Petyr entered the room and took one sniff before finding something dissatisfactory. She beelined it for the window, throwing the latch open to let in a wave of fresh air. Kanae squinted at the elf and sniffed herself.

"Don't take it personally. I just wanted to rid the succubus stench from the room," Petyr said.

"It's kind of hard not to take it personally!" Kanae groaned.

However, despite being rude, Petyr still kindly poured Lemaren wine into both glasses and offered one to Kanae. She cautiously took it but didn't drink yet. The high elf swirled the liquid for a few seconds before lifting it up to her nose to breathe deeply.

Kanae did the same. Notes of fresh grapes filled her nostrils. It was as if she had been teleported into a vineyard. Shutting her eyes did just that, and from the smell alone, she pictured a vast field of grape plants surrounding her. Their branches were filled to the brim with clusters of grapes. She could almost just taste it on her lips—

Which was exactly what happened. Kanae snapped back to reality and found her lips on the glass. Smooth wine spread across her palate and tongue as if she bit down on a handful of grapes. The subtle notes vanished quickly, and she felt compelled to drink more for the tantalizing taste again.

"Now you see, artistry in winemaking that House Lemaren has perfected. Only a family of high elves could have achieved this level of mastery. Once you've tasted it, nothing else can compare." Petyr's compliments were as much praise as they were insults.

"Okay, I'll hand it to you that this is pretty good. But the Lemarens deserve more credit than just chalking it up to 'high elves' or 'Ortesians'." Kanae rolled her eyes, only to realize her glass was empty.

"I suppose they do." She flashed a small, triumphant smirk and refilled both their glasses, but a frown replaced her smile. "House Lemaren had a close call once. They were almost wiped from Ortesian history like House Ehmvier was. A few years ago, Emperor Eugene hosted a ball for the Lord Council. Of course, only the finest drinks may grace the lips of the empire's chosen. That task fell to the Lemaren family. The wine served on the night of the ball sent many lords and Empress Danielle retching their guts out. I didn't drink since I was on watch duty. But by the Supreme One's omniscient eye did I etch the scene into my mind." The high elf took a leisurely sip, and her lips curved into a wicked and nostalgic grin. "Haughty lords and ladies vomited onto their best tunics and gowns. Priests were summoned from the palace cathedral to cast Detoxify on everyone. In a fury, the emperor sent me to drag the head of House Lemaren to them, believing it was an assassination attempt. It wasn't. An investigation showed that one of their distillers hadn't been properly washed and grew mold. They made a negligent mistake, but there was no malicious attempt at anyone's life. The workers were imprisoned and replaced. House Lemaren got off with a light slap on the wrist, all things considered."

"So… what? We were a hair away from not being able to enjoy this wine?"

Petyr turned to Kanae in shock. Maybe she didn't expect that answer. The high elf bursted into laughter, shielding her mouth with one hand and clutching her stomach with the other.

"That much is true, yes." Petyr pursed her lips, and it was as if the joy from a moment ago never happened. "Some aren't so lucky, like one of my family's vassals, House Dryoak."

"You have a vassal house named Dryoak?" Kanae gasped.

"Had. Whether or not they are related to the Dryoak Consortium is what I'm trying to figure out. The heraldry of House Dryoak is a stout olive tree. The emblem on the consortium thugs were… similar, but their tree is without leaves. I can only hope it is just a coincidence," she said with a quivering lower lip.

Kanae figured it was uncharacteristic of Petyr to speak so anxiously. This high elf who cared for no one else but herself showed cracks on her stoney, rigid exterior. Whatever happened to that family seemed to have hurt her deeply.

"Who were they? House Dryoak, I mean?" Kanae asked.

"A small, insignificant house. They owned a just as small orchard of olive trees. Their daughter, Riley, was the same age as me. We played together often. Well, as often as we could until I was taken to the capital to begin knighthood training. Every now and then, I returned home to catch up with her. We went for hours talking about rising to the Lord Council, having servants do our bidding, and not worrying about lifting a finger ever again." The next words lodged in Petyr's throat, and she choked up for a split second before recomposing herself, as if desperate to expel a momentary weakness inside her.

"If this is hard for you, you don't have to tell me," she said sympathetically.

Petyr shot a glare. "Shut up. Your sympathies are not needed." She cleared her throat before continuing. "I was fifteen when I came back home for another visit. The guards tried to stop me from going, but I stole a horse from the stables and rode straight to Riley's modest manor. It wasn't there when I arrived. Their orchard, the trees we used to climb together on, had been set ablaze. Their branches, barren of leaves and olives. I thought a wildfire tore through. My father told me House Dryoak plotted with other houses in an attempt to overthrow House Stormcloud. That they wanted to kidnap me the next time I returned home to use against him. To this day, I still don't believe it. Riley's parents were so kind."

If Petyr's vassal house survived, then the assumption would be that they sailed to Savir after their exile. The survivors somehow made a name for themselves and founded the Dryoak Consortium? It sounded a little too far-fetched. For all Kanae knew, this was wistful thinking on Petyr's part.

But Kanae had seen the extent of rage and fury a surviving member of an Ortesian house could achieve. Lord Charron channeled that anger into becoming the Demon Lord of Artaggon, who plotted to pay the empire back for their destruction of his home and family.

What if House Dryoak did intend harm on House Stormcloud? Petyr didn't think so, but if it were true, then her house had a right to defend themself.

"You ended up fighting the consortium thugs, right?" Kanae recalled. "Did you find out anything from them?"

"No." Petyr shook her head. "I beat a few of them to within an inch of their lives, and they still kept their mouths shut. It was almost commendable, if not infuriatingly aggravating. Some possessed enchanted items to fend me off, and they used smoke bombs to escape."

Kanae's glass had gone empty. The wine was just too good. She half-expected Petyr to pour her another. Her eyes flicked to the bottle, but… it was empty?! The elf was swaying side to side, on the verge of teetering off the seat, and occasionally hiccupping.

"Huh? Kanae, I think we drank it all…" Petyr clicked her tongue and tossed the bottle across the room, where it shattered into pieces.

"No, you drank it all! I only had two glasses! Oh, god. You're drunk. I've literally traded one alcoholic high elf for another… Alright, let's get you back to your room." Kanae sighed.

Petyr was being surprisingly cooperative. Kanae got one around her shoulder, but the high elf being as tall as Estaline made moving in tandem difficult. The warhammer she brought in tipped over, cracking one of the floorboards on impact. That was going to cost them.

Even without all her armor, Petyr was heavy. The paladin was built from top to bottom in lean muscle despite her princess appearance.

Kanae tripped over her own foot, and they tumbled into bed with Petyr on top. The elf's eyes were screwed shut. She snored like grunting pigs. It didn't look like she was waking up anytime soon.

"I am so dead tomorrow when she wakes up and sees us like this…" Kanae resigned herself to fate.

"I need to know…" Petyr muttered half-consciously. "What happened to Riley… she was… my best…"

The next word never came, but Kanae had a feeling what it was. Petyr's entire body was tense. Not because of her muscles though. Stress, most likely. All her life, trained to be a knight in an unforgiving and ruthless empire. They expected everything from her and gave nothing in return.

Well, if Kanae was going to be killed tomorrow, then it didn't matter what she did. She hugged Petyr and gently stroked her back. Little by little, the elf began to relax. The knots in her shoulders loosened. 

"And as a little payback…" Kanae casted Turn Horny, causing Petyr's face to blush slightly and her hot breathing to quicken.

When morning arrived, the window and drapes Petyr had left open beamed sunlight straight into Kanae's eyes. She winced and turned her head away from the rays. Petyr was still on top of her, fast asleep and snoozing. The door creaked open, and in strolled Claudia as carefree as can be— until she saw them.

"Why, hello!" Claudia was about to dive in to join them.

Kanae shook her head as frantically as possible.

Luckily, an angel came just in time. Alicia grabbed Claudia from behind, pressing a cloth to her sister's mouth and nose. She fell limp, and the rogue succubus offered an acknowledging nod before dragging her out.

As soon as the door shut, Kanae breathed a sigh of relief. Then Petyr's eyes slowly opened, and their gazes met.

"I-I can explain," Kanae began nervously, "you got drunk, and we tripped! I swear nothing happened. I didn't touch you inappropriately or…"

Petyr sat up and surveyed the room. She saw the broken bottle, the empty glasses, and picked up her warhammer. Kanae expected death to come swiftly, but the high elf made her way to the door and paused with a hand on the knob.

"Thanks. For listening to me last night. I only ever told Vesh. Don't worry. You won't see me show weakness again after today," Petyr said.

"We'll look for Riley. If the Dryoak Consortium is related to your vassal House Dryoak, then I'll help you find out," Kanae promised her.

"I'll hold my breath." The tip of her ears turned crimson. "And it goes without saying, you better not tell anyone we spent the night together! Moreover… on the same bed! I'll kill you so hard, you won't have a next life!"

Petyr stormed out, presumably to her own room. Kanae breathed a sigh of relief for having survived. A second later, the door opened wide and promptly closed shut. Alicia, holding an unconscious Claudia, dropped her Magical Stealth. A teasing smile adorned her face.

"Well, well. The high elf is weak to succubi after all. Perhaps Claudia and I should have a go," Alicia suggested.

"We didn't bang, if that's what you're thinking. And don't bring this up to anyone! You're going to get us killed," Kanae groaned.

Edina was the last to wake up, and when she did, they went downstairs to grab breakfast on the tavern floor. Alicia and Claudia were making it excruciatingly awkward casting glances between them. 

"I got a sinking feeling something funky happened. Why is everyone all quiet for?" Edina asked while stuffing her mouth with bread.

"Why don't you ask Kanae?" Claudia licked her lips.

"Nothing funky happened! Can we focus? Jhene and Elaine stole a bunch of keys that can open chambers in the Under Roads. We need to track them down before they get whatever it is the cult kept hidden down there," Kanae explained.

"Perhaps there is a better way," Alicia interjected, brows knitted tightly together while in thought. "Searching for them would be too difficult. We should instead focus our efforts into identifying which mining settlements uncovered Under Road ruins."

That way, they would run into Kanae and her party instead. Archmage Donnu pleaded for them to keep those keys out of cult succubi hands. Unfortunately, paying a visit to the Emerald Palace wasn't possible any more. Not with Sultana Dudula being a paranoid madwoman.

Kanae was going to have to get Seif and Panner in on this. Information on Under Roads discoveries must be flowing back to them somehow. They could connect her with Donnu, and ultimately gain access to Ordane University's treasure trove of knowledge. For now, Kanae had to get an old friend back into the party. With Dervish Five gone, Renya should mostly be safe now. Hopefully… There were two more Dervish unaccounted for, and she didn't want to drag Renya out of hiding only to get her captured.