Mr. & Mrs Meropide

Chapter Thirty-Two: The Aftermath

Maria had been pacing back and forth in her small living room, her nerves on edge as she anxiously awaited the return of the Duke and Vire. She hadn't been able to sleep, her mind racing with all the possibilities of what could have gone wrong at the auction. When she finally heard the soft creak of the door opening, she practically sprinted to the entrance.

The Duke stepped inside, the crate with Clorinde's items in his arms. His face showed the strain of the night, but he managed a small smile as he saw Maria's relieved expression.

"Thank Archons, you're back," she said, but her relief quickly turned into concern. "Where's Vire? Is he safe?"

The Duke set the crate down gently and held up a reassuring hand. "Vire's fine. We split up after the auction, just to be more efficient. He'll join us later; he's not in any danger."

Maria nodded, though she still looked a bit uneasy. "I just—this whole thing is nerve-wracking. But I'm glad you both made it through safely."

The Duke gave her a warm, tired smile. "We did. And now we just need to make sure this crate is secure until we return it."

Maria glanced at the crate, then back at the Duke. "Right. We'll get it sorted out. But first, you should sit down and rest a bit. You look like you've been through a lot."

The Duke chuckled softly, appreciating her concern. "It's been a long night, that's for sure."

Maria busied herself in the kitchen, wanting to do something nice. She decided to make a hot, steaming soup, something comforting to help them all unwind after the long, nerve-wracking night. The aroma of the broth began to fill the small space, creating a sense of warmth and relaxation.

As the soup simmered on the stove, the front door creaked open again. Maria turned quickly, relief washing over her as Vire stepped inside. He was dressed in different clothes, casual and unassuming, and all his weapons were gone. He locked the door behind him, ensuring their privacy, and gave Maria a reassuring nod.

"Glad to see you're both back in one piece," Maria said, her voice filled with genuine relief.

Vire offered a slight smile, his usual composed demeanor intact. "Everything went according to plan. No issues on my end."

Maria watched him for a moment, still processing the fact that he was safe. "I made some soup," she said, gesturing toward the kitchen. "It's almost ready. You should have some—it'll warm you up."

Vire's expression softened slightly, a rare moment of visible appreciation crossing his face. "Sounds good. Thank you."

The Duke, who had been quietly observing, nodded in agreement. "Soup sounds perfect right now."

"So what's in that crate?" Maria asked as she carefully removed the fake tattoos and makeup from the Duke's face.

"Clorinde's weapons and personal belongings," Vire replied between bites of soup. "Tastes good, by the way."

"She was there as well?" Maria asked, her curiosity piqued.

"No, she got robbed," the Duke said with a laugh, still shaking his head at the absurdity of the situation.

Maria couldn't help but laugh along with him, the whole scenario feeling surreal. Once the last of the makeup was wiped away, she turned her attention to the crate, her curiosity getting the better of her. She carefully opened it, eager to see the items from the auction inside.

As she began to inspect them, her curiosity got the better of her, and she picked up the pistol—a white and gold weapon with minimalistic details and light purple accents. Without thinking, she held it with her finger on the trigger and turned toward the Duke and Vire.