A5G

Sovereign's Will: A Fantasy Roleplaying Game. [CONCLUDED]

Drinking party had to end way too soon. She barely got to know more about Jeanne! But the maid herself had shown some surprisingly stern zeal to drag Yvonne away from the cellar and back to her room. There's some weak protestation about Cedar and Solomon still staying behind, but of course women need more time to prepare for the party.

A lot more time, bleh. She had almost forgot how much grooming was needed to be presentable.

This time, there's no escape. Two more maids were standby at the room, bath and everything else already prepared. Yvonne had some suspicion that the whole thing was somehow coordinated, but she had no evidence so she could only sit along for the ride. There's the bath, scrubbing with some sort of porous stone that left her feeling excessively squeaky clean, and a lengthy period of hair treatment where by the end it felt very much silky smooth.

Practically felt like magic, all that.

Next came the clothing, everything from head to toe already prepared. Each and every one in the perfect size. Fucking Mario and his fashion sorcery. Cant deny that it's convenient though. Yvonne had came so close to taking a knife to the corset, but of course the tailor had somehow expected that and prepared something that simply clung to her figure instead of restricting the waist. The new trend from Helvetia, or so he claimed. To be fair, the rest of the design also was nothing like the traditional fashion she's used to seeing.

The theme was blue, a welcome respite from the glaring burgundy of the goddamn room. The dress had long sleeve and generally fit her form, beside the dramatic flare at the elbow and the knee. The neckline dipped into a generous V-shape, accentuated by embroideries to emphasize her bust while the corset top eased the muscular tone of her abs. The flare partially conceal a pair of high-heeled shoes, and alongside a sash strategically located slightly above her midpoint gave the illusion that she's taller than she actually were. The final piece was a pair of elbow-length gloves, concealing the callus in her hands and the scars over her arms.

She almost failed to recognize herself in the mirror. Sorcery and witchcraft.

"You'll be here when I get back, wont you? I'll see you later."

Was that a slight flush she saw on Jeanne's cheek? Something to explore again later. But for now, a party awaited-

-and for better or worse, it was almost exactly as she had expected.

Lots of people strutting around like oversized peacocks. Didn't escape her notice that the table's rather close to the king's throne, too. Seems that the honored guests treatment were still in effect. And if Yvonne could notice, anyone else could. There's already pointed whispers, annoying buzz that she really could live without. At least her assigned partner was a sight for sore eyes. Really, she could drink the sight of the elf for hours without getting tired of it. Now that she's paying close attention, that skin did look very soft...

Some banter to spend the time, especially when that big asshole Jonas showed up with his two kids in tow. Aaron noticeably missing, screw that prick. Too bad that papa prick was still out and about like he own the whole place. Cant understand rulers sometimes - why not just round up the bastards and cut them down? Life would be so much simpler then.

"Glory and prosperity... and a big chest of gold." Yvonne joined in near the end, very curtly, the latter half whispered low enough that no one should hear it. She snickered a bit still, though the audience would only see her back and old Freddy's too busy glaring menacingly at the Delving patriach to notice her antics.

Then finally, time to mingle at last.

"A candlelight dinner, just the two of us? If I didn't know any better I'd thought Freddy's trying to set us up!" That's the first thing that came out of Yvonne's mouth, the moment the hubub of conversation echoed enough to drown her words away from prying ears. "Looking good, Sparky! Mario really went all out with the fashion sorcery!"

Sovereign's Will: A Fantasy Roleplaying Game. [CONCLUDED]

Yvonne clicked her tongue at the interruption, eyebrows momentarily scrunched before she shrugged it off. No getting pretty little Jeanne into bad decisions for now, looks like. Well, there's always next time.

"Boo. Spoilsport. Good things should be shared, yeah?" The mercenary took another gulp, licking the froth that remained on her lips after. "Dont worry, I know how much I can handle. It's been, what, two shots of liquor? And some mead. Barely a warm up!"

She already had breakfast anyway. Besides, kitchen's just nearby. They'll have no issue preparing something nice and quick for lunch if necessary.

Sovereign's Will: A Fantasy Roleplaying Game. [CONCLUDED]

"Whiskey's my favorite, though I ain't sure if you'll like that..."

After Yvonne ensured that the maid's seated nice and pretty despite the latter's protestation, she swiveled away to grab two proper mugs before perusing the mead cask Cedar had sampled. Mild (comparatively) and sweet, perfect for someone reluctant to starts off with. The alcohol scent was nice and strong, unlike the swill they sell at some taverns. A hint of a hint of mead in a cask of dead rats marinating in water, yuck.

She returned right in time to see Cedar's reaction at... was that a bottle of Admiral Morgan? Dead gods, the bear can choose. There's rum aplenty, but one of that particular bottle can cost a pretty penny. And yet it's down here in the cellar instead of at the private cabinet somewhere. Just how fancy would the king's personal wine rack be?

"That's spiced rum, one of the best you can get on the market." Yvonne managed to spill some words through bout of laughter. "Made out of sugarcane, with spices added. Nice and spicy, yeah?"

The mercenary took a hearty gulp, watching from the corner of her eyes that the impromptu addition to the day-drinking had taken a tentative sip. The grin widened as Yvonne refrained from commenting, turning the attention back to Cedar's antics instead.

Sovereign's Will: A Fantasy Roleplaying Game. [CONCLUDED]

"I cant drink everything that fast!" Yvonne looked up from the bottles she's looking at, a bottle of scotch already open nearby. She's at least conscious enough to use a shot glass for it, partially due to the maid's mildly disapproving glare when it looked like she's ready to chug it straight off the bottle. "They've got quite the collection! Whiskey's pretty nice, haven't tried the rest yet but nothing shabby will ever make its way here-"

Aaand the bear's straight up drinking from the cask. Yvonne whistled and cackled in approval, moreso at the particular choice of drink. Bears and honey and all that, yeah? It's fitting, somehow.

"I see someone's gotten a favorite." A glance to the sides revealed the onlooker's distaste at the barbaric act, one that the mercenary found very funny given the circumstances. "Best use the mug before someone's getting angry! Speaking of, Jeanne! Grab a mug, join us!"

"I believe that is inappropriate, milady."

"Well..." Yvonne strolled off, putting her arms around the woman's shoulders before pulling her along to the seat. "I very much insist, yeah? Come on, ain't everyday you get to sample the crown's collections."

Sovereign's Will: A Fantasy Roleplaying Game. [CONCLUDED]

Yvonne hadn't actually measured herself for many years now. She'll trust Mario's skill for now. The man managed to land a job at the Rosenving estate back then, so he should at least have the skill to back it up... bah, Rosenving estate. The mere mention of the name brought a sour note to her mood, though she never really expected to get away from the name. Not here, where traces of their influence remained no matter how badly it withered.

"Doc Sol! My, you get the nice design. If we're of similar build I would've be tempted to steal yours." Another cackle from the mercenary, even as she walked aside to let Solomon and Mario chat better. Even if the latter seems to have done most of everything already and only have to reiterate the choices to the wearer. "So, we've got the clothes. You two going anywhere after this?" While the tailor was occupied with the doctor, Yvonne not-so-subtly nudged at Sparky and Cedar. Still midmorning, still some time before they need to start preparing for the party.

Sovereign's Will: A Fantasy Roleplaying Game. [CONCLUDED]

"Sparky! Fancy seeing you here." The mercenary barely made a few steps before she ran into Jazdia, the latter carrying a hefty stack of paper that still carried the scent of fresh ink. Pausing, pivoting, and turning around to walk by the elf's side, Yvonne glanced down on the notes with some curiosity regarding the content... though she lost interest almost immediately even before reading anything of note. "Been busy, I see. Got a nice dress planned in mind for later?"

The errant glance was turned at the nearest great window, where distant clamor managed to echo far enough to be heard from here. A bit hard to tell, but it sounds almost jolly as if there's a festival going on. But there shouldn't be any important event now, was there? Nothing for the public's eyes, at least. The prince was never gone, as far as the common peasants were concerned, and that's by far the biggest happening in recent days.

"What's going on in the city? Sounds like there's a party out there."

Sovereign's Will: A Fantasy Roleplaying Game. [CONCLUDED]

The reward "ceremony", if the rather clandestine backroom deal could be called that, ended rather shortly. Yvonne didn't hang around, the reassuring weight of the suitcase accompanying her back to her room where she sat down and took everything out to estimate the value. That didn't take long either, she got a good idea of how much wealth it was - a hell fucking lot, that's what. How lovely.

In a visibly good mood, Yvonne kept the box of diamond before returned the gold and clicking the suitcase shut. She put it a bit out of the way, not that it'll deter thievery but there shouldn't be any such thing in the castle. At least the gold bars were harder to smuggle out in worst case. She'll just throw a fit if it disappear.

"There's a tailor in here somewhere, yeah? Bring me to them." That's the first thing the mercenary said as she left the room, spotting the maid standing by outside. There's an event in the evening, and she'll need to look presentable at least. Getting an entirely new thing from scratch may not be feasible, but surely there's extra spare or unfinished pieces that will fit with minimum modifications?

Sovereign's Will: A Fantasy Roleplaying Game. [CONCLUDED]

Good news - no one killed her in her sleep. Even better news, it's payday. About damn time. Yvonne came dressed in borrowed riding outfit, the size somehow fitting near perfectly as if it's been measured beforehand. Talk about creepy, but eh. At least it's convenient. Her rondel found a new place underneath the vest, while the relic sword hung loosely on her hips. Not much time to brush her hair, so she tied it into a simple ponytail for now.

"Why, we're not dead! Fancy seeing you all this beautiful morning, yeah?"

Someone had the bright idea of holding the event in the western wing, complete opposite of where they're staying. Yvonne greeted her fellow rescue teams as they filed out of the room and marched across the palace, somehow meeting no one on the way. At their destination her eyes unsubtly trained on the briefcases, inwardly calculating how much gold those things could fit... quite a lot, actually. At least as much as her free company earn in a particularly lucrative job, without the need to split it several hundred ways.

"Dont mind if I do." The weight of the briefcase was quite apparent when the servant brought it over. The reassurance went doubly up as Yvonne took the thing in her own hands, the sealing mechanism clicking open at the press of a button. Glint of gold greeted the mercenary, whose whistle took a higher pitch as she opened the smaller box within. "A king's ransom indeed. Yes, I can see the crown's sincerity alright."

Even got a nice horse as a bonus! She truly had won big this time around.

The following word mash coming out of the chamberlain was a lengthy way to say "there's more job, if you're interested". Honestly, Yvonne felt like quitting while she's ahead. The last job damn near killed her a few times, and if her party failed to take down Asevor she wouldn't even have any chance fighting back. But... there's no harm to listen in, was there? Perhaps she'll attend. It's only one evening anyway...

And until then, she'll take fullest advantage of the crown's hospitality. Chance like this wouldn't come every day.

Sovereign's Will: A Fantasy Roleplaying Game. [CONCLUDED]

[GM Post]

Prince Alec seemed to have rediscovered hunger by the time the scent of toasted butter and garlic wafted out, belatedly realizing that he only had breakfast this morning and nothing else. The boy was poised enough not to let it show, though he perhaps finished the entire portion a bit faster than he otherwise would. Being a prince, hunger was something he never became intimately acquainted with. Even his captors had treated him well.

He strike conversation when he could, getting to know the rescue team, even if most of them remained relatively quiet. Tired, perhaps. Some even had signs of injuries still apparent on their person. Exhaustion caught up to him soon enough, but not before committing every single person to memory.

Matilda was Matilda, gruff and straightforward and loyal to the end of the earth. She wasn't talkative, the very act of breathing seemingly causing her pain. Substantial enough, if someone as inexperienced as Alec could tell. He stayed close to her, an extension of complete trust rarely displayed by a member of the royalty.

Jazdia the elf, an enigma that frankly intimidated him a bit. She's clearly a lot older than she looks, though if it's by decades or centuries the prince couldn't quite tell. Thankfully socializing was optional, thus he's spared another awkward conversation considering what had happened earlier in the keep.

Then there's miss Yvonne, someone Alec deem his childhood crush at a point. He had thought of her from time to time, over the years, but the reunion wasn't anywhere close to what he expected. Facing reality without the rose-tinted glasses, he finally could let the whole matter rest. Brave, heroic, and adventurous? From a different perspective, it's running away from one's own responsibilities. He admired her resolve still. Not just anyone can throw away everything to forge one's own path. But that's where they part ways, and if Alec were to be honest? It's an amiable end to their story.

Mister Bear, or Cedar. Alec had heard stories of half-beasts, admittedly rare things but still common enough for one to pop up from time to time. Brutes with the intelligence of man but driven by the desire of their animal half, the story says, but after meeting one he had to redact that particular judgment. There's an inkling of truth to that, of course, but as far as he can see Cedar's fully in control of the bestial instincts. Either he's genuinely good and pleasant, or he's skilled enough to pretend to be. In the end, just another person. For wasn't there plenty of humans who behaved no better than a beast? Never judge a book by its cover.

He didn't get much chance to speak with Doctor Solomon, after the latter broke him out of his cage. Evidently the old man was a mage of some sort, though what school exactly Alec had no idea. So far he had seen shadow-form and summoning a shadowy creature, perhaps something in that line? A question for Duchess Antigone in the near future. And how did it tied to the medical skill? There's a lot of mysteries surrounding the man. Nevertheless, he's grateful for the rescue even if the good doctor's presence felt a bit unsettling at times.

As for the youngest-looking member of the rescue team, Alec failed to get a word out of Veronica. Even her name was heard secondhand from someone else. Matilda seemed familiar with her, but was rather tight-lipped about it. From Alec's own observation, she's out of the way and unassuming in a way that made her presence easily overlooked. There's no sign of scuffle, so either she's highly skilled or did not join the fighting. A scout, perhaps? Though in that case, the horses disliking her would've made it difficult to do her job... oh well. He wouldn't force an interaction if the other party didn't want to.

The last two, one was an unassuming man that seemingly followed Jazdia's beck and call. Kaito was his name, the foreign pronounciation rolled weird in the tongue. Alec had reasons to suspect if it's a real name or not. He looked just like any random man from the street, and his speech was perfect without any accent. Plus, he speak a lot but gave out very little informations. Almost like a noble in the court. The other was apparently a local hunter, who had left for home not long ago. Alec will ensure that the man received his due reward in time.

The ride back was smooth enough. The prince had dozed off, barely able to recall some shouting halfway through, but eventually he roused to the sight of a familiar scene - though for some reason there's an overgrowth at one side of the stable. He hadn't been gone for that long, had he? Rampant vegetation aside, Alec's attention was soon enough taken by the castle staff. A lot of this and that formalities, Matilda asserting dominance, and then the fast-ish shuffle inside.

It soon came a time to part with the rescue team, Alec doing his best to exude the air of a prince despite his rather humble clothing. They'll get the treatment befitting guests of the royal family, as they deserved. Perfect. It wouldn't do to mistreat his saviors, after all. Even if it's strictly business exchange with his father.

"Rest well, ladies and gentlemen." Said the prince with a smile. "We shall meet again soon."

Alec was ushered away after that short interlude, resisting the urge to look back. As he said, they'll meet again soon. Here in the castle, he need to play his part as a prince. No need to show too much attachment to outsiders. It felt lonely at times, but he's long since used to it.

Normally he would've need to clean up and dress appropriately for the occasion, but it was immediately apparent that they're heading to meet his father immediately. Alec smiled to himself, knowing that it's a rare moment where the father won over the king. Otherwise, Matilda alone will suffice to debrief. That suited him just fine. He, too, had missed his father oh so terribly.

Only Alec and Matilda entered the private chamber. There they saw a figure hunched over on a chair, Fredricus seemingly aged ten years backward as he laid his eyes on the newcomers. He stood, striding briskly through the room as Matilda tactfully turned aside and momentarily pretend she's both blind and deaf as the father and child finally reunited at long last.

"I have returned, father."

Sovereign's Will: A Fantasy Roleplaying Game. [CONCLUDED]

The following few hours was a bit of a blur. The short rest and resupply was over in a blink, and then the party continued their way back to the capital. Normally Yvonne wouldn't have any issue keeping up for a day or two, but she saw fiercer combat and injuries in the last few days than in the last year combined. She stayed awake, of course, however the body's need to shut down and heal wasn't something easy to fight off.

It felt like she'd briefly nodded off a couple of times before finally arriving at the castle, dead in the night like a group of rogues. Well, clandestine jobs were nothing new. Brief interlude between the bear, Matilda, and the chamberlain, then it's finally time to rest. Props to ol' Freddy, he had staff up and ready even at ass-end o'clock in the night. One of them ushered Yvonne to a suite, the splitting of the party raising some alarm in her mind, but considering the capabilities of the members... it's probably safe enough.

Her eyes were on the maid as they walked past dim hallways, though soon enough the attention was shifted to the surroundings in a brief moment of clarity. The place's familiar, yet foreign at the same time. The mercenary had been to the castle several times before, and the Rosenving estate itself bore similar display of casual opulence in every corner. Or at least before its fall, back in the days. No other footsteps could be heard, no assassins jumping out to silence the hounds now that the hunt was over.

Click. The door opened, oiled hinges swinging noiselessly to reveal a well-lit room larger than most commoner's house. The color theme was burgundy, splashes of dark crimson and gold linings decorating every corner of it. Yvonne knew of this place. The Rosenving's crest was almost identical in their palette, and the rare times her family was hosted in the palace this was the room reserved for their stay. She frowned slightly, betting to eat her boots if this was a coincidence, but exhaustion handily won over aesthetic disagreement. At this moment, the glaring light was a larger annoyance than the jab at her lineage.

"Fuck's sake, dim the light. It's past bloody midnight." She strolled in, surveying the room for anything amiss. "And since you're already here, draw me a hot bath. And a light meal too." Might as well peruse the room service while she's at it.

"Of course, milady. It will be done."
The next fifteen minutes was spent examining every corner of the room, from the massive curtains to the walls whose she tapped with the pommel of her sword. Yvonne had found the concealed servant's passageways by the time her request was completed, ignoring the way the maid stared at how she devoured the platter of bread, smoked meat, and blue cheese. Next was the bath, though this time she stopped the maid from following in.

"Leave me."

Alone with her crimes, Yvonne saw her sorry reflection in the bronze mirror. The chain hauberk and gambeson was no more, replaced with bandages and a plain shirt taken from Baker's establishment. Her hair had seen better days, bits of dried dirt and blood sticking to the sorry bun. Sighing, the mercenary unsheathed her sword and went to work as bandages fell off her figure in long strips alongside flakes of scabs. The skin underneath was pink and tender from recent healing, the potion doing wonders in accelerating the process. At least she'll look presentable tomorrow, if she could get her hair in order.

Perhaps she shouldn't have kicked out the maid, but pride dictated that she's now stuck with her own self. Besides, she's not giving an unknown entity the perfect position to strangle and/or slit her throat.

A prodigious amount of shampoo and soap usage later, the now lukewarm bathwater had turned murky grey from all the dirt extracted from her. Clad in only a long bathrobe and a towel around her hair, Yvonne exited with her sword in hand and her rondel dagger strapped unseen at her ankle. The rest of her stuff... nothing irreplaceable. If the castle staff took it away, they'll provide replacements in order to ensure she's presentable to meet the king. The maid remained standby in the room, so Yvonne gave her the permission to clean up. That done, there's finally nothing left to do but rest.

But first, another lap around the room. Didn't seems to be anyone or anything nefarious hidden, so that's good. The mercenary sat at the edge of the bed, laying down and closing her eyes... before promptly opening them wide again. She twisted left, right, then sat up straight with an annoyed sigh.

"Gods damn it. I dont remember this thing being so bloody soft-"

When the maid returned, she'll find one of the chair dragged to the corner of the room - the Rosenving heir seated and fast asleep on it, an ornate sword cradled in hand.