I blink my eyes a couple of times, hearing the birds chirp. The mattress was soft as ever. I wipe my eyes a few times to get my vision back, and could barely make out the sun rays bleeding from the windows.

  Well, one things for sure. I can tell the massive difference between the two beds. The decoy house versus the regal ranch house.

  I sit up on the edge of the bed, shirtless. I pop the bones in my neck a few times. Nothing but in my underwear as well.

  I don’t feel overjoyed to be sleeping like a king in here. It’s something that doesn’t keep me up at night just as long as I try to pretend it’s not there.

  Lifting myself off the bed took a lot of work. I really wanted to go back and sleep-in, but I have a lot to do today.

  I went over my morning routine, something I can now comfortably do. I put on a tunic-like shirt and made sure my Golden Insignia was pinned on. Some random pants I found in this wardrobe will have to do.

  I head downstairs, to where I see Jex setting the dining table. It smells fresh, the table is filled with food I’m not really familiar with.

  But there was the occasional sight. I never told her to do any of this. Was this just something she learned?

  Or was this just another thing she was forced to keep as a talent?

  The thought of it alone makes the gradual smile fall. Dark, and depressing.

  I finally reach the level, Jex sees me, and gives me a polite bow.

  “Good morning Master.” Her voice isn’t timid, but isn’t steady either. Felt forced. It felt practiced.

  I don’t push any further. I still remember I need to gain her trust for her to ease up on me. Even if it’s just one person like her. One Oni like her.

  Maybe I could feel a bit better, and that even in the place that I reside, it’s not entirely depressing.

  I look around. There’s one more thing I’m forgetting isn’t it?

  I don’t see her at all.

  “Hey, Jex. Where’s Rei?” I ask. She slightly jumps at the mention. Was she not expecting me to bring her up? Or that I would forget her?

  I couldn’t even if I wanted to. After everything I had told that girl prior that made me want to throw up.

  When this is all said and done, I owe her a sweet apology. Thing is, I wouldn’t know when that would be.

  She gets up from her bowing position, something that I didn’t even notice unless I spoke to her again.

  “R-Rei…she…had an emergency, and needed to go back home.”

  I slowly nod, but there's something off. The way Jex’s eyes glance behind her for a slight moment.

  Is she lying?

  Is Jex lying?

  “I see,” I add on.

  Jex fidgets more before speaking, “I’m sorry she had left your side on such short notice. Please, if there’s any punishment you have for her, I ask that you please strike it upon me instead.”

  Now, I furrow a brow.

  Punishment?

  This only fills my suspicion even more. When Rei got in trouble the first time, Jex didn’t bother moving a muscle to defend her.

  This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.

  Or was that because Flugel was there too? I don’t know. Too many factors.

  But there’s one thing I know now. Jex is lying, and wherever Rei went, wasn’t home.

  Regardless, I can’t have her outside of my supervision like that. There’s no telling what would happen. Especially if Flugel is out there just—

  I shake my head. I can’t think anything of like that.

  Jex looks at me, suspecting punishment for such short notice. I can’t really think of one, or moreso maybe because I don’t think there should be one.

  But…she is lying. Lying to me. Maybe a little punishment wouldn’t hurt.

  “Yeah, let’s play…breakfast roulette.” The idea practically got hammered in my head. Half truth, half life. I don’t know what this gain entails, but I’ll make up the details as I go.

  Jex looks at me, eyes widened. It’s not fear anymore, that’s good. But shock, surprised.

  I offer for her to take a seat on the dining table, and she does so. With the breakfast platter before us, and much more food that I assumed she made.

  “Game is easy. You see the food you made, right? You can grab a bite. I’m sure you haven’t eaten anything recently.”

  Her eyes look away from mine, and I can hear the faint growl of her stomach. Good. Advantage is mine.

  This won’t work if she can resist her own hunger, but in the end, I lose nothing.

  “Only way you can grab this is by just answering a few little questions I have. That’s all.”

  She seems to be relieved at this part, though. I mean, who wouldn’t? Just answer questions for some free food.

  “But—I’ll know if you’re lying. So please, don’t make this harder than it has to be.”

  Her fingers interlace. She’s more timid now than anything. I’m not a intimidating person, but I just need to play the part.

  Before I can gain Jex’s trust first I need to give her a reason why I’m still a force to be reckoned with. I don’t want her to go blowing my cover just because I act too nice.

  Now, with the cherry on top.

  “Shall we begin?”

  She hesitantly nods her head. It’s like as if she signed her own death warrant.

  Doesn’t matter. I focus on the better things. I pour a glass of orange juice, and I slide it to her. She looks at it, and studies me.

  There’s many ways I can go about this. First things first, I don’t know clearly if she’s lying. Analyzing was always a part of fencing. I was told to analyze body language.

  Or maybe I came up with that by myself.

  Point being, I can at least know the difference when Jex tells the truth or lies. If it’s subtle, I wouldn’t notice a thing.

  Which means I need to scare her.

  Do that, and her timid nature will reveal everything I need to know.

  I have to set the tone.

  A sly smile crept upon my face, and the next words that came from my mouth made my heart shrink.

  “Don’t be a hero.”

  I pour another glass of orange juice, the sound of it trickling into the cup is the only thing that fills the long, dramatic silence between us.

  “I don’t know what you think of me. And frankly, I don’t care. I’ve only known you for such a short time, so I really do hope that you tell me the truth.”

  “Because then again.”

  “You wouldn’t want others to suffer for your mishaps, do you?”

  My delivery is top-notch, perfect. Creepy and eerily just as how I envisioned it. Instilling fear only for just a moment. I still remember that I need to gain her trust, that, but it’ll take too long.

  I need to revise her mind. Revise the current image she has of me, until there is none. Until she can’t identify me anymore.

  Until she doesn’t even know who I am or what I’m capable of anymore.

  I don’t want her to look at me like a savior, and not a total dickhead master. Just something in between. A blurring line between the two.

  Jex looks back, her face growing with uncomfortable displeasure. She slightly bites her lip, as if contemplating. As if making a decision of her life.

  That tells me something. Perhaps she knows more than what she’s letting on. What does she exactly know? Hard to point out…

  I give myself three questions. Three sounds fair and easy, if I go overboard, then I may lose the initial fear that I instilled in her. It won’t be long before her own autonomy tests to dance around the line and lie to me.

  Which means…

  That for the first three questions, she’s going to tell the truth.

  She’s not sure if I will carry out my threats or not, but even so, would she want to gamble that? Would she want to lie, and have others suffer in her place? Have Rei suffer in her place?

  No, she wouldn’t want to.

  I look at her, and from my point of view—I need to understand she’s no different than an opponent here. That all of this? Is nothing more than a fencing match.

  A match I already have control of.