Chapter 167

Illyana scurried along at her Mistress' left hand, though it was a relief to wear less scantily clad material than usual, today being breaches and a simple roughspun shirt that made her skin itch, the human woman she was obligated to serve proved to be a swift mover. The pace of her long striding steps never slacked even for a moment, every motion had purpose and reason behind it.

Today she scurried along with her hair waving in the breeze as the room occupant took her out on a shopping expedition. "Souvenirs for some friends of mine. Where can I get them?" Albedo made the abrupt command and Illyana rattled off the names of several shops who made fine trinkets like toys, tea sets, and more.

From there Illyana had to move as fast as her legs could carry her, staying just at her lady's side, pointing which way to go, and then the noblewoman, as Illyana now assumed her to be, would abruptly turn the indicated direction without another step and Illyana would have to practically run again.

It was an hour of this before Albedo stopped and with her hands on her hips asked Illyana, "Why don't you move faster, slave?"

Had Illyana detected any hint of rebuke, she would have quailed, but it sounded more curious than anything, and so she chose to show the woman. "It's the 'elf-gait', my lady. We're trained to run or walk with small steps. They put manacles on our ankles with chains too short for proper steps, and leave them in place almost constantly for decades until we naturally move like this." She explained and went back and forth several times in front of a surprised Albedo.

'Innovative method of control at least, but still… impractical.' Albedo snorted with contempt and brushed back her long hair with a flip of her hand and tilted up her nose. "Stupid of them, how are you supposed to move quickly to perform your tasks if you're not allowed to move quickly?"

The slave hung her head without answering.

"Humans are absurd." Albedo muttered under her breath and her eyes caught a large store front, it had a number of fine silk garments, large hoop dresses of the sort favored by Shalltear. 'If she likes it, I've got something good for a colleague. If she doesn't, she's annoyed and I've annoyed a rival for Lord Ainz' love, there is no losing there.'

"Come with me, you'll be carrying this also." Albedo said, and Illyana hefted the bags strung over her shoulder with an audible "oompf" and said, "Yes, Mistress." Before scurrying after her and quietly filing away the 'human' comment for later.

That 'later' came when Illyana stumbled with her legs half dead, carefully placing the dozen fabric bags from high end shops onto a chair, and then collapsed onto her knees, grateful for the carpeted floor which caught her fall. "Mistress, shall I draw you a bath, or do you prefer to remain alone again?" Illyana asked when she was able to raise her head.

Albedo herself simply breezed into the room, but the offer gave her pause and she looked over her shoulder. 'Why not, I've never had someone bathe me before. I might as well indulge, I won't be here much longer.' She nodded. "Go ahead." The overseer replied, while she much enjoyed the baths of Nazarick, the idea of a personal attendant for that purpose was a novelty.

Out of idle curiosity Albedo watched the way the elf woman moved, the little steps she took did have a peculiar kind of grace to them, the way she walked on the balls of her feet, the well trained roll of her hips, as a succubus, Albedo was compelled to admit, the woman had her charms. 'I suppose that is why she is kept at a high class establishment… at least, high class as human filth goes.'

The woman began to work the stone tub, her slender arms pumping steadily at a silver pumphandle until warm water began to gush into the stone tub, she grunted a little with the effort but soon found her rhythm.

When the tub was nearly filled, Illyana went to a nearby counter, bent over, and pulled out a small clay pitcher from a cabinet beneath it, she then turned and poured a few round-looking beads into the water, and then replaced the pitcher again. When she was done, Illyana stood perfectly erect with her hands folded before her waist and gave a half bow, "If it pleases the Mistress, the bath is prepared."

It was a small, subservient voice, and Albedo acknowledged it by approaching her with her customary long, confident stride.

She was almost caught by surprise, however, when the elf woman reached for Albedo's clothing, she only stopped from a negative or violent reaction by the fact that the slave moved so naturally it was clearly part of her routine.

The initial thought, 'How dare she think to touch me?!' Vanished beneath the practical understanding, 'For this, she must.' And so she waited as the elf undressed her completely and folded the fine silk garments over her arms, she went and hung them up.

Illyana then undid her own clothing and let it fall crudely to the floor, kicking her clothes out of the way and then walking past the Lady of the Room to the tub itself. She assumed a crouched position as a footstool, and waited.

Albedo had to forcibly stop herself from blinking as she made mental notes, 'Would Lord Ainz enjoy it like that? Oh, the utter bliss of having him do such a thing… oh yes… yes… yesssss!' She nearly gushed her excitement from her loins before she found sense and approached the crouched woman.

She took a step on Illyana's back, then as the woman slowly rose up to all fours to bring Albedo in line with the top of the tub, the disguised demoness stepped down into the waters.

Illyana said nothing the entire time, she simply went back to the cabinet, pulled out a long scrub brush, a bar of green soap and began to lather it up in the water.

Albedo realized almost immediately what the beads had been, little oil droplets, they made the water fragrant like roses and ran smoothly over her skin whenever it touched her.

The slave, for her part, went directly to work, drawing Albedo's full curious attention as the act of bathing her was dutifully performed.

The elf showed no shyness or demureness whatsoever, nor did her eyes show any improper thoughts or feelings about what she was doing.

Ever the supervisor in spirit no matter where she was, Albedo chose to praise her, "You're very good at this." She said and sighed with bliss as the elf woman held up Albedo's foot at the ankle and scrubbed between the toes.

"Thank you, My Lady, I have had abundant practice in this room over the last hundred years or so, perhaps longer, it's hard to remember sometimes how long it's been." Illyana remarked without breaking the neutrality of her face.

"I see." Albedo said with indifference.

"May I ask… what are you, My Lady?" Illyana posed the question as she filled the bucket to use on Albedo's hair.

"What?" Albedo demanded in an icy tone.

"Mistress, you're not human, so… what are you, if I may ask?" Illyana's voice remained mostly neutral, but that touch of curiosity could not be kept back.

Albedo looked at the woman while quietly contemplating whether or not to end her life. Only her doubt about how the elf figured it out stayed her hand.

"What makes you say that, slave?" Albedo asked in a deathly quiet tone.

"The way you spoke of 'humans' earlier as if you weren't one." Illyana acknowledged, "Remember what I said, Mistress? She touched her ears again and then resumed washing the radiant woman.

Albedo actually laughed, silvery, charmingly, beautifully, the peels of it bounced around the walls far more than a natural sound should have. "I see what you mean, slave, I see what you mean. You're right, I'm not human. But why would you be mad enough to ask that, do you have a death wish, elf?"

"Why you're here has nothing to do with me. Other than my fellow elves, there is nothing in this city that I care about. Do whatever you want, while you are renting this room, you own me and my only loyalty is to you, Mistress." Illyana was very matter-of-fact in saying it, and Albedo gave that a long silent and thoughtful moment.

"I see." Albedo said with bemused understanding as the elf ran a warm soapy cloth over Albedo's ample breasts, "Then on my last night here, I'll show you the truth."

"Thank you, My Lady." Illyana replied and then asked, "Would it please the Lady tonight for me to demonstrate my other skills on her body?" Illyana asked it as a matter of routine, but in the last week the woman had refused her every time.

This occasion was no different. "No, there is only one body I desire." Albedo answered, leaning back in the bath and sighing with longing as the vigorous scrubbing began on her thighs. "But perhaps you can tell me something about how to please him, you were professionally trained for that, weren't you, elf?" Albedo asked.

"Yes, Mistress. Everyone who works here is." Illyana tightened her lips a little at that, but then answered plainly, "If there is some method of bedroom game or pleasure we don't know, it isn't good enough to bother with. But if it pleases you, tell me what kind of man he is, and I will tell you how to ensure he is lost in the pleasure only you can bring to him. Or so he will believe." Illyana answered, and felt the woman melt under her touch.

"Very well." Albedo answered, though she tried to keep her face neutral, a smile slowly crept over her face, "I will tell you all about my beloved, The One Who Stayed, and what kind of man is my everything." And then that excitement filled her voice as Albedo went on and on about her favorite subject, letting the slave do her best to keep up with the torrent of words until after the water lost its warmth.