Diplomat

Piposhka's interrogation... certainly was something. We didn't get anything substantial on Pompi, but on Piposhka herself, we got pretty much everything. Her life story, her embarrassing secrets, and everything she knew about Blini. Kind of feel a little bad for her considering now all those embarrassing secrets of hers are on official record.

As for her comrades, the black-haired woman and white-haired man, who we learned were named, Debora and Sascha, respectively, it turned out they were actually retainers of Piposhka who had joined Death White alongside her. Neither knew any more about Pompi than Piposhka did though.

"So what happens now?" I asked Ami as we stepped outside the barracks.

"This whole thing becomes a big mess, that's what. With Piposhka actually being a princess, it means we gotta tread carefully with her, as one wrong move and it's war with Blini," Ami scowled.

"But isn't she a mercenary?"

"She's still a princess, and if she's executed, Blini could use that as justification for war."

"But didn't Piposhka say-"

"Doesn't matter if she ran away from home and became a mercenary just to get out and see the world. A princess is still a princess no matter how you slice it."

"Am I going to get in trouble for beating her up?"

"No, you shouldn't, since none of us knew her identity along with the fact that she did invade us. Of course, that's just on our side. I have no idea how Blini will react to this."

I gulped.

"Well, even if they demand we turn you over so they can execute you, we'd never do it. Anyway, lets enjoy our time here since we're stuck spending the night."

"Ooh, does that mean sightseeing?" I grinned.

"Better," Ami grinned back.

...

"Ahhh... it feels so good," I moaned as I sunk into a pool of hot water with a towel wrapped around me.

"Feels great after a long day, huh. This here's a thermal bath I helped make. I loaded it with all the good stuff that'll heal you, relax you, and best of all, make you get out once you're fully recharged," Ami smirked as she lounged next to me.

"Huh? What do you mean by the last part?"

"Ah, if you spend too long in a hot spring or thermal bath, you get lightheaded. So, I fixed that with a secret mix I threw in the bath. Only works on baths though, but for natural hot springs, I got a little timer that does the trick. Stay too long, a golem pops out and carries you out. Have them installed at every major hot spring in the kingdom."

"So this will heal up your arm?"

"Yeah, that's why the doc said I'd be healed up so soon."

"Does that mean we're staying here until then?"

"Sadly, yes. I'd love to get back to the lab, but the problem is we'd have to take a carriage, and if we run into trouble, I can't fight. So, until my arm can function again, we stay put."

"I'm fine with that. I kind of want to explore the city proper considering I've never been here before."

"Guess I can show you around. I'm here about once or twice a week, so I know all the sights and such."

I let loose a giggle as I sunk up to my neck in the water. "This will be like a vacation then."

"Not quite. Don't forget about Piposhka. Plus there's a chance Pompi might be lurking around somewhere. Don't let your guard down, ever," Ami scowled.

I wearily nodded.

"Yes, especially in the bath, since dybbuks just love spying a peek on a bathing woman," Mariamne smirked as she entered the water along with Perl and Penina, both of whom were still bandaged head to toe.

"I think a bigger problem then a dybbuk just entered the water," Ami growled.

"Oh what a treat you are, witch of the amethyst. Though I must admit, our dear squad leader talks of you so much, I wonder when she'll ask for your hand in marriage," Penina giggled.

Both Ami and Mariamne went red in the face. "I have no romantic attraction to her!" they both cried as they pointed at each other. "AH!"

"My, my, they're in sync already. Oh what a lovely couple they'll make."

"Marriage, marriage, think my folks want to set me up for one, but couldn't find any suitors," Perl mumbled as she began paddling through the water.

"Oh sweet Perl, doggy-paddling like that certainly won't help."

"Huh? What's wrong with my swimming? It not efficient enough? I can't really do big strokes all bandaged up like this."

Penina burst into laughter. "Oh, sweet Perl."

"What's wrong with her swimming?" I asked.

Ami scowled as she held her hand to her face. "It's a noble thing, you wouldn't get it."

"Huh? Now I'm even more confused."

Ami sighed and shook her head as she sunk lower into the water.

Once our soak in the bath was done, me and Ami headed for the inn. Considering all that happened, the knights decided to pay for our room, even though we did have enough funds on hand to cover things ourselves.

"Wish they'd give us separate rooms, but I guess the knights gotta be stingy," Ami grumbled as she flopped down on one of the beds.

"I don't mind sharing. Ooh, you got makeup and beauty cream, right? Let's have a beauty night," I giggled.

Ami began to smile. "Alright, won me over. Wanna do our nails?"

"You know it!"

Though the day had begun hectically, it ended peacefully with me and Ami all dolled up before bed. And boy did we need it as the next morning, things were even more hectic.

...

"Why do we have to be present for this?" I asked Ami as we stood by the dock.

"Honestly, I don't know, but if the commanders are requesting you be here, best be here. I guess the they want the one who actually took down Piposhka to be present when the tsar arrives."

"Th- The tsar?" I gulped.

"Yeah, the ruler of Blini. Surprised myself he's coming, but I guess this is a touchy matter considering Piposhka ran away from home."

"Um, could you not recap my life story out loud?" Piposhka trembled.

"Already on record."

"It's still embarrassing."

Our banter was cut short by a large regal ship pulling into the harbor. The air grew cold as icy stairs descended out from the ship, and a bearded man garbed in white fur robes and boots began marching down alone.

"That's the tsar," Ami whispered.

My heart began thumping rapidly as my instincts began screaming at me to run the closer the tsar got. This guy was really strong, almost as strong as my father.

The tsar slowly eyed Piposka before slapping her across the face with the back of his hand. "You stupid girl. I hear you run off to join a mercenary group, then get arrested in Blintz for trying to invade them!? Are you trying to sabotage me, girl!?"

Piposhka trembled, but defiantly turned the other way.

"What a farce. I should just leave you to be executed," the tsar snarled as his gaze centered on the gallows in the distance.

"Like the decor? We decided to hang Vlad Simovich as an example, even though he perished on the battlefield," Duke Ober huffed.

The tsar's face began to contort as he mumbled something I couldn't understand. Probably a Blinish swear word if I had to take a guess.

"I want his corpse," the tsar glared.

Duke Praha nodded and waved his hand. "He'll be down in... say 10 to 15 minutes. The gallows are actually in the middle of town, but raised high so even a ship at sea can see the ones hanging," he chuckled.

"You Blintzians are sick. Hmm, high gallows... perhaps not. Piposhka."

"What is it?" Piposhka grumbled.

"You wish not to return to Blini, yes? Then you shall remain here as diplomat."

Everyone let out a collective, "Huh!?"

"Wh- What do you mean diplomat!?" Piposhka trembled.

"I mean you'll be serving as our official representative, meaning you'll be tasked with sending letters about the state of affairs in Blintz."

"So a public spy in a sense?" Duke Praha shrugged.

"This works both ways. I'll allow Blintz to send a diplomat to Blini, or would you rather I declare war?"

"Oh no, no, no, we graciously accept your offer. Shall we get it in writing?"

"Doesn't your king need to be the one to sign?"

"Ah, my apologies, I'm Duke Praha von Loew, commander of the Knights Order within the Loew province. His majesty was unable to arrive on such short notice, and so he has decreed his authority to me in the matter of negotiations," Duke Praha chuckled as he displayed an official letter.

The tsar stared at the letter for a bit before nodding. "Very well, let's sign."

By the time the signing was done, the knights had returned with Vlad's corpse. The tsar then summoned two humanoid ice golems to carry Vlad's corpse to the boat before beginning to leave himself.

"One final thing I'd like to ask; who was it that did in Vlad?" the tsar scowled.

Piposhka instantly pointed to me. "They say she did it. Don't know how. Oh, and she also beat me up."

"Anyone can do that, but not anyone can take down Vlad," the tsar growled as he stared me down. "Hmm, a woman... Tell me your name."

Ami turned to me and nodded as I took a deep breath. "Aya. Aya LaNorne."

"Aya... I shall remember that," the tsar mumbled as he ascended the stairs back onto the ship.

Once the ship had set sail and was out of sight, I let out a huge sigh of relief and crumpled to the ground.

"You handled that well," Ami smiled as she patted me on the back.

"Thanks. You know, I know it's early, but think I could soak in the bath now? I uh, kind of need to calm my nerves," I trembled.

"Sure. We can take an early bath, then enjoy the nightlife."

...

Me and Ami scowled as we lounged in the bath across from Piposhka and Deborah.

"What? My job as diplomat is to learn about Blintz, and well, might as well learn what their thermal baths are like," Piposhka grumbled.

"I'm going to make a private bath so I can relax in peace," Ami growled.