When Inera opened her eyes, she saw Arthur lying on her lap, his arm tightly wrapped around her waist. She gasped and her first impulse was to gently remove him from the somewhat too intimate embrace. But then, memories of the previous night's events came flooding back.
'The demons!' she thought, her heart skipping a beat. As she listened closely, she noticed the absence of sirens or battle sounds outside. A glance at the clock brought a wave of relief over her. It was already a new day. Tarus must have successfully repelled the attack.
Still, questions swirled in her mind. Why had the demons attacked now? Was it an isolated incident or something worse? What was the damage in District Eight? She calmed herself, knowing the answers would come in time, but for the moment, she focused on the immediate situation.
Inera gently whispered to Arthur, "Um... Arthur? The attack is over, you can let go now." She didn't want to startle him, remembering his frightened state from the night before.
"I... no..." Arthur murmured, still in the grip of sleep and unaware of their current situation.
Inera gave him a gentle shake. "Arthur," she said more firmly, urging him to wake up.
Arthur's eyes snapped open and met Inera's determined gaze. His eyes wandered from hers to his arms and then down to his head resting on her lap. Inera saw the moment of realization dawn on him. Hastily, he sat up, his face turning deep red.
"S-sorry," he stammered, clearly embarrassed.
Inera shook her head reassuringly. "It's alright." After the events of the previous night, she had no right to complain about their current state. There were demons outside; who knows how many were injured. She was lucky to have been in such a secure mansion.
"Yeah," Arthur replied, attempting a kind of smile that seemed rather inappropriate to Inera in the current situation. "It was quite alright."
Inera ignored her friend's comment and focused instead on the other matter. "The attack is over. Tarus has survived."
Arthur's expression shifted as he recalled the events of the night. "Thank God," he said, though his tone carried an undercurrent of lingering fear.
Suddenly, Inera's heart leaped as she heard rapid footsteps approaching from outside. Arthur seemed to hear them too and quickly gestured toward his closet. "Quick, hide, or you'll get in trouble!"
Before he could finish speaking, Inera had already slipped into the closet. Moments later, the door to Arthur's room burst open.
"Arthur!" called a familiar female voice. It was Arthur's mother, Inera's mistress, who rushed to his bed and enveloped him in a tight hug. "I was so scared! I'm sorry we couldn't return earlier. Suddenly there were sirens, and they said demons—"
"I understand, Mother," Arthur interrupted, his voice first shaky, then steady as he returned her embrace.
Shortly after, Inera's master, Arthur's father, entered the room. The two parents were the spitting image of their son. Or rather, it was the other way around. Both had blonde hair and dark eyes and the same handsome and kind face.
His face lit up with a joyful smile at the sight of his wife and son in a loving embrace. Slowly, he approached them, his expression one of relief and happiness.
"You look better," he remarked as he looked at Arthur.
Arthur responded with a genuine smile. "I think I'm ready for a new chapter. Mom, Dad..." He took a deep breath. "Thank you for always taking care of me, even in this condition."
The room fell silent for a moment before the mistress's emotions overwhelmed her. "Oh, my heart!" she said, pulling Arthur into another tight hug, which he appeared to struggle with slightly. The master joined in the embrace.
From her hiding spot, Inera watched the heartfelt family reunion and couldn't help but smile widely. She slowly and quietly opened the closet door, catching Arthur's eye as she prepared to leave. They exchanged a knowing look, and Inera winked at him to silently convey her happiness for him.
Arthur mouthed a quiet "Thank you" and his eyes shone with gratitude.
Inera took this moment to quietly leave the room, understanding that this was a private family moment that needed no outside interference. She slipped out of the room as stealthily as she had entered, her heart filled with warmth for the moment she had just witnessed.
***
"A visitor?" Inera's voice carried a note of surprise as Diana delivered the unexpected news. Normally, the staff was informed of visitors indirectly, not directly by Diana herself.
Diana nodded seriously, confirming Inera's suspicion that this was no ordinary announcement. "The King and his daughter will be visiting," she declared, exhaling heavily.
Inera's jaw dropped slightly, her eyes widening. "The royal family!" she thought, barely containing her astonishment.
Even though Tarus was one of the most advanced yet challenging cities of humanity, it was still ruled by a royal family. Behind the King stood the Council of Tarus, which included the Assignment Committee. Together, they formed the city's government.
"That's right," Diana confirmed, noticing Inera's reaction. "From today until the visit in two weeks, I want us to double our efforts. I expect the kitchen to be cleaner than a sterilized demon lab, the floors to shine brighter than military searchlights, and every corner of this mansion to be spotless. Understood?" Diana's tone left no room for negotiation.
Inera nodded vigorously, fully understanding the gravity of the situation. A visit from the royal family was extraordinary, especially just a week after the demon attack on Tarus. Since that night, while the MAC guns had returned to their usual silence, only firing occasionally when something was in range, the city's atmosphere had noticeably changed.
Whenever Inera went outside, she saw the lingering fear in people's eyes, and the soldiers seemed more restless than ever, making their presence known throughout the city.
The Council and the royal family had remained tight-lipped about the events of that night, but Inera wasn't naive. She had seen enough to piece together a grim picture.
Just that day, she had witnessed something many might mistake for a military parade. But the somber expressions of the soldiers told a different story—it was a funeral, not a parade.
The sight of the mourning stayed in Inera's mind as she recounted the events of the attack on Tarus and the prevailing atmosphere to Arthur during her regular visits.
Even amidst her duties preparing for the royal visit, she found joy and companionship in Arthur's company. Time seemed to hasten its pace, and before she knew it, two weeks had flown by, bringing her once again to Arthur's room.
"Tomorrow's a big day for your family, isn't it?" Inera asked, observing Arthur, who was now pacing the room with an ease that had been absent before. When she asked about his newfound mobility, Arthur explained that it had always been a possibility; he had just lacked the vitality or reason to exert himself.
However, his indifferent shrug regarding the royal visit revealed his lack of interest in such events. After all, he wasn't even known to the outside world.
"For Mom and Dad, it's undoubtedly significant," mused Arthur, his voice distant. "Hosting the King is an honorable task. But since both my parents are council members, there's likely a political undertone to the visit. As for me, I doubt I'll even see the King."
Inera pondered Arthur's words and then playfully teased, "The Princess is visiting too. Aren't you a bit curious? She might be quite charming." Her laughter lightened the room.
Arthur raised an eyebrow, a hint of amusement flickering in his eyes. "Perhaps. But honestly, I'm content. I have you."
Inera found herself averting her gaze, discomfort settling in her stomach. Arthur's compliments, once sweet and endearing, were beginning to feel increasingly burdensome.
She valued their friendship, but his growing affection was something she couldn't reciprocate. Naturally, she could understand him. He had probably had little contact with people over the past four years, except for his parents and the head maid. It was no wonder that he would open his heart more quickly once he trusted someone.
But the thought of hurting him or jeopardizing their bond weighed heavily on her.
With a gentle shake of her head, she steered the conversation away from the delicate topic they were approaching. "I should go now, Arthur. Diana has called all the maids together for one final review of tomorrow's plan," she explained, standing up and placing the book she had been reading back on the shelf.
Arthur, seemingly unaware of the intricacies of Inera's role, asked with genuine curiosity, "You have a plan for tomorrow?"
Her laughter filled the room again, a light-hearted reaction to his innocent ignorance. "Of course, Arthur. Every detail is meticulously planned, from our greeting to our posture. That's just how it is when you're hosting important guests," she explained, her tone light but informative.
Arthur's expression softened. "Well," he said thoughtfully, "just remember, you can be yourself when you're with me. That's all that matters."
Inera smiled weakly. "I know, Arthur. Thank you," she replied, feeling both comforted and uneasy by his words. "I'll try to come back tomorrow evening if time allows."
Arthur nodded understandingly and watched her closely as she made her way to the door to leave the room.
"If," Arthur's voice suddenly broke the silence, causing Inera to pause mid-step, "I introduced you to my parents, you wouldn't have to hide anymore. You could be yourself anytime you wish."
Inera hesitated, then slowly turned to face him. The idea had crossed her mind before. Being officially welcomed would certainly remove the need for secrecy and provide both a legitimate reason and more opportunities to spend time with Arthur.
But she couldn't bring herself to agree. "Your parents are very kind, Arthur, but even they might not understand this friendship. They might think I'm taking advantage of your vulnerability," she explained gently.
Arthur remained persistent. "But I can explain it to them," he insisted, his voice tinged with hope.
Inera offered a melancholy smile, her heart unable to deal with the complexity of their friendship. "Arthur, even with the best explanation, parents can be very protective when it comes to their child. I don't think it would make a difference."
Resigned, she turned back toward the door, her hand reaching for the doorknob. But Arthur's next words stopped her cold.
"What if I introduced you not just as a friend, but as something more?"
A shiver ran through Inera, and a bead of sweat formed on her forehead. This was exactly the scenario she had desperately hoped to avoid. Arthur's suggestion hung in the air as she tried to remain calm.
"I... I have to go now, Arthur," she managed to say, her voice barely above a whisper. With a deep, unsettled breath, she opened the door and stepped out, leaving behind a conversation and a decision that were too complex to confront at that moment.
Leaning against the wall outside Arthur's room, Inera struggled to compose herself, but her emotions were in a tumultuous storm. The unease from their last exchange lingered, mingling with the urge to let a few tears fall freely.
In those final moments with Arthur, her heart had spoken a truth she could no longer ignore. The feelings he harbored for her were not mirrored in her own heart.
Inera was scared of what might happen between them in the future.