[h3]Giselle de Farry[/h3][i]Undead Princess, de Farry[/i]

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Giselle held up her index finger and wagged it in response. “Manipulation tactic, perhaps. Kindness, no. Call it a difference in philosophy,” she replied, acknowledging both Julene and Akyasha. She refrained from rolling her eyes at the nun’s far more intimate tactics.

“And no, I won’t sugarcoat it. Our kind has done enough terrible things in the past to warrant such a label, although I’d like to think that as a whole we’re better than that,” she continued, looking a bit chagrined. “Yes, swearing an oath does require giving up your free will. [i]To an extent.”[/i]

“Yes, swearing that oath can be for the rest of your unlife. And for some, that is true,” she agreed, “But that’s not my style. I [i]really[/i] don’t like making people work for me just because they’ve been forced to. It’s not my governing style. It’s not why I became what I am—my very existence as a vampire was to protect the people under my wing. No, if you’ve given enough years of loyal service, once the terms of the contract are fulfilled, you are free to leave of your own volition. Pursue your own power, but to remember who first helped you grow all those years ago,” she explained. “Although, obviously, I’d greatly prefer if you remained in my service afterwards.” Giselle had always preferred that method—creating a wide, network of contacts and followers that were not loyal because their wills had been bent to fit hers, but because she had given them a reason to be loyal. Oh, how she missed her maids… “It’s bitten me in the back more than once, yes, but I think the mutual benefits outweigh the negatives.”

“That said, more importantly, I’m far more focused on protecting people and rebuilding towns and villages more than a nun who’s overly focused on religious worship. Do you really want to do that constantly for the rest of your life, instead of doing what you do best? However different our methods, I do still intend to rebuild –protect the villagers-- and people like you are integral for that. I can teach you far more than anybody else in that regard—I was renowned in my time for engineering and building, after all.” 

She turned, briefly, letting her eyes obviously fall onto the nearly pristine sword that she had repaired for Julene for emphasis.

Giselle held out her hand for Julene to take. “Swear an oath to me and Ichor, and we can become so much more. Do so much more. What do you say, partner?”

She’d mention having to become a maid and wear the proper uniform later, if she accepted.