For the first ti in my life, I was wearing clothes that... made feel like I wasn't human.
"I don't mind playing a part, Vim... but can I?" I asked, adjusting the thick silk wrapped around my breasts. It was hard to do, especially since a young boy who had been walking nearby paused as I did so.
Doing my best ignore the young boy's odd look, I shifted my shoulders and decided to just let my new clothes be.
We were already in the noble's district. And I was supposed to be a noble. Which ant I was supposed to look comfortable and normal here, in my own environnt.
"Why can't you?" he asked, his eyes were focused on the building in front of us.
"Because I feel ridiculous," I complained softly. The dress was... actually not that bad. At least compared to many others that had been in that shop. But it felt really weird. Like it was going to slide off my skin, and reveal my whole naked body, at any mont. It was nerve wracking! I felt like I wasn't wearing clothes but sothing made to torture .
The fact humans wore such things so easily made feel... out of place.
"You don't look it," he said.
"I feel out of place. Now I genuinely feel like I'm pretending to be sothing I'm not," I said.
"Which is why you'll be just fine. Your real attitude is basically how most noble won act. So... just be yourself," he said with a shrug.
"Attitude?" I asked him.
"Only you could complain about that dress while looking so beautiful in it," he said.
Gulping at his words, I knew better than to take that at face value... Especially since it sounded insincere while he wore what he did. He now wore a dark blue suit... and as much as it pained to admit it, he looked really good in it.
Saying such words was definitely rich coming from him.
How does such an average looking man look so comfortable in such clothing?
"That's not fair to say when you look so comfortable. You should have picked sothing better suited for ," I said.
He finally looked away from the alabaster building we were approaching, and smiled at . "See? Noble won always get what they want. Even when they don't deserve it," he said.
"Ah... I do sotis, don't I," I nodded, agreeing with him.
Though granted, that was usually only thanks to his kindness.
"I'll be your ward. A type of servant, but not. Think of as related to you by blood, but still a servant. Or a guard. Soone you trust fully, yet see as beneath you," Vim explained.
I nodded as I adjusted my right sleeve. The soft material was... loose. It wasn't sliding free, or falling down, but it felt like it was. Which made anxious.
"We're not married anymore?" I asked him with a smile.
He grinned and pointed at a distant glimr. The noon sun glead off what looked to be armor. Armor of knights.
"They'll take one look at you and know you're above them. So as long as you don't stumble, they'll do all the heavy lifting," he said.
"Heavy lifting..." I whispered. What a way to phrase it.
"I as well. It'll be fine. All we need to do is find the storeroom. Once we do, it honestly doesn't matter what happens from there," he said.
"Another fire?" I asked softly.
His small grin disappeared, and I felt bad for being the cause of its death. "Yes."
"Such a waste," I said.
"I know. But there's no other thod for us here. It's not like you and I can carry out hundreds of paintings on our backs. And they won't just give them to us," he said.
"We could carry them out over their corpses," I offered.
Vim slowed his already slow pace a little, but said nothing.
"Sorry. Alright. I can do this," I said, hoping he'd forgive .
He nodded, seemingly unbothered by my earlier comnt. Even though I knew the truth.
A part of him wanted to do the sa thing. But he, and I admitted I did too, knew that would do almost just as much harm.
My left glove shifted a little, and I wanted to groan as I went to putting it back in place.
"I don't fit these," I said.
"You're fine. You're just not used to the feel of the silk. You look great," he said.
Although I knew he was saying such things just to calm down... I still found myself blushing at his words.
Vim slowly ca to a stop at an intersection. The last one before the large alabaster building, which supposedly housed the Knights of Carvill. It looked like a castle. A glowing one, thanks to the high sun.
"Rember Renn, we have a goal," Vim said.
I nodded.
"Please. No matter what happens... don't get angry. Don't lose your temper. Promise ," he said.
I nodded. "I promise Vim... as a thank you for letting help, it's the least I can do," I said.
He blinked, and I smiled at him. As I did my right sleeve adjusted a little again. "I know you probably have a way to do this without ... so thank you. For giving the chance to help. I appreciate it," I said.
Vim stared at for a mont before nodding. "Alright."
"Alright," I agreed.
"As you say, Renn Proscilla," Vim then said.
"Huh?" I asked. Who was that?
"I have a friend in that family. Their territories are far south, and won't cause them or us issues to use their na here," he explained.
"A... family?" I asked.
"A noble family," he nodded, and then noticed sothing at our feet.
I stepped back, worried I had stepped in sothing like mud or worse... but instead he knelt down to tie my shoe.
My heart skipped a beat as I watched him quickly, and easily, secure the lashes on my new shoes.
They weren't too fancy, but they glead. Spotless.
He gestured for my other shoe, and I felt silly as I let him check the laces on the other as well.
"Renn Proscilla... are they humans?" I asked.
"They are now," he said firmly.
Frowning at that, I hoped he ant that in a good way and not a horrible one.
"I'll do most the talking, being your ward. But they'll undoubtedly give us grief at first. I'll need you to pipe up and put them in their place for when they do. You ready?" he asked as he stood.
"Would you stop dallying already? I will be famished by the ti this is over with at this rate," I said with a huff.
Vim gave a real smile. One that showed teeth as he chuckled. With a nod, he seed to approve of my performance as he gave a very distinct bow. He lowered his head, and turned his hand inward in an odd way.
I didn't recognize that bow at all, but sothing told anyone watching us would know it instantly.
"Lead the way," I said simply.
"Of course Milady," he said, with an odd voice.
My new hat was not as heavy, nor as nice in my opinion, as my other one. It too was... smooth and silky feeling, and wanted to move and fly off each ti my ears moved.
And my ears did move at his odd voice.
Luckily, for and him, Vim had pinned the hat down firmly for . A good dozen pins held it in place.
"Hmph," I held in my odd laugh as I allowed Vim to begin guiding to the Knights of Carvill's barracks.
As we neared the large white building, I watched the pair of armored knights study us on our approach.
Vim was walking close to , but not as close as he had been lately. Also, his hand wasn't at the small of my back anymore either.
For so odd reason that made even more nervous.
Why couldn't he have just pretended to by my husband? Or he the noble, and I the servant?
"State your business, Madam," the older looking of the two knights said as we got close.
"I greet you, sir. This is Milady Renn Proscilla. We have co to inquire of your lord captain, if it would please him to et with my lady," Vim very quickly, and sounding very naturally, greeted the knight in turn.
Although Vim sounded... very odd, and spoke in a way that was far from his norm... I sohow found myself completely believing in him. As if this was in fact Vim, and the life he actually lived.
The two knights seed to very obviously believe him as well, for they both looked at each other and nodded.
"I shall guide you Madam, please, this way," the older knight was the one to oblige us. With an open palm he gestured to a large entrance, the one we would have probably simply walked into if not for them blocking it.
"As you may," Vim said with a nod.
The guard nodded and turned, heading into the building.
Vim stood still, and glanced lightly at . Getting the point, I went to following the knight.
Vim bowed as I passed him, and for the slightest mont I feared he was going to remain behind... and leave to do this alone. But no, after a mont he went to following , walking a few steps behind .
Relieved, I did my best to not stare too much at the walls and doors we passed as we went deeper into the building. Sohow the hallways were very big... the ceilings were up high enough that they could have fit a whole other floor inside, if they hadn't wasted so much space.
Oddly the place wasn't that cold, which told they probably burnt a lot of wood to heat this much open space and...
My jaw clenched as we rounded a corner, and the sight of statues ca into view.
Marbled white, people had been carved out of stone. n. Won. Children. So naked, others not, but all of it was art. As much art as Lughes' and Amber's paintings.
The sights were a wonder, and I regretted each one we passed. Would it seem... un-noble of to stop and stare for a mont?
Probably would. Since such sights were probably the norm for such people.
As we walked, the statues began to beco fewer in number... which I was sowhat grateful for. So of them were so detailed I was starting to wonder if looking at them was worth the risk.
"Brother," a man without armor passed us, and nodded in greeting to the guard who was guiding us.
"Brother," our guide said back, his armor clanking as he nodded extravagantly.
Amused, I wondered if this was more of a religious thing than not. There didn't seem to be any... religious motifs anywhere. None on their armor, or the statues we passed. In fact so of the statues had been a little... too much, even for . Which made it hard to imagine the church allowing them in their temples.
"Ah! Brother Lawrence!" the one guiding us spoke up upon seeing another man. A broad shouldered one, carrying a book.
"Brother, how can I help you?" Lawrence asked as we approached.
"This is Lady Renn. She has co to kindly beg a eting of Lord Carvill," our guide said.
Brother Lawrence looked from his brother, to myself. I noticed he didn't even glance at Vim.
Which... was a little odd, considering he was wearing an extrely similar suit. In fact, it looked a little dated compared to Vim's.
"I shall oblige them, brother. Return to your post," Lawrence said calmly after staring at for a mont.
"Thank you brother! Milady, beg your forgiveness but Brother Lawrence shall guide you from here," our guide said with a formal bow. This one I recognized, since it was accompanied by a knights salute.
"Hm, very well," I said gently.
The two n blinked, and for the tiniest mont I worried I had made a mistake. Was Vim supposed to have answered instead?
But no, the two n remained calm and simply nodded their heads. Our previous guide turned, and headed back where we had co from... and our new guide, Lawrence, gestured with an open palm to a hallway nearby. "Right this way Madam."
I didn't nod, and simply went to following him.
He walked calmly, and didn't seem bothered at all. Although he was walking a little faster than our previous guide had.
"My Lord Carvill was just taking tea, so this is a pri opportunity my lady," Lawrence said.
"Fortuitous," Vim said from behind .
Although expecting the man in front of to tilt his head, or turn to face us, he instead kept walking. He nodded, as if in agreent with Vim's assessnt.
We entered the hallway, and suddenly the place wasn't as neat anymore. Although the white stone was... pretty, and bright... and clean... that was all it was.
Simple stone.
There were no more statues. No more high ceilings. No more pillars or designs...
Sohow that annoyed . If I was going to endure this, I should at least be rewarded a little... right?
I sighed, but did so quietly. If the man guiding us noticed, he didn't show it.
Not long after entering the boring hallway, we were taken to a large pair of doors. Wooden doors, which the wood they were made out of was a bright red in color. Looking almost painted, yet didn't seem so.
Lawrence knocked on the door with a few taps, and waited for a few monts before opening the door.
He opened it before hearing an answer, which surprised .
Before I stepped into the room, Vim tapped my shoulder. Looking at him, I watched as Vim entered the room before I did... leaving alone in the hallway.
At first I thought he was telling to keep up the good work, but I knew that hadn't been the case.
He had wanted to wait a mont.
Watching Vim enter the room behind Lawrence, I watched as Vim stopped a few feet from the door. He turned a little to nod at whoever he was looking at, but said nothing.
Listening into the room, I heard Lawrence and another man speak to one another. "Allow her in, please," a man said.
Vim turned and then gestured for to enter. He bowed as I entered. "My lady Renn Proscilla," Vim introduced as I entered the room.
The room was much smaller than I had thought it was going to be. Lawrence was standing in front of a large desk, which wasn't that far from the door. Behind the desk, which had books and scrolls upon it, was an older man. Dressed in a light sleeved shirt. He didn't look regal or knightly, honestly. In fact his fra, although larger than Lawrence's, wasn't as wide or stout as the other knights here.
"Lady Proscilla. I am the current captain of the Carvill knights. Part of my families traditions is we abandon our first nas, when acting as the head of the family. Please address as Carvill," I was greeted by the man behind the desk. He put down a large feather... which was undoubtedly being used as a pen.
"Lord Carvill, I thank you for forgiving this sudden visit," I said.
The man nodded gently, seemingly accepting my thanks in stride... as if I really did need to be thankful for his kindness.
For a small mont the silence started to linger, so I glanced at Vim. Making sure to look at him with as much normalcy as I could and not allow any of my fear or worry to be seen, I was glad that Vim seed expectant of my look. He quickly nodded and bowed.
"We've co to intrude out of necessity, my Lord Knight. But we have been placed in a rather stifling predicant, by your actions, and wish to rectify the matter as swiftly and properly as possible," Vim spoke evenly, once more making feel as if he actually belonged here.
He spoke, and stood, and looked, as if he belonged in this room. Talking to them. Talking for .
Maybe he was a noble himself.
"Stifling predicant?" The man Vim had called the Lord Knight asked.
Standing up straighter, I stared into the eyes of the man who now glared at us.
Lawrence also narrowed his eyes, as if we had just insulted them.
Maybe Vim had.
"Indeed," I said simply.
The two blinked, and then glanced at one another. My heart thumped, and I worried over my comnt... Yet even as my anxiety grew, and a strange sweat began to form on my lower back, I watched as Lord Carvill sighed lightly.
So...
It begins.
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