"Alright ladies, we've arrived," said the driver as he stopped.
"Did you hear that? We've arrived, could you move away from me already?" said Dannep while placing her hands between herself and Ilyss.
She had spent the entire trip trying to keep her from throwing herself on top of her, taking advantage of every opportunity to do so.
Dannep struggled quite a bit with her submissive voice and letting her do whatever she wanted, but she didn't feel completely comfortable, especially knowing that an hour ago Yumi had been shoved in her face.
"I don't want to be a monster like you," Dannep replied to herself.
"Yes, yes I heard you, but we're not in a hurry," Ilyss mentioned, taking Dannep's hand.
But she was only playing with her because she immediately moved the carriage door to open it.
"Welcome to Paradises," said the queen, pointing the large building out to Dannep.
She was left stunned, it was immense.
The building looked like the great Roman colosseum with several lights and crystals decorating it all around.
"Cythian had come here several times, right? She said she wanted to bring me," Dannep thought to herself without taking her eyes off the building.
"Come on, let's go inside. If you keep staring at it like that from the outside I'll have to make sure you don't faint when you go in," Ilyss's mischievous smile was evident.
Dannep showed her atypical emotionless face and chose to walk with Ilyss toward the entrance.
As they approached, an elderly woman with a stout body walked up to them with a smile, with two guards behind her.
"Ohhh, if it isn't my dear girl, it's been a long time since you came here," she exclaimed while looking at Ilyss.
"Yes, sorry Rose, I've been extremely busy, I've had many trips, but you know I always come for your dishes," Ilyss replied with a smile.
Dannep could notice Ilyss's affection toward the woman just from this. Ilyss's smile is normally forced or intentional, but this one felt real.
"I'm glad you always choose the food of your dear Rose, and who do we have here?... You are…" Rose looked at Dannep but stopped mid-sentence.
"This is Dannep, Rose. She's my new servant, I brought her from Viremonth, she's very cute, isn't she?" Ilyss explained while placing her hand on Dannep's shoulder.
"Oh… yes, yes, she's beautiful. Nice to meet you, Miss Dannep," Rose bowed and greeted her.
Dannep did the same, and she felt extremely comfortable, it had been a long time since she had wanted to bow to someone.
"Here, take this card. You can go in and find a seat, I'll catch up with you in a few seconds," said Ilyss, pushing Dannep forward.
Dannep obeyed but smiled to herself, she knew the truth.
"Oh, you want to talk about something I can't hear and you want me to leave," she thought. It was something her sisters used to do when they talked behind her back.
Once they made sure they were alone, Rose focused a bitter look at Ilyss.
"Hey, don't tell me that girl is the daughter of that bastard and that damn witch," Rose asked.
Ilyss took a few seconds to respond, but after deliberately increasing the suspense she spoke:
"Yes, I confirmed it myself. She's the daughter of Richard Moolinght and Carmila Sunlinght. I had the luck of running into her during my last visit to Viremonth. Apparently she doesn't even know who she is, poor thing."
Ilyss smiled in a sadistic way while watching her walk away in the distance.
"I see, but what are you planning? I don't think you're the type to make the daughter of the bastard who killed your parents into your pet or your woman," Rose replied.
"Hahaha, you know me very well, Rose. I love toys, but I love breaking them even more. Princess Cythian left me a doll I can mold however I want, but first I need her to remember who she is."
Ilyss pulled a necklace from her pocket and showed it to Rose.
"She herself asked me to give her permission to use magic. I was planning to suggest it myself, but things turned in my favor. If she manages to use her magic in a controlled way, I'll be able to free myself from this damn weakness I have."
Rose looked at the necklace for a few seconds; she more or less knew what it was.
"I see now, you're going to make her suffer after she loves you. Without a doubt this will break the spell that couple cast on you before they died. How about you go eat with her and then tell me everything later?"
"Yes, that's what I'll do, but first," Ilyss looked at the two guards coldly. They had heard the entire conversation.
"Ma'am, we swear we won't say anything," said one of them.
"Oh, of course you won't say anything," Ilyss's eyes turned golden as she looked at them.
"I'll make sure of that."
Dannep agreed with Ilyss, she wanted to faint.
In front of her, tables wrapped in a strange blue fire surrounded the place.
The musicians were elves who played in such a harmonious way that it made her feel alive.
The waiters moved around delivering the meals with their wands from a distance, some played along with the rhythm of the music before serving the dish.
"It's a magical restaurant," Dannep was extremely happy.
Her sister Layla had told her several times that she had gone to a university with magical places—was this what she meant?
But her attention was intercepted by someone.
"Welcome to Paradises, miss. Do you have a reservation?" a rather elegant man, tall for his age, spoke to her.
"Ah, here you go," Dannep handed over the card that Ilyss had given her.
As soon as the man held the card, his eyes widened. But to Dannep's surprise he kept his composure and calm.
"You must be the companion of the great Queen Ilyss. Please go up the stairs to the top floor," the man indicated while pointing.
Dannep made a grateful bow and headed toward the stairs.
"Oh, excuse me miss."
But she was stopped by a little girl who was tugging at her dress.
Dannep turned around and looked at the girl; she seemed scared.
"Yes? What's wrong? Do you need help?" Dannep asked kindly, she liked children quite a lot.
"Yes, I'm lost and I'd like to find my parents. They told me that if I got lost I should go out through the back entrance, but I'm scared to go alone," the frightened girl explained.
Dannep looked toward the entrance and saw that Ilyss still hadn't arrived. It shouldn't be a problem, she thought while holding the girl's hand.
"Alright, let's go."
"Ilyss is busy talking about me behind my back, doing something kind wouldn't be a crime."
Dannep led the girl to the back exit of the restaurant, it felt very good to help children, she thought to herself.
"Alright little girl, wait for your parents here. If they don't arrive, stay with the guards, I'll go tell them to take care of you," Dannep said, turning around.
Boom!
Bang!
But as soon as she did, the guards' bodies fell to the ground.
"What—hey, careful, come!" Dannep grabbed the girl's arm again, but when she did she felt as if her hand were sinking into mud.
When she looked down, she found a shapeless figure made of mud.
"Well, that was easy."
Said a voice behind Dannep before striking her neck.
Bang!
The dry sound echoed as Dannep's body fell unconscious into the arms of the one responsible.
The card she was holding in her hand fell to the ground, but the man ignored it.
"Alright boys, it's time to go."
After saying that, the man put Dannep into the carriage and they began to move.