Unhappy Waifu

The morning sun cast a soft glow over the sprawling mansion grounds. Kent walked leisurely through the facilities, his hands in his pockets and a warm smile on his face. The air was filled with the hum of activity as Colette's vast operation sprang to life for another day.

Many of the higher-ranked members, the Capos and the Consigliere, stopped what they were doing to greet him as he passed. Despite their hardened exteriors and the fearsome nature of their positions, they showed him a rare kind of respect.

"Good morning, Mr. Kent," a Capo said with a nod, his voice unusually polite.

"Morning," Kent replied with his usual warmth. "How's the shipment coming along? Need anything?"

The Capo blinked, caught off guard by the genuine concern in Kent's tone. "N-no, sir. Everything's under control."

Kent smiled. "Great to hear. Let me know if anything changes."

This was why they liked him. Unlike Colette, whose reputation for cruelty kept everyone on edge, Kent's kindness was disarming. He didn't see himself as above anyone else, despite being the most important person in their boss's life. And when things got tough, Kent was always willing to lend a hand, whether it was offering a kind word, helping carry equipment, or just listening to their concerns.

But not everyone in the organization shared the higher-ups' respect for him.

The soldiers—lower-ranked, rougher, and often opportunistic—saw Kent differently. They knew how much Colette adored him, how she'd annihilate anyone who dared hurt him. Some of them saw this as an opportunity to gain favor with the boss.

"Hey, Kent," one of the soldiers called, approaching him with a fake smile. "You've got a moment?"

Kent stopped and turned, his smile never wavering. "Of course. What's up?"

The soldier clapped a hand on Kent's shoulder, leaning in conspiratorially. "Listen, I've been thinking. You're close with the boss, right? Maybe you could put in a good word for me. I've been wanting to move up the ranks, and I think she'd listen to you."

Kent hesitated, his brow furrowing slightly. He didn't like the idea of using his relationship with Colette to manipulate her decisions. But before he could respond, another soldier joined in.

"Yeah, Kent, you're like, her favorite person in the world. She'd totally listen to you if you said someone deserved a promotion."

Kent's discomfort grew, but his innate kindness made it hard for him to outright refuse. "I don't think that's how it works, guys. Promotions are based on performance, not personal recommendations."

The soldiers exchanged glances, clearly unimpressed with his response. But they didn't press further, knowing they couldn't push too hard without risking Colette's wrath.

When Colette found out what had happened, her reaction was as swift as it was brutal.

She sat in her office, her claws digging into the armrest of her chair, her wings twitching with barely contained fury. The idea that anyone would dare to manipulate her husband's kindness or try to use him for their own gain was utterly unacceptable.

"How dare they," she growled, her voice low and venomous. "How dare they take advantage of him?"

Her Consigliere, standing stiffly before her desk, swallowed nervously. "We've identified the soldiers responsible, ma'am. They're in the holding cells."

"Good," Colette snapped, rising to her full height. Her blue-and-white scales gleamed in the dim light, and her tail lashed against the floor. "Bring them to the courtyard. I'll deal with them personally."

The soldiers knelt on the cold stone ground, their faces pale with fear. Around them, a crowd of Capos, Consiglieres, and other members of the organization gathered to watch.

Colette stood before them, her towering form casting a long shadow. Her sharp blue eyes glared down at the trembling men, her wings spread wide in a display of dominance.

"You dared to take advantage of my husband," she began, her voice icy and dripping with venom. "You thought you could use his kindness, his innocence, to further your own selfish goals."

The soldiers stammered apologies, but Colette silenced them with a single roar that echoed across the courtyard.

"You are nothing," she snarled, frost forming in the air around her as her anger intensified. "You don't deserve the mercy he would have shown you. And you certainly don't deserve to breathe the same air as him."

Without another word, Colette exhaled a powerful blast of frost breath. The soldiers froze instantly, their terrified expressions preserved in crystalline perfection.

With a flick of her tail, she shattered them into countless pieces. The crowd watched in stunned silence as Colette turned to face them, her eyes blazing.

"Let this be a lesson," she declared. "No one touches what's mine. No one manipulates what's mine. And no one, no one, disrespects my husband."

As the crowd dispersed, Colette returned to her office, her anger slowly fading. When she walked in, Kent was there, waiting for her with a cup of tea and his ever-present smile.

"Rough day?" he asked, handing her the cup.

She pulled him into a tight hug, burying her snout in his hair. "Not anymore," she whispered, her voice soft and full of love. "Not with you here."

Meanwhile, The underboss, a striking dark elf woman named Raize, leaned against the polished table in the meeting room. Her silver hair shimmered under the chandelier's glow, contrasting sharply with her dark skin and sharp violet eyes. Dressed in a sleek black suit, she exuded an air of cool professionalism, though her tone carried a hint of irritation as she spoke.

"I'm just saying," she began, her voice low and measured, "Kent's… too nice for this life. He doesn't fit."

Across from her sat Oakley, the Consigliere. A seasoned human with salt-and-pepper hair and a perpetual calmness about him, he adjusted his glasses and glanced at Raize with a faint smirk. "You're not wrong," he admitted. "He's sweet, polite, and helpful—basically the opposite of everyone else here."

Raize crossed her arms, her violet eyes narrowing. "Exactly my point. This isn't a charity, and the boss's obsession with him makes things... complicated. You've seen how far she'll go if anyone even looks at him wrong. It's dangerous to have such a big vulnerability."

Oakley chuckled softly, folding his hands on the table. "Dangerous, sure. But have you considered the other side of it? He's also the reason we're swimming in profit right now."

Raize frowned. "What do you mean?"

"Do you really think we'd be pulling in this much money without his suggestions?" Oakley asked, his tone pragmatic. "He's the one who came up with the idea to produce magic weapons in the first place. Remember the enchanted crossbows? The flame grenades? The suppressor amulets? All his ideas."

Raize raised an eyebrow, clearly skeptical. "The boss had her scientists working on weapons for years before Kent came along."

"True, but they were focused on flashy projects that didn't sell well," Oakley countered. "Kent suggested they create weapons that were practical, affordable, and easy to use. That shifted the entire business model. Now we've got contracts with warlords, mercenary bands, and even rogue mages. The guy might not look it, but he's got a sharp mind for business."

Raize leaned back, considering his words. "I'll admit, he's been good for profits. But it still feels… strange. Like he doesn't belong here."

Oakley shrugged. "Maybe. But let's be honest—are you going to tell the boss that?"

Raize snorted, a rare smirk tugging at her lips. "Not unless I have a death wish. She'd tear me apart for questioning him."

"Exactly," Oakley said with a dry laugh. "Colette's devotion to him is unshakable. You could argue it's one of her few weaknesses, but it's also what keeps her grounded. Without Kent, I'm not sure she'd have the same restraint she does now."

Raize tilted her head, intrigued. "You think he softens her?"

"He's the only one who can," Oakley replied. "To us, she's ruthless, vindictive, and terrifying. To him? She's just a smitten wife. He brings out a side of her that no one else sees."

Raize was silent for a moment, tapping her fingers against the table. "I still think he's too soft for this world. But… I'll keep my mouth shut. For now."

"Wise choice," Oakley said with a small smile. "Besides, you can't argue with results. As long as Kent's around, this organization will keep thriving."

Raize sighed, pushing herself off the table. "Fine. But I still don't get it. How can someone like him love someone like her?"

Oakley shrugged again, his calm demeanor unwavering. "Love doesn't always make sense. And in their case, it doesn't have to. It just works."

With that, the two returned to their work, the matter of Kent shelved for now. They both knew better than to question the boss's husband too much—it was a line they dared not cross. Besides, despite his overly kind and sweet nature, Kent had proven himself invaluable to the organization. And for all their doubts, even Raize couldn't deny that the man's influence was a key factor in their success.