**Somewhere in the Gilded Plaza of Ironhelm**
Within the opulent halls of one of Ironhelm's grand mansions stood two people: a cute maid and a tall, green-haired butler. They both gazed out the window, which provided a splendid view of the mansion's beautifully manicured garden. The maid held a broom, listening intently to the butler, who held a feather duster.
"So you really met The Aeron? The One Feared By Death?" the maid asked, her voice brimming with excitement.
"Yeah, I did," Azure replied with a hint of nervous excitement, thinking to himself, *Because I was the only one there.* "He prioritized my safety above everyone else's!"
The maid clasped her hands together and swooned. "Ahh, I wish I could have been there."
"Don't worry, I'll get him to meet you," Azure said, giving her a thumbs up.
"You will? But how?" she asked, eyes wide with anticipation.
Azure chuckled confidently. "Not only did he save me, but we also became friends!" he declared.
The maid gasped, her hands flying to cover her mouth, dropping the broom she had been holding. "Really?"
Azure turned around and struck a confident pose with his feather duster. "Really, really," he affirmed before rubbing his eyes and subtly pumping his fist in triumph. *Hell yeah, a cute maid talking to me while I'm in a mansion. This is the life! No matter how much of a lie it is!*
Suddenly, their conversation was interrupted. "Nice to see the two of you talking instead of doing your jobs," a stern voice said. They both turned to see the head butler, Eirv, standing there, his expression a mix of professional annoyance and disappointment.
"Uh, sir, we were, uh," Azure stuttered, struggling to find an excuse, while the maid bowed apologetically. "I'm sorry, sir. Azure was telling me what happened yesterday, and I got lost in his tale," she explained.
Azure rubbed the back of his head, echoing her apology. "Ye-yeah, um, sorry. It's, uh, my fault."
Eirv sighed, clearly not amused. "I expect this from Azure because he's new, but not from you, Eva," he said, looking at the maid, who kept her head bowed.
Azure, trying to take the blame, added, "Don't blame her, sir. It's all my fault, really—"
Eirv raised a hand, cutting him off. "Stop bowing your head, Eva. You are not in trouble," he said before turning to Azure. "And neither are you. Just make sure to finish your work first, and then you two can talk about whatever you want for however long you want. Got it?"
Eva and Azure nodded vigorously, replying in unison, "Yes, sir."
Eirv gave a nod of approval. "Good," he said, before once again focusing on Azure. "Now, what tale were you telling her, Azure?"
Azure flinched, his mind racing. *Oh shit,* he thought to himself in panic.
"He was telling me about how Sir Aeron saved him and how they became friends, sir," Eva replied innocently, unaware of Azure's internal struggle.
Eirv nodded, his gaze fixed on Azure, who was sweating bullets. "Oh really now?" he asked, raising an eyebrow.
Azure quickly turned back to the window, frantically dusting it with the feather duster. "W-we wasted enough time talking already. Let's get to work! Thi-this window isn't going to clean itself! A-and I'm sure Sir Eirv has his own work to do, so we shouldn't waste his time!" he babbled, stuttering like a nun who's visiting the brothel for the first time (Oddly specific analogy.) ((I know!)). *I already told him what really happened last night!!!* he thought desperately.
Eirv placed a firm hand on his shoulder, causing Azure to freeze up. "I'm the head butler. I'm allowed breaks whenever I want. Also, you're supposed to wipe windows, not dust them with a feather duster," he corrected, turning Azure around to face him. "Now, why don't you tell me what you told her, Butler Azure?" he asked politely, with a smile that was anything but reassuring.
Azure felt his heart sink. As he cried internally, *DAMN YOU, LUCK!!!*
**Meanwhile in the middle of nowhere**
A portal of brilliant light burst into existence, swirling with colors and radiating an ethereal glow that illuminated the barren landscape around it. The edges of the portal shimmered and crackled with energy, creating a mesmerizing spectacle that seemed to defy the very fabric of reality. As the portal stabilized, two figures stepped through its radiant threshold.
The first was a woman whose beauty seemed to defy the very essence of life itself. Her presence radiated an ethereal charm that could enchant anyone who beheld her. She wore a dress that appeared to be woven from the threads of dreams and stardust, each movement of the fabric setting an unreachable bar of elegance and allure.
Beside her stood a man clad in an outfit that screamed nobility and privilege, making even the most regal of kings seem like mere beggars in comparison. His entire head was concealed by a skull mask, its polished surface reflecting the surrounding light, lending him an air of both mystery and authority.
"Alright," the man in the skull mask said, clasping his hands together with a decisive air. "Let's get started."