“Lady Clara!”

“What is it, §$%& ?”

“It's your maid!”

In front of Rina, in a familiar dark void, a girl with brown hair wearing a maid uniform approached a slightly taller girl with curly, blonde hair, Clara. The brunette seemed to be complaining about the blonde's maid, namely Rina.

In Rina's eyes, Clara had always looked at her kindly. This time, however, when the redhead's name was mentioned, Clara faced grimaced in annoyance.

“... Now my good mood is gone... What about her?”

“Since I was forced to give her the antidote mouth to mouth, she has been looking at me with her lecherous eyes! She has the nerve to misinterpret it as a kiss! She is your property, so keep her on a leash!”

“Haaah... She is not my property, nor do I want her to be my property. She's just someone I stumbled upon when I was upset about my father. I just saved her to distract myself... but because of that, she sticks to me like a creep.”

At these words, the brunette looked at the blonde with pitying eyes. “So you too, huh? My condolences. What can we do?”

Clara shrugged her shoulders. “There's nothing we can do. Just ignore her and hopefully, she will leave automatically.”

“Confidence sounds a bit different to me.”

“Well, I'm not, after all, she's still by my side after two whole yea-”

*Splash*

Fortunately, Rina didn't have to listen to this conversation for much longer, because, for the second time today, she was suddenly pulled out of whatever she was watching. This time it was because water had been splashed on her face.

So when she came to, Rina sat up straight on the couch and let her eyes wander around to check on her surroundings while trying to regain her focus. She was in the same room as before. When she saw the four men, the Duke, his two guards, and the traitor Arland, Rina was even a little happy.

Happy, because what she had seen in that void, was only a dream.

'It's just a dream. It's just a nightmare.' Rina repeated these sentences over and over in her head as if she was trying to convince herself.

But just as she was about to be convinced, that what she had seen in the nightmare earlier was simply that, a nightmare, her gaze landed on the brunette maid. This caused Rina to tense up immediately.

“Is something wrong, Mistress?” The girl asked Rina in a monotone voice with an expressionless face.

As the girl held an empty glass of water in her hands, Rina didn't have to think long to conclude that the brunette had splashed the water over her face to wake her up, for which Rina was genuinely grateful.

It took a few seconds for Rina to realise what she had just heard. She tilted her head and looked at the girl's expressionless face. “M-Mistress!?”

“Yes, from today on, I'm yours. By order of Duke Lumiére.”

Those words caused Rina to turn to the Duke. “I haven't accepted your proposal yet.”

“Now, now, Rina. You're exactly like Arland has told me. Sometimes you're clever and quick thinking. Sometimes you are slower than a newborn... especially when it comes to yourself... Look around you and reassess your situation before you reject my proposal... Seriously... why am I, who you apparently see as your enemy, giving you advice?”

'I wonder about that as well,' Rina thought to herself.

Nonetheless, she followed his advice and looked around again, this time more attentively than before. Only then, she noticed that the Demon-Spawning-Cloud, which the Duke had somehow set up earlier, was gone.

“So, you've finally figured it out. You have the power to cleanse Demon-Spawning-Clouds. I want that power in my grasp.”

This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.

“You treating other people like objects doesn't appeal to me at all.” Rina pointed at the brunette to stress what she meant. “Why should I work for someone like you?”

“Ahahaha, there's a lot of courage hidden in that tiny body of yours. Now hear me out, before declining my suggestion. I've shown that I'm capable of capturing Demon-Spawning-Clouds in boxes. Such a thing is unheard of.” The amusement on the Duke's face vanished at once and his expression twisted into an intense, oppressive glare. “You surely understand, what it means that I revealed such information to you, don't you?”

Rina gulped under the increased pressure she suddenly felt from him. Of course, she understood what he was implying. He was threatening her. The Duke had no intention of letting her leave this room without achieving his goals. So either she agreed to serve him, or she wouldn't leave this room. It was that simple.

However, before she could even seriously think about his offer, he continued. “I'm not a monster. I won't separate you from the Dragonherz girl if you agree to serve me.”

“Then what do you even want?”

“Be patient, I'll get to it... I want two things from you.” The Duke paused for a moment, then raised one finger. “First, I will give you missions in the future. I want you to complete them, no questions asked. And before you complain, hear me out!” Then, he raised a second finger. “Second, I want you to accompany a select few of my subordinates to slay the Demon King as soon as his location is known.”

“!?”

Not even letting Rina be shocked by his demands, he pressed on. “Of course, you won't work for free. I'm also known to be a generous man to my allies. So I will be to you... Rina, what do you think, who has the most powerful military in the kingdom right now?”

“... It might be your private army.”

“That's right. Not only have I employed highly powerful and talented individuals. Many have also sought to be part of my forces. Let me tell you this... it's no exaggeration to say that my army is stronger than the Valkyria Kingdom's official one.”

“...”

“In fact, you might already know this, but Viscount Dragonherz also asked for my protection several times. He even offered his daughter as a bride for my son.”

“But you have refused, and Lord Eric is no longer interested.”

“Ahaha, yes, because he has you now. On a side note... remember my first-born son, Thoma?”

Rina nodded. “The one who accompanied you, but isn't here with you in this room?”

“Yes. He seems to be very interested in Dragonherz's daughter. He will surely ask me to get that girl for him.”

“...” Rina tried her best to keep calm, to no avail, one might add.

Seeing the red-haired girl's reaction, the Duke smiled and leaned back on the couch. “Now... what do you think my answer would depend on?”

“... So, if I agree to carry out all the missions you give me and accompany your unit to subjugate the Demon King once his location is known, you'll leave my mistress alone and won't support your son marry her?”

“My son probably wants to have that girl as a sex toy instead of a marriage partner, but that's the gist, yes. In addition, I will take the Dragonherz under my family's protection during the demon invasion if Viscount Dragonherz is still interested. Lastly, I will give this girl...” He pointed at the brunette. “... to you. You will be her mistress then.”

“Did it ever occur to you that I might agree with you now but refuse to carry out your so-called missions later?”

“Don't underestimate me, girl. I can burn this entire capital to the ground with a snap of my fingers. Erasing the likes of Dragonherz from existence is no task. It's a minor inconvenience at best.”

“...”

“Do not misunderstand me! I could have simply kidnapped you, drugged you, and beaten you into submission. But I've taken a liking to you, so I've just decided it would be better for us to start on friendly terms for now. Don't take my grace for granted.”

“...”

“So, what will it be? Friendly terms, or not?”

At these words, Rina got off the couch and dropped to her knees. “... I would like to agree on your terms.”

The Duke smiled. “Good girl. I allow you to call me by my name. Do you still have any questions?”

“Lord Thalas, I do”

“Then let me hear them.”

“Um... this girl.” Rina looked at the brunette standing beside her. “Is there anything that binds her to you?”

“Hmm? An unusual question... No need to be afraid, I won't take her away from you. Nothing is binding her to me or my family. I picked her up a few days ago, just for you, so be grateful.”

“I see. Then I have another question. I assume that there is a way to unseal my Mana again? Otherwise, you wouldn't be interested in having me as your servant.”

“Ahahaha, I may be repeating myself, but your intelligence is all over the place, Rina. Sometimes, you're quick, sometimes, you're just plain stupid... To your question, yes. Your Mana will be available to you in a few days. You don't have to do anything. As for how I sealed it, I'll keep it a secret for now. Show me your loyalty to me first, then we can talk about it later. Anything else?”

Rina thought for a few seconds, then shook her head.

“I see. Now for the future. As you've already guessed. Arland works for me. I will assign your future missions through him. Fortunately for both of us, there's nothing for you to do in the foreseeable future. So continue training under him and that High Elven teacher of yours to become stronger. Of course, you must not tell the Dragonherz that Arland works for me.”

“Yes.”

“Umu. Well, we can call it a day. I'm going back to the party venue. Your overprotective mistress will be suspicious if I stay away for too long. And I'm sure you still have some things to discuss with your servant...”

“Wait, Lord Thalas, how long has it been since I was brought here?”

“Hmm? Ah, you were unconscious two times. I completely forgot. Sorry about that. Hmm, I estimate it has been a little bit over two hours since then.”

Hearing that, Rina was visibly relieved. It meant, that Clara's birthday wasn't over yet. There was still time to give her the present.

Meanwhile, Thalas, the two guards, and Arland headed for the exit. But before the Duke completely stepped out of the room, he turned to Rina for a last time. “Last but not least, I have some advice for you, which will do you good if you keep it in mind.”

Rina tilted her head. “Yes?”

“You're too naïve and you show your emotions on your face too quickly.”

“...”

“Never negotiate on your own again.”