As Jonah and Lilly arrived home, they greeted Orcette who was occupying the lounge and had seemingly not moved since they left, but the moment they walked through the door and Jonah headed to the kitchen with the bread they had purchased.
Lilly remained where she stood after closing the door and turning to face Orcette, at which point they both looked at one another in awkward silence until Lilly finally broke it.
"Orcette, did you still want to speak to me?" Lilly asked the question before prodding her bottom lip, making sure it wasn't actually twitching with discomfort as she thought it was.
"Yeah, do you mind if we talk in the bath? I want to speak to you as you and not as anything else..." Orcette didn't really know what she was saying, or even what she planned on asking, just that she wanted a straight answer to whatever she did ask.
What she didn't know, is that vampires didn't perceive people or others the same way that other races do. To Lilly's eyes, she could see Orcette's racing heart, the slight contraction of her pupils and even her body temperature changing.
On top of what she could see, she could also smell Orcette's fear, nervousness and anxiety. Those points in turn all worked in unison to make the vampire begin to experience them herself and begin fidgeting again.
Whilst she wasn't entirely comfortable with the concept, she was as eager to try and distract herself from what she was feeling as she was unsettled with the situation and ended up agreeing.
"Jonah! We're going to hit the bath!"
"Sure, but take clothes to change into for the party in case guests arrive, I'll send Kayla to grab you if they do."
Orcette offered Lilly her hand unnecessarily and led the way and before they knew it, they were in the same situation, but now both naked and completely vulnerable.
"I'm so sorry..." Orcette started, before letting herself sink, and breath escape to make the water around her mouth bubble. "...This was a terrible idea."
"Please, I'm not used to situations like this, but it seems you aren't either and that kind of makes it easier I think."
"Okay. I'll just ask. Do you... like Jonah? Remember, I'm not asking as your employer, just a woman."
"Oh, so that's what you were wondering..." Lilly let out a sigh of relief that confused Orcette more than anything. "...I thought you were uncomfortable with me being a vampire. As for your question, I do like him, but don't think you need to worry."
"Don't misunderstand me, I don't even know how I feel about him and I have no right to get in your way, but I just wanted to know how you felt and why. I figured it might help me figure out my own feelings."
"Well, let me explain. We vampires, particularly those like me, aren't so readily accepted. Jonah however, he treated me as an equal and unlike everyone else, his body revealed no lie when he said he didn't care about my race. It was the first time being completely accepted from the beginning."
"I see, I guess that's the same as me thanks to my memories of the other world."
"The difference is that he said something that makes me think he will never feel the same way, but I think I will indulge in these feelings a little longer and switch them off if they become painful."
"Switch them off?"
"Vampire lifespan makes eternal suffering a very real possibility, as a balancer, we can sacrifice a few years going into a hibernation that resets our emotions, tastes and even our morals. It's obviously risky, but I trust you all to be good examples or end me if I become a problem."
The detachment Lilly spoke with left Orcette cold, a painful reflection of how she used to view death in light of her illness, but there was a warmth that she had lacked in the way that Lilly herself had plainly declared she didn't consider her race a curse.
The water splashed and Lilly yelped as Orcette wrapped her arms around her. "You must have been lonely, I'm sorry Lilly, but don't resort to that. Not before you've leaned on us for support first and I promise that if I decide that I don't have those feelings for him, I'll do what I can to help you."
Then they heard Kayla's voice, explaining that Jonah heard them yelp and asked her to check on them.
"We're fine, just slipped!"
"I think I saw something similar happen in a movie once, remember there are children in the house..." Kayla once again ran off, chased by the pursuing flustered curses.
As Orcette glared at the door, growling after Kayla, she was oblivious to the fact she was still pressed against Lilly and how the unfamiliar intimacy was making the vampire's head spin.
"Lady Orcette, maybe we should vacate the bath so we can prepare for the party, I fear bathing with others is a taste I have yet to acquire." Lilly's words successfully opened Orcette's eyes to the situation, which after it sank in made her slip for real and fall into the water, splashing as she flailed beneath the surface until Lilly pulled her out and sat her down.
As she settled herself, the two of them started laughing and then Orcette agreed they should start getting ready. Though it was a much quicker process for Lilly, who simply dried her hands on a towel and then picked up her clothes.
"Aren't you gonna dry off properly?" Orcette barely had time to finish the question before Lilly and the clothes she was holding shifted into a state like black mist and when she shifted back, she was completely dry and dressed.
"We vampires don't need to try ourselves. As a life-aligned element, water doesn't cling to us when we change, if we have taken an innocent life it actually repels us. Would you like help with your hair? As I am clothed and a maid once more, tending you is my duty."
Orcette laughed and apologised for confusing the situation. "...Sorry, I didn't mean that I don't want us to be friends outside the bath, I'm just awkward and wanted to make sure we were on the same page."
"Oh, okay, I'm sorry but I struggle with awkward interaction myself. Please bear with me as I adjust, I'm afraid that I've grown rather dependent on the expectations of my role in daily interaction."
As the two of them reached their understanding, they proceeded to prepare themselves and headed up to help with party preparations.
The first to arrive was Dubio, who absconded with Jonah to view his alchemy lab, the sight of which had him looking like a child in an amusement park. Obviously Jonah couldn't be found derelict in his duties, so he asked Dubio to pick the best book in his collection to start with.
Then they headed back down. "...I'll stop by tomorrow if you would like and give you a beginner's lesson, though I'm no instructor myself, it may be worth you going to an alchemy academy in another kingdom at some point to supplement your learning."
The others were amused by the attempted kidnapping of Jonah, Lilly and Orcette looking at each other and each wondering if the other was really the one most likely to win him when they saw how much he was struggling to resist.
"If you did decide to do that, Master. I would be more than happy to accompany you as your attendant. Many students in such places have an attendant or retainer accompany them." Orcette could only think how impressive she found Lilly's ability to push no matter how shy she is or how little faith she has in success.
Jonah just reminded her that he didn't need or want the title, then said that they would cross that bridge when they came to it as a knock at the door signalled the next to arrive, which turned out to be Gregor, Clara and Sofia.
This led to a quick separation, where the girls were busy gushing over Carla being dressed like a girl and not an apprentice smith and how she even came to choose that path.
The boys had absconded to the lounge and Jonah was making a proposition similar to the one he had made Sofia. The one he made to them however was a joint venture in regards to the design and function of a toilet more like the ones they were used to.
The design he was proposing was a metal construct, that rather than flushed, used alchemy to purify waste with a profit split that would work to earn them wealth and renown in equally great amounts.
"...So you want to give us forty percent each, ten percent for your household and ten percent to be donated to national undertaking on the matter of sanitisation? Why so little for yourself?" As any good businessmen, they were a little suspicious of a deal that seemed too good to be true.
"...Necessity. I need to make myself a national asset out of the spotlight, that way kingdoms like Avalon will be less inclined to believe this kingdom would tolerate any moves against me at levels privy to the knowledge of my presence here. I also want to make this land as comfortable as possible for my charges without crossing the line into complacency."
The explanation was sound and reasonable enough that they couldn't see any flaws in his decisions, not that they were particularly keen to start trying to dissect the situation, so instead they suggested speaking to the duke since they'd heard of the connection thanks to Calum.
As they did, the next and last group arrived, consisting of Aiden, Lucas, Lottie and Kieran.
"Welcome everyone, wasn't expecting you and Lucas until later, Guild Master. I thought you two would need to get your workloads cleared before you came."
"Hey! We're busy too, you know." Kieran chuckled as he blurted out his response.
"Yeah, but your men were talking about how you were so distracted your second-in-command just told you to patrol as you saw fit. Lottie I figured would be sent ahead to explain they would be along shortly." Jonah laughed as he made way for them to enter.
"Well, normally you'd be right. I'm almost certain that hyperactive duke will be along shortly however and arriving after him would be a social faux pas. I don't blame you for trying to avoid the nuisance of human etiquette..."
Lilly came out shortly after and shooed Jonah aside so that she could actually do her job and the others all laughed even more at the sight of an angel being put in his place by a vampire as he sulked about it.
"Interesting guest list I must say. Gregor, nice to see your head out the forge for once. Dubio, your last shipment of health potions saved a lot of lives, thank you."
"Oh, sit your arse down, Aiden. You know our host isn't one for formalities. Enjoy yourself for once, neither of us get out as much as we used to."
It was then that they heard the story of how Aiden and Gregor were in the same party in their younger days, but then Lottie was kidnapped in short order by Lilly and taken into the kitchen.
"Aiden, Kieran, I have a proposal for you as well. I want to provide some blessed shields for emergency situations as well." Jonah mused aloud, making both of them panic a little bit and after a comment about not having that chat sober, Lilly descended to the cellar and returned with a few bottles of wine and enough glasses for everyone floating behind her.
"...Now you have no reason to not hear Jonah's request..."
As the women watched from the kitchen, Lottie and Sofia both turned to Orcette. "If you decide to pursue him, that is one beast of a rival you're up against..."
"...I know, I can't help but wonder what Jonah said to her, to make her think she stood no chance." Orcette mused as she sat back, both incredibly relieved and painfully curious.
"Still though, I get the sense he really doesn't pay things like that any notice. I would have said differently the way he stared at her before, but it seems he was just measuring her after all." Sofia sighed, a little disappointed that she had the wrong idea after declaring she was backing Lilly.
When Lilly returned, she served them each a glass, including Kayla and herself.
"What? I get one too?" Kayla asked with absolute astonishment.
"Of course. I will keep tabs on your intoxication, but you need to start building a tolerance and sense of what it feels like. I have no doubt you will attend public affairs where you will be expected to drink." Lilly explained, guessing that her surprise was something to do with what they had told her earlier.
"At the same time, if you don't like it, just have a single mouthful at serving and another with the toast. That's my trick, since I'm a lightweight." Sofia winked, explaining she had been in the same situation since her parents often made clothes for nobility and were invited along as thanks.
Not long after that, Jonah grinned as he felt a surge of energetic delight and excitement, paired with an aura of exasperation that was practically labelled as Roderick and Calum.
Jonah greeted them with an open door and Lilly held a glass of wine for each of them.
When greetings, introductions and pleasantries were out of the way, Jonah called everyone into the front room and thanked everyone for coming. He then apologised as he explained they needed to deal with a less savoury matter and some business before the party could actually begin.
As a bit of tension washed over everyone at the mention of an unsavoury matter, Sofia couldn't help being intrigued by the nervous fidgeting of Lilly and then everyone sat grimacing as Jonah, Orcette and even Kayla gave Roderick a public dressing down on Lilly's behalf.
"...I warned you, Roderick. I told you to have a proper conversation with the girl." Calum admonished him as well to try and make their actions seem more levelled, but the truth was that Roderick didn't care about his position or etiquette at that moment and he raised a hand.
"You are all absolutely right and I can only apologise to Lilly. My thoughtless dismissal and handling of the matter was terribly lacking. I charged you to walk into an angel's home and inform me if anything that might aggravate political events... My apology is insufficient."
"Err, actually..." Lilly began twiddling her thumbs even more. "...I consider my new employer more than adequate compensation for the initial discomfort. Err, I'm going to bring out some snacks for everyone to enjoy while you talk business."
Roderick immediately looked back at Jonah, you blinked back at him in complete ignorance. "What the hell did you do to the girl? I've never seen her so animated or talkative."
Jonah just shrugged and said he had neither any idea what he might have done, but wanted to get the business out of the way, so Jonah dived into it all immediately. "...So yeah, three projects that you can send word of to Avalon indirectly and take the horse by the reins so to speak."
"I see, they are all fine proposals and if I perform a vetting process on the three of them here and Aiden and Kieran handle the other directly..." "Roderick turned to Aiden, who was technically the second highest in terms of social standing.
"...Then I can send word to other guild-masters as well. It's true, an angel won't stay under the radar for more than a month if we spend all our good luck for the year. This way Jonah sends a silent message to stay out of his affairs and that we're doing all we can to make him comfortable and respect his wishes."
When all was said and done, the projects were okayed under the condition all involved submitted themselves to and cooperated fully with a vetting process and agreed to pay for the highest level of contracting there was.
Dubio explained it would mean organising a meeting on note of each agreement, to be observed and witnessed by representatives of the kingdom, the merchant's guild and the Avalonic temple. It wasn't a process commonly used on anything less than international agreements, but it afforded those involved the highest level of contractual protection.
Jonah just laughed and said it was becoming an imposition on the party so he'd agree to whatever so they could get to it.
Everyone laughed and then the housewarming began in earnest and proved a thoroughly enjoyable affair for all of them, running until late into the night. Only when Clara and Kayla were asleep on the lounge chair and each other, did Roderick suppose that it was time to call it a night.
The words were as good as caffeine to Kayla though who demanded everyone freeze while she got the house tapestry design.
"This is it!"
"It's a grand design!" Roderick roared without regard for the neighbours and made Jonah ask Lilly to prepare some apology gifts in the morning.
"I like it too, showing the three of you as equals under the same banner sends a message..." Gregor started before looking at Jonah. "...Those knives just doubled in price though."
Everyone loved the design, especially Lottie who noticed the colour scheme and got more than a little smug as she threw a look at Calum who had complained when she picked the rug.
Calum however ignored the look, standing his ground on his opinion of it as common decor and praising Kayla before taking the design to be reproduced and distributed to everyone who would need reference.
"It truly is masterful design, I can only imagine how grand the maps you'll one day make will be, now you should all get some rest. You don't all have Jonah's immortal distaste for slumber."
Everyone else happened to agree with him and followed him out the door, then Orcette quickly headed for bed and so did Kayla.
"Jonah, I would rather take care of the cleaning by myself if you don't mind. You can start your studies in advance of Dubio's return tomorrow and I'll come and see if you require assistance or a change of topic."
Jonah felt like an energetic child being sent to his room so his parents could tidy up, but her point was sound and he didn't want her to feel unneeded either. So he went up to begin reading.
As he entered his room, he fed mana into the lantern and collected the book Dubio placed on the chairside table as he took his seat, but then everything froze...
The warm orange glow of the lantern turned a cold blue, the black at the far end of the room turning a purplish hue that carried an ominous feel and the room temperature dropped with the sudden stagnation.
As Jonah watched the mist of his breath dissipate, a green glow shone through before shifting to yellow on one side and blue on the other as a man in a butler's uniform appeared by the glass door to the now covered balcony.
"How do you like this world so far, Jonah?"
"How bored are you, to come so quickly, Greeter?" The reply made Greeter laugh as he moved toward the door and opened it.
"Not bored in the least, I've barely been able to take my eyes off you so far..." He opened the door and found himself face to face with Lilly bearing her fangs and nails grown into claws. "...I have been told to stop in fact, lest I oppose the plan and show favouritism, but I thought I owed you an apology for this one."
"Yeah, I was wondering about that, are the natives of this world made from foreigners' memories?"
"Not at all, pure coincidence I assure you. I also came to offer you the chance to know your killer, since they logged on, that would be my apology."
"No, I'll pass. I have no complaints anywhere, but if I find them by chance I'll see how I feel. To answer your question though, I love this world. Thanks, I'll be doing my best to rectify the one mistake you guys made though..."
Greeter burst into laughter, already fully aware of what he was referring to thanks to his observation. "...The toilet situation? I agree, maybe we prioritised realism a bit much in that regard. Anyway, I'll be off now, take care Jonah."
As Jonah gestured back, Greeter shut the door on Lilly again and everything slowly returned to normal with Lilly bursting through the door snarling as Jonah stood and patted her on the head.
"Thank you for worrying, but I'm fine, we'll talk about it altogether in the morning."
Lilly completely forgot her anger as she became intoxicated beneath the sensation of Jonah caressing her head, before it was replaced by embarrassment and she almost had a meltdown and bowed before leaving in a hurry.