Take Me Away, Dark Lord!

Duke Kaelus von Nacht, a man whose name was used to frighten enemy soldiers into surrender, was being towed through the streets of Oakhaven by a tiny, bouncing child.

The citizens parted before them like the Red Sea, pressing themselves against the walls to give the terrifying warlord a wide berth, only to stare in absolute bewilderment as he dutifully followed a little girl from stall to stall.

They did not go to a mere street stall for their main meal.

After allowing Seraphina to thoroughly inspect a juggler, pet a remarkably docile street dog, and consume half of a massive, sticky candied apple, Kaelus steered them away from the crowded square and toward a more exclusive district.

He stopped in front of a grand, multi-story building constructed of white marble and dark oak.

The sign above the door, wrought in elegant gold lettering, read: The Golden Stag.

It was Oakhaven’s most famous and exclusive restaurant, a place where reservations were booked months in advance by the wealthiest merchants and visiting nobles.

Kaelus pushed the heavy glass doors open without a second thought.

The interior was magnificent.

Crystal chandeliers cast a warm, ambient glow over velvet-lined booths and tables draped in pristine white linen.

A string quartet played softly in the corner.

The scent of roasted truffles, rich wine, and seared beef filled the air.

The maitre d’, a pompous man in a sharp suit, puffed out his chest and marched toward the entrance, ready to inform the newcomers that the restaurant was fully booked.

He took one look at the towering man in the midnight-blue coat, met those glowing, violent violet eyes, and practically swallowed his own tongue.

The pompous attitude vanished in a microsecond.

The maitre d’ bowed so low his nose nearly brushed the polished floor.

”Y-Y-Your Grace!” he stammered, his knees visibly knocking together. ”W-Welcome to The Golden Stag! We are honored! We are beyond honored! R-Right this way, please! The private balcony overlooking the river is available! Immediately!”

”Excellent,” Kaelus replied dryly, not breaking stride as he walked past the terrified man, pulling Seraphina along.

The patrons in the restaurant, wealthy merchants, local lords, and elegant ladies, went entirely silent.

Forks stopped halfway to mouths.

Wine glasses hovered in the air.

The terrifying Reaper of the North was in their city, in their favorite restaurant, holding the hand of a toddler who was currently trying to lick the last bit of sticky sugar off her chin.

They were seated at a magnificent table on a private, glass-enclosed balcony that offered a stunning view of the river winding through the city.

Kaelus sat down, his broad shoulders dwarfing the elegant wooden chair.

Seraphina scrambled up onto the plush velvet seat across from him, her legs dangling far above the floor.

A waiter, trembling so hard the water pitcher in his hand rattled against the glasses, approached the table.

”I-I-If it pleases Your Grace,” the waiter squeaked, handing them two gold-embossed menus. ”Shall I list the specials?”

”That will not be necessary,” Kaelus said, not even glancing at the menu. He looked at Seraphina. ”What do you desire?”

Seraphina, whose culinary experience before this week consisted entirely of porridge and survival berries, looked at the menu.

It was written in fancy, looping script she couldn’t fully read yet.

”I don’t know,” she admitted, kicking her legs. ”Is there soup? I liked the potato soup.”

Kaelus looked up at the trembling waiter. ”Bring your finest cuts of beef, roasted. A thick, cream-based soup. Fresh bread. And...” He paused, his tactical mind calculating the child’s preferences. ”...bring the largest, most fancy chocolate cake your pastry chef can construct. Bring it first.”

The waiter blinked. ”The... the cake first, Your Grace?”

”Did I stutter?” Kaelus asked, the temperature on the balcony dropping slightly.

”R-Right away, Your Grace! Cake first! Immediately!” The waiter bowed frantically and practically sprinted back toward the kitchens.

Seraphina gasped, her hands slapping against the white linen tablecloth. ”Cake first?! Papa Duke, you’re the best! Mrs. Gable used to say dessert first was a sin that would make your teeth fall out!”

”Mrs. Gable was an embezzling rat who is currently breaking rocks in a penal colony,” Kaelus stated matter-of-factly, pouring a glass of water from the pitcher. ”Her opinions on dental hygiene are irrelevant.”

Seraphina giggled, a bright, bubbling sound that bounced off the glass walls of the balcony.

The wait for the food was short.

The kitchen, terrified of angering the Archduke, prioritized his table over every other noble in the establishment.

Within ten minutes, a massive slice of rich, dark chocolate cake, layered with raspberry preserve and covered in spun gold sugar, was placed reverently in front of Seraphina.

She attacked it with the ferocity of a starving wolf cub.

Kaelus sat quietly, sipping his water, watching her eat.

The juxtaposition of the scene was not lost on him.

He was a man steeped in blood, sitting in a ridiculously overpriced restaurant, watching a small child smear chocolate all over her face.

It was awkward.

He did not know how to make small talk.

He did not know how to ask about her feelings or her dreams.

He only knew how to interrogate, command, and destroy.

But as he watched her, he realized he didn’t need to make small talk.

Seraphina was more than capable of filling the silence for both of them.

”Did you see the man with the fire?” Seraphina babbled between massive bites of cake. ”He blew it right out of his mouth! I bet he has a fire magic tummy! Can I learn how to blow fire out of my mouth?”

”No,” Kaelus replied instantly, shutting down that chaotic prospect. ”You possess a Dark affinity. You will learn to manipulate shadows and space. Leave the pyrotechnics to the circus performers.”

”Aww,” Seraphina pouted slightly, but quickly recovered. ”Okay, but can I make shadow dragons? Big ones that can fly? And eat people?”

Kaelus paused, seriously considering the tactical application of shadow familiars.