Skipping Morning Graces

Artie was about to take a sip of her wine when she heard about it. She had her goblet against her lips already, but she placed it down to take a look at Larkin's discreet worried state. Artie then lowered her eyes and stared at her goblet. "Are you scared?"

"Scared?" Larkin moved his eyes and took a look at the archduchess. He couldn't remember when was the last time someone asked him if he was scared of anything. Then again, it was a given as he was everyone's pillar of support and power. If he grew scared and showed it to everyone, wouldn't the whole ducal household be infected by such fear? It's just that… "Which lord is not scared of getting attacked by primordial beings?

"Ellis Plains is small compared to the kingdoms in the north. If those big cities and territories struggled to keep the glass spirits at bay, how would a small archduchy compare to their efforts?" Larkin hummed, secretly gauging Artie's reaction to his concern. However, he didn't feel brushed off when Artie stayed quiet for a while.

Then, the archduchess spoke, "Yes, but those places in the north didn't have someone strong like you… and someone miraculous like me." A small smile curled her lips. "It's okay to be scared of conflict, but I hope you won't lose your faith in your power. Also, you have my strength if you need it. I might be weak now, but my power is growing almost every day so… in case they appeared, I have a feeling we will be able to hold…

"Even if it's just as long as the demon army could help out..."

"Shouldn't you detest demons? You're an angel, Artie." Larkin chuckled. "Has staying in a devildom changed the way you perceive them?"

Artie's eyes then stared at his face. Her small smile didn't drop or grow deeper. "But the ones that come to your aid are your friends at least. There's no need for me to push them away if they're not here to hurt you. Like you said, I am in a devildom. I might have some prejudice against them, but this is a place where I will see how they treat the people that they cared for at least."

The archduke hummed. "You're not against the idea that demons… do care about people other than themselves?" It was a widespread truth, and Larkin's case belonged to the isolated cases since he had demon blood. For Artie to sound like the demons would really show off a seeming softness in them? This angel must have been living in some kind of utopian household from whence she came.

"Hm? I can see it in them, at least for the five demons I have already met." Artie's eyes blinked. "Is it strange to think that demons, too, have hearts? Sure, most of them would only prioritize themselves and their motives, but every sentient being is allowed to be different from their societal norms. I don't wish to blast all demons to pieces, and you don't care about your prestige and wealth. Let demons be sentient, too."

"I see. I suppose that would be a mindset to be protected." Larkin only hummed before drinking the remaining of his wine. Artie did the same although slower than the archduke. The man then got to his seat and walked to place the bow and robe on other surfaces to clear the bed. He then moved to his side of the bed to lie.

'Mindset to be protected, huh. It's alright. I'm not in the position to think too narrowly after all.' Artie didn't take it to heart too much. She then left the goblet on the table and got to her feet to walk to her side of the bed. She sat down and rested for a bit, feeling movements behind her. Her eyes started to feel heavy, and she helped herself with the blanket and pillows shared with her.

Rolling off towards Larkin, Artie glued herself to that warm body next to her and slept off the night. However, the archduke was only stroking at her head, eyes darkened as he thought about the possible outcomes of the future.

…

Unlike the few nights, Artie's dream was too vague and faint for her to remember much of it… or even interact with it. When she came to, the bells were ringing in the distance and calling out to the people who would be attending the morning graces. However, she only rolled to her other side and collided with someone with her legs. Larkin seemed to be still sitting next to her.

"Are you not rising?" Larkin started to comb his hair with his fingers while watching the woman next to him squirm in decline. "Then, I shall leave you on your own." That's what he said, but his hand lifted and then rested on the faint image of a thigh that he could see in the dark.

When his hand slid down the smooth skin, Artie's eyes tore apart in realization. It seemed that her sleeping gown had ridden up to her waist again, and even if she wasn't necessarily exposed, her thigh was probably distracting the archduke again. However, she just raised her head and narrowed her eyes at him. "Larkin, aren't you supposed to be attending the morning graces? Leave my leg alone."

"Apologies then." Larkin only chuckled before turning away and getting up from the bed. He left the curtained bed, and Artie quickly pulled down her sleeping gown. A pout was on her lips as she moved the blanket to cover her. Her eyes then closed again, soon not hearing the sounds of Larkin's actions.

However, a sudden spark stung Artie as if something exploded in her mind. She hurriedly got up and looked around, unaware of the time that elapsed from when Larkin had left the bed. 'Dammit, I can't skip today's morning graces! The three-pronged attack will get stronger!'

She quickly tossed the blanket off of her and dashed out of the curtained bed to grab her robe. However, when she emerged, she realized that only a few minutes had passed… and Larkin was still changing into his everyday clothes. Even if the scene wasn't compromising and that Larkin wouldn't mind if it was, Artie still froze like a deer flashed with headlights.

"You seemed to remember something urgent." Larkin was looking at her, but he wasn't alarmed. He still put on his white inner shirt like no one was staring at him.

"...I just… thought those girls won't let me eat in peace if they find out I skip morning graces when I want to." Artie only stared at his bare back before getting words out of her mouth. She then shook her head and kept the thoughts to herself as she wore the robe and collected other things she had brought with her last night.

"You don't have to leave for your room." Larkin opened the wardrobe bigger and attracted Artie's attention to it. "I figured you'd be coming here to sleep quite frequently."

Artie squinted. "My clothes..."