Chapter 142 My subordinates adore me... a little too much?
(POV: Lumiere)
Another bright day, the sun filtering through the windows of my office, I was surrounded by a mountain of wood pulps, document demanding my attention. Just as I was drowning in the sea of administrative tasks, a knock on the door interrupted my solitary confinement. Skarz sauntered in, adorned in casual attire that contrasted with his usual regal minotaur armor. Gone was the wild minotaur I'd first encountered; in his place stood a figure of authority, a formidable leader, and the ideal ruler of the minotaurs.
"How are you holding up?" Skarz inquired.
I sighed, setting aside a particularly troublesome document.
"To be honest, I'm a bit bored. Just going through the never-ending stack of status updates on everyone in the Silva Citadel."
Skarz chuckled. "Sounds like a tough job. But I suppose it's necessary."
I shrugged, a glimmer of amusement in my eyes.
"Well, I can't really complain. After all, the person who compiled these reports is Umbra. I'm just the one taking notes."
Skarz grinned, his eyes reflecting a hint of pride.
"The territory has really thrived under your guidance. And the population has grown as well."
"Yes, it's true. Thanks to Sangria's training, everyone's skills have improved drastically. She's doing an awesome job. In fact, if Lirien accepts my offer, I plan on assigning her the same role as Sangria."
Skarz inclined his head, acknowledging my words with a respectful bow.
"Having a battle god like Lirien on our side will prove to be immensely beneficial."
Another knock on the door broke our discussion, and in walked Fasit with her usual air of elegance. She greeted me with a polite "good morning" before proceeding to ask how I was faring.
"I'm fine," I replied, keeping my tone light as I tried to maintain a facade of composure.
Skarz chimed in with a cheerful "good morning" for Fasit.
She returned his greeting with a warm smile "I hope you're well this fine morning, Sir Skarz.."
Skarz responded with an affirmative nod. "Of course."
Seizing this momentary distraction, Fasit turned her attention to me and asked in a slightly teasing tone, "So, have you cleaned your office like I requested, Great Lumiere?"
My heart skipped a beat, and I found myself freezing up.
With a forced chuckle, I replied, "Of course! It's spotless."
A million bullets of sweat rolled down my face as Fasit smiled, her expression at once mild and yet somehow mildly terrifying.
"Is that so?" she inquired, a hint of skepticism slipping into her voice.
I hastily nodded, unable to meet her unwavering gaze.
Across the room, Skarz observed the exchange, his eyes betraying his knowledge of my deception.
But Fasit wasn't finished. She strode purposefully towards one of the cabinet's in my cluttered office, her finger gliding across its dusty surface. Suddenly, I realized her intentions. Panic surged through me as she drew her finger back, coated in a layer of grime, and turned her head to face me, still smiling.
"Quite clean... my lord."
My body shocked into action, I lunged towards the cabinet, snatching up a rag and frantically polishing away the dust until it gleamed like a freshly forged blade.
Skarz couldn't help but chuckle, his voice a low rumble, as he muttered under his breath, "Even the ruler of the Silva Citadel has his weaknesses, it seems."
However, Fasit's smile widened, and she turned her attention to Skarz.
"Oh, don't worry," she said. "I'll be checking your office next."
Skarz's eyes widened, and before I could blink, he vanished from my office, undoubtedly searching for a rag and some cleaning supplies.
...
After several minutes of intense cleaning, my office was transformed into a haven of pristine order. The polished surfaces gleamed under the warm sunlight. There wasn't a speck of dust or a misplaced document in sight.
Just as I was admiring my handiwork, Fasit's voice broke the peaceful silence.
"Now that your office is finally in order," she began, her tone suggesting a new task at hand, "let us go and assess the state of the territory."
I nodded eagerly.
Together, we embarked on a leisurely stroll through the bustling streets of the Silva Citadel. The air was abuzz with the harmonious melodies of various species, the grygans and minotaurs acknowledging my presence with respectful nods and warm smiles.
Eventually, we reached the outskirts of the citadel, where the flourishing farmlands stretched out before us. This area was in close proximity to the grygan dungeon. It was here that I tasked Verpace, the once troublesome envoy, with tending to the magicubella seeds I painstakingly cultivated. Under Lady Reet's guidance, the forest conservationist of the Feral Dominion, we learned the most efficient ways to plant these remarkable seeds.
As Fasit and I ventured closer, the sound of Mojito's booming voice grew louder, enough to rival an erupting volcano.
"These skills aren't good enough!" Mojito's face was contorted with frustration, his wild gestures only adding to the dramatic scene. "To impress the boss, you must strive for greatness and surpass your own limitations!"
Verpace, standing before the seething overseer, cleared his throat nervously, his voice trembling with a mix of contrition and determination.
"I-I apologize, sir," he coughed. "If I'm to be accepted by Lumiere-sama, I must push myself harder than ever before."
Fasit and I silently observed.
A small group of grygans and minotaurs rallied behind Verpace, their panting forms revealing their determination to prove themselves.
Together, they shouted in unison, "Give us one more chance, Mojito! We'll show you our true potential!"
Fasit leaned in and whispered to me, an amused twinkle in her eyes, "It seems Mojito has finally learned the meaning of dedication. He's taking his duties quite seriously now."
I smiled, proud of the growth I had witnessed in Mojito.
"So, he's finally matured..."
Well, until...
Mojito's voice boomed once more, this time with a surprising tune.
"Lumiere-sama, with his big amethyst eyes, curvy waist, and beautiful thighs..."
Verpace followed up with a deep bass voice. "His sexy black hair, you'd mistake him for a girl, but honestly, I'd hit that—no, wait, he's a guy? Heck, I don't care!"
The minotaurs and grygans joined in with a loud melodic scream, their voices blending harmoniously amidst the chaos. Mojito then lifted the spade he had been using as a prop, holding it to his mouth like a microphone. "Lumiere-sama, the sexiest ruler, no matter what they say, he's number one, the argument's over!"
I froze in place, my face paling in disbelief.
My once-respectable subordinates were now shamelessly sexualizing me, their words dripping with suggestive undertones that would make even the boldest blush.
"Sorry! Sorry! Sorry! Sorry!"
Fasit, her usually composed demeanor shattered, repeatedly bowed her head in a panic-stricken frenzy, her voice quivering as she stammered out an endless stream of apologies. Her ample bosom, straining against the confines of her dress, bounced with each frantic movement, threatening to burst forth at any moment. It was as if the sheer intensity of her panic had imbued her breasts with a life of their own.
"He said... my curvy waist, and Verpace... oh gods, he mentioned smashing..." I anemically pointed at them. "What am I supposed to make of all this?"
"Uhhh, please understand that Mojito may behave like a fool, but he genuinely means well. He's attempting to show his dedication in his own unique way."
"Well, he certainly has a strange way of showing it. We might need to have a little talk about boundaries."
Soon after, Fasit gracefully suggested, "Perhaps we should proceed to the next location, my lord."
Relief flooded over me as I eagerly nodded in agreement.
"Yes, please, let's move on," I replied.
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