*** Train Platform
We reached the platform just as another train rolled in, brakes whining, steam slipping around the tracks while passengers stepped off in calm, practiced lines—nothing like the outer district at all.
Even the noise here felt like it had a schedule.
We stepped into the VIP carriage again. The door slid shut behind us with a soft click, and for a mont neither of us said anything.
"That went well," I said eventually.
"It did," Evelina agreed.
There was a short pause, and then her lips curved slightly.
"Though I didn’t expect you to enjoy that... particular part as much as you did."
There it was.
"I stand by what I said," I replied, settling back. "It was unexpectedly appealing."
"You’re unbelievable."
"And yet, still here."
"Thankfully."
I couldn’t help the grin that slipped out.
The train pulled away from the station and the city started sliding past the window again, buildings and lights saring into streaks as we sat there in a quiet.
No enemies, no interruptions, no imdiate problems—just the steady rhythm of the train and the faint reflection of the two of us in the glass.
"...You did well today," Evelina said suddenly.
I glanced over. "Yeah?"
"Yes." She turned a little toward , studying my face like she was checking sothing off a list. "You were right to push for non-human enforcent. It covers a gap we would’ve had to deal with sooner or later."
"Huh. I thought you were just humoring ."
"I was at first."
Wow. Honesty.
"But you were right."
I leaned back in my seat, letting that sink in. "I’m going to treasure this mont forever."
"Don’t get used to it."
"A bit late."
She rolled her eyes, but she didn’t look away.
*** Outer District, Railway
The train finally arrived in the outer district, passing by the construction I had overseen earlier. It was doing great, better than ever. We even had so help that neither of us expected.
The people who were sent to undergo the census. They were helping with managing the construction, I guess they really valued our businesses that much.
For now, they didn’t seem to realize they were slowly being manipulated into becoming dependent on us.
"Hey," I said.
"Sothing else on your mind?"
"Would you like to have a taste of my cooking?"
"Oh? tired of eating out in the inner district then?"
"Well, aren’t I supposed to be a househusband?" I crossed my legs. "Cooking should be the bare minimum, don’t you think?"
"Hmm... do you want sothing else in return?"
Evelina coyly smiled, sothing that sudden from ant I usually wanted sothing from her, whether it was sothing innocent, or sothing weird. She had gotten used to both already.
"Well, I’d like to taste your cooking as well."
Evelina smiled, pleasantly surprised at the innocent request; she had expected to be asked to wear sothing strange again. And while she didn’t mind, heck, why would she? This was a good change of pace.
Besides... as far as she can rember, she hadn’t cooked once for soone before, despite her training.
"You know what...? No need to cook for later, I’ll handle it."
Evelina stood up from her seat and sat beside , wrapping her arms around mine as she nuzzled close to .
"I wonder when the Headmaster will arrive... wasn’t he supposed to help us with operations here?" She asked.
"Either he was lying or a bit preoccupied."
"Well, the more ti we have alone together, the better."
*** Outer District, Station
The train slowed as it approached our stop, the hum of machinery fading into the distant noise of the outer district. Compared to the inner sector, everything here felt rougher, and after Evelina’s work? more alive.
The doors slid open, and the mont we stepped out—
"Lord Cael!"
"Lady Evelina!"
A group of workers rushed toward us, stopping just short of crowding too close. Their faces were lit with sothing I hadn’t seen here before.
Sothing close to expectation.
"The second street’s finished ahead of schedule!" one of them said quickly. "And the bakery’s already running out of stock—we’ve made three new contracts from the inner district."
"Already?" I raised a brow.
"That’s faster than projected," Evelina murmured.
Another man stepped forward, gripping a simple steam pistol—part of the improvised militia I’d suggested after discovering the beast trapped beneath the mining company.
"And the patrol routes you recomnded, we’ve already started organizing shifts," he added. "So of the forr guards volunteered to lead them."
I glanced at Evelina. That solved one problem faster than I’d expected. In truth, this militia was ant to be expendable compared to a proper military force, just an early warning line in case the thing from the mines ever broke free.
But actually gaining their support, from people who were supposed to be nothing more than bait? That was an unexpected bonus.
"Good," she said. "Keep it structured. No improvisation."
"Yes, my lady!"
They broke away almost at once, drifting back to their tasks without waiting for more direction.
I watched them go, arms crossed. "...Think they’ll ever realize they’re being used?"
"Probably not," Evelina snickered, then shot a look that made it obvious how little she cared about them.
"I don’t care either way. As long as they work, they’re fine. If what you said is true, then the more bodies we have between us and that thing, the better."
Her absolute disregard for others and her protectiveness over .
I guess so things don’t change, even now that she’s no longer on her original road to madness.
We started walking again, heading back toward the mansion.
*** Estate Grounds
By the ti we reached the estate, the sun was already low, throwing long shadows across the half‑rebuilt streets. The district barely looked like the sa place I’d first walked into.
Things really were changing—faster than I’d expected.
"Everything’s been pretty easy, huh?"
"Impressed?" Evelina asked.
"No."
"H-Huh...!?" She snapped her head toward , clearly not expecting that.
I looked back at the district. Workers still moved, still built, still followed orders we hardly had to enforce anymore.
Then I finally answered her.
"Why would I be impressed? It’s only natural you’d do amazing."
She stopped walking. I did too.
"You..." Her voice trembled.
"Evelina...?"
"Don’t scare like that, you idiot!"
[Abyssal Lance]
A massive lance ford above , and she hurled it down without warning. I barely managed to teleport away before it could pin to the ground.
"Caught you off guard, huh?"
I really hadn’t expected her to react that strongly. So underneath all that bravado, she’s still that attached.
Right—the word I’d used to describe her before.
A yandere, through and through.
Evelina cleared her throat and looked away for a mont, pulling herself back together before picking up where we left off.
"Don’t get too relaxed. Building sothing is simple," she said. "Keeping it running, keeping it under control, making sure it doesn’t turn on you—"
"That’s the hard part," I finished.
"Exactly."
I let out a slow breath. "...Good thing we just bought a solution for that."
A faint smile tugged at her lips. "Yes. Good thing we did."
*** Mansion – Kitchen
The mont we stepped inside, Evelina didn’t go to her usual workspace. Instead, she walked straight into the kitchen.
"...You’re serious?" I asked.
"You offered," she said, already rolling up her sleeves. "I accepted."
"I didn’t think you’d actually follow through."
"I don’t make empty decisions."
Fair.
I leaned against the doorway, watching as she stopped in front of the counter, just staring at it like it was so problem she couldn’t quite quantify.
For a mont, she didn’t move.
Then...
"...What do I start with?" she asked.
I blinked. "...Start with?"
"I’ve never cooked for soone before," she said, matter-of-fact. "And... now that I’m thinking about it, I don’t actually know what you like to eat.
"Give instructions or sothing..."
She said it with a trace of regret; despite all our ti together, she still didn’t know so basic things about that most lovers should.
She absolutely hated that.
And just like that—the mastermind, the manipulator, the future ruler of an entire district—was standing in my kitchen, embarrassed and regretful because she’d never bothered to ask about the things I like.
Cute...
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