Klarion woke slowly, his mind drifting up from the depths of sleep, warm and comfortable in a way he hadn’t been in some time. He tightened his hold instinctively, fingers curling around something soft. Something warm.

  His eyes blinked open. It took him a moment to process the sight before him — Hatsune, nestled against his chest, her breathing slow and steady. Her arms were wrapped around him, her smaller hands clutching him as if she was afraid to let go.

  Klarion froze, a stretch dying before it could even begin. His face burned, but even in the strange panic that was threatening to rise in him, he couldn’t bring himself to move. She was warm, so warm, and impossibly soft. In the night, his arms had wrapped around her in turn, holding her close, and for a long, breathtaking moment, he simply enjoyed holding her.

  It felt… nice. More than nice, actually. It felt right.

  He shut his eyes again, taking in the way her body molded against his, how perfectly she seemed to fit in his arms. Her scent was light and sweet, her hair silky against his cheek. It was like waking from a beautiful dream and finding it wasn’t over just yet.

  But as much as he wanted to savor the moment, he forced himself to take a deep, steadying breath. He couldn’t read too much into this. There was too much going on, too many complicated emotions tangled up in all of it.

  Hatsune was here because of him — because she had been sold to the Hall of Bonds and he had picked her as his first bodyguard. He was the only person she really knew and trusted since coming here. And after last night, after he had assured her that she wouldn’t be replaced by J-65, she must have felt a sense of relief.

  It made sense that she would cling to him now, both literally and figuratively. It didn’t necessarily mean anything more than that. He shouldn’t let himself hope for more.

  Even if… he kind of wanted to.

  Klarion swallowed hard, eyes opening to look down at her sleeping face. Her lashes were long and delicate, her lips parted slightly as she breathed. Her ears twitched every now and then, brushing his skin and sending a shiver down his spine.

  His heart ached, and a wave of emotion that he hadn’t felt in quite some time surged through him. He cared about her. Maybe more than he should.

  But that was a thought for another time. For now, he just needed to get out of this situation before she woke up and things became awkward.

  Slowly, carefully, Klarion began to disentangle himself from Hatsune’s grasp. Her fingers clung to his shirt, and he had to pry them loose one by one, feeling strangely cold as her warmth slipped away. Her brow furrowed, her ears twitching as she murmured something incoherent, but she didn’t wake.

  He let out a sigh of relief, finally pulling himself free and sitting up on the edge of the couch. His muscles were stiff, his neck sore from the awkward position, but he didn’t care. His mind was still spinning from the close contact, his heart refusing to settle down.

  He glanced back at Hatsune, her small form curled up against the back of the couch now, her arms hugging the pillow she had clung to before. She looked so peaceful, so innocent... so vulnerable.

  He shook his head, trying to clear his thoughts. Standing up, he stretched his stiff limbs, his eyes catching on the slightly blood-stained covers. His chest tightened at the reminder of J-65, lying in his bed, recovering from wounds she’d taken trying to protect him.

  His uniform was still stained with her blood, the dark patches stark against the fabric. He frowned, his fingers brushing the dried stains. This wouldn’t have happened if he had proper servants to take care of the manor. If he was being honest, he needed help with more than just cleaning.

  Blacksword Manor was far more massive a home than he was used to, sprawling with empty rooms, dusty hallways, and barely any furniture. Though it was slowly becoming more comfortable, if still as empty as when he had first found it. It was a far cry from the cozy apartment he’d once had on Earth, and he still wasn’t used to it. But he was a noble now. A scion of an Archducal House. He was expected to maintain a household, to have servants and guards and everything that came with the title. It felt strange, almost wrong, like he was playing a role in someone else’s life. Yet, he was gradually adapting to the mindset of the nobility, whether he wanted to or not.

  And he didn’t have time to run everything in Blacksword Manor himself, even if he wanted to.

  His fingers tightened around the stained fabric, his eyes hardening. He needed to get things in order. He needed servants to clean and maintain the manor, guards to protect it, and supplies to last through the unknown dangers ahead. And he needed furniture. Desperately. Sleeping on that couch again was not an option. Not with how tiny it was... and how easily he ended up tangled up with Hatsune.

  He shook his head, forcing his thoughts back on track. He needed to focus. There was too much work to be done to let himself get distracted. But as he looked around the barren room, the empty corners and bare walls, he couldn’t help but feel a little overwhelmed. The manor was huge, and the list of things he needed was daunting.

  A soft murmur broke through his thoughts, and he turned to see Hatsune shift on the couch, her arms tightening around the pillow as she curled up even smaller. Her face was serene, her ears flicking as she snuggled deeper into the cushions.

  For a moment, he simply watched her, the image searing itself into his memory. She looked... happy. Safe. But as much as he wanted to keep watching, he had other things to take care of. He turned away, stepping quietly to the bed where J-65 lay.

  The Star Elf was still asleep, her dark skin shimmering faintly pinpricks of light moving over her skin, her white hair cascading over the pillow. Her breathing was even now, her face serene. It was hard to believe she had been so close to death just hours ago. Looking closer, he confirmed that her wounds were closed and healing. If it weren’t for the lingering exhaustion in her expression, he would have thought she was perfectly fine.

  The Sentinel healer that had come with the Lord Sentinel had warned them against seeking additional healing for her, cautioning that more magic could do more harm than good. It didn’t sit well with him, knowing she was still weak and vulnerable, but he trusted the healer’s judgment. For now, all he could do was wait and let her recover naturally. Hopefully, that would be sooner rather than later. He really wanted to know why she had done what she had done to help him.

  But that was a conversation for later.

  He turned away from the bed to head to the bathroom. He felt grimy, his skin sticky with dried sweat and blood from carrying J-65 to the room earlier.

  A hot shower. That was what he needed.

  The master bathroom was absurdly luxurious, far grander than anything he had ever lived with on Earth. The walls were made of polished marble, the floor a mosaic of intricate tiles, and the bathtub set in the floor was large enough to be mistaken for a small pool. As much as he wanted a long, warm soak, he had things to do today while he didn’t have to worry about attending classes.

  He made his way over to the shower. Enclosed in glass with multiple rainfall showerheads that looked similar to those he had seen on Earth, which he couldn’t wait to use. Quickly stripping off his clothes, he stepped into the shower. The water burst to life as he turned the dial, cascading down from the ceiling to soon turn into a warm, soothing torrent. His body sagged as the hot water soaked into his skin, easing the tension from his shoulders.

  For a long moment, he just stood there, letting the water wash away the sweat and the soreness. It was heavenly, the heat loosening his stiff muscles, the steam curling around him like a comforting embrace. Much better than the shower he had back on Earth, for sure.

  Once he felt sufficiently hot, he finally reached for the soap, scrubbing himself clean from head to toe. By the time he was done, his skin was pink from the heat, his hair damp and curling at the ends.

  Stepping out of the shower, he wrapped himself in one of the plush towels, and, in the process, glimpsed himself in the mirror across from the bathtub. His reflection was almost unrecognizable, but he was growing used to it. The face staring back at him was sharper, his jaw more defined, his eyes — beyond their new red-gold color — were harder. He looked… older.

  He picked up his uniform and took it to the sink. Dabbing the fine cloth with water, he worked to clean it as best he could before using another spare towel to dry it. Once satisfied, he finished in the bathroom, got dressed again, and returned to the bedroom.

  Hatsune was still asleep on the couch, though she had shifted, and the pillow she had been clutching was now underneath her. As much as he wanted to let her sleep in, they both had things to do today if they wanted to continue making progress in increasing their ability to protect themselves from his enemies. Namely, pick out classes to pursue.

  He stepped to her side, and gently nudged her shoulder. “Hey. Hatsune. Wake up.”

  She made a small noise of protest, her nose crinkling as she pushed herself deeper into the couch. “Mmm… five more minutes…”

  “It’s already getting late,” Klarion said. “And if you keep sleeping, you won’t be able to join me for breakfast. I’m heading to the kitchen to make something now.”

  This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.

  One of her ears twitched, and she finally cracked one eye open, peering up at him sleepily. “...Breakfast?”

  “Yeah. Figured we could both use a decent meal after last night.” He offered her a small smile. “Try not to take too long. I’ll be downstairs.”

  She yawned, her mouth opening wide as she stretched, her ears flattening back before perking up again. “Okay... I’ll be down in a few …minutes.”

  Klarion nodded, his smile softening as she rolled over, hugging the pillow even tighter.

  For her part, J-65 was still asleep, her breathing slow and even, her body motionless on the bed. He’d have to figure out something to make for her to eat, on the chance she woke up soon. Given what the Sentinel healer had said, that was probably unlikely, but he wanted to be prepared. She needed to eat, to regain her strength after everything she had been through. His gaze lingered on her for a moment before he quietly left the bedroom and made his way down to the kitchen.

  It was much as he had left it the last time he had been there. Clean, organized, and ready to use, if starting to run a bit low on food. He had some money now, and it would be nice to restock on some things, but that would require figuring out where there was a market. Or if he needed to order food through the Academy and have it delivered somehow. More time to waste… that settled it, he would be making a trip to the Hall of Bonds later today.

  Setting that thought aside for later, he rolled up his sleeves and got to work, his hands moving on autopilot as he grabbed ingredients. Eggs, bread, and a few potatoes. Simple, but filling.

  It was a matter of only a few minutes, and the scent of cooking eggs filled the kitchen as he moved to the stove. The diced potatoes were coming along nicely as well, and the bread would be toasted last. He made sure to make enough that J-65 would be able to enjoy some, just in case she woke up hungry, though he doubted she would. She was likely still exhausted, her body recovering from the lingering damage of the injuries that Sentinel healer had fixed last night.

  Klarion hummed to himself as he finished cooking and set the table, leaving a single plate aside to take up for J-65 later. He had outdone himself, if he was being honest. But then, he had always enjoyed making breakfast. Even a simple meal was enough to help start over after a long night. And last night had been one of the longest in a while.

  Since Hatsune was not yet in the kitchen, he left the food and plates where they were and stepped back into the hallway. Hopefully, she would enjoy what he made this morning.

  His steps faltered as he heard a knocking sound echo from the direction of the front door.

  Klarion’s heart skipped a beat, his mind immediately going back to the events of last night: the front door had been shattered by the Lord Sentinel. He cursed under his breath, realizing that, in their haste to get J-65 settled in a bed, they had completely left the front of Blacksword Manor wide open. They had been vulnerable all night, completely exposed to anyone who might have meant them harm. Anyone could have walked right in.

  Yet, the knocking continued.

  And when he stepped around the corner into the foyer, he saw why.

  The door was intact.

  It stood there, solid and sturdy, just as it had before the Lord Sentinel had obliterated it on his entrance.

  How…?

  His eyes narrowed as he examined the wood. He couldn’t be sure, but it looked like the wood of the door was slightly different. Replaced then. But that raised new questions. He hadn’t ordered repairs, hadn’t even thought about it last night. But someone had clearly fixed the door. Was it the Sentinels? Had they sent someone to replace it while they had been sleeping in?

  His shoulders relaxed slightly, a sense of relief rising. If the Sentinels had intervened, then they had likely kept watch through the night as well.

  The knocking came again.

  He was about to step forward when he heard Hatsune’s voice call out, light and cheerful. “Coming!”

  Klarion paused, then stepped back out of sight, curiosity getting the better of him. Hatsune had mostly been following his lead this past week. He wanted to see how she would handle the situation.

  The Leporine pulled the door open, her ears perking up as she looked out at the visitor. “Good morning!” she greeted, tone still bright and friendly.

  The human man revealed to be standing on the other side did not return her cheerfulness. He was dressed in the uniform of a courier, his arms crossed as he glared at Hatsune. “About time someone answered. I’ve been waiting here forever.” He huffed, his face twisted in annoyance. “And it’s all because that rude elven carpenter refused to let me in. Said he had to ‘finish the work assigned by the Sentinels’ first, as if his job was more important than mine.”

  Klarion’s eyebrows rose in surprise. So, the Sentinels had really sent someone to take care of the door. Looks like his thoughts about the repairs had been right. He felt a small surge of gratitude.

  Hatsune’s response interrupted his thoughts. “That’s nice,” she said, her tone dry as she cut off the courier’s rant. “I’m sure it was very inconvenient for you.”

  The man’s eyes narrowed, clearly irritated at her lack of sympathy. “Hmph. Whatever. I’m here to deliver the one hundred gold your lord won from some duel,” he said, his voice dripping with disdain. “Can’t believe they made me waste my time bringing it all the way out here, just to hand it over to some bunnykin serving a lesser lord. No matter what rank he claims to have.”

  Klarion’s jaw tightened, his fists clenching at his sides. The insult hit harder than he expected, not for himself but for Hatsune. He was about to step out and confront the man when Hatsune’s laughter cut through the air.

  It wasn’t a pleasant sound.

  Her ears flicked as she looked at the messenger, her expression sweet but her eyes cold. “You must be very brave,” she cooed, her voice dangerously soft. “Insulting the master of Blacksword Manor right in front of his loyal bodyguard.”

  The man blinked, taken aback. “I-I didn’t mean—”

  Hatsune’s smile widened as she leaned in closer, her voice dropping to a whisper. “I wonder... how long it would take for someone to find your body if I buried you in the garden?”

  The color drained from the messenger’s face, his mouth opening and closing like a fish.

  Hatsune’s demeanor flipped in an instant, her smile bright and cheerful once more as she held out her hand. “The gold, if you please.”

  The man swallowed hard, his hands shaking as he fumbled with the bag of coins, practically shoving it into her grip. “H-Here. A-All one hundred, just as I said.”

  Hatsune’s fingers closed around the bag, and she weighed it in her palm, satisfied by the weight. “Good,” she said sweetly. “Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have breakfast to eat.”

  She stepped back and, without another word, slammed the door in his face.

  Klarion’s eyes widened, his mouth dropping open in shock before he had to bite back a laugh. He barely managed to stifle the sound, his shoulders shaking as he leaned back against the wall. Who would have thought the Leporine could be so terrifying?

  The Leporine stared at the closed door for a moment longer, and he heard Hatsune muttering under her breath, “Who does he think he is? Talking about Klarion like that...”

  Klarion stepped out from behind the corner, his face still split in a wide grin as he approached her. “Remind me to never get on your bad side.”

  Hatsune jumped, spinning around with wide eyes. “K-Klarion! You scared me!”

  He laughed, his heart lighter than it had been all morning. “Sorry, couldn’t resist.” He looked down at the bag of gold she held, his smile softening. “Come on. Breakfast is ready. And I made enough for you to get seconds.”

  Though, as it turned out, he should probably have made thirds, given how she looked at his plate as he was finishing eating.

  Hatsune wiped her mouth with a napkin and set it down with a satisfied sigh. “Thanks for breakfast, Klarion.”

  He smiled, his chest warming at her appreciation for what he made. Even with his future as one of the higher-ranking nobility of the Empire, he didn’t think he would ever get tired of people saying how much they appreciated his cooking. “Glad you liked it. Figured we could both use a good meal to start the day. Do you have any plans?”

  She nodded, her expression growing thoughtful. “I’ve been thinking... I should head to the Archives today.”

  Klarion arched an eyebrow. “The Archives? Is this about finding information on a class?”

  Hatsune nodded, her eyes brightening with determination. “Yes. While I know you have that primer, it’s likely meant more for scions of the Empire, and I want to see if I can find any information on a class better suited to my race. Ideally, something that might help me better learn the sword art, Whispers of Black Steel once we forge appropriate weapons.”

  He grinned, leaning forward with interest at the mention of the Leporine sword art. “That’s a good idea. You never know what you’ll find in those old records.”

  Hatsune nodded enthusiastically. “Exactly! And if I can improve my own potential to learn it… maybe I can be more help for you learning it, too.”

  She put her silverware on the plate, making to stand to begin helping him clean.

  Klarion stood as well, taking his plates over to the sink. They moved around each other with practiced ease. It was strange how quickly they had fallen into this routine. Still, he appreciated how… normal it was. Comforting, even.

  As Hatsune finished putting the clean plates away, she turned to him. “What about you? You going to be alright here by yourself?”

  Klarion waved off her concern, his smile reassuring. “I’ll be fine. I’m planning on spending the day researching classes, too. If I’m going to survive in this world, I need to get stronger.” His gaze flickered toward the ceiling, where he knew Jezeri was still resting. “And I need to find out more about J-65. About why she did what she did. Though, if she doesn’t wake up by the time you’re back, I’ll want you to go with me to the Hall of Bonds. It think it is time to look into getting some servants for Blacksword Manor.”

  Hatsune’s ears perked up, her amber eyes widening in surprise. “Servants?”

  Klarion nodded, his expression serious. “Yeah. This place is too big for just the tw—three of us. I don’t think we can keep up with the cleaning, cooking, and everything else that needs to be done to make Blacksword Manor livable while also figuring out who’s trying to kill me and keeping up with my studies. Plus, if we choose carefully, maybe we can find people who actually want to be here. I won’t force anyone to stay.”

  Hatsune’s shoulders relaxed, her expression softening. “You... you’d really give them that choice?”

  “Of course,” Klarion said, his voice firm. “I’m not looking to own anyone. I just... need help. And if they need a safe place to live, maybe we can help each other.”

  Hatsune stared at him for a long moment, her eyes searching his face. Then, she smiled, her ears tilting forward in relief. “You really are different from the nobles here, Klarion.”

  He scratched the back of his head, his cheeks flushing slightly. “Yeah, well... I still have to play the part if I’m going to survive. But that doesn’t mean I have to be like them in every way.”

  She beamed at him. “Alright. Just promise me you’ll be careful about who you pick. We don’t need any more surprises showing up at the front door.”

  Hatsune left not soon after, armor on and sword at her side. Klarion watched her make her way down the street and around the corner before he closed the door. It had not been that long since she had become his bodyguard, but it was already strange not having her close by.

  With her gone, Blacksword Manor felt… quiet. Too quiet.

  Klarion took a deep breath, steadying himself before returning to the kitchen. He gathered the food he had set aside for J-65, as well as the bag of gold she had left on the table. He doubted she would wake up anytime soon, but he wanted to be prepared just in case. Holding the plate carefully, he made his way back to their bedroom, his footsteps echoing softly in the empty halls.

  J-65 was exactly where they had left her, lying asleep in the bed. The star elf looked a bit more relaxed, even compared to earlier. Her breathing remained steady, her face relaxed, and the tension that had marred her features the night before was finally gone. Klarion released a breath he hadn’t realized he was holding. She looked better. Still exhausted, still pale, but better.

  He set the plate down on the nightstand, the bag of gold beside it. His movements were careful and quiet as he pulled up a chair beside the bed. Settling in, he grabbed the class primer book he had purchased from the Archives and, flipping open the first page, began to read.

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