"Die!"
Gong!
An illusory chime sounded from a distant history, the melodious sound echoing in the embryonic Divine Kingdom.
An ancient wall clock appeared in front of Klein. Its face was separated into twelve different segments by grayish-white and bluish-black colors.
Klein had used the Staff of the Stars to reproduce Angel of Time Amon's Beyonder powers!
Time stopped. The Sequence 3 demigod was frozen in place.
The illusory wall clock struck once again and then dissipated into thin air.
The enemy in front of Klein resumed his movement and fell straight to the floor. What the hell was... that... just... now— he thought before his mind turned sluggish.
Not even his innate ability of Courage was able to stop the fear spreading through his mind right now. He was terrified of the man in front of him. A monster.
He opened his mouth to speak, but no words came out. He was no longer alive. His body had turned into a marionette.
Klein looked at the kneeling man in front of him. This man had ruined his date with Audrey. Sigh... Less than a minute until the churches' teams get here...
He gave the marionette a final, silent command. Then, with a thought, the black velvet curtain dissolved. Klein then conjured an illusion around his own body to turn invisible in the eyes of the civilians.
Audrey was standing where he had left her. He quickly walked over to her.
"We have to go," he said. He reached for her hand. Alger and Leonard will be fine once the churches' Beyonder teams get here Klein reasoned.
Audrey squeezed his hand. "Okay."
Behind them, the War Bishop marionette stood up. It raised its hands to the sky and let out a final, agonized roar. Its body began to glow with a blinding azure light.
Klein wrapped his arm around Audrey's waist, and the world around them twisted into a swirl of colors.
Just as they vanished, the marionette exploded. The blast was contained, a powerful implosion that left nothing behind but a shimmering Beyonder characteristic and a crater in the street. It was a perfect scene for the arriving officials. A powerful enemy had self-destructed after a terrible battle. The mysterious hero who stopped him was already gone.
...
A distant voice resounded within Klein's mind. "The Fool that doesn't belong to this era..."
Hm? Oh, now you pray? You couldn't have done that before you guys ruined my date? Klein lampooned. Sigh...
"Audrey, are you sure you're okay?"
"Yes, I'm okay, Klein. This is the fourth time you've asked."
"Ah, sorry. I was just worried," Klein explained.
They were standing in the middle of Audrey's luxurious bedroom.
Audrey took a step closer and gently took his hand. "I know," she said softly. "But I'm fine. What about the rest of the people there? What about you?"
Klein gently caressed her hand and said, "I'm fine. The civilians are injured, but the Beyonder teams of the churches will take care of it. I also 'sent' some aid." He winked in his mind at the Merlin Hermes consciousness. "Everyone's okay." He brought her close and kissed the top of her head.
He silently Wished for all the dust and debris particles on their clothes and hair to disappear. "Sorry our date ended up like that," he apologized.
Audrey looked up at him. "At least I got to see my prince charming coming to the rescue..." She raised her hand and gently touched his cheek. "My hero," she added with a whisper.
Klein embraced her with both arms and pulled her into a tight hug.
Who did this? His mind turned cold.
...
"Report."
"Fifteen injured, no deaths. One building collapsed, and three others were damaged as collateral. There's a crater and fire marks in the middle of the collapsed building. There is also a Beyonder characteristic of a High-sequence Beyonder. It seems like he self-destructed, Captain."
The Captain pulled on his red gloves and examined the debris. "Sigh, just what the hell is going on in Backlund..."
...
A few days went by.
"Audrey! We really shouldn't be doing this here—eenghh~"
Slurp Slurp
"Ah, does it feel good, Klein~? I have to thank my hero after all~"
Slurp Slurp
"Mmnghh~ Audrey... someone will see us..."
Audrey looked up at him for a moment. Her cheeks were flushed, and her emerald eyes held a mischievous glint. She did not say anything. She simply smiled before lowering her head again.
Slurp Slurp
"Hah... Audrey, please... we can do this in the room..." Klein pleaded. His voice was shaky.
Just then, two maids turned the corner at the far end of the hall. They were carrying a basket of fresh blankets. They stopped dead in their tracks. One maid's hands flew to her mouth. The other stared with wide, unbelieving eyes. The laundry basket slipped from her fingers and landed softly on the ground.
Klein was leaning against the polished wood wall of the long hallway. His eyes met the maids'. Audrey was kneeling before him. Her head moved back and forth rhythmically as she swallowed his cock whole.
Klein froze. His entire body went rigid with embarrassment. "Audrey—Mnghh~~... stop!" he hissed. "They're looking at us!"
Audrey did not stop. She did not even look up. She knew they were there. Her pace became slower, more deliberate. Her delicate, milky white fingers held onto his cock, and she continued blowing him as if the maids never existed.
The maids were paralyzed. They could not move. They could not look away. Their faces were a brilliant shade of red. Just what was their beloved Lady doing?
"Audrey..." Klein groaned. He closed his eyes in utter humiliation. He could feel her tongue swirling. He could feel the very back of her throat every time his dick was swallowed.
Slurp Slurp
"Hah... Audrey, please.. Ahhnngghh~" He moaned. The maids are watching...
Audrey noticed his cock was becoming harder and bigger. She giggled and then increased her pace.
Slurp Slurp Slurp
"Audrey!" Klein held onto her head and shoved his cock as deep as possible down her throat. "Ahhh!!"
Glug Glug Slurp
Hot semen gushed out from Klein and rushed down Audrey's throat. She maintained eye contact with Klein as she sucked out every last drop.
Hah... Who taught her all this?! Klein thought.
His dick was still inside her mouth when he turned around to look at the maids who were watching them. They were still there. Klein slowly pulled out from Audrey's mouth, his long cock sliding out, completely covered in saliva and cum. The maids couldn't take their eyes off of him—or rather, his dick.
Their beloved Lady was kneeling on the ground, lips smeared with cum and strands of saliva stretching from her and Klein's cock. The maids locked eyes with Audrey, and their first reaction was to run away—they even left behind the blankets they were carrying.
"Hah... Hah... They're going to tell everyone," Klein whimpered. He felt incredibly embarrassed.
"Let them." Audrey stood up and gave him a quick kiss. "Now, let's go back to the room before someone else finds us."
She's going to do more?! But I just—Ah!
Audrey grabbed his cock and led him to her room.
...
Later that afternoon, Klein and Audrey were lying in bed, tangled in the now-wet sheets.
"I'm hungry," Audrey murmured, her head resting on Klein's chest.
"We could call for the maids," Klein suggested. His fingers gently traced patterns on her back.
Audrey propped herself up on her elbow to look at him. "Oh! We could try to make something ourselves. A home date." Her eyes lit up at the idea. "I've never cooked before."
"Really? Then I'll teach you. It will be fun," he said before snuggling with Audrey for a little longer.
A few minutes later, they went down to the mansion's enormous kitchen. The room was clean and filled with shiny pots and pans. Audrey then politely asked the kitchen staff to leave them alone for a few hours.
"Okay, what should we make?" Audrey asked. She looked around at all the strange kitchen tools and ingredients.
Klein thought for a moment and remembered a simple dish from his life on Earth. "Let's make fried rice with eggs. It's a simple recipe."
He found rice, eggs, and some vegetables in the pantry. He showed Audrey how to wash the rice and put it in a pot to cook. Then, he handed her a small knife and an onion.
"Now, you just need to chop this," he said.
Audrey held the knife awkwardly. She tried to cut the onion, but her movements were clumsy. The cut pieces were all of different sizes.
"..." She looked at her work and frowned.
Klein chuckled. He walked behind her and placed his hand over hers. "Like this," he said softly. His chest was pressed against her back. He gently guided her hand, showing her how to move the knife back and forth. Audrey's face turned red. She could feel his warm breath on her neck. Her cheeks turned slightly pink.
He grabbed her other hand and said, "Hold the onion like this and slice it with the knife. Yes, just like that."
She quickly learned the motion. Soon, they had a small pile of chopped vegetables—not perfect, but just good enough. They cracked eggs into a bowl and whisked them together.
Klein heated a large pan on the stove and poured in some oil. "Alright, now we add the vegetables."
Audrey carefully tipped the bowl of chopped vegetables into the hot pan. They sizzled loudly, and oil jumped around the pan.
"Be careful." Klein gently pulled her away. "You wouldn't want to get sizzling oil on you."
"T-thank you."
After a few minutes, Klein added the cooked rice and the eggs and handed Audrey a large spoon.
"Now you just stir everything together," he instructed.
They stood side by side, taking turns stirring the rice. They made a bit of a mess. Some rice fell onto the stove, and a piece of carrot landed on the floor. They both laughed it off, accidents happen, and that was part of the experience.
When the fried rice was done, they scooped it onto two plates. It didn't look perfect, but it smelled delicious. They didn't go to the grand dining room. Instead, they sat at a small table in the corner of the kitchen.
Audrey took her first bite, and her eyes went wide. "Klein, this is amazing! We made this?!"
"You did most of the work," Klein teased.
"Liar," she said with a full mouth. "But I like it."
They ate their lunch in a comfortable silence. The sun streamed through the kitchen windows. It was simple and peaceful. Klein looked at Audrey. Her face was bright with happiness. He felt a warmth in his chest that had nothing to do with the food.
I really love her... I want moments like this to last forever...
...
After their simple and happy lunch, Klein and Audrey spent the rest of the afternoon in the garden. They talked while Susie ran around.
A butler approached them. "Mr. Moretti," the butler said with a bow. "The Earl requests your presence in his study."
Klein looked at Audrey. She had a slightly worried expression on her face. He gave her hand a reassuring squeeze. "Don't worry," he whispered, before following the butler into the mansion.
The Earl's study was a large, quiet room. The walls were lined with tall bookshelves filled with books. Earl Hall was sitting behind a massive wooden desk and a cup of tea beside him. He gestured to the chair in front of the desk.
"Please, have a seat, Mr. Moretti," he said with a calm voice.
Klein sat down, feeling slightly nervous.
The Earl took a sip of his tea. "Audrey seems very happy ever since you've been staying with us. I have not seen her this cheerful in a long time."
"She makes me very happy too, my Lord," Klein replied honestly.
"Good," the Earl said. He put his cup down and looked directly at Klein. "That is good to hear. Since you have my blessing and the matter of your engagement is now known to the family, we should discuss the practicalities."
Klein's heart started beating a little faster. Huh? Practicalities?
The Earl continued. "A long engagement is not proper. Now that you are here, we must begin preparations. So, tell me, Mr. Moretti, when do you plan on marrying my daughter?"
His mind went completely blank. Wedding? Already?
He took a slow breath before he spoke. "My Lord, marrying Audrey is my greatest wish. However, I have only just returned to Backlund. My previous apartment in West Borough is gone due to my constant travel, and my work is not yet settled." He looked the Earl in the eyes. "Before I marry her, I want to secure a proper home for us with the money I've saved up. It would be irresponsible of me to marry her before I have done that."
Earl Hall listened carefully. His serious expression did not change, and he was silent for a long moment.
Finally, he nodded. "That is a responsible way to think, Mr. Moretti. I approve." The Earl leaned back in his chair. "Very well. Settle your affairs. But do not take too long. A man of your abilities should find it a simple enough task."
"I understand, my Lord," Klein said. He felt a huge weight on his shoulders.
"I hope to see my grandchildren at some point," the Earl chuckled, picking up his newspaper. "You may leave."
"Y-yes, my Lord."
Klein stood up, bowed, and left the study. He closed the door behind him and let out a breath he didn't realize he was holding.
Sigh... Marriage?... Klein imagined what that would be like. Audrey and Klein both living together, waking up in the same bed, making their own food and eating it together, spending time together, and going on dates.
Hm? Aren't we already doing that?
Klein truly loved Audrey and wished to spend the rest of his life with her at his side. He hoped to marry her soon, so was there really any reason for him to object to a wedding, even if it was one originally based on a fake engagement?
...
He found Audrey in the garden, waiting for him by the fountain. The soft orange colors of the sun cast a soft glow on the water, and the air was quiet. She turned her head as she heard footsteps approaching.
"Klein? What happened? What did my father want?"
A slow smile spread across Klein's face. He walked over and took her hand. "He asked about our future."
Audrey started to blush. "Oh, I'm so sorry, I—"
"Shh," Klein whispered. He brought her hand to his lips and kissed it gently. "Don't be sorry. Come with me."
He wrapped his free arm around her waist and pulled her close. "Hold on."
The colors around them turned into a blur. The garden vanished. The sound of the fountain disappeared. And a moment later, they were standing on top of a quiet hill. A lone tree stood beside them, and the lights of Backlund illuminated the city. It was the same spot where they had their first date.
"Klein? Why did you bring us here?"
He turned to face her, still holding her close. The sunset light illuminated her beautiful face. "Your father asked me when I planned to marry you. And as I talked with him, I realized I didn't want to make any more excuses. I don't want to pretend anymore." He gently caressed her cheek. "I love you, Audrey. I love everything about you. I want to spend all of my tomorrows with you. I decided I couldn't wait another second to ask you properly," he said. He let go of her and took a small step back.
He reached his hand out into the empty air beside him. Audrey watched as his fingers seemed to reach into nothingness. When he pulled his hand back, a small, elegant ring was resting in his palm. It had a simple silver band and a single, clear diamond that sparkled brightly under the crimson moon.
Then, Klein got down on one knee.
He held the ring up to her.
"Audrey Hall. Will you marry me?"
Audrey let out a soft sob, a sound of pure joy. She couldn't speak. She just nodded her head over and over again, and small tears of joy formed in her eyes.
"Yes..." she finally breathed out, her voice trembling. "Yes!"
He stood up, his face breaking into the widest, happiest smile she had ever seen. He gently took her left hand and slid the ring onto her finger. It was a perfect fit.
He pulled her into his arms and kissed her deeply. It was a kiss full of love and promise. Their engagement was no longer a lie.