It was two days since Finia had swept onto the property, taking up the role of Lady Leolian.
Two days since she had started political warfare with the irritating elf known as Lady Trescotte. The smiling bitch who was absolutely determined to get her hooks into her brother's estate.
Despite the way she'd spoken to Elebert, the bunny was out of her depth. She'd greeted the woman as if mistaking her for a member of the staff, and refused to apologise for the mistake.
That had set the ground rules, but Finia was still nervous every time someone checked her bed for traps, or food for poisons. She was certain that an assassination attempt was simply a matter of time.
The bunny held out her arms as two of her handmaidens began wrapping her in a silken toga. Elebert stood impassively without so much as a glance at her chest, drolling on.
"Lord Ereoli is expecting to share breakfast in the southern gardens with you this morning."
Finia's ears drooped as she remembered the brother of her master. An arrogant little twat who was expecting to inherit the property. He was the heir unless she turned around and had kits.
She hadn't met him in person yet, but he had left a letter of greeting. Full of little lines like hoping she would enjoy using her master's property. Things masquerading as kindness whilst insisting that Ereoli didn't see her as anything more than a cheap toy.
She wished Leolian was here to tell her what to do. She hated politics with a passion. All the manipulating, and trading of favours.
Yet, she was still temple trained. She had an inkling of what to do.
"When did Lord Ereoli propose to interfere with my schedule?" The bunny snapped angrily, knowing her handmaidens were a guaranteed avenue of spreading gossip among the staff.
Elebert stuttered, apparently not expecting her response, "Sorry, m'lady. As it was your breakfast, I had not -"
"Silence." She sneered dismissively, and pulled at her toga, "This one itches. I would like to go shopping today for some decent clothes. Oh, the brother, right. I will eat my breakfast alone, in prayers for my master. If Lord Ereoli is insistent, he may join me."
The butler bowed his head meekly, "As you wish, m'lady. There is but one appointment for today that cannot be rearranged. Empress Tresian has requested to meet the Lady Leolian."
If her stomach was not empty, her bowels might have tried to move.
Finia blinked her marbled eyes lazily, feeling one of her handmaidens beginning to brush her hair, as another knelt and inspected her toes, clipping and polishing the nails of the sensitive feet.
She pursed her lips thoughtfully, "Am I to attend the palace, in such a poor fitting outfit as this one?"
"Her majesty will be inspecting the repairs to the western wall. She is expecting to see you there, m'lady." Elebert said politely, "A more... Rugged... Outfit would not be unexpected. Might I suggest the wolfskin shawl? Paired with one of your many magical staffs. Perhaps the salamander tail with eye of orc?"
He was gently advising her to look like a warrior. Her husband was a guard. It made sense that a certain amount of ferocity would be expected of her... Though, owning more than one magical staff was news to Finia.
A single magic staff was worth a king's bloody ransom.
So, her estate wasn't just powerful because her husband served the crown. They were also responsible for funding when the empress wanted to do anything that might stretch the coffers of the Golden Mountain.
She had gone from bullied slave to one of the most powerful women in the elven empire, overnight.
She needed to make a show of owning it.
"Arrange for a tailor to bring me a bunneko-cut of a basque and riding dress once my prayers are complete." Finia ordered, and tapped at her chin, "I presume that there is a space for me to practice my alchemy, somewhere away from the main house? I would visit it, once I have spoken to the empress. I... I think I will have luncheon on the wall. Please inform her grace."
Elebert failed to properly hide his smile as he bowed, "Of course, m'lady."
He left, and one of her handmaidens began to help her into some ridiculously high-heeled shoes. She immediately kicked them off, and pointed to the riding boots. Still high-heeled, but more warlike.
The woman apologised, and fetched them.
She really hated this way of letting everyone else take care of her. She could have been dressed half an hour ago, if she was allowed to do it herself. Every movement of the women caring fir her was slow and exaggerated. It wasn't just a show of grace, either.
Scared of so much as scratching her.
Yet, this was what she'd been bought for. She would take it as it was, as much as she resented being purchased. It wasn't all bad, she was rich and pampered, now.
"Inform the chef that I'd like some lucerne for breakfast, this morning." She stated, mouth nearly watering at the idea of a treat she'd only tasted once before. "Remind him that I'm a herbivore. My stomach still hurts from when he snuck some bacon into my salad yesterday. He does it again, I'll drop the resulting pellet in his bed, instead of the water closet."
One of the women curtsied, "M-m'lady."
"Use my threat." She glared and then waved a hand to dismiss them. She needed to remain a little unpredictable. She wasn't going to completely adopt the persona expected of her.
Leolian had liked her attitude.
She held out a hand, and was helped to her feet. She waited as her toga was smoothed for her, and then breezed out of the room, making her servants run to catch up to her.
She moved quickly through the mansion, using the smell of offerings and incense to guide her towards the private chapel. Trying to pretend to have already memorised the location.
When she arrived, she could smell a man, but he was keeping to the shadows where she couldn't see him. Her near-blind bunny eyes not even showing her a silhouette.
She knelt by one of the statues, to the god of gambling, luck, and general trickery. She bowed her head, nose twitching, and offered the traditional prayer to the god.
"An interesting choice, m'lady." The man spoke, after she finished, "Are you an acolyte of Macuil?"
She smiled as warmly as she dared, speaking in a reverent tone, "He is the Great Bunneko, sir. It is not too surprising that one of his children would follow him, is it?"
Truth was, Finia didn't give a shit about any of the gods. However, she wanted the association with trickery, and the god being a bunneko made him the perfect choice for her.
She knew enough to fake devotion to any of the gods. She could pass as a zealot of this one without much effort.
The man stepped a little forward, becoming a blur at the edge of her vision, "May I join you, mistress?"
"If you insist upon it."
