Chapter 134: Angry Grapes

Adam lounged across a plush velvet sofa in the opulent receiving chamber, his head resting comfortably in Lilith’s lap. Her long, elegant fingers traced soothing circles on his temples, her psychic touch a gentle hum at the edge of his consciousness, smoothing away the sharpest edges of his frustration and fatigue. He let his eyes drift half-closed, but his mind was alert, his senses extended.

’This room is too quiet,’ he thought, sinking into the feeling of Lilith’s calm. ’We’re being watched from every corner. Probably scrying orbs, hidden peepholes, maybe even sensory mages. They’re analyzing everything. Is our disguise holding? Can they see through the Veil of Kin? Can they sense what we really are?’ A thread of anxiety, cold and sharp, tried to surface, but was gently muted by Lilith’s ministrations. She gave no outward sign, but her fingers pressed slightly firmer against a specific point, a silent acknowledgment and reassurance. ’She feels it too. We just have to play our parts.’

Across the room, Ignis was anything but calm. Her wounds, thanks to her draconic regeneration and Lilith’s earlier aid, were now just faint pink lines. Brimming with restless energy, she paced the perimeter of the lavish chamber, her eyes wide with fascination. She paused by a gilded side table, her fingers hovering over a jewel-encrusted goblet. She leaned in to examine a massive landscape painting, her nose almost touching the canvas, then drifted toward a display case holding delicate porcelain figurines.

"So many shiny things," she murmured, her voice a low, covetous whisper that carried in the hushed room. She turned to Adam and Lilith, her eyes gleaming with genuine, acquisitive fire. "We should loot this place. Seriously. Look at that chandelier! The crystals are real! And that vase! Do you think it’s magically reinforced? Probably not against a good squeeze..."

’Oh, for the love of...’ Adam thought, an incredulous laugh bubbling up despite the tension. ’Is she... is she actually exhibiting classic draconic hoarding instincts? Is that a Blazeheart Drake thing, or is this just Ignis being Ignis with a fiery, greedy twist?’

Lilith, without pausing her calming motions on Adam’s head, spoke, her voice a dry, amused murmur meant only for their little group. "Ignis, while your appraisal of the Duke’s decor is... enthusiastic, now is not the time for acquisitive planning. We are guests, currently under suspicion. Attempting to pocket the silverware would rather undermine our claims of peaceful intent."

Ignis pouted, casting a last, longing look at a heavy silver candelabra. "Fine. But if we have to fight our way out, I’m claiming that. And the rug. It’s fluffy."

Ignis continued to pace, her earlier fascination with the room’s opulence now morphing into righteous indignation. "It’s not fair," she grumbled, kicking lightly at the leg of an ornate chair. "We beat the bad guys! We should be getting a reward, not being treated like criminals!"

Adam let out a low hum from his reclined position. "Life’s rarely fair," he murmured, his eyes still closed. "But you’re right. It’s annoying."

Lilith, her fingers never ceasing their motion on Adam’s temples, tilted her head, a chillingly serene smile gracing her lips. "Hmm. Would you prefer if we simply... removed the source of the unfairness? Permanently? A change in management could be arranged." Her tone was conversational, as if discussing the weather.

A faint, almost imperceptible scuffle—the rustle of fabric, the slight shift of a floorboard—sounded from a concealed alcove across the room. Someone was listening, and Lilith’s words had just sent a shockwave through them.

Adam cracked one eye open, fixing Lilith with a look that was both warning and amusement. "Those aren’t words of peace, Lilith. Those are words of massacre." He sighed dramatically, shifting to sit up slightly. "Whatever. We’re supposed to be guests here, right? Shouldn’t there be some hospitality? Where’s the food? I’m starting to think their manners are as lacking as their security."

Ignis’s stomach chose that moment to let out a loud, dramatic gurgle. "Yes! Exactly! I’m hungry and I’m tired! Where’s the food? This is terrible service!"

Adam raised his voice, projecting it towards the walls where he suspected their listeners were hidden. "Hey! Servant! Don’t just stand there eavesdropping! If we’re guests, act like it! Bring some food! The good stuff!"

For a tense moment, there was only silence. Then, with a soft click, a panel in the wall slid open. A servant in the Duke’s livery, his face pale but impeccably composed, stepped into the room. He bowed deeply, avoiding eye contact with Lilith entirely.

"My apologies for the delay, honored... guests," he said, his voice steady despite the slight tremor in his hands. "Refreshments will be brought immediately. Is there anything specific Your... party... requires?"

Adam leaned back again, waving a dismissive hand. "Just make it hot, make it a lot, and make it quick. And some wine wouldn’t hurt."

The servant bowed again. "At once." He retreated back through the hidden panel, which sealed shut without a sound.

Ignis clapped her hands together softly. "Great! We’re getting food! Hey, what’s wine?" she asked, her curiosity genuine and untainted.

Adam couldn’t help a slight grin. "It’s a drink. A good one. You’ll probably like it."

Lilith gave a slow, deliberate blink, a predator’s version of a stretch. "After we eat, we should rest. None of us have slept. But speaking of which... Elise and Seraphina. They are taking an exceptionally long time."

Ignis, having given up on pacing, flopped down onto a large, embroidered ottoman near the sofa. "Yeah, what are they doing in there?"

Adam’s gaze drifted toward the heavy oak doors that led deeper into the keep. "Probably discussing a lot of things. It’s not really our concern for now." His tone was dismissive, but a flicker of worry crossed his mind. Was Elise being pressured? Was Seraphina’s condition being used against her?

Before he could dwell on it, the main door to the chamber swung open. The same servant entered, followed by two others carrying large, covered trays that smelled wonderfully of roasted meat, fresh bread, and herbs. They moved with efficient silence, setting the feast down on a long table before bowing and retreating.

’That was fast,’ Adam thought, his internal alarms pinging slightly. ’Too eager to please, or too eager to keep us occupied and in one place?’

The lead servant bowed once more. "The Duke’s kitchens have prepared what was requested. I am also to convey a message from Her Highness, Princess Elise." The man’s voice was perfectly neutral. "She bids you goodnight and says you should rest without waiting for her. She and the Lady Seraphina will be... occupied with discussions for some time yet."

With that final, carefully worded message, the servants withdrew, leaving the trio alone with the sumptuous spread.

Adam waved a hand toward the laden table. "Don’t think about the rest for now. Let’s eat."

They gathered around the feast. Ignis needed no further encouragement. She tore into a roasted fowl with such gusto that bones snapped audibly. Her eyes widened as she chewed. "Mmph! This is good! Really good!"

Adam sampled the herb-crusted steak, and a look of genuine surprise crossed his features. He swallowed. "Huh. This is good. Really good. Seems like the chef here cooks with... love."

Lilith, meanwhile, had picked up the bottle of deep red wine. She held it up to the light, studying the liquid within with a critical, almost clinical eye. "Are you certain this is palatable? It looks like congealed blood of a lesser vintage."

Adam shrugged, pouring himself a glass. "I’ve never actually tried it either. But I’ve heard it’s good. Supposed to complement the food."

Intrigued, Lilith expertly uncorked the bottle with a faint psychic tug. She poured a small amount into a crystal glass, swirling it thoughtfully before bringing it to her nose. Her nose wrinkled slightly. "Fruity. Fermented. An interesting process of controlled decay."

"I wanna try! I wanna try!" Ignis said, abandoning her half-demolished bird and reaching for the bottle.

Lilith poured her a generous glass. Ignis, without any ceremony, took a huge gulp. She froze, her eyes bulging. For a second, Adam thought she might spit it out.

Then, she swallowed with a loud gulp. A strange, complicated expression flitted across her face—surprise, confusion, then a dawning appreciation. "It’s... warm. And it tastes like... angry grapes? But in a good way! It makes my chest feel fuzzy!" She took another, more cautious sip, her head tilting as she analyzed the new sensation.

Adam chuckled, shaking his head as he watched Ignis examine her wine glass with newfound reverence. "Angry grapes? What does that even mean?"

Ignis took another thoughtful sip, swishing the dark liquid in her mouth before swallowing. "You know... it’s sweet, but then it bites you in the back of the throat. Like a grape that fought back and lost. It’s good!"

Lilith, having finally taken a small, precise sip of her own wine, placed the glass down with a soft click. A faint, approving hum escaped her. "The complexity is... not unpleasant. There are layers to the fermentation. Notes of oak, dark berry, and yes, a certain... pleasant aggression. An adequate vintage."

Adam leaned back in his chair, stretching his arms. He looked at the spread before them—the fine food, the good wine, the comfortable, if watchful, surroundings. A wry smile touched his lips. "Well," he said, raising his own glass in a mock toast. "If we’re going to be prisoners, at least the catering is excellent. Can’t say we’ve had a meal this good since... well, ever."