Chapter 137: Pat Me

About half an hour later, Elias lay comfortably in the tub, surrounded by warm water as he rested his head against the edge with his eyes closed.

No thoughts were running through his mind, and he enjoyed the quiet moment, hoping that everything that had happened today had finally come to an end.

Unfortunately, peace never seemed to last long.

The Sword Spirit suddenly phased through the bath’s wall and floated above him before casually saying, "There are two men at the gates of the manor."

Elias’s eyelids trembled, and his expression immediately soured.

He let out a deep breath before opening his eyes and looking toward her.

"Were they knights?" he asked.

"They were," the Sword Spirit confirmed.

Elias’s expression grew solemn as he already guessed why they were here.

Berlic Draveon had most likely sent them to question him about the unknown killer, as that person had recently murdered Jessie, one of the rangers who had entered the Grade Two spatial rift alongside Elias and the others.

With a quiet sigh, Elias began to rise from the tub, allowing the warm water to stream down his body as he ran a hand through his wet hair.

[Image]

After leaving the tub, he dried himself, then used his Inventory to equip his clothes directly, saving himself the trouble of dressing normally.

Once he had made himself presentable and fixed his hair, he left the bathroom and began walking toward the manor’s entrance, with the Sword Spirit floating lazily behind him.

As Elias reached the corridor leading toward the stairs, he noticed Stella approaching from the opposite direction.

Her crimson hair was a complete mess, and she was still rubbing the sleep off her eyes.

When she noticed him, her sleepy expression immediately brightened.

"Husband..." she called softly.

He smiled and stepped toward her.

"Good morning, my wife," he said warmly.

"Good morning..." Stella replied, and then she walked forward until she could lean her head against his chest, allowing her arms to hang loosely at her sides. After remaining like that for a moment, she mumbled, "Fix my hair..."

"Sure."

Elias gently ran his fingers through her messy crimson hair, carefully straightening it until it looked presentable again. Once he finished, Stella seemed satisfied, but instead of leaving immediately, she looked up at him and quietly requested, "Pat me."

He chuckled before placing a hand on her head and patting her gently.

The simple gesture reminded him of the first day he had arrived at the manor.

After absorbing the pats with a peaceful smile, Stella finally stepped away.

"I need to brush my teeth..." she said seriously. "I do not want my breath to stink."

He found it amusing that a woman who had reached the rank of Monarch was worrying so seriously about something as ordinary as bad breath.

"I also have some work to do," he said.

She merely nodded. She was not even slightly curious about what this supposed work was, and simply resumed walking.

He watched her back for a moment before the Sword Spirit’s voice suddenly sounded beside him.

"How long are you going to stay here?"

Elias glanced toward her and furrowed his brows.

"I was helping my wife," he replied. "I do not see the problem."

"I just do not want you thinking about Stella the way you were thinking about the other woman."

His expression immediately became displeased.

"And why do you get to decide that?" he asked. "I am their husband, and they are my wives. We know how much is fine and when things cross the line. We do not require a spirit to help us."

The Sword Spirit chuckled at his response and folded her arms behind her head as she floated beside him.

"I have been with Stella for a few years," she said. "Do you think you know her better than I do?"

Elias fell silent.

There was no immediate answer he could give to that.

The Sword Spirit chuckled again before floating farther down the corridor.

"Are you not going to meet those knights?"

Elias sighed and shook his head before continuing toward the entrance.

When he finally reached the hall, he saw Benjamin standing near the manor gates, speaking with two knights who had arrived early in the morning.

Elias narrowed his eyes.

"Of course it is them..." he muttered.

The two knights standing at the gates were none other than Berman Terret and Himber.

He walked past the entrance door, his expression already settling into the same impassive look Natasha often wore.

"You know what to do, right?" she asked.

[What?] Elias asked, unable to understand what she meant.

The Sword Spirit shook her head and flew toward the two knights standing at the gates. She stopped behind them and looked down at the armored figures before turning her crimson eyes toward Elias.

"Do you want to step beyond your mortal limits or not?" she asked.

[I do,] Elias answered with genuine determination.

She looked toward the knights again before smiling faintly.

"Then it is time for your defiance," she said.

Elias’s feet halted for a moment, and his gaze shifted from the Sword Spirit toward Berman.

[He is an Exalted, though...] Elias said hesitantly.

"Heh. Scared already?" the Sword Spirit asked with a mocking smile. "How are you going to protect your wives like this?"

His expression darkened as his hands clenched and unclenched several times. He stared at Berman for a long moment, and then his eyes gradually sharpened with determination.

Finally, he nodded.

Seeing him walking toward them, Berman said, "Your lord is already here, it seems."

Benjamin immediately turned his head to the back, and his expression turned worried. He had told the knights that Elias couldn’t see them at the moment, but he hadn’t considered his master walking up to them on his own.

As Elias neared them, Benjamin bowed toward him, "Good morning, My Lord."

Elias nodded and glanced between the two knights, then asked, "Do you lot have nothing better to do?"