The Arcana: Fragments

XIX: Odd Inquiry

*Portia x Nadia Side Tale*

I scurried into milady's room as fast as my feet could carry me, the ox tartare dared to slip from the shined crystal plate at my quick maneuvers but I fortunately caught myself in time. "Bastard!", I hear milady's voice harshly whisper. Rounding the corner I found the Countess slouched over the long, marbled council table, a glass of white wine still bubbling angrily. Announcing myself as if I hadn't heard anything, the Countess straightened immediately at my voice, her eyes softening at seeing me. "Portia, how quickly you've returned!", she regarded me proudly. Her red eyes always seemed so intense, I just smiled and brought the tartare to her.

"As you requested, milady, ox tartare", I said. She scrunched her nose in disgust, "A horrid dish", she pulled out a small vial from beneath the sleeves of her long gown. I'm almost certain she uses magic to hide random objects in the fabric of her clothes. "This should teach him", the red of her eyes brightened as the fluorescent green liquid swayed within the vial.

I didn't mean to, but my eyebrow raised and she caught sight of it, laughing heartily. "Oh Portia, you didn't think I was going to really eat this stuff, did you?" I said nothing, more confused than ever.

"Oh, heavens no. No, dearest Portia, this dish is not for me. I just needed you to bring it to me so that I might make an...adjustment. However, I'm also going to have to make yet another odd inquiry with you this evening, if that's alright".

"Of course, milady. It's always my pleasure to serve you".

"Quite right. Tonight you mustn't serve me, though". Taking the stopper from the vial, the Countess brought up a golden fork and began making a small well into the raw meat, drizzling the contents over the meat. Bloody as the ox meat was, the green liquid absorbed into the dish with ease, disappearing from sight. "Milady?", I questioned, unsure of what to fully ask.

"Don't worry, it's not poison. I had a magician make this for me, he understands what's it like to be around him". Setting the vial down she rubbed at her temples, sighing. "The council meeting today...he absolutely and utterly embarrassed me. Barging in and allowing Mercedes and Melchior to bring the luncheon to ruins...those silk traders from Prakra, my home, were horrified. I'm almost certain they will never agree to do business with the palace now." She smoothed the meat back into shape, sighing again.

Her voice was hardly audible, "Why does he do these things to me? Why does he insist on humiliating me at every chance he gets? Who did I marry, Portia?"

I rolled my hands uneasily, too ruffled to come up with an answer. I know I'm just her servant, but I wanted so badly to just bring her into my arms and hold her. She looked so badly as if she were to cry. I had to remember my place, though. I'm just a servant. But I'm a damn good servant, and while the Countess is my superior, she is nonetheless my friend. I decided to do the only thing I knew would truly make her happy.

Clearing my throat awkwardly, I came towards her. She watched me expectantly as I refilled her glass of white wine and brought the dish back into my hands, nodding at my agreement to fulfill her wish. She smiled at me, fully smiled - a stunning, white toothed smile that made my cheeks go hot. "Oh Portia, thank you", a single finger slid down the length of my cheek. "Milady, if it's the last thing I do, I'll make sure he eats this". Raising my chin to the air and putting on my brave face, I exited the room and went to accomplish my mission.

***

Nadia covered our mouths as we both strained to stifle our laughter. "Shh", she said shakily, heaving lightly. My ears were warm in anxiety both good and bad, from out here we could hear the Count groaning from outside his bathroom. "What exactly did you give him, milady?"

She gasped and looked at me, as though in shock, "But I gave him nothing, dear Portia. He ordered ox tartare for dinner this evening and it appeared to have upset him", she raised her hands defensively. Another loud groan came from the bathroom door, followed by an elongated "fuck" that droned into the halls. Milady and I just snorted and giggled some more.

"The magician sure knows how to concoct clever revenge", she whispered to me. "With luck, Lucio should be off the latrine within the hour...that is, if I had only given him three drops", a devilish smirk flashed across her face. Her red eyes watched the door intensely, relishing in the success of her scheme. I gasped, "Milady you poured the whole vial!", I covered my mouth with both of my hands as another groan came from the bathroom. "Silly me", she sneered.

"None of this would have been possible without you, Portia. Thank you for doing this for me. As grotesque as it may be for me to take pleasure in this..I do", she rolled her head back and inhaled deeply as the Count continued to cry out, "Ohh", she moaned, "I really, really do".

I only giggled and gave her hand a quick clench. "Servant!", the Count hollered. We drew in nearer to hear him better as he ordered those waiting on him to search for any sort of relief to his predicament, "You imbeciles, don't just stand there! Fetch something! Anything! You! Yes, no not you! You stay there and just..look like you're doing something! Agh!".

"My asshole...is on fire!", he yelled, followed by the pounding of his fist on the wall.

[07.20.2019]