Volume 10 Chapter 41 The Cold Reckoning of Suzette
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
In a borrowed room of the monastery, Klock lay sprawled across a creaking bed, his breath shallow, his body heavy with the weight of his own mistakes. Beside him, Suzette perched on a wooden chair she’d dragged close, her posture rigid, her maid’s uniform pristine despite the storm brewing in her eyes. The air between them crackled, sharp as a blade’s edge.
”You think so little of me, don’t you, Sir Klock?” Her voice was soft, deliberate, each word a needle threading through his skin. “Living with me in Rizan Village must have given you ideas. You push your own desires, ignoring everything I say, pretending to listen while your mind wanders. You move as you please, dragging others into your chaos. Quite the free spirit, aren’t you?”
Klock’s eyes rolled back, a grimace twisting his face. Her words carried no trace of restraint, her anger laid bare, cold and unyielding. Yet she never raised her voice, letting the quiet force of her fury fill the room like smoke.
”You chase every woman in sight, flitting from one to the next, acting as if your selfishness is a birthright. Why can’t you ever look back, Sir Klock? Is it so hard to check if someone’s still following you? Has your brain drowned in filth, or would a good punch set it right?”
”S-Sorry!” he stammered, his voice cracking under the weight of her gaze. It was a look that could pierce stone, colder than any hell he’d imagined. She was furious—more than he’d ever seen. One wrong move, and he could feel the knife she hadn’t yet drawn hovering in the air.
How had it come to this? The answer was painfully clear. He’d taken her for granted, ignored her too long. If he were in her shoes, how would he feel? At the very least, he should’ve consulted her about this latest plan, reckless as it was.
But he knew she’d have stopped him. Going was non-negotiable, and taking Suzette and the others along was impossible. He’d acted after wrestling with the choice, but that didn’t soften the consequences now.
”Let me ask you this,” Suzette said, her tone a blade’s edge. “Why did you go through with it in secret?”
”I… thought you’d stop me,” he muttered.
”Of course I would!” she snapped, her voice still low but cutting deeper. “Who in their right mind would approve of you sneaking into an enemy stronghold? What were you thinking?”
Yeah, fair point, he thought, wincing.
”Looking at you makes my blood boil,” she said. “Can I hit you?”
”N-No, please—!” His cheek twisted as she grabbed his face, her grip unrelenting. He raised both hands in surrender, heart pounding.
”Did you think about what would happen after? Did you think I’d just forgive you when I found out?”
He looked away, and the bed shuddered as her fist slammed into the mattress beside his head. Klock flinched, his body trembling. Even Suzette, it seemed, could turn this violent.
”No, it’s not like that!” he tried.
”What’s not like that?” Her voice was ice.
”I just… thought maybe you’d let it slide. You know, ’cause it’s you.”
Her face went blank, a void where emotion had been. Oh, I’m dead.
”Sir Klock,” she said, her voice a low hiss. “If you have any bones you don’t need, tell me now. I’ll break them one by one, carefully, until they’re dust.”
”No, no, no! Let’s keep this calm, please!” He could hear her fist clench near his ear, the faint crack of her knuckles echoing like a warning. Sweat poured down his face as her unyielding stare pinned him in place.
”I’ll be tending to you today,” she declared.
”Uh… what?”
”Everyone knows I’m your caretaker today. No one will come near this room. No healing magic either. You’ll suffer through every bit of that pain, Sir Klock.”
”W-Wait, seriously?” She was banning treatment, leaving him to stew in his injuries with her wrath as his only company. This is torture.
”But, like, what about your duties? The council stuff—”
”I’ll handle it,” she cut in before he could finish.
”You’ve got enough on your plate—”
”No need for concern. Unlike you, I know my limits.” Her words were a whip, sharp and final.
He tried one last time. “What if I, uh… need some relief—”
Her gaze dropped to subzero, and he froze.
”J-Just kidding!” he squeaked.
”If you need that,” she said, her voice a blade, “I’ll take care of it. Understood?”
Klock’s eyes rolled back again. No chance he’d be in the mood today, not with her like this. At least he wouldn’t have to ask.
Suzette had declared she’d stay by his side all day, but even she couldn’t hover for twenty-four hours straight. When she rose and left, the door clicking shut behind her, Klock let out a shaky breath. The silence she left behind was heavy, oppressive, each second of her absence a fleeting reprieve from the tension that had choked the room.
Freedom, however brief, was his. What now? She was probably off to the bathroom or something mundane. Escaping was tempting but suicidal—she’d find him, and her anger would only burn hotter. Faking sleep seemed safer. Eyes closed, he could dodge the awkwardness, let time slip by without facing her gaze.
”Master♡”
The voice was honey-sweet, cutting through the quiet like a blade. Klock’s eyes snapped open. There, not just beside the bed but in it, was Kispe, her body curled against his. She wore a negligee so sheer it barely existed, the curve of her breasts visible through the lace. Her floral scent drifted over him, her smile enchanting yet dangerous.
”You’ve been so busy charming every woman around,” she purred, “but you can’t neglect me, Master. That just won’t do…♡”
Her delicate hand slipped under the covers, her nails grazing him through his clothes, stirring a reaction he didn’t want. Not now, of all times.
”Oi, idiot, stop it!” he hissed. “This is the worst possible moment. She’ll be back any second!”
”Oh, what’s that?” Kispe teased, her voice all innocence. “I’m just a loyal servant, Master, devoted to you no matter who tries to interfere. Nothing can stop me from serving you properly♡.”
”Wait, wait, wait!”
She yanked the blanket off, exposing him. Her fingers deftly undid his trousers, and before he could protest, she straddled him, her weight pinning him down. Her back was a graceful arc, her black underwear stark against her skin. Her touch was deliberate, teasing, as she leaned closer.
”Look at you, Master, already so eager,” she whispered. “Let me take care of you…♡”
”No, no, no! I don’t need—”
The door rattled, then swung open. Klock’s heart stopped. It’s over. He prayed it was someone else, anyone else. But no—Suzette stepped inside, her dark blue hair catching the dim light, her expression unreadable. No salvation, only judgment.
”What,” she said, her voice flat, “are you doing?”
”Hello, Suzette!” Kispe chirped, undeterred. “I was just about to help Master with some… relief. Seems he’s been holding back, poor thing.”
”Holding back?” Suzette’s tone was a blade unsheathed.
Kispe’s smile widened, her hands moving with deliberate rhythm, the sound obscene in the quiet room. She didn’t stop, even with Suzette standing there. “Lady Kispe,” Suzette said, her voice steady but laced with steel, “I’m tending to him today. Please return to Crimson Spire.”
”Oh, am I in the way?” Kispe pouted, leaning closer to Klock. Her lips brushed his cheek, a possessive kiss, as she continued her work, her eyes flicking to Suzette with a glint of provocation.
Suzette stepped forward, her face a mask. This is it. She’s going to kill us. Klock raised his hands in surrender, desperate to defuse the situation, but Suzette ignored him. She sat on the bed’s edge, her presence a quiet storm.
Then, without a word, her hand shot out, wrenching Kispe’s grip away and claiming Klock for herself.
”He’s mine to handle,” Suzette said, her voice low, final.
”Oh my♡,” Kispe giggled, unfazed. She lifted her negligee, letting it fall to the floor with a soft thud. “Then I’ll take care of his other needs. Master’s such a spoiled boy, you know—he needs this to be satisfied.”
She pulled Klock’s head to her chest, enveloping him in warmth. But beside her, Suzette moved. Her fingers tugged at the ribbon at her throat, her shirt falling open, her apron dress sliding down.
”I said,” Suzette repeated, her voice a quiet command, “I’ll handle it. You’re not needed here.”
Suzette’s apron dress fell away, her bare breasts swaying with a weight that seemed to pull the air from the room. To Klock’s right, Kispe’s curves pressed against him; to his left, Suzette’s presence loomed, her gaze a storm meeting Kispe’s playful defiance. Caught between them, Klock was drowning in a vision of bliss and danger, their eyes clashing like swords over his trembling form.
Kispe giggled, her voice a teasing lilt. “Well, if you insist, Suzette, I suppose I’ll behave… for today.” She leaned back, her grip on Klock loosening, though her touch lingered like a promise. “But, Master, you owe me. I’ll collect later, and you know I always do♡.”
Her sudden shift caught him off guard. One moment, she was all provocation; the next, she was retreating with a smirk that said she’d planned this all along. Was she just toying with them? Her demon’s grin sparkled with mischief as she whispered in his ear, her lips brushing his cheek before she vanished, leaving only the echo of her laughter.
The room fell silent, save for the soft, rhythmic sound of Suzette’s hand, unrelenting and precise. “You philanderer,” she said, her voice low, cutting through the stillness.
”I—” Klock started, but she silenced him.
”I don’t want your excuses.”
He tried again, but her grip tightened, sharp enough to make him wince. “…Philanderer,” she repeated, her face a mask of displeasure, yet her hand never faltered, moving with the cold efficiency of duty. Even in her anger, she was thorough, unyielding.
”Suzette,” he ventured, his voice softer now.
”No excuses,” she snapped.
He took a breath, daring to push. “Come lie beside me.”
Her hand froze, and for a moment, he thought he’d crossed a line too far. A heavy sigh escaped her, unguarded, raw. She rose, her movements deliberate, and climbed onto the bed, settling beside him with a soft thud. Her upper body bare, she let him pull her close, one arm cradling her like a pillow, the other claiming her breast with a boldness that ignored her piercing stare. He stroked her hair gently, soothingly, as if to tame the storm within her.
Suzette’s hand found him again, resuming its work in silence. Her touch was firm, her breasts warm against him, and Klock let himself sink into the moment. She might scold him, rage at him, but she never pulled away. No matter how deep her anger ran, she stayed, her loyalty as fierce as her fury. She was beautiful, breathtaking, too good for him.
”Suzette,” he murmured again.
She understood without words. Rising slightly, she quickened her pace, her lips parting to take him in. The warmth of her mouth enveloped him, her tongue curling with a tenderness that belied her earlier venom. A rush surged through him, and he released, her lips catching every pulse, her throat accepting it all without hesitation. She didn’t stop, her movements deliberate, drawing out the sensation until his mind blurred.
She’s too much, he thought, gripping her head, lost in the slick heat of her. This is it. She’s the one. Gotta marry her.
Suzette knew him—every flaw, every reckless choice—and still she stayed, handling him with a skill no one else could match. Even as his body shuddered through a second wave, her fingers laced with his, lover-like, her mouth relentless. He surrendered to her, letting her guide him into bliss, her throat swallowing every drop without pause, lingering as if savoring the aftermath.
The moment broke. Suzette pulled back, her voice crisp. “Now, today’s schedule. You’ll meet with Mayor Damino and Lady Primrose to discuss conscription and arms supply. Your injuries won’t excuse you from a simple discussion, will they?”
”Uh… yeah, sure,” Klock mumbled, still reeling, the shift to business jarring.
* * *
The meeting ended smoothly, the mayor bowing as he left, Primrose offering a warm smile before following. Klock and Suzette remained in the study, the air heavy with the day’s work. He sighed, sinking into his chair, while Suzette stood close, her presence a steady anchor.
”Equipment and food budgets are set,” she said, scanning a stack of documents. “Brigante’s support should be enough.”
Klock nodded. “Conscription won’t help in time for the Portline battle. We’re carrying most of the weight here.”
”True,” she agreed. “But the bandit issue is troubling. The weapons meant for us were stolen, according to the mayor.”
”Bandits, huh?” Klock frowned. “Whole stock plundered. That’s a problem.”
Suzette’s eyes narrowed. “The town’s locked down. A thorough search will turn up the stolen goods. But the Portline army is the real concern.”
”No sweat,” Klock said, leaning back. “Ada’s forces should reach Portline by tomorrow. We hit them hard or play it cautious, but we’re ready. Going by sea gives us the edge.”
They’d coordinate with Ada’s group, though Klock would rather not. Still, he needed the paperwork to show The Golden Count he’d done his part. The only worry was the enemy pulling something unexpected.
Work done, Klock exhaled, the day’s weight lifting. Then, a soft pressure against his lips—Suzette’s kiss, tender yet deliberate, her scent grounding him. Her fingers slipped beneath the desk, finding him, teasing him to life with a gentle insistence.
”Suzette?” he murmured, surprised.
”I’m taking care of you today,” she said, her voice steady as she knelt, her mouth enveloping him. The warmth was overwhelming, her tongue coaxing a sigh from his lips.
”We’ve got that town inspection,” he managed, half-hearted.
”Finish quickly,” she replied, her tone clipped. “We’re visiting the weapons merchant after this.”
”You don’t have to—”
”If I don’t, you’ll chase someone else the moment I look away,” she said, her mouth tightening around him. “Just do it.”
Was she still mad about Kispe? Her tongue moved with purpose, her grip firm, her hair brushing his skin as she worked. Klock called her name, and she took him deeper, her fingers entwining with his as he let go, her throat catching every pulse. Even as he shuddered, she continued, her movements relentless, drawing out the pleasure until he was spent.
She rose, wiping her mouth. “To the town, then. The merchant’s shop isn’t far.”
”Got it,” Klock said, catching his breath. He pulled her close, burying his face in her chest, breathing in her scent through the apron dress. Wish I could see more, he thought, but this was enough—knowing she was his alone.
”What are you doing?” she asked, her tone sharp but soft.
”Sorry,” he grinned, holding her tighter. “I’m in love. Be mine, Suzette.”
She sighed, exasperated. “You propose every time I do this. What’s wrong with you?”
* * *
The weapons shop was a wreck, debris scattered like the aftermath of a storm. The merchant, still shaken, recounted the bandit attack, and Klock and Suzette exchanged grim looks, the weight of the theft settling over them.
”At least five of them,” the merchant had said, his voice trembling. “Beastkin with pointed ears, hauling off crates of weapons in a carriage. But the town’s sealed tight—no way they slipped out with the loot.”
Klock rubbed his chin, the wreckage of the shop a jagged reminder of the bandits’ audacity. It felt like a matter of time before they were caught, but the timing gnawed at him. Why now, of all moments?
”What do you think?” Suzette asked, her tone sharp with suspicion. “Is this really just a simple crime?”
Her eyes narrowed, as if she could see through the surface to some hidden scheme. She wasn’t one to take things at face value—when the enemy seemed weak or foolish, she smelled a trap.
”Bandits aren’t exactly masterminds,” Klock said, kicking a shard of broken glass. “Some thieves plan, sure, but plenty just act on impulse. Stupid ones, mostly.”
”So you’re saying…?”
”Could be Demon Lord’s Army stirring things up, but this feels too small-time for their spies. I’m betting on dumb bandits who didn’t think it through.”
Suzette tilted her head, considering. A flicker of doubt lingered, but Klock waved it off. The enemy might be scheming, but this job screamed petty crime. Best to treat it as such for now, though he’d keep his guard up.
”Shall we leave it to Dayrid’s guards, then?” Suzette asked.
”Nah, let’s get involved. Set a trap. If they’re just idiots, they’ll walk right into it.”
”A trap?”
Klock bent down, picking up an empty wine bottle from the debris. Several littered the shop’s front, glinting in the fading light. He handed it to a Brigante member with a nod, calling it a day.
”Alright, work’s done,” he said, turning to Suzette with a grin. “How ’bout we grab some food? This town’s got great fish—”
”No,” she cut in, her voice firm. “I’m taking care of you today.”
”Got it,” he sighed, his half-hearted date idea shot down. He’d hoped to savor the town’s flavors, but Suzette’s resolve was ironclad.
As they walked, her hand closed around his, pulling him along. Klock blinked, confused. Was she treating him like a lost child? Her grip was firm, almost possessive, guiding him through the town’s darkening streets into a shadowed alley.
Why here? Klock thought, his pulse quickening. He was used to being the one leading women into dark corners, not the other way around.
”Suzette—” he started, but her hand slipped into his trousers, swift and unyielding. Before he could protest, she knelt, her lips claiming him with a ferocity that stole his breath. The wet, rhythmic sound of her mouth filled the alley, her tongue coaxing him to life with relentless precision.
She’s trying to ruin me, he thought, a groan escaping as she worked. How am I supposed to not fall for her?
Her elegant form moved with purpose, her eyes flicking up to gauge his reaction. Then, abruptly, her pace quickened—not to please, but to finish. It wasn’t about indulgence; it was efficiency, a task to be completed. Klock had no choice but to surrender, clinging to her as his body gave way, flooding her mouth. She didn’t flinch, taking it all, her tongue lingering as if to underscore her control.
Gotta marry her the second this war’s over.
Even after, she didn’t release him immediately, drawing out the moment until he was spent. When he leaned in, craving more, her sharp gaze stopped him cold.
”Let’s go,” she said, standing. “We’re done for today.”
He reached for her hand on the walk back, but she swatted it away with a sharp smack. Work wasn’t over until they were home, and Suzette didn’t mix business with pleasure—not like that. Even her earlier act, he suspected, was just part of her duty.
* * *
Back at the monastery, Suzette tended to him with meticulous care—wiping his skin, changing his bandages, feeding him dinner. His arms worked fine, but she insisted, her every action a quiet assertion of control. By the time night fell, Klock was lulled into a daze, the candlelight flickering as he drifted on the edge of sleep.
A knock at the door snapped him awake. Suzette entered, her nightgown soft against her skin. Without a word, she climbed onto the bed, her fingers undoing the ties of her gown. The fabric parted, revealing the curve of her breasts, luminous in the moonlight. She blew out the candle, and as her undergarments fell away, the room glowed with her presence.
Klock reached for her, pulling her close, their lips meeting in a familiar dance. Her body yielded, soft and warm against his.
”Goodnight,” she murmured, settling beside him. She shifted, finding a comfortable position, and closed her eyes as if to sleep.
Klock froze. Goodnight? That’s it? Her calm, her silence, was maddening. He couldn’t let it end there. Rising, he climbed over her, peeling away her nightgown to bare her under the moonlight. Her breasts gleamed, her gaze steady but unreadable.
He kissed her, silencing any protest, and slid her undergarments away. Beneath the blankets, he explored her warmth, savoring her skin, her breasts, her body like a feast laid before him. She didn’t resist as he parted her legs, guiding himself into her with slow, deliberate care.
”Sir Klock,” she whispered, “not inside…”
He silenced her with another kiss, pressing deeper, their bodies moving in rhythm. The sound of their connection filled the quiet, her breath hitching as he claimed her. Her body trembled, unable to hide its response, and he pushed harder, lost in the softness of her.
She clung to him, her breaths sharp, her chest rising as she fought to stay silent. But her body betrayed her, shuddering first, and still he didn’t stop, driving into her until he spilled inside, her warmth enveloping him as he buried his face in her chest.
For months, they’d lived together, night after night, and still he couldn’t get enough. No other woman compared—not with her fire, her loyalty, her everything.
”If I give you this much,” she said suddenly, her voice soft but piercing, “will you take me with you next time?”
Klock froze, her words cutting through the haze. She hadn’t forgiven him for going off alone, for leaving her behind.
”I’m sorry,” he said quietly, holding her close, her head resting against his arm.
”I didn’t want to drag you into danger,” he added.
”I know,” she replied, her tone flat but heavy with understanding.
”It’s true,” he insisted. “I get it—leaving you out stings. But I had no choice.”
”Suzette,” he continued, his voice raw. “My job means I’ll have to dive into risky stuff sometimes. I want you with me, always, supporting me. But I need you safe, too. You’re my home, where I come back to.”
She didn’t respond, her silence louder than words.
He pressed on, knowing he sounded absurd. “Come with me, but stay safe. I know it’s a mess, but that’s how I feel.”
She sighed, exasperated. “You’re impossible.”
Then, her tone shifted, lighter. “By the way, you seemed in good form tonight. I was worried—your health’s been shaky lately. I didn’t know if I could keep up.”
”Health?” Klock frowned. “You okay?”
”I’m fine,” she said, a faint smile in her voice. “Healthy, normal even. Just… morning sickness.”
His breath caught. Morning sickness. The words hit like a wave. Suzette was pregnant.
His hand slid to her stomach, still flat, no sign yet of what she carried. But the truth settled over him, heavy and warm, binding them closer in the quiet of the night.
The moonlight spilled across the room, casting Suzette’s face in a soft glow, her eyes steady but carrying a weight Klock hadn’t noticed before. “The morning sickness started recently,” she said, her voice calm, almost detached. “If things progress as they should, it won’t be long before I can no longer run across battlefields. Convenient for you, isn’t it? A perfect excuse to leave me behind.”
Klock’s throat tightened. “That’s not—”
”A joke,” she cut in, a faint smile curling her lips. “When the time comes, I’ll let you protect me. No choice, I suppose.” Her tone softened, and she leaned closer. “Until then, rely on me.”
Her smile was small, fleeting, but it carried a warmth that anchored him. Yet her next words landed like a blade. “This time, I’ll let it slide. But no more reckless solo missions. I won’t demand you take me along anymore. In return, Sir Klock, you need to stop throwing yourself into danger.”
”Got it,” he said, nodding quickly, his eyes wide. In that moment, she seemed almost otherworldly, a figure too vast for the small room, her presence filling every shadow.
”And,” she added, her voice firm, “try to hold back on… intimacy from now on.”
”What?” Klock froze, as if the earth had shifted beneath him.
”I don’t want to risk anything,” she said. “You’ll cooperate, won’t you?”
He stared, dumbfounded, as if the world had tilted into chaos. Suzette’s brow furrowed, and she sighed, exasperated. “Fine. I’ll allow it when I choose to share your bed.”
Unable to resist, he kissed her deeply, his hands claiming her curves. A woman like her—so fierce, so breathtaking—how could he keep his distance? It was an impossible request, one his body rejected even as his mind scrambled to comply.
”Wait,” he said, pulling back, a thought sparking. “Didn’t you just say something about not finishing inside? If you’re already pregnant…”
She smirked, a glint of mischief in her eyes. “You enjoy it more when I resist, don’t you?”
Klock groaned, his lips pursing as she laughed through her nose. She had him, playing him like a fiddle, and he knew it. Men, it seemed, were doomed to dance in the palms of women like her.
Suzette, pregnant. Meina, too, was already expecting, making this his second. And the woman who’d left him—probably her as well. When the war ended, life was going to get complicated. Joy and dread tangled in his chest, a strange mix of pride and panic.
”Suzette,” he murmured, his voice low.
”What?” she asked, her tone sharp but curious.
”Can we… keep going ’til morning?”
”Idiot!” she snapped, swatting him lightly. “Go to sleep!”
But when he pulled her close, kissing her again, she melted into him, her arms wrapping around him in return. The night blurred as he lost himself in her, twice more, her body a tide he couldn’t resist.
The moonlight faded, leaving them tangled in the quiet, her warmth his only anchor in the storm of what was to come.
Notes:
• Suzette – The older maid from Viscount Fennec. The head maid at the Viscount Fennec’s villa. She is confident, clear-spoken, and professional.
• Rizan – Village on a hilly plateau.
• Primrose – a female Merfolk and mayor’s wife of Dayrid, instrumental in maintaining the town’s false allegiance to the Demon Lord’s Army to protect its citizens, seeking Sanctuary’s aid against the impending threat.
• Damino – a male mayor of Deilid and husband to Primrose (a Merfolk leader), a cautious administrator struggling to balance civilian life with wartime demands.
• Ada – Female. Ada the Wild Wind. An A-rank adventurer. Her appearance is striking, with black hair mixed with fiery red, multiple earrings, and an axe spear as tall as she is. She is incredibly strong and fast, with a Unique Skill called the ‘Blessing of the Wind’ that enhances her speed and agility. Ada is ruthless in combat but shows a surprising willingness to negotiate. She is highly respected in adventurer circles and feared by criminals. Her relationship with Klock is adversarial, as he stole from her and escaped using trickery.
• Meina – She is a golden-haired catgirl employee of the beastman (Larana the cat woman) Inn, appeared performing fellatio, desperate and tear-streaked, with an inexperienced yet earnest approach to her work.
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
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