Business at the banquet

As you entered the grand dining hall, the heavy wooden door creaked shut behind you, sealing you into a world of opulence and intrigue. The room was bathed in the soft glow of flickering candles, their light casting long shadows across the ornate tapestries that adorned the walls. At the far end of the hall, the Princess sat regally at a table set for two, her expression cold and calculating.

You approached her silently, your footsteps muffled by the thick carpet beneath your feet. Your attire, a black veil that concealed your features, clung to your body like a second skin, leaving only your eyes visible. The fabric was thin and sheer, allowing the warm air to caress your scales, sending shivers down your spine.

The other servants, also veiled, moved about the room with practiced ease, setting plates and pouring wine with a precision that spoke of countless rehearsals. The noble guest, a portly man with a florid face and beady eyes, watched your every move with a mixture of curiosity and disdain.

"Ah, Princess, what an intriguing choice of attire," he remarked, his voice tinged with mockery. "Are we to dine in darkness tonight?"

The Princess smiled thinly, her gaze never leaving his face. "You know me, Lord Vargus. I always try the newest styles and games in my court."

Lord Vargus chuckled, a dry, humorless sound. "Indeed, your reputation proceeds you. But even then I thought your tastes would be more... conventional."

The Princess smirked, her eyes glinting with amusement. "Perhaps not. But then, where would the fun be in that?"

At her signal, you stepped forward, your hands trembling slightly as you reached for the bottle of wine. You poured a generous amount into Lord Vargus's goblet, your fingers brushing against the cool glass. To your relief, he hardly glanced at you.

"Delicious," he murmured, his gaze still fixed on you. "But I must say, I find this all rather... unsettling. The offer you have presented me regarding the payments is... untenable. My burghers would hardly agree to such a rate."

The Princess seemed unfazed. "I know you have the means to secure it, nonetheless. I was hoping we could come to an agreement tonight."

"And what agreement would that be?" The noble said, voice laced with defiance. "You have no leverage over me."

The Princess laughed, a low, wicked sound that echoed off the stone walls. "On the contrary, Lord Vargus, I know more than even you about your own tastes. Your nights at the brothels would leave most horrified. The scars you have hidden from the world are impossible to hide from those you pay to inflict them upon you."

His face paled at the revelation, and he choked on his wine. Overcoming his shock to manage a reply, he finally said: "It is no matter. Ruin my reputation if you must. Nobody will believe these rumors."

"No," the Princess said swiftly, as if expecting that reply, "but they will believe them when you emerge from my girls with a mutilated face."

With a flick of her wrist, she commanded you to reveal yourself. Your heart pounded in your chest as you lifted the veil, exposing your scaled face to the dim light. Lord Vargus recoiled in shock, his goblet clattering against the table.

"What the hell is...?" he gasped, his face pale with fear.

The Princess leaned back, her smile widening. "Why, that is my newest acquisition, Lord Vargus. A dragoness, if you will. And she is equally skilled in the art of pleasure and pain." She gestured to you, and you held up your claws to the light.

Lord Vargus swallowed hard, his eyes darting between you and the Princess. "I... I see. And what do you propose, exactly?"

The Princess's smile turned predatory. "Simple. Accept my offer, and you shall have a night that you will never forget, with a creature that no man could dream of bedding. Refuse, and... well, let's just say that her claws will reveal your secrets."

Lord Vargus blanched, his hands shaking as he reached for his goblet. "And if I choose neither?"

The Princess shrugged, her indifference chilling. "Then we shall have to find another way to settle our differences, won't we?"

The room fell silent, the only sound the crackling of the fireplace. Lord Vargus stared at you, his eyes filled with a mix of terror and fascination. You stood still, your body tense, waiting for his decision.

After what seemed like an eternity, he sighed, his shoulders slumping in resignation. "I'd be ruined if I accepted..."

"I disagree. But if you are still so divided, perhaps we will let the dragon decide."

Both pairs of eyes turned to you.