When I opened the door to my room and entered the common area, Sephtis and Lorenzo were standing in front of me, worried expressions on their faces. It was clear they heard at least the last bit of my conversation, the last thing I wanted them to hear.
"Ah, hello, you two, did I take too long?" I greeted with a smile, pretending as if I didn't just shoot down one of the people vying for my heart the most.
"Teacher…we are sorry, we didn't mean to eavesdrop," Sephtis admitted, his ears wilting as he looked away in guilt, "But was what we heard true…? Are you really going to get married to someone you dislike?"
"...Haaa, so you heard after all?" I laughed with guilt, going and sitting on the couch, "It was simply a thought…a possibility if my current plans don't go over so well…though my subordinates don't know that."
"...Then shouldn't you tell them that?" Lorenzo cut in, coming and standing next to me, "I mean, they seemed really worried about you."
"Well, naturally, I am the person who pays them and governs the city they live in. I do not think they need to know about all of my plans, and it doesn't matter. Being the Lord of the city and a Viscount, I am in a position much higher than they, so they don't have any say in what I do or do not do," I replied coldly, a cold, unfamiliar expression on my face.
"That may be the case, and do forgive me for saying this, b-but as the people closest to you, I believe it would be right for them to have at least a little say in this," Sephtis stuttered, nervous at what I would say next, which I could tell by his ear twitching.
"...Not this time," I said, closing my eyes tight before opening them again with a guilty expression, "What I plan to do in this city…and after, is something I'd rather not have them know."
We stayed in silence for a few moments, all of us clearly thinking of something different. Lorenzo sat in the same chair he had earlier, then Sephtis came and sat next to me on the couch, leaning his head against me.
"?"
"...If you need people to talk to, we are always happy to listen. Since we aren't people you have to feel responsibility towards, don't feel like you have to keep everything to yourself," Sephtis suggested, his tail curling around my waist.
"He's right, you know," Lorenzo added, a sympathetic smile on his face, "We are currently the people closest to you, and the only ones that know your identity…So, if you ever feel like, you may lay it all onto us!"
With Lorenzo's smile and the way Sephtis caringly curled his tail around me, I finally realized my place in this world. It wasn't to be Atlas Clyfford's replacement or assistant in an emergency; it was to be block. A block who was surrounded by other blocks, in order to become stepping stones.
Not stepping stones for the protagonist, but stepping stones for myself. The block "I" was supposed to be wasn't actually me, but the person whose body I was borrowing for the meantime, in order for me to run across those stepping stones.
"...Hehe, yes, you are both right," I replied, a bright smile blooming on my face, "I…I'll try to remember to take you up on your offer if I ever need someone to talk to!"
"Hahahaha! Thats the spirit!" Lorenzo cheered, standing up with an even brighter smile than my own, "I'm glad you have recognized that!"
Lorenzo came up and smacked me on the back, quite hard. While Sephtis merely smiled at me happily, his tail wagging, making me really want to pet him.
***
A couple of days later, Lorenzo and Sephtis were sitting at the bar downstairs in the lobby, while I came over from finishing some errands.
"Hey, you two," I greeted, coming over and sitting between the two and the table.
"Oh, hello, teacher! Did you finish the errands you said you had to do?" Sephtis asked, his head tilted, a bright smile, and tail wagging as I sat down, making my heart go 'ba-dum!'
'Ugh, my heart! It might just jump out of my chest from cuteness overload! Not good, not good!'
"Yes, I wrapped everything up smoothly," I replied, my ears twitching happily as I put a large coin pouch and a file on the table and spread my hands out, "Witness here, the fruits of my labour!"
"Ho? What's all this? It looks like a lot for just a couple of errands," Lorenzo asked, raising an eyebrow with a smile as he nudged his head at my treasure.
"Heh, glad you asked my friend. That is my 'allowance' this month from my butler, and the other is the next step to my glorious plan," I exclaimed with triumph.
The same night I had the call with Victor, I told the two of them my main reason for coming to Eleos City, which they were both happily on board with. Being a big advocate for freedom, Lorenzo was happy to lend his aid, and having personally experienced abuse, Sephtis was also happy to help me in my endeavours.
"Does this mean?..." Lorenzo asked silently, signalling with my facial expression what he was actually asking.
"Yup, the location of the merchant that currently has Praxis in his possession, as well as his identity and how much he is 'selling' Praxis for," I answered, my face darkening at the thought of having to buy Praxis to ensure his safety.
Naturally, I could just kill the damn salve trader, but slavery is legal in this kingdom, and I'd rather not want to end up on a wanted list, so that wasn't an option.
Unfortunately, the fact that I didn't want to commit any crimes in the Silversun Kingdom left me with only one option. Actually buying Praxis, that way I could ensure he wasn't captured again and wouldn't be sold off again.
There were instances where people would try to kidnap the slave and resell them or demand a ransom, which I needed the papers to show the slave was mine. Or, the fact that someone would try to kill me, and take back the slave to be sold again.
Luckily, the body I currently inhabited was immortal, so I didn't exactly have to worry about that much. So, the best option was to just go through the proper process.
"Thats good!... I'm guessing the 'allowance' you got is enough to buy him?" Sephtis asked, a sad expression on his face at the thought.
"Yeah…but Victor was also nice enough to grant the request of giving me enough money to buy an estate in the countryside between here and the capital!" I announced, a grin of triumph on my face.
One downside to the process of purchasing a slave was that the buyer had to put down their address of residency, so that way if the buyer coned the trader, they would know where to look.
So, greeting a fake identity(which I already secured) and another residency that no one else knew about was a good way of making sure nothing went wrong through the process.
"OOOOHHH, nice work!" Lorenzo exclaimed, smacking me on the back. Sephtis clapped joyfully, his shy personality present as usual.
'Haaa, what a cutie! Unlike this absolute brute…But I suppose his way of showing support is endearing in its own way!'
"So, what now?" Sephtis wondered, tilting his head in his signature cute way, which he had when he was curious about things.
"Heh, obviously, the first step is getting that residency secured!" I announced, leaning forward with a smile of intimidation, knowing the two of them weren't happy about leaving the inn already.
***
Fortunately, this world has realtors, so I was able to purchase a manor without having to use precious time to go looking.
Currently, Septhis, Lorenzo, and I were on a carriage with our luggage, headed to the new estate. Using the disguise brooch I still kept on me, which was a gift from Eveleen, I used that and glasses as the appearance for my false identity to purchase the manor.
"So, where exactly are you lot headed?" The carriage driver asked, carrying a thick, country-sounding Spanish accent.
"Haha, nowhere special, just the new house we got ourselves," Lorenzo laughed, looking up from polishing his halberd.
"Ah, a new house is always exciting! Well, I hope you find your home to your likings!" The coachman exclaimed, then returned to following the road.
"Hmm, according to the map, we should be there soon," Sephtis commented, his tail twitching as I brushed it.
"Good, I was starting to get restless," I admitted, stopping brushing Sephtis' tail in order to grab my trunk, but the sad frown he gave me made me go back to brushing instead.
"HAHA! Seeing your two's interactions is always so fulfilling!" Lorenzo announced, laughing as he watched Sephtis' expression turn from sad to happy again.
"And what is that supposed to mean?" I raised my eyebrow sarcastically, acting as if I was offended, when I actually wasn't. Luckily, he got the memo.
"I simply meant that you two just seem quite close! Usually, werewolves don't let just anyone touch their tail, but he seems sad when you don't touch his," Lorenzo replied, a suggestive smile on his face.
"Please, he's my student. Can I not take care of him by helping him maintain his fur?" I commented, a look that said 'seriously?' on my face.
"Ahuhhhh, well, I'm sure at least one of you sees it that way," Lorenzo concluded, noticing my obliviousness and Sephtis' disappointment at my comment.
As I was about to refute that statement with a question of my own, I was interrupted by sunlight coming through the carriage's windows and shining right in my face.
'Ugh, what the fuck?!'
"Oh, were here!" Sephtis announced, the manor appearing before us as I opened my eyes.
"OOOo, impressive! Nice pick, Kallisto!" Lorenzo praised, looking out the carriage's window.
Across the meadow, centred in a large lot of land with a wide path leading up to it, a fence bordering the land, was the manor. It was made of lovely red bricks, light gray stone bordering the exterior as its accent, and a darker red roof.
The front door was made up of a porch with columns, and the sides of the house were circular-shaped rooms, each having bay windows. Sticking from the roof, I could see many fireplaces, a must-have in my opinion.
"I have to agree with the armoured young man, it looks lovely!" The coachman agreed, pulling up the path and up to the porch.
With a better look, the front entrance had a large fountain, hidden in the front by a large garden. I was hesitant at first, after all, I didn't want to risk people using it as a place to spy, but I realized how unrealistic that would be and decided on this place anyway.
"Thank you. I'm very confident in my aesthetic opinions and choices!" I remarked, a proud smile on my face. In my lap, Sephtis' tail was wagging like crazy, "Hm, you like the place, Sephtis?"
"Y-Yes, I do! There's a lot of space to exercise! And the exterior looks lovely, I'm sure the interior is just as nice!" He beamed, his tail wagging uncontrollably as he smiled at me.
"Haha! Well, we should get off now. Thank you for the ride, sir. Here's your payment!" Lorenzo, Sephtis, and I unboarded all of our luggage, thanked the coachman, and waved at him as he left. Then we entered our new home for the next few months.
"Whoa, when'd you have enough time to get all this furniture?" Lorenzo questioned, a brow raised in suspicion.
"Hm? Oh, they were giving tours of the property before I came upon it, so I just bought the furniture with it," I admitted, looking away guiltily.
"Understandable, it'd cost a lot to go out and buy brand new ones rather than keep what was already here!" Sephtis commented, nodding his head in understanding.
"Hmmmm, well, since you are the one who bought this place, I think it's only fair for you to get the biggest room! So while Sephtis and I look for our own, why don't you go relax?" Lorenzo suggested, taking one of my bags.
"Huh? Oh, thanks, guys! I'll come down in a bit then, I just need a nap first," I yawned, realizing how tired I was, then started up the stairs, already having an idea of where the master bedroom was.