Philian Apolesai

Softest Chains

The mountain of books Ainz had given her never seemed to end. It was like she was back in school, drowning in the obscene amounts of homework given out by spiteful teachers. At least these 'assignments' were clear in their use. Kingcraft, etiquette, and all else one suddenly placed in a leadership position might need. Nothing here seemed too difficult, but that was all thanks to Ainz's hard work. And of course—Demiurge. The demon had been giving out advice off and on all day. He'd told her to rest now despite not needing much, but progress had been so fast thanks to him.

She placed her book down to glance at the wall, he'd taken to working in her office now to 'be there the moment he's needed'. Although, rather than the faint scribbling of pen and shuffling of papers that had been going on all night, she heard talking. Vesi leaned against the doorframe of her dimly lit chamber, the faint glow from her office beyond poured through the door's sill, casting slight shadows across the room. The hushed tones of Albedo and Demiurge's conversation drifted through the walls, their words were endlessly polite but the tension was palpable. Vesi's fingers twitched, her nails digging into her sleeves as she strained to catch every word. Albedo's voice was low and even, but Demiurge's responses were laced with a subtle sharpness, a quiet warning that made Vesi's skin prickle. As she listened, Vesi's irritation grew. What was Albedo trying to do, sneaking around in the dead of night? The audacity of it stung. But Demiurge had stepped in, his words a gentle but firm rebuff.

With a quiet sigh, Vesi pushed off the wall and began to pace, the sound of her footsteps swallowed up by the plush rug covering the majority of the floor. She debated whether to confront Albedo directly, but the conversation seemed to be winding down. The faint click of the main door signalling its end. Vesi hesitated, wondering if she should pretend she hadn't heard anything. But the warnings Ainz gave her about these two came to the front of her mind. They shouldn't be left to think they're scheming is unseen for long.

Pressing against the door once more she heard only the faint rustle of papers. She'd missed her chance to talk to Albedo directly—if that was even something she'd wanted. It was likely better this way though. She lowered her bedroom's door, eyes sweeping over the study, verifying that Albedo was indeed gone. Only Demiurge remained, seated comfortably in her study, reviewing documents with his usual air of effortless control. As soon as she stepped inside he looked up, his expression brightening with a warm smile.

"Ah, Lady Vesi," he said smoothly, rising from his seat with a graceful flourish and a reverent bow. He stepped aside and gestured toward the chair he had been sitting in—technically her chair but it was still sweet of him. "I trust all is well tonight?"

She moved toward the chair but didn't sit, running a hand along the edge thoughtfully. "I think so," she said plainly. "But I wanted to ask you about Albedo."

"Does something about her displease you, my lady?"

Vesi's eyes locked onto his, searching for any sign of deception. She weighed her words carefully, unsure how much to reveal. "She seemed... off when I first came back. And you've been keeping her at a distance from me." Vesi's gaze dropped to the papers on Demiurge's desk, her voice trailing off as she waited for him to fill in the gaps. His expression remained polite, but his voice took on a subtle edge.

"My lady, Nazarick is your home, and your safety is my utmost priority. In times of change, it's not uncommon for... tensions to arise. I'm simply ensuring that nothing disrupts your rightful place here."

Vesi's fingers drummed a staccato beat on the chair's arm, betraying her growing irritation. She wanted to push harder, to demand a clearer answer, but there was no mistaking the weight behind his words. He wasn't going to openly say what the problem was. Enough of a sign that she should probably not force him too hard. "So you're saying I should be careful."

A soft, knowing chuckle escaped him. "I would never presume to dictate your actions, my lady. But I do believe you deserve the most loyal and unwavering service. It is only natural that I remain vigilant on your behalf."

As he spoke, Demiurge stepped closer, his eyes never leaving hers. Vesi felt a shiver run down her spine, a sense of being seen and understood was unnerving, yet comforting. She studied him for a moment longer, searching for any hidden motives. But all she saw was a deep-seated commitment to her safety, his actions had already spoken volumes. Demiurge had stepped in to protect her, and that was worth something. With a slow nod, she relented, her shoulders relaxing ever so slightly. "Thank you."

Demiurge's gaze softened, his eyes crinkling at the corners as he smiled. He reached out, his hand extending towards hers. Vesi felt a flutter in her chest but she gave her hand anyway.

The touch was warm, his fingers wrapping around hers with a tender firmness. Vesi's pulse quickened, her heart beating just a little bit faster as Demiurge's thumb stroked the back of her hand. It was a subtle caress, but this time she felt it more deeply, more intentionally, than she had the first time he'd kissed her hand. Perhaps it was because she was no longer numb with shock, or perhaps it was because Demiurge's touch had changed, but whatever the reason, Vesi felt a sense of awareness that she hadn't felt before.

Demiurge's eyes never left hers as he lifted her hand to his lips. The press of his mouth to her knuckles was a gentle, soothing touch, his lips warm and soft. Vesi felt a rush of sensation, her skin tingling with sensitivity as he kissed her hand.

"There is no need for thanks, my lady," he whispered, his voice taking on a hypnotic tone that seemed to echo through the small space. "You need only rely on me, and I will ensure your comfort and security above all else."

As Vesi pulled her hand back, her expression softened, a faint smile playing on her lips. For a moment, she felt a sense of security wash over her, a balm for her frazzled nerves. Someone was working hard to care for her, to offer her protection and comfort. It was a new, unfamiliar feeling, one that she couldn't quite grasp. Even if Ainz was right to fear Demiurge, Vesi couldn't deny the sense of peace that came with having him by her side.

[Philian Apolesai]

Writer's note:

I had wanted to have this be the ending to the last chapter but not only had I already taken ages to finish Undercurrent, this doesn't really fit the theme of 'problems and danger' that the last chapter had. Danger is sort of implied but this is supposed to be a sweeter moment that also wouldn't fully fit with the next chapter so this is just gonna be on its own.

Another important thing, I'm pretty sure that this chapter will push Philian over the 50K mark! That means it's officially a novel I'm pretty sure so that's real exciting.
Fun Fact: Despite being the country that on average reads the most books in the world every year, around 25% of Americans have not gotten through a whole book in the past 12 months. So if you've read all of this, you've gotten in more words than a quarter of Americans likely ever will. CONGRATS

Thanks for reading and I hope to see you in the next chapter<3