You've Ruined My Atmosphere!

Lord Dulla Tyranus continually tapped his fingers against the dark wood of his desk, staring into the emptiness that was his office. Books filled with practical knowledge and the occasional tasteful decoration dotted the stone-walled room, a sign of his sophistication as the ruler of his domain.

However, he could not even focus on those right now. No, not when the radiant sun threatened to burn down his door and the walls of his keep.

Erm, figuratively speaking at least, not literally. Apparently, she'd been spending the past month helping the civilians under his rule repair the environmental and other infrastructure damage that had occurred in their fight. She was apparently very apologetic about that for some reason—an extreme rarity when it came to adventurers and 'heroes'.

He had no doubts that she could, however. Not just because of her absurd physical capabilities and her unnatural healing, but also due to that same radiant aura that was beginning to make him sweat.

That part was literal. She was just that bright and happy, and it seemed to radiate from her being and warm everything around her. Even his armor heated up when he saw her, and that was enchanted to handle the extremes of temperature, from the depths of the Frozen Wastes to the arid heat of the deserts of Zan'sar—

"BAH!"

The dullahan slammed his fist onto his desk, shaking the room and rattling its contents as his mustache bristled with frustration. He had no time for this nonsense and musing! Why was he even entertaining the mental image of that fool of a woman?

It'd been six weeks since their fateful clash, and ever since then, she'd been constantly hounding him on his tours of his lands or inspections of the town. It was like having a particularly persistent and gleefully grating shadow.

At first, he'd tried to deal with her the same way—force. However, while it was somewhat cathartic every time he could make her become serious for a time and cross blades with her, she would always just get right back up afterwards with nary a scratch on her.

Even more frustrating than that was that she seemed to enjoy being hit. The observations he'd made about her since their first fight deemed she could actually dodge a fair amount of his strikes, but instead she took them on the chest, hips, or buttocks and grinned like a loon while complimenting his strength!

It was enough to make him want to slam his head against something, which was saying something considering how many years he'd honed his self-control. One didn't become good at governing and combat by being a fool, after all. However, this woman was the kind of foe that his usual tricks didn't work against.

She was a strange, baffling, and utterly indestructible woman.

Not to mention the fact that the citizens under his rule, the very same ones who feared him, seemed to adore her. Even the children, usually so quick to hide when they saw him, would run up to her with smiles on their faces, as if she were some kind of saint or… something.

The mere thought of it made his skin crawl. It was as if she had cast a spell on the entire town, and not even the most powerful magic in his arsenal could dispel it.

It was ruining everything!

He stood up to look out over his hands from the window behind his desk, glaring at the golden-haired maiden who was currently helping a farmer move his wagon from a rut. A few days ago, she had been helping an old woman carry her groceries, and before that, a group of young men with moving their lumber from the nearby forest to their workshop.

He had spent decades fostering a respectable atmosphere of gloom and dread, and she was ruining all of his hard work. If he did not act quickly, he knew that she would continue to worm her way into the hearts and minds of the townsfolk, and then… then…

He shuddered at the thought. Then he would have to deal with her constant presence, her radiant aura, and her infuriatingly sunny disposition all the damned time!

Enough was enough.

With a grunt of determination, Lord Dulla Tyranus strode from his study and down the grand hallway of his keep.

He had another plan down his armored greaves.

***

Eirlys Gloriana—or rather Dame Eirlys Gloriana the Sunsteel Maiden and the Radiant Vow, as she was officially known amongst her peers in the knight order of Lach'rodain—smiled at the farmer that she had just helped. The sun was high in the sky, and the townsfolk were bustling with activity, their voices a cheerful chorus that echoed through the streets.

As the wind ruffled her golden locks, Eirlys couldn't help but be amazed by the sight of the townspeople.

So this was what Lord Dulla Tyranus had built.

In the distance, the fields were lush and fertile, and the crops grew in abundance, their vibrant colors a clear sign of the care and dedication of the farmers. The buildings were sturdy and well-kept too, and the people were healthy and well-fed.

All of the rumors that she'd heard before were that the people under his rule were miserable. And sure, while there had definitely been a depressing air about the place when she'd first arrived, upon closer inspection, it was clear that this was a place of order and efficiency.

She'd heard that he'd implemented a strict code of laws and regulations, and that he ruled with an iron fist, punishing those who dared to disobey. In secret, they all actually loved their Lord for it, especially since the neighboring lands were filled with chaos and anarchy, where the strong preyed on the weak and the innocent suffered.

In the town square, a fountain bubbled merrily, its crystal-clear waters a source of refreshment for all who passed by.

Even though Lord Dulla was definitely a terrifying individual, he was also a man of honor and nobility. He had taken the law into his own hands and had created a society where everyone could thrive. He'd even set up universal schooling for all his citizens, lest he need to, in his own words, "deal with damnable idiots like that 'hero' again."

Though, from her personal experiences with him, Eirlys knew that there was more to Lord Dulla Tyranus than even that. Beneath his fearsome exterior, she sensed a gentle and caring soul too.

One that was willing to beat the everloving shit out of her~

"Hello, Dame Eirlys!" a voice called out, breaking her out of her thoughts and drawing her attention towards a small group of children running up to her.

Eirlys smiled down at them, her heart warming at the sight of their innocent faces.

"Hello my dears! How are you today?" she asked, kneeling down to their level.

"We spotted Lord Dulla on his horse!" one of the children exclaimed excitedly, her blue eyes sparkling. "He's coming this way!"

"Really?" Eirlys asked, her own eyes widening in surprise and her smile growing brighter. Oh, her heart just fluttered with excitement and joy. He had finally come out of his office!

"Uh-huh!" another child chimed in, his brown hair tousled by the wind. "I saw him too! In fact, I'm pretty sure—"

"DAME EIRLYS GLORIANA!" a voice boomed from the distance, causing everyone to jump and turn to face the source of the sound.

The sight that greeted them was a sight to behold indeed—Lord Dulla Tyranus, his imposing form clad in his dark plate armor, sitting astride his terrifying—but quite lovingly groomed—black horse.

His eyes were a glowing storm of crimson and gold, flashing with an intensity that sent a shiver through Eirly's entire being.

It was so romantic~

"My dear Dulla-sama!" she exclaimed, her heart racing with anticipation as she leapt over the group of children and began running towards him, her sword gleaming in the sunlight as she drew it from its sheath. "I have been eagerly waiting for you!"

"HOLY HELL! PUT THAT THING AWAY!" Lord Dulla bellowed, his voice booming across the square as several townspeople dived for cover. "YOU'RE NOT THE ONLY ONE HERE RIGHT NOW!"

"Oh, my dearest, I am so sorry," Eirlys apologized, a blush of embarrassment creeping up on her cheeks. She still felt horrible for all the damage she'd caused in the first fight and would rather not risk any harm to his people either. "I got a little carried away, but I promise I'll be more careful from now on!"

"…Just come with me. We're going to have a talk," Lord Dulla said, his voice gruff as he turned his horse and began to ride away.

Eirlys's eyes sparkled with delight as she watched him ride, her heart fluttering in her chest like a trapped butterfly. Lord Dulla wanted to talk with her? In private?!

"Hehe~" she nearly drooled as she followed him closely, her gaze never leaving his majestic form. He was a true knight, a paragon of virtue, and she couldn't help but feel a surge of admiration and adoration for him—that and she seriously wanted him to beat the daylights out of her for a few hours.

"Right behind you!"