Chapter TwelveHarmony’s armor was her social armor for the first required dinner. Until she found a solution for it eatiher clothes, she couldn’t justify risking one of the few other outfits she had left. There was also the y of the nd of the capitol's current fashions, that could lead to a faux pas, while her unique creation stood out as symbolibsp; How silly would it be if wearing the wrong color showed she supported some aberrant fa. None of which were a priority. What irked her was to be passingly required at this social fun every night while her goal was to evolve as quickly as possible.

  No. That was iurmoil rising up. Dinner is a small sacrifice, sidering what would have been o live in the lordling tower, the Celr, Ambrosia called it.

  [Style and Grace] kept the Harmony smoothly going dowairs as Ambrosia led the way, all business in her maid uniform. Bates was serving Prince Adric for this fun. The pair followed but a few paces behind.

  The meal was at a grand ba hall, a buffet-style service the terpiece, manned by evolved cooks and experienced wait staff, with performers looking to advan the spectacur enviro. Guests had a spot, but tables were also open to be reserved by the public. At one er a stage pyed calming music, but could be spiced up for a local performanbsp; Singur in all that space was Ma Bell’s table, jade and gold decorated to match the hotel’s dragonfly motif, fit to seat eight, and showcase both the owner and guests she invited.

  The hall acked already. Was this for her? Some of the crowd quieted at her entra not all. [Poise and Bearing], don’t react, keep moving. One breath, two, and the noise picked up agaieps were as long and smooth as she could make them toward the gmourous table.

  Ma Bell was as Ambrosia described her, a plump woman, almost grandmotherly, whose presence shaped an aura of hospitality around her. Harmony was grateful for the warning, as the aura effects of the Inn Master’s skills seeped into her. False rexation and fort, it was like being a little drunk, inhibitions lessened, aations brushed away. Every night she’d have to face it. Part of her wao fight tooth and nail against the influehe part of her that felt the trol her mother had held over her with her skills as a child. Society said it was okay to rex and enjoy such beneficial boons, but she’d seen the dark side. There would be no energy to wage that war day after day, aainly, after the tough days she’d pnned in the dungeon, it seemed like a recipe for disappoi. So she had a pn.

  [Recall] was key. It wasn’t just for remembering things, as a maid it was important to be remi the right time. You could use the skill to set up remio prod you at certain times or situations. Before she’d speak it would remio check herself, while it might make versational flow a little off, it would be best to prevent a stumble that could wreck her. With everyo the table under Ma Bell’s effects, she doubted they’d notibsp; If this worked she knew she could keep the rexing bes without any potentially ive aspects.

  Ma Bell stood up and gave a short bow. “Lady White. I hope the aodations have been up to your standards.”

  Was that a subtle dig? It was the pce she’d stayed in. But it wouldn’t take much to dig up her history and figure out the standards she’d been forced to accept had beehing from the street to the maid dormitory and the run-down manor they’d acquired right after she’d achieved dyship. The reminder prodded her to speak. “They’re absolutely wonderful and will serve me magnifitly for my stay at the capital's premier inn.”

  “And Prince Adric, what an honor to have one of the teo the at my table. They say the more uhe path the more iing the results. And so gracious in supp one of the peers.”

  Adric hadn’t set up the same protes. “The honor is all mine, Madam Bell. You’ve been nothing but the supreme and generous host to us since we arrived. My bonded Bowe loves the open-air aodations you’re providing.” His normal, without-a-care smile, stretched wider than usual on his perfect fabsp;

  While the prince might have missed it, Harmony didn’t. As unaowledged as he was it was hard to call Adric a tender for the under current circumstances, and the uh involved the man’s death. The woman even pointedly ighe very publik Harmony had with the priressing that he was doing this out of good graces rather tharuth. Did only atuating the positive feed into her skills?

  Harmony took the seat Ambrosia pulled out for her to the host's right, and Adric took his seat at the innkeeper's left.

  “The uests will be here shortly. One you’re both intimately familiar with.”

  Oh, how nice. [Recall] righted the Lady Maid. Not nice. Surprises were not ideal, and she made a mental o get the guest list before each of these dinners. If she’s going to attend this every night it would be required.

  “Oh, how nice,” Adric responded not having a personal filter.

  The worst options popped into Harmony’s head first, Lord Tyler iing himself uild master Hemlock taking his own trip to poke his o this mess.

  “There she is!” Ma Bell stood up. “Princess Rosaline, wele to my table. It’s always a delight to get the talk of the town visiting.”

  The grima Rose’s face was enough to see that at least someone else had taken sensible precautions. Going by how their host had addressed herself and Adric, Harmony guessed the ‘talk of the town’ was not positive talk, as much as Ma Bell gave it a positive tone. Nothing that was in her letters to Adric.

  Lady Coodley had oalked about women like this host, those who delight in chaos, suffering, and others' misery, but only in the most pleasant way and their motivations. The versation had been a way to spend time while Harmony had worked her neantic magic to facilitate youthful looks, back when she was o the skill enough that it took time greater than a practiced wave of her hands and magibsp; [Recall] pulled up the details. Four types of women acted this way, those who delighted in gossip, those who delighted in pain, those who wished to rehabilitate or fix problem children, and those who actively tried to make things worse. Who was Ma Bell?

  “How could I refuse a ce to see my brother and his panion.”

  That wasn’t good. While they weren’t friends, they had fought in the duogether, and to be called his panion, over any other name felt wrong. [Poise and Bearing] and borrowing some of the g effects of the table kept Harmony from reag. And how did she want to talk to Rose? As Princess Rosaline, former teammate, or her pet’s sister? Or could this be her dy maid profession overreag due to stress?

  Rose didn’t sit o either of them, iaking the spot at the opposite end of the table, furthest away from Ma Bell. Any versation that would be had, would o be done over the full length of the table for all to hear. The uests' arrival interrupted any choice to start a versation early.

  At least all the newers were strangers and Ma Bell had words for them all. Perrish Nim, a priest, was plimented on his devout nature. Which could mean anything, having a vaguely religious css or profession never required you to be ecclesiastical in nature. Barb, a specutive trader, received a pliment on their bold financial strategies. Timmy Tone owned several clubs and social businesses iy. Adric looked unfortable at his arrival, and Ma Bell mentio had been a long time sihey’d seen each other. The st seat was left empty, a tradition in case someone dropped in, or the innkeeper chose to recruit from the ba hall guests.

  With a slight nod, the servants departed to fill up ptes from the buffet t back to the table. Timmy, Barb, and Perrish each had a member of the inn’s staff in their green and gold uniform fetg food. The only outside servant besides Bates and Ambrosia was the one Rose had been apanied by.

  “It’s always o have extra hands helping with dinner,” Rose said as they all busied off.

  Harmony had to swallow the bit of ice that started to form ihroat. Helping hands, the queen’s not-so-secret hidden muscle. Was that who the unassuming girl o Rose was? [Recall] failing to pull up details wasn’t a good sign. That could be paranoia talking.

  “Definitely,” Barb replied agreeably.

  “One of those aristocratiefits the aristocracy seems to get. My family loves having a cadre of them.”

  Definitely a hint that the woman was one of the Queen’s Helping Hands. Against a spy, Harmony didn’t feel like she’d have much to worry about, but if the girl was an assassin?

  “Are you finding this to be the case, Lady White?” Perrish asked.

  “Mine are indispensable. But I also have a unique perspective.”

  “Oh, yes. I’ve seeory in the backsheets about how you climbed up from lesser circumstances, being a maid and having a difficult css.” Perrish tinued.

  Good to see neancer was still a dirty word. “Let’s say my familiarity with all of those dirty tasks allows me to appreciate quality help.”

  The trays of food started to e. Harmony made sure Rose’s “servant” was in earshot. “I’m still teically a maid, a dy maid now. I like to sider myself still in service of the kingdom and people. To let you all know of a little secret there will soon be an annou from the guild about how key my service to the kingdom will be.”

  Would that be enough to avoid poison slipped into her food or a hidden knife? Bah, paranoia. Ambrosia wouldn’t let anyone mess with her food. She speared a tender piece of beef and slipped it into her mouth. The way the salty fat dissolved in her mouth without overwhelming the meat, sent waves of pleasure through her. [Recall] studdered, failing ter, as she let out a slight moan. “Sublime, Ma Bell.” Harmony blurted out.

  “I’d challenge our chefs against the best ones in any of the evolved kingdoms.”

  The food forestalled much of the versation, as all the guests discovered the joys of the Dragonfly Inn’s buffet. How everything tasted almost made up for the requirement to dine here every night.

  Uhe innkeeper’s influehe versation was nudged foblets of wine and cider lowered barriers further. And Ma Bell had only to say a few words to get versations flowing. Barb pontificated on business dealings involving the trade of dungeon materials, mostly pining about how difficult it was to exge with the evolved kingdoms. “What do you think of the eic predit, Lady White?” The host asked.

  Everyone else had either been prodded to provide ave their opinions unbidden. It became clear that the host wanted everyoo be slightly involved. The eics Harmony kouched upon household ma, and even then she hadn’t focused on that set of skills. Bates and Ambrosia would have beeer suited to answer. Other than that it was Tyler’s spare books, and that one she’d found iic. As old as it was, it reminded her that dungeohe sources of the kingdom’s ey and any ges had rippling effects.

  “Hazeldown will bee a focus at least briefly. With the spirit’s reneearanew things are brewing that should bring opportunities as news gets out. One must move fast though.” Less than forty days now to evolve a back. Fast was an uatement.

  “I’d imagihere will be risk there too, with the nature of the city.” Barb ponderously reflected.

  “Risk for reward is the nature of life,” Harmony murmured still ihoughts.

  “Tone knows all about risky business ventures” Bell chimed in with a chuckle.

  The club owner huffed. “There’s no risk with the right ers.”

  “Like Adric here.” Bell teased

  Both Tone and Adric flush at this, enough to cause Harmony to wonder if she should question this aspect of her pet’s past.

  “I enjoy your venues,” Rose interjected.

  Eyes on the princess, the slight chaos of a goblet of wiipping over, and Bates colleg Prince Adric's pte while deftly dabbing up the mess went nearly unnoticed. [Recall] let Harmony see his professionalism crack briefly as he gred at Rose’s help. Ambrosia moved to help with the table, steppiween the Helping Hand and the prince as Bates fetched some fresh food.

  Harmony only kept one ear on the versation as she fumed. Going after her, she expected, but to go after poor Adric. The boy was mostly disowned, not even able to collect funds. There was no question about the plicated nature of his situation, but to be so underhanded.

  Ambrosia gently touched Harmony's shoulder as she poured fresh wio a gss that had frost along the edge, pulling the neancer out of her fuming enough to give her a slight shake of her head, signifying no.

  It wasn't her pce. Bates liked to haaff issues away from the eyes of those he served, be it theft, pettiness, or attempted harm. At Coodly house, one didn’t mess with the masters, because one khe bruises that could e with even minor infras. One of the queen’s helping hands might be a different issue.

  [Recall] prompted Harmony that her name was being said and she used it to backtrack to the question. “Oh, I’m not pnning on many social visits this trip. I expect to spend most days exerg, progressing in the dungeon, and then sharing Ma Bell’s lovely table befetti. I ’t imagihe invitation it would take to pull me out of my routine.”

  “How dedicated. I always say we should aspire to grow how the evolved kingdoms do.” Perrish tagged on.

  The meal wound down, while Harmo her ay wind up as she refused to let herself rex too muder the host's calming influence. [Poise and Bearing] got plenty of exercise as she limited herself to clipped, polite responses until she saw the opportunity to excuse herself.

  “I must go. In the m, Nae’s Garden calls me to a. A lovely dinner and pany for all. Ma Bell, I will see you tomorrow to do this again.” Harmony could spot disappoi in the woman’s eyes that she was the first to leave. But she’d be back day after day for more rounds of this chaos. Ambrosia better be right that this pce is worth it. With [Style and Grace] she made her way back to the stairs

  Ohe door to her suite clicked shut, Harmo all her skill-supported masks drop, “Aaaaaahrrrrrrrgggh.” she groaned with equal parts frustration and exhaustion before she plopped onto a lounging chair. “Why wouldn’t you let me get that rotter who messed with my pet, if it was one of your birds you’d have skihe woman?”

  Ambrosia finished loosening her uniform to more fortable levels. “Adric wasn’t ag in the role of your pet today and Bates will ha. The woman tried to slip bless-wort into the prince’s food.”

  The name was vaguely familiar, but [Recall] felt so raw and tender from its use at the dihat Harmony didn’t feel like she should use it.

  “A pnt used for banishing undead, particurly potent.” Ambrosia crified at Harmony's lost look.

  A poor neancer she was, never g about the raising undead aspects of her skills. But for her undead pet. “She was trying to kill…!:

  “Oh calm dowested every such thing on Adric, at his insistehe boy has so much odd vitality the pnts and charms are useless. You’ve tried to use your dead manipution skills on him, remember? At worst it would have given him a stomach ache, which would make him act like a whiny baby. I think Bates wao avoid that most of all, rather than be called upon t him chi soup and read him one of those Dragon Rider books. Also, the principle of letting such a thing happen to the person he is serving go unchecked would gall him.”

  “I’ve kind of ighe problem of not knowing what I brought him back as. He hasn’t been sneaking away to suck the life force of i virgins?”

  Ambrosia snorted. “He has to take extra effort to keep experierollops from sug him. Dealing with whatever prince Adric is, be doer we get you evolved and through whatever challehe dungeon has pnned.”

  A knoterrupted harmony, and by the time a follow-up knock came. Ambrosia had her uniform tightened up and was at the door.

  Harmony grumpily used her social skills to collect herself.

  “Princess Rosaline, how ued. Your brother’s suite is down the hall.”

  “I’ve e to see Lady White.”

  “Fine. Let her in.” The neancer said, her tone as cold as the chilled space around her. [Cold Touch] Ohe inner representation of how distant she’d been from her friends, was now an icy furious finality. The tess, Princess Rosaline, and the rest of those royals had left them to flounder for themselves those months after Old Bones revealed itself. Only Bates's experiend Ambrosia’s anizational skills had helped keep things manageable.

  “Harmony, I…” The princess started.

  “I expected better of you, Rose. Ign me since I became a Lady is fine, we had one dungeon dive together. But poor Adric. I had some hope with your letters, but pying a role in attempting to poison him on his first day back. That’s cold.“ Cold air bellowed out, and Harmony watched with some satisfa as the princess shivered.

  “What?! I swear I didn’t know. It’s not like I was ign you, didn’t Adric tell you didates for the aren’t allowed to i with lesser unevolved nobles for fear of losing authority to them or affeg their growth.”

  “If you're not allowed then why are you here?”

  “You’re not lesser. ’t you tell? You have more authority than I do.”

  “How would I be able to tell? No one has taught me anything about authority. Even Adric, darling boy he is, admitted he did his best to avoid g about it, dodging tutors, doing anything but dealing with it.”

  “Have you not ied another noble or yourself?”

  It’s rude to use such skills on people, and pletely uable for a maid to do so on someohey are serving or their guests. Even when she had inappropriately acted nothing about authority was ever shown. There was also o use the skill on yourself when you could pull up all the information you needed on a whim. [Analyze]

  Ranger Princess - Base - Authority -Weak

  A fan like this wasn’t without plenty of mirrors, they always made the space feel open and light. Harmony forced herself to find her refle. An angry pout graced her face, ice crystals adding sparkle to her brows, hair, and shes. [Analyze]

  Lady Maid Neancer - Advanced - Challenger - Authority- Risen

  “Authority, Risen. What does that even mean?”

  “When nobles i other heir authority designations are revealed, uhey have something that masks it. I’m one rank above the lowest, you’re four ranks up. It’s actually quite an aplishment. “

  Aplished enough to hurt both her and Hyath, not that Harmony would tell the prihat. “I don’t care about any of that. I’m here to evolve. If me being a higher rank means you want my goodwill, then help with that, and don’t try to poison my pet.”

  “Do you really see Addy as a pet? I know his new css is odd.”

  “It is what he is. It doesn’t matter what I see him as. I ’t ge how we are ected to each other. And ohing I’ve learned in this world is you hreaten someone’s bonded pet. So if that is the designation I o use to get the point across I will. Please show yourself out!”

  “I…” The princess inhaled while Harmony watched as her face settled into some aspect of a social mask from a skill, but nothing else came out. With a curtsy, Rosaliurned a out the door held open by Ambrosia.