That night, after Liam returned to bed, he gently slid back beneath the sheets, easing himself into Mize's arm.
He carefully guided her hand over his chest, letting out a quiet sigh as he pulled her snugly into his embrace.
She stirred faintly, only the smallest twitch in her brow, the subtlest shift in breath, but otherwise remained peacefully asleep, her breathing steady, her body warm against his.
'It's exhausting pretending to be the good guy in front of her all the time,' Liam thought, exhaling slowly.
Because he knew who he really was.
And it sure as hell wasn't anything close to good.
The word "evil" alone didn't even scratch the surface.
What he had done, what he still did behind her back, was the kind of thing people couldn't imagine without flinching.
Deaths, slaughters, plots that didn't distinguish between the guilty and the innocent.
He never paused to consider the lives behind the numbers.
Now, with Mize living under his roof, sleeping beside him like this, it was a constant test.
One that demanded absolute precision. Hide the truth.
Keep the surface pretty.
Let her see only the pristine version of this territory, and of him.
But sometimes…
Sometimes, fear crept in.
Not the kind born of danger, but of exposure.
What if she found out?
What if she knew what he truly was and left?
He hated that thought. Loathed the very possibility.
'If that ever happens... I'll just lock her away,' he thought coldly. 'No matter how powerful she is... there's always someone stronger.'
He tightened his arms around her just a bit, pulling her more securely into his chest.
Mize shifted slightly in her sleep, smiling faintly as her forehead came to rest over his heart.
Liam's own heart softened.
Melted, even.
'You're mine...'
'You're mine...'
'You're mine...'
The phrase looped endlessly inside his mind, echoing over and over, like a chant whispered in the dark.
He repeated it until sleep finally took him again.
The morning sun crept in through the window, its light stretching long and gentle across the bed. The warmth stirred life into the room.
Mize stirred with it.
Sprawled out like a delicate, sleepy kitten, her lashes fluttered against her cheeks, brows furrowing ever so slightly in resistance to the invading brightness.
Her lips parted with a tiny, groggy protest, a muffled sound slipping past.
She rolled sideways, wrapping her arms around what felt like an oddly soft pillow.
"Liam..." she murmured, eyes still shut. "Turn off the light..."
But no voice answered.
Her brows twitched. She shifted again, hugging the "pillow" closer.
"Liam...?"
Her eyes blinked open slowly.
And then.
"…Pillow?"
She sat up, blinking drowsily.
A quiet groan escaped her lips. Her body felt heavy and warm, her movements sluggish.
Long strands of milky white hair spilled over her shoulders like silk, catching in the morning light.
Each lock distinct, a ribbon of softness adding to the glow of her half-lidded, angelic face.
She looked around, eyes sweeping the room once, then twice.
No Liam.
Her hands clenched into the sheets as a cold, tight feeling settled in her chest.
"Liam?" she called again, her voice faint and a little raspy.
Still nothing.
Her nose twitched. A sting lingered behind her eyes.
A prickling sensation, as if invisible needles were poking at her tear ducts.
Sniff.
Her lower lip trembled.
[Host, you're getting too spoiled now.]
'Shut up,' she snapped internally. 'Liam's here somewhere. He's watching. I need to act perfectly for the points.'
[Ah, splendid host!]
She was just about to let the tears fall, just one, really, from those shimmering, doe-like eyes and her heartbreakingly cute little pout.
And then a shadow flashed across the room.
"Mimi?"
"Umm?"
She barely had time to react before she was scooped into someone's arms from behind, lifted off the bed in a smooth motion, and wrapped up tightly like a swaddled doll.
Warmth surged around her.
A solid chest pressed against her back.
Gentle hands held her waist, pulling her up and cradling her like she weighed nothing at all.
A kiss landed softly on her forehead.
"L-Liam?" she breathed out, confused and still half-lost in her drowsiness.
Her palms reached up, brushing over his face, confirming it was real.
"I thought you weren't here…"
"N-No... I was in the toilet just now," Liam said, rubbing the back of his neck with a smile.
He kissed her forehead again, lightly.
"I didn't think my short absence would actually make you cry."
"You didn't cry yesterday when I left, remember?"
"But this is different," Mize said, her fingers twisting around the collar of his shirt like tiny hooks. "I just woke up. After sleeping, I want you to be there next to me…"
Liam exhaled slowly, helplessly.
"Alright... alright," he muttered. "Don't cry, okay?"
In response, Mize unleashed the full arsenal of her cuteness.
The hugs.
The teary eyes.
The faint, whimpery sounds. Like a heartbroken kitten demanding attention.
Liam sighed and smiled in defeat, letting her win without a fight.
He kept petting her head, stroking her hair softly, rubbing her back with calm, soothing circles.
She melted further into him, soaking in every bit of affection.
Eventually, he stood up, still carrying her in his arms, her figure tucked snugly against him.
He stepped out the door.
The guards standing outside gave immediate salutes, but none of them dared lift their eyes too high.
To gaze upon her highness carelessly, especially while being carried so intimately by the lord, would be courting death.
Liam nodded at them, continuing down the corridor at a calm pace.
"Where are we going?" Mize asked in a whisper, her voice deliberately small and endearing, her eyes still misty from earlier.
It worked. Liam couldn't resist.
He decided on the spot to bring her along for today's affairs, even if he had to carry her the whole way.
With a small lift of his arms, adjusting her weight, he spoke gently as the light from the windows flickered across them, fading in and out.
"You already missed the world-wide announcement from the warp. The event's already started."
"Huh? So early?" Her lashes lifted slightly, surprise flickering across her face.
She gripped his shirt a little tighter.
"You wouldn't get the system prompt anyway. Since we're partner lords, only one of us receives it," Liam explained.
They arrived at the dining hall.
Only Elias was seated at the long table.
The other two weren't present, but Mize could easily guess why.
Harb was probably overseeing the sentries and guards, while Aizen was likely off in his lab, dancing around with chemicals or something equally bizarre.
Liam took his seat.
Mize settled on his lap like a pampered feline, curling into him with practiced ease.
Elias rose slightly, giving a respectful salute before greeting them.
Mize, however, remained quiet. She wasn't in the mood to talk.
So Liam and Elias slipped into their usual discussions regarding the territory.
But as the two continued, Mize grew a little bored… and curious.
Then.
"Ark!"
Liam looked down, puzzled by the sudden sound.
And there she was.
Her lips quivering, eyes watery, holding a toothpick in one hand, and a tiny, blooming dot of blood on her finger.
Confused, Liam blinked.
Before he could say anything, Mize let out a pitiful cry and latched onto him like a baby koala.
"Huuu! Liam, it hurts!"
...
Elias twitched slightly at the corner of his mouth.
Liam, meanwhile, gathered her in tighter, kissed the wound gently, and started doting on her without hesitation.
Pampering mode: activated.
He took care of her while they continued talking.
And from the corner of his eye, Elias caught the subtle, satisfied little smirk flickering across Mize's teary face.
His mouth twitched again.
He adjusted his glasses wordlessly... and went back to eating.
After dinner, Liam led Mize out into the castle's back garden.
The sun had long dipped beyond the horizon, but soft glimmers of light, likely system-induced, floated lazily over the field of flowers.
The air was cool, fragrant with blooming petals, and their footsteps crunched faintly against the path of gravel and soil.
He didn't say much at first, just quietly paced beside her, glancing every so often in her direction as if trying to memorize the way she moved through the light.
Mize caught onto his strange behavior almost instantly.
It wasn't the way Liam usually acted, there was something softer, more attentive about him.
Not that she minded.
In fact, she preferred him like this obsessed, watchful.
That meant more attention, more affection, and ultimately, more points for her to rake in later.
They strolled at a lazy rhythm, Liam's pace deliberately unremarkable, almost too average, like he was trying to act normal and failing at it.
Mize, resting comfortably in his arms, behaved like a curious child, eyes darting around the garden as if every leaf deserved her scrutiny.
"Liam Liam, is there fish in the lake?" she asked, tilting her head and pointing toward the small glimmering body of water tucked beneath a willow tree.
"There is some," Liam replied, adjusting his hold on her slightly, "but if you want, I can add more. A few vibrant species, maybe, make it prettier."
"Liam Liam, can you make a statue of me in the center of this garden?"
"Hm…" He frowned slightly, considering. "I'll need to think about that. I'm not a fan of people staring at you, even if it's just a statue."
"Liam Liaaam"
And so it went, her voice weaving through the garden like the scent of flowers.
One question after another, and Liam answered every single one without complaint.
By the time Mize realized, the sun was high once more, and they had returned indoors.
They were now cuddled together inside Liam's private study.
The curtains were drawn halfway, letting in strips of golden light that cut across the polished floor.
She leaned against him on a plush divan, nestled like a satisfied cat.
Occasionally, she'd brush her fingers against his, teasing just enough to push him to the brink, but never crossing the line.
It took all of Liam's mental fortitude to behave himself.
This wasn't the place for anything… unrestrained.
Even with Mize looking the way she did, divine, infuriatingly sweet, it just wasn't the time or the place.
On the side, Mize perched herself on a high chair, her legs too short to reach the floor, which she kicked idly like a playful toddler.
Her expression was bright and amused, lips curled slightly upward as she watched Liam shuffle papers and handle urgent matters.
The desk in front of him was a battlefield of ink, folders, and written reports.
Clerks and soldiers filtered in and out, each one giving their brief reports before being dismissed with a nod or short command.
After one clerk had left, Liam leaned back with a quiet exhale, hand rising to run along the nape of his neck.
His voice came casual, but not without weight. "Just so you know, the event's already started outside. You can't see the wave counter, but we've hit the fifty-sixth already."
"Ah, I already knew," Mize answered nonchalantly, folding her hands over her thighs with perfect posture, like a polite, busty girl taking an exam.
Liam raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "You could sense it that far out? That's quite the range."
"Yeah. And considering you didn't tell me the territory was upgraded… that's quite far too, don't you think?"
"You would've figured it out on your own anyway," he muttered, fingers twirling a sleek pen, an item he had Aizen engineer to simplify his work.
Clicking it once, Liam slouched sideways in his chair, visibly bored. "You could sense it, right? The spike in mental strength?"
"I did," Mize nodded, her gaze flicking sideways as she subtly opened her character panel with the corner of her eye. "Feels like I could destroy the world if I wanted."
The numbers had indeed shifted.
Tier 6?
'Huh… so we're that strong already'
"Bit of a stretch, don't you think?" Liam said without looking at her.
"Not really. I am a goddess, remember?" Mize hummed, swinging her legs under the chair like a pendulum.
Her feet couldn't quite touch the ground. A minor disadvantage, though in her case, it only made her look even more adorable.
She could've changed her height if she wanted.
But where was the fun in that?
Liam's voice drifted over again. "No need to move just yet. These early waves are still manageable, too easy, honestly."
"Ohooo." Mize raised her brows and conjured a new skill with a snap of her fingers.
A passive vision that allowed her to observe the walls and surrounding land at all times.
It bloomed in her vision like a divine lens, revealing the enormous stretch of terrain that now made up their territory.
From her godlike view, endless grasslands extended beyond the outer walls, only ending at the dome's shimmering boundary.
"With the upgrade to Tier 6, the territory expanded massively," Liam said, still scanning over papers. "Diameter's now at four hundred kilometers. We've only used about forty for actual development."
"Which leaves a whole lot of empty land for Elias to worry about." Mize scanned the vast emptiness, eyes narrowing thoughtfully.
Tier 3, enhanced by the lord partnership system, had bumped them up to fifty kilometers.
And each upgrade doubled the size. Now, at Tier 6, four hundred kilometers was just the beginning.
Before long, this place might become a self-contained world.
"This area could house millions," Mize mused aloud. "No wonder the Warp keeps shoving so many humans into this world. We lords are basically their living space solution."
As she said that, her gaze sharpened.
Outside the wall, several kilometers beyond, movements stirred the landscape.
Shadow soldiers, rank upon rank of them, marched in disciplined formations, dark armor glinting faintly beneath the sky.
She counted roughly. Over two hundred thousand in this section alone.
Flicking her view, she found five more formations, identical in size and pattern.
Not that she was surprised.
By now, she'd grown numb to the scale of Liam's military might.
If he suddenly raised a billion soldiers overnight, she'd probably just sigh and nod.
'This Yama Lord really is broken by villain standards'
"One million Tier 1 shadow soldiers…?" she whispered under her breath.
Liam, who was signing another paper, didn't even look up.
Her eyes slid back to the plains, narrowing slightly.
Thanks to her skill, her vision hovered like a deity's, effortlessly shifting angles, scanning every detail across the land.
As the five formations continued their steady march…
A sudden ripple of space interrupted the calm.
Zoom.
A massive vortex tore open beyond the dome boundary, wide enough to swallow mountains.
It pulsed ominously, churning with dark light.
Mize immediately picked up on it. The soldiers probably hadn't noticed yet, too far.
But she could see everything.
Then came the sound. Step. Step. Step.
Thousands of creatures poured out of the vortex.
Some slithered, some lumbered. Some resembled nightmare-skinned insects, while others looked like distorted animals, wolves with too many eyes, horses with bones protruding from their backs, and birds as large as boulders.
A horde of horrors.
And judging by the jagged teeth glinting from their misshapen jaws, going vegan… probably wasn't on their menu.