'I hope there isn't too much work because of the stunt they pulled today,' Adam smiled and went to sleep.
But, the next day his eyebrows twitched.
'I said that I hope there isn't much work but I didn't expect this!' He waited in his office since morning and not a single document or file made it to his table.
He knew everyone in the base moved around busily, the only one besides him was Narberal. Everyone else was too busy doing things, yet it didn't reach him. With how silent his office and its vicinity stayed, he could hear a pin drop. But that was beside the point.
Adam had many things in his storage that could stave off that boredom. Games, novels, Manga, Books from different fields, he had many things but he couldn't use a single of them today. As a Boss, he shouldn't slack off on work with such things. The Leader's attitude defines the rest of the organization, so he wanted to lead by example and do all of the work.
'But there is no work at all…' He sighed.
That was until the door to the office opened. Albedo walked in covered in the pure white dress that hugged her figure. With elegant steps, she arrived in front of his desk and bowed.
"I apologize for taking so long." She said.
"That is all fine, give me a report." A sweet smile appeared on her lips when she heard him. With her back straight she relayed what everyone was up to.
There wasn't anything too grand. Most if not all residents of Nazarick worked on maintaining and upgrading the base. The new powers and skills they gained from Adam sparked their sense of duty to use them all for him. Thus, from a spoon to the pillars, everything inside the Tomb got remade with the grandest of materials to match his status. The work started from his bedroom and the utensils he would use. Now it reached the throne room before which it would progress to the upper floors.
"Is that all?" His question made Albedo tilt her head. However, the questioning gaze made her understand something.
"Yes Lord Adam." She wouldn't let trivial tasks reach him.
To take care of the small tasks was the reason they existed, and others held the same thought. Without Adam's knowledge, the general plan of not letting him do any work was formed and approved by the Floor Guardians.
Watching her leave Adam sighed again. Narberal brought him some freshly brewed oolong tea with Sakura shrimp crackers for the afternoon. The breakfast he had this morning was also an extravagant ordeal. The maids got together to set the menu for him and prepared every dish meticulously.
He ate everything without a word of complaint though. No need to make them feel like their hard work was wasted. They did it with their hearts and he accepted it.
Even with the work thing, after sitting idly in the office for the entire day he understood it. The capable subordinates would handle everything for him. All he had to do was sit back and hear a summarized report at noon while enjoying his time.
'Which boss doesn't like having the luxury to kick back and relax every single day?' Adam thought of letting things go as they were. If something beyond their capabilities came up he'll hear it.
After a scrumptious dinner, Adam retreated to his bedroom and slept on now comfier bed. Even today two maids stood in the dark room to accommodate any needs that arose. Leaving her fellow maid alone, Narberal stepped out of the bedroom careful to not make a single sound.
As the warm glow of the chandeliers fell on her face, her delicate features showed an expression of uneasiness. Yet, her silent steps guided her down the hallway, she knocked on the doors not too far from Adam's room.
"Come in." The sweet voice seeped out of the room as she took a deep breath.
"Excuse me Milady," Narberal pushed the ornate door open with a slight bow and entered.
A slightly less luxurious room than the Royal Quarters came in her view. This place was a match for the previous Royal Quarters, but not anymore. And the owner of this room was also second only to Adam to the residents of Nazarick.
"State the reason for your visit." Albedo stowed the documents in a drawer below and turned her sharp gaze onto her.
A smile rested on her lips, but the shadow those white horns cast on her eyes made Narberal unable to guess her true mood. But, she wasn't here to do this. The purpose of her visit was much more important.
"Lady Albedo I think that Lord Adam is unsatisfied with Nazarick."
"Elaborate," The smile still rested upon her lips but Narberal could feel something brew in those golden eyes.
But she couldn't back down from this now.
"Lord Adam seemed to be waiting for something for the entire day patiently. Yesterday the lord spent his time reading books, but today aside from tapping at his desk and meals nothing else was done. There was a glimmer of excitement when My Lady walked in, but after you left Lord's mood went down. At the end, he retreated to his room after dinner with a sigh of resignation and slept." The more Albedo heard the colder the room became, but this wasn't all.
Narberal made it a point to pay close attention to everything about Adam, counting the number of breaths he took, to catching the tiniest changes in his expression, and at what exact second of the hour it happened. She had the entire list in her head.
That is why she can speak with absolute certainty.
"Lady Albedo, could it be that you've forgotten something?" Narberal felt the atmosphere freeze.
The smile on Albedo's lips had vanished in thin air as she stood up. With each step she took, Narberal's body shook with more intensity. However, she had no intention of taking her words back.
Even if she got punished by Albedo for speaking out of line she had to do it. The fear that Adam may leave after disappointment crushed her chest and she'd accept anything but that. That is why when she noticed his actions in the office today, she knew something had to be done.
'If my life can make it so that Lord Adam never shows such an expression again, then it was worth it.' Narberal had made up her mind the moment she left her post from the bedroom.
But she was reluctant to let her life end now. It wasn't the fear of death, rather not being able to serve Adam any longer saddened her. Even if the time was short, it was the most precious memory of her existence. And she'd like to have more of these memories.
'I am sorry Lord Adam.' Her eyes closed as Albedo stood before her, her cold golden eyes locked onto her. She could see those vertically split pupils even now, and soon she felt a hand on her shoulder.
"Well done Narberal." The tender voice tickled her ears and her eyes shot open.
The glistening golden eyes stared back at her as a real smile formed on her pink lips. Albedo didn't have the slightest bit of anger on her beautiful face. But before Narberal's gaping lips could form any words, she turned around.
"You are to stay next to Lord Adam as his attendant at all times, unless the lord says otherwise. Understand?" Narberal's eyes widened.
It made her aware that Albedo was aware of the problem and she had thought too highly of herself. She had done something unneeded, and even then she was rewarded.
"I will not disappoint you Lady Albedo." This was a dream come true.
"Strive to not disappoint Lord Adam rather than me. Now return to your post immediately." Albedo glanced over her shoulder.
Narberal nodded with newfound determination and left the room. As the door closed Albedo walked over to the bed and collapsed on it.
'How could I forget about the contract?!' She wanted to pull at her hair but refrained from doing anything that could disturb Adam two rooms away from her.
The source of her trouble was the contract. She remembered making one with Adam, but she forgot about the price she had to pay in return. Rather than forget, her mind missed a majority of the information he gave her because of her elation. The price for the contract was one of them and one of the worst things to forget.
'I am sure he is disappointed in me after all!!'
....
I forgot about scheduling...
800 stones for bonus chapter.
Bye bye.