It was Hour 48 of No Sleep.

The clock was ticking, and you were not sleeping.

"—And since shock is a negative status affect, what else might be? Can colds? The flu?" You were pacing, running your hands through your hair as you rambled. "What if there are status affects that can't be blocked anymore?"

If you kept yourself distracted, you wouldn't sleep.

And since you were in the passing out from exhaustion phase, staying distracted was critical.

"I'm not sure, Lady Zara." Shalltear replied, an eyebrow raised. "Though, you seem… Stressed."

One of Shalltear's vampire brides stepped forward, murmuring something softly into her master's ear. You were far too focused on your own thoughts to pay attention, though based on Shalltear's frown it wasn't good.

"And—and what if Ainz can get sick now? What kind of diseases are new in this world?!"

"Lady Zara, perhaps it may be better to focus that energy towards research?"

"I would, but I'd end up using all of the paper in Nazarick, and there are other things that need it more…"

Shalltear tapped a finger to her lips, thinking hard. Or, maybe she was pretending to think hard. You didn't know.

"Perhaps it's time to try and solve that issue. I won't claim to be the smartest, but it can't be that hard to make more paper."

Shalltear is now your favorite. More distractions from sleepytown junction!

"You're right; it's just a matter of trial and error for plants, figure out which fibers work best for paper…" And you were off to pacing again, mumbling and muttering as you went.

Shalltear watched you with worried eyes; you didn't seem to notice.

Watching her Lady pace a hole in the floor was concerning. More than concerning.

What was more concerning, however, was that it was obvious why you were pacing.

It didn't take an idiot to figure out you were procrastinating on something. And, with your passing out in the middle of her debate with Albedo, it had her concerned. So, she called the cavalry.

As far as she was aware, you'd listen to Ainz, Albedo, or Demiurge if they asked you to sleep. She didn't want to overstep her boundaries, even though she'd hope you'd listen to her and do it. Even so, she knew you'd just leave her and go pester Mare or Aura. She wasn't stupid, just… Naïve. And, since Demiurge was obviously winning in obtaining your affections, it was time to level the playing field.

"—Shalltear?"

She snapped out of her distracted musings to see you staring at her.

"My apologies, my Lady; it seemed I was lost in thoughts of my own. Would you please repeat the question?"

"… I, ah, I'd asked if you had any ideas about handling the paper problem?"

"Oh!" She beamed, lighting up; she could be helpful! "Human skin makes perfectly usable parchment! Perhaps farming them would be the easiest way to get plenty of paper."

"I—uhm—"

"After all, leather is sturdy. Perhaps skin is the same way?" Oh, it was a brilliant idea!

It was probably one that Demiurge had already had, but still. She'd told Lady Zara first, so she got the credit!

"You… may have a point there. Although, I think it'd be better to test humans later…"

Albedo's shoes clicked down the hall, a frown on her dainty lips as she read and re-read the message.

Albedo,

Lady Zara seems to have been awake for longer than is safe and seems to be distracting herself to try to not sleep. I worry she will faint again. If you have the time, please come and make sure she is doing okay.

~ Shalltear

Why would Lady Zara do this? It simply didn't make sense. It was bad for her health, and yet she was still doing it.

That was, of course, if Shalltear was to be believed.

Perhaps Lady Zara simply didn't like to sleep? But, if that were the case, her beloved ought to use a magic item to whisk the need away.

It didn't make sense.

Maybe it was the gift she'd left her beloved. She'd hate for it to be in poor taste, but she'd thought it was a lovely gesture. Then again, if Lady Zara was refusing sleep, it may not have been seen yet.

She… hadn't taken that into account.

"Albedo?" She blinked, clearing her thoughts.

"Yes, Demiurge?" She wanted to spit his name like poison, but she had an image to maintain. It wasn't her fault that he chose to compete in an unwinnable battle for her beloved!

"Are you alright?" His face was unreadable, though she wouldn't put trying to read the note past him. Lady Zara was hers, after all; it wouldn't do for him to get in the way.

"Yes, I am. Why, pray tell, do you ask?" His mask slipped, for all of a moment; distaste and displeasure were hidden behind his usual calm and calculating exterior.

"You didn't hear me the first time I said your name; it's abnormal behavior for you."

Oh.

Well then.

"My apologies, then. I was simply lost in thought, thinking about my beloveds." She beamed, a smile so bright it would blind the sun; she truly loved her Supreme Beings.

"I see…" Demiurge adjusted his glasses; she suspected that it had more to do with giving him a momentary reprieve from talking rather than needing them adjusted.

"Perhaps it would please them if you worked harder, rather than getting distracted thinking about them."

"Of course." Fuck you, Demiurge. "I just can't seem to help it; after all, I was made this way~"

That got a reaction out of him. Ever so slight stiffening of the shoulders, a minute pause in the movement of his tail; she had him. He couldn't say shit to that; she'd been made to love her Supreme Beings, to wed them. He had not.

Which, clearly, meant she was the favorite.

"I am aware. If you don't need my assistance with your work, then I should be off. I've a meeting with Lord Momonga, after all."

"I understand completely; don't let me keep you waiting."

Now was likely a good time to see how her beloved was doing, yes?

"—and what about getting higher-level paper? Wait, what about Nazarick's food supplies? That won't last forever…"

You were still pacing.

Still distracted.

Still 100% needed to sleep.

But you wouldn't, not if you had any say in it.

"Lady Zara, perhaps you should discuss this with Demiurge or Albedo? As much as I love hearing your beautiful voice, they would be of more use for this." Shalltear sat, curled up on one of her floor's many couches, eyeing the new worn spot in the floor Zara had made. You let out a soft sigh, giving up on your pacing and claiming a seat next to Nazarick's True Vampire. You curled yourself up into an impressively small ball, tails wrapped around your arms for their fluffy warmth.

"… I mean… I could. I should, probably."

"Is something the matter, my Lady?" Shalltear looked at you, eyes wide with concern. You… really ought to watch your tone when you got this tired.

You never would, though. It required too much thought.

"… Yes and no." There was no easy way to explain your guilt over Albedo. Or how she acted around you made your insides churn, reminding you of—

Well, speak of the devil and she will appear.

"Hey, Albedo." You waved from your spot on the couch, listening to the soft click of Albedo's heels on the wooden floorboards of the third floor. "What're you doing here?"

"Oh, you know I couldn't stay away from you, my love~" Her wings fluttered gently, eyes only for you.

You weren't awake enough for this.

"Albedo, you could stop being so forward. Lady Zara needs to be properly wooed!" Shalltear spoke as she shifted, draping her petite body across your lap with a self-satisfied smirk.

"Oh? And how would a child like yourself know that?" You blinked; Albedo's pleasant tone hadn't changed, but you'd be damned if that wasn't the most insulting thing you'd ever heard from her.

"Isn't it obvious?" Shalltear continued, as if she weren't actively draped across your lap. "I wouldn't expect a cum dumpster like yourself to know, but if you'd been paying attention you'd have seen her get aaaalllllllllllll tense when you tried to flirt. Emphasis on tried, mind you~"

You wanted to hide from… Well, from whatever this was going to end up being.

"Shalltear, do try not to be so rude; you're on our Lady's lap, after all. It'd be a shame if your impudence caused her to loathe you."

"I'll be fine. Besides, if Lady Zara wasn't comfortable, she wouldn't let me stay."

You didn't like this, not one bit.

Your chest felt tight. Weird, but… You'd be alright.

Probably.

"Yes, but she could also be letting you say because you didn't ask if you could and she's kind."

"She wouldn't let me stay if she didn't want it, Albedo~"

Your head felt light.

"Not necessarily; Lady Zara is incredibly kind, you know. For all you know, you could be taking advantage of her." Albedo claimed the spot next to you on the couch, wing draping across your shoulders.

Trapped.

You were trapped, trapped, trapped…

Your chest really hurt. It made you think of him. And what he tried to do to you.

"Me, take advantage of a Supreme Being?! I would never; though, it's something you seem well-versed in."

Shit, were you breathing?

"Is that truly something you believe? To accuse me, of all people, of taking advantage of my beloveds?!"

No, you weren't. You should, though.

Discretely, you started breathing again. You were hyperventilating, but still. Better than nothing, right?

Just focus on breathing correctly.

In and out. In… and out…

"What're you going to do about it, huh? It's not my fault that a cheap one-and-done like yourself thinks you have an ounce of a chance with our Supreme Beings!"

It wasn't working. You tried harder; you had to get your breathing right, get your chest to stop hurting.

In and out. In and out.

You felt tears prick the corners of your eyes; hopefully, neither Albedo nor Shalltear would notice.

"You take that back! They changed me so that I would love them to the fullest; maybe they just wanted me more than they want you!"

You stopped focusing on their argument; you had to get your breathing normal. In, out, in, out—you weren't fixing it, were still hyperventilating.

In…

Out…

In…

Out…

…

Nope, not fixed.

This was bad. Really, really bad.

In the background, as if you were hearing through television static, you heard Albedo and Shalltear yelling. It seemed they weren't done their argument yet, though both were possessively clinging to you.

Trapped.

You shut your eyes. If you could only focus on the breathing, you could fix it!

In…

Out…

Your heartrate was too high. Too high, breathing too fast, too high.

Trapped.

In.

Out.

In. Out.

Trapped. Trapped, trapped, trapped…

Him.

InOutInOutInOutInOut You needed to breathe properly—

You teleport away, moving clumsily in what you hoped was your room.

InOutInOutInOutInOut—

You touch a spot on the wall, stumbling your way into your panic room.

It locks behind you.

No-one to see your shame.

InOutInOutInOut Your heart was going way too fast, you had to calm down had to breathe—

Arioch twitched, pausing his work on the temple.

Instinctively, he placed a hand over his heart; yes, that made sense.

Someone was locked in the Panic Room.

"Odd…." He focused, setting his broom aside to place both hands over his heart.

Message Start

Arioch: My Lady, are you alright?

Arioch: … My Lady?

Message End

That was… Not good.

It was you in the panic room. And, from what he could sense, you weren't doing so well. His heart clenched; he hoped this wasn't because of something he'd done.

It probably wasn't, but he could still hope.

He glanced at the broom; should he go to you, or should he contact Lord Momonga? He would be able to open the door, but Lord Momonga was likely the wiser option.

Now, he had never seen Lord Momonga. But, Lady Zara's health meant this was necessary.

He took a deep breath, and focused.

Message Start

Arioch: Lord Momonga?

Momonga: … Who is this?

Arioch: My apologies, Lord Momonga. I am Arioch, Lady Zara's creation.

Momonga: I see. My apologies for not seeing you yet, Arioch.

Momonga: I am in the middle of a meeting with Demiurge; is there a reason you contacted me?

The moment of truth. Guilt ate at his insides, but he didn't know what else to do. He had to tell someone; his creator needed help!

Arioch: Lady Zara is currently locked in her Panic Room. I believe she may be having a panic attack of some sort, though I do not know for certain.

Momonga: I see… I will be there at once. If I need you to unlock the door, I shall let you know.

Arioch: Of course, Lord Momonga. Could you… Could you let me know how she's doing?

Momonga: Of course. Now, I must be off; if Lady Zara is as you say, she'll need help.

Message End

He let out a deep sigh, hands still clasped over his heart. What if… What if Lady Zara did not like his informing Lord Momonga?

It was done, though. Even if she were angry at him, getting her help was more important than his personal happiness.

With another sigh, he scooped the broom back up and continued his work.

He wished there was an offering he could place at Lady Zara's shrine that would help her at this time.

Your hands were clawing at your throat, red welts and spots of blood left in their wake; you needed air, needed to breathe, needed—needed something.

Hiccupped, stuttering sobs echoed in the small space. You'd pressed yourself into a corner, needed the stability. Now, though, you regretted it. Your limbs didn't have the oxygen needed to get out of the corner.

Distracting yourself hadn't worked to fix the breathing, the panic that had crawled up your spine and swallowed your heart.

Hadn't chased the thoughts of him from your mind.

But not breathing properly hurt. Maybe, maybe fighting fire with fire would work?

Tentatively, you moved your head. And slammed it back into the wall.

Pain colored your vision, and your breathing took a backseat.

You did it again.

And again.

And again.

It didn't fix your breathing.

Your eyes filled with the image of Him; smirking, over you—

You clawed at your eyes, if you couldn't see you wouldn't see him—

Your weak sobs turned into wails whenever you had the oxygen.

First, your legs froze up.

Then, your torso.

No.

Arms, head, fingers; your breathing slowed to a crawl.

Panic settled into your bones like a blanket.

You couldn't handle this. It hurt so badly—

For the first time in many, many years, you wanted to die. Would have killed yourself right there and then, if you could move.

You lay still, catatonic, unable to truly calm down. Your heart was beating faster than it ever had before, but your body refused to respond to you. You had to get up, had to do something to stop the pain.

Someone scooped you up—don't let it be him, please god—and settled you onto a bony lap. Skeletal fingers combed through your hair, and the world shined green.

It—It wasn't him.

It was Momonga.

Shame mixed with the panic, more tears than you thought you could cry leaking from your eyes like a broken faucet.

This was your price to pay.

You heard him, faintly; was he singing? Just talking to you? You didn't know.

You felt your body sinking, fading, fear stabbing your heart and consuming your brain.

The world went black.

Shalltear and Albedo stared at the spot Zara had just occupied, screaming match cut short by the disappearance. They stared for a long time, confusion buzzing about their skulls.

Albedo broke the silence.

"… Perhaps we should save this for a different time."

"Agreed."

Neither would speak the thought at the forefront of their minds, but both knew the other was thinking it.

What did we do wrong?