“Psha, the Tarragon Family spends too much money on useless things. If I was in control of their operations, I’d invest in sustainable businesses…” She says a bunch of strange statements to Delphie as we walk in and I get the feeling that their families are somewhat at odds from the looks the butlers give her. As we walk across the huge lawn under the eternal dark sky of the Underworld, Eli explains that we won’t get to meet the master of the Tarragon Family until tonight.
“Unfortunately, while Sufrans has all but openly declared his support for my claim this Succession, rules are rules and I’m still technically exiled. So we’ll be on our own for now.” He says. Still, I’m not entirely sure if “on our own” is really the word for what happens next. A horde of butlers and maids attend to us, bringing over our tailored clothes from Mishaer’s shop. I have no idea how fast that man worked, but everything fits perfectly. I have to literally fight off the servants for the right to dress myself. Over to the side, inside one of the vast side-rooms of the manor, Eli doesn’t bother. He’s perfectly at ease having people serve him, practically made for it. “Relax, Hei. You’ll want to look good for tonight. The servants of Tarragon know what they’re doing.”
“S-Sorry, just not used to it.” I stammer. It’s okay though. Based on the embarrassed noises I’m hearing from across the paper-divider, the girls are also struggling. From the sounds of it, Delphie isn’t used to having servants anymore, and Sophie, while initially smug, has discovered the “modifications” I had built into her dress.
“Madam, are you sure you bought the right size?” I hear a maid saying with barely veiled criticism. Sophie’s response is ear-splitting-
“This doesn’t make any sense! I didn’t eat that much!” She complains but grunts as they try to zip her up into the dress. “Come on! Mishaer must have messed up!”
“The Tarragon Family tailors are the best in the city, Madam.” The maid replies and I smile. So worth it…
“Stay still, Soph! You’re going to pop your buttons!”
“I swear to the System, I’ll kill Mishaer! Or maybe it was that damn seamstress girl!”
#
After we’re well and truly prepared, the girls meet us outside the manor. When Delphie and Sophie show up in their dresses, it takes my breath away. The Nephilim noblewomen are like princesses. Sophie rocks a tight, long red dress which hugs her curves a little bit too closely, and she looks stunning for sure. Honestly, I could totally believe that she’s an assassin because she could totally seduce any man if she wanted to. Well, if any man could ignore the sass coming from her mouth. However, it’s Delphie who has transformed the most. Normally her clothes are pretty subdued, and she doesn’t attract attention, but tonight, in a deep blue dress which drags slightly on the grass, she has an elegance and class which outshines even Sophie.
“Tch…staring much?” The daughter of assassins complains as I hurriedly avert my gaze. “Delphie be careful, Hei has a weird look in his eyes.”
“I do not!”
“Well, it’s a garden party, so isn’t that normal?” Delphie doesn’t seem bothered in a slightest, and her smile is quite radiant tonight. The head butler with the gray beard brings a carriage pulled by horses to us. Opening the door, he invites us inside.
“Please, Prince Eli. May you succeed in all your endeavors tonight.” He formally declares with a sweeping bow, and Eli returns the motion.
“I will not fail.” The Exiled Prince responds and ascends inside. He waves us forwards, “Come on, Guys!”
“Tch…showoff.” Sophie grumbles, giving a death stare to the horses. “Just because the Tarragon Family has a monopoly on the horse trade. If I had those kinds of resources…”
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“Shush Soph, let’s go!” Delphie grabs her elbow and shoves the surprised Nephilim onto the carriage. Bringing up the rear, I end up on the bench with Eli. The girls sit across from us as we set off for the Overlord’s Palace. It seems that the Marsalle Perenze will be held in the Royal Gardens. Everyone that is a somebody in the Underworld will be there, and they’ll all be jockeying for position as various families try to make or break alliances for the Succession. While Delphie is excited to participate in the event of the decade, Eli and Sophie are noticeably more subdued. Both of them seem wrapped in their thoughts. So it’s mostly just me and my healer talking during the trip.
“Do you see that Hei! Those are the Rose Cows!” We pass by a farm which apparently Sophie’s family owns. Sophie just snorts, but Delphie is enjoying every moment being in a horse-drawn carriage. “And that’s Troll land! The police academy, can you see the hellhounds? They’re so cute!”
“They’re…interesting.” That’s pretty much all I can say. Despite Sophie’s excitement, I’m having trouble seeing what’s cute about a bunch of ferocious three-headed guard dogs being trained to mangle scraps of meat and target dummies. The ride to the manor passes in much the same way. However, when we arrive, I have to admit, I really am impressed. Holy crap! Is this what’s possible once you’ve mastered the System?
The Royal Gardens stretch out for many kilometers in every direction. Almost out of sight, it actually puts many of the gardens from before the Calamity to shame. Delphie soon begins to explain the various species of plants which exist only here. It seems that just as Sophie is obsessed with fish, Delphie cherishes flowers. While I learn about how Underlilies are much more rare but not to be confused with Zombielilies, we pull into a parking space. The carriage stops and the elderly butler opens the door for us.
“Please, Prince Eli. We have arrived. Enjoy yourself tonight!” He says and we file out. Eli gives his hand to Delphie on the way out like a proper member of royalty and when she takes it so she doesn’t trip over her dress, Sophie stares daggers at him. A little amused, I offer my own hand to the jealous Nephilim. I don’t expect her to take it, independent as she is, but with a rather rabid look at Delphie’s smile, she grabs my hand and lets me help her down. Her expression reminds me a little bit of someone trying to avoid touching a dead animal.
“You could smile a little you know?” I tease her and she squeezes my hand so hard that I have to conceal a gasp of pain.
“Heh.” She laughs as if I’ve told a funny joke and releases my hand. Rubbing blood back into the bruised cells, I give her my best innocent face.
“What was that for?”
“I know it was you…” She pushes out her rather magnificent chest and strides over to push herself between Delphie and Eli. Damn…she figured it out? Well whatever, the view was worth the pain. I’m kind of enjoying myself. The first time around the Calamity, there were not very many parties, and certainly not any beautiful Nephilim women. The longer I spend in the Underworld, the more I’m beginning to adjust. Maybe I’ll spend some time down here. It’s not like there’s anything waiting for me on the surface anyway.
Though I’ve been left alone, I smile and walk behind the three Nephilim. Eli looks quite the part of a young, budding Overlord candidate, with two girls fighting next to him. A strapping young bachelor if I ever saw one. Then what does that make me? Examining the ridiculously fine black suit that Mishaer made for me, I can only grin. I guess I’m the help then?
“They’re really something aren’t they?” The elderly butler remarks from next to me. It seems he also thinks that he’s about the same status as me. Closing the carriage door, he sits down and seems about ready to take a snooze. “Enjoy yourself tonight, Sir.”
“They really are…” I reply, remembering the night that never happened. How we pledged ourselves as the Four Black And Violet Roses. Unfortunately, that memory is bittersweet, something which only I have now. Eli should be distracted by all that’s going on, however, he still finds time to turn around and search for me. Seeing me hiding by the carriage, he briskly walks over.
“Hei! Come on! We’re going to be late!” A glorious smile covers the Exiled Prince’s face. But also an uneasy expression of nervousness. It seems that his return debut is giving him more butterflies than he’d care to admit. I hurry on over.
“Coming!”
Together, we enter through the magnificent gateway of the Royal Gardens. The original Overlord clearly spared no expense in its construction because it’s massive. Like the Romans would be proud, massive. Passing underneath, I can only gaze up with a disturbed feeling. Stuff like this…always reminds me of the System. Are the Nephilim and the other races of the Underworld really just victims of the System like humanity? Or do they have deeper ties?