The springtime evening was one of gentle gray from the overlay of clouds in the sky. Though it was warm still the gentle rains fell upon the world and flushed through the greenery. As the sun dipped further in the west the light dimmed until the red began to be visible on the horizon. All of the trees of the forest adorned with their leaves were painted just the slightest tint of crimson in the late of the day. The pastures of grass stretched out into the distance and surrounded the fields of freshly planted crops.

This was the estate of Benedil Daughterly, a man of high ranking nobility and the lead advisor to the king himself. In the center of the fields of green stood his home: a stately mansion that was more castle than house. Standing in the middle of his generous portion of land it stood with tall stone walls surrounding it and its various offshoot buildings. The walls of the mansion itself were stone with wooden walls on the interior and had glass windows fitted with shutters. Splendid plants of all types decorated the grounds while the interior was ornamented with the best money could buy.

Along the well manicured cobblestone road leading up to the mansion a horse drawn carriage came. Its cabin was made of black painted polished wood and trimmed with shining iron, its two leading horses of good breeding and carrying themselves with seeming importance. Even the driver himself was clothed in well to do garments.

Inside this stagecoach were two that seemed to fit in quite well yet their demeanor betrayed the fact they did not belong. Sitting on the back end was Timothy the high priest of Goddess Jenna and across from him sat the little girl goddess herself. While the young man was nervous due to his surroundings Jenna seemed quite annoyed that she was here at all.

Jenna was sitting near the window and leaning into the wooden wall, her head propped up by her right hand as she looked out the window.

"Piece of shit nobility."

Timothy felt a bead of sweat on his head as he watched her. She was a goddess after all and probably thought that even this fancy estate was below her status. However as he thought more on it he decided it was probably her strange distaste of nobility itself that was creeping its way out with that comment. He had his hands full if he was to keep the peace this evening.

"Well we were invited to dinner at a very important man's home." He said nervously. "It's important we show the proper respects. Right?"

Jenna shot an annoyed glance his way and huffed.

"Piece of shit noble."

Her comment's repetition signaled to Timothy that it would be best if he avoided pushing the subject. When her judgmental gaze drifted away from him again it filled him with a profound sense of relief. It made him wonder if he was born nobility if her attitude would be the same towards him. He shuddered to think of it and discarded the thought.

The carriage continued its rickety ride along the estate's road and was very close to the end of its journey. It took only a few more minutes for them to travel through the gate of the small curtain wall and into the estate proper. Then it was a matter of seconds for them to pull up in front of the main doors themselves.

Like most mansions of its size there was a fancy drop off area for receiving guests and their carriages. This place had a small pond in the middle of some small greenery and lawn, complete with two large shrubberies in the shape of some kind of dragon. The steps leading up to the doors were plain stone and there was a small landing no more than four feet from the ground.

After the stagecoach came to halt one of the servants standing outside the main doors came down the steps and opened the side door of the cabin. It was a man in his twenties who was dressed sharply as all of the staff likely would be. He smiled warmly and bowed as the two guests stepped out onto the ground.

Jenna wasn't wearing anything fancy beyond her normal goddess apparel, her hands tucked into her vest as she alighted on the ground with a slight frown on her face. As she had told Timothy earlier she didn't feel this was an occasion worth dressing up for. That had disappointed him as he knew her previous world was likely full of amazing fashion.

She nodded to the servant as she walked by.

"Thank you."

Timothy repeated the thanks as he stepped out and walked past, being forced to jog a few steps to catch up to Jenna. She was walking quite quickly and he wasn't sure what the hurry was about.

"So we just wait to be escorted inside right goddess?" he asked shyly.

Jenna stopped at the base of the steps and looked up at the doors with a disgruntled expression.

"Yup. Usually the master of the house comes out and greets his guests. Then he and his servants escort the guests inside and to wherever the dinner is to be had. Sometimes there's before meal entertainment but I really hope not."

Timothy came to a halt next to her and smiled weakly.

"You sure know a lot about this stuff goddess. I suppose it makes sense. You've been to a thousand parties before I'm sure."

In response she just tucked her hands deeper into her vest and let out a grunt, her gaze fixed in front of them unwavering.

One of the servants at the doors had already vanished inside to find his master and reappeared within a minute. The tall white doors of the mansion opened wide and the tubby Benedil himself stepped out onto the landing. His short brown hair done up and his green eyes sparkling.

The servant that had opened the stagecoach door stepped up in front of the two guests and annouced them as is tradition.

"May I present the mighty Goddess Jenna! Goddess of knowledge and light! Accompanying her is her esteemed high priest Timothy Ukell."

Benedil smiled welcomingly and held out his hands.

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"Welcome great and powerful goddess! And welcome to you too her high priest! To my humble home I invited you and I thank you for coming!"

Jenna gave a glance to her side and slipped her hands out of her vest to drop at her sides. She then began walking up the steps of the entrance.

"Let's get this over with" she whispered to her priest.

Timothy smiled to try and mask his nervousness, following her up the stairs. He was unsure if it was right for him to speak at all and so decided to let Jenna take the lead, as dangerous as that was.

Once they both arrived at the top of the steps Jenna turned and nodded to the advisor. The look she gave him was one of disdain but she was keeping her cool for the moment. She wasn't even trying to hide it all that much.

"Yuppers. Here we are."

"T-Thanks for having us!" Timothy added.

Benedil nodded and clapped his hands, then gestured inside the mansion.

"Why don't you two come inside? Dinner is about to be set and we can begin. I thought entertainment unnecessary as it would likely bore a goddess. I hope that even as modest a meal as we humans can prepare suits the pallet of the divine and I apologize in advance if it does not."

Timothy walked in following Jenna. He noticed she was studying the servant staff closely for some reason. She kept looking at them and almost staring. In turn they tried to keep their heads down and seemed to be pretty terrified of her. Totally reasonable reaction. He remembered his first meeting with the goddess. Of course he found out later how kind and understanding she was, at least to those she thought deserved it.

"Quite the place you got here." Jenna said looking around.

The inside of the mansion was indeed in accordance to one's expectations for someone as wealthy as Benedil. Between the paintings, statuary, and colorful fabric the place was simply dazzling. Especially to someone as poor as Timothy. Of course there were plentiful servants as well, of course to put on a show for the esteemed guests.

Jenna's tone however had the inflection that her compliment was less than genuine. Whither their host picked up on that or not he didn't show in his reply.

Benedil smiled and nodded, putting his hands in the nape of his back.

"Yes quite. I thank you goddess. It's the accumulation of my wealth that has allowed me to procure such lovely pieces. I'm truly thankful for the blessing's I've received."

Timothy knew Jenna wouldn't buy that statement even if it was true. He had never asked her why she hated the rich so much because he was afraid to. Now he worried he was going to find out in a less than pleasant way.

Jenna was sizing up one of the maids nearby. She was a young looking woman who had pale magenta hair and a pretty face. Of course she was desperately trying not to be noticed by the goddess.

"I'm sure you treat your servants well." Jenna commented.

"Of course!" Benedil replied.

The maid tensed up and beads of sweat were seen forming on her forehead.

Jenna looked her over one last time.

"Relax. I'm not gunna hurt you."

After saying that she turned away and back to their host, leaving the maid to let out a sigh of relief and finally relax a little.

Benedil gestured to one of the doorways.

"Well shall we go to the dining room? I'm excited to introduce you to my other guests as well."

"Yes lets" Jenna replied. "I'm happy to meet them."

Timothy followed the two of them as they all walked through a couple large rooms. He felt out of place in his clergy attire. After all they were originally just a costume he wore his job. However they had been validated by the arrival of a real goddess and he was doing his best to learn to feel comfortable in them. He noticed the looks of jealously from members of the staff and felt even worse than he already did.

Finally they arrived at the dining room. A almost huge room lined with pretty dishware and bright candlelit chandeliers. The table itself was the length of most normal rooms with solid oak construction, the chairs equally as sturdy and polished. Everything in the room screamed decadence and riches. The smells coming from the kitchen were heavenly.

Sitting in the chairs furthest from them were two other men. From the fanciful dress they were wearing it was clear they were nobility friends. One was in his fifties and had short blonde hair, white skin, cyan eyes, and an average build. The other man was in his forties and had pink skin, blue eyes, short dark purple hair, and a tubby frame.

Benedil stepped forward and began the introductions.

"May I present the Goddess Jenna and her high priest Timothy Ukell. These are my good friends of the king's court. On the left is Derby Deckard and to his right Florentinus Molnar. Both upstanding members of society."

The blonde one was identified as Derby and the tubby one Florentinus. Both of them seemed to be a mixture of nervous and excited to see the little girl and her companion. While he wasn't entire sure why Timothy guessed it was because they were able to associate with an actual goddess now. Someone even more powerful than a king would bring them exuberant clout among the king's court.

Both the men stood and bowed deeply to Jenna. Derby was first to speak.

"It's such an honor to meet an actual goddess! Thank you for allowing me this once in a lifetime opportunity oh great Jenna!"

Florentinus then nodded in agreement and held out his hands a short ways in front of himself.

"Yes indeed! To think in our lifetime the power of the goddesses would return to our humble kingdom. I hope you find our lands pleasant Goddess Jenna. Myself I'm aware there's room for improvement but I strive to look on the positive. Please call me Florent!"

Timothy noticed that Jenna was almost glaring at them as she looked them over. Whatever was going on inside her head he couldn't hazard a guess, though whatever it was it was clear she didn't have mutual feelings to the two nobles. Her look however softened before she spoke.

"Well met. That's the greeting I remember being appropriate for these situations. You'll overlook any perceived lack of social etiquette of mine of course. Its been so long since I... Mingled among humans."

Benedil smiled again and nodded, walking to the table and gesturing to their seats.

"Of course goddess! Now please come sit down. We're about to have the food brought out. Tis quite the meal I've had prepared for you today and I do hope its to your liking!"

As Timothy sat down next to his goddess he noticed she was lost in thought and he wondered what about. His pondering about her pondering was quickly pushed to the side in his mind as he started wondering about what kind of food they'd be having tonight. His imagination could only run wild with possibilities.

Florent looked at the two newcomers and placed his hands in his lap.

"From what I've heard we're having roast boar as the main dish. Freshly hunted from the very forest of this estate! I'm partial to the ground fowl myself but the juices of pork are simply delicious."

Derby chuckled and glanced over, his voice playfully taunting.

"I'd take the advice of someone who eats so well any day! You certainly get your fare share of eating eh Florent?"

Benedil sat down himself in the chair at the end of table, two of his guests on each side.

"Now now you two. Be on your best behavior. We have very important guests after all!"

Florent smiled apologetically.

"Oh of course! Pardon our joviality goddess."

Jenna sat there and said nothing, simply looking at the speaker and then back at one of the servants standing nearby. She seemed uninterested in their joking but didn't seem angered by it either. Her silence was threatening to become awkward and Timothy nervously took it upon himself to speak instead.

"Oh its fine Sir Molnar! The goddess is just quiet today. It's probably the weather."

He rubbed the back of his head and chuckled nervously. Hopefully no one would question him further. More importantly he wanted Jenna to start speaking again. She was the one that knew how to handle fancy dinner parties. Was she testing him?

Benedil nodded. "Yes the rain does bring quite the solemn atmosphere with it. A goddess as bright and cheery as our very own powerful one likely feels its effects more aptly than us humans. Let us begin dinner. A good meal is always helpful in raising spirits!"

He gestured to the servants standing nearby for them to bring out the food. The two men and young woman from before all nodded and disappeared into the next room over. The smells of cooked meat and fragrant bread could already be enjoyed wafting through the air.