After breakfast, I found myself quietly wandering the halls of the mansion.
One time I sat and watched the maids work.
Another time I visited the library only to realize I couldn't actually read any of the books.
I peeped into the attic only to spot a royal blade with a sniper near the window.
The basement was filled with the crates from Sofia's airship. There was also a dwarf just sitting on a crate, humming a song to himself.
Speaking of, I went outside to see the airship being carefully deconstructed by the dwarves.
Jashen and I watched the dwarves work for a few hours before lunch was prepared. Lunch itself was a quiet affair. Afterwards, I found myself sitting in my room staring up at the ceiling.
Time continued to drag its feet.
Tick-tock.
Tick-tock.
Tick-tock.
Soon the sun began to set and dinner was served. I poked at my plate, which caused Jashen to worry and try to feed me herself.
I resisted at first but eventually I just let her do it.
I don't know why, when it was Louise I knew exactly why I didn't turn her away. It's because she was convenient.
Both because she could stop me from resisting at any time and because she wasn't annoying.
I could kill Jashen right now.
It would be so easy.
Yet, I'm allowing her to feed me like I'm some puppy.
Ughhh.
After dinner Jashen and I had our bath. It was the same as last time. Though this time I relaxed against her a bit more.
After our bath and brushing our teeth, the two of us went to bed.
And the cycle repeated. Day after day we repeated this cycle until I just stopped and embraced the slowness.
And when I did that, it was like the end of the week hit me all at once.
Now I looked up at Julian and he looked down on me.
Behind him were several Royal Blades, carriages, and a woman with golden embroidered buttons in her uniform.
She marched forward like she owned the world.
Sofia was standing beside me with her arms crossed. "Well?" She began, her jaw clenched.
The woman with the gold buttons narrowed her purple eyes.
"Your request for sanctuary has been granted. However, it's only for you, your men are to be extradited to the federation or executed."
Sofia didn't immediately respond. Instead, she just stared at the woman in her eyes.
The purple-eyed woman didn't budge either.
A silent standoff.
All around us, royal blades kept their hands hovering over their weapons. Though it didn't take a genius to know it was more of a warning than an actual threat.
Every Royal Blade here could either control lightning or gravity. The weapons were a distraction.
I glanced at Julian.
He too stood with the stillness of a statue. I guess that the friendship he had with Sofia was for show. That's just human nature, friendly when they need you, betrayal when they don't.
Finally, Sofia let out a long sigh.
"I figured it would come to this. It's why I've rigged a bomb with enough power to turn this cliff into a hill."
The woman with the purple eyes hummed.
"And when did you do that?"
Sofia grinned.
"As my men took apart my airship, I had the engine modified to take its remaining fuel and supercharge it. The only thing stopping that from happening is one of my men who has to perfectly align the meter every minute."
She then laughed.
"If you thought I was dumb enough to come here without a backup, you humans are truly out of your damn minds."
The woman crossed her hands behind her back.
"You're bluffing."
Sofia's lips curled upward.
"Then let us test, surely you have the balls, yes?" Sofia spread her arms and stepped forward. "Do it, kill all the people here and me."
The woman didn't seem too surprised, in fact she looked relieved. She raised her hand and the royal blades stood down.
She then returned her attention to Sofia.
"There's no need for that. Just know you and your men answer to me now, understood?"
Sofia rolled her eyes and waved a hand dismissively. "Yes, yes. Let's keep this civil."
She walked off, and that just left the woman and me. She focused her attention on me.
"And you must be Lilith's boy."
"You are?"
"Provost Zenith, and I'll be dealing with your situation."
I pointed at Julian. "But I thought—"
Zenith raised an eyebrow. "You thought what? He has no power here, I said I'll deal with you and that's what I'll do."
She straightened up and turned her back.
"Walk with me."
I glared at Julian as I stepped forward. He gave me a subtle smirk and thumbs up.
Bastard.
Why do I even care?
"So you want to kill yourself." Zenith opened up coldly as she approached her carriage. "I want to know why."
"How do you know about that?"
She turned in front of her carriage and opened its door. "It's my job to know, get in."
Doesn't she know how to ease in?
"Then you must know I have a safe word, it's pineapple juice."
"What?" She asked.
"Huh?" I replied.
The royal blade that sat on the driver's bench swallowed hard as he gripped his reins. He gave me a subtle glance, I met his gaze and he sucked in his lips.
Zenith sighed. "Just stop with the nonsense and get in."
I climbed into the carriage and plopped down in the leather seat. Zenith sat across from me and closed the door.
Thanks to the curtains over the window the cabin was dim.
Zenith reclined in her seat and crossed her legs. "So answer me, why do you want to kill yourself?"
"Because, I want to."
"Not an answer."
"It's my answer, take it or leave it."
Zenith narrowed her eyes. "Why are you being difficult?"
"Ask yourself that."
Zenith bobbed her foot and she steepled her fingers. She didn't say anything else.
"Can I ask a question?" I asked.
"Didn't you just?" Zenith replied with a subtle and smug grin.
Damn, she's good.
"I have a question." I corrected.
"What is it?"
"What happens with Jashen?"
Zenith tilted her head.
"You mean the beast woman?"
"Yes."
"We'll kill her, most likely. We have no way to help her back east and she'd probably die anyway if she went through the federation, so."
I felt my heart choke and drop, but I kept my poker face. "Could you just not kill her, why can't she stay with the dwarves?"
"Because she's useless to us."
"Useless?" I repeated, the word rolled down my throat like a bitter pill. "What does that make me then?"
"An important piece on a very large board. You may not know it, but you're valuable to the empire. And as such, you're valuable to me."
"We just met."
"How long do you need to stare at a weapon before you can determine its value?" She countered.
Point taken.
She tilted her head. "However, I still want to understand your death wish. So if you'd be so inclined."
I crossed my arms.
"Why would I tell you anything after you admitted you'd kill a 'useless' person. It makes more sense that I keep my value by staying silent."
"Fair enough, but that's the second time you've redirected this conversation back to that fox. Tell me, do you love her?"
"Pffft, no? How can you love a woman you just met? I don't even like her, she's annoying and I'm not really into the orange." I sniffed and whipped my nose.
"That's such an obvious lie."
"Your face is lying."
"That's what it's supposed to do, to keep people guessing. Anyway, I'll offer you a deal."
"I'm listening."
"We'll keep the fox with the dwarves, but only if you answer my questions and you come back to get her."
"Come back? Are you serious?"
"Absolutely."
I blinked. "That's non-negotiable, I want to die, this world isn't worth living in anymore."
"So then why care what happens to the fox?"
"Because unlike me she has a reason to live. Why take that from her?"
"Why would it matter to a dead man?" Zenith asked coldly, she leaned forward. "You're not making sense. Dead men don't have wants, Lafayette."
"I don't like this conversation."
"Good."