Isabel brought the carriage to a smooth stop right before the wide steps of the mansion’s entrance.

Slipping down from the driver’s seat with the effortless grace inherent to her training, she opened the carriage door for Kurt. He stepped down and popped his stiff joints. Isabel gently closed behind him and bowed.

"Goodnight, Master Rossana. Thank you for allowing me to accompany you today. I shall retire to the servant quarters to cleanse myself and prepare for tomorrow’s duties."

Kurt looked down at her when a small, genuine smile broke through the dirt and dried blood masking his face. He reached out, gently tapping her shoulder to signal her to rise from her bow.

"Night, Isabel. You did pretty well today – all things considered... I mean, look, I know today was a lot. And I know you probably won’t be able to just forget about everything that happened. But I really hope you don’t put yourself down over it. Sorry, I’m trying to find the right words, but my brain is completely fried."

Isabel blinked as her usual doll-like eyes widened for just a moment.

Then a faint warmth softened her expression, and she bowed her head a second time, but this time with a distinct vulnerability. "Yes, Master. Thank you for your kind words. I shall try my best not to harbor unnecessary regrets."

"Good. And hey, if it is any consolation, despite the absolute disaster at the end, it was really fun hanging out with you today. Now go get some rest."

"Hehehe. I had fun too, Master. Goodnight again." Isabel turned and left for the maid’s dormitory.

Kurt watched her go until she vanished around the corner. The moment she was out of sight, he entered the mansion and closed the doors when the final vestige of his adrenaline-fueled resolve crumbled.

He stood entirely alone in the massive foyer. Surrounded by marble pillars and the oppressive, silent luxury of the high nobility. The feeling was still unfamiliar, but as Diana told him, all this belonged to him too.

Slowly, his body finally registered the absolute truth of his situation: He was home. He was safe.

With that realisation, every single ounce of tension holding his skeleton together completely gave out.

Kurt let out a long, high-pitched sigh that felt like a deflating balloon. He leaned his upper back against the door and tilted his head back to thud gently against the frame.

Slowly, his back slid down the smooth wood of the door until he sat on the floorboards. He pulled his knees up against his chest and wrapped his arms around them, burying his face deeply into the crook of his elbows.

He didn’t move. He didn’t think.

He was just so incredibly, profoundly tired from everything that happened today.

From the moment he entered the guild, to the explosive, bone-shattering violence of fighting the infected and centipede monsters, then finally to the fight at the guild. He felt like a clockwork toy whose spring had been wound far too tight and had finally snapped.

Step.

A quiet click of low-heeled shoes began to echo from the western hallway.

Wendy stepped into the foyer carrying a silver tray with a freshly polished tea set. She stopped dead in her tracks the moment her eyes looked toward the entranceway.

She saw that sitting in a crumpled heap directly against the front door was a disheveled figure. And as Wendy took a few cautious steps closer, her sharp eyes picked out the familiar dark hair and bruised clothes.

"Master Rossana? You have returned. Welcome home."

"... Mmh." Kurt hummed without looking up.

"My goodness. Where on earth have you been to look so utterly disheveled and beaten up? Have you taken up a dangerous request from the guild?"

"... Mmh."

Realising very quickly that she was not going to get a single proper sentence out of him, Wendy let out a soft, defeated breath. "Very well. Since you appear to have lost the capacity for human speech, should I perhaps go and call for Ms. Valentine?"

"... Mmh."

"Understood," Wendy smiled. "I shall inform the Ms. of your... unique arrival." She turned and swiftly marched up the grand staircase.

Not even two minutes later, the silence of the mansion was shattered by the sound of frantic and entirely un-aristocratic running footsteps.

The thudding echoed across the second-floor eastern wing, moving at a breakneck speed before suddenly stopping right at the top of the grand steps.

"Rosie!?" Diana’s voice rang out through the foyer with a breathless panic.

She stood at the top of the stairs, clad in luxurious silky robes that billowed around her ankles. Her long hair was tied in a loose bun and her eyes wide with a terrifying amount of worry.

Not bothering to use the stairs, she teleported straight to him and before Kurt could even process what was happening, Diana threw herself downward.

She enveloped him in a desperately tight, and suffocating hug.

Kurt snapped out of his lethargy instantly.

The warmth and sudden intensity of her embrace forced his head up. He slowly uncoiled his arms from his knees, his hands resting awkwardly against her waist as he looked at her.

"Diana? What’s wrong? Why are you squeezing me like I’m about to evaporate?"

Diana pulled back. Her hands gripped his shoulders with a fierce, trembling strength as her eyes scanned every single square inch of his face, taking in the cut on his lip, the dried blood on his temple, and the unmistakable smell of cheap booze.

It wasn’t a stretch to say that she looked completely dumbfounded and deeply offended by his casual tone.

"What’s wrong??? Rosie, look at yourself! You crawl back home looking like a bum! Your clothes are torn to shreds, you smell like a degenerate’s tavern, you’re covered in dried blood and bruises, and you’re sitting on the floor of the front door looking like the most depressed, miserable creature in the entire kingdom! And yet... yet here you are, looking at me with that stupid, blank eye, casually asking me what’s wrong?!"

Kurt stared at her wide-eyed, completely stunned by her explosively breathless rant.

"I..uh..pfft..ahaha!" Unable to control himself, Kurt threw his head back and burst into a loud, bright, and thoroughly genuine laugh.

Diana’s face instantly flushed a brilliant shade of crimson.

Her worry completely morphed into pure embarrassment. She gave his chest a flustered series of playful hits as she complained back. "Why are you laughing?! Stop that! It isn’t funny, you idiot!"

"Alright, alright, I’m sorry! I know it looks bad, Ana. I know I look like total crap right now. But I promise you, I was just sitting here to decompress myself – or something like that. There’s absolutely nothing wrong with me. I’m completely fine."

Diana stopped hitting him and rested her fists against his chest as she glared at him with a heavy pout. She stared deep into his eye, looking for any hidden pain or lies, but finding only peaceful exhaustion.

Slowly, the defensive hardness in her face dissolved, and a gentle smile graced her lips. She let out a soft sigh of relief and leaned forward, pressing her forehead against his chin.

"You can be such an infuriating man at times, Rosie," she whispered affectionately.

She pulled back slightly and gently wiped away a smudge of dirt from his cheek with her thumb. "Do you want to talk about what happened today?"

"... Nah. Let’s talk about it tomorrow. Right now, I’m really just too tired to construct proper sentences. I just want to crash for the night and forget the alphabet exists."

"Okay. By the way, did you even eat yet? You’re looking a little thin."

’Huh? I mean I didn’t, but am I really?’

"N-No, I didn’t. I probably should eat something, given how many calories I burned, but honestly... I really don’t feel like moving a single muscle to do it."

Diana’s eyes lit up with an excited spark.

She clapped her hands together with a cheerful sound as a wide mischievous grin broke across her face. "Perfect! That is completely fine! If you don’t want to move, then I will simply feed you myself! Wendy!"

Like a ghost materializing on command, Wendy stepped out from the shadows of the adjacent hallway. "Yes, Ms. Valentine?"

"Bring a plate of light, easy food immediately. Something soft and warm that doesn’t require a lot of chewing."

"Right away, Ms." Wendy bowed before turning back toward the kitchen.

Still sitting side-by-side on the floor, Diana leaned her head against his shoulder. Her soft silky robes offered a beautiful, luxurious contrast to his rough, grime-streaked clothes.

"You know, after we get some food into you, you also desperately need a bath. You smell like a brewery that exploded in a swamp." 𝘧𝓇ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝘣𝓃ℴ𝓋𝑒𝑙.𝑐𝘰𝑚

’That’s one hell of a nose she’s got.’

She then leaned in close to his ear and whispered in a teasing purr. "Do you... need my help with that part too, Rosie~?"

"Why yes, actually. Having you bathe me sounds lovely~"

Diana’s entire face erupted into a vivid blush. She quickly looked away and bit her lower lip as she tried her absolute best not to smile like a silly, lovestruck schoolgirl.

As if to come in and save the day, Wendy returned.

She was carrying a delicate plate filled with warm, cut-up pieces of soft roasted poultry, light bread, and a small bowl of savory broth.

She placed the tray gently on the floor beside them and slipped away without a word, leaving the couple to their privacy.

Diana immediately took charge by picking up the small silver fork, carefully blowing on a piece of warm meat to ensure it wasn’t too hot, and guided it gently to Kurt’s lips.

Kurt accepted the offering gratefully, chewing slowly as the warmth of the food began to restore a tiny fraction of his vitality.

For the next ten minutes, the grand foyer was completely silent save for the quiet clink of the fork and Diana’s soft, encouraging murmurs as she patiently fed him like a treasured king, ensuring he ate every single bite.

Once the plate was completely cleared, Diana set the tray aside and teleported them both to their room where she guided a completely cooperative, semi-conscious Kurt into the adjoined bathroom.

With loving care, she gently peeled the tattered and-stained clothes off his body, tossing the ruined fabric into the hamper. She took a quick, incredibly thorough session bathing him.

She worked her fingers through his dark hair, massaging away the dried blood, the sticky alcohol, and any lingering grime with sweet-smelling soaps.

Kurt sat in the hot water with his eyes closed, letting out purring groans of absolute bliss as her soft hands worked away the knots in his shoulders and rinsed his skin until it was completely clean and smooth.

Once they were done with the bath, Diana wrapped him in a plush towel, dried him off, and led him back into the bedroom.

Without a single shred of hesitation or modesty, they shed the towels and got straight into their massive, silk-sheeted bed completely naked – just the exact way they liked it.

The feeling of cool, high-grade silk against bare, clean skin was the final touch of paradise Kurt needed.

The moment his head hit the feather pillows, Diana slid across the mattress and snuggled her supple, bare body against his side. She draped her leg over his waist, pulling herself in until there was no space left between them.

Kurt reached out, wrapping his arm around her waist to pull her even closer and Diana leaned up, pressing her soft lips against his in a deep, slow, and profoundly loving kiss that carried all the unspoken depth of her devotion.

"Goodnight, Rosie."

"Goodnight, Ana. And thanks for everything."

Diana shifted slightly, bringing his head down until he was resting securely against her warm, soft, and incredibly comforting breasts.

Being truly exhausted, Kurt didn’t even have time to think. Surrounded by her warmth, her intoxicating scent, and the steady, soothing beat of her heart, his mind finally went entirely dark.

He drifted off to sleep first, his breathing instantly falling into a peaceful rhythm. And so, the long, chaotic day finally came to a perfect, quiet end.