Little Lord Edmund

As the door opened a aloof middle aged man stormed into the shop, dressed in a lavender tunic, embroidered with gold and a sigil for the House Apis emblazoned on the right chest, white linen breeches and white leather boots. His face was stern as he glanced around the shop, his intense glare of his brown eyes noticing the imp sitting in the corner thumbing though a magazine. He hmphed seeing her turning up his nose as she stomped towards the counter.

Reaching the counter the man slammed his fist down on it, calling out, “Shop keep, Shop Keep, you have a very important guest, you need to welcome me, now.”

Fortura was just helping Alexis adjust the garment for a proper fit, when she heard the grating voice beckoning her. “Dear, let’s go out and show Mistress Puellia, and see what she thinks. You look so beautiful, just like a princess you truly are.”

Alexis started to objected but was ushered from the dressing room and back through the curtain to the main shop, blushing as she sees the pompous gentleman standing at the counter. Timidly walking over to Fidelisa, who had looked up from her magazine a broad smile forming, “Oh, you are so beautiful my dear, I knew Miss Fortura would find something truly appropriate for you.”

Fortura meanwhile addressed the man at the counter, “Good morning sir, I am the proprietor of the shop, how may I assist you.”

The man slammed his fist on the counter again, “I was sent by the High Demon Lord Apis, to pick up a gift for his consort, Lady Matar Divino. I am his right hand advisor, the Lord Edmund Bramston, and you wasted my time while you cater to some commoner fat imp and her pet ginger lass. Now get me the order, girl, my time is too valuable to waste in this place.”

Fortura took a deep breath, calming herself, “very well, sir, I have the gift for Mistress Divino ready, please just allow me to retrieve it from the back. And kind sir, it would be appreciated if you would not insult the guests of my shop.” Then spinning around to go back through the curtain to find Apis’s order.

The man let out a hmph again, glancing over at the two, the imp standing and walking around the shy girl who was visibly nervous at the attention. Then calling out, “You girl, the pikey, you are pretty enough, so young, instead of serving that fussock, you should beg me to have my lord take you in. I would even let you be like you people were meant for on your knees serving me.”

At that Alexis tensed glancing over with a hateful glare, “What the fuck did you just say?”

At that Fidelisa placed a firm hand on her shoulder, “Language dear, that is no way for a lady of your standing to talk. Besides this foolish little man, is not worth it, just a entitled lost soul, that found himself condemned to the Abyss for his life and still not learning his lessons.”

At that the man bristled, “Now listen here, Imp, know your place and who you are talking to. I am the grand advisor to the High Demon Lord Apis. He is a trusted advisor to King Belphegor, and if you continue with your disrespect, I will demand he throw you in the mines to learn your place, stupid tubbo. Show me the respect I deserve.”

Alexis blinked looking back over her shoulder as she felt Fidelisa’s hand tighten on her shoulder.

The woman sighed, “First in Gehenna there is no such rank as High Demon Lord, Master Apis is a Demon Lord, and as far as being an advisor to Master Belphegor, yes he has at times. Although Master Belphegor is known to value the input of any of his subjects that have proven capable in their areas. As for you being an advisor, you are a deceased human. Most likely a spoiled noble born into a life of privilege while alive. However you probably wasted your gifts of that life and failed to perform your duties of your position, using it only to cater to your selfish desires. That is usually how a human finds oneself in the Hell of Sloth.”

The man growled, “How dare you, I will tell the lord of your disrespect to him and his man. He will not stand for it and put your fat ass in it’s place at my feet commoner swine.”

Just then Fortura reemerged from behind the curtain carrying a large parcel wrapped in brown paper. “Sir this is what your master ordered, now please go, and ask your master never to allow you to darken my premises again.”

The man flinched, then snatched the package from Fortura’s hands, “very well wench, after all I thought this was a high class shop and not something catering to peasants.” Storming towards the door.

Fortura turned to her other guests, “I am so sorry princess and mistress for the rudeness you experienced.”

Hearing that the man paused as he opened the door, turning back, “Who are you calling a princess, like any member of the royal family would be an imp or involved with one of those kinds.” Then exiting and slamming the door shut behind him.

Feeling Alexis pulling away to go after the man and teach him to disrespect them. Fidelisa wrapped her arms around her, “no dear, don’t make a scene, he is not worth it. That man is just a lost soul, who will soon find his place in this world, and I guarantee he will not be so kind and I doubt his braggert ego will survive it.”

Fortura smiled, taking another deep breath, “Now enough of the dis pleasantness, what do you think of the dress, does the green not just bring out her natural beauty.”

Fidelisa, nodded releasing the hugging and spinning Alexis around, “yes, it is perfect, and makes dear Alexis resemble and angel.”

The spider demon smiled, offering a triple clap with her hands, “I knew you would both love it, and then retrieving a bag from the counter, you should wear that home, here is the clothing you were wearing. I have some ideas for other outfits for the young miss, and will send them over as soon as I finish them.”

The imp smiled, “oh, that would be great my dear, Mistress Fortura.”

“One more thing though, we must find some apprioate shoes for the young miss. My dear have you much experience with heels, they would really accent your legs.”

Alexis gasped, “Heels?”

“Don’t worry dear, we won’t go too high yet, we will let you get used to some before we put you in the spikes Mistress Hekate loves.” The imp said as she reached to rub her shoulders.

With that they parted with Fortura, for a day of shopping and lunch in the bazaar of Gehenna.