Chapter Twenty-Three

  Harmony had never been to Lady Coodly's Naewauld manor. Underdeveloped as a staff member for the task, and with the matriarch mostly staying in Hazeldown to shepherd Tyler’s Growth, the choice to expand her tract to allow her to work in both locations hadn't been a priority. With the sideration of taking over as the woman’s personal maid, she khat would have ged. In another life, where she hadn’t caught the dungeon’s attention or beeed to a dy, this is where she’d be serving. It was very pretty.

  In a city known for rown pnts and bushes that defied logic, the grounds had a healthy, manicured anization to them. The Hazeldowe had a simir taste but the opposite problem, as it was difficult to grow healthy-looking pnts and deal with pests like gnomes and spiders that pgued the area. This is a testament to the skilled staff the matriarch hired.

  Tyler still had trol over the staff uniforms though. The maids were all nearly falling out of their fabric-defit outfits. Not that they didn’t fit, often too tight in some pces. Plenty of memories of Harmony’s own struggles surfaced watg them. A full ti of staff stood proudly along the walkway to the entrance. By her t, many of them were off shift, or even should be on their day off. So many familiar faces. Many of the smiles were genuine, and unsupported by skills.

  Never did get to say a proodbye to many of them. Harmony wrote letters, but it’s not the same as doing it face to face. Such was the chaos after the drama at the Colosseum, and the stress of her burdens. Fel’s eyes twinkled. Yorick had grown a couple inches. Stu put on more weight. She ached to break protocol and give hugs, ask how things were going, and for a tour of all the best spots to sck off at. But that would have spooked her new bodyguards, and been insulting to the host and her friend's efforts. It was a surreal homeing to a pce that wasn’t quite home.

  Astel stood at the door in a suit. A major uniform ge from her time as Lady Coodly’s personal maid. Her previously slightly sour demeanor was repced by a strong fident satisfa. Harmony khat sourness was mostly because Astel mistakenly thought she’d been actively trying to repce the maid. The former personal maid swung the rge door open with ease. “Wele to Coodly Manor Naewauld.” The greeting, the act, and the presentation were all very familiar. It looked like they had found Bates' rept to mahe staff.

  “An honor,” Harmony responded as the voice of her ensemble. Ambrosia quietly walked by her side. Bodyguards simirly tried to act absent.

  She’d sidered bringing Prince Adric, but he hadn’t been listed on the invitation. Nor was there any subtle hint she should bring her “pet”. Hyath would have been wele as a guest’s familiar, but he was sleeping deeply as he was far too proo do. The level had been supposed to help. Max also took some of the burden. Why wasn't he better?

  Lady Coodly waited inside, a new maid Harmony didn’t reize assistihe matriarch was done up how she loved, a bit ostentatiously. Raspberry hair in a spiral, make-up trasting pale skin and sparkling blue color under her eyes. Pins however helped hold the hair, and it was stiff with some kind of product supp the shape and adding color. The make-up was heavy to hide age lines and the shape of her face was not as ftteringly as [Beauti] nudged Harmony that it should be. “Wele, Lady White. I’ve been looking forward to meeting you as a peer. I must apologize for the short notice.”

  With an off-hand Harmony dismissed that apology. “Circumstances have freed me up, and there is no one I’d rather see. You’ve always been good to me.”

  Sure she’d gotten assigned many of the worst jobs in the manor. That had more to do with seniority and seeing what she could do with her skills. The truth is they hadn’t o hire her at all. Taking a risk on a work tract for a maid who was also a neancer. Wasn’t even up to Tyler’s aesthetic standards, as she had to grow into that.

  There ike of relief that the young lord wasn’t here. Not that he usually attended his Grands meetings with guests. He’d probably make an exception for her.

  “Kind of you to say so, but I ’t help but feel like it is different with us meeting with equal footing. e, tea and cake are ready and waiting in the garden.”

  Harmony took advantage of the walk to look around. Familiar paintings on the walls showed how much of the household they’d moved here. Time in Hazeldown had been for Lord Tyler’s growth and they’d been there sihe young man made his initial choice. The family wasn’t small, but he was the presumptive heir. The manor there probably has been sealed up, waiting for the ime the family needs it.

  The garden outside erfectly shaped and stylized. Not a single weed to be seen. If this wasn’t done in the hours before her visit Harmony would be shocked. Keeping Naewauld’s green under trol was a full-time job. Even walking in the more well-to-do districts she’d seen how wild it could get. “Such pristine ndsg.” She blurted out.

  “We do have the best gardener.” Lady Coodly beamed with pride.

  If only she could have sut-taming skills for the dungeon. Then she’d…. “After tea, I’d love to meet them if you don’t mind sharing a little. I could use advi how to tame a garden.”

  “No problem at all.” Coodly answered sitting down.

  The personal maids poured the tea. Tiny cakes made to look like fruit decorated a serving tray. Harmony took a lemo was a favorite, as she and the rest of the staff had sampled Renee’s “mistakes” when she’d baked this type of thing before.

  “How are you adjusting to aristocracy?”

  There were lots of answers akin to discussing the weather. And she’d used those in other social situations with people who didn’t know her before the events at the Colosseum. While she’d never fully let walls down as an employee, the old woman was right that their retionship is unique now. She’d seen her a few times after bleeding, dirty, or exhausted from a particurly hard task, even if tally in the Hazeldown manor.

  “It’s been hard. Managing the stipend. The unique political situation with my pet. The pressures of it were something I wasn’t fully ready for. And now I have to evolve to keep obligations.”

  “I remember when I wished I could have run away. But it never really lets you go, that authority. Even now after old age has caused distance. I heard about the games, but I suspect that isn’t the only pressure you have. Situations like yours are not unique, just rare. I ’t gift you that mark ress, but I be a friend.”

  “I appreciate that. How has the household been?”

  “Besides needing to repce three of my best staff? Astel has stepped into her new role, but finding good maids is hard. I even braved approag that society group, talking about what you could do with your neand they looked at me like I was crazy. But I’m making do. Tyler has stepped up in a way I’m mostly proud of.”

  Harmony's seen the physical ges, more muscle to his frame. The effort to do that would be new. But the rest of it she had her doubts. [Poise and Bearing] hid those doubts. “That’s good for him.”

  “It really is. I’ve been worried he’d lose his noblesse upon evolution. I ’t hold on forever. Now he merely he right support to carry oure of this family.”

  Everyone he right support. Tyler would need more than others. The Lady has indulged him too mubsp; Not that it would be appropriate to point that out. Exactly how would this be relevant to…. “Oh.” She responded mid-bite. It took effort not to spit out the bite of cake in her mouth.

  “I uand your political situation is precarious, but I have decades of experien that -ied garden.”

  “Until I reach the games, politics is the st thing on my mind. As fuiding hand, as a friend, meeting the requirements to open the games will take all my time and risk. I doubt you o put any effort into me.” Why do people ighe possibility of dying when going into a dungeon?

  “Oh. I have faith and patieh you. There are ways I help with all of that. Tyler is sowing his oats anyway.” That was an image Harmony did not want to think about. “As for politics, as much as you want to ighem, they don’t ignore you. No pressure, this is merely something I want you to sider.”

  Bones and bruises, no. This wasn’t a path she could cave in, nor did Harmony want to. The ge way is to let time erode the sideration. It was almost a relief to realize she could be dead and this would all be moot. “Clearly we have to see how both our evolutions go. And the Asdant Games, we mustn't fet about those.”

  “Oh to be young, with so many things distrag you from living life. One ’t miss out on love, just because one is busy.”

  Gods above and below, old women talking of love. She’d helped serve these kinds of tea parties. They’d alked of Tyler in their match-making schemes, so she hadn’t realized that was a risk today. This had been so much easier when one was meant to stay a piece of the sery. It was very hard to not shoot Ambrosia a look.

  “The games will be at the peak of summer, Lady Coodly. Everything will be clearer then. I promise not tet Tyler with all my distras.” This was definitely an example of politiot ign her. Please send something to distract this versation.

  “Hey!” Not that! Tyler’s voice cut through what had been a quiet atmosphere perfect for versation.

  “Move or be moved.” Not her. Jessica’s heated voice came up too.

  Both excmations forced Harmony to look. Two of her gifted bodyguards stood in front of the pair trying to make their way into the meeting. For the sed time, she was grateful for their presence, which was why she was regretful about what she had to do . “It’s okay. I know them.”

  Even as the bodyguards parted, Lady Coodly was less enthused about the presence, actually rising from her seat. “This is a private tea party. You and yuest were not invited.”

  At least someone else had issues with Jessibsp;

  That still didn’t stop the interlopers, “You’ve never barred me from… “ The rest of his words fell from his mouth as he saw the guest. “Harmony? Why didn’t you tell me?” He demanded of Lady Coodly.

  Jessiaked her arm around Tyler’s waist possessively. “My lord, we clearly have more important tasks to do.”

  The old fire user wasn’t in her maid’s uniform. Though the outfit was even more revealing, going with a style that Tyler’s influence could clearly be seen in its sele in the way so much skin was revealed. It also strained Harmony to admit that she wasn’t old anymore. You hear about how evolution ges people in Hazeldown but rarely see it. sidering most aplish that feat while still in the flush of youth, the ge is rarely so dramatibsp; Only a sireak of gray sat in the former sun priestess’s hair.

  “Lady White’s acceptance was on short notice. Surely you’ve heard of The Asdant Games by now. It's beealk in all social circles si night’s break of the news and Harmony barely has a moment to spare even for me. You’ve been busy. And this is still my Manor, where I choose how to eain my guests.”

  “I was celebrating! You could have still sent a servant to rouse me.” Tyler pined petuntly. “I formed my own skill.”

  Needing support ihis isn’t the time or the pce for him to have his pints with Lady Coodly. This is where the servants would unobtrusively leave to allow for a private versation. But Harmony was here as a guest, not a servant. It wouldn’t be shog if Lord Tyler had fotten that. The mention of ‘barely a moment’ did give an out, but it would be improper to look like she’d been scared away. It wasn’t like she could stride away this time anyway without leaving her dress behind.

  “That is a hy achievement, lord Tyler. One you should feel proud of, but the dy is right that my time is short, as I have challeo face.”

  “I …” The words failed him. It’s not like he could offer to get her through those challenges. Jessica also gave him a berserker charged yank, interrupting him and shifting him into her curves.

  Harmony also tinued as though he hadn’t spoken. “Lady Coodly, it’s been delightful to see you again. I’ve cherished the space you gave me to develop my skills and profession. May I touch up your appearance for old times sakes before I go?”

  The foundation on Lady Coodly’s face had cracked a little in her exge with Tyler. [Beauti] and the maid aspect of Harmony's profession had been wearing on her in the background since arriving. Habit, experience, and pride that she knew she could do better all called on the Lady Maid.

  “If you don’t think that is beh…”

  Harmony waved away that pint. “I’m still a maid and have a profession to maintain.”

  “Of course then.” The old Matriarswered.

  Harmony called upon her magic. The first thing was to get rid of that foundation and make-up. It owders and pastes, ground of stone, pnt, and other materials desigo smooth out lines and add color. In other words, carefully selected and produced [Dust]. The skill grabbed at those particutes and freed them from her former employer's fabsp; Even as that ealed off [Manipute Dead] and [Beauti] were synergizing to smooth her face out using what was naturally there.

  It might have only been months since she’d done work on Lady Coodly, but Harmony had gained levels. Maxing out the skills in an attempt to sate the turmoil inside of her. She’d done all the make-up for Songstress and the Flows, with all their dance moves and sweating, and sometimes overactive extracurricur socializing. The neancer had learned some tricks. Even remembered aspects of what surprised her when she’d gained [Recall] and reflected on turning Sir Maxwell’s hair a persistent pink. While she couldn’t permaly make some ges st, she could now surprise her former employer with how long this one will.

  [Renew Spirit] synergized with [Cold Touch] to help lo a more life-like appearand add bits of color. Small bits of knowledge gained from preserving the flowers in her new manor inspired more adva.

  Satisfied, Harmony turo the hair, simirly knog out all the outside materials added to cover up the aging and damaged hair. [Mend] added to her work there, fixing any frays and scuffs to the hair, w in tandem with [Manipute Dead]. The new, brighter, healthier-looking color should stay as well, safe from any washings and most time-reted fading.

  A spiteful part of her wao demonstrate that she could make Lady Coodly look younger ahier than Jessica, but that gave way to h her host and using [Recall] to remember all the little details about what she liked about all the previous times harmony had worked oriarbsp;

  “I hope this pleases you.” Harmony finished

  Lady Coodly touched her face, then looked toward her maid. Barely a few moments ter one of the houseboys was there with a mirror for her. The staff probably had someone run for ohe moment they saw what was going on. Lady Coodly ied her fabsp; “Astounding work as always. And thank you for your visit. Jones will show you out.“

  The footman gave a short bow.

  Yes, it was an odd way to assert dominance over Lord Tyler's interruption. But it satisfied her profession nicely. Standing up, Harmony moved to exit, in her departure she could see the bodyguards move to block Lord Tyler’s view, an ued advantage of having them. Being forced out, even uionally, was a tad annoying. She had wao talk to that gardener. Maybe a future visit if no solutios itself?