Duchess Renna Poinset smiled sweetly at me as she took another sip from her teacup, before she innocently asked "Do you have any plans to cause harm to this Queendom or its people?"
Even as her smile widened, it never once reached those sky blue eyes that became as cold as a winter day, making me shiver slightly as I stared back at her.
Pairing her smile to the sweet scent in the air made my head dizzy, but I kept my wits about me as best I could as I shook my head, answering her question.
"Not unless something happens to me or my family, no."
As soon as the words slipped from my lips I frowned, which the Duchess managed to pick up on as she chuckled softly behind her hand, those piercing eyes unwavering as she said "Took notice of the effects of my concoctions have you~? I already said it; this is something to make sure that you never lie to me, about anything."
I bit my lower lip before taking a deep breath and nodding, waiting for the next question to come, all while I circulated my mana inside my body in curiosity.
Her smile widened at that, but she didn't say anything about it as she instead asked "What do you plan on doing with the plot of land near the Queen's Forest? Do you plan on causing harm to the Queen's Forest?"
"No, I don't have any intention to harm the land owned by the Queen in any regard. As for my plans for the plot, I wanted to plant an orchard and some herbs to grow on a majority of the land, whilst also building a small cabin as a vacation spot. Perhaps even construct a small stall to sell goods to the passing merchants."
Duchess Poinset nodded, asking "And what is it that you wish to sell? How would you make those goods that you intend to sell, and do you plan on overcharging your customers? Not that I particularly care..." before taking another sip from her tea, observing my reaction.
"Produce and refined organic materials, like flour, vegetable oils, or wines, all of which would be made by my family and I on this plot of land. Additionally, if they can provide satisfactory coin, we would also sell sexual services to any who want it. Prices would vary depending on the attitudes of customers and quantity of goods purchased..."
She chuckled again as she looked me over, before glancing around the clearing and taking in the rest of the family as she muttered "No problem with that, I guess. Certainly understandable..."
Looking back at me, the Duchess asked a new question, her sharpness and cold undertones become duller and thawed with each answer I provided.
"To move on to some more general questions then, do you have any intention on harboring criminals or perhaps aiding in something that could be detrimental to the Queendom? Contact with outsiders to whom you would sell information? Things that might not damage or hurt the Queendom or its people directly, but would eventually cause harm?"
My breath hitched at the first part of her question, making her raise a brow as she observed me closely, waiting for my answer.
"I... would only harbor or aid those I believed to be redeemable or undeserving of the punishment given to them, and even then it would depend on how they might affect me and my family. As for contacting outside forces, I have never been outside of the Dryadi Queendom nor do I know anyone from outside this lands borders... at least that I know of."
The Duchess narrowed her eyes at me before sighing, tapping her finger against the rim of her teacup as she looked towards the Potaam River, falling silent for a few seconds.
I had to resist the urge to squirm where I was sitting as the silence continued, my heart pounding in my chest as I wondered what was going on inside her beautiful head.
"Nothing wrong with that. Odd for a Noble like myself to say, but I have seen the corruption that power brings. Rape, murder, fraud, kidnapping, trafficking... it all permeates upper society, and despite the best efforts of our Queen, there still are those parasites who would abuse their positions. As long as you aren't someone who believes that everything the Nobility does is terrible for the world, I don't particularly care what you do regarding some of the criminals or slaves."
When she glanced at me I shook my head, making her smile softly as she rested her cheek on her hand, adding "I'm sure I could go deeper with this, but I have enough of a picture to understand who you are, Miss Astra. Besides, if you do end up... changing your mind about how you treat the Queen's Forest, what I think won't matter. After all, you would be little more than a corpse rotting amongst the roots."
Her luscious lips curled into a promising smile that held nothing good within its shape, and I shivered once more as a chill crept up my spine, only to gasp as the dome of mana around me dissipated, allowing the sickly sweet scent to be diffused into the air.
"Well, that should be all then neighbor~! I got everything I needed, and I certainly do have a better grasp on you and your family. Mannerisms speak far more than words ever can, Miss Astra. It'd do you good to remember that. Now..."
Finishing her tea, the Duchess stood up and brushed out her dress before approaching her horse, mounting it easily and looking back at the rest of us as she grinned, her features warm now that her work was done.
"I look forwards to seeing this plot be turned into something besides just grass~! May the Goddess bless you all."
With that, Duchess Renna Poinset raised her hand and waved us goodbye before galloping away, her reddish brown hair billowing behind her as she left us as suddenly as she appeared.
Getting up as well, I sighed and pinched the bridge of my nose, before smiling wryly at the others as I said "I guess we know who lives beside us now, don't we?"