Good Night, Lady Shen

"Damn child. His father is upset so he forces a poor lady to appease his father with her body… tch..." Artie Shen grumbled as she walked along the hallways of the castle. She had no choice but to go with the plan Miel prepared, but with reservations.

It was already past nine, and the household was dismissed an hour ago. Most maids and servants were asleep aside from those who work at night. Soldiers were beginning to end their shifts, and the knights were also retiring for the day. All in all, it was an opportune moment to sneak around.

The angel was now wearing such thin clothing underneath a robe. Artie was so sure that her Apostasy points would shoot up tonight unless she helped it. Then again, she had no idea what exactly was happening inside the archduke's room.

"Greetings to Lady Shen..." the soldiers guarding the hallway leading to the archduke's room greeted her with a salute, but their voices were soft. Perhaps they knew that the archduke might be disturbed if they yelled every time.

"Hello… is Larkin inside?" Artie smiled at the soldiers, and they nodded back at her.

She then proceeded along the path and arrived at the door. She turned back towards the arc where the soldiers were and gauged the loudness she needed to alarm them. It seemed that she had to be a flood siren just so they could hear her.

Knock, knock. Artie knocked on the door before turning the knob. She then pushed the door open slowly, feeling the cold draft coming from inside. When she entered the room, she saw Larkin seated by the veranda of the room. From there, she could see the skyline of the plains…

And the fire burning high up from the city plaza.

"The darkness had visited the city, and yet they refused to retire for the night." Larkin drank from the goblet he was holding. "Say, would it be strange for them to continue till dawn?"

"...if you won't give them the reason to stop, they will continue burning effigies every day." Artie Shen took a seat next to Larkin and looked at the pillar of fire visible from the archduke's room. "Earlier, I didn't mean to yell at you. I didn't know what's happening all over the kingdom, and yet I…

"I'm sorry."

Larkin only glanced at her. "I received harsher words coming from Miel… as much as humbler apologies from him as well." He brought the goblet down. "What do you think about the kingdom, Artie Shen? You have yet to see its worst sights, but what could you infer from my actions? My words?"

The angel perked her head up and looked up at him. "...the demon emperors are ruthless creatures. They don't care about humans… only about the treasures they could steal. Kingdom Achlys had no power to resist them, and so it could only let the people suffer until they die…

"The nobles you dined with… they were your counterparts, and yet… they could smile and make merry in the midst of the tax hike. I guess it's not their problem… but you… you pushed the burden on those who could carry it." She then leaned on the table. "Larkin, those words…

"...aren't for your citizens, are they?"

Larkin only curled his lips as a response. He brought the goblet to his lips and drank without even giving a glance at Artie again. After finishing his goblet, he turned to her. "As for you, why are you dressed like that? I believed I had given you better clothes."

The robe had already opened, and Larkin could see the thin slip she was wearing underneath.

Artie realized it as well, but she didn't panic. She just needed to play it cool so she wouldn't tempt the man. "I just felt like wearing something thin for the night. It's usually warm from where I came from. Guess I shouldn't have assumed the weather would be the same here."

"Then, are you returning to your room now?" Larkin left the bottle where it should be and left the goblet next to it. He would ask a maid to wash it tomorrow morning. He then got to his feet and walked towards his bed. "You should sleep now if you don't wish to miss the morning graces."

When he got up, that was the only time she realized Larkin was only wearing a long sleeping gown. Somehow, her eyes got glued on him as he walked… even after he turned to look back at her.

Artie felt hot on her cheeks as she suddenly twitched. "I didn't mean to stare too much. It's just my first time to see someone else in a sleeping gown." She got to her feet and almost prepared to leave. Then, she remembered the long path she had to travel back to her room from here.

She only stayed for a few seconds; she felt disgruntled if she had to return and walk for minutes again.

"Are you staying?" Larkin released the curtains on the posters of his bed, keeping the bed in complete darkness.

"I'm staying." Artie sighed and removed her robe, keeping her back on the man. She had no idea that Larkin only hummed softly and got on his bed without paying much attention to her again. When she turned, he was already lying on his side, his back facing her.

'Ah… did I assume too much? Could it be that Miel knew his father was like this? I wasn't being fed to the lion?' Artie crawled under the blanket and felt the warmth and comfort of superior and luxurious bedding. She could feel like she was sinking inside and would never want to leave.

However, when she lied on her side—facing outward of the bed, she suddenly felt an arm snake its way along her waist. She was then pulled towards the other hot mass inside the void of the bedding. Her eyes widened so badly as she held her breath. 'Too soon! I spoke too soon!'

"Do angels lay with people this easily? I could have devoured you..." Larkin's voice came from behind her head, his hot breath brushing on the back of her neck.

"I was naive… to think you were magnanimous towards a little angel..." Artie murmured in a soft voice as she failed herself in hiding her terror.

"Magnanimous…? I do not wish to harm you..." He rested his arm on her waist, but his hand was moving up and down as if making her guess which direction it would tread very carefully. "You don't have to fear me… if you have the courage to sleep on my bed..."

Artie started making a nervous chuckling noise. She then fished for the archduke's hand and locked her fingers with it so he wouldn't be able to touch any other part of her. "Larkin, we should sleep now if we don't want to miss the morning graces."

Larkin only used his arm to pull Artie closer, and his other arm snuck under her neck. He pressed his face against the back of her head as he chuckled in resignation. "Then, good night, Lady Shen..."

[You have gained a sliver of trust! Active task completion: 6%. Veneration + 9. Total meter points: 21; Veneration 14, Apostasy 7.]