Chapter 2
"Another rough day…" Lord El-Melloi II spoke, smoking his cigar. Merlin was humming a tune as he proceeded to heal whatever wounds the party endured.
The Master checked up on his Servants. This expedition to a minute Singularity turned out to be much more drastic than what Holmes and Da Vinci told them about.
"I'm very sorry for bringing the two of you here with us." Apologized Ritsuka, bowing down.
Merlin continued humming, while the Lord sighed. "Worry not about us, Master. Your attention should be towards the Duchess." He spoke, and Ritsuka immediately nodded.
"Who would've thought bringing along three Casters would lead to an unlikely encounter with Giants?" Merlin spoke, and the Lord merely chuckled. "A scouting mission turned awry. The only good thing here is we didn't suffer any casualties."
"He didn't just bring Casters, you know." Then spoke a voice. The Lord continued on smoking while Merlin bowed down. "My King." He spoke.
Arthur smiled. "Greetings Merlin, and esteemed Mage." He greeted.
"I have noticed two new things upon my stay in Chaldea." He spoke. Merlin and the Lord merely listened.
"One would be the way Master's contracted female Servants are acting." He said, and Merlin nodded. "Indeed, my King! What would be blossoming in the air, if not the petals of love?" he spoke, suddenly throwing flowers everywhere.
The Lord continued on with his smoke. "A good observation, King of the Britons, however, it could simply be answered by saying that the Servants Master has been bonding with for a long time are the ones that are…acting strange." He spoke, and the King pondered over it.
"I see…as expected of a Mage of the Clock Tower." He spoke, smiling. He then continued on. "Another thing would be…something that involves you, esteemed Mage." He said, and the Lord cleared his throat.
Merlin smiled deviously once more. "Oh, I know this one fairly well~" he teased.
"I have noticed that a certain Queen has become fond of you." He spoke, embarrassing the Lord a bit.
'Dammit…what is that Queen's deal with me, even?!' he simply thought.
"Anastasia! There you are…" called Ritsuka, relieved as he stopped running and merely walked to the Duchess's side. The two of them were on top of a cliff overlooking an untamed, frozen wilderness.
"Were you hurt? Do you need something?" he asked, and the Duchess shook her head, moving slowly towards him.
The Master caught her. He was relieved that she wasn't hurt, sure, but he noticed how tired she looked.
"You were…rough today, Master." She spoke, smiling a bit.
Ritsuka was flustered. "Ah, sorry…did I overexert your magical energy?" he asked, and the Duchess gave no reply.
He noticed that her eyes were closed, and she was breathing softly. Ritsuka smiled. "You did great today, my fair Duchess." He spoke, kissing the top of her head.
He then looked over the frozen wilderness, and memories of a previous…mission came into view.
Frozen landscapes, unrelenting blizzards, and a cold stare from the Duchess of what was dubbed the "Permafrost Empire".
He is aware that the two were different, but he still couldn't help but feel wary of her…
…and pity.
But he immediately shook those thoughts away. Smiling, he gave the resting Duchess another kiss on the head, as he held her gently into his embrace further.
"Master, are you…" Lord El-Melloi II spoke but trailed off as he saw that the Duchess was seated on the Master's lap.
"…busy." he continued, as he further processed the situation. The Duchess looked to be straddling the Master.
"Wait, sensei this isn't what you think it is!" pleaded Ritsuka. Anastasia glared at her. "Master, I thought we both agreed to do it?"
"Very well, carry on." He spoke, walking away from the room he was supposed to set foot in.
"Wait! Sensei!" called out Ritsuka, but the door closed.
Now he truly was alone with Anastasia.
"Master…" she softly spoke, blushing a bit. "…are you really not ready?"
Ritsuka nervously gulped, and he looked at Anastasia.
He, too, was blushing.
"I'm just…really nervous, Anastasia." He said as he began to undress the Duchess.
She then breathed heavily. "M-My, you're so forward…" she remarked, further embarrassing Ritsuka.
Her shoulders bare, her neck exposed, and Ritsuka was feeling hot and bothered.
Anastasia looked at him, and she was fully red.
The Master managed to show her a smile. "Slow and steady, my fair Duchess. Would that be okay with you?" he asked.
Anastasia merely nodded, as Ritsuka leaned in closer to give her a kiss.
Lord El-Melloi II was outside of the Master's room, smoking yet another cigar.
He seems to be…waiting for them to finish.
He chuckled as he puffed out smoke. "Youth is wasted on the young." He spoke, but if he was being honest to himself, he wished he could at least feel what love is.
He continued on, smoking all by himself, wondering why does he even have a stupid question that he wanted to ask his Master about.
