"Woah... I dunno but... this might beat the palaces back in Yun Zong!" excitedly breathed Mei Ling as she examined the Tryndamere Kingdom's castle interiors. With its primary motif being silver and gold, as per the motifs of the current Queen who is missing in action as the gold, and the silver for the Princess that is waiting on the throne, standing in front of it. While they weren't overly extravagant with expensive paintings and most small decorative objects, the interior's design was given more than five times the amount of passion into its designs.
Cassandra looked around as the same as Mei Ling, interested at the portraits and eye-catching aesthetics of the interior. Ye Qiu however, had an unpleasant and pained expression in his face. With his one and only other trait of having a sensitive nose, he was assaulted by the smell of the loss of a beloved partner, abandonment, burden, and struggle. It was so pungent that it overloaded the male's senses, inflicting deep grief upon him. He did not know of whom, yet its focus and intensity made him deathly curious and empathetic.
Looking at Johannes, Ye Qiu smelled deep care and loyalty, while Adam smelled of eternal servitude and fatherly affection. Maybe it's towards the princess?
"Here we are. Show respect for Princess of Tryndamere Ki-"
"That's fine, John. No matter." As the blonde knight was about to introduce her, the silver princess waved a hand to silence him. The light, almost faded pink-haired Ye Qiu closed his eyes as he bowed his head and upper body to hide his affected expression. His hunch was right. The smell of abandonment, burden and struggle was from the princess. The other two fighters also bowed alongside him, assuming he's paying respects.
"We're back, Princess." softly spoke the living armor for his deep, hallowed tone. She nodded coldly in acknowledgement.
"I will cut the formalities short. I am Passacaglia Cagliostro Efanatica, the Princess of Tryndamere. You can call me Pascal, it does not matter to me. Your names?" Pascal spoke without emotion, almost entirely robotic and devoid of empathy. Ye Qiu simply grit his teeth and clenched his fists in response to her.
"I'm Cassandra Shin, this is Ye Qiu, and this is Mei Ling. We helped subjugate the mutant monsters that rampaged the coliseum." Not minding the formalities, Cassandra replied to the princess the same as she'd talk to anyone else. Pascal smiled in return, satisfied with her being straight to the point. It did not seem like she was lying either.
"As I've heard. All I can offer you is money and my gratitude, yet I want to ask a favor for you first. After I give your reward, of course." Pascal took a glance at the blonde male, him nodding and walking into one of the two doors that led to different rooms around what looked to be the throne room. Shortly after, Johannes brought out a hefty bag of gold, almost spilling from his hand.
Cassandra casts a glance at Ye Qiu, who still had his head bowed down to hide his expression. Mei Ling's emerald eyes were sparkling from the sack of gold. She knew they'd split it all equally since they brought down one each, but even then. The redhead stepped forward to receive the reward, feeling its full weight in her hands. It did not feel fake at all.
"Will you listen to my favor?" contrary to her blank tone, Pascal's voice was fraught with worry and desperation but her expression was of complete composure. Ye Qiu recomposed himself with a large breath, before finally raising his gaze to meet Pascal.
"Surely." spoke Ye Qiu with strong resolution. Pascal closed her eyes and relieved a small smile on her young, beautiful face. She sat down on her throne, leaning her back into it. Her smell changed pleasantly, for the time being.
"I would like to hire your help in finding these "Chaos Profligates" and find out their intentions, save for them slandering me, my mother, and my kingdom." Pascal said clearly.
"Wouldn't it be better to use your men and those who serve under you for this? We're not from here at all." Cassandra voiced out. Before she could speak more however, Ye Qiu gently stopped her with a smile on his face. It meant that he wanted to help, and she has no power to stop him.
"If I had men that follow me and serve under me besides the knights, I would have already." Pascal's words had unimaginable weight to them that silenced Cassandra. The redhead sighed and kept her lips shut.
"No matter, I will search our libraries to see if I can find at least some information about these... Profligates. Whatever they call themselves. I will offer you to stay here for three more days for me to parse through the entire library and give you what I've learned afterward. I myself also have a questionable but reliable source of information, after all." spoke the princess confidently. Adam shifted his blue flaming orbs for eyes to his leader for a moment, before closing his eyes. However he can do that. Maybe the orbs flatten?
"I have more to say, but it's more offensive than anything. If not to you, then to these two that deeply respect you. I'll keep my mouth shut then." Cassandra's tone was doubtful and skeptical, but because of Ye Qiu she refrained from saying these words that Pascal already knows herself. The princess looked downcast for a moment, knowing those exact words. They had reached a mutual understanding because of the woman's sharp observation of her words and from Ye Qiu's expression.
"Johannes, please take them to the guest rooms. Adam, report to Miss Haruka and Deb about the incapacitated mutant beasts. If we are able to remove their brands, we might be able to tame them whilst we heal their wounds." Pascal ordered the two, and they bowed promptly before the blonde took the three and led them to a different hallway.