— What kind of noble are you?
— Kind? It's "what is thine title, madam?" what you should say!
— Oh, sorry.
— ... — Clara turned her head and approached Serena's face in antecipation.
— Hum...what is thine title, madam?
— Well, nice of you to ask, I am Clara Maria Todberg the fifth!
— Isn't that just a name?
— But of course, and it is also a title! It's been past down generations with my family's staff to the girl that has, like, hair and eyes like me...
As she was screaming that, all present were looking at Clara, but as Serena looked into the people's eyes, they weren't looking with annoyance, but with fear.
— ...Uhm, is being born without eyes something that happens all the time in your family?
She slapped Serena on the face — You dumb moron! RED hair and eyes! — She pointed at both
Getting back up to her seat, Serena maintained calm, as if reeling in a fish that bit her bait. — Yes, sorry. So, red hair and eyes, why's that special?
— You see, my great-great-great-great-great-great-great grandma...no wait. — She counted on her fingers — Hum...great-great...ah, anyway, around 600 years ago, the first Clara was born, and just like me, she had the red eyes and hair, and with the king of the human clans, she beat the demons and created the Order, then it became a tradition within my family to name any girl with red hair and eyes "Clara Maria Todberg".
Forcing a straight face, Serena was suffering as she almost drowned on her juice — Y-Your family created the Order?
— Hey, I'm world famous, you're one of the few who knew not who...I was the moment you saw me and the name "Clara" together, so I assumed you were just an ignorant person and I've just...gone with it.
— The whole Order's yours?
— No, you idiot, my family doesn't have anymore influence on the Order, you should know it's a public organization now...even though they really want me joining the war and stuff.
— Why not join then? Are you weak? No, your slap was real good...Are you sick?
— Ehhh...!? I just hate the Order! They don't deserve me!
— What do you mean, deserve?
— Hummm...You know...
With two big plates in hand, the server arrived — Ahem...Excuse me, ladies, here is your food.
He placed the plates infront of both girls, and Clara's mouth immediatly watered — Yay! Thanks, old man!
— You're welcome...miss Todberg. — He bowed and quickly left, sweating.
With not another word, she mowed down her food, finishing in an instant, and proceded to drink more wine straight from the bottle.
— Heh. So she has a wild side to her, huh? That's pretty fun...I should just ask later.
Her green eyes then encountered the food, drool formed, and a trembling hand slowly reached for the silverware.
The white sauce contrasted with the deep green chives, the pasta had calmly and steadly absorbed the flavors of the sauce and red wine reduction, giving a warm and tigly sentation to it's smell, and the meat, gushing juices, seemed to be tender and cooked to perfection.
And in one fell swoop, no more food — That was amazing! — Serena said while licking her plate clean — Gimme another, gramps!
Clara was already unconscious, laying her whole body on the table.
Serena started hitting the table, chanting — MORE FOOD, MORE FOOD, MORE FOOD!!!!
The server appoached the girl, slowly, not to awake the beast — Miss, I am trully sorry, but we cannot serve more than one per client, you see, we are a fine restaurant located far from any major city, so traders come bearing specific amounts of ingredients as we order them only once a day, that is why we work on a reservation on this side of the restaurant, please understand.
— Ugh...I think I get it...Fine, then. Since Clara is...hum... — She looked at the woman infront of her, face and clothes covered in sauce and wine — Knocked out, huh...I should make her take a bath, we don't have time to lose here.
— Yes, please do.
So, bowing after getting up from the table with a "thanks for the food.", Serena picked up Clara in a princess carry and headed to the reception.
— What happened to miss Clara? I was getting worried since it's been, like, 40 minutes...Is that blood?
— Yo, old man, I really didn't want to do this, but she's gonna need a shower, shouldn't take more than 10 minutes, is that ok?
— Well, the thing is...I needed to discuss our plan for the road with miss Clara, since we have no caravan, I belive we shouldn't leave until tomorrow morning.
— What? But they won't be in the city anymore if...is it because of the bandits? If it is, we'll be fine, I'm strong!
— Well, the thing is, miss Clara was the one hiring me, so...you know, she's the one calling the shots here.
— Belive me, we've become great friends eating together! So it'll be fine!
— I dunno...even though I have seen you in action once in Salman...
— So you know how amazing I am, right?
— She did pay me an incredible amount...so she must've been in a hurry, right?
— Yeah, yeah! So, just go get her baggage for a fresh set of clothes, I'll clean her up and we go, ok?
— Fine! I'll see you later!
As the driver left, Serena put up a victoriuos grin.
The receptionist then asked in a soft voice — So, you'll be using the baths, right? It's just next to the inn, please come with me.
— Oh...Thanks!
They had gone out of the establishment, and annexed to it, what looked like a house made of wood, had a sign "Baths, 20 lagus per person, to pay, refer to the inn's receptionist".
— Please get in and use the last room, here's the key.
Serena walked through a tight hallway, hitting Clara's head on some of the other room's doors.
She entered the last room, it was a wide bathroom with a sink that had metal hangers on the wall by it's side and a big bathtub filled with warm water, the vapors that filled the room made a cozy atmosphere with a soothing oaky smell.
— Why would they make us enter the bath with clothes? Isn't there a changing room or...screw it, let's just hurry it up.
Serena placed Clara on one of two stools, then took her own clothes off and hung them, she proceeded to undress Clara, but.
— How do I even take this thing off?
The dress was a very intricate one, full of many layers of black, yellow and white cloth, and no matter where she looked, no buttons or string could be seen on the top half.
— Is this two pieces? — She pondered as she searched for a way to take off her crinoline skirt.
She then found a row of buttons on it's side, she tried pushing each one, but with no success — How does this even... — She said as she pulled the button to see behind it, but intead of seeing, she heard a satisfiying "pop" sound.
— Woah, being rich looks so fun! — Realizing she needed to pull each button, many "pop"s echoed through the bathroom.
After all buttons were undone, the skirt opened up from the side, sliding out with ease.
Shocked, Serena was looking at the girls legs — What the...
She was seeing her chalky white, well defined legs that wore what looked like hotpants that would go up to her hips and thick boots, and at her thighs, a leather strap hid a set of knives.
— She must have her reasons...Hey, Clara, wake up a bit.
— Aumghuh...Nhowuhhh...
— Raise your arms so I can take your top off, ok?
And so she did.
— Wow, that was easy.
Having taken it off, Serena revealed a leather piece of armor that covered her her chest down to her croch, pairing with the hotpants.
— Hah...So difficult... — She took the boots and armor off, and as she was about to take the hotpants.
— No...Shtop it... — Clara lightly swung her arm at Serena.
— It's ok, there's no need to be ashamed, I've given my mom a lot of showers when she'd be drunk.
— No, my pants, I take.
— Ok, go for it!
As she said that, with no grace, and slipping a bit, Clara got up and swiftly removed it, falling back down on the stool — Now bath!
— Ok, princess... — Serena took Clara on her arms again, gently placing her at the bathtub.
She washed her hair, arms, legs, her small but firm breasts and all over, but when reaching her crotch, something caught Serena's attention.
— A scar...right above the crotch? How is this hidden like this?
Looking at that place, no scar could be seen.
— I know how scars feel...could it be... — Many situations and probabilities came to her mind, all equally expeculative and one worst that the last.
— I can't ask her...there's a reason for her to be hiding it...but damn, I really wanna know...
With the now noisy thoughts on her head, Serena finished bathing the girl.
She dried her body, her legs and her arms, and as she was drying her hair — Thanks, Serena...
Serena's eyes welled up — Oh, you poor girl, it must've been difficult for you, huh?
Hugging the girl and crying, the pink-haired girl swore to protect and care for that young lady.