He caught the gentle expression on Deathbelles face, and offered her a short, wry smile. He hadn’t forgotten his heartache form earlier, but he understood that he had no claim over her. She owed him nothing, yet here she was, lifting him up, and offering him more than he deserved.
He wanted to bow his head low and kiss her feet some more, and ask her who he was supposed to be if he was not a slave, but he refrained. He knew he was going to have to figure this out on his own, and was simply grateful that she was there beside him.
He was surprised when she pushed her head into his thick ruff and froe slightly, like a startled rabbit. He was afraid to return affection to her, and make things between them harder than they already where. Not wishing to spurn her, he leaned slightly into the touch, before pulling back when she did.
“Attending you will always be the highlight of my day” he said, thinking over the other duties she spoke of. Patrols, he could do that, and do it with authority now that he was not a slave. She wasn’t certain yet how the other Klein were going to take it, but at least this was a baby step compared to how it could have been. Taking on an apprentice was a daunting thought, with Klein’s making up the majority of their ranks, it would likely be one in that family that he tutored.
“D-daimyo?” he asked, taken off guard, lost in his considerations as he was. She wanted to bestow that much authority upon him? That was.. Unexpected, and somewhat incredible. He would need time to come to terms with that. He bowed his head again. “I will do my best to make you proud, Empress”
Bloodletter
