To Laurent.
Laurent, I've done it. It's only the first step, but we've finally broken through the gates of Orléans. Once the city is liberated, everything will start moving toward a brighter future. Also… the clothes you sent were a little small, so I had someone make a few alterations—you're not upset, are you?
Thank you for the sword and the spear. They've been loyal companions on my journey, as if you were right there beside me all along.
You once said you didn't want anything to happen to me—but the same goes for me. I want you to be happy, too, Laurent. Maybe you think that happiness means having me by your side, but… no, let's not talk about such sad things. Thanks to this victory, I've received a reward. I'll have someone deliver it back to the village. I'm sure you'll see it soon enough.
And if you can… please write to me often.
...
Holding the short envelope, Gilles de Rais listened as Jeanne dictated the words, his hand trembling as he wrote, unable to keep the pen steady. He couldn't tell whether he should feel honored that the Holy Maiden trusted him enough to pen her letter—or jealous.
This Laurent… seemed to mean a great deal to her.
But for now, Gilles swallowed his curiosity and dared not ask.
Who was he? Who could be so important to the Holy Maiden? The thought stung—jealousy, yes—but even more, envy.
What Jeanne didn't know was that this letter would never reach Laurent.
...
The victory at Orléans was a hopeful beginning for the French—but for the English, the news was far from welcome.
Even the Duke's expression darkened as he read the report.
The reason was simple: another duke had just requested Laurent's help.
Was this a joke? He'd only just decided to keep Laurent for himself—now someone wanted to take him away?
A blatant attempt to steal his man.
He would never allow it.
Laurent's strength alone was enough to raise anyone's standing. Whoever had him at their side would gain power by association. No matter what, the Duke had to keep him.
That thought decided it. He would not let Laurent go, no matter the cost.
That night, he summoned Laurent to his chambers and posted a dozen guards outside. The Duke greeted him with a warm smile, while Laurent returned it with his usual unreadable one.
"To what do I owe the honor of your summons, Your Grace?"
The Duke had already destroyed all the letters and anything else that might reveal the truth. Within days, he planned to wed Laurent to his daughter. If Laurent wished to earn military glory later, that would be acceptable—but for now, he couldn't be allowed to know a thing.
"Évigi, you've just turned eighteen, haven't you?"
"Yes, Your Grace." Laurent bowed politely.
"Have you taken a liking to any young lady yet?"
"No."
"Perfect. My daughter has also reached a suitable age for marriage…"
Laurent lifted his head then, his smile turning cold.
"What exactly are you suggesting, Your Grace?"
"Marry into our family."
"And if I refuse?"
"Don't forget your place, Évigi."
The Duke's tone turned icy. "Marrying my daughter would raise your rank from knight to duke in an instant. Do you really not want that?"
Laurent shook his head. "Your Grace has always remembered my achievements on the battlefield, yet you've never promoted me. Is this why?"
He didn't even bother to hide the accusation.
The Duke had been deliberately holding him back, keeping him close, denying him advancement—wanting to monopolize him completely.
The words hit their mark. The Duke's composure cracked.
"Remember your station, Sir Évigi!"
Laurent's stance shifted, lazy and unbothered.
"And if I refuse you here and now, what will you do?"
"Hmph. You already know the consequences of defying a noble."
"To be slandered, forced out, everyone turning against me?" Laurent's voice was calm, almost amused. "It seems I'm well aware, yes."
"Then you understand there's only one path before you," the Duke said coldly. "Accept my offer—or die. I have no need for a disobedient knight."
Laurent's smile widened faintly. "My dear Duke, I sincerely hope that angel nesting inside you grants you mercy… or has his presence only made you arrogant?"
As he spoke, his expression twisted into something almost gleeful, and his black eyes flared scarlet.
The Duke stumbled back, fear creeping into his face as a faint golden light flickered in his eyes.
"When… when did you notice?"
"The stink of birdshit from you angelic types hit me the moment I walked in," Laurent said, waving a hand as though to fan away the air in disgust. "And really, who else would try to cage me like this? Only someone strong enough to think he could."
The room warped. Blood welled up from the floor, forcing the Duke backward again.
"They were right—you truly are a demon!"
"They?" Laurent tilted his head, curious for a second before dismissing it. "No, no… I'm not a demon."
He stepped closer. A golden aura flared around the Duke, struggling to push back the tide of blood—but it barely slowed it. Sweat beaded on his face, though he kept up a facade of pride.
"I am blessed by the angel himself! Cease your futile resistance, demon!"
The golden light sputtered, flickering against the blood's advance.
There was always a vast gulf between a proxy and the real thing.
Laurent's lips curved in a smirk. "My dear Duke, rather than 'demon,' I'd much prefer you call me… godslayer~"
With that, Laurent thrust his hand forward, straight through the Duke's chest. The Duke's golden eyes went wide with disbelief—how could his divine power not stop this man, not even for a moment?
Laurent gripped the still-beating heart, leaned close to his ear, and whispered,
"When you get back to Heaven, tell your feathered friends not to let me find their hiding place."
Then he yanked his hand free. The Duke crumpled, dead before he hit the floor.
Afterward, Laurent calmly disposed of the soldiers outside and drank them dry. With blood still coating his hand, he pressed it to the Duke's corpse, forcing a portion of it into the body.
Even in death, the Duke still had one last task to complete—signing over his title to Laurent.
---
T/N: 4 chapters since i was gonna update yesterday but didnt, bonus chaps are tomorrow and uhhh no character note for thisweek
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