Albedo blinked, confused by your sudden disappearance. Had she done something wrong? You'd looked so… Frightened.

And then you were gone.

"… Perhaps… Perhaps I am going about this wrong." She didn't want to believe it, but she would be an idiot if she ignored the evidence staring her in the face.

It seemed that Demiurge was your favored Guardian. Even though she had first spoken to you and Lord Momonga no more than three days ago, it was obvious that there was favoritism at play. Of course, favorites could be changed at a whim, but perhaps something else was afoot.

Were you not interested in her?

No, that wasn't the case. You and Lord Momonga had made her feel this way, so you must feel the same. Besides, in the Infirmary, you hadn't told her no. Just… to take it easy. And she had! She hadn't flirted once while you had gone over math, only after.

Yet, you had left without a word.

Maybe she had done something wrong. Perhaps you had meant something else by telling her so…

Gosh, her Supreme Beings were so confusing!

Maybe the problem wasn't her. Perhaps Momonga had asked you to keep her for himself—

Well, she wouldn't mind the attention and love of both the Supreme Beings, so that was also doubtful. Doubtful, yet plausible.

She made a mental note to ask about it later; if this was the case, then perhaps Lady Zara was simply trying to prevent her from being punished.

And there was no way the problem was with you, she was sure of it. As a Supreme Being, she was made to serve your every need! Any problem you had, she could whisk away. Including those from… Whatever world had existed before YGGDRASIL. She remembered every word she'd been told and had heard a great many things about her Supreme Beings in her time there. Perhaps the problem was something she'd overheard, but that was unlikely.

Which meant that the problem had to be something else.

Shalltear, while a bitch who was trying to steal Lord Momonga from you, had shown minimum interest in also stealing you away. The twins weren't interested in you that way, and neither was Cocytus. Sebas… A maybe on her list, though she doubted it.

Which left only Demiurge.

Demiurge, who seemed to have Lady Zara's favor from the beginning. Who hadn't been punished for slacking on work, who had allowed himself to sleep rather than work! The nerve! It had her fuming, and yet her beloved would have done the same if they were swapped.

Her Lady was truly kind… Still, it didn't stop her from wanting to tear Demiurge's throat out. Laziness is for the damned, the stupid, and the truly favored. And, as far as she was aware, Demiurge was none of those.

Well, at the least, she couldn't say he were the latter two. But, if he was truly favored… She didn't want to think of it. While she was willing to admit defeat in some things, she would not loose her mistress's favor to the likes of him.

If it was a challenge he wanted, it was a challenge he'd get.

It was time to call on some backup, get some advice in these scant few moments of free time. She couldn't ask Shalltear or Demiurge, wouldn't for love or money. Matters of the heart were not for the whims of the detestable, after all. Perhaps Sebas…

Yes, Sebas was the logical person to ask about such things regarding Lady Zara. After all, when you were making your Infirmary all those years ago, you had summoned Sebas instead of her. Perhaps he had some insight that she didn't.

Now, to see if he was free for a chat later today. After all, she had to see Mare's progress on the walls of Nazarick for herself.

With a smile, she stood and made her way through the halls of Nazarick. If she bumped into Sebas on the way to check up on Mare, then so be it!

Sebas heard the delicate click of heels on the tiled floors before their wearer was close enough to speak to him. He had been making his rounds of the 9th floor when he'd stopped in Lord Momonga's office to set up a scrying mirror as per his Lord's request. He had other duties, but a quick chat with Albedo wouldn't hurt. Especially if she had more duties for him to do from one of the Supreme Beings.

"Hello, Albedo; is there something I can help you with?"

"Not particularly. Though, there was something I wished to ask you…"

He tilted his head. Albedo rarely asked questions, let alone questions of him. Whatever it was must be important.

"Of course. If there is anything I can assist with, please let me know."

Albedo tilted her head, tapping a delicate finger to her lips as if lost in thought.

"I am certain that you recall things our Lady Zara discussed while creating her Infirmary, yes?"

What an odd question.

"Of course I do. I assume there is a reason you've asked me about this?" He could, of course, share some of the things his Lady had shared with him.

However…

"I was wondering if she ever spoke about any relationships she may have had?"

"She did. However, I was asked not to share this information."

"I see… Then could you, perhaps, let me know of any issues she may have told you about? I'm… concerned, that she may still be worried about them."

A sensible request. And yet, any problems from YGGDRASIL would be no more, as they were no longer there.

That being said…

"I… believe there may be some things of that nature, yes. However… She has asked me to share none of them. I apologize, Albedo; all I can say for certain is that none of them are about you."

Albeda's smile faltered, if only for a second. Were he anyone else, he would have missed it.

"I understand. In that case… If you feel it is important for someone to know or if it negatively affecting Lady Zara, please consider informing Lord Momonga or myself."

"Of course, Albedo. The safety of the Supreme Beings comes first. Is there anything else you need from me?"

"No. Thank you, Sebas; our conversation was very… Enlightening."

"Anytime, Albedo." He paused; he could share… Something. He would rather not have this conversation again, if he could help it. "Perhaps… if you are interested in gaining the affection of Lady Zara, you should start by wooing her. It is, after all, traditional."

"I see!" He watched as Albedo seemed to appear lighter, almost as if gaining this tidbit of knowledge was making her float with joy. "Thank you, Sebas. I shall take your advice into consideration."

And with that, he watched as she made her way down the hall.

He hoped that his Lady would understand.

Mare focused, amplifying his magic to aid in quickly disguising Nazarick's walls. His job was important, after all; if monsters, humans, or anyone else stumbled into the area, Nazarick had to look like just another hill.

He was so focused on his work that he didn't notice the two figures in the sky.

"Oh!" He barely managed to not squeak as the figures landed near him. A man in a large suit of armor and… Demiurge?

There was really only one person the armored figure could be, based on the lack of tails.

"Lord Momonga!" He halted his magic and darted over, unable to stop the soft smile that rose on his face due to this surprise visit.

"Why are you here?" A thought, a bad thought, and the smile was gone. "Oh no… Did I do something wrong already?"

"Not at all, Mare."

Albedo was in the air, hair flowing gracefully as she searched for Mare on the wall. Her mind was filled with Sebas's words, causing her to do loop-de-loops in the night sky.

Wooing Lady Zara! A treat unto itself, truly! Should she start with flowers? No, Zara deserved far more than that… Oh! A ball on her birthday, perhaps, would be proper woo-ing. How exciting! Maybe one day, she could bring her beloved the heads of her enemies; that would be wooing, indeed!

It was surprising she hadn't thought of it herself; then again, she had been expecting Lord Momonga to do the same to her. Perhaps she had accidentally applied that to Lady Zara as well.

It was not a mistake she would make again.

Her eyes landed on Mare, happy thoughts of wooing Zara replaced with annoyance.

Mare had stopped working, but his work was unfinished. She had half a mind to tell him off before she saw who he was speaking to.

"Lord Momonga…" Her beloved.

With Demiurge.

Red filled her vision, and—

And she had to calm down.

As far as she was aware, Lord Momonga wasn't gay. There was no way her beloved was interested in the likes of Demiurge.

She watched a flicker of green appear in her Lord's hand, saw how flustered Mare seemed to be. Whatever this gift was was likely far too large a reward for Mare's work, yet…

Yet it seemed her beloved insisted.

She watched as Mare took the item and slipped it on a finger—

No.

She flew closer, now able to pick up the conversation.

"—I'll work extra, extra hard for the honor of Nazarick! I'll be worthy of this gift!" She could just barely make out the ring Lord Momonga had given Mare. It was…

"I'm depending on you, Mare."

It was a ring of Ainz Ool Gown.

"Yes! By the way, my Lord, I was wondering; why are you dressed like that?"

She had to land, now; if Mare was worthy of such a gift, then wasn't she?

"Ehm—"

"It's simple, Mare." She landed with a grace and gentleness befitting one of her status. She had landed just so, moonlight on her back and illuminating her best features.

"Albedo." Demiurge didn't seem surprised by her appearance. No matter—She knew it would be easy to have her Lord Momonga favor her more~

Still, she had to ignore him to make a point, both to her beloved and to Mare.

"It's for our sake." She approached the trio, positioning herself to appear more elegant and composed than normal. "He didn't want to bother any of us while we were working. It's like a disguise." She passed Demiurge intentionally, stopping only when she was next to her beloved. "If we knew he was here watching us, we'd stop working to praise him. If that happened, then nothing would get done. Isn't that right, Lord Momonga?"

It took more willpower than she had to not flutter her wings at the sight of her Lord Momonga. Even in armor, he was still a rather dashing man. Perfect, in her eyes.

"As expected of Albedo. You knew exactly what I was thinking." The praise made a slight, ever so faint blush appear on her cheeks. Nothing noticeable to dear, impressionable Mare, but still. He knew just what to say, didn't he~

"I'm leader of the Floor Guardians, my Lord, but I am certain that even without that title, I certain that I would still be able to sense your thoughts and feelings as if they were my own."

"Is that so?" The moonlight glinted off of Mare's ring, and—

Ring.

Ring finger.

What the hell was her beloved thinking?!

"Uhh—"

"Is there something wrong, my Master?" She hadn't… expressed her feelings about that ring, had she?

No, there was no way.

"No. Right then! Mare, sorry for interrupting you. You may return to your work now."

"Oh, sure. I'll get right on it, Lord. Please excuse me." And with a bow, Mare—and that damned ring—meandered back to finishing the walls of Nazarick.

"Albedo, I should give one to you as well."

"Give me one? Of what, Lord?" As if she didn't know what he was talking about! She didn't want to be second-rate to a child! First Demiurge with Lady Zara, and now this!

"This will make your work as Administrator of the Guardians much easier. Use it wisely." Lord Momonga procured another ring, like the one he gave Mare. She… Wasn't sure how to feel.

As she took the ring, she stared at it. She couldn't be mad, not after such a gift, and yet it felt second-rate. Cheap. For no other reason than Mare had gotten one first.

Perhaps that was because her Lord had seen Mare before her when he'd made the decision to give the rings out. Yes, that was it! She wasn't second-rate to her beloved after all!

"Thank you very much~" Her wings did not flutter, but she hoped all her love was properly conveyed. After all, there were heathens watching; she couldn't afford to be nearly as forward as she would have liked to be.

Her feelings, joy and happiness and love and lust, swirled around; she found it hard to speak. Her beloved had such a way with her~

"I, ah, work diligently!" Of course she would! She would work harder than anyone else if it meant her beloved kept her in the forefront of his mind.

"Demiurge, I will prepare one for you at another time." Victory! She was the favorite! After all, surely her beloveds had spoken to each other about who was worthy of such an item!

"I understand, my Lord. I only hope that one day I can prove myself worthy of such a treasure." She would make it her goal to not allow that to happen. Come hell or high water, she would remain the favorite!

She watched as Lord Momonga spoke, unable to comprehend the words any more with her rush of emotion; when he teleported, so did she.

She had some… Self-loving to do. After all, as the favorite of both the Supreme Beings, she deserved it.

After that, though?

Planning to woo Zara.

She was going to get her beloved, even if she had to embarrass herself in the process.

Demiurge worked hard. That was an undeniable fact. Out of all of Nazarick, it was unclear whether his or Albedo's work was more important. At the very least, it was at the top of the list for work that needed to be done.

And yet, he couldn't focus. But, it was for a good reason.

All his plans had to be changed, tweaked, altered for a greater goal.

"The most enjoyable thing now might be taking over the world." The words echoed in his brain, doing loop de loops and swirling through his thoughts like a bird in flight.

That his master would grant him the pleasure of knowing the end goal for all of Nazarick was an incomparable reward, second only to seeing that goal to the end. If he were a lesser being, he was sure he'd be jumping for joy right now. Hell, he just might anyways.

Sure, Albedo and Mare had gotten gifts in the form of rings, but he had a greater treasure. No-one else knew of Lord Momonga's plans except for perhaps Lady Zara, and yet he was the first to know.

He had to work, re-work, triple-check all of his plans. If the world was to be successfully taken over, he would need to try and guess his Lord's plans. Did he plan to kill all of the creatures that inhabited the world? No, of course not; there was no point in ruling a country, a planet, if there was nothing left to rule.

Perhaps his lord was planning on starting small.

What he was certain of, however, was that it would all be revealed in due time.

His Lord and Lady would see and know all of the hard work he put forward, proving his worth to Nazarick and to them.

That was, of course, if he could just focus.