"Situation? You mean you ignoring the sword?"
"I never made an oath, though?" [Katiana]
"True, but you did treat me as your teddy bear."
Katiana's face reddened just a touch.
"Erm, let us never talk about that again - but yeah, usually I hug a body sized pillow when I sleep... We don't have that here." [Katiana]
Glancing at the bed, I pondered a moment before striding to an armoire.
"Ah, thought so... here, use this."
I removed one of the spare fluffy blankets from the top shelf of the armoire, unfolded it a bit, before rolling it up tight, and tossed it towards Katiana.
She caught it perfectly before it had a chance to unravel.
"Oh! A body pillow ersatz! That will work, even if there is no print on it!" [Katiana]
My wife placed the roll on her side of the bed, and re-arranged a few times before she was satisfied.
"That will do... Hm, wonder if I could commission something like a Totoro pillow at big-sis's store?" [Katiana]
"Good - and - I have no idea what you are talking about. Now that your main issue is solved, maybe we should retire on time today - mother wants to give instructions on the new mission in the morning before we return to our estate."
"Yawn - yeah good plan. Having to deal with all those people today was more tiring than I expected..." [Katiana]
After our evening ablutions, we both took our sides of the bed - I had pointedly placed the ceremonial sword between us again.
Maybe this time it will work?
When I opened my eyes it was still night.
A soft slurping and munching echoed the otherwise silent room.
Turning a bit towards the sound, I saw Katiana and Nozomi on the sofa partaking in the snacks that had been left on coffee table - the wine bottle looked almost empty.
What woke me was the soft blue light emanating from the cool box on the coffee table that was now open - the two foot high cool box was in the form of a sitting bear and was a familiar item to me.
My wife, bathed in the pale blue light, noticed me watching her.
"What? Can't let these goodies go to waste, can we? Hey there is even egg salad sandwiches - even though they were in this amazing bear thing, they won't be that great anymore, tomorrow." [Katiana]
"It already is tomorrow, and that bear 'thing' is a cool box my little sister produces and sells - the blue glow is from a mountain crystal with cold magic cast onto it. She's all into bears at the moment."
Katiana inspected the bear figure with wide eyes, while stuffing another sandwich triangle into her mouth.
"Wow - I need to meet her soon, she sounds amazing! And I'm not sharing, so if you want any snacks, you need to hunt for them yourself." [Katiana]
"I'm fine. Brush yourselves off before returning to bed - the maids have enough to clean without having to deal with crumbs in bed."
"Mumph - aye aye Captn' Blye!" [Katiana]
After ensuring the sword was still behind me, I turned back over and forced myself to ignore the sounds of the mid-night feast.
When I awoke the sun was reflecting against the wall that I was facing.
An arm was slung over my shoulder, and a softness caressed my back.
A soft breath tickled the back of my neck.
And there was a warm weight on my leg.
Eh?
Déjà vu.
This time, I slid my right hand down and firmly grasped the encroaching thigh that was draped over mine.
"Whaa... EEEEK!" [Katiana]
"And a fine good morning to the maiden who somehow ignores swords."
"Ah ah... Sowwwyyyy! First lemme go, you muscle uncle of a brute!" [Katiana]
"Yes, yes. What happened to that pillow roll?"
"Oh... seems I must have lost it when I turned - the other thing is, I never stay in the same spot when I sleep..." [Katiana]
"I can tell. Anyway, the maid is about to knock."
On cue, someone loudly knocked on the bedroom door as I finished speaking.
"Breakfast will be ready in half an hour, my Lord and Lady." [Maid]
"Thank you, we will be down shortly."
The presence in the hallway moved away to go wake up the next sleepy head down the hall.
Katiana whooshing her way towards the bathroom, turned at the door and threw the pillow she had grabbed unthinkingly at me.
I dodged - she missed.
We were at breakfast - Nozomi was sitting on the table between my mother and my wife, being spoiled in turn by both of them.
"I want to go along." [Katiana]
"My Duchess, would that not be too dangerous - not to mention arduous? If Wudemia's information is correct, the place where the first Empress is held is in the high mountains of Beldorn - and an ancient wyvern or even a dragon might be involved!" [Marquess of Caraesal]
"Pfftt... This child won't have any issue, Marquess." [Mother Duchess, Wudemia]
Mother turned towards my wife.
"Of course dear, I was even going to ask if you wanted to tag along with your husband. And, you haven't had your honeymoon yet, have you?" [Mother Duchess, Wudemia]
Honeymoon - well, if that wasn't a veiled attempt at asking for grandchildren, I'm not sure what else it could be.
Ignoring the question, I asked something that weighed on my mind - if Katiana was partaking in the journey, I needed some protection for her.
"I take it you will lend some of your... maids... for my wife, yes? A Duchess cannot travel that far with no help - and most of my elites lack any sort of domestic skills - well, the elites that I would allow close to my wife, at least."
In my 100 elites there were a few men who had excellent domestic skills - ironic, considering they all could be confused with scurvy pirates.
Which some of them had been at one point.
But it would not do for men to tag along with a Duchess' train - at least not as her 'maids'.
"Hm, yes, the 'Wings of the Goddess' could use some fresh air - dear Katiana, I'll lend them to you - I'm sure they will be useful." [Mother Duchess, Wudemia]
"Heh - and Nozomi can come along too, yes?" [Katiana]
"Of course - who would not want to have such a cute heart-healing companion along?" [Mother Duchess, Wudemia]
With that mother held another delicacy in front of Nozomi - the slime extended a fine tentacle from its round body, reached out, and carefully took the offering.
Both tentacle and food nugget disappeared back into the main body.
"So the expedition will consist of myself, my wife, the 'Wings of the Goddess', five squads of my elites, and five of my commanders. Did I miss anyone?"
"And you forgot Nozomi here - that all should be enough to over-run a country. A large one, even." [Katiana]
"What about if there is a dragon involved?" [Marquess of Caraesal]
"Well, as much as I hate to say it, Nitram would be enough to handle that." [Mother Duchess, Wudemia]
My mother leaned over to Katiana and whispered.
"As long as it isn't great-great-grand ma... unlike me, Nitram gets along with her, and has a soft spot for her..." [Mother Duchess, Wudemia]
"Pfffttt... well grandparents tend to adore the youngest grand-kids - just the way it is." [Katiana]
"Well, that's not quite why - I'll tell you later." [Mother Duchess, Wudemia]
"Are you two done conferring in private? It is a bit rude to our host."
My mother glared at me with the look of "I know you heard us perfectly well" before turning towards our hostess.
"Oh, sorry Marquess, I was simply giving some instructions to my daughter-in-law about the maids I will be lending her." [Mother Duchess, Wudemia]
"Of course, of course... so when will the expedition leave?" [Marquess of Caraesal]
"In three days. My forces are march ready at all times, but there are a few extra preparations we need to make this time, considering the rough terrain of the Beldorn mountain range, and the fact we do not know the exact location of our quarry."
"And I need to organise a few gifts... I mean, what will I ever wear? How cold will it be? Do I need snowshoes? Climbing gear? That sort of thing." [Katiana]
"Gifts?" [Marquess of Caraesal]
Oho, my wife did not stop her inner monologue quickly enough this time.
"Erm... yes gifts, too - you know, for when we maybe meet people that we want to have on our side - to curry favor, that sort of thing." [Katiana]
"Bribes. You don't need to sugar coat it dear - we all do that when we don't feel like bash... ah, negotiating." [Mother Duchess, Wudemia]
"Well, I'm sure you both know what you are talking about. If you do happen to rescue the Empress and the prince, where will you be bringing them?" [Marquess of Caraesal]
The eagerness of the Marquess' voice was obvious.
"They will first be taken care of at my estate, of course."
"Ah... yes, I suppose there is no safer place in the Empire..." [Marquess of Caraesal]
The eagerness in her voice changed to sad acceptance of the fact.
"Don't worry my dear - the moment I hear from my son that he is returning, I will invite you immediately to the estate, so that you can be present when they Empress and prince arrive." [Mother Duchess, Wudemia]
"Fufufu! That is very generous of you, dear Wudemia!" [Marquess of Caraesal]
"Nitram dear, come ride with us - the two 'pages' - pffttt.... can drive this time." [Katiana]
My two commanders that had followed us here stood in their normal attire this time in front of the ducal carriage.
"Aye aye my Lady, we can indeed. I'm also glad to get out of that page outfit - it was squeezing parts of me I won't mention." [Egramora the Barbarian Queen]
"And what deliciously plump unmentionables those are... but yeah, those page outfits really cut into my ba... Ouch! I mean my cro... Ouch! ... the area I also can't not even mention." [Bartolo the Butcher of Maridia]
Egramora had punched her partner's arm twice before he could finish the words not meant for polite company - and a punch from this Barbarian Queen could put a half-dragon to sleep in a blink.
She was grinning though so she was not too upset with Bartolo.
Sigh, why did these two love birds have to tag along?
Oh, I already asked that, didn't I.
"Of course dear wife. Marquess, thank you for your generous hospitality. Mother, we will see you in two days before we leave for the Beldorn mountains."
With that we departed back home - hopefully this time with no interruptions.
