couch, his head pounding like artillery fire.
"Where am I?! Oh—my head." He groaned, clutching his temples. "No more drinking… at least until I sober up a little."
He blinked against the sunlight. The room was immaculate — golden chandeliers, portraits in ornate frames, bookshelves filled with military logs and old relics.
"Shit. I blacked out again! This place looks fancy… Did I break in here?"
He turned, scanning the lavish curtains and the untouched carpet. "No… this can't be…"
"Good morning, sir."
Youri nearly jumped out of his skin.
"Oh! Who are you?!"
A calm voice answered, elegant and crisp: "I'm the maid of the estate, Anna. Breakfast is ready. Take a shower and come downstairs — Lady Leonora is waiting for you."
Youri froze. "Oh… shit."
[Later — in the hallway]
"My lady," Anna said, bowing slightly, "he just woke up. I instructed him to take a shower as per your request."
"Thank you, Anna," Leonora replied, her tone composed — but her eyes flickered with quiet irritation.
[Youri in the shower.]
Steam rose around him as water cascaded over his shoulders. He leaned against the wall, lost in a haze of pain and disbelief.
If she hated me then… now she must really despise me.
He closed his eyes. But what am I doing in her house?! Come on, brain, think… how did I get here?!
He tried to piece together fragments — the fight, the whiskey, the cold floor of the pub. Nothing.
"Shit," he muttered, scrubbing his hair. "I'm in deep trouble."
[At the breakfast table.]
The room was filled with the soft aroma of baked bread and herbs. Sunlight spilled across polished marble, glinting off crystal glasses. Leonora sat at the head of the table, every inch the noble commander — posture perfect, gaze steady, her expression unreadable.
"The breakfast is getting cold," she said coolly. "It would be a waste — after all, she cooked for two."
"Thank you, General," Youri said, sliding into the chair across from her. "I usually skip breakfast, but since she went through the trouble, it'd be rude if I didn't."
"Enjoy. Anna is known for her cooking."
Youri took a bite, his eyes widening. "I'm not much of a picky eater, but I have to say — this is good."
Leonora smirked faintly. "Oh, you're making Anna blush. Funny, considering she wanted to eliminate you a few hours ago."
Youri choked mid-bite, coughing violently.
"I—I'm sorry if I caused any trouble the other night."
Leonora's voice turned sharp, dripping with sarcasm. "No, what trouble? Just dragging you off the street, hauling you into my car, nursing you back to life. Poor Anna had the night off; I had to call her to help me get you inside. But that's not all — you also destroyed my 10,000-zell carpet. There's puke all over it. I don't think it's salvageable."
Youri rubbed the back of his neck, embarrassed. "That… sounds like something I'd do. I'll try to buy you a new one, I promise."
"You can't," she said flatly. "It was a special edition — one of one."
He sighed. "Shit. I'm struggling with my finances right now, but I swear I'll pay you back as soon as possible."
Leonora leaned back, crossing her arms. "Oh, you will. As of today, you're going to be my driver until you've paid your debt to me. That'll be your compensation for the time you work here."
Youri blinked, stunned. "Hm. I think there's one problem. I'm not allowed to leave more than thirty kilometers from the deployment center."
"Don't worry about that," she said, her tone like ice — the kind that cut without a blade. "It's already been taken care of. Your duties are to drive me to my assigned locations and see to my needs during that time."
Youri smirked slightly, a glint of rebellion in his eyes. "I know you're frustrated, General, but I'm not that great at taking orders."
Leonora's gaze hardened, her voice dropping to a near whisper — soft but deadly. "That's none of my concern. You owe me — and you will pay. This is how I want you to do it."
She leaned forward, eyes locking onto his. "I expect you here every day at seven. If you don't show up, I'll personally see that you're banned from every bar and pub in the capital. And you'll owe me an extra 100,000 zells for breaching the contract. Do you understand?"
He stared at her, half amused, half intimidated. "Come on, can't I just give you the 10,000 zells?"
"No," she said simply, a flicker of amusement in her otherwise cold tone. "Even if you had the money — which I'm sure you don't — I don't want it that way. You'll work to pay what you owe me, like it or not. Consider this your punishment for wasting my and my maid's time."
Youri sighed heavily. "Doesn't seem like I have a choice."
Leonora rose gracefully, her expression unreadable. "That's great. I have a meeting with the consul today — that's our first destination. We leave in ten minutes. You'd better get ready."
She turned toward the doorway, then paused. "Oh, also — my brother will be coming by. After the meeting, you'll pick him up from his house."
Youri raised an eyebrow. "Was I supposed to be your driver?"
"Yes," she replied, voice cool and unwavering. "And you answer to my orders."
[She walked away — her boots echoing sharply against the marble floor. Youri watched her go, a strange mix of admiration and dread settling in his chest.]
He muttered under his breath, "Guess hell has a name after all… and it's Leonora."