<div class="floatleft">(https://i.imgur.com/VXmmSQv.jpeg)</div><br/>The scent of perfume, the distant clinking of a wine glass, and the warmth of a fire greeted the adventurer as he was let inside the manor. The maid, who would have looked youthful and attractive had not her face carried a serious and tired aspect, explained to Olryn that her lady was awaiting his presence in the sitting room. Not giving him sufficient time to absorb the already lavish entryway which he had entered into the servant immediately turned and began walking briskly through the grand foyer which followed the entrance, her heels echoing against the wooden floor.<br/><br/>The grand foyer was decorated exquisitely with red silk curtains draped over black walls decorated with elaborate painted gold paneling, and between each set of curtains sat a portrait of some member of the Martel house. Most were unrecognizable; doubtlessly depicting those who were now long dead, but the centerpiece above the stairs showed the current lady of the house who the half-elf adventurer was headed now to meet. Even in the still image she possessed an aristocratic beauty which most mortal women could never dream of processing, with long golden hair framing a delicate face.<br/><br/>The maid turned abruptly, taking Olryn down a corridor to the right of the foyer.<br/><br/><em>Still unmarried...</em>Lilium mused, her thoughts heard only by Olryn and Luciel, and currently unseen. As an angel should could of course only be seen and heard by those she willed, provided they did not possess some other means of noticing her, and of course the same was true for the demonic Luciel as well.<em>Don't noble women usually get married young? The last of her house and all this wealth... what happens if she, you know, dies?</em><br/><br/><em>If she got married now the guy would just knife her and then get all the money.</em>Luciel retorted matter-of-factly.<em>Course if she got caught screwing around with... some guy... she'd have no choice, isn't that right Olryn?</em><br/><br/>Lilium's annoyed reply was cut short by the maid, of course unaware that she was interrupting anyone, who had stopped just before a pair of silk curtains blocking off the end of the corridor. The maid had then turned and, whilst giving a polite curtsy, stated in a dead-pan manner "Please step through the curtains and kneel before Lady Martel."