Chương 102: Chapter 2.39: Vices and Virgins

Hesnia held a hand up before her mouth and giggled. The ladies surrounding her ever since the start of the garden party imitated her example.

"Indeed, daughter, indeed," she replied to Caliga with a smile.

"It is most impressive that all it took for our familia's beekeeping to grow so much in productivity was the simple idea of not letting the queen into the honey-bearing parts of the hive where she might spoil this nectar of the gods." Favius's shoulders tensed as he nodded and smiled along with his soon-to-be-gone stepmother. Yet Caliga gave her a genuine smile. Though I doubt she's smiling at her mother out of social grace.

"Absolutely," replied Caliga.

"If it weren't for the queen eating the good honey, so much more of it would be available even in normal hives." Favius shot her a quick side glance. But her smile was calm, the expression reassuring. Girl, Sirrana told you that you are absolutely not to try to fuck with Hesnia. We can't have her getting suspicious. He took a gentle breath to extinguish the embers of anger. But now she's openly talking about how much she understands our hive designs. Or thinks she does. The nerve of that woman…

He looked around and considered the garden party. The roses were in full bloom. Household slaves were taking care of food and drink. Hesnia's entourage mixed with the noteworthies among Marcus's retainers and dependents. One by one, he noted the familiar faces in the sea of strangers. Brutus was in the process of flexing for a group of tittering ladies. Sirrana was in an animated discussion with Centurii Hefnus that had somehow turned to both of them waving blades around. Favius narrowed his eyes.

If I'm judging the movements correctly, they are discussing the best technique for disemboweling someone. He snorted and refocused on the center of the party. Not only he and Caliga were close to Hesnia, but Marcus too stood right beside her, occasionally touching her shoulder and arm. After everything that happened between the two of them, Hesnia is still willing to go along with this. Well, given how this noble society works… He studied the faces of both his adoptive parents' retainers.

The fiction of a harmonious household is in everyone's interest. He tuned back into the conversation as Hesnia responded to a comment from a man whom Favius believed to be the Majordomo of one of the lesser estates.

"Yes, yes, it was quite the change. But I believe me taking those regular holidays and enjoying the air in other parts of our beautiful Republic will indeed be beneficial to my health." Favius nodded along with a smile and managed to lean forward just in time. He subtly elbowed Caliga, who rumpled her nose. Yes, sister, I'm perfectly aware what kind of comment you were about to make. He shook his head.

While servants with tablets approached and wine cups were refilled, Favius studied higher-ranking guardsmen moving among the noteworthies in civilian attire. Most of them are trusted Decurii. Well, I have to admit it looks kind of harmless, but… His eyes flicked to Hefnus. Knowing what we are doing… A shiver ran down his spine. … changes the entire vibe of this party. A young noble lady stepped from Hesnia's shadow towards Favius. She was in her late teens. And is rather well endowed.

Favius noted with an odd mixture of intellectual acknowledgement from his adult mind, yet absolutely no reaction from his prepubescent body. She leaned in and ran a finger along his shoulder.

"So, Young Master," she began. Favius kept a perfectly polite, almost enthusiastic smile. Not that that was particularly hard, given the circumstances. He noticed Hesnia shifting towards them in the periphery. She smelled, Favius recognized almost incidentally, of the lavender soap.

"I've heard a rumor," she whispered conspiratorially. Favius hummed in response at the attractive woman. No. He deliberately untensed his jaw. The honey pot his mother had sent at him gestured over at where Urania was spending time with the little siblings and other kids.

"It says that while your younger sister…" She leaned in further, almost whispering into Favius's ear.

"…runs the production of the soap, it was your idea, in truth." Her voice dropped to an almost inaudible level. She leaned forward further, her rather loose robes giving Favius an interesting perspective into her personality.

"Furthermore, I heard stories of a trick with liquids that changed color?" Favius hummed, staring straight forward. To win some time. Definitely to win some time. And not because her… His thoughts were racing. So first of all, apart from this being sexual harassment of a minor. He swallowed. That's an Earth thought. It's neither productive nor useful. Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings. He glanced over at Urania.

Is this Hesnia's attempt to get independent verification for the recipe? I mean, I know Urania's story by heart and she stuck to it. So… He nodded and shifted his head towards the young woman's ear in turn.

"Indeed." He returned the conspiratorial whisper. And as he spoke, an evil smile spread over his face. He shifted forwards, noting Hesnia's look.

"We played around with this fluid and it tells you if the soap making will work. There is a secret trick to it, though…" He shifted from side to side. Am I looking nervous enough? Excited enough?

"The secret is that the liquid has to turn pink. That tells you that the mix of caustic essences is perfect." She gasped and her soft hands touched Favius's arms. Stop fondling me, harlot. And have fun trying to get caustic substances to turn any indicator pink, you morons.

"Truly. Well, do not tell anyone," she whispered in return, brushing against his ear, "but I've always found the art of alchemy fascinating." She smiled.

"When I was a little girl, my mother's visits to the perfumist were the highlight of the season." Favius nodded eagerly.

"Indeed. One of my close acquaintances also is rather fond of visiting an alchemist whenever we are in Cindrath." The young woman glanced between Urania and Caliga, and Favius suppressed the twitching of his face.

"Truly?"

"Yes," Favius managed to respond with a straight face while avoiding glancing at Brutus.

"Are they also enthused about all that is on offer in such an exotic place?" Favius hummed in consideration.

"Yes, yes. One could say the person…" He swallowed down his laughter and barely managed to keep his face neutral.

"…is rather intrigued by the assets on display." The young woman giggled, holding her hand politely in front of her mouth. Favius joined in the laughter, though for an entirely different reason. She smiled.

"Well, if that's the case, maybe your sisters would enjoy spending some time with mine."

"You have younger siblings?" asked Favius, and she nodded, this time maintaining a distance still well within the personal space, yet no longer attempting to touch him.

"They are twins, both of them but forty cycles old. Just like you." Favius nodded. So she wasn't just sent to enchant me. She was sent to inject two thirteen-year-olds into my personal circle. It's a multi-layered honey pot trap. He glanced over at Hesnia and the girl leaned in again.

"Like your sisters, they are rather sharp of mind. Who knows?" An amused smile spread over the young woman's face.

"Maybe in a few cycles, the young Lord Cultivator might find them intriguing in other ways." Favius restrained himself from rolling his eyes.

"Truly," he began.

"And how might I repay you for introducing me to such fascinating people?" She gave Favius an indulgent smile.

"Well, if you want to repay me…" He nodded slightly. Can't say she isn't smooth. I guess this is what you get if you grow up among noble ladies who do nothing but gossip and plot all day. Though Brutus's words came back to him. A daughter is either useful on her own merits or at the very least can be sold off as a brood mare. And given her age, she's likely never going to cultivate.

But his thoughts were interrupted as the girl's raven hair again brushed into his face, the smell of lavender soap and perfume engulfing him in a surprisingly pleasant manner.

"I would not ask for much, merely that you tell me what juice you use in those fascinating experiments." Her smile seemed almost genuinely curious.

"After all, I wouldn't mind amusing myself with some alchemical experiments." Favius hummed and shifted from side to side. Am I looking nervous enough? Probably. But this, this is something we discussed. He recalled his array of experiments and, swallowing, leaned into her, putting his hands around his own mouth to whisper into her ear. It's almost funny how everyone is paying attention to us while pretending to still have a conversation.

He had discussed the failures and successes of the early experiment, and what to trickle out to Hesnia, with Urania. He whispered, "You need thirty-three parts beet juice, for that is a number bearing good providence in such matters." The woman gasped again, but Favius continued.

"And one part of the blood of a virgin who is virtuous in the eyes of the Gods, freshly drawn." He leaned in closer, his lips almost touching the woman's ear, as he tensed his stomach, trying to hold back the laughter. This is just the kind of shit that would get a medieval Earth alchemist completely raunchy. If it doesn't work, they'll likely conclude that the girl's virtue is not proper in the eyes of the Gods. The woman pushed back from Favius, her eyes wide, her mouth agape.

"Truly, oh, aren't the arcane secrets of alchemy but so fascinating?" Her eyes flicked to Hesnia and the smile broadened on the woman's face. Favius too smiled at his adoptive mother. Have fun with the recipe, Mom. The rest of the afternoon passed with more food and drink, and at some point the young woman returned while he and Caliga were playing with Marius and Lia. In her wake were two doe-eyed twins with perfectly identical haircuts and dresses. The woman bowed her head.

"If I may interrupt the young Lords and Ladies Cultivators." But Favius did not respond. As before, he lunged forward, attempting to get his finger past Marius's guard. His little brother squealed and swatted at his finger. Lia was clapping in support and the other children were giggling. After taking several vicious blows from his little brother, Favius gasped and curled up around his stomach.

"Mercy. Mercy. Clearly the Young Lord has received the favor of the Warrior today." The crowd of children chuckled and Favius finally turned to the young lady. She bowed gently and gestured at her twin sisters, who spoke in unison.

"We are Daria and Taria, my Lord." They smiled in perfect synchronicity and both his sisters stepped forward in turn. Soon, the four girls were gossiping and tittering, apparently having a natural and fun interaction. Well. Favius narrowed his eyes. As natural an interaction as four people all believing they are deceiving the other party can have. The noble lady raised a piece of steamed red beet to her mouth, winked at Favius, and bit into it before leaving. Favius couldn't help but chuckle.

As the sun closed in on the horizon, people assembled on the terrace. Marcus stepped forward, using the sunset to frame himself. Favius noted his regal presence spreading. Not domineering, but simply reminding people that his natural place was in fact under the sun. A fatherly, stern golden glow appeared in the man's eyes as his presence was put onto a permanent, low-intensity flash. When all eyes were on him, he spoke up. Not particularly loudly, yet the words were strangely intense and rich.

"My dear guests, it has truly been a pleasant and enjoyable summer feast."

"Not only are we celebrating the success and achievements of my children." He gestured broadly and polite murmurs of agreement spread through the crowd.

"No!" He raised two fingers.

"We have also come together to appreciate the import of personal bonds, of loyalty, and family."

"Dear wife." He held out a hand.

"Please join me." Hesnia hid her surprise well as she stepped forward. Antonius handed her and Marcus a cup of wine, and the aristocratic couple raised them in unison.

"Join me for a toast. To prosperity, happiness, and a good future." The sharp metallic clink of the gilded cups was the signal everyone had been waiting for. Cheers rose and Favius ignored the rest of Marcus's speech as he shared a look with Caliga. She mouthed certain words in mocking imitation of her father.

"Good relationships with Lirene."

"The importance of maintaining bonds."

"How prosperity ought to be shared." Towards the end, Favius struggled to remain serious. Well, no wonder that this is Marcus's sense of humor, given that he spends so much time with Antonius and Serran. The night continued with revelry and Favius endured the attention of the doe-eyed twins, whose names he had already forgotten, while he considered the next day's meeting. Everything is settled. As soon as she's gone… He found Hefnus standing tall and proud among several of Marcus's loyalists.

Things are going to get interesting.