Date With A Dragoness: Part Six - The Rose Palace

After a half hour of little squeezes and quiet discussion, the ride felt as if it was dragging on. Impatient, I leaned away from where my head had been resting, only to come back with a small amount of **** at Ari, my shoulder lightly tapping her arm. She swayed with the motion, immediately locking onto me.

“The princess is restless, hm?” She asked, the mocking tone back from earlier.

Groaning at her, I had to ask, “How much longer is this going to take…?”

Ari let go of my side, reaching toward the door’s curtain instead. “Well, considering the lights outside…” She said, starting to lift the curtain, a red glow coming through from outside. “… barely any time at all my dear.”

My eyes widened as I realised it, immediately standing up on the seat to see the sights we were passing. Rivers beside the road were inset in stone and lined with red fires in rose shaped braziers, an occasional bridge highlighting the path toward what was no doubt an expensive inn, or as they were better known here…

“The Vampire Hotels.” Ari explained, continuing, “It’s been awhile since I’ve stayed in one, the need for company just hasn’t been nearly as great lately. They’re designed with your choice of sin in mind, so I’d warn you not to stray into one, though I doubt there’s much your highness wouldn’t enjoy.”

The implication in Ari’s words made me blush slightly, though they had me more curious than anything. What went on in a hotel named after a creature of sin? The better question would have been what didn’t go on in there, the tastes and desires of the city apparently have carved out ample space for their desires.

Ari sat back down, letting the curtain drop, and giving me a hand back to the seat, though I was still stunned by the sight. If these were what we were passing…

“The Rose Palace must really be a sight, I mean, those places look fit for kings!” I exclaimed.

“Nonsense dear, those are the cheapest houses, The Rose Palace though, yes, I would say it’s amicable for royalty at the highest levels.” Ari stated, serious despite the insanity of what she just said.

Wondering whether it would have been better if Ari had said no, I echoed the implication, “And we… are going to the top?”

Ari smiled, waiting a moment while the carriage rolled to a stop.

“Indeed dear! In fact, we have almost arrived.”

A couple of knocks came from the driver, ones which Ari reached to mimic before sitting back down. She smoothed out her shimmering black dress and held the closest hand out to me, “And so our date officially starts.”

Placing my hand on hers, I nervously took a breath, as the door suddenly opened.

A myriad of colours graced our vision, despite the dark of night, torches of varying colours held by respective groups of races, each in different outfits to match. The staff of the Rose Palace had lined up like a military escort, and at the head of them was a woman in black, her features beautiful, but ambiguous, a type of person I had never seen before. She held no torch either, giving the feeling of a commanding person, an authority here. She held a mostly neutral expression, though I could tell she recognised Ari at least, her eyes taking in my date.

Ari excitedly squeezed my hand as the woman in black stepped forward, the ensemble behind her bowing deeply, their timing perfect together.

Speaking up, the woman in black bowed her head, “Miss Aristinia Aster! If it isn’t The Dragoness herself! The Rose Palace is immensely grateful to have you within its walls yet again! The last visit was to the delight of many an imperial member.” She said, a smirk on her face as she rose back up.

Ari chose then to rise from her seat, climbing out of the carriage and holding out her hands for me, responding, “Indeed, I have fond memories of that week, such a time deserves a repeat, though not for some while I’m afraid. Instead, I have chosen to bring a date. This adorable kobold is Miss Ituku Okami! She has not visited the palace before.”

I nodded as I stepped from the carriage, utilizing the steps I had skipped thanks to Eekaa, “Very nice to meet you!”

“And you as well! I am known as The Empress of The Rose Palace!” She said, flourishing slightly before continuing. “That said, a friend of miss Aster may feel free to call me by any name, my favourites being mistress, madam or queen. Alternatively, you may try my preferred name, Tia, short for Tianchu Rosen, should you need me for anything.”

I half curtsied at her, lifting my dress slightly, only to be reminded by a cool breeze that I was hiding almost nothing under it. Ari’s hand appeared in my vision soon after.

“Oh, and such a cute curtsy! Ari you have chosen a good one.” She commented, twirling to face the palace, “Come this way girls, I’ll personally take you to your rooms.”

As I took my date’s hand once again, Tia guided us to the side, past the lines of staff with a rhythmic tap of shoes on stone. A small black tail poked out from the top of her large as, my eyes naturally drawn there as she gave us a generous view, sashaying sensually. Ari didn’t hesitate to start following, pulling me along, her sashay looking suspiciously similar to the Empress’s, now that I was comparing them.

Dragging my eyes from the sights directly near me, I finally took in our destination properly, my mouth opening in awe. Behind a single line of pink leaved trees was a palace, a literal palace. It had rivers that split into smaller rivers and ran both through and around it, a single large archway atop the path to let you know you had entered the confines of this place of crimson sins at the end of the street.

The palace itself was enormous, the product of at least 3 generations of dedicated work, and yet more generations of venerating service, it was a sharp and towering building created in a distinct style I’ve only seen poorly mimicked in the ‘classier’ housings. That was barely scratching the surface of what the building was though, closer to an actual castle than some ordinary building, it was almost as if the rest of the city had been built around it, or perhaps it had been the center of some other nation, only to be rebuilt here wall by wall. It wasn’t a building to take lightly by any means, and the fact that sin had apparently been the driving motivation for its thriving existence only deepened the crimson of its walls, the shadowy figures in closed windows curving in subtly devious shapes even from here.

The Empress slowed for me, along with Ari, a knowing look on both their faces as I counted the levels visible on the outside. It was no less than ten.

Ari commented on my surprise, “I know that look on your face dear, and yes, I do agree, any higher and the sun would struggle to set here. Just you wait until we reach the top however.” She said, pulling me back into a quicker motion.

Was this even a simple trip to the city for tools anymore?

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