"This village, and then west to the capital."
The younger guard nodded, scribbling into a small leather-bound ledger. "How long do you plan to stay?"
"A few days," Vael answered from inside the wagon, voice even, almost dull.
Both guards shifted their attention toward him.
And then past him.
To where Ignira and Noelle sat among the bolts of fabric.
Their expressions changed instantly.
Vael didn't need to look to know why.
From beside him, Ignira's voice dipped into a low whisper meant only for him and Noelle.
"Oh, they're staring~"
"…Should we kill them?" Noelle asked softly, the question so calm it sounded like she was asking about the weather.
"I could make it look like an accident," Ignira mused. "Just a little internal heat—barely noticeable—"
"Shh."
All three fell silent immediately.
The younger guard cleared his throat, attempting to reassemble his professionalism while very obviously failing.
"Those are… your maids, sir?"
"Yes."
The older guard leaned in slightly, eyes narrowing in interest rather than suspicion. "Where did you acquire them? I've never seen women quite so…" He paused, searching for something appropriate.
"Beautiful?" Ignira supplied sweetly.
She leaned forward just enough for the light to catch the curve of her smile—and more than that. The fabric across her chest shifted subtly with the motion.
Both guards flushed.
"They're from various regions," Vael said flatly. "I hired them for their skills."
"Their skills," the younger guard repeated, gaze shamelessly lingering on Ignira's figure.
"What kind of skills?" the older one asked, now glancing at Noelle.
Noelle met his stare.
Unblinking.
Silent.
Her large dark eyes held his without emotion. The stillness unsettled him far more than Ignira's teasing.
"Housekeeping," Vael answered.
"Right. Housekeeping." The younger guard looked back down at his ledger with visible reluctance. "And you bought them, or—"
"Hired."
"From where exactly?"
"Different places."
"Can you be more specific?"
"No."
The older guard's brows drew together. "Sir, we require proper documentation for—"
"Are you always this thorough?" Vael interrupted, tone unchanged.
But something in it shifted.
Subtle.
Cold.
"Or just when you want to look at women?"
The words landed softly.
The younger guard stiffened. "We're just doing our job."
"Your job," Vael said calmly, "is to check for threats and contraband. We are merchants transporting fabric. Either inspect the cargo or let us through."
The two guards exchanged a glance.
The younger one inhaled, clearly preparing to push back.
Vael looked at him.
Just looked.
For half a heartbeat, his crimson eyes held something that did not belong in a wandering merchant. It wasn't anger. It wasn't even threat.
It was weight.
Ancient. Immense. Compressed into a single gaze.
The world seemed to narrow around that moment.
The guard's breath caught.
His next words died in his throat.
He took an involuntary step backward.
The older guard's hand twitched toward his sword—then stopped mid-motion.
His fingers trembled slightly, though he couldn't have said why. A cold sensation crept down his spine, primal and unmistakable.
Fear.
Not of a man.
Of something else.
"The gate," Vael said quietly.
"Y-yes. Right. Open the gate!" the younger guard snapped, voice cracking as he turned sharply. "Open it!"
The wooden barrier lifted at once.
Brakka grinned broadly and snapped the reins.
The wagon rolled forward.
As they passed, neither guard moved.
Neither spoke.
They simply watched, hearts pounding too fast, minds struggling to rationalize a feeling they would never fully understand.
_
Once they were well inside the village and turned down a quieter side street, Ignira let out a delighted laugh she'd clearly been holding in.
"My lord was quite intimidating back there~" she teased, leaning closer. Her voice was warm, amused, satisfied. "Those poor guards looked like they'd seen death itself."
Vael stared out at the passing buildings—wooden storefronts, hanging lanterns being lit one by one, villagers chatting as they closed their shops.
"They were asking too many questions. Annoying.," he said.
"…You glared at them," Noelle observed from his other side. Her tone was soft, but precise. "When they kept asking about us."
"It was wasting time."
"Wasting time, or…" Ignira's smile curved wider. Her golden eyes gleamed like polished amber. "You didn't like how they were looking at us, did you?"
Vael turned his crimson gaze to her.
Flat.
Unreadable.
Ignira held it without hesitation, chin tilted slightly upward in challenge. The setting sun streamed through the canvas, casting warm light across her face—and lower, where her uniform dipped just enough to be distracting.
"I didn't notice how they were looking at you," he replied calmly. "I noticed they were delaying us unnecessarily."
"Of course, my lord~" Ignira purred, absolutely unconvinced. "You're always so logical."
From the driver's seat, Brakka called back, "Hey, Master! Where should I take us? Inn? Marketplace?"
"Find an inn," Vael answered. "We'll need a base while we're here."
"You got it!"
The wagon turned smoothly.
Noelle shifted slightly.
Unnoticed.
Her shoulder came to rest against his arm. Light. Cool. Intentional.
She didn't lean fully into him.
Just enough that he would feel it.
She said nothing, but from the corner of his eye he caught the faintest softening in her expression. A quiet satisfaction.
Ignira, refusing to be outdone, had already settled comfortably against his other side. Her thigh pressed firmly against his leg, warmth radiating through fabric. Her arm brushed his whenever the wagon jolted, and she made no effort to move away.
"This is nice, isn't it?" she murmured. "The four of us together, traveling like normal people~"
"We are not normal people," Vael said. "You killed three humans thirty minutes ago."
"Details~" Ignira waved a hand lazily, the motion causing her chest to shift against his arm in a way that was far from accidental. "The point is, we're together. That's what matters."
"What matters is maintaining our cover and not drawing attention."
"Oh, we'll definitely draw attention," Ignira said cheerfully. "Have you seen us? We're gorgeous."
"Umm…" Noelle tried to say something but stopped.
Vael looked between them.
Both pressed against him like this was the most natural arrangement in the world.
From the front, Brakka hummed loudly, clearly enjoying the ride far more than necessary.
Vael had commanded armies without difficulty. Managed territories that spanned continents. Orchestrated invasions that required flawless coordination across thousands of demons.
These three were somehow more complicated than all of it combined.
He couldn't understand them, nor their actions.
"Do what you want," he said at last.
Ignira's smile brightened instantly, triumphant.
"We always do, my lord~"
The wagon rolled deeper into the village. The sun dipped lower, bathing everything in warm orange light. Shadows stretched across cobblestone streets. Families headed indoors. Lanterns flickered to life outside shops.
It was peaceful.
Almost painfully so.
Vael closed his eyes briefly.
The warmth at his sides did not fade.
This was going to be a long retirement.