The Princess & The Twilight Blade

Audrey

The few days after we received the special quest from the guildmaster passed quickly. We spent that time once again holed up in the archive so Lydia could research Grunde and the 'resistance'. Luckily, my lovely girlfriend also made it a point for us to still make use of the sparring rooms, even if we couldn't make it out to the forest.

The guildmaster was true to his word and always made time for us whenever Lydia had questions, and we met up with Cass and 'Shining Wind' frequently to compare information. Now, the seven of us were heading toward the city of Grunde on a carriage.

"This is so exciting!" I said as I looked out from the carriage. The white fabric that covered the arched frames was only tied in most places, so we had rolled it up on the sides.

"This can't be your first time traveling like this, right?" Bernard asked in disbelief.

"We usually just walk." Lydia chimed in with a smile. I was leaning out of the carriage to enjoy the air, but my girlfriend gently tugged on my arm to put me back in the seat. "Audrey, that's dangerous."

"Who for?" I asked, and the two of us just stared at each other for a moment.

"...Fair point, I suppose." She relented and loosened her grip, so I turned around to enjoy the view again. She's still holding my hand, how cute!

"The two of you are just the cutest!" Cass's giggling mirrored my internal thoughts, and I turned to give her a wink.

"We know."

"A-Audrey…" Lydia's face was slightly flushed now as she stammered.

"Get a room!"

"Seriously, it's just not fair!"

"Is it too late to go back? I'd rather be with my wife than all of you!"

A chorus of teasing complaints rose from the men of 'Shining Wind,' and I just stuck my tongue out at them playfully.

"I'm not going to hold back just because of the old men!" I returned fire.

"What a brat!"

"Now she's just rubbing it in…"

"I'm not going to give you any more of my wife's desserts!"

I actually cared about one of those statements, so I quickly changed my tune and apologized because those cookies were divine.

"You say that so lightly…" My goddess quipped.

"You'd understand if you could have them."

"I know what they taste like, my guardian. I share all of your senses after all," she said with a laugh. "Unfortunately, I lack the human understanding of flavor since we deities survive off emotion, remember?"

"Wait, what? Are you saying you can't tell the difference between what tastes good and what tastes bad? What about all the snacks and tea you always make in your divine plane?" I was in shock. I couldn't imagine living without experiencing good food.

"I just replicate what you've already had."

"That's…. Kind of sad, Aurora."

"I don't think so." She said with a blissful smile. "I get to watch you enjoy such things, and that fills me with happiness in turn."

The love in her voice always filled my chest with warmth, and to keep my goddess happy… I couldn't lose those cookies!

The banter continued through the day, and our travel wasn't interrupted a single time before we made camp as the sun painted the sky orange.

I groaned and stretched as we disembarked the carriage. "I'm surprised we didn't encounter any bandits."

"I'm not. Any bandits dumb enough to attack a fully-armed group of adventurers wouldn't last very long." Cassandra said with a smirk beside me. "Magic beasts, on the other hand… There's usually one or two."

Well, the combined pressure of both mine and Lydia's divinity kept them away. But I couldn't tell her that, so I just shrugged casually.

"I guess we got lucky."

"Lucky, hm? Maybe." There was a hint of suspicion in her tone, but it disappeared quickly as she gave my shoulder a friendly slap. "Either way, let's get camp sorted! Care to do the honors?"

"Of course," I replied with a grin, and all of our provisions and tents rose from the shadows in the field, ready to be put together. Before leaving, I had decided to tell them about my shadow magic and storage ability.

"I'm still not sure that was the best thing to do…" Lydia muttered as she stood beside me, watching as the men began to unpack everything with practiced motions.

"I trust them, and this makes our travel easier as well," I said simply, and Lydia shook her head with a small smile.

"Always so optimistic… I do love that about you."

We soon joined the others, and Bernard showed the two of us how to set up the tent. One of his men offered to show us how to light a campfire manually, but my girlfriend just grinned and flicked her finger to get the job done. None of 'Shining Wind' could use fire magic, surprisingly, and between our magics, the camp was set in under twenty minutes.

"Shadow and fire magic sure is convenient," Bernard observed as we all sat around the burning logs.

"It's not all-powerful, though," Lydia muttered, staring into the flames she had created. The light reflected off her emerald eyes, and I took her hand with a gentle squeeze to bring her mind back to the present, even as my own heart stung.

"The two of you have been through a lot, I imagine," Bernard said quietly. "We may not be of help, but please know you can rely on 'Shining Wind' if you ever need it."

"Thank you, but we'll have to decline." My girlfriend said seriously, but her eyes were gentle. "After this quest, it would be best to forget you ever met us."

"It's that bad?" The man and his party didn't seem the least bit offended by her refusal. They look even more worried now…

"Let's just say… Our parents had a lot of regrets and made some mistakes." Lydia said sadly. "Mistakes that we're still trying to fix… We have no intention of putting others in danger. Not again." She looked each man in the eye, one by one. "You all have your own families to take care of, so please don't risk yourselves for some girls you just met."

The camp fell into silence as they digested her words, and I just looked at our joined hands in sadness because I understood her feelings.

"Even still." Bernard's confident words caused me to look up. "The offer will always stand. How could I face my own daughter, knowing I left somebody else's to struggle?"

"But—!" My girlfriend objected, but the man raised his hand.

"I may not have known your parents personally, but I can see the love and care they raised you with. Whether or not you ask for help is your choice… But I know they wouldn't want you to be alone."

"We're not alone." I finally chimed in. "We have each other… and we're looking for the rest of our family." I gave him a confident smile. "But, if we ever need some muscle, and you happen to be nearby… We'll ask."

"I'll hold you to that!" Bernard laughed, and the tense atmosphere dispersed. I glanced at Lydia, and she had a slight frown on her face. Before she could speak, I squeezed her hand reassuringly.

"You know he's right, Lydia, Auntie and Uncle would want us to have options," I said quietly. "Even if we never use them."

The strands of blonde hair framing her face bounced as she nodded slowly in agreement.

"You're right, Audrey." She rested her head on my shoulder, and I felt her body shuddering against me as she breathed out slowly. Suddenly, my mind was flooded with emotion. Just like before… Lydia was scared. She didn't want anyone else to die because of her family's mistakes. It was a feeling I was all too familiar with. Yet, it went unspoken as I adjusted myself to hold her closer, because it was the only comfort we could give each other as the night wore on.

***

Lydia

We only had to camp for one night, and we finally arrived in Grunde in the late afternoon the next day. The buildings were much brighter compared to the dark wood used in Oylutz, and they were also much taller. Everywhere I looked, I saw buildings that reminded me of the city I used to call home. It's a merchant hub, alright… Affluent-looking figures walked or rode carriages in every direction. Yet, when I peeked down the darkened alleyways, the shadows of slumped bodies made it all too clear that wealth was never without poverty.

After walking for a bit, we went to report to the local guild branch, then found ourselves standing on the street once again.

"We'll go find an inn for all of us. What will you girls do?" Bernard asked.

"I'm starving, so I think I'll go peruse the market for something tasty!" Cassandra said while patting her stomach dramatically. We had eaten lunch a bit early today, and I was a little hungry myself. "Do the love-birds want to come with?"

"No."

"Of course!"

My girlfriend and I stared at each other blankly before I turned away in a huff. "Fine, we can go," I grumbled. Cassandra smiled wryly at the conflicting answers, but turned to lead the way.

"Yay! Let's go!" Audrey grabbed my hand and pulled me after Cassandra into the crowd. It was just about dinner time for most people, so the streets were flooded with activity. I looked worriedly at my girlfriend, but it seemed her mind was occupied with food and conversation as she discussed possible options with the older woman.

"You just can't let it go, huh, Dia? My guardian is so stubborn, it's almost adorable!" Azure giggled in my head.

"Why should I forgive the people who hurt my family?" I replied.

"It was an accident, and Audy is clearly over it. What do you gain by holding a grudge?"

"It being an accident is why I haven't burned her to a crisp. And it's not a grudge, I'm being vigilant. Cassandra made it clear she loses control easily, and that puts others at risk." I muttered. Plus, I didn't like the way she seemed to be appraising Audrey and me when we weren't looking.

"I see through you, Dia~!" My goddess chimed in my mind. "You just don't like it when Audy gives other women attention!" I clicked my tongue in frustration at her assessment.

"I'm a princess, Azure. I'd never be so childish." I said, pretending to forget the time I'd felt jealous of Sasha. The only response I got was stifled laughter as my goddess felt my emotions. Luckily, before she could tease me more, we arrived at the edge of a bustling market square, and I felt Audrey flinch for a moment through our joined hands.

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"Are you alright?" I asked as my girlfriend took a deep breath to calm herself. Then, she looked back at me with a smile.

"I will be as long as I can feel you." I blushed slightly at her turn of phrase, but held her hand tighter in response.

"Is everything alright back there?" Cass said over her shoulder, having noticed us stopping. "You look a bit pale, Audrey."

"Oh, it's nothing. I just struggle a little with large crowds and noise." My girlfriend explained as we caught up to the black-haired woman.

"Ah… I see. Do you want to go somewhere else? I'm sure there are plenty of quieter restaurants we could find."

"No, please don't mind me. I really want to try some food from the stalls!" Audrey clenched her fists in determination, and her eyes blazed with passion that was immediately interrupted by her stomach growling.

"Ha! Well then, let's find something you'll love!" Cassandra responded, and we continued on our mission. We looked at multiple vendors on the market before my girlfriend finally made a decision.

"Ahf… Itsh hwot!" She huffed around a piece of grilled chicken in her mouth. The rest of the kabab steamed slightly from the stick she held.

"Of course it is, you silly girl." I chided as I wiped at her mouth with a handkerchief I kept on me. My girlfriend is adorable. The bite finally cooled enough for her to chew and swallow, and she shot me a cheerful grin.

"It just smelled so good… I couldn't wait." After that, she ate a bit slower, taking the time to blow on each bite so she wouldn't burn her tongue. Cassandra just watched on in amusement, eating her own food.

After that, we explored the city a little, then met up with Bernard at the guild so he could show us the inn. It was a much bigger building than the 'Sparrow's Nest' back in Oylutz, and the man at the counter welcomed us in with a practiced greeting.

"We figured you girls would want separate rooms, so Cass is the next door down," Bernard explained after stopping us in front of a nice-looking wooden door on the second floor. "The rest of us are across the hall," he said, handing us the keys to our rooms, then turned his back to enter his room. "I hear the soundproofing is quite good, so don't worry about us overhearing."

"Overhearing what?!" I cried out as my face flushed with embarrassment. The older adventurers just laughed as they entered their respective rooms, leaving me with many complaints.

"Let's go in, Lydia. I want to lie down on a bed…" Audrey yawned as she waited patiently for me to unlock the door.

"R-Right," I mumbled, and quickly let us in the room, ignited the lamps with my magic as the door closed behind us. The room had much nicer furnishings than our room in Oylutz, and the bed was slightly bigger.

"Not like that matters… You two sleep on top of each other anyway." Azure quipped, and I quickly shushed her.

"I'm so ready for some good sleep," Audrey said as she began to undo her uniform, letting it fall off her body and into the shadows of her pocket dimension.

"Agreed," I say tiredly, undoing my own clothing. "Take mine too?"

"Of course."

I watch as my discarded clothes sink into the shadows as well, and our nightgowns appear on the bed. My gaze slid up the back of Audrey's figure as she stood in just her underwear, but then I caught myself and looked away. She makes my heart race every single time!

Glancing back, I realized that my girlfriend had picked up her nightgown, but wasn't putting it on.

"It's going to be one of those nights, hm? My Sis and I will distract ourselves…" Azure murmured, and I felt our bond close as much as possible.

Right at that moment, Audrey put the nightgown down, and mine sank into the shadows with it once again. My girlfriend turned around, and I completely lost the ability to breathe as she sat on the bed and gave me a bashful look.

"Lydia… It's been a few days…" She started, brushing some strands of red hair behind her ear. "Do you want to—" Her legs spread slightly to lure me in.

"Yes." The answer escaped me before she even finished, and I cursed myself for being so easy. I moved over to the bed and pushed her down as I captured her lips with mine.

I suppose we'll find out just how soundproof the walls really are.

***

In the morning, we met up with the others in the lobby of the inn. Luckily, none of them seemed to act any differently, so I let out a breath of relief that our activities the night before hadn't been heard.

"The official meeting with the other adventurers isn't for a few more days, but we've been given the go-ahead to investigate on our own," Bernard said. "To start, you girls will meet with the local lord and secure an invitation to the auction, the rest of us will canvas the streets and see what we can find out through the less… desirable connections."

We all nodded in agreement, then broke into our groups. The part I would be playing for this operation is the spoiled daughter of Marquess Rendall, who is providing the carriage and letter of introduction we'll be using. I led the way out of the inn, with Audrey and Cassandra following behind me as we left for the rendezvous with the carriage.

"Don't we need to change to look… Less adventurous?" Audrey said, pulling at the collar of her uniform.

"We'll change in the carriage… It's best not to stick out too much while walking around." I explained.

"All three of us?" My girlfriend asked with a worried look. "I'd rather not…"

"Oh, come on, we're all girls here." Cassandra chimed in with a mischievous smirk. "What's there to be shy about?"

"It's not about being shy," Audrey said with a pout. "I just don't like the idea of anyone else seeing Lydia like that."

"How protective!" The older woman swooned. "I can respect that. How about you two change first, then I'll change on the way, so we don't waste time? I don't mind having an audience." She gave us a flirty wink, but I waved my hand to block the gesture.

"We're like… a decade younger than you, Cassandra. Pull yourself together." I chided and took pleasure in her deflating expression.

"How harsh…" She mumbled, but I knew she wasn't actually upset.

A bit more walking later, we arrived at a shop with a large courtyard that had various carriages lined up for sale. We entered the building and were greeted by a cheerful young man.

"Hello! What can I help you with today?" He asked.

"We're looking for a carriage to carry three women and can handle animals." The password was relatively mundane, but his amber eyes immediately sharpened in recognition.

"Of course… I have just the vehicle for you, if you'd follow me to the back?" He led us into a back hallway that soon opened into a coach house at the back of the building. An ornate, black carriage sat in the open space, with the Rendalls' family crest painted on the side. Our guide stopped and opened the door for us to get in. "As it happens, I'll be your driver today as well. Shall we depart, my ladies?"

The familiar term made me flinch as I missed my attendants, but I shook it off. "Of course, thank you, sir. If you wouldn't mind waiting so we could change?"

"Of course," he said and bowed smoothly. Audrey helped me into the carriage, then I turned around and did the same for her before closing the door. The curtains over the windows were already closed, so all I had to do was light the interior magic lamp. Our outfits were stored under the front bench, and we pulled out ours and swiftly helped each other dress.

"Two beautiful young women are undressing right on the other side of this door… How does that make you feel?" I heard Cassandra ask the young man.

"They aren't really my type, my lady." He replied.

"Really? Those two that put even the most attractive nobles to shame?"

"Oh, no. They are quite beautiful. I meant that women in general aren't my type."

"Ah. I see." Cassandra said awkwardly, I couldn't help but smirk at how much she's floundered in her attempts at teasing today.

The gown I was meant to wear was a little challenging to put on in such a tight space, but having Audrey as an extra set of hands made it doable. Her maid's uniform was simple to put on, and I only helped her do the buttons on the back before we opened the carriage door.

"Alright, let's go. Change on the way, as you said, Cassandra." I ordered. The feeling of being in a stuffy gown was almost nostalgic as I slipped into my role effortlessly.

"Already acting the part, eh?" The older woman asked with a twitch of her brow.

"That's no way for an attendant to speak. I recommend you correct that before I'm forced to punish you." I said sweetly.

"Wow… That's scary." I heard her mumble as she climbed into the carriage, sitting across from me and next to Audrey. We had set her clothes out for her, so as soon as the door closed, she started to undo the top of her blouse. The carriage lurched forward as the young man took the driver's seat and spurred the horses out of the building.

"This is a bit harder than I expected," Cassandra said with a laugh as she struggled to slip out of her adventuring gear. The vehicle rocked as we entered the main road, and she had to catch herself against the side while half-naked. After she was finally free of her usual outfit, Audrey and I helped her get the maid's uniform on, then she finally settled on the seat.

"This is a little nostalgic…" Audrey muttered as she played with the frills on her blouse.

"What? You've dressed up as a maid before?" Cassandra asked curiously.

"O-Oh, I actually have." My girlfriend stuttered, realizing her mistake.

"What for?" The older woman pressed, leaning closer to her.

"Does it matter?" I intervened, folding my arms in defiance. "It has nothing to do with you."

"If you don't tell me, I'm just going to assume it's a sex thing." I choked on nothing at her bluntness.

"S-Seriously… act your age, please," I said, turning away to hide the flush of my face. My mind was filled with intrusive thoughts of Audrey in her old uniform, calling me master and whispering sweet nothings in my ear. Damn it all! This woman is like Leah if she had no filter! My gaze darted to Audrey, and our eyes met before she looked away bashfully.

"Looks like you're not the only one having naughty thoughts!" Azure giggled in my head.

"Don't you start too!" I muttered.

"Wait… Is it really a sex thing?" Cassandra asked in disbelief. "You girls are quite—"

"Be quiet!" I snapped, flipping open the folding fan that came with my outfit and hiding my burning face behind it. "I'll throw you out of this carriage so fast!"

"Yes, yes. I apologize, my lady~" The infuriating woman said with a smirk. Deciding that a retreat was our best option, I moved the conversation along.

"I'm not worried about Audrey, but you really need to act like a proper attendant, Cassandra," I said. "If we don't convince Count Lamal, then our participation in this operation is worthless."

"You don't need to worry about me, my lady." The older woman said with a wink. "I can handle doing this for as long as necessary." Her eyes closed, and she took a long, deep breath before meeting my gaze once again.

"I'll always strive to serve you perfectly, Lady Rendall." Her entire demeanor shifted, her tone perfectly even as she bowed her head in respect.

"Hmpf. That will do, I suppose." I said dismissively, putting some authority in my voice. It was a bit more heavy-handed than I was used to, but we all needed to play our roles. The rest of the carriage ride was silent as the carriage trundled along toward Count Lamal's estate. Even Audrey had composed herself and maintained a perfect facade of servitude.

"This is the worst," I complained mentally.

"At least you can talk to me!" My goddess said happily.

"That's true… but I'd rather talk to Audrey," I said teasingly.

"My divine self isn't good enough for you?"

With Azure's help, the rest of the ride passed quickly, and we soon passed through an iron gate into a courtyard that looped around a marble fountain. An immaculate garden lined the yard on either side of the road, and I could see many beautiful flowers in bloom.

Once the carriage came to a halt, the young man opened the door from the outside and helped me down, with Audrey and Cassandra following me out. My girlfriend had a large pouch on her hip that would prove quite helpful.

An elderly gentleman, I presumed to be the Count's butler, greeted us with a perfect bow. "I welcome you to the Lamal estate, Lady Rendall. My lord has asked me to guide you to the reception room."

"Very well then. He better not keep me waiting." I said haughtily, snapping my fan shut and tapping my foot impatiently. "Take us there already!" I could tell the old man stiffened at my tone and felt a pang of guilt. Unfortunately, my attitude was necessary.

"Of course, my lady." He swiftly led us inside the mansion, and I hid my disgust at the overly garish decorations that lined the hallways. Every five steps we took revealed another painting of the Count and his family. Busts and statues only added to the wealthy display until we finally arrived at our destination.

"My lord is wrapping up some other business and will be joining you shortly." The butler said after showing me to a seat. "Do you have a preference for tea, my lady?"

"I'm sure there's nothing here fit for my palate, water will do." I scoffed, crossing my legs elegantly. I'd rather not taste anything people like that consider delicious.

"As you wish…" He left the room, and I relaxed slightly in the chair.

"You're doing great, my lady," Audrey whispered from behind with a cute wink that immediately made me feel better.

"Of course, who do you think I am?" I replied playfully.

"Shouldn't we be more careful?" Cassandra asked with a blank look, but my girlfriend only smiled.

"There's nobody nearby, I can tell through my magic."

"Shadow magic really is something else…"

Another minute later, Audrey warned that someone was coming, so we all composed ourselves as a maid knocked on the door and entered with a cart. "Pardon me, my lady." I nodded at her, and the young-looking girl poured water from a pitcher into a clear glass before setting it on the low table in front of me.

"How much longer does the Count intend to make me wait?" I asked, trying not to be too sharp with the maid while showing my impatience.

"I-I apologize, my lady, I'll go check right away!" She said, leaving with the cart in a hurry after serving me.

Luckily, that seemed to spur the matter along, and it only took a few more minutes before the doors opened again, this time revealing the subject of the many paintings we'd seen.

"My apologies for the wait, Lady Rendall." The count said as he sat down, but I could tell his words weren't genuine. It was also this moment that I realized the paintings were quite the… embellishment of his appearance. The plump man had a thin mustache reminiscent of the villains I'd seen in children's books, and his black hair had receded quite a bit. The fancy clothes he wore somehow made the whole ensemble even worse.

"I was beginning to think you showed every guest this level of disrespect. I'm sure my father would love to hear of this." I said, laying the threats on thick from the start and glowering at him. Being a noble is all about taking control… But looking at the man, I had some budding hope that securing an invite to the auction would be easier than anticipated.

"O-Of course not, my lady!" He said in a panic, pulling a handkerchief from his pocket to wipe at the sweat forming on his brow. He cleared his throat and tried to steer the conversation. "Your visit was quite unexpected… I haven't had the pleasure of meeting Marquess Rendall, so I was quite surprised." Of course you haven't… Not with the distance between your lands.

"Are you saying the letter you received wasn't enough notice? How absurd." I said.

"We only got that this morning, surely you can understand?" He asked hopefully. "We didn't have time to prepare."

"What a pathetic excuse. I can't believe my father wants to do business with someone like you…" I laced as much disgust into my tone as possible, which was easy considering it was truly how I felt. Yet, at the mention of business, the Count suddenly calmed down and almost seemed to be a different person.

"Business, you say?" He asked, and the quaking in his voice disappeared entirely. I raised my brow in interest, because this was what I expected from the beginning.

"Yes, why else would I drag myself out here?" I replied, snapping open my fan to cover the lower half of my face.

"I'd love nothing more than to establish friendly connections with the Marquess. Please, tell me what you're looking for." The man said with a confident grin. It was clear he hadn't just stumbled into his wealth by being a bumbling fool. No… maybe even that was an act. I can't let my guard down.

"Fine. Only because I wish to leave this place." I said, playing hard to get. "I've recently taken to the idea of owning a pet, but my father won't allow me to get any old animal." As soon as I said it, Count Lamal's eyes narrowed, and I could feel his appraising gaze.

"I can acquire any breed of dog or cat you wish for, my lady. I can assure you'll receive a product fit for even royalty."

"Do you take me for a fool, Count?" I said sharply. "If that was enough to satisfy me, there is better company for me to sit with."

Now his expression hardened, and he leaned back in his chair, clearly on guard. "If that's the case, I don't understand why you're here, my lady." How bold.

"Maid." I snapped my fingers, which was the cue for Audrey to reveal the payment we were to use. She withdrew a cloth bag from the pouch she carried and set it roughly on the table. A bit of its contents spilled out to reveal an impressive amount of gold coins. I met the Count's greed-filled gaze with a sly grin. "I want something even royalty would beg for, so consider this an up-front payment."

The man rubbed his hands together eagerly while licking his lips at the hint of more coin. "I believe I may have a way to help after all, my lady…" He drawled.

I had him right where I wanted him.

"I'm sure you do, Count."