Arthur watched Serena from the dark side of the corridor, untouched by light.
His face was hidden in the shadows, making Serena anxious. But with what little courage she had left, she still asked him.
"Why... why did you block the supply lines to the front, Arthur?"
Arthur slowly stepped out of the darkness. Serena, unnerved by his demeanor, unconsciously took a step back—each movement feeling heavier, as if weighed down by an invisible pressure.
When Arthur fully emerged from the shadows, his face was expressionless—cold, cruel, and fearless. That's what Serena saw.
But in truth, Arthur was smiling casually.
"Of course I did it," Arthur said, his face showing no concern.
"Huh?" Serena was stunned, confused by his answer, her emotions a mix of frustration and disbelief.
"What do you mean?" she asked, staring at him in bewilderment.
"Because I want to end this meaningless, drawn-out war," Arthur replied half-heartedly. He'd been asked this question too many times—so many loops had turned his answer mechanical, as if he had said it a million times without thinking.
"Is that even possible?" Serena snapped.
"It is," Arthur replied indifferently.
The air grew still and awkward. Neither spoke. Arthur grew impatient waiting for a response, while Serena was still trying to process his words.
"Instead of standing here, why don't we move to the bedroom?" Arthur suggested suddenly.
---
Serena's Room
The candlelight softly illuminated the room, casting a warm glow on Serena as she sat at the edge of the bed. She only fully realized what was happening once they reached the room—and embarrassment quickly followed.
"What should I do…" she murmured, turning her flushed face away.
Serena was still dazed, which made Arthur feel like he had to act first.
"Um… Serena," Arthur called.
"Y-Yes?!" Serena jumped, turning reflexively with an even redder face.
Seeing her like that, Arthur's face flushed too.
"What am I supposed to do?" he thought, panicked.
Arthur had no idea what to do—and Serena felt the same. Both were lost in their own delusions.
Serena, still overwhelmed, wasn't ready for her first night with Arthur.
"What if he asks for it… Or should I be the one to start? No, that's so shameless… But I'm his wife, why should I be embarrassed...? Still… I really am embarrassed!"
"Serena…" Arthur called softly.
"I... I'm not going to ask you to do it," he said, awkwardly.
"What?!" Serena was taken aback.
"No! That's not what I meant! Not because you're not attractive, you... you're very attractive!" Arthur said, panicking, cold sweat forming on his forehead.
"So you do want to do it?!" Serena gasped, scooting to the corner of the bed.
"I told you I'm not going to do it!" Arthur said firmly.
"I'm going to sleep," he said quickly, diving under the blanket and turning his back to her, hiding his blushing face.
Serena quickly followed, settling on the other side of the bed.
"We're sleeping in the same bed…" both of them whispered in their minds.
---
Midnight
The mansion was eerily silent. In the dark hall, soft, deliberate footsteps echoed faintly off the walls.
They moved away… then returned—approaching the corridor where the young couple slept.
Someone stopped at the bedroom door, slowly opening it...
"Now!" Arthur shouted from the ceiling.
Serena and Arthur jumped simultaneously, attacking the intruder. Serena launched a Wind Charge, pushing the enemy back into the corridor, while Arthur charged forward and threw a knife.
The intruder's black cloak flared in the wind, revealing a face behind a cracked mask.
The intruder dodged the blade, but Arthur quickly switched tactics—delivering a punch reinforced with reconstruction magic.
The intruder raised a magic circle to block it, but Arthur's power shattered it. His fist connected, sending the attacker flying.
The mask broke, revealing a young girl's wounded face.
"A woman?" Arthur muttered, clenching his fist again.
"Who sent you?" Serena demanded.
The girl turned to flee, but slammed into an invisible magical wall.
"Ow, that hurts!" she groaned.
"Give it up. Every exit is sealed," Serena said as she approached with Arthur.
"Whoever sent you must be a real bastard," she added coldly.
"By the way, how old are you?" Arthur asked casually, hiding his left hand behind his back.
"Ugh…" The girl hesitated, but eventually gave in.
"Fourteen," she said quietly.
"Who sent you?" Serena repeated.
"Someone named Hugo."
"Hugo?" Arthur glanced at Serena. "Do you know him?"
"Yes. He was a military officer in this city. I thought he was dead… but apparently not," Serena replied flatly.
"Why's he after you?" Arthur asked.
"I exposed his corruption. He was sentenced to death."
"Let me guess... someone higher-up overturned the sentence last minute, didn't they?" Arthur guessed.
"I don't know. All I know is that he was sentenced," Serena replied indifferently.
The assassin girl grew frustrated from being ignored. She lunged at Arthur.
"DIE, YOU BASTARDS!"
Her cloak flew off. Magic circles all over her body lit up, ready to explode.
Arthur caught her swiftly with his right hand, then placed his left palm against her chest, chanting reconstruction magic.
The blazing circles dimmed… and vanished.
---
Serena's Room
The girl sat on the floor, knees folded, head down. Arthur sat on the bed while Serena read a book nearby.
"So... what's your name?" Arthur asked.
"Tiara," the girl answered softly.
"Why are you working for Hugo?"
"Because…" Tiara stopped, unwilling to finish.
Arthur guessed, "He's holding someone you love hostage and threatened to kill them if you failed, right?"
Tiara's worried expression confirmed it.
Serena sighed, still flipping through her book.
Arthur frowned. "People still pulling that cheap tactic, huh…"
After a moment of thought, he asked, "Hey, do you know where they're being held?"
"…Yes," Tiara answered faintly.
"Good. From now on, you're working as a maid here. I'll rescue that person for you," Arthur said, lifting Tiara in his arms.
"Huh… You're lighter than you look," he added with a blank expression.
That night passed peacefully, as if nothing had ever happened.
---
The Next Morning
Serena's mother was shocked to find a small girl diligently cutting grass in the backyard. Seeing the maid uniform, she immediately rushed to the study, searching for Serena and Arthur.
"Serena! Arthur! Since when do we have a maid?!" she demanded, breathless.
"Uh, Mom, that's…"
"She was just hired last night," Serena said, cold sweat running down her face.
"Huh?"
"Arthur, explain," her mother turned to Arthur.
"Well, that's just how it is." Smiling casually, Arthur turned to leave.
"Oh, look at the time. I've got other things to do," he said with a grin.
"See you later, Mom, Serena." Arthur dashed off to who knows where.