Klarion woke slowly, his mind drifting up from the depths of sleep, warm and comfortable in a way he hadn’t been in some time. He tightened his hold instinctively, fingers curling around something soft. Something warm.


    His eyes blinked open. It took him a moment to process the sight before him — Hatsune, nestled against his chest, her breathing slow and steady. Her arms were wrapped around him, her smaller hands clutching him as if she was afraid to let go.


    Klarion froze, a stretch dying before it could even begin. His face burned, but even in the strange panic that was threatening to rise in him, he couldn’t bring himself to move. She was warm, so warm, and impossibly soft. In the night, his arms had wrapped around her in turn, holding her close, and for a long, breathtaking moment, he simply enjoyed holding her.


    It felt… nice. More than nice, actually. It felt right.


    He shut his eyes again, taking in the way her body molded against his, how perfectly she seemed to fit in his arms. Her scent was light and sweet, her hair silky against his cheek. It was like waking from a beautiful dream and finding it wasn’t over just yet.


    But as much as he wanted to savor the moment, he forced himself to take a deep, steadying breath. He couldn’t read too much into this. There was too much going on, too many complicated emotions tangled up in all of it.


    Hatsune was here because of him — because she had been sold to the Hall of Bonds and he had picked her as his first bodyguard. He was the only person she really knew and trusted since coming here. And after last night, after he had assured her that she wouldn’t be replaced by J-65, she must have felt a sense of relief.


    It made sense that she would cling to him now, both literally and figuratively. It didn’t necessarily mean anything more than that. He shouldn’t let himself hope for more.


    Even if… he kind of wanted to.


    Klarion swallowed hard, eyes opening to look down at her sleeping face. Her lashes were long and delicate, her lips parted slightly as she breathed. Her ears twitched every now and then, brushing his skin and sending a shiver down his spine.


    His heart ached, and a wave of emotion that he hadn’t felt in quite some time surged through him. He cared about her. Maybe more than he should.


    But that was a thought for another time. For now, he just needed to get out of this situation before she woke up and things became awkward.


    expected to maintain a household, to have servants and guards and everything that came with the title. It felt strange, almost wrong, like he was playing a role in someone else’s life. Yet, he was gradually adapting to the mindset of the nobility, whether he wanted to or not.


    This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.


    Anyone could have walked right in.


    mine.”


    Though, as it turned out, he should probably have made thirds, given how she looked at his plate as he was finishing eating.


    Hatsune wiped her mouth with a napkin and set it down with a satisfied sigh. “Thanks for breakfast, Klarion.”


    He smiled, his chest warming at her appreciation for what he made. Even with his future as one of the higher-ranking nobility of the Empire, he didn’t think he would ever get tired of people saying how much they appreciated his cooking. “Glad you liked it. Figured we could both use a good meal to start the day. Do you have any plans?”


    Whispers of Black Steel once we forge appropriate weapons.”