[Grayfia's POV]

To create a world fitting the Golden Dragon God, Richter-sama

Those words of praise left my mouth inadvertently, I was admittedly enjoying this more than I should have. Especially when I heard the story of every single item that he accumulated.

The Lucifuge Family was loyal to the Lucifer family and I was raised since little by my mother to be a maid, I would one day serve as Lucifer's maid or even more, but that never came to happen… during the great war, Lucifer died.

However, doing this shores for Richter-sama made me recall the training I went through with my mother. Those were enjoyable times for me, I will never forget them.

Hearing the stories of each battle made me attain a great deal of respect for him, not only do I know that he's a Dragon God, but the more I hear about him, the more I can picture the path and all he went through in my head.

That, except for that ring which he doesn't want to tell me about. I should have known, living for so long… he must have had lovers but, what would stop him from telling me about that lover? or that special person?

I wanted to know.

When he asked me why I was doing this… I couldn't help it.

'He's such an amazing individual, wouldn't it be right for his treasures to portray his grandiose?' it felt logical to me.

[Dragon God's Affection +10]

I covered my mouth slightly in shock and held back from turning around towards him who was following behind me, I checked my status.

[Dragon God's Affection: 13% (Attracted)]

To see his affection for me increase made me… happy. But it also produced a small sting in my heart, it felt artificial... I'm not... doing this for the mission.

'Could… could I be his maid?' I wondered, the more I thought about the idea and flashed him glances as we walked, the more I wanted it.

I continued to transform the previously rudimentary cave-like paths, into gorgeous mausoleum tunnels, even going as far as to place several gates and torches here and there. It looked vastly different, even better than what I had initially imagined.

And as I kept doing so, the thoughts kept lingering in my mind, 'I want to stay... I want to be his maid...' However, there was also another side of me that would relentlessly make me remember, that this is a mission and that the survival of my race is at a stake, I can't be selfish!

Our lips were silent, but we kept constantly clashing glances, whenever I looked at him, I found him regarding me... whenever he looked at me, he found me analysing him.

'W-What is this... chemistry...' I blushed profusely, feeling like I had butterflies in my stomach, is this that legendary feeling my mother told me about?

I stole a glance in his direction as he cast some sort of spell that produced light in the torches I produced, we were refurbishing this place together, it felt like I was working with my husband... to make our home.

'Are you feeling this too, Richter-sama?' I looked at him longingly, hoping that he wouldn't turn around to look at my current expression, what sort of messages would that send him? wouldn't he know that I'm at a disadvantage in this race?

The race to know who falls for the other first. I shouldn't be winning this race but I am!

As we walked in silence, about to arrive at the next cave, there were lingering feelings in my mind.

'It pains me to not see that notification pop up again, every second... I don't even care... if it is just one percentage... Richter-sama, I think I'm falling in love here... and I hope you are too.

Being a maid wasn't only my dream, it was my destiny… but more than that my mother taught me that the crown of an excellent maid is her master.

"Grayfia, it is better if I head back to my cave now, I'm feeling... drowsy. You can continue on your own, wonderful work so far." He didn't even look at me, he just departed me, leaving me with my longing expression.

If you spot this story on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

'Richter-sama, I know you're blushing...'

I can understand. It is dangerous... if we're this close at all times... I'm starting to hope that he will interrogate me again.

As I watched his departing silhouette I couldn't help but think that I have found him.

My master.

**

**

[Richter's POV]

She shouldn't have said that... a cave fitting of me. Someone acknowledges me, for who I am.

Those are words I have wanted to hear for so long... but those are words not even Monique said to me.

'You shouldn't have said that, Grayfia'

'Aren't you happy?~'

Ether's voice resonated in my mind as I donned my Dragon Form and fell on top of my treasures heavily. I ignored her for the first time, my thoughts clouded with the time we spent together.

I felt how she wrapped around me again.

'This is the version of you I wanted to see for the longest while' I felt her head rubbing against mine.

'Ah? stop spouting nonsense'.

'This is happiness you're feeling~ and seeing you like this makes me happy as well~'

'Shut up, I'm not happy...' The smile on my face betrayed my thoughts completely. This feeling of 'happiness' was so foreign, it almost felt uncomfortable.

It wasn't fair to Ether or so I thought.

'You can't just be sleeping all the time, that's depression, Richter... this woman, Grayfia, you should spend more time with her. She's such a sweetheart'.

'You're the sweetheart, honey~ I don't need anyone else'

'Hmph! stop running your sweet tongue for a moment Richter! I'm serious' I felt how she tightened herself around my body to the point that even I felt a little suffocated.

Ether is a pacifist but you should never piss her off, she's one of those who when she snaps, snaps good. Not many have seen that face of hers, but I have and probably Destiny and Nebulous have as well.

'There is someone behind her, targeting me... I suspect either Destiny or Crush, just can't understand what this entity is after' I said those words as if I actually cared about them, they were excuses... I have never cared about whoever targets me, fear disappeared from my vocabulary the moment Eneva died.

I know the maid is trustworthy but don't want to let her in that easily, we just met... she could still be a gold-digger, a very experienced and crafty gold-digger. And trust me, there is a lot of gold she can dig here.

'Perhaps... the person that did this merely wants you to be happy?~' She giggled.

'Was it you?' I asked with frowned brows.

'No~ I'd never use such a shady method, I'd just present the dragoness in front of you and humbly ask you to impregnate her, honey'.

'Why haven't you?' I inquired, digging more than was needed into her feelings. I remember she promised me that she'd find someone to work as a surrogate for us to have an egg. Her first proposition was Destiny but I declined and then she said she'd find someone else. It's been thousands of years and she has yet to bring the first Dragoness.

'I haven't found a dragoness that's qualified enough...'

'Are you even searching, sweetheart?' I deadpanned, not blaming her.

'Maybe she just doesn't exist and no one is better for you than me~' Her voice turned a little ominous and I knew we had to change the subject.

*Cough!* I coughed for some reason even though we were speaking through our minds.

'About Grayfia...'

'Don't be so negative honey~ sometimes love comes just like that, I have given it a deep thought and also can't come up with a reason why she'd be sent to you. The way she behaves also doesn't suggest to me that she's plotting something, why don't you just let things flow for now?' Ether was enthusiastic.

'Why are you so up to this, Ether? shouldn't you be jealous or something? if this happened to you, I would be jealous, I would erase him from existence' I growled at the mere thought of someone taking her away from me, not like it was even possible.

'Hehe, really? would you do that for me?~' Instead of answering she rubbed her head against me some more, annoying me.

'Of course! don't change the subject, you haven't answer me' I pressed her. Dragons were possessive by nature and Primordials more so. Between us. if we were to duck it out; I don't even know if I have a chance of winning... this would give her even more reasons to be possessive.

'Not all dragons are greedy and selfish, Richter. You would feel jealous if I found a mate... that makes me happy and desired despite my condition. But our lives are different. I have seen everything you have gone through, and if there is someone that can give you what I can't... then I can only rejoice'.

'...' I felt ashamed to not be able to share her feelings, at least Ether, about other Dragonesses I couldn't care less how they felt, but Ether was special to me.

'That said, and following the same topic, you should probably consider making that woman stronger if you want her to stay around you' she added with wisdom.

'I know what to do, but I need to spend more time with Grayfia to see how it goes'.

There was a brief silence between the two of us as Ether tried to decipher my intentions.

'The [Primal Spark]?'

'No way...' I rolled my eyes and she giggled.

'The [Sea Goddess Inheritance]? I have seen she's proficiency with Ice Laws'.

'No... not that one either, I thought about it but they're not compatible, her existence leans towards darkness. It is sad, Grayfia's law since to be [Ice] that inheritance would have fitted her perfectly'

'Darkness? then... don't tell me...'

'The [Heart Lineage] should evolve depending on the user, perhaps... she will be lucky' I concluded and told Ether my thoughts.

'A-Are you sure? she's going to suffer quite a bit'.

'If she wants to stay with me, I need to know she has what it takes, otherwise... I'm wasting my time' I'm not going to go against my own beliefs for her, I despise weaklings and those whose wills are feeble.

Sighing inwardly, I decided to stop thinking 'If I do give her a chance, she has to become stronger'.