Page 127 of I Ran Away to Evil
Luckily, I Am a Patient Dark Lord
Keith
Keith received a report from the mouse golem he had tailing Minstrel Bronwynn that told him she and Henrietta were still baking in the kitchen.
Well, Henrietta was baking. Bronwynn was telling a story about last winter’s hunt for the White Stag in Peldeep, and how many people had fallen over from the spiked apple cider.
Fall was his favorite time of the year, and it was so far away. They needed to finish the war, go to the Spring Ball, and then suffer through summer and the Summer Masquerade before the cold, crisp wind heralded cozy blankets and warm tea and scones.
Of course, he had warm tea and scones all year, but there was something magical about autumn and its aesthetic.
Keith sighed and turned back to his reports.
Suddenly, Rufus burst into his office. Unlike the usual suave grace that carried the man, he was in a sheer panic.
“Why didn’t you warn me?” he demanded. There were a lot of people bursting into offices these days; Chloe, Rufus, and even himself. Was this what it was going to be like for the foreseeable future?
“About what?” Keith couldn’t evenrememberthe last time he’d seen his friend looking so out of sorts.
Rufus stood up straighter and tried to compose himself. “Our newguest.”
“Minstrel Bronwynn?” Keith stamped a sheet of paper and put it in the to-be-filed pile.
“She’s a Minstrel now?” Rufus asked, excitedly, then he paused. “Wait, never mind that. What is she doing in the kitchen?”
“Why are you asking me?” Keith countered. “I think it should be obvious enough: Henrietta is baking her some bimbleberry scones.”
Keith hoped they saved him some. He would hate to hold a grudge against Ria’s oldest friend.
Rufus ran a hand aggressively down his face. “How long is she going to be here?”
“As long as she wants. Or more, as long as Ria wants.” Keith raised an eyebrow at his friend. The man had just told him how much effort he went to in order to see famous bardic performances around the continent. Now that they had one of the most renowned minstrels in their castle, he should have expected this. “I should let you know, Minstrel Bronwynn is joining us for dinner.”
Rufus made a choking noise and pulled at the collar of his crisp white shirt. “How do I look?”
Keith raised an eyebrow. “Uncomfortable?”
“You’re useless,” the commander general told his king. “I’m going to go find Chloe.”
Keith waved dismissively at his best friend. “You do that. I’m sure she isn’t distracted by her new fiancée. If you’re worried, why don’t you just skip dinner?”
“Are you mad?” Rufus glared.
Keith eyed Rufus. “Not particularly. Though some might wonder how I wouldn’t be mad at your insolence. Luckily, I am a patient Dark Lord.”
“I’m leaving,” Rufus stated. “I’ll see you at dinner.”
The beastman stalked out on a mission to go find Chloe and do whatever it was they would do in order to prepare him for eating dinner.
Keith didn’t know what the fuss was all about; he didn’t care what he looked like in front of Ria … The Dark Lord glanced down at his own tunic. The top two buttons were broken, creating a V-neck shape as the fabric dangled open. The bottom button was gone, and another button had snapped in half, hanging on by a thread.
Keith stood up. Maybe heshouldchange his clothes before dinner.
“It pleases this Rinrin that Your Viciousness has come to me.” The ratkin in charge of Keith’s wardrobe looked up from darning his socks.
The Dark Lord didn’t visit the laundry room very often, but that was where Rinrin was, and he needed her. The room was filled with giant boilers being stirred by her ratkin family and one stone golem. “Do you need more golems?”
He asked because the idea of a ratkin falling into the boiling waters flashed before his eyes, and he immediately started planning improvements for the laundry operation.
