We went in the mansion, he didn't question us yet. "So, what's your deal? Showing up to my abode so brazenly."
"Were you listening?" I raised an eyebrow.
"We are after the noble thief," Kazuma added.
"Yeah, and Claire asked for cooperation." I continued. "So, don't act so surprised, I proved you as a corrupt scum."
"You come in my home and proceed to insult me... Where are your manners?" Alderp looked at me, holding back his tone.
"I got promoted to a lord, so you can... actually never mind. We are here to help you, so stop complaining." I said.
He growled after which he turned his gaze to the side. "Fine, you can stay..."
Now with that settled, the mansion was quite mediocre, at least, in my vision.
But at least this gives me the chance to get more creative with my agricultural venture, I could ask for lots of things, like dragon fruit, maybe even kelp or seaweed, and many other stuff. All raw of course and unprocessed.
After exploring the mansion I bit, I decide to go pay a visit to the capital - maybe browse a bit, because I was pretty shut-in when it came for the entire week in the castle.
I got dressed more casually and realized something... I'm gaining weight... Is my belly bigger than before? So now I'm implementing a new workout regime, inspired by darkness, who is very strong, because of her armor.
I turned off the mechanism that held the exo-suit together and walked with it, it was literally walking with twenty kilograms on top.
---
In the end I bought, nothing, lost all my breakfast and was in a desperate need of a shower.
---
Life in the mansion wasn't all that good, except that I got more plants that I didn't think of asking for in the castle.
Every one of us had our quirks - Aqua got drunk every day, Megumin told stories, Darkness was profusely apologizing and I used the privilege to raid the mansion's kitchen and make sorbet, and yapping on and on about automation and a sorbet factory. The chefs couldn't give less of a fuck about what I do, but they were kind of forced to listen, cuz I'm a guest, and also a lord.
Alderp had to endure this for three whole days, before politely asking of Darkness for them to leave. Darkness knew the issue. Honestly, even I felt sorry for the man, imagine having five people coming to your home, eating your food, drinking your best alcohols, and being a major pain in the ass.
Quite funny, that night I was sitting in my quarter, listening to some dark jazz, my legs on the table.
I was simply standing guard, my drone flying high in the sky and watching for any intruders... And there was, I quickly ordered it to go down and see the thief up close - and who would have guessed? Chris was that thief, and she entered through the open kitchen window.
No wonder why Eris isn't coming down to keep me company. I decide to go check things out. My drone going on standby.
I head through the dark halls, avoiding making any sound, then I heard it, her scream. I instantly rushed into the kitchen and saw that Kazuma has pounced on her. I move behind him and give him a strong ass slap on the neck.
He instantly looked back, holding the back of his neck, giving Chris time to move away. "What's your problem?!"
I point at Chris and shake my head, brows furrowed.
Kazuma looked at her and realized who she is.
"Wait, Chris, you are the noble thief?"
She walks back, her eyes tearing, but when she looked at me her eyes softened. She continued with her act. "Kazuma? Svetislav? I don't understand - what are you two doing here?"
Kazuma proceeded to explain the whole situation.
"But if that's true, then Darkness is here too. That's bad."
"There's a good chance they won't kill you if you just apologized."
"Absolutely not." I shook my head.
"You don't understand - I am doing this for a perfectly good reason."
In that moment we heard footsteps, after which we quickly hid.
The footsteps became distant.
"Well... I suppose I owe an explanation. It all started wh-"
"Stop! I don't want to know!"
"And why not?"
"Cuz this is how I get dragged into trouble every single time. Why not him?"
"He has a reputation to uphold."
"Mhhm." Kazuma narrowed his eyes. "Whatever! Your secret is safe with us?" He said, looking at me.
I nod once.
"You need to hurry up and leave." Kazuma said, lifting her up.
"Fine, but I could use some help."
"I don't want to hear it." He said quickly, pushing her away. "Besides, think about it - you know as well as I do that the lord of this place is a real pervert. If he sees you've been captured than look out." Kazuma said that last part with this disturbing gesture of pulling her dagger in and out of its sheath.
That single idea placed a bit of a paranoia in me, what if she... during on of those missions...
There was one thing for sure, if anything happens, the one who has done it will receive the inhumane treatment and be tortured to death.
Chris jumped back, her eyes tearing slightly as she trembled...
In the end, she's just a woman, who wants safety, security...
Darkness' voice could be heard in the distance, echoing through the quiet halls. "I think I heard something."
Chris knew this was her cue to leave.
And so she did, but not before she did Kazuma's Idea, binding him and rushing away.
I turn my head to the side and give him a side eye. "Tell them that I chased after the thief." And just like that, I was out of the mansion.
I caught up to her quickly. "Dear..." I say, looking forward as the world we were moving through blurs... "I won't lie. I'm sickened. To my very core."
She glanced at me, her gaze concerned.
"The thought of him - of anyone - laying a finger on you. The things I heard... the way Kazuma spoke of it so casually." My jaw clenched and my face contorted into a raging mess. "It makes my stomach churn. Makes me want to take every single one them apart... Piece by piece as I listen to them scream."
She slowed, her eyes widening, and I could see it - recognition.
"I saw it," I continued, softer now. "In your eyes back there... That fear. A fear that causes the yearn of safety. For protection... As long as I'm near you, you won't have to fear again."
Her silence was enough of an answer. I have stated what I wanted. I stopped following her, allowing her to fade into the distance.
I returned to Alderp's mansion, going through the door and announcing flatly. "It was a failure. The thief got away."
Alderp opened his mouth, but before he could say anything, I held up a hand. "Spare me the sermon. I already know what it looks like." I held no shame - it was mock disappointment. And Then I simply walked past him, down the hall, closing my chamber door behind me with a muted click.
Inside, I let out a long breath, placing a chair at the handle. That's when I felt it - the familiar warmth sliding into the room.
I turned, and there she was. Eris.
"Good evening," I whispered.
She didn't answer right away. She crossed the room in soft steps and stopped just in front of me, her eyes searching mine. The storm I'd been holding back must have been written all over my face. She reached out and wrapped her arms around me.
"I'm sorry..." She muttered, her voice cracking.
My arms came up slowly, almost on instinct, pulling her close. "It's alright..."
Her hands tightened on my back. "No. It isn't." She tipped her head back just enough for me to see the tears gathering at the corners of her eyes. "You don't think it's alright. You're suffering. I knew you would regret it. I warned you. And still you tried."
I shut my eyes, feeling the tremor in her voice sink into me. "Maybe. But what else could I do?"
"I don't want to be the reason you burn out..." Her words spilled now, soft but urgent. "I don't want to hurt you, stress you, or... or watch you twist yourself into something dark just because of me. I love you... And I don't want to see you suffer."
I hugged her tighter, inhaling deeply, forcing the storm inside me to settle just a little. "When the raging storm is over," I said softly, my voice low, steady, manly but gentle, "the blue sky will be more beautiful than ever...."
She stood on her toes, pressing her forehead to mine. "Then let me help you through t he storm," she whispered. "Don't carry it alone. Don't lose yourself to the part of you that wants to destroy. Please."
"I don't want to lose myself," I admitted, my voice quiet but full of weight. "But if anyone ever tried to hurt you, if they took you from me-" I stopped myself, exhaling hard. "No. I shouldn't think like that."
Her hands came up to cup my face, her thumbs brushing under my eyes. "Then don't. Think of me here, right now. Think of my arms around you. This is real. This is enough. Even if my duties drag me away again - I'm still here."
And so we both end up in each other's embrace. I fell asleep quickly, still holding her. Who would have guessed that fear and anger take so much energy.
---
The next day we left the mansion and went back to the castle at the capital to report.
After Kazuma explained what happened, Raid said. "I see. Despite all your confident assertions, you still failed the task."
"You said, the thief wore a mask and was extremely formidable, right?" Claire continued.
Kazuma confirmed and tried to earn at least a bit of praise for stopping the robbery.
Claire sighed, before continuing. "Lord Svetislav has courageously battled the Devil King's generals. So, I'm quite certain that this thief must have been a serious threat."
"The thief actually ran when I got there." I said.
"I see... Well, In any event, I must thank you. Even if you failed to apprehend the devious thief, you managed to prevent him from stealing another thing. Therefore, you have done nothing to earn derision." Iris stood up from the throne and said.
"You must be grateful for Princess Iris's mercy. For that reason there is no reason for you to remain in the castle. Forthwith take your leave." Claire finished.
In that moment I realized why Kazuma even offered to help. Disappointing... Selfish... Unworthy...
After this we got rooms at an Inn, I simply stayed in my room, I didn't want to go anywhere right now... I was enjoying the sunshine through the window.
Quickly the night came as I spent my day in my own mind.
I ate my own cooking and went to sleep. But in that moment, I heard Her scream. "Svetislav!"
In and Instance I jumped out the window and made my way to the window corresponding to Kazuma's room, landing on the frame. I look down at Kazuma. "Bitch-ass, you need to stop that. I want to sleep."
Kazuma jumped as he saw me, instantly letting go of her. "My bad, I will keep it down."
With that I left, or at least pretended to. In truth I hung to the wall.
Listening in on the conversation, which could be summarized in a few words - help, divine treasures, danger.
And the part which annoyed me the most, how he threatened her with sexual harassment if she didn't go away.
In the end she left, she spot me while going. She knew I heard all of it.
So now I returned to my room and closed the curtains.
"Eris..."
A few minutes later she appeared.
I turned my head to look at her.
"You know why I called you, right?" I asked.
She nodded once, her gaze steady but soft. "I do. But if you only forgive h-"
"Your mercifulness comes as naivety at this point." My eyes cut cold, sharper than I untended. I could see the flicker of pain that passed over her face at my words.
"Violence isn't going to change anything." She said timidly.
"Oh, It will." My lips twisted into something vile, something, I hadn't meant to show her, but it crawled across my face anyway. A sickening grin, almost sadistic. "And I'll enjoy every secone of It." The thought of tearing Kazuma apart had a dark, seductive weight to it.
Her breath hitched, her hands curling at her chest. "Svetislav... You are scaring me..."
That struck deeper than any blade could. My stomach dropped, my grin died instantly, and all the heat left me. I raised my eyes to hers, sitting there like chastised beast. "...I don't want to be what frightens you."
She stepped forward, slow and deliberate, sd if approaching a wounded animal. Her hands came down on my shoulders, warm and trembling. "Then don't be. You are not a monster, Svetislav. Not to me."
"...But what he said. What he intended. If I let it go-"
"Then you let him shape you." Her voice was firmer now, steady. She lowered herself so her forehead pressed gently against mine. "Don't let this filth stain the man I love. Don't let him drag you down into the same mud."
My breath quivered, the storm inside me faltering under her closeness. "I just... I can't stand the thought of you in that position. His words-" My jaw clenched, but her hands came up to cup my face, anchoring me.
"Then stand by me. Protect me by being you." She leaned in closer, her voice a whisper meant only for me. "You are my shelter, not my terror. When the storm rages, I need to know you'll still be the man who holds me afterwards."
The tension in my chest cracked. My arms came up, hesitant at first, then wrapped around her waist, pulling her against me. I buried my face in the crook if her neck. "You always know how to calm me."
Her hand stroked the back of my head, gently, reassuring. "Because I won't let it take you from me."
In that moment the alarm of the Capital rung. I didn't let it take this moment away from me, though it's best if I let her go, before anyone comes in my room to get me to go with them to the frontline.