27. Weekend at the Mansion (3)
Eirin woke from sleep. Probably due to an unexpected nightmare. She, who had been under my blankets with me, panicked greatly and tried to slip out.
"S-sorry... I'm sorry, Young Master!"
But I wasn't bothered at all. If anything, I was the reason she'd had that nightmare.
"No need to apologize. And as I said, rest here today."
"I can't do that. There are things I need to—"
"Nothing seems that urgent, so it should be fine. And from the looks of it, you stayed up waiting for me last night too. Didn't I tell you not to?"
I hit the nail on the head, and Eirin fell silent, unable to respond.
"And you don't look well."
I placed my hand on Eirin's forehead. There was a slight fever. She panicked even more.
"I-I'm fine."
"No. Stop saying that. Rest properly. If you push yourself and end up bedridden, I'll be the one worn out."
At those words, Eirin quieted down. Glancing at the time, it was a bit before lunch—around 11 a.m. We'd both slept about five hours.
Not enough rest by any means, but I felt fine. My mana heart, now advanced to the 3rd tier, infused my whole body with vitality.
Now, time to practice the Lion Heart Sword 1st Chapter Secret Art: White Night...
It was late morning, yet the world beyond the window looked dim. Rain was falling. Come to think of it, the air had felt humid on the way back this morning.
The mansion has indoor training spaces like the practice hall. Maybe practice inside. Just for a bit.
I paused those instinctive sword thoughts. Training was good, but there was something more important first: tending to Eirin.
Through the dream, I'd confirmed her complicated feelings. Complicated enough that I couldn't just leave her be. Plus, I'd seen her potential too—an A+ fate grade.
Eirin had tremendous talent in painting, in art. That made her a must-pick party member for the Hesos Order.
Her fate grade hinted she could fill that role.
In other words, Eirin wasn't just any maid. I couldn't keep neglecting her like this.
Honestly... I feel bad for her too.
Lilia, Chloe, Lucia, and the others—all women with A+ fate grades. I was inevitably entangled with them deeply. And I'd already spent passionate nights with them.
It was necessary for building the perfect party. My demon lord blood urged me on with a singular voice.
But Eirin, always by my side watching it all... her heart couldn't be at ease. She kept an emotionless face, but I'd already confirmed her true feelings weren't so stoic.
In the dream, she'd even turned the carriage pitch-black with darts from built-up stress.
Left like this, not only would her yin dream proficiency not improve—it might twist her fate grade like Lucia's had.
So today, I decided not to leave her side. In short, it was a day for serving her.
"If you're still sleepy, sleep more."
"B-but..."
Eirin fidgeted beside me. In my private bedroom—my bed—under one blanket, the two of us lay side by side.
Thinking about it, even when she'd attended me at night and fallen asleep, she'd always slipped out carefully at dawn.
It was rare for her to still be lying with me past morning like this. And it wasn't even her duty hours now.
She's embarrassed.
She had a fever, but not enough to make her face this flushed. As I stared, she turned her back to avoid my gaze.
"Can't sleep, Eirin? You don't look like you've rested deeply."
"No, Young Master."
"If the maid outfit's uncomfortable, change into something else. Just tell the other servants to fetch clothes."
"I-I'm fine."
This separation-anxious maid couldn't do a thing with me right there. Was she content with this much?
She hated Lilia so much, yet Lilia groped my hand and the tyrant even during sacred lectures to sate her desires.
"Am I making you uncomfortable?"
"No. But lying in your bed without doing anything..."
"Then do something."
I hugged her from behind, where she'd turned away.
"Y-Young Master? Ah!"
Startled, Eirin let out an adorable sound.
"It's almost April, but today's a bit chilly. The rain, probably. Your body's warm, though. Feels nice."
"Then... I'm glad."
To give her no excuse to escape, I declared I'd use her as a heater. Her feverish body really was toasty.
Lying under the blanket, holding her close—she was soft and warm. I could see the nape of her neck flushing red above the covers.
"Now you're working for me like this. That's enough. If you're tired, close your eyes."
Eirin made no reply, blushing shyly. She was so cute I nearly let the tyrant swell, but...
It was time to show her the sweet manners I'd learned from Lucia. Skillfully channeling blood through my well-developed mana roads, I calmed the surge.
Then I held her even more gently.
***
Eirin was terribly flustered. Waking so late in the young master's room embarrassed her to no end.
And now the young master held her tight under the blanket, showing no sign of letting go.
Did I miss morning duties? Is that what he wants?
No. His voice was calm—surprisingly gentle, even.
And even pressed so close under one blanket... there was no telltale presence against her rear.
If he were aroused, that massive tyrant between his legs wouldn't stay still.
Why... why is he doing this?
No, more than his reasons, her own reaction baffled her. She'd always prided herself on being a diligent maid. But now...
Lazing away a Saturday morning like this. She needed to tidy the young master's room, sort his clothes, prepare next week's Pantheon schedule... She had to get out of bed right now.
But her head was blank; thoughts wouldn't settle. The slight fever made her feel off too.
Above all... his embrace was too warm to leave.
This feels just like... lovers.
For a moment, Eirin indulged in a forbidden luxury of thought. Lovers? The young master had changed so much, so unusually kind...
But the wall of status between a commoner like her and the margrave's heir was too vast. And he had a fiancée befitting his station—the Third Princess.
And... her looks... her breasts suit him perfectly.
She tried not to think it usually, but the dream had exposed her true heart. Princess Lilia truly matched him.
Unlike her public image, Lilia had the shrewdness and intellect befitting royalty.
She represented an order at the Pantheon, where the empire's best gathered—proof of her skill as a holy priestess. They even called her the next saintess candidate after Saintess Agnes.
And those breasts... Men inevitably preferred huge ones. Eirin didn't think hers small, but compared to that, they seemed pitiful.
What am I thinking? The fever must be messing with my head.
It was that weird dream. And she'd been too on edge lately, thanks to those irritating multicolored heads.
But now the young master was right there. No need for annoyance anymore. She just needed to calm down like usual and think of him first...
But even that was hard. His embrace was too warm... too good.
She felt herself melting into his kindness and softness, on the verge of drifting off—completely unlike her usual self.
"Eirin. If you're tired, just sleep. The fever will pass with some rest."
His gentle voice came again, like the young master from her childhood... the mischievous boy whose heart was always kind...
Her eyes nearly closed, but she fought it desperately. She didn't want to miss this impossibly luxurious, happy moment.
At least... for now.
But Eirin couldn't hold back the sleep any longer. Soon, she drifted off deeply in his arms.
***
Eirin had fallen asleep. I gazed out the window for a moment. Rain still fell outside, a pleasant patter filling the air.
A leisurely Saturday morning. Even her sleeping face was beautiful, enhancing the peaceful vibe.
But this peace wouldn't last forever.
Demon Lord Slayer Part 1's highlight: the nest raid. Far worse than the Imperial Guard's survey team assessed—an empire-level nest of ultimate horror.
The subjugation force summoned by the palace fails the raid and loses most of its elite troops.
Meanwhile, Cardinal Grius—the empire's real power—preserves his intact Inquisition and cardinal faction guards.
Using that strength, he'll plunge the capital into chaos after Part 1. Even he'll get swept up in Part 2's mysterious group and the empire-wide rebellion, dying in the end.
With its command structure evaporated, the empire can't stop the monster rampage and falls.
That was the typical Demon Lord Slayer ending I remembered. The protagonist and most key figures die too—a definite bad end.
Knowing that future, I'd moved busily since possessing this body. My achievements so far outstripped my game playthroughs.
Still, inner anxiety lingered. I was just an ordinary guy before possession. It was a miracle I'd done this well.
And I knew why I could.
The system and the voices, probably.
I'd cleared quests as the system demanded, claiming rewards. And my titles: Demon Lord, Saintess, Reinhardt, etc.
They always spoke with one voice in my heart.
Keeping me unshakable. Like an unbreakable pillar.
That's how an ordinary guy like me endured the heavy task of saving a world.
Even the brief anxiety just now vanished, replaced by confidence. Though part of me wondered if those voices were inhuman.
They kept my emotions—joy, anger, sorrow, pleasure—from going too far, maintaining calm. Looking down at Eirin now stirred something subtle.
Her face was stunning as always. The kind to make anyone fall at first sight.
I felt fondness for her, a special affection from our constant time together. But that was it. Nothing deeper.
Not just her. Even with Lilia, Chloe, Lucia—women I'd shared my body with intimately.
I feel emotions fully... but something's blocked.
I could like them, but not fall in love. That vibe.
Not just love—all passions. Something inside drew a line, prioritizing greater tasks.
The cause? This body's blood. Those voices. Demon Lord. Saintess. Reinhardt. The original owner's immense fate.
No one on Iseland continent had such tangled destiny.
But no need to overthink.
At least they never forced what I didn't want.
I was ordinary but straightforward. Bluntly, laid-back to a fault. Obsessed with reviewing worthless games for no money.
That was my one strength.
Right now, I just wanted to enjoy this brief Saturday leisure with Eirin. Nothing more.
As I savored the pleasant rain sounds, Eirin opened her eyes again.