Let There Be Light in Deharem Mansion

After splashing cold water on my face, I made my way down the corridor and stopped.

Havid was moving from room to room with a folder tucked under one arm.

What's he doing at this hour?

I approached, and he turned toward me. His surprise quickly softened into a pleasant smile.

“My lord? You ought to be getting ready for bed. What brings you out here?”

“I was about to ask you the same thing.”

“Ah. Well…”

Havid held the folder a little closer and explained.

“While you were away, a messenger came from the Church of Balance. He said you had done the Church a great service and that several people would be sent to offer their congratulations. They may need to stay here, so I've been preparing guest rooms. I intended to report to you in the morning, once everything was in order. I'm sorry.”

“You needn't apologize for that. But the Church sent someone?”

“Yes. An assistant bishop from the Fifth Parish delivered the message personally. He said the Holy See had contacted him by crystal ball.”

The Fifth Parish…

Bishop Leviham must have contacted the Holy See.

After escaping the elf's grasp, he'd probably reported what he had seen in Deharem Manor. Perhaps the Church was now sending senior priests or paladins to investigate the elf and protect me.

As a faithful believer in the God of Light, I found the prospect strangely moving.

And yet…

Would it really be right to force her out?

The elf had threatened me and landed me in more humiliating situations than I cared to remember. Yet looking back, I couldn't recall her ever actually injuring me. At least, that was how I saw it.

Was it right to have the Holy See subdue her by force?

And before that—could it?

Even a Grand Duke of Hell couldn't defeat her.

Lerazie, so full of confidence when she arrived, had disappeared almost overnight. I couldn't help suspecting that the elf's strength had something to do with it.

Ashley had also suggested that the elf might be a queen among her people. A violent confrontation with the Church could become something far worse: a conflict between entire peoples.

“I see.”

I couldn't let those worries show.

Havid, the servants of the manor, and the slaves in the workshop all depended on the house I led. Their safety was my responsibility, whatever my own discomfort.

I had to see the matter through, however much it troubled me.

“Please continue the preparations. I'll consider how best to receive our guests as well.”

“Of course, my lord. But don't overwork yourself.”

His concern was sincere. I was grateful for it.

“I won't.”

I smiled, passed him in the corridor and headed back to my study. There was still some time before bed, and I wanted to exchange a few more messages with Ashley.

But when I opened the study door, my breath caught.

The elf was sitting at my desk, looking at the glowing screen of the location notebook.

Damn it.

Of all the things she could have found…

I hadn't imagined she'd enter my study in the short time I'd spent washing my face. Perhaps I could retire early and avoid the whole conversation.

While she was occupied with the screen, I began to close the door as quietly as possible.

“I saw you.”

I opened it again.

“Tch.”

Clicking my tongue as though I had never intended to leave, I strode into the room with the most imperious expression I could manage.

“A slave like you strolling into my study without permission? Have you gone mad? Do you want to die?”

Unfortunately, my body refused to match my voice.

I was far too worried about the exposed notebook to move with any real confidence. I came to a stiff halt in front of the desk.

The slave sat comfortably in my chair while her master stood before her like a servant waiting to be reprimanded.

Why does this always happen to me?

“Are you so eager to die?” I demanded again.

Snap.

The elf shut the location notebook and looked up.

“Perhaps I am,” she said coldly.

The answer struck me as a threat directed at me. I swallowed and kept still.

She opened a desk drawer, removed a blank notebook and tossed it in front of me.

“Do it with me, too.”

“Do what? I don't have any spare location notebooks—”

Her glare stopped me.

“I want an exchange diary.”

“An exchange diary?”

“Yes. Master writes on the first day. I'll write on the second. That way we'll understand our relationship better.”

My eyebrows twitched.

So she wants to spy on me.

Surely she didn't intend anything affectionate. I was her toy. She wanted a written record of what I did, so I wouldn't dare have private conversations like the one I'd just been enjoying with Ashley.

Insolent woman. Do you think I'll obediently agree to everything you ask?

The elf narrowed her eyes.

“You don't like the idea?”

“Of course I—”

The warmth vanished from her expression.

I bent down and snatched up the quill.

“—like it! What reason could I possibly have to refuse?”

“I see. Master enjoys things like this.”

You madwoman.

I kept the words safely behind my teeth. Writing a diary was far preferable to testing her temper.

But what could I write?

I stared at the blank page. Today had been full of Ashley: her visit, our private meal and the journey home.

If I write what I actually felt, the elf will be furious.

Better to keep it short and factual. I could describe the day's events without including my happiness.

I dipped the quill and began.

Ashley visited the manor today. We took a carriage to a cabin to rest, ate some of the food she'd packed, then returned to the manor.

Perfectly concise.

I'd left out my feelings, but I hadn't lied about what happened. What possible complaint could the elf make?

I looked up in satisfaction.

She frowned and pointed to a phrase.

“A packed lunch? Lady Ashley made it herself?”

“What? Oh, yes. She did a good job.”

“I see…”

She didn't look pleased, though she said nothing further.

That should be enough, then.

I was just about to put down the quill when she spoke again.

“You haven't written enough.”

Not enough?

I looked at the page. I couldn't think of anything else relevant.

“What do you mean?”

The elf pointed at herself.

She wants me to include her?

It was an absurd demand, but there was no harm in adding one more line. I took up the quill and continued.

Incidentally, this morning I paid my respects to Father and confessed what happened last night. Most of it concerned sexual matters involving the elf.

Snap!

The elf caught my quill with magic before I could finish.

I looked up.

Her face was flushed, and she was glaring at me.

“Stop.”

“But you said—”

“I said stop writing.”

I nodded quickly and released the quill.

The elf took the diary, held it against her chest and walked to the door without looking back.

Then she stopped.

“Don't be so arrogant,” she muttered. “You're only a toy…”

For an instant she almost sounded resentful. She stared at me for a few seconds, then turned away and left.

I stood alone in my study, bewildered.

What in the world does she want from me?

No matter how long I thought about it, I couldn't find an answer.

---

Four days later.

So that's the manor…

Landis Sofret studied the distant outline of Deharem Manor. Ten paladins had accompanied him.

According to the Holy See, Viscount Theorad had made a pact with a demon and was helping spread evil. Landis wanted desperately to believe the accusation was false.

But if it was true, he would have to end Theorad's life himself.

That was why the order had sent some of its finest paladins.

He turned to look at them. The march had been hard, yet no fatigue showed in their faces. Red sacred belts lay across their polished armor.

With comrades like these, surely they could face any ordinary demon.

Landis clenched his fist.

“Brothers! Our destination is near! The God of Light watches over us. Remember that we must be willing to sacrifice ourselves to carry out our sacred duty!”

The paladins answered with silent nods. To them, dedicating their strength and their lives to the punishment of evil was as natural as breathing.

Landis nodded and resumed the march.

Yet the closer they drew to the manor, the less certain he became.

What is this?

Landis had trained since childhood to sense demonic energy and wield divine power. What he felt ahead was unlike the residue left by ordinary demons.

The concentration was so dense it made him dizzy.

We haven't even reached the gates…

He frowned, knelt and gathered a handful of soil.

He couldn't determine the number of demons simply by feeling the energy in the air. Perhaps he could judge the strength of whatever had been here by examining what had seeped into the earth.

“Karatias, God of Light. Your lamb asks for strength.”

Radiance gathered around his hand.

With eyes closed, Landis focused on the demonic traces in the soil. A moment later he gasped and flung the dirt away.

Impossible!

The energy was extraordinarily concentrated.

As though a Grand Duke of Hell had visited this place.

Landis clenched his teeth.

Theorad Deharem!

To him, there was only one explanation: the manor's master must have made a pact with a Grand Duke of the demon realm.

He has abandoned humanity and sided with evil itself!

Fear and anger rose together as Landis stood.

Were they planning to swallow the Empire from this very house?

He dug his nails into his palms.

His conviction wavered, but he refused to retreat.

I won't let you have your way.

With that resolve, Landis took another heavy step toward the source of the demonic energy.