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"I'm afraid Lady Melissa has been kidnapped," Yona announced.
Yuri dropped the bouquet of flowers she had brought, while the shopping bags slowly slipped one by one from Nine's hands.
"How did that happen?" Yuri asked.
"My Lady insisted on taking a stroll alone. Normally, we wouldn't worry about her missing for a few hours, but we have just received a ransom letter."
"It couldn't be… surely, Miss Melissa would be able to protect herself with her sword," Nine said.
Yuri and Nine watched as Yona silently gestured at the umbrella stand, in which Melissa had left her legendary sword.
*
"I haven't been paid to save Lady Melissa," Yona announced, before anyone could ask.
"Actually, I think it would be better if you stayed," Nine agreed. He was still panicked, but it was moments like these when he needed to stay calm. "Someone needs to keep an eye on the household."
"What about Sir Jake?" Yuri asked.
"He's still cooped in his room, obsessing over his new rifle," Yona explained.
Yuri approached Yona, discreetly pushing a few golden coins into her hand.
"Please, make sure he doesn't learn about the kidnapping and stays in his room," she requested, smiling innocently.
*
The Lady Melissa Search Party wasn't entirely united.
"Are you sure you should be coming along, Miss Yuri? I can't promise I will be able to protect you," Nine said, with a stiff smile.
"Don't worry, after Migen kidnapped me I made sure I would be able to protect myself next time," Yuri replied, her voice strained.
"My Lady would be quite sad if something happened to you."
"Oh my, if you are going to struggle so much protecting me, how do you plan to protect Miss Melissa in the future?"
They glared at each other before resuming their search.
*
Nine looked too much like him.
Yuri logically knew it wasn't Nine's fault. If anything, he was also a victim of Migen's cruelty and his clan's overreliance on strength.
But knowing things objectively wasn't enough to let Yuri put aside several timelines of suffering she experienced. She was just good at pretending. She had to be, given her situation.
However, even now, she would sometimes mistake Nine for Migen. It was only the artificial helplessness that the system forced upon her that kept her from lashing out.
Looking at Nine reminded her how she was still chained by her fate.
*
Nine disliked the way Yuri looked at him.
He knew he had to maintain an amicable relationship with her, since she was Lady Melissa's friend.
But at times he would catch Yuri staring at him with contempt. However, the worst part of it was that she wasn't really looking at him. No, Nine spent enough time in Migen's shadow to recognize a misattributed disdain.
He hated it. Even now he couldn't completely escape his past. Not as long as someone kept comparing him to Migen.
Yuri's hatred of werewolves was justified, but knowing that did little to calm Nine's heart.
*
"It seems your artifact isn't very successful in tracking Lady Melissa," Nine said, glancing at the silver compass in Yuri's hand.
"Not that your remarkable sense of smell is doing much better."
The night had fallen and they were no closer to tracking Melissa or her captors. Their anxiety and frustration became so strong that both of them had dropped the pretense of pleasantries.
They glared at each other but then sighed realizing the futility of their anger.
"We should rest for now. We won't be able to help Lady Melissa in our current state," Nine admitted. Yuri simply nodded.
*
Nine set out their small camp, while Yuri created a magical barrier around it that would keep in the warmth and protect them.
They were quiet now, as they focused on their tasks, while avoiding looking at each other.
As they finished eating their food they watched the fire slowly go out. Nine wasn't bothered, as the night gradually enveloped them. He could see clearly even at night.
Yuri was shaking. Nine hesitated for a moment, but slowly got up and sat next to her. He almost expected her to move away, but she didn't.
She was frozen in place.
*
Nine was sitting next to her. Yuri felt a mixture of emotions at that. She both wanted to tell him to go away and lean on him to chase her fears away.
Minutes stretched on until Nine finally spoke.
"It's cold," he lied, as he gave her a blanket.
"It is," Yuri agreed, gladly accepting his excuse. She wrapped herself, hoping that the additional warmth would ground her.
"We'll find Lady Melissa tomorrow," Nine said, as if it was a given.
"We will," Yuri agreed. She was pretty much leaning on Nine. "It's not the same without her."
"It isn't."
*
Yuri's artefact picked up Melissa's direction in the morning.
"She's this way!" Yuri shouted, as the two of them arrived at a bandit camp, but what awaited them was—
"I told you to let me go! The staff at the estate is probably worried about me!" Melissa shouted, as she tried to force several men to let go of her leg.
"Don't leave us!" they begged, not caring about being kicked by Melissa. "We will turn a new leaf, so please watch over us!"
It was at that moment that Melissa noticed Yuri and Nine.
"Ummm, what happened?" Nine asked.
*
"...and after I scolded them about wasting their lives they all collectively decided to follow me," Melissa finished her story.
In a way it was a predictable result. Nine and Yuri couldn't even be mad at the bandits anymore now that they'd seen the light that was Lady Melissa.
"I guess we could employ them. The head maid mentioned we're short on guards," Nine suggested.
"I guess I have no choice." She turned towards the bandits. "You bastards better work hard to make up for all the trouble you have caused me!"
The bandits cheered, while Melissa clutched her head.
*
"Yona didn't come?" Melissa asked, as she looked around. They were waiting for the bandits to pack their belongings.
"No, she decided to stay at the estate," Nine said.
Melissa sighed in relief. "I'm glad. After paying her for helping with Migen I was really short on funds. So it's just you two?"
Yuri and Nine nodded. Melissa grinned at them, before pulling them into a hug.
"Thank you for coming for me!" she said, her voice gentle. Nine and Yuri froze at first before reciprocating.
Now that they were together again all their worries and past hardships felt distant.
*
"Sir Nine… Thank you for your help…"
Nine almost thought he had misheard, but when he looked at Yuri she was staring resolutely at him. Melissa was far away, busy scolding someone.
"No, it's nothing," he muttered, but Yuri shook her head.
"You risked your life alongside Miss Melissa to save me from Migen. I haven't shown you proper gratitude."
Nine was silent for a moment.
"It's fine to take your time," he finally said. "You don't have to pretend to be okay around me."
Yuri smiled at hearing his encouragement. She would be fine.
Together they could face destiny.