I dutifully followed Princess Relena as she ascended the steps to the mansion, flanked by Captain Sunni and Corporal Mashoo. The adventurers, to include Shea and Devin, waited below. I noticed some other adventurers approaching them as Guild Master Ryoma Nagare glared daggers in my direction.

The waitstaff and personal guards of the baron were well disciplined but even they were fidgeting and gossiping about the strange coach and “knight” of the princess until their superiors shut them up. It was a flashy move, but I hoped that it would raise Lena’s clout a bit.

“That... is quite the Knight Automata you have there,” the baron said in lieu of a greeting.

“Baron Karza,” Lena cooed. “This is nothing. Thanks to the extremely gifted artificer in my employ, I have come to possess the most advanced and beautiful Automata body on the planet.”

“So Lord Jhaix is officially under the crown now, eh?”

Lena’s expression turned cold. “Jhaix is a little boy playing with toys.”

“Ah. Um, as you say... your highness,” Karza stuttered. “Come, welcome to my humble home.”

Baron Karza bowed deeply for the first time and moved aside to allow the princess to enter through the doors. I really had no clue what the proper social protocols were here so I hung back, following Captain Sunni’s lead. The baron and his son followed after the princess with her escorts, us, following behind them.

The mansion was opulent to say the least. Everything was gilded and tacky; a flagrant expression of wealth. Even things that had no business being gilded were covered in gold, like an entire grandfather clock and the bannisters for the stairs leading to the upper rooms. I scanned the room and noticed a window to the garden. Was that... yeah, he had a statue of himself out there. Taller and more muscular, but clearly intended to be the baron.

As Cyclone, I had to duck to get through the doors, but thankfully, the ceilings were high enough that it wasn’t a problem. In a world where oni or orcs might pop over for a visit, I supposed large accommodations were to be expected. We were led to a plush sitting room where tea and cakes were waiting. Lena took a seat in the middle of a loveseat, forcing the baron and his son to share the other loveseat opposite of her.

The subtle flexes of power and the dance of control became evident as I observed Lena in her element, it was nice to not be the center of attention this time or forced into that dance. Subtlety wasn’t exactly something I was known for. Picking up on it, even more so.

“Tea your highness? Or perhaps a scone?” the baron gestured to the arrangement spread on the low table separating the two loveseats.

Lena glanced down at the offered goodies then back up at the baron.

“No thank you. While I’m certain that Lord Karza has no ill intent, I’m sure you must have heard about the recent attempt on my brother’s life that fell upon me instead. I hope that you will forgive this silly girl’s anxiety at this time.”

“Yes! Yes, of course, your highness,” he said nonchalantly as he waved the servants over to clear away the treats. Byron had started on a crumpet but found it taken away from him.

“Will your highness be staying with us?” the baron said casually.

“Not this time, I fear. We are only here for a short respite before we must resume our journey. As my coach is Automata powered, it is capable of travel without rest. Sadly, his passengers are not so robust.”

“A pity. Perhaps next time then. My Byron would be honored to show you all that our humble fiefdom has to offer.”

Byron, who was guarding his cup of tea like a miser, looked surprised at the suggestion and smiled weakly.

“Yes, a pity,” Lena agreed. “Speaking of Automata power, I couldn’t help but notice the lack in your staff.”

“Yes, well, as you know, I had a few that displayed deficiencies, one ran off somehow and another actually attacked me.”

“How terrible,” Lena said coyly, gently covering her mouth in feigned surprise.

“Quite so. So rather than allow the infection to spread, I had all of them disposed of. The cost was rather considerable, I will have you know. I have sought the aid of Lord Jhaix to furnish me with replacements.”

“Disposed of,” Lena repeated, “such a detached phrase to use for having a portion of your staff murdered.”

Byron dropped his teacup and I looked down at Lena. I had no idea where she was going with this, but it couldn’t be anywhere good. I was supposed to be the reckless one, right? The baron’s expression barely changed. I noticed an eyebrow twitch, but that was about it.

“Murder,” he said slowly, “is a term we reserve for living people. Not tools and animals. Once one becomes property, one no longer has a right to such a claim.”

“You already knew, didn’t you?” Lena said, narrowing her eyes.

“Knew? Knew what?” Byron asked, looking back and forth between the princess and his father as he tried to wipe up his spilled tea.

The baron smiled, though it didn’t reach his eyes. “I assure you, your highness, that I know not of which you speak. I am but a humble land baron following the decree of my emperor. The empire says that these,” he gestured at me, “are but tools. When a tool breaks, do we not throw it away and get a new one? We are at our leisure to cast aside a tool that no longer holds favor at our whims, are we not?”

Lena’s hands gripped the fabric of her skirt in a clench for a moment then relaxed, though none of her distress showed on her face.

“Lord Karza, I would have you lift the restrictions that you’ve placed upon the citizens of Urd. I will not tolerate this treatment of any of the people of our empire.”

“I will, of course, honor the orders of the emperor. You, your highness, are not the emperor. While you may be a princess in name, you have no power beyond some measure of influence you have over an overly doting brother. One, might I add, that has not secured his ascension to the throne while Prince Reginald’s faction grows in strength.”

Ah crap, Lena was seething, I could feel it. Her shoulders were starting to shake, if this kept up she might drop her disguise and be exposed. I converted both of Cylcone’s arms into blade mode and pointed them at the baron. I didn’t have any intention of actually attacking him, but I needed to draw attention away from her. The baron didn’t bat an eyelid, he just turned his gaze up to me briefly then back to Lena.

“My Princess!” Captain Sunni shouted. “You mustn’t!”

Sunni looked helpless, unsure of what to do. The baron’s guards had drawn their swords, but they looked terrified. Likewise, Byron looked like he might wet himself at any moment.

“I apologize, your highness, I’ve spoken out of line,” Karza said in a tone that conveyed zero sincerity.

Lena raised a hand in a gentle gesture in my direction so I converted my blades back and lowered my arms. Everyone other than the princess and the baron visibly relaxed and let out breaths that they’d been holding.

“Your highness,” the baron ventured, “when you grow weary of that model, please name your price.”

The princess stood up and walked to the door of the sitting room before turning back around to address the baron.

“Good day to you Lord Karza, thank you for your hospitality,” she nearly spat.

She then turned and headed for the exit without bothering to look back. Sunni and I dutifully followed after her, though I imagine the dramatic exit might have been ruined by my having to duck through the doorways.

We left the mansion and headed down the front steps to find the guild master waiting for us with a smirk. Shea, Devin, and the two high ranked Adventurers, Strider and Anani, looked to be in a bit of a pinch. They were surrounded by some pretty shifty looking thug types that had swords drawn while Shea had the oni’s arm draped around her shoulders.