Mr. & Mrs Meropide

Chapter Three: The Mission and Reunion

Clorinde and Wriothesley eventually returned to their respective duties, each carrying the memories of their shared experiences. Wriothesley found himself checking the newly built security system more often than necessary, his thoughts often drifting to Clorinde and the moments they had shared. He would walk the corridors of the fortress, his eyes scanning the intricate mechanisms and defenses they had put in place, finding a sense of connection to her through their work.

Clorinde, on the other hand, resumed her life above the fortress. On quiet evenings, she would stay up a bit longer, enjoying a solitary cup of tea and reflecting on her time in the fortress. The contrast between her life on the surface and the time spent underwater was stark, yet she appreciated the lessons learned and the people she had come to respect, especially Wriothesley. She found solace in these quiet moments, her thoughts often drifting back to the Duke and the bond they had formed amidst the challenges they faced together.

Clorinde was soon called to Neuvillette's office. A dangerous criminal had escaped just before his trial date, and sending too many people after him was not an option. However, Clorinde, with her exceptional hunting skills, was the ideal person for the task. She could quietly track him and then bring him in for the delayed trial. Understanding the gravity and danger of the mission, Clorinde set out to catch this criminal, knowing it was a top priority.

Neuvillette visited the fortress to assess the situation. A larger group of criminals had been newly transferred there, and it was clear that they still had intentions of pursuing their violent ways within the fortress. In Wriothesley's office, the conversation unfolded:

"We will send you the reinforcements you asked for," Neuvillette began, his tone serious.

"Excellent," Wriothesley replied, nodding. "I'm sure they will adapt quickly to the new situation down here. But are you sure you can afford to transfer so much of your personnel, even if only temporarily?" he asked, a hint of surprise in his voice.

Neuvillette offered a reassuring smile. "Yes, thank you for your concern. However, I have asked our champion duelist to take over a mission that would have otherwise required a significant amount of manpower."

"Oh?" Wriothesley raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "Sounds dangerous."

"It is," Neuvillette admitted, his expression turning serious. "But I am confident in her abilities. I expect to hear back from her as soon as she catches him."

"Alright, best of luck," Wriothesley said, nodding in appreciation. "And thank you for the quick solution."

As Clorinde embarked on her mission, Wriothesley found himself uncharacteristically restless. His usual calm and collected demeanor was replaced with an underlying tension that did not go unnoticed by those around him. Sigewinne, ever observant, noticed the change.

"Is something troubling you, Duke?" she asked one evening, her eyes filled with concern.

Wriothesley, caught off guard, managed a smile. "Just the weight of our responsibilities, Sigewinne. Nothing more."

But Sigewinne wasn't convinced. She continued to watch him closely, noting his frequent glances at the horizon, as if waiting for someone.

Meanwhile, Clorinde navigated through her mission with her usual determination. The criminal's camp was hidden deep within a dense forest, surrounded by treacherous terrain and guarded by his loyal followers. The camp itself was a makeshift fortress, with tents and crude structures forming a defensive perimeter. Guards patrolled the area, alert for any sign of intruders.

Using her keen senses and expert tracking skills, Clorinde observed the camp from a distance, planning her approach. She knew that direct confrontation would be dangerous, so she opted for a more strategic method. Under the cover of darkness, she moved silently through the forest, taking out the guards one by one. Her movements were precise and efficient, conserving her energy for the final confrontation with the criminal.

As she incapacitated each guard, she made sure to hide their bodies to avoid raising an alarm. The tension in the air was palpable, but Clorinde remained focused. She could feel the adrenaline coursing through her veins, sharpening her senses and heightening her awareness.

Finally, after neutralizing the outer guards, Clorinde made her way to the center of the camp where the criminal was hiding. He was a formidable opponent, but Clorinde's determination and skill gave her the upper hand. They engaged in a fierce battle, with Clorinde using her agility and combat prowess to outmaneuver him. Despite sustaining injuries, she managed to apprehend the criminal and secure him for transport back to the fortress.

Transporting the dangerous criminal was no easy task. He tried to escape at every opportunity, forcing Clorinde to remain constantly vigilant and unable to rest. She knew she had to get him to the fortress as quickly as possible, ensuring he was in competent hands. Without informing Neuvillette, she headed straight to the fortress, driven by the need to secure the criminal safely.

When she arrived, the guards, well-acquainted with her from her previous stay, let her through without hesitation. She made her way to the Duke's office but was intercepted by Wriothesley himself. Sigewinne was by his side and immediately ran toward Clorinde, her face filled with worry for her injuries.

Clorinde felt a surge of gratitude. If Sigewinne tended to her injuries here, it would spare her a trip to the doctor and avoid drawing unwanted attention from the press. Wriothesley, meanwhile, took one look at the man beside Clorinde and understood the situation instantly. His expression darkened as he grabbed the criminal's arm and dragged him off.

Wriothesley knew he had to establish immediately that the criminal was now at the bottom of the food chain. It was clear that after his trial, he would end up back in the fortress. It was crucial to ensure that the man did not harbor any delusions about his standing. As forgiving as the fortress could be, it was still a prison, and when necessary, Wriothesley ruled it with an iron fist. His presence in the pankration ring wasn't just for show; it was a necessary demonstration of strength to ensure no one dared to undermine his position.

Meanwhile, Sigewinne tended to Clorinde's wounds and advised her to rest for quite some time. Clorinde thanked Sigewinne for the treatment and mentioned that she needed to inform the Duke about the successful capture and complete the necessary paperwork to transfer responsibility for the criminal. She slowly made her way to the Duke's office. She knocked once, but there was no answer. She knocked again, but still, there was silence. Deciding to open the door, she poked her head inside and saw that he was not back yet. She decided to wait upstairs and sat down on the sofa facing the stairs so he would see her when he came in.

Exhausted from her mission, Clorinde soon fell asleep. The fortress was quiet, the only sound being the echo of footsteps on the metal flooring. Wriothesley, after dealing with the new criminal, stopped by Sigewinne and asked about Clorinde's injuries.

"How is she doing, Sigewinne?" he asked, concern etched on his face.

"She'll recover, but it will take time. The mission must have been extremely dangerous," Sigewinne replied, noting the Duke's worried expression.

"I guess the mission was very dangerous after all," he mumbled more to himself than to Sigewinne. He felt a wave of relief knowing that she would recover from her injuries, as Sigewinne had assured him.

Sigewinne, always perceptive, added, "Don't be so surprised that a champion duelist comes back with injuries. You yourself constantly show up in the infirmary after a hard pankration ring fight."

Wriothesley chuckled softly. "I suppose you're right."

He told Sigewinne to get some rest, assuming Clorinde had already left. As he entered the office and walked up the stairs, deep in thought, he saw Clorinde asleep on his couch. She seemed to be sleeping peacefully, so he didn't want to disturb her. Taking off his coat, he gently covered her with it, knowing she shouldn't have to deal with a cold on top of her exhaustion. He took a moment to look at her injuries, wondering how many people she had faced given that she hadn't been injured last time she defended him.

Wriothesley then sat down quietly at his desk and started filling out the day's paperwork, the fortress settling into a peaceful silence around them.