I am Right Here

Artie squinted as she saw gowns fitted inside the huge wardrobe. She had always thought of doing so she wouldn't have to rush every morning after she decided to take advantage of the shimmering bathwater and the natural body heater. To think that Miel had done so for her…

"My clothes..." She put down the bow and the quiver from where she picked them up before moving to see which gowns were taken to the wardrobe. They seemed to be the ones she rarely used since she was not going to be making use of this 'service' every day.

When she started checking the gowns, she felt like arms were circling her shoulders. Before she knew it, Larkin's hands had latched on the robe's collar and were gently peeling it off of her shoulders. A blush ran across her cheeks as she paused in her actions and moved her arms back to let him take her robe off. Even if she had overcome her shyness in standing around in only her sleeping gown, it was all coming back in double strength.

"Larkin, the morning graces..." she whispered, but his hands only slid around her waist and slowly crumpled her sleeping gown as if letting it ride up in a crawl. He then whispered against her ear. "...will start in a few more minutes. The first bell was designed to awaken its participants..."

Artie's knees began to tremble as she felt the fabric slide up her navel. When the edge reached her waist, his hands slid underneath and circled behind her to raise the gown up her back. She looked down at her body and watched as the gown continued to slide up her head. In the end, she only covered her breasts when Larkin got the sleeping gown off of her body.

She then tried to chuckle out of nervousness. "Uh, we're not… going to..."

"You need to get dressed, Artie." Larkin hummed as he reached in and picked whatever dress he felt like seeing Artie in for today. Even if he said so in quite a soft way, he didn't know that Artie imagined him grinning ear to ear. He then picked out a yellow dress and the few pieces of other articles to wear under it… like he had studied whatever new was placed inside the wardrobe.

"Oh, is the great archduke going to clothe the poor archduchess? Okay." 

Artie kept her growl to herself as she got alarmed for nothing. However, she seemed to speak so soon when Larkin leaned down and licked her neck. "Would you rather have the other matter instead?"

The archduchess grabbed the gown and the undergarments and hugged them against her body. She then laughed strangely as she escaped from the archduke's reach. "Y-Yeah, I'll get dressed! I'll get dressed! See ya in a bit!" She hurriedly entered the curtained bed and left one slit wide enough to provide dim light for her.

Larkin only watched her and the unmoving curtains for a while before resuming to his own clothes. A smile somewhat curled his lips in amusement, but it flattened when the next bell had rung out. "One more day before the wedding. The words had been sent far and wide… I wonder if the whispers of the people had reached your ears. Will you come and see it, Sarafina?"

However, a malevolent smile curled Larkin's lips again, his glinting red eyes glaring. "Perhaps it would be time for me to finally end my misery with your blood painting the walls of my home."

…

Disgruntled. Artie cut her sleep short just to attend the morning graces to avoid trouble, but there she was seated at the dining table with just Larkin and Wusso. The three women she was waiting for slept through the graces and even in the first hour of breakfast. However, she couldn't take her anger out on the food because it was delicious.

Wusso was chatting with Larkin about the other nobles and their futile efforts of raising their duchies' incomes. Miral Valley was already at the peak of its economic growth and had been earning close to what Talcum could so he wasn't bothered by it. However, Ellis Plains was labeled a poor duchy with an almost minimum income. It's just that because all the riches circulate among its citizens. Larkin wasn't planning to change it either.

That was why they took pleasure in listening and chatting about the other's unnecessary misery. Raising income was just a way to get the attention of the demon emperor, and it made a little difference—aside from the bragging rights of being acquainted with the demon emperor. Wusso and Larkin were already acquainted with Albas one way or another, and they could attest to the futility of such bragging rights.

Soon, Gustova had arrived. She looked grand and regal, but her expression still grew ugly when she saw Artie's face so early in the morning. In her books, she had already risen early and should have been the only woman at the table at such a time. If Artie heard about it and the habits of other female nobility, she might question the rules Miel had laid out for her to oblige.

Moreover, her nose flared. Artie was wearing a golden gown… just as she was. This woman dared to compete with her beauty? How preposterous for a maiden with no real noble roots. Artie Shen was from Kaigansa, and she was no noblewoman among the true Galacian women.

"Ah, you've arrived. Come, eat. We're waiting for you." Wusso quickly and excitedly called for his sister. Even if Gustova didn't know who the 'we' referred to, she was hoping Larkin was involved. The sister decided to ignore the archduchess and sat down, hooking hair behind her ear as if acting coy before Larkin. She chuckled: "Have I been making you wait for too long, Lord Ellis?"

"I heard that you have visited Haussia for a jewelry auction as part of their income-raising activities." Larkin sighed discreetly. He didn't want to speak with this woman, but he heard about something interesting that she could only attest to. Of course, hearing about Haussia made Gustova's face contort a little.

"Y-Yes, would you like to see the diamonds that I was able to buy?" Gustova tried to swing the topic towards her, but Larkin was not interested in that. He only hummed. "I trust that you have made good purchases. Have you spoken with Lady Talcum? She's very receptive towards the noble houses from Kingdom Achlys."

Gustova's face darkened. She thought that after the first archduchess had run away, she would never have to compete with anyone anymore. However, it turned out that Larkin was still interested in hearing about this 'niece' of his. 'What Lady Talcum? She's already a princess of Latodine. Leave the whore around her husband. Don't ask about her anymore. I am right here!'

The woman then thought of something before smiling again. "She wasn't present during the auction, Lord Ellis. She's currently conceiving her first child with the prince of Kingdom Latodine. Ah, she must have sent her letter of decline and apology for not seeing the wedding. It must be very disappointing for you..."