Mr. & Mrs Meropide

Chapter Four: Unspoken Bonds

Wriothesley sat quietly at his desk, the fortress settling into a peaceful silence around him. The only sound was the occasional rustling of papers as he worked through the day's reports. His thoughts, however, kept drifting back to Clorinde, asleep on the couch. He glanced over at her every now and then, the sight of her bringing a strange sense of calm and reassurance.

As the hours passed, Wriothesley couldn't help but think about the bond that had formed between them. Despite the secrecy and the challenges they faced, there was an unspoken understanding that connected them. He admired her strength and determination, qualities that mirrored his own.

The quiet of the night was interrupted by a soft murmur. Clorinde stirred, shifting slightly under the coat he had draped over her. Wriothesley watched as she slowly woke up, blinking against the dim light of the room.

"You're still here," she said, her voice barely above a whisper, a hint of surprise in her tone.

Wriothesley smiled, leaning back in his chair. "I could say the same about you. How are you feeling?"

Clorinde sat up, wincing slightly as she adjusted to a more comfortable position. "Better, thanks to Sigewinne. And you, Duke? You look tired."

He chuckled softly. "It's been a long day, but seeing you here makes it worthwhile. You should get some more rest."

Clorinde shook her head. "I can't. I need to finish the paperwork for the mission. The sooner it's done, the sooner I can officially hand over the responsibility."

Wriothesley nodded, understanding her sense of duty. "Alright. Let's finish it together."

The room was cold, and Clorinde kept his coat draped over her shoulders for warmth. Since there was no window, they relied on the small clock ticking away on the wall to know how much time had passed. They spent the next hour working side by side, the quiet companionship easing the weight of their responsibilities. As they completed the last of the documents, Clorinde leaned back with a sigh of relief.

Wriothesley noticed Clorinde was still a bit cold and decided to make some tea. He put on a pot of hot water and soon handed her a steaming cup. She took it with gratitude, hugging the cup tightly with her hands.

"Some missions really take it out of me," she admitted, giving him a cautious glance.

"I know exactly what you mean," he joined in, sitting down next to her on the couch. "But that is just how it is. I am the Duke; I constantly have to be the confident and strong one."

"Tell me about it," she chuckled. "I'm constantly haunted by paparazzi. I can't allow myself even a second of weakness because the law can't seem weak."

"In here, you won't have to worry about paparazzi. You can relax here if you need to catch a break sometimes," he offered earnestly.

"Thank you. That sounds lovely," she said, cuddling up deeper into his coat, which was way too big for her. He just gave her a smile before taking another sip of tea. Silence fell over the two, but by no means uncomfortable. It was the silence of two people simply exhausted from being strong. And so, they both gradually fell asleep, leaning back into the couch, resting their heads against each other, and relaxing due to the sweet aroma of the tea.

Eventually, they woke up from the noise the lively fortress made: footsteps, people laughing and discussing, and heavy machinery in the distance, providing a clear rhythm. They both blinked a few times to get their bearings, then separated with a smile. Both stretched, feeling surprisingly refreshed despite the previous day's events. Clorinde handed Wriothesley his coat back.

"I needed a good night's sleep," she said with a smile. Her expression was relaxed, unlike her normal cold and calculated demeanor.

"Yeah, me too," he said. "But you know what I need more than a good night's sleep? Food. Let's go to the cafeteria and grab a bite to eat."

On cue, her stomach let out a little growl. "I'm not saying no to that offer," she laughed wholeheartedly.

They headed downstairs and towards the cafeteria while she told him about the mission. "And so I acted in the night; I already knew their weak spots," she explained.

"Best strategy against being very outnumbered. If you don't have an advantage, you have to create one," he agreed, nodding his head.

They sat down and each got the luxurious version of the welfare meal. "I must say, I'm surprised to never see you outside the fortress," she admitted. "I thought you had already completed your sentence."

"I have, but I like it here," he said in between bites. Suddenly, his eyes fixated on a group behind her. He readied his glove, cautious of letting them get too close.

Clorinde immediately caught on to his movement and had her pistol at the ready. The group noticed they were being watched closely, so they took their welfare meals and left with some hostile glances. The two didn't relax until the group was out of earshot and sight.

"What's up with them?" she wanted to know.

"New inmates. They are trouble," he said shortly.

"Noted," she said, taking another bite of her food.

After their meal, Clorinde told Wriothesley that she had to go to Neuvillette now and hand in the necessary documents. And so, once more, he saw her take the elevator leaving to the surface.