personal insult. It needs to be subtle enough that it won't hurt their pride and ego. But enough to make them realize that you're a woman of strong constitution and not meant to be trifled with... You will notice when you are winning if they look nervous. That tells you that they are feeling outmatched and you have gained the upper hand. Resulting in them trying to leave or change the subject to something less threatening to their status," Fyrella explained.
Rya was nodding while Dalia just had an annoyed look written across her face.
"I still don't see the reason why I shouldn't just punch them if they are my enemy..." Dalia muttered out loud.
Fyrella bopped her on the head. "No! That would be irresponsible of you. I know you are young, but you can't just punch everyone you think is your enemy. This whole song and dance is so you can discover who your allies are, find out who is a neutral party, and most importantly, unearth your enemies. Plus it's important to find out if there's friction between two parties or more.
"You could ally yourself with someone who is enemies with everyone in the kingdom and that will make things more challenging for you or you can turn the tables around... All of this will be useful in the future, especially when you are Queen and her lady-in-waiting," Fyrella replied.
'Haah... This is going to be harder than I thought... Well, if I'm to become royalty I better get good at this crap. Or I'll be making Quin's life harder. And I don't want that.' Rya thought to herself.
"Yes, yes, I got that, Shor-Lady Fyrella. But what if they a all your friends or allies? What do I do then?" Dalia asked.
Lady Fyrella smiled, "Then you have a lovely tea party, my dear... Just remember that if you are the host, let your guest try the tea first before you do. It shows you are being polite."
"Doesn't it also show you that they like the tea?" Rya questioned.
"Not necessarily. They may just be really polite. But you should be able to tell if they enjoyed the tea or not. And make sure you have good sweets to complement the tea. As for the last part, well that's up to you." Fyrella said with a smile.
"Whoa! What!? You never mentioned that you can eat sweets at a tea party! Alpha! We have to have at least four! No! Five! Five, tea parties a day when we go to the capital," Dalia exclaimed happily.
'Damn! Dalia... She has sweets on the brain.' Rya thought as she saw Dalia wagging her tail like crazy.
"Ahem!?" Lady Fyrella cleared her throat loudly and gazed at Dalia with annoyance.
"Huh! Oh! Ummm... W-When we arrive at the city of Tairal. We should have many tea parties, Al-Lady Rya," Dalia said in the best aristocratic accent she could muster.
"We should? Why?" Rya asked curiously.
"Because the people of the Fiafyr Kingdom are very polite people, and they love sweets!" Dalia said with a grin on her face.
"Haha! You mean to say, you love sweets... You are too adorable, Lady Dalia," Rya said while laughing.
"If it gets me sweets then so be it! Right, Alpha?" Dalia said looking up at Rya.
"Ahem!?" Lady Fyrella cleared her throat again.
"Oh! Sorry, Lady Rya," Dalia said bowing her head.
"Better. But I'm not going to be around to catch your mistakes. So please make sure you practice your etiquette and how to act properly at every royal event." Fyrella said looking down at Dalia and Rya seriously.
Rya nodded then replied, "I understand."
It was at that moment the door opened to an embarrassed Wood Elf that was breathing heavily.
"...So you decided to show yourself, Lady Nieren. I'm hoping you had a good reason to hide from us this morning?" Fyrella asked with a smile as she looked upon the elven wood elf.
"I-I-I—," Nieren couldn't respond to Lady Fyrella's question.
"Oh, Woody was just masturb—"
"SHEEE had a personal emergency that needed to be dealt with, Lady Fyrella. She wasn't at fault." Rya interrupted Dalia before she could tell Lady Fyrella that Nieren was masturbating.
Nieren looked to Rya as her Savior and thanked her with a slight nod.
"Y-Yes... It was unexpected for me as well..." Nieren said as she blushed deeply.
"Ah! I see. Well then, let's continue our discussion." Fyrella said in a cheerful tone. "So now that everyone is here I will continue the lesson... I will act like an arrogant noble that's looking down on you and you will use your wits to defend yourself. Are you ready?"
"Yes."
"Good. Oh, and don't forget to drink your tea properly. That's what all nobles do at tea parties. They drink and talk. Got it?"
The lessons continued as Nieren took a seat and caught on to what Lady Fyrella was doing.