35
-- Isabella pov --
It took longer to arrive in the dark moon than I would have liked but now that I am here I can get this over with and then relax for a bit before heading back. I head to the Palace where I am sure Shea is already waiting to greet me, she is persistent I will give her that, even with how her father got screwed over and then died of grief after his hidden heir got killed in secret Shea continues to persist. I would honestly respect her a bit if I didn't have to hear Obsidian whine about this fallen estate every other day and how to make sure it's not growing into a problem. if Shea was smart she would marry someone with the ability to help put her on the throne even if it meant losing some of her power over the empire in the long run. her younger sister could be made lord of the dark moon in her stead and she could marry one of the other estate lords and have two estates power to face the capital and the various other estates, but that would only work if she was given the other estate lord an actual king position with power and authority and not just a puppet king.
Approaching the palace I observe the streets and buildings outside the carriage and am surprised to see the state of the guards, Alan was supposed to keep the position of sheriff and keep them softened up so they couldn't be a threat. but it seems that when the conflict with joseph broke out and he lost the position the new sheriff has begun to restructure the guards and make them train. there is nothing impressive strength wise but the attitude they have and the way they carry themself is already massively improved which is honestly a bit worse than if they gained a bit of strength. a stronger group is useless if they all flee from a battle but a group that stays united and fights till the last man is a force to be reckoned with. as of now it's still not a problem they are all below higher demon but it needs to be snuffed out before it can grow into a threat. whether that involves them losing their morale and replacing the new sheriff.
Stepping out of the carriage I am greeted by the sight of Shea standing at the base of the stairs leading up to the palace, on the sides are the royal guards. standing beside her is the little washboard *cough* little princess Alice and to their side is old Gauss the ever faithful old man. scanning over them looking for anyone else I would recognize I can't see the general's daughter or the spawn of Azgalor Beelzebub the crazy old bat believes the dark moon to be housing his family's artifact and sent a daughter here to find it. I also don't seem to see the human that showed up out of nowhere and was said to be close with Shea. oh well I can always look for them later when I am investigating the matter of Alan becoming a cripple, he was the one he was facing and I don't believe it's a coincidence. everyone else may overlook a human but I know just how deceitful they can be from experience and won't be fooled by one again.
"Welcome lady Isabella, we heard of your arrival a few days ago and prepared a guest room in the palace for you. but before that, you must be hungry from your travel and we have prepared a banquet for your arrival." I am sure they prepared a banquet, and probably took a good chunk of their funds to prepare it to for appearances. no point in rejecting though since I won't find any better food in this backwater estate. it truly is a shame how far this once beautiful estate the gem of this empire has fallen. it used to be the most powerful and successful estate now it's in this pathetic state.
"Thank you for your hospitality Lord Shea, I would be glad to join you." Shea nods and turns around holding Alice around the shoulder steering her up the stairs and we begin making our way to the dining room. I can't help but observe Shea she seems a bit different, I can't put my finger on it but she seems to have changed. from what I can observe she seems to still be in the great demon king rank but that could also be a good concealment technique. if she has promoted to the demon emperor rank that would mean we are even in power but I have years of experience in the rank and am confident to beat her should the need arise. still, it's odd, if she has since the inheritance left by her father, should take her years more to fully integrate.
"How have things been in the capital?" Shea casually asks but is most definitely digging for any information she can get. I have missed casual games like this, the capital can be quite boring when everyone is scared of you.
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Sitting at the table we are soon served and I am a bit surprised at the diversity of the food. where are they getting this from? they still are buying from the red spirit estate according to josh's reports but still, I have never seen food like this before. noticing my curiosity it is the little princess who speaks up.
"This is food being served in various new restaurants that are starting up and you will find in the dark moon." I nod and try a few items and am surprised at how they taste. It's nothing too shocking since it's all food items I have had before but the way they are prepared and presented is entirely new and unique. I understand what Alice was getting at when she said I would find them around the dark moon. food like this would stand out and I would have looked into it but Alice admitting its new restaurants that are starting up in the dark moon is a hint at something. almost like she is showing off but also it could be a trick to make me believe she is showing off. others may not know but I know just how much of a con artist this little princess is and she wouldn't have said that unless there was a reason. I will keep it in mind but won't allow it to affect my judgment in the matter but I will still look into it, if I had to guess it should relate to the human since this is most likely from the human world since there is nowhere else I have seen this kind of food from.
"It's good, where is the restaurant that serves this? I would like to try their other items out if there anywhere near as good." Shea nods and begins to tell me where it is located and I will remember to look into it after I get to the bottom of the Alan and Joseph conflict. we eat in silence and soon some servant brings out a bowl filled with some kind of cream from what I can tell.
"This is ice cream and it's best if you eat it fast to enjoy it the intended way." The way Alice explained that sounds correct on the surface but the glint that passed through her eyes tells me she is up to something.
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The roof of my mouth still tingles, that little brat intended for this to happen. the look of triumph she had when this pain started made me think she had succeeded in poisoning me but I triple-checked and saw nothing. it must have to do with the way I ate the cold food. anyway, it was still really good so I don't mind too much, she will just have to look out for a harmless prank back. smiling I walk into the building owned by Joseph I agreed to meet to get more information.
"Lady Isabella, it's so good to see you please sit." I approach the chair he offered and sit as he scans my figure with a lecherous look. if I didn't know him better I would believe his little act, but after knowing his true interests lie in little girls and older men I can't believe his little act.
"Joseph let's get right into it, tell me how this all happened so I can get this over with." I have already heard how but still it would be nice to know why he thinks it happened nonetheless.
"Are you sure there is nothing I can get you? I can have them bring in some refreshments."
"Don't stall, I am not in the mood to play around with you so let's get right into why I am here and speak about what happened." he grits his teeth before narrating a story I have already heard a few times but manages to skillfully place all the blame possible on Alan while only accepting responsibility for the bare minimum.
"And so then he tells me he is going to support my brother even though this is all a scheme by Shea. I don't know how she pulled this off but the slave trade has been cut off and the Mellon family is announced to be traitors with proof of defecting to the bloody empire. somehow she managed to pull the sheriff position out of our hands and sent her favorite toy to the mines, which I have completely lost contact with and my brother is even accusing me of scheming and having his men in the mines killed and taking it for myself." there is a few things here that I didn't know but over all my original idea of the human being involved in all the change and being mainly responsible has only been solidified. this idiot still only sees him as Shea's boy toy but he is probably already running the show, I need to meet this human and see where his true allegiances lie. if he can be of help to me or if he is a threat I will act accordingly.
"Thank you joseph this has been enlightening, I must leave and go meet with Alan and hear his side but I feel I have found the root of the problem." he quickly stands and begins to follow me out.
"You think you can fix this situation?" he rubs his palms together with a bright smile and I feel absolutely nothing knowing this guy is completely screwed and is likely going to be murdered soon by his brother with all the failures he has had his father won't even speak up on his behalf. I just smile back and walk off to meet with Alan and try and locate this human.
-- Nova pov --
* sneeze *
"You alright Nova? you have been sneezing a lot recently." Athena has a concerned look.
"Yea I am good, must be a cold... if I can even get colds." Shea speaks up snapping us back to the meeting we were just having.
"So nova she will most likely come looking for you for one reason or another anyway, why did you have Alice mention the restaurants?"
"Mainly so when we meet it's on my terms, if she catches me off guard I might have to reveal too much for comfort to escape I would rather meet her in an area I have set up for my protection or with you since you have reach demon emperor and have the beginning of a territory. with me assisting you we could smack her down and force her if necessary but I would rather have a calm meeting with the support of some traps set up just in case. I want to have a good relationship with her and if I force her to convert to a devil she will never let it go." the temperature of the room drops sharply and I can't help but cold sweat. What did I even do this time?
"I am sure you want a very good relationship with the lady devil's snare but you need to think with your big head and get us out on top of this situation." I can't help but begin to counter the choice of words in size to clear any misconceptions, but seeming to sense what I am going to say she just glares with a bit of a blush. "you know what I meant now let's go over the plan again."
we begin to go back over the plan as I also think back to when I spotted the beautiful Isabella and I can't help but feel bad knowing just how shit of a hand she drew. it's different knowing something and being confronted with reality. but I will try my best to help her out and pull her to my side and not get burned by the dangerous woman.