Shadow Worker

His words, spoken with such earnestness, held a promise of protection that I desperately wanted to believe.

With each gentle syllable, my tears began to fall. It was as if his voice had the power to quell the storm raging within me.

Despite my initial resistance, I found myself surrendering to the calming influence of his presence.

"Apologies for that," I managed a strained chuckle, dabbing away the last traces of tears from my cheeks.

Ludwig merely nodded. Although a flicker of concern mingled with a hint of irritation shadowed his features.

"I really didn't intend to imply that," I hurried to clarify, my mind racing with panicked thoughts.

What if my accusation had angered him enough to cast me out? I hadn't even thought to obtain a weapon to defend myself if left stranded in a forest.

What possessed me to say such a thing? They had shown nothing but kindness. And it was Ludwig himself who had rescued me from those monstrous creatures.

"I deeply regret my words," I confessed.

He nodded again, but his gaze had shifted to a distant place, lost in thought.

The silence between us only heightened my anxiety, prompting me to break it.

"Um, thanks," I murmured.

Ludwig's head snapped up so abruptly that I nearly flinched.

"What?" he demanded.

"I just wanted to say thank you," I explained. "Thank you for letting me stay in your castle, for providing me with food and clothing. I appreciate everything you've done for me."

I offered a sincere smile, meeting Ludwig's gaze without flinching. Though I refrained from mentioning his eyes changing color again, this time to gold.

Ludwig's response came as a whisper, barely audible over the rustling of the plants.

"Welcome," he replied.

I pressed on, determined to get an answer to my burning question. "But you still haven't answered why you bought me. What are your plans for me?"

A smirk tugged at the corners of Ludwig's lips. "Why are you so eager to know?"

I shrugged, trying to keep the tone of our conversation light despite the weight of my inquiry.

"I just want to know so I can prepare myself. What do you expect me to do, aside from cooking for you or invading your personal space?" I reached for a fruit, finding comfort in its sweetness as I awaited his response. "Do you want me to become your maid, assistant, cleaner?"

Ludwig sighed heavily, his frustration evident. "I already have hundreds of those," he admitted.

"A shadow worker, perhaps?" I suggested, my brow furrowing as I considered the possibility. "I don't know…"

I shrugged, casting my gaze around the room.

Ludwig's curiosity was piqued. "Shadow worker?"

I nodded, my arms crossing defensively. "You know," I explained, "someone you instruct to do tasks that you're not able to do yourself, like stealing, kidnapping, or whatever else."

A smirk played at the corners of Ludwig's lips, causing my frown to deepen.

"If I were to have a shadow worker, which I won't, I'd rather choose a Wyvern, Ravager, or a Werebeast, never you," he stated bluntly.

I gritted my teeth, feeling a surge of resentment.

Was he insulting me? Underestimating me?

Despite being far from my own world, I still held my own. But perhaps I was weaker here. Taking a deep breath, I tried to calm myself and quell my annoyance.

"Fine," I gave in, feeling defeated. "So what do you want to do with me then, really? I'm running out of options here. You can't just expect me to do nothing but eat, read, and... well, you know."

Ludwig crossed his elegant arms against his chest, a contemplative expression on his face. "Why not? Don't you want that? Living like a princess? It's every woman's utmost desire."

I shook my head, feeling my emotions rise. "But you've already helped me so much," I insisted, my voice wavering. "I don't want to be a burden. I don't want to owe someone again. Never."

For a moment, there was only silence, the soft rustling of leaves and the distant sighs of the breeze.

Then, slowly, Ludwig spoke. "Take care of this Greenhouse, then," he suggested. "Work on this if you truly want to do something."

I was just about to thank Ludwig, parting my lips when, suddenly, Alexa appeared before us.

The Faes, when they teleported, left no remnants of light or smoke. But with Alexa, there was a faint trace of electricity that surrounded her body, quickly dissipating as she arrived.

Appearing with her back to us, she scanned the area.

"Where the hell is Ludwig? Don't tell me at this crucial moment my spell has failed," she muttered, scratching her head and stomping her foot like a child frustrated with a toy.

Unable to contain my amusement, I burst into laughter. It was at that moment she turned around, catching sight of both of us standing innocently, doing nothing at all.

Alexa's gaze shifted to Ludwig, her tone becoming serious. "Golems to the South," she reported sternly. "Liam and his squad are already moving."

I could feel the tension in the air thicken, amplified by Ludwig's intense aura.

"Take her to her room," he instructed Alexa firmly. "Put another spell on it. Guard her, please. For my sake."

And with that, Ludwig vanished without so much as a final glance in my direction.