111

Either during the day or night, on a normal day, Kiyohime would spend her time on a few possible activities.

More often than not she would spend the time in front of a mirror trying to improve her already beautiful appearance, she would want to be her best for her Anchin after all. In Kiyohime's dictionary, such an activity would be the activity cited as an example for the phrase 'rational use of time'.

Also, Kiyohime was not at all against 'fulfilling her duties as a wife', in the kitchen of course. Kiyohime knew how to cook very well and would be able to stand side by side with those who think that cooking is a talent of theirs. However, with Ainz not being in Chaldea, spending time on such activity was meaningless for Kiyohime. After all, she - as a wife - would only cook for her beloved and their future children.

Even more, Kiyohime, as befits a good wife, was educated and devoted to all the intricacies and etiquette of a housewife. She knew how to sew, knit, weave, and also - if her husband would be not against such behavior - she was well versed in repairs, painting, carpentry, and accounting.

She also speaks six languages, as it would be the greatest tragedy if she were to miss Anchin just because she didn't understand him. Although, from the moment she was summoned as a Servant, it was a little unnecessary. All in all if a skill is at least theoretically useful 'in the life of a happy family' she knows it.

But, in her lonesome and in the almost complete absence of her 'ordinary life' with Anchin - all such skills were unnecessary and, as she has perfected her skills, such a pastime was meaningless.

In the end, the only other thing Kiyohime could do was have a conversation with her usual opponent and the main contender for the title of 'Anchin's wife', Serenity. As it turned out however, there was not only one other 'main contender'.

It was because of the latter fact that Kiyohime was in her current frame of mind.

Usually, when Kiyohime was sick at heart - conversations - or, rather, a squabble with Serenity covered with a thin mask of politeness, would lift her mood. In the current environment however, any interaction with Serenity - even the sound of her voice or the sight of her figure - would make Kiyohime feel even more despondent than she was now.

After all… how could she be so blindsided!

The fact that Anchin... Master... Ainz - sooner or later would attract the love many girls was an obvious thing. After all there's no one better than Anchin in the world, and anyone who's not blind or in denial would see it. And although it cut Kiyohime's heart, as she would prefer to take all Ainz's love exclusively for herself - Anchin's greatness attracted other women to him like moths to flames.

Therefore, Kiyohime should have expected what happened a few days ago to happen and be prepared. She was not.

In the end the beginning of the avalanche only takes one snowflake. It was only necessary for one girl to express her love for Anchin - 'to lay claim to him' - for the avalanche to start rolling from the top, for the other girls to 'attack' Anchin. When each girl felt that their position as a lover to Ainz was threatened, they in drove started to present their 'claim' to Anchin. As they were nothing more than insecure wenches they would feel that their feelings would get lost in the whirlpool and disappear if they were to wait.

In a sense, when one had already gathered their resolve and propositioned Ancin was a situation in which each of those that were attracted to Anchin had to either take decisive action or drop out of the struggle completely.

The number of lovers though was... Perhaps Kiyohime somewhat underestimated Anchin's attractiveness in this regard. The number of challengers for her position that had appeared was an unpleasant surprise. As assured of her position as the legal wife as she is though, this was not the reason for Kiyohime's current state of mind.

In the end, each of those with feelings for Ainz had only a short period of time to confess their feelings to Anchin before the relationship finally formed and became almost indestructible.

Medusa, Olga, Serenity and, possibly, Jalter, Mashu, Cainabel and Da Vinci - had managed to take advantage of this chance… but Kiyohime did not.

No, of course, Kiyohime was, is and will be Anchin's… Ainz's legal and only wife. Still, the current situation was… more than just unpleasant.

After all, why was she, the only one who really loves Anchin, the only one who was not able to tell him the most important words?!

No, of course, she will always occupy a special place in his heart, as he does in hers, but...

Could it be that Ainz was avoiding her?

No, the thought itself was absurd and unnatural - so much so that if it were not for the current powerless mood of Kiyohime, she would roll her eyes and half-laugh at the absurd thought. However...

When Ainz in his downtime in between Singularity was in Chaldea, Kiyohime usually only met him by chance. Even then it was usually when he was in a hurry to go somewhere on his business, responding to her greetings with an absent-minded wave of his hand or an insignificant greeting.

Kiyohime would take such an action as another irrefutable proof of their sincere and mutual love. In the end, real, time-tested love does not require any grandiose confirmation, or over the top romantic gesture. Their love remains as an invisible strong thread connecting two people, regardless of their actions.

But…

If he had talked so easily with the other girls...

Could it be that Ainz was deliberately... avoiding her?

If she were in a better mood, Kiyohime would have dismissed such a thought as complete nonsense and utter rubbish.

If she were in a better mood… she was not.

And that is why right now Kiyohime did not want to knit, or put on any make-up, or interact in any way with Serenity.

Kiyohime, in general, right now did not want to do anything at all.

Therefore, with nothing to occupy her time, Kiyohime continued to wander limply around Chaldea.

One turn, second turn, third turn...

Kiyohime did not even look where she was directing her step, she just walked forward, until...

"Hey!" The voice and the unexpected contact with a solid object made Kiyohime close her eyes for a second before she fell to the ground.

"Oh!" - As she fell to the ground the voice sounded a bit panicked. After the shock of the fall and her surprise pass, Kiyohime looked up at the speaker, - "Are you alright?"

"Jeanne?" - Kiyohime looked up at the girl who was worryingly holding out her hand. With no reason to stay on the ground, Kiyohime accepted the offered help and lifted herself up. - "No, I'm fine…"

Then, pursing her lips, she shook her head, realizing the wrong choice of words, - "At least I didn't hurt myself."

"I see", - Jeanne instantly bowed her head in apology, - "I apologize if I distracted you from something important."

"It's nothing", - Kiyohime shook her head. She did not want to reveal her distress… On the other hand, she also did not want to keep those inside herself, - "And... I would prefer if you can help me distract myself from my thoughts."

"Hm?" - Jeanne blinked in surprise, then frowned, - "Has something happened?"

"Rather than that, something didn't happen," Kiyohime sighed, then took a considerate look at Jeanne.

Of all the girls that Kiyohime could have met, Jeanne was perhaps the one least interested in Ainz, at least romantically. Yes, their relationship was not bad, however... If Kiyohime were to describe it - she would say that Jeanne and Ainz were more like friends - or maybe good acquaintances rather than prospective lovers. Perhaps, theoretically, Ainz could have seduced her too… But, at least right now, Jeanne and Ainz were possibly the most distant man and woman in a romantic sense in Chaldea.

And who but not another girl could understand the troubles and distress that Kiyohime was feeling?

"Is there any room we can use nearby?" Kiyohime looked at Jeanne.

"My room", - Jeanne blinked, still somewhat unbalanced by the suddenness. - "I was just going out for a walk… until I bumped into you right out of the door."

"Then we'd better get back in there," Kiyohime sighed.

"Okay", - Jeanne replied with a serious nod, as she turned around to the door behind her. As she entered she also held the door open for Kiyohime to enter.

"It is…" - Kiyohime looked around the room, - "Empty."

Although all the living rooms in Chaldea were made according to the same design and could not be called luxurious, Jeanne's room was empty even by these standards. A single bed, a small bedside table, a small wardrobe - and a small wooden cross hanging on the wall. Moreover, the whole room was in the most 'sterile' tones of white and light blue, which is why it was even somewhat uncomfortable to be in such a room. It is as if in a nun's cell.

"Hmm... I... I don't spend much time here, so I didn't think to decorate… ", - Jeanne answered Kiyohime a second later, going inside and closing the door behind her, then looked around her bare room. - "Hmm… But yes, you're right, I should decorate the room some, I don't even have an extra chair here…"

"In that case", - Jeanne smiled timidly at Kiyohime, - "Maybe you will sit down on the bed?"

"Okay", - Kiyohime replied easily, after all why does she need to be shy? In two steps she was next to the bed and she sat down. After which Jeanne, perhaps in a kind gesture, also sat down on the bed, next to her.

"So... You wanted to talk about something?" Jeanne looked at Kiyohime attentively.

"I…" - Kiyohime exhaled, then with an intake of fresh air, gathered her wits., - "No, this is... I... I actually don't know how to start this conversation."

"Calm down and just start talking, perhaps from the beginning?" Jeanne smiled back at Kiyohime, forcing her to start talking.

"Simple", ha.. Would it really be that simple...

"Okay, to start with…" Kiyohime breathed out, "You have noticed all the magnificence of Anchin… of Ainz?"

"Hmm!" Jeanne suddenly choked on air, then tried to clear her throat - surprisingly unsuccessfully, "Ah, kha-kha... Why are you saying this?"

"Ha, everyone else has managed to notice it", - Kiyohime shook her head, then looked up, - "Don't be shy... With a man like the Master it's very difficult not to notice anything like that."

"Hmm!" Jeanne started choking on air again, after which she slowly looked down, trying to hide the treacherous blush slowly appearing on her cheeks, "Well, ahem... Perhaps…"

"Of course, not everyone reacted to his magnificence romantically... For example, you - or Archer - or Roman… At least I hope so for the latter two", - Kiyohime shifted her gaze away as she started talking.

"Huh?" Jeanne lifted her head, as if just realizing what exactly Kiyohime meant, and then shook her head quickly, "That is, yes, of course, just like that, in a non-romantic sense!"

"Hmm?" Kiyohime turned a suspicious look at Jeanne, after which she waited a few seconds for Jeanne to clarify what she meant. Finding that Jeanne was suspiciously silent, Kiyohime started formulating a question, forcing Jeanne to swallow nervously when she looked into Kiyohime's eyes, "Jeanne, let me ask you one question before I continue… And before you answer, know that I can spot any lie told to me."

"Hmm…" - Jeanne coughed uncomfortably, after which she exhaled and looked at Kiyohime seriously, - "Okay."

"Jeanne, do you love Master?" - Kiyohime looked attentively and closely at Jeanne, expecting an instant truthful answer. She stared into Jeanne's eyes with unblinking eyes, - "Romantically. Like a woman loves a man."

"W-what kind of a question is that?!" Jeanne tried to sound indignant, but Kiyohime did not move even a millimeter and did not blink, waiting for the answer.

"Yes or no", - Kiyohime replied calmly, continuing to look with unblinking eyes at the girl, as if a hawk watching a careless rabbit, - "Only 'yes' or 'no'."

Jeanne froze for a second, then exhaled, - "No."

Kiyohime continued to stare at Jeanne for a few more seconds, after which she blinked, as if shaking off some kind of strange mood. "You're not lying."

"I... Lies are disgusting to me", - Jeanne exhaled, then shook her head, - "And... I don't love Ainz as a man... I... I can't say that this will never change... Or that he has no qualities that I could appreciate... But I can say that, at the moment, I consider him as a reliable friend, assistant and Master... But no more."

"Okay", - Kiyohime exhaled, relieved, then looked away, - "Then... I can trust you."

"Okay", - Jeanne nodded, and then turned her eyes to the girl, - "But still... What exactly did you want to tell me?"

"Anchin... Master", - Kiyohime shook her head. The whole essence of her Servant being could not simply accept that Anchin was not Anchin. That in fact... that Anchin was just one of the incarnations of her Master - if not something even more obvious that she cannot see. - "Many... Many people love Master and I am among the first of them. I know that there are others that love Master the way a woman loves a man, I am well aware of that and am assured that my place in Anchin's heart is unshakable… But… Not so long ago, just a week ago in fact, almost every girl next to the Master confessed their love to him."

"Hmm, yes, I... I heard about that", - Jeanne shifted uncomfortably in place, - "And... You are... Uncomfortable... That they and Ainz…"

"No, I took it for granted that such a thing would happen, and as Ainz's legal wife I don't mind it… much" Kiyohime sighed, then she continued, "It's just… I… I think Anch… Ainz is avoiding me."

"Ha?" - Jeanne blinked, then shook her head, - "Oh, no, I think you are just overthinking it…"

"I would like to hope so too, but…" Kiyohime pressed her lips together so that they stretched out in a straight line, "But I still think that I'm right… Ainz always finds time to devote to the other Servants… But never for me."

"Ha, Kiyohime, I'm sure this is nothing more than an accident.", - Jeanne tried to smile encouragingly, - "In the end, I see no reason for the Master to avoid you."

Kiyohime, however, only looked away from such an encouraging speech, - "But I see one…"

"Hm?" - Jeanne looked at the girl questioningly.

"Tell me what exactly you know about me and my legend", - Kiyohime looked at Jeanne carefully, - "As a Servant and as a Ruler, you should know at least part of my legend - but I'm not sure what exactly you know about me…"

"I…" - Jeanne started haltingly, then shook her head, - "I know your name, your abilities and parameters, your Noble Phantasm... And I know that in your legend you turned into a dragon... Because of…"

"Because of envy, jealousy and anger", - Kiyohime sighed forlornly and looked away, - "Do not try to sweeten the pill, in this case it will not help."

"Okay", - Jeanne nodded.

"If that was all that you knew, then you do not fully know this story," Kiyohime mused sadly and rose from her seat, continuing to stand with her back to Jeanne, as if not wanting to look her in the face, "I... I was of noble blood, a part of the aristocracy... I know that sometimes in the noble families of Europe, heads of families sent their children or relatives to monasteries in order to remove them from the line of succession, a sort of disownment. But, in Japan, this was not the case at all... Rather, it was a special kind of honor to be sent to the temple. After all, a miko, the attendant of the temple, was an honorable figure worthy of respect…"

"In the end, I was one of those", - Kiyohime shook her head, still not turning around, - "But life in a temple is boring and mundane. There is nothing to be done that a young girl would enjoy… especially one that had no choice in going there. No love intrigues and wonderful stories about heroes and their adventures… Haahh… I could remember the choking boredom that plague my days there."

"And so, on one of those boring days I managed to meet a wandering monk", - Kiyohime paused for a second, giving herself a break, - "Anchin, so he introduced himself to me... And, ha... It was love at first sight - I fell in love with him and he with me and... The temple is a sacred place, but in the end there is nothing more sacred than love. Hah… Anchin."

"But, in the end, he was a wandering monk who's on a pilgrimage all over Japan, and in the end he had to leave, but…" - Kiyohime clenched her hand into a fist, - "He had promised me that he would return. Exactly one year later, he will return for me, and we will run away - together... I did not need anything more than to be close to him so I agreed wholeheartedly. And so… I was alone again."

"I counted every day, every hour, every second until his return.", - Kiyohime still did not turn to Jeanne, but even from the back Jeanne saw how difficult it was for her to speak, - "And... He returned. On the day he had promised, exactly one year later, but…"

"In the end, I walked in so much joy that a lover who had been kept waiting a year could only do and reminded him of our promise," Kiyohime broke off for a few more seconds of silence. Jeanne did not rush, allowing Kiyohime to collect her thoughts, - "And... He answered me - 'my name is not Anchin and I have never given such promises. I have never been to this temple and have never been your lover. I do not know you.'"

"I loved him, I hated him, I loved him, I hated him, I loved him, I hated him, I loved him, I hated him, I loved him, I hated him, I loved him, I hated him, I I loved him, I hated him, I loved him, I hated him, I loved him, I hated him, I loved him, I hated him, I loved him, I hated him, I loved him, I hated him, I loved him , I hated him, I loved him, I hated him, I loved him, I hated him, I loved him, I hated him, I loved him, I hated him, I loved him, I hated him…" - Kiyohime, who began to speak quietly, gradually raising her voice before her voice slowly began to distort. Quiet, though barely audible trickle of water turned into an avalanche - "ILOVEDHIMIHATEDHIMILOVEDHIMIHATEDHIMILOVEDHIMIHATEDHIMILOVEDHIMIHATEDHIMILOVEDHIMIHATEDHIMILOVEDHIMIHATEDHIMILOVEDHIMIHATEDHIMILOVEDHIMIHATEDHIMILOVEDHIMIHATEDHIMILOVEDHIMIHATEDHIMILOVEDHIMIHATEDHIMILOVEDHIMIHATEDHIMILOVEDHIMIHATEDHIMILOVEDHIMIHATEDHIMILOVEDHIMIHATEDHIMILOVEDHIMIHATEDHIMILOVEDHIMIHATEDHIMILOVEDHIMIHATEDHIMILOVEDHIMIHATEDHIMILOVEDHIMIHATEDHIMILOVEDHIMIHATEDHIM…"

Jeanne realized the horror of the situation only when Kiyohime's hand began to transform into the dragon's hand. In a situation like this, Jeanne took the best possible solution.

"ENOUGH!" - The command spell was originally created for the Master to control their Servant, but for Jeanne, Ruler, such obstacles did not exist. The Ruler, the tool for managing the Holy Grail War, was originally supposed to be above all other Servants - therefore the Command Spell that instantly manifested on Jeanne's hand was not a figment of fiction but the real thing. And so after a second Kiyohime froze.

Of course, if Kiyohime's actions were caused by Ainz's orders, Jeanne's actions would have had no effect, but this time Jeanne's ability worked with 100% efficiency.

Kiyohime froze before slowly turning to face Jeanne. Jeanne froze in trepidation, expecting a negative reaction from the girl, however...

"Thank you", - Kiyohime answered dryly, after which she slowly turned to Jeanne, - "And... I killed him."

"I chased him all over the city", - Kiyohime slowly and finally looked into Jeanne's eyes, - "I killed the man that I loved more than all the world... I killed him. My hatred, my pain turned me into a monster - into a dragon that burned the only one I loved... I... Killed the one I loved."

"I… What if Ainz now hates me for this?" Kiyohime turned her gaze to Jeanne, "What if Ainz now hates me for my action in the past?! What if that's why he's avoiding me?!"

Jeanne froze, unable to express anything significant in response.

No one will love his killer... No one can love the one who brought him death...

But…

Jeanne blinked.

The picture in her head didn't add up.

Kiyohime killed Ainz... Kiyohime... Ainz...

"I…" - Jeanne swallowed slowly, - "I... Do not... Am I not mistaken? Are you saying that you killed Ainz?"

"Yes", - Kiyohime looked away, - "I killed him."

Kiyohime... Ainz...

"This is impossible", - Jeanne blinked, then turned her gaze to Kiyohime, - "Absolutely impossible."

"Ha?" - Kiyohime blinked away the tears in her eyes, - "What?"

"I would not want to offend you, but…" - Jeanne swallowed slowly, - "You could not kill Ainz... No way, even as a dragon."

"Ha?" - Kiyohime looked at Jeanne carefully, - "What do you mean?"

"I am saying that…" - Jeanne slowly elaborated, - "This is about the level of strength. Tell me... Overall, if you were to compare yourself with the Servants, how strong were you back then?"

"Ha?" Kiyohime blinked again, confused, then frowned. "Maybe... Same as you? Maybe... a little weaker…"

"And, um, Ainz… Compared to me, which of us is stronger?" Jeanne looked at Kiyohime carefully.

"No offense to you, but Ainz will smear you into a thin paste with his finger, and by an off-hand attack at that," Kiyohime looked closely at Jeanne, after which insight pierced her, "That is…"

"I doubt the person you killed was Ainz…" Jeanne blinked.

Kiyohime blinked.

"Ha?" A flash of insight pierced Kiyohime, "That is... It was... It was not Ainz?"

"Most likely not", - Jeanne shook her head. Although, the murder of an innocent person for sins that he did not commit by mistake still remained an incredible stain on Kiyohime's reputation… it was neither here nor there.

"Oh, then... That explains everything," Kiyohime blinked, "Then... If it wasn't Ainz... If it was another person... Then…"

"Of course!" - Kiyohime immediately raised her face up, - "Of course, that monk could not know about me! He was not Ainz"

"But you still…" - Jeanne tried to speak out… to try and argue out about Kyohime's sin in killing that innocent person.

"Of course, back then I could not find the lie in another person's words!" Kiyohime suddenly beamed with a smile, bright, like a new Sun, "Of course, he really was not Anchin! Of course-of course-ofcourse-ofcourse!"

"But you still killed…" - Jeanne tried to raise her voice again.

"Of course, Anchin would never do such a thing to me!" - Kiyohime smiled happily, - "What a silly girl I am, I just messed up the date! Exactly, it was just a person similar to Anchin! That's right, it was not him at all!"

"You killed an innocent person!" Jeanne raised her voice, but Kiyohime could no longer hear the girl.

"Of course, Anchin would never lie to me!" Kiyohime's mouth spread into an incredible smile, "Of course... I probably just accidentally mixed up the dates! Exactly, I was just wrong! Exactly, exactly, exactly, exactly! Anchin didn't leave me, it's me…"

Kiyohime froze in horror, - "I…"

"You finally heard me…" - Jeanne exhaled slowly, - "In that case…"

"I ran away before Anchin could meet me!" Kiyohime froze with an expression of sincere horror on her face, "I… I mixed up the dates! I left Anchin! No, worst of all, how could I confuse Anchin with that... With that pathetic excuse of a monk! Exactly, he was completely different! His hair... Exactly, his hair was one tone lighter, and the gait... Anchin never walked like that! Even his skin color! He was tanned, not like Anchin!"

"Oh Lord, forgive me for my sins…" - Jeanne crossed herself, and then looked at Kiyohime... Definitely, communicating with her it was easy enough to forget that she was still a great representative of the Berserker class whose main distinguishing feature was their Madness, and not their overwhelming fighting force…

"Oh, how could I?!" - Kiyohime clutched her head, - "How could I doubt Anchin?! How did I... I left Anchin - and now I have the audacity, the temerity to think that he is ignoring me?! I am the worst wife in the whole wide world!"

"Kiyohime…" - no longer hoping for an answer, Jeanne tried to speak again, before...

"Of course, I have to make amends!" Kiyohime shook her head, "Exactly! Definitely, Master, Ainz, Anchin - he must be fed, well-groomed... Precisely, when he returns from the mission - hot bath, delicious dinner, and I - in the end, I have to make amends!"

"Thank you, Jeanne!" - Kiyohime instantly grabbed Jeanne and shook her in joyful anticipation. Of course, even though the road to Ainz's forgiveness was long, but now Kiyohime knew exactly how she could atone for it! "Thank you so much, you are the best friend in the world!"

"Oh, I doubt it so much…" - Jeanne exhaled, looking after Kiyohime who had immediately ran out of the room, after which she looked up to the sky, - "Lord, forgive me my sins…"

However, just in case, Jeanne made a note to herself - she definitely shouldn't have used logic in conversations with Berserkers...

It seems that such a thing gives out unpredictable results. And moreover, not at all the one that Jeanne would be glad about...

Name: Kiyohime

Racial level: Dragonid (10)

Lesser Dragon (5)

Class level: Wife (10)

Manager (1)

Total: 15 Racial Levels + 11 Class Levels = 26 Total Levels