Chapter 20: Shadows of Desire

"Apologies for the delayed welcome, Momon-sama," the young master said, bowing. "Please, make yourself at home."

"Caught you at a bad time?" Momon asked.

"A guest arrived, but nothing takes precedence over your visit. Why not make this mansion your base in E-Rantel?"

"A generous offer, but I have commitments."

"My apologies for overstepping."

"No, no. So, this guest… Albedo, is that you?" Momon turned.

"Momon… why are you here? No, that's a foolish question," Albedo replied, her black wings and hair a vision of beauty in the mansion's parlor.

Albedo's heart raced. Ainz-sama came for me! Not that fake-breasted brat, Shalltear his heart's mine! Oh, Ainz-sama, I'd brave fire or flood for you. No, he came for ME! I mustn't shame him. Our union is fate—U-N-M-E-I! I'm ready! Five seconds from pouncing like a beast, she was restrained only by Momon's black armor. Their relationship, as Momon and Albedo, was complex.

The mansion's roles: Albedo's dining hall for her "meal"—the man known but not broadcast among Nazarick's minions; a training ground for maids sent to Ainz's E-Rantel estate, subtly understood by the sharp; and publicly, the home of Solution, a merchant's daughter allied with Momon and Nabe, tied to the Sorcerer Kingdom's ruler, Ainz. Ainz, an undead, sparked fear among humans, countered by Momon, the Black Hero, who'd slay him if needed. Albedo, the Sorcerer Kingdom's Prime Minister, bridged this delicate balance. Her presence here, like Momon's, raised no suspicion.

To Nazarick, Momon and Albedo were master and servant, but to outsiders unaware they were one, they were near-rivals, their meeting tense. Maids stiffened visibly.

"I haven't had lunch," Momon said. "Something light, clean, and tasty."

The young master, unruffled, ordered local maids to prepare it, leaving only Nazarick's maid instructor.

In the now-private parlor, he spoke casually. "So, Ainz-sama?"

"What?" Momon replied.

"You came as Ainz-sama, not Momon, to see Albedo-sama, I presume."

"What!?" Momon sputtered.

"Kufu—!" Albedo's inner beast unleashed, lunging at Ainz. The young master smiled; Solution and Nabe exchanged glances, eyeing him. Six watched nervously.

"Gods, your armor's creaking," the young master noted. "Pardon, we'll be elsewhere. Nabe-sama, may I meet the Wise King?"

"Uh… sure," Nabe replied.

"Wait, Albedo, stop! I didn't come for this!" Ainz protested.

"Ainz-sama, leave it to me! I'll handle everything, accept everything—!" Albedo rambled.

A message spell hit the young master: Stop her! I'm serious! "It's impossible to stop Albedo-sama." Use your head! I believe in you! "Though it pains me, Albedo-sama's rivalry with Shalltear could be leveraged. Praise Shalltear or assign her a task to restore her calm." Perfect!

Mentioning Shalltear made Albedo's eyes blaze; Ainz shivered. It worked she calmed, and he reverted to Momon.

(How does he know Shalltear's blunder? Did Solution or Shalltear spill?) Ainz wondered.

At the courtyard table, Momon munched sandwiches. The Wise King, Hamsuke, arrived from the stables. Albedo, now in another room, left maids free to admire the beast.

"So cute!" the young master exclaimed.

"Hmph! Like my Lord!" Hamsuke huffed.

"Cute?" Albedo mused from a window. Not Aura's pets, but… cute like Momon-sama? He's off, but that's charming.

Ainz, suppressing emotions, asked, "What's cute about it?"

"It's big but round, with charming round eyes."

Noticing stares, he scratched his head. "Sickly for years, my sense of beauty's skewed. It's majestic, big, long-tailed."

"No, it's cute!" Momon insisted. "Right, Hamsuke?"

"I'm honored, my Lord!" Hamsuke beamed.

"Can I touch it?" the young master asked.

"Go ahead!" Momon encouraged.

Hamsuke, a grand beast to the kingdom, was just a giant hamster to Ainz cute, not mighty. Yet Nazarick hailed it as "amazing, strong, wise." Ainz, dismayed by their skewed aesthetics, was thrilled to find a kindred spirit.

But touching Hamsuke, the young master's eyes dulled. "Hard… I thought it'd be fluffy."

His disappointment lasted a moment. Resolve returned. "Momon-sama, may I take some fur? I'll make it soft somehow. This hardness betrays its look!"

"Betrayal!?" Hamsuke squeaked. "I'd never betray my Lord!"

"Your existence is the betrayal!" he shot back.

"Human, you're my foe!" Hamsuke growled.

"Wait!" Momon interceded.

(Aura was shocked by Hamsuke's hard fur too. Should I introduce them?) Ainz mused.

After much ado, Albedo left with a word to Momon. Momon and Nabe departed before dusk. While Momon scolded Hamsuke, Nabe pulled the young master aside for a fervent embrace and kiss.

Over dinner, Solution, tasked by Ainz, probed, "How did you know of Shalltear's mistake? She never mentioned it."

He blinked twice. "Didn't hear it. Was I wrong?"

"No. How did you know?"

"I saw it."

"How?"

Some locals had "talents." Solution's eyes narrowed, suspecting insight.

"No big deal," he said. Shalltear seemed idle, unusual for Nazarick. Her combat-focused role and confidence suggested a mishap from overconfidence.

"Was I wrong?" he asked.

"…Spot on," Solution admitted, reassessing him. Demiurge's praise was earned.

His suggestion to task Shalltear aligned with Albedo's wishes, but Ainz as Momon complicated things rumors could undermine Momon's role as Ainz's check. Shalltear's antics stemmed from pent-up frustration; a mission would sate her. Sleeping with her was fine for her, but too tight, painful. Less frequency would help.

A win-win: Ainz avoids trouble, Albedo confirms her pet's loyalty, and Shalltear's utilized. A fourfold victory.

That night, alone, the man slept deeply. Solution, knowing Albedo drained him, waited for his recovery. She could wait a day.

Past midnight, the city and mansion silent, his door creaked open physically unlocked. Albedo, black-haired and winged, slipped in.

Her Yggdrasil magic item, limited to one daily round trip, reset after midnight by her logic, honoring Ainz's weekly limit. Gazing at his innocent sleeping face, she chuckled lasciviously. As a succubus dream demon, she'd feast in his dreams.

A night raid.