Entropy's Servant

Chapter 46 - Leafy Bed

Hello everyone, Astaroth here.
Exhaustion is such a bother, isn't it?
It slows your reaction time, for one, but there's a whole slew of other things, too.
Increased irritability, decreased focus, a drop in your critical thinking and a harder time comprehending others' intentions are all possible, as well as just feeling low-energy, like you can't do anything.
Well, that's why sleep is important, I suppose.
In that aspect, couldn't it be said Sylph is in the right?

I kicked off my shoes, tossed my crown onto the bedstand and dropped my body onto the bed in the room that had been prepared for me.

Immediately, I was accosted by the not terribly pleasant sensation of lying on a pile of leaves that didn't feel dissimilar to the dinner I had been served.

I let out a sigh as I turned myself around so I was laying on my back rather than my front.

A knock sounded from the door, so I opened it from afar to reveal Charlotte.

"Is something the matter, Milord?" she asked as she approached me, followed by Davna.

"Nothing," I answered, "I'm just a little... exhausted." I shook my head. "That aside, what brings you two here?"

"Oh, I was only an escort, Milord," Charlotte said, gesturing towards Davna. "I'm afraid she wouldn't have been able to reach you without my help."

Upon closer examination, it became clear Davna's tail was hanging low and her scales had lost some part of their lustre, despite her usual bright smile. In addition, she was covered head-to-toe in expensive-looking accessories, many of which appeared to be gold, silver, jewel-encrusted or some combination of the three attributes.

I sat up.

"Davna?" I asked, smiling wryly. "Is something wrong? Your scales look rather dull."

"Master...~" she whined, sitting down next to me on the bed. "I'm tired..."

"How come?" I asked, narrowing my eyes.

"I've been chased around for hours now..." she responded, letting out a heavy sigh not dissimilar to my own, minutes earlier.

She dropped backwards onto the bed before letting out a surprised yell and sitting straight back up.

"This bed feels weird, Master..."

"I know," I said, "I was lying on it when you came in." I cleared my throat. "So the drakonids are annoying you, are they?"

Without so much as a warning, she placed her head on my shoulder and leaned on me. "Getting gifts is fun at first, but this is too much..." she said, completely neglecting to carry her own weight and delegating the whole task to me.

I turned her head, since one of her horns was pricking into my shoulder. "It must be hard," I said, poking her in the forehead, "to be so well-liked."

She puffed up her cheeks. "You don't go around the capital for walks for the same reason, right?" she asked, poking a hole in my teasing.

"Certainly, I'd be flooded if I were to do that," I said, chuckling to myself. "But, really. You're coming to me, lord of darkness, because you feel tired?"

Prompted by the lack of a response, I looked over, only to find she'd fallen asleep on my shoulder.

"This girl..." I grumbled, but I couldn't bring myself to disturb her.

"If I may speak a few words, Milord?" Charlotte asked, looking wryly between Davna and me.

I nodded. "Speak your thoughts."