Chapter Ten

The familiar sounds of Songstress and the Flows greeted them as the carriage train rolled to a stop, Ambrosia's voice strong and clear, finally able to be the one singing the lyrics. Prince Adric slipped out first, shivering enough that his teeth were chattering from how the temperature inside had continued to dip during the ride through the city.

Harmony glided out, her face a controlled mask. [Poise and Bearing] combined with [Style and Grace] to create a social crutch she leaned on to keep her emotions in check.

The music stopped. When the beast tamer came up and gave her a light hug Harmony hesitated briefly. Ambrosia was in her maid's uniform. The mixing of work, singing, blending the informality of her passion and the seriousness of her profession wasn’t something her friend did. Never mind she trusted Ambrosia to tell when she didn’t want to be hugged.

"I made a deal. Room and board for your notable and newsworthy presence." Ambrosia whispered before she let go.

Releasing her focus off Ambrosia, she took in where they were. The Grand Dragonfly Inn loomed over them. Not as tall as the city's spires, but a representation of majestic opulence. The staff in shimmering green uniforms, marked with golden dragonfly wings was already quickly and efficiently unloading the wagon train, including a team helping direct Hyacinth and Bowe towards what has to be quarters for larger familiars and pets.

Harmony had expected to be housed in one of the lesser vined spires that was set aside for impoverished nobles.

"Welcome to the premier Inn in all of Naewauld, my Lady White," Ambrosia announced with a curtsy, having slid back into her profession's role but a touch of performance for the staff. Premier might be stretching it, but she wasn’t going to protest if it was free. It was well within the space of places she’d overheard Lady Coodly chat about when she was a servant.

“Magnificent that you’ve secured such lodgings!” Harmony would play her role as well, but in private she’d squeeze the details out of her friend. After a bath though. She needed something to calm her nerves.

Prince Adric stepped up to Harmony’s side, staying half a pace behind her, accentuating that he was subservient to her politically. Oh, they’d debated leaning on the fact that he was a prince. But his lack of acknowledgment left too many questions. Factor in his new profession as the lady’s pet prince and his quasi-living status, Bates unquestionably advised she should take charge as the ranking member of the pair socially. Everyone carefully ignored the monster in the dungeon that was Adric's social and emotional acuity, and how that might affect things if he was in charge.

Bates joined Ambrosia to shadow the pair, opening doors, interacting with the inn’s staff, and all those other butler and maid duties. No thank yous to refreshments or a steaming towel. Both knew Harmony wanted to get to her room quickly, even if her pet longed for some of the services provided. Staff could handle staff, guests were another thing.

Sir Maxwell stepped out from behind a pillar and used three long strides to step in front of the pair. With a deep breath to gather courage he kneeled. “Sir Maxwell, your sworn knight at your service.”

Harmony could feel him leaning on that oath he’d given her all those months ago. Now that she was a lady it felt more right and proper. The large knight's hair was still pink, and his woven beard was just as manicured. This time the pink was imperfectly dyed, rather than the magic of her skill having changed it. Recently done too. [Beautician] was just being nit-picky as it was acting up too, even then she had to acknowledge that it was quite nice, for a dye job.

This would be the time to dismiss him from his oath. Maybe that was his goal? One less complication to have around. But it wasn’t like the maid had a lot of friends in the capital or even oathbound fools at her disposal. Which led to the question of why was he here? He could easily just have decided to avoid her altogether in a city this size and not worry about his silly oath. Even sworn to tell the truth, the lobby of the inn was not the place to question him. She certainly was not going to order him up to her room. The prince was bad enough, there was no need to get a rumor spread about her building a harem of men.

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“I’ll be heading into the dungeon tomorrow. Come by at dawn with any knowledge or tools I might need. Your service is always appreciated.”

Standing up the man bowed. “Yes, Lady White.” Then turned and left.

Adric leaned in. "I didn't know you had a knight?"

"We went on one dungeon run together, then a misplaced oath. I wouldn't call him my knight."

Her pet’s response was a snort. She could feel a trickle of amusement through their bond.

Bates motioned toward the stairs at the back. A sure sign to pick up the pace. Though subtle, and odd. Harmony knew today's plan was to rest and do a little planning, nothing that required any hurry.

Five steps to the ascent. "Harmony, did you get my letters?" Not quick enough.

[Poise and Bearing] reflexively kicked in at Tyler’s voice, preventing any reaction on her part.

As a manor maid, she'd always had the excuse to dash off to some unenviable task or higher orders from the matriarch. As a peer, there was protocol she couldn’t afford to ignore. So she turned to face one of her former masters.

He'd trimmed up and was groomed even beyond what his gran was able to force on him for social events. The hunger, though, was the same. In his eyes, wanting you without actually seeing you. Harmony noted it all.

"Vorn poetry was an interesting choice. I'm sorry I didn't have the time or skill to respond in kind."

"And the other letters?"

Professing one's "undying" love towards a necromancer was a poor choice of phrasing. Yet he used it so many times. The lack of response was one. Didn't help that the few times she'd considered sending a response the ink froze in the well.

[Stride Before the Fall]. It was a relief to be on the stairs out of sight. Two minds on this problem were better than one.

The Harmony next to Adric tapped her pet on the shoulder. “Head to the stairs.”

The prince hesitated but left and walked towards the stairs.

Harmony strode forward towards Lord Tyler. “I’m not in a place where I can entertain thoughts of a relationship.”

At the stairs, Adric turned the corner with Bates and Ambrosia. “Harm?” He squeaked out.

“Let's head to our room, this is as good a distraction as I can think of.” With a nod, the two servants lead the way at a brisk pace.

Knowing she’d escaped, Harmony relaxed in front of Tyler. She flirted with the idea of chilling him, maybe changing his hair green, though the idea he might keep it like Max did and she’d be followed around by another colorful man was too much.

“I know I’m asking a lot, Harmony.” Tyler started.

Words. Words would have to do. “You are asking too much. I can’t run away with you. We’re not star-crossed lovers. I have duties. I have obligations. And you don't know me." [Poise and Bearing] worked in tandem with [Recall] and the aristocratic sense of her class to pull from every book she read on the topic of adding an undertone and inference to her blunt statement to drive the point home.

Tyler broke in front of her. Through authority’s connection, she felt the misplaced adoration and desire crumple some. A necromancer crushing a heart, how cliche. Not that it would be enough. “But I want…”

Rather than face his words. Harmony made her choice and left. Ceasing to be.

In Harmony’s room, a luxurious suit paired with Prince Adrics she sat on her bed and hoped that would be the last of Tyler. Foolish, he wasn't one to give up so easily. After that dirty task, she felt more soiled from that interaction than the whole trip here. “Ambrosia, I’m ready for my bath."