"Lord Kitsune?" Albedo said as she stuck her face through the hanging curtains of the doorframe.

"Ah Albedo, nice to see you here." Kitsune gestures to a floor cushion. "Come sit, how about some tea to calm your nerves."

Albedo calmly walks over and folds her wings in so they don't accidentally bump and disrupt anything in vicinity. Though the small house they're in is quite empty, having only a few decorations. A rather minimalist aesthetic to it. Before her are a tea cup and a kettle with steam flowing out of its spout all atop a square table with a white glossy top which shines under the light through the window.

She takes the kettle and pours herself a cup of tea and picks up her cup. The tea itself has a light sweet fragrance to it and a grassy green colorization. Steam flows from the top of the surface with froth accumulating at the top in a circular straight cup made of polished oak.

Kitsune takes a light sip, tilting his cup and his head back before breathing out a satisfied warm sigh. "Delightful." He softly exhales. His expression gives off a sense of calmness that Albedo isn't used to due to the fact that everyone in Nazarick was always focused and on duty, mostly. All were ready and waiting for Lord Ainz next command and wouldn't dare to slack in order to meet his demands the moment he finishes his sentence.

It's unusual as it is….. Surprisingly refreshing. She hasn't felt an imposing presence from Kitsune like she did Lord Ainz. Unlike him he gives off a more positive and relaxed aura. She hasn't felt the need to strictly focus and await his orders because he hardly, if ever, gives any orders to them which admittedly dulled her focus. Nevertheless his presence isn't one to fret over compared to her previous Lord. She's felt her shoulders relax more than tighten, her breathing became more soft, her body has grown a bit more at ease.

These changes within herself conflicted with what she was used to in Nazarick. Has his home really started to affect her that much? The only way to know is by questioning Kitsune on his style of living in comparison to Lord Ainz. "Lord Kitsune." She called after setting her wooden tea cup down.

Kitsune's ears faced forward as he focused on her. "Yes?" He took a subtle glance at her cup and noticed she hadn't taken one sip of her tea and winced. "You're not going to drink your tea?"

The memory of the tea being offered to her suddenly comes back. There's a million thoughts currently surging throughout her mind that she forgot. "M-My apologies for my forgetfulness." she stammered, her voice tinged with self-reproach.

How foolish of her. To forget something that was graciously offered by Lord Kitsune is the height of disrespect and silently chastises herself for such insolent behavior. She would've accepted any punishment for her disrespectfulness if he actually did punish her. This abode is really starting to dull her focus after all.

Unwilling to disappoint him any further, Albedo lifts the cup to her mouth and gingerly takes a sip. The light sweet taste and smooth texture coats her tongue all the way into her throat with its comforting heat warming her up. "It's lovely."

Kitsune gave her a joyful eye smile in response. "I'm glad you liked it."

There it was again, that positive unimposing aura. It gnawed in the back of her head that a being of such power would live so…peacefully. Lord Ainz always made grand displays of his power. The Great Tomb of Nazarick was a testament to his lordship and authority. An Overlord who deserved all the praise for his greatness and showed it through his image and surroundings. But Kitsune was the opposite in stark contrast. Though his home is quite large even for Albedo to acknowledge, it doesn't have a grand atmosphere like Nazarick.

Perhaps that is why it's so unusual to her. "Why does he choose to live this way?" Kitsune doesn't live as a Supreme Being and she wants to know why. Perhaps she could even persuade him to let himself be seen as the powerful being he is, if only for a little at best. She'd hate to try to impose her own ideas onto him and make him uncomfortable.

But… "Would I be overstepping if I were to question his lifestyle? Would he be upset?" She wondered if he was the type to grow upset if she questioned him at that moment. She would never dream of questioning Lord Ainz because she believed in everything he did. Though if he were to put his life in danger she would question out of fear for his safety, but never about him directly. He did grow upset at times when questioned but quickly and calmly responded after, even apologized for his attitude.

In the end though, she had to know. This gnawing feeling in the back of her head won't go away unless she knows and hopes he will explain-punishment or not. "Lord Kitsune." She called once again.

"Yes?" Upon answering he quickly remembered the first time she called him and looked like she had something in mind. "Oh, you were about to say something before. I guess I cut you off, sorry. Uh, what's on your mind?"

Albedo sets down the cup once again and musters up her courage to be more direct than to shrink back in hesitation. "Forgive my bluntness Lord Kitsune, but… shouldn't your domain be a representation of someone of your power and authority?"

No immediate response came from Kitsune. Instead he just stared at her with tilted ears. "What?"

Perhaps she was a bit too blunt. Maybe an explanation should clear things up. "Though I won't deny the grandeur of your home, I believe it should be a testament to your true power. You are the most powerful of all of us and we are under your servitude." An eyebrow raised on Kitsune's face which gave Albedo pause. She can't tell what he's thinking at the moment but she should just continue with her thoughts.

"Back in Nazarick, Lord Ainz made his presence known to all as the leader of The Great Tomb of Nazarick. The home we lived in was a representation of his power of a Supreme Being. You hold the title of being vast in power and authority and a home should be a worthy display of one's status. Perhaps your domain requires more of that display, if only minor changes as a suggestion."

A barely audible breath escapes Kitsune's nose as he silently stares at her. Was he upset at her? Would he answer? What was going on in his head? This confusion was eating away at Albedo in the back of her head. Every second of silence felt like an agonizing minute.

"So you think my home doesn't live up to my status huh?"

Albedo's heart skips a beat. She assumes his agitation on instinct much like she did with Lord Ainz. "A-A-I… I didn't mean to…" She couldn't find the right words. She's sure she overstepped in her questioning, even if she was trying to avoid any offense.

Kitsune raised a hand to halt her words before setting it down on his lap. "No, I understand." He said in a tone of understanding.

Those words ease a great amount of tension within her body. All her assumptions started to melt in sensing that he wasn't offended by her words.

"I know, I know you all come from a place far more different than mine. You all praised Ainz for his superiority over all of you and Nazarick definitely showed I mean-" Kitsune smiled thinking about Nazarick, impressed by its architecture and style. "Wow, that place is awesome."

Seeing Kitsune praise Lord Ainz and Nazarick gave her a sense of relief she'd needed. It's refreshing to know that another superior being thinks highly of her previous lord and their home. A sense of pride filled her heart in where she came from, even though it's all gone now.

"But you have to understand." He continued in his normal tone. "Ainz and I are two very different people. We both come from very different backgrounds and have our own ways of living." He placed a hand on his chest. "I know that I'm powerful, but flaunting my power like Ainz was used to doing isn't something I do. While Ainz stood high in the realm of Supreme Beings I, a 'Superior Being', desired to stay on the ground with everyone else because that is what I'm used to."

"I see." It only makes sense, it's just that she wanted to hear it from someone like him. There's no denying that even Supreme Beings can be different from each other. It's not that his home doesn't represent him, he chose to live like this. A far cry from her past that she'll have to get used to now.

"Another thing too." Kitsune picked up the kettle and refilled his cup with warm green tea. He took a sip but this time a small breath came out rather than satisfaction. "I don't usually say this to anyone. But… there are things I've experienced… that I believe nobody should have to go through." Albedo's curiosity immediately surfaces when hearing his words. Her attention shifts to listen to his words intently. Kitsune lets the steam fill his nostrils but refrains from taking another sip. "Did you know, even Supreme Beings are not above experiencing… Trauma."

Albedo's brow slightly wrinkled in confusion. "I… never thought about that. N-Not that I ever thought they couldn't." She stammered out to save herself from sounding ignorant.

"There are things I've witnessed that I'm certain Ainz has never had the displeasure of experiencing." Kitsune emphasized. "When you're someone like me you see a lot of, pardon my language, a lot of SHIT!" He took another sip of his tea before continuing. "I am someone who has lost-everything." A moment of silence passes between them. "I want a home that I can come back to and relax my heart instead of knowing that I still need to keep my focus up at all times. I've already gone through a lot. I just want a place I know I can unwind." He grips his cup with both hands while setting it down on the table. "I don't need the stress of grand displays or everyone lauding me for the Supreme Being I am, though I still require respect. I already know I'm powerful. I've been told more than once. But I'd want to be recognized for who I am rather than what I am."

"I…. I never…. Knew." Albedo muttered softly. She is finally starting to understand Lord Kitsune. And what makes this moment more impactful is how it feels as if he is opening his heart and sharing his inner struggles.

"This home is what I made it to be. A sanctuary for me and those I bring in. We all struggle, Albedo." He said, looking directly at her. "That doesn't mean we have to put more pressure on ourselves by displaying our names in big bold letters for all to see."

She finally understands him, which is a huge weight off of her shoulders. All this time she's thought that beings such as Lord Ainz and Kitsune should make their greatness known throughout the world. She didn't take into account their inner struggles that would lead then down a different path. Everyone is different, even Supreme Beings. That doesn't mean Kitsune has to force himself to meet her standards, she would never impose herself on him. That would be the height of disrespect and disloyalty.

She always had a natural respect for those who are stronger than her and who could lead. And Kitsune has made himself more transparent to her which has gained a newfound respect from her and not because he is a Superior Being.

Both hands rest on her lap as her wings fold in. She straightens her back in order to address him in a fitting manner. "I understand, Lord Kitsune. I apologize for my lack of understanding. I hadn't realized that you weren't without reason so much as Lord Ainz was in everything he did."

Kitsune softly raises his palm. "No, it's alright. You just needed some clarification, that's all." He sets his hand down as the corners of his lips curl into a smile. "Hm, to be honest, I didn't even choose this house. It was given to me by the Kin. Of course, the reason being due to my status in the Kin."

"Really?" Albedo wonders in surprise. "So this home he was given already looked the way it does now?"

"I mean if I had a choice then I would've been fine with a small home and nothing too fancy. But this home was given to me and I'd be rude to refuse a gift so generously offered. So I said, 'You know what? I accept this home.'"

"I see." Albedo responded with a smile. It doesn't surprise her that he was given a grand home, fitting for someone like him. What really gets her is how he'd prefer a smaller home, but they've already gone through why that's the case.

"Besides, why tell everyone how powerful we are when we can have them figure it out for themselves. Then you can really see the genuine reactions on their face when they finally realize. They're all like 'Whaaaaat?! That's impossible! How is he so strong? But prophecy said I'm supposed to be the strongest.'" He said, playfully mimicking the reactions he's seen from those who underestimated him. This little act even earns him a subtle chuckle from Albedo. "Then I'm just like 'Buddy, you lost the moment I became your opponent.'"

"A brilliant way to show your power, Lord Kitsune." Albedo said, taking joy in this moment.

"I know right?" Kitsune smiled, happy to see her brightening up. "Then you have the pleasure of watching their confidence shatter like glass because they realized they heavily underestimated you. And the best part-It's already too late to turn back. Subversion of expectation. That's my style and It's pretty entertaining actually."

"It sounds delightful." Albedo said having felt better that he isn't above displaying his power to those who would test him. At least he allows himself this much to make his enemies quake in the face of a Superior Being. That is something she can live with.

Kitsune lets out a satisfied sigh and drinks more of his tea. "Ah, well… I think I'm going to head back to the main building. I came here to unwind and I'm feeling better now after this conversation." He gets up and stretches before walking to the curtained door frame. "You're welcome to stay here if you'd like."

Albedo also stands up with a posture she usually stood in during her time with Lord Ainz. "Actually, I think I'll follow along with you."

Kitsune nods his head in acceptance of her choice. "Sure, I'll have someone come here and clean up then."

The two then exit the Tea House and down the incline of the stairs towards the luxurious gardens and back to the main building. As she followed Kitsune down the garden path, Albedo found herself glancing at his back. So different from Lord Ainz, yet no less worthy of reverence. Perhaps she could learn to serve him not just as a Supreme Being, but as someone she truly admired.