An Archer's Promise

Beta read by Shigiya and Fluffy Slayer. Special thanks to GameCrusher55

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-Feoh-

For a certain brunette Princess Knight, these past few days felt like the end times. Chaos had descended unexpectedly, shattering her once ironclad resolve. The tragedies that had befallen Claudia had basically turned her whole world upside down. First was her husband's kidnapping, who was tortured to the brink of death. While the perpetrators behind this heinous act are still unknown, her dear husband now spends his days bedridden with little hope of recovery. 

Celestine's behavior had become peculiar, to say the least. She couldn't even recall the last time she had seen her friend at the local orphanage. 

Her own student, Alicia, had been holed up in her room for days following the incident. Even Kaguya refused to divulge any details about what had transpired, leaving Prim completely in the dark. 

The presence of a monster within this kingdom, wielding forbidden magic that converted people into mindless zealots was troubling enough… Yet, the fact that this being was dismissed as nothing but a vastly weakened entity by Archer was even more alarming. The weight of these events bore heavily on her.

"Will you be going back?" a voice inquired nearby. Claudia turned to see Kaguya, the young priestess, standing at the entrance of her temporary quarters, accompanied by other maidens. 

"You look tired," Kaguya observed, making her colleague want to sigh. She was in no mood for conversation, especially with her… they never were able to get along that well in the past. "I recommend a day off. Take some time to rest outside your abode. Maybe spend some time with Prim, she is a lovely friend to have along." 

"Kaguya," Claudia replied, struggling to process a coherent thought through her exhaustion. The only thing she could manage was a tired smile. "I'm exhausted, that is true, so I may consider it. And as for whether I'm going back, no, I'll be staying here. There's a chance that those who hurt and kidnapped my husband are still roaming in my kingdom — I cannot leave Klaus there under any circumstances. My knights, who I assigned to protect him, have failed me, and I do not believe I can trust them again with such a task."

It hurt her pride to admit that. These were girls she had personally trained for years, almost like daughters she had raised to become brave and valiant warriors. Yet even that wasn't enough to quell her current fears.

"I heard what happened from my servants. You were fed an unknown substance, weren't you?" Kaguya's question made Claudia flinch, uncertain whether to agree or shake her head.

"It's unclear what happened. I just suddenly felt weak. My memories are a bit hazy," she lied, frustrated that she would resort to it. Claudia recalled fragments with startling clarity—the searing sensation of fire coursing through her veins still elicited a reaction within her body. Though the effects had waned, it lingered enough for her to still feel the ghostly grasp of that man's hands on her chest. 'There is no way he'd do that. Grave wouldn't...You wouldn't stoop to such barbarity. It must have been that monster's doing.'

At this point, she didn't know whether she was stating a fact or trying to convince herself. A part of her shuddered at the thought of being wrong, at the possibility that Grave was truly behind this.

"Why did you come here, Kaguya?" Claudia asked. Without uttering a word, the priestess strode swiftly into the room and grabbed Claudia's face, much to her shock. She instinctively wanted to pull away,k but was instead frozen byKaguya's intense gaze.

"Same eyes, increased temperature, dilated pupils, haggard breathing, and…" Kaguyagently pressed her thumb against Claudia's tongue, sliding it across her lips slowly, sending an electrifying sensation through her body.

"!?" Claudia's instincts took over, and the exhaustion left her body instantly, replaced by sheer surprise. She quickly backed off as far as she could, her back hitting the stone wall with enough force to cause cracks. "What are you doing!?" she shouted, covering her mouth as an intense red hue colored her face.

Kaguya ignored the brunette's question, her focus shifting to her thumb. Sniffing it, her face soured as she proceeded to lick it. The other maidens standing behind her remained impassive, their lack of reaction only heighteningClaudia's anxiety

"Answer me! If this is some kind of prank, then I swear, allies or not, I will throw you out of this room with—"

"It's the same," Kaguya interrupted, disregarding Claudia's outrage as she bowed to her fellow Princess Knight . "I apologize for the intrusion. I merely needed to confirm something, and it seems my suspicion was correct. Thank you for your time, Claudia-sama." With a slight bow, Kaguya turned and left the room, her maidens following in silent procession.

Hundreds, if not thousands, of questions, rummaged through Claudia's mind as she watched them leave. Her breathing was haggard, and the myriad of thoughts coupled with what she had just experienced made her heart race like a drumbeat. "What...What the hell!?"

Another knock on the door made her flinch, her hand instinctively reaching for a chair, ready to hurl it at the entrance in a mix of fear and frustration. "What now!?" she shouted, only to regret her action instantly when she saw a frightened-looking Alicia at the door, the young blonde peeking in with wide cautious eyes. Seeing Claudia's disheveled state, Alicia's expression shifted to one of deep concern. She quickly entered the room, gently taking hold of Claudia's hands without saying a word.

"W-what happened? Are you okay, lady Claudia?" Alicia asked, her voice trembling with concern. Claudia couldn't blame her for her reaction, for her appearance was pitiful. Sunken eyes, disheveled hair, and her skin sticky with sweat—a sight more fitting for someone fighting on the battlefield for days without rest, with only the blood of her enemies absent from the grim tableau.

Strangely enough, Alicia herself looked far from well. Her normally bright eyes were bloodshot, and there was a weariness about her, as if she hadn't slept in days. 

Poor child.

Forcing a smile, Claudia pulled the young woman into an embrace. Alicia stiffened at first, but soon relaxed into it. "It's all right, Alicia. I'm just tired and dealing with something that requires a lot of my attention at the moment." That was the extent of the explanation she was willing to give, unwilling to burden Alicia with more than that. Her vague answer only deepened the confusion and concern in the blonde-haired Princess Knight's eyes, but she said nothing, simply holding Claudia a little tighter.

It was clear that Alicia was unaware of what had just happened. Claudia wasn't surprised. Kaguya was always several steps ahead, possessing knowledge that seemed almost otherworldly. As Celestine's shadow, Kaguya moved through the hidden currents of their world, accomplishing tasks in secrecy that even Claudia, Celestine's right hand, could only speculate about.

"Is something the matter? Did you want to talk to me about something?" Claudia asked, eager to change the subject. Rising quickly, she tried to comb her disheveled hair, then took a warm, damp towel to wipe her face. The cool cloth helped calm her nerves, but she couldn't completely hide the tremors in her hands or shake the lingering sensation of Kaguya's touch on her lips. The questions that now plagued her mind had already cemented itself. 

"Um, I-I… P-Prim… rec-received a summoning from Celestine-sama," Alicia stammered, her voice tinged with urgency. "She asked all of us to make our way to the main throne room as soon as possible. A-apparently, there has been another attack, near the castle of all places. And from what I gathered, there have been some casualties."

Claudia's hand tightened into a fist, her heart sinking as she braced herself for the inevitable bad news. The mention of casualties struck her like a blow: dread and confusion already consuming her. "What!?" she exclaimed, springing from her seat with newfound energy. Her hand slammed down on the table with such force that it nearly splintered,but she barely even noticed. Her attention was focused solely on Alicia. "Casualties? Who? How many have died?"

"I...I...I'm not sure," Alicia was barely cohesive with her words, not to mention her constant swaying, but Claudia was too preoccupied to notice.. "Celestine-sama'sletter didn't specify any details, so I guess we'll find out when we get there."

Claudia's mind was once again thrown into turmoil. Just when she had begun to recover her state of calm, Murphy's law found a way to rear its ugly head into her life. 'How could this be? No one was reported dead last I checked!' Despite her body burning with carnal desire, she meticulously checked on her knights earlier. 'It must be something else, it must be!'

Unwilling to believe she had missed such a crucial detail, she walked out of the door with Alicia quickly following. She hadn't realized the gravity of what lay ahead.

{Break}

"Grave Levantine, as well as several of his personal guards, were found dead early today. Killed by the same entity that attacked Archer, according to my vision and the remnant mana left on some of the corpses." Celestine's words struck Claudia like a mountain dropping on her head. The world around her dimmed as shock and disbelief took hold. Her hands clenched into fists, and her shoulders trembled as a storm of emotions raged inside her. The other Princess Knights displayed similar reactions. 

Celestine waited for a few seconds, her eyes closed, a blank expression with subtle traces of sadness evident for all to see. The weight of the news lingered in the air like a heavy fog. Archer and the dark queen, standing below and overseeing the others, couldn't believe their ears.

"What the hell!?" Maya, the red-headed woman, was the first to react, springing from her seat with rage and confusion. "Did that fucking monster appear again? I swear I'll find it and gut it with my bare hands!"

"Control yourself, Maia," Alicia interjected, smacking her hands against the armrest. "You shouldn't raise your voice before Celestine-sama like that!"

"Oh come on, I don't have time for your prissy attitude," Maya shot back, her fiery temper flaring as she glared at Alicia. At this, Claudiafully expected Alicia to erupt in response. But much to her surprise, Alicia remained calm, clenching her fist and glaring back.

"How did this happen?" Lulu spoke next, having recovered from her initial shock and now displaying a rare calm composure. "If it's that monster that caused so much damage last time, then we should gather our forces and attack it right now. My troops are ready to be deployed at any second."

Her voice, despite her stature, carried a strength that befit her status. However, Celestine quickly shook her head, dismissing Luu-luu's suggestion.

"Let's not try anything drastic yet," the Goddess Reborn responded, her heartbroken expression betraying the immense sorrow she carried. "I only got this news a few minutes ago, and as far as I can tell, we are already too late. Whoever is responsible has likely already fled. There is a large possibility that they have covered their tracks, hoping to lure us into a trap to cause infighting among us. We must remain on guard and not fall for their tricks. I have asked Kaguya to help with the investigations and hopefully find out who killed Grave."

Her eyes fell on Claudia, who had remained silent throughout the conversation, though her eyes betrayed the storm of emotions brewing within her, as she gazed between Archer and Olga. 

'Was it him?' she wondered, jumping to the most obvious conclusion given recent events. Yet Celestine's words contradicted this belief. Despite her limited acquaintance with Archer, she was well familiar with Olga Discordia and was unwilling to put it past her to use this opportunity to sow discord.

'She has been quiet lately, far too quiet for the dark queen who once waged war against us,' she pondered. But before she could dwell further on Olga's silence, another pressing matter demanded her attention. "You said there were multiple victims. Who else was killed?" 

She mentally ran through the faces of those she trained, wanting to know their names to give them a proper burial.

"I'm sorry, Claudia," Celestine said softly. "The other knights found one of your captains, gravely affected by some kind of poison. It was ravaging her body, and despite all my efforts, I couldn't save her. Please forgive me."

Damn it, again she failed to save another life.

"It's not your fault. This is a tragedy that none of us were prepared for," Kaguya added before turning her attention to Olga and Archer. "Are you certain that it was this beast we spoke about previously that attacked Grave?" 

Kaguya's question echoed what had been replaying in Claudia's mind, a doubt gnawing at her relentlessly — And it was not just her but everyone in the room. Including Luu-Luu who's typically jovial expression had vanished, replaced by a rare seriousness. The same could be said for Maia, as well as Alicia. 

Most of them, if not all, harbored doubts about the presence of the Dark Queen herself. Yet none were eager to voice them, hesitant after everything that had transpired in the past few days. As much as Maya hated this woman, she had to acknowledge the existence of the Beast that nearly killed Archer. Lulu, on the other hand, seemed indifferent towards the Counter Guardian, her thoughts a mystery even to Kaguya herself. As for Alicia, her thoughts were chaotic, to say the least.

Their doubts were swiftly silenced the moment Celestine resumed her speech. "I used my powers for this instance. A vision showed me the presence of a young blonde child, standing amidst a pool of blood belonging to none other than Grave."

"That's her!" Maia shouted, recognizing the description of the entity Archer had warned them about, the very same one who fought him last time. "But still, are you sure she wasn't accompanied by an accomplice or something?"

"Had we been accomplices then she wouldn't have helped you precious little Kuroinu group raid my castle, now wouldn't she?" Olga remarked, a light scowl planted fresh across her face at the accusation. "Don't think for a second I would lower myself to work alongside a putrid parasite that cannot be controlled, let alone defeated by normal means. I do not bow down to anyone and I certainly wouldn't ally with something as dangerous as her." 

"I am certain," Celestine's confidence left both Maia and Claudia unsure how to feel. For the latter, the certainty brought an unexpected reprieve. On the one hand, she was relieved it wasn't Archer, for it meant he had truly listened to her pleas and spared her father. But on the other hand, a darker realization settled over her. She knew Radomira would despise her if anything were to befall Archer. The mere thought of losing the child's affection was more than terrifying, it was soul-crushing. The Tiefling was a beacon of light for Claudia, a source of joy— an anchor. The fear of that loss would easily push her over the edge.

'Then, what should I do? I can't just leave this matter unresolved. How will I face Klaus once he finds out I failed to protect his father?' The unanswered questions weighed heavily on her, drowning her in a sea of doubt.

"This is bad. We can't let this monster continue having its way in our territory. We have to find it as soon as possible, right?" Maia's voice cut through the silence, her eyes turning sharply towards Archer as if seeking his confirmation.

Archer glanced between Claudia and the others before sighing. "It's not that simple. If it was only a matter of manpower, I would have been able to handle her. The real issue is that she is elusive, well hidden, and knows how to avoid detection. That's why I asked all of you for help previously."

The room grew deathly quiet as the gravity of the situation settled in. Celestine inhaled deeply before addressing the group. "We must be strategic. Rushing in blindly without a plan will only lead to more casualties. Kaguya and I will focus on tracking the Beast's lair. In the meantime, we need everyone to be on high alert and ready to act at a moment's notice."

Maia nodded, her fists tightening as determination burned in her eyes. She couldn't afford to fail again. "I'll rally my men and the Knights, make sure we're prepared for any surprise attacks. We need to be ready for anything." One by one, the others filed out of the room. Alicia was the first one to dart off, much to everyone's confusion, though Archer suspected she just didn't want to see the sight of him.

It wasn't long until all who were left were none other than Archer and Celestine. 

"Just what are you planning?" He asked, making sure there would be no one spying on their conversation. 

"I'm afraid I don't understand," Celestine answered rather calmly, leaving her throne and walking towards him. There was something different about her, unlike her previous self who seemed more erratic and restless, this one now remained calm and composed. He wasn't sure whether to feel slightly worried or not. "I have indeed seen a site that has shown me the truth, it is an unfortunate incident and we have lost a valuable ally who aided us for decades." 

Did she truly not discover his or Olga's involvement prior to the death of those Knights? Yet he felt that Celestine wasn't as interested in this particular topic in the first place, to the point she didn't even look that affected by Grave's death nor the Knight's.

"Shirou, may I ask you something?" 

"If it's not something I've already answered previously then sure." He had long since given up trying to correct her insistence on calling him Shirou. 

"Be honest with me. How certain are you that you'll walk out alive from facing Draco?" 

He remained silent for a moment, studying her, trying to discern what lay behind her question. "I've told you before, these creatures are entities that can be classified as Gods by your people's understanding. Even some of the gods from my own world fear them, and rightly so. They are practically natural disasters given form. So to answer your question, no, it is very unlikely that I will survive. Facing Draco would most likely be my last encounter." 

Celestine closed her eyes, drawing in a slow, measured breath before meeting his gaze once more. Her clear green eyes gazed at him with an unrecognizable intent behind them. "You call yourself a Counter Guardian, yet facing beings like Draco… that has never been part of your duty, has it?" 

"You are correct," he answered honestly.

"Yet why is the one who chained you forcing you to face her?" 

What an apt description of his relationship with Alaya. Chained… it fits all too well. 

"I don't have the answer for that, I'm afraid. Had a Grand Heroic Spirit been summoned instead of me, then Draco would have been dealt with long before Vault even began his attack on Olga."

"Then what is a Counter Guardian truly…"

"Counter Guardians are called forth by the World to confront major disturbances or singularities that threaten humanity's survival — it just happens that in most cases these disturbances are caused by people themselves rather than a Beast." As he answered, the woman broke her gaze from him and looked down. Quietly she placed her hands gently against his stomach, while her head rested on his chest. 

Just before he could pull away, Emiya heard her whisper, "I'm sorry." 

"..."

"I have seen a great deal of your past. All the trials you've faced, the pain you've endured—for the sake of strangers who never once acknowledged your sacrifice."

"Because recognition was never my goal."

A soft giggle escaped her lips, "I know, you just wanted to save everyone. And even now, despite it all, you're still trying to do the same thing." 

Shirou Emiya had always made his intentions clear: he wanted to save everyone, in any way he could. In the past, that drive had defined him, shaped his every action.. His current situation wasn't a noble quest born from the goodness of his heart, Emiya wasn't a naive boy who would blindly throw himself into saving everyone he came across. 

"I know you're thinking that I'm wrong."

"I'm surprised you noticed that," he answered sarcastically. 

"In the end, even after you save those in this world, you will return to Alaya," she murmured, her grip on him tightening ever so slightly. Despite her lack of clothing, it wasn't uncomfortable. Perhaps he had simply grown accustomed to how little women in this world wore. "Then you'll be sent off to another world to start the process all over again. Killing and saving those unworthy again and again till eternity. Are you not sick of this?" 

For a moment, Emiya sighed and showed a bittersweet smile. "Nothing I can do about that, and I made a promise to someone… And that gives me some peace, even in the midst of it all." 

"For now," Celestine countered softly, her fingers brushing gently against his face. "But how long can you keep this up? How long until you're back where you started? I can't pretend to understand what it's like to live for eternity under the control of a god-like being, forced to kill without end. But I know that you don't deserve this fate. This endless cycle… it's nothing short of purgatory."

That it was.

"I'm glad you finally understand my current situation, but I'm not sure where this conversation is leading. You already know the truth about me and my past, even though it took you a while to accept it. But now that you have, I hope you won't lose sight of what your people need. We still have to rid this realm of that creature that has taken hold here. Your sister also seems willing to assist me, although I'm uncertain of how much she truly knows."

Celestine's body stiffened for a moment when he said that. 

"Yes, Serafina cares deeply for the people of this world."

"And you don't?" 

"I… I… the people of this world, I have fought for them for centuries. My actions have proven that, haven't they?" Her hesitation was palpable, and it wasn't the answer he'd expected to hear. "But now I also care about you, Shirou. That is why I have made up my mind." Her tone sharpened with conviction, and the hesitation disappeared as a fierce determination flared behind her eyes. 

"I will help you like we've agreed to before, I will make sure that this world does not fall to ruin, and in the process, I will find a way to free you. I know what you will do but still, I want to try. So please, just give me a chance to save you." 

She wasn't going to give up, was she? 

"If you can achieve what's essentially a miracle, then who am I to stop you?" 

A smile bloomed on Celestine's face, "That's all I needed to hear." 

Yet despite her newfound confidence, a gnawing unease stirred within him. 

The desperation that had once clouded her eyes was gone, replaced by something calmer, more assured—almost as if she already knew the outcome.

{Break}

Archer's presence at the summoning had left him feeling more uncertain than ever. Rather than reaching a consensus or preparing for the inevitable, he was now more wary and confused. Something was definitely amiss here. Either someone within the Princess Knight group was deliberately covering for them, or the Beast itself is playing mind games with him. Both scenarios were equally troubling, and to be frank, he was unsure of his next move. 

He had little time to dwell on his thoughts when a voice cut through the silence behind him. 

"Did you kill him?" Claudia's voice was sharp and accusatory, words laced with distrust the moment he stepped through the castle gates. She followed him closely until they were away from prying eyes. In the past, his answer would have been simple and direct, truthful even, but after what had transpired in the meeting, he knew the truth would only turn her against his favor. Claudia's trust in Celestine's words far outweighed any faith she had in him.

'I can tell her the truth, but in her state, I'm not sure she will even be willing to listen to me, or even Olga for that matter.' 

Unfortunately, before he could settle on a course of action or find the right words, Claudia covered her mouth and uttered a soft apology under her breath. 

"Hm?" 

"I-Apologies. Celestine already mentioned that you weren't involved… that you could have killed him back then — but you didn't. It would not have made any sense to do it just hours later… I… I jumped to a hasty conclusion." 

Truthfully, killing the man hadn't been part of his initial plan. His only goal had been to extract more information before leaving him to his fate. But the moment he managed to uncover Olga's identity and displayed a brazen lack of fear, Emiya's approach had shifted. There were simply too many unknowns, too many ways the situation could spiral out of control if the man were allowed to live. Either path would have led to a problematic outcome, but in that moment, he chose the one that would benefit him the most.

He saw Grave in the midst of an act that would have shattered his reputation and labeled him as a traitor. The man's ability to manipulate his network of connections to save himself and erase Emiya from the equation was a possibility that did not escape him. 

Not to mention, the Princess Knights had repeatedly proven themselves to be little more than figureheads, possessors of great power, yet lacking any real influence.

Now however, he had a lead; Beardsley.

This just happened to be the least troublesome in his opinion.

The faster he could uncover the source of the aphrodisiac,the quicker he could prevent Draco from regaining strength—even if it meant making new enemies along the way.. This time, he was prepared to sacrifice his current life if necessary.

'Still, for Claudia to instantly change her stance on me due to Celestine's endorsement is indeed worrying. She may be wiser than the others but her blind faith in that Goddess is dangerous.'

"I did not kill any of your knights, nor did I harm any of your allies," Archer said firmly, his voice steady as he spoke the truth. Yet, that truth still puzzled him. Someone had gotten there after they left and disposed of the unconscious knight. Why? He couldn't tell yet. 

Regardless, his statement was the truth. Grave was never truly her ally, given what the atrocious act he was about to commit. 

He decided to shift gears, adopting a more serious tone for his next line of questioning. "You're avoiding the fact that he tried to assault you," he said bluntly, watching as the mature woman flinched at his words. "No matter what excuses you make, you witnessed it with your own eyes. You felt it too. He used a very potent aphrodisiac to make it easier to force himself on you. Yet, you still refuse to acknowledge the truth. It doesn't matter who or what ended his life; his intentions towards you were heinous from the start. Far from an ally, he was a lowlife ."

In an instant, Claudia's fist shot towards his face, but Archer caught it effortlessly. The impact created a loud echo, but despite the powerful force behind it being enough to shatter bones in a normal human, Archer stood firm, his hand steady as iron.

"Attack me all you want if it makes you feel better, but that doesn't change the truth," he said, his voice unwavering.

"The truth? What would you know about the truth?" Claudia's voice trembled with a volatile mix of anger and helplessness. "Grave was more than just my father-in-law. He was my mentor, my teacher — he raised me. Everything I know, everything I've become is because of him. How could he ever do something like that? He must have been brainwashed… Controlled by the Beast!"

"And what if he wasn't? What if he was never brainwashed or controlled? You must understand, betrayal often comes from those closest to you." He watched her struggle, searching for an answer she couldn't find.. "People change, sometimes for the better, sometimes for the worse. It seems clear to me that you never truly knew the man. Think about it— What would the Beast even gain from having him rape you? Nothing. We share a common enemy but don't start attributing every single incident to it. The eyes are useless when the mind is blind."

The tension between them rose, each unwilling to yield. His words weren't enough to break through the idolization she had for Grave, that much he knew. It was so deep rooted that her judgment could be considered compromised beyond repair. "From our prior conversation, I suspect you had someone other than the Beast and myself in mind." 

Her eyes widened in shock, clearly rattled by his words. Though the statement had been a bluff—an intentional lie to gauge her reaction—it had worked. It was a small gamble on his part, but it paid off the moment he sensed her strength falter before her knees grew weak. 

"Hrm," Hesitating for a moment on whether it was safe to touch her with what little pieces of metal covered her body, he carefully grabbed the woman's shoulders just to give her a bit of support. But even then, the contact felt uncomfortable, unfamiliar. "I see… I may have gotten a bit out of line. You are in no condition for such a conversation right now. That aphrodisiac must have left you physically and mentally weakened." 

She sighed deeply, exhaustion dulling any embarrassment she might have felt as Archer practically carried her to a nearby bench. Her thoughts were too clouded, her body too drained to dwell on the awkwardness of their proximity. 

"On that day you saved Prim, while I was conducting a mission with Aliciathere was an attack in my kingdom." Claudia began after a moment of silence, her voice tinged with fatigue. She closed her eyes, unconsciously leaning against Archer as if drawing strength from his presence.. "My husband, Klaus, was kidnapped from within the castle that day. Grave… he barely managed to escape the altercation with minor injuries. Despite his age he still remained a formidable fighter."

Archer listened intently, though suspicion clouded his thoughts now that Grave's involvement was apparent. Her story, to say the least, only deepened his unease. "Strange, a kidnapping rather than an assassination… did they demand some kind of ransom?" 

Claudia shook her head slowly, her expression darkening with the memory. "No, there was nothing left behind. No letter or anything of that sort. Only pure carnage, I… I couldn't bear the thought of anything happening to him… Klaus is a scholar, with a frail body. Not someone who can defend himself. My Knights and I turned the kingdom upside down, searching everywhere. We finally found him days later, hidden within the sewers. He had been tortured so badly that he could no longer move, let alone speak." 

Her shoulders trembled as she fought back her tears. 

Meanwhile, Archer watched her struggle, but his mind continued to churn through the details of the story, each piece only amplifying his suspicions. Why kidnap someone as important as Klaus, only to torture him to the brink of death? Not that it wasn't possible for that to be the case, but when Grave, an individual who held clear disdain for his son, from what he'd heard from Maia, was involved — it made it that much unlikely for this to have been a simple case of kidnapping.

"So you suspect the ones who kidnapped your husband have returned, and now they've started with your father." A statement to which she nodded.

"I thought I killed them all, but it's very likely the true mastermind is still out there. All I did was dispose of his minions, nothing more."

'The mastermind who in most likelihood is none other than Grave himself. The more I think about it, the more it makes sense. With his cunning mind and disdain for his own son, he could have orchestrated the entire affair—or at least helped facilitate it. If his goal was Claudia, then even if he wasn't the one who orchestrated the entire thing, it's very likely his son's kidnapping had merely been a means to an end. A cunning individual for sure, perhaps it's a good thing I disposed of him right there and then.'

"Did you bring it up with Celestine?" 

Once again, she nodded. 

"I did, I even brought Klaus here hoping she could work her magic on him. But with everything that's unfolded, it's been nearly impossible for her to try. As of now, she's my only hope for saving him, so I've kept him in a separate building, far from any possible danger and to prevent these people from finding him. It's better if he stays unaware of what's going on beyond those walls. I don't want to inflict more pain upon him by telling him about the monster that now roams our streets. And now...now I don't know if I can face him after failing to protect his father."

Archer hummed thoughtfully. After a few more probing questions, he learned that Klaus was physically paralyzed but fully conscious, with the only movement left to him being the faint flicker of his eyes. 

"Will you tell him now?" 

"Absolutely not," she answered without hesitation. "He needs his rest, to have his mind cleared from any worries so that his recovery continues without worry."

He had no opinion on her decision, this matter did not truly concern him and meddling would only attract more trouble in the future — he knew it would in one shape or form.

"May… May I ask a favor, Archer?" 

"Claudia!" The sound of a familiar voice jolted her from her thoughts as she sat slumped on the bench. All traces of exhaustion melted away as she sprang to her feet, arms wide open to catch the girl rushing towards her. "Easy now," she warned gently, "We wouldn't want you getting hurt." 

She quickly suppressed the weariness and vulnerability that had shown on her face moments before, replaced with a flawless mask of confidence and affection. He arched an eyebrow at how devoted this woman was to Radomira, which boded well for the future as she would be the perfect person to raise the girl when he was no longer around.

However, he still had a few other candidates in mind, ones he felt more confident about entrusting with Radomira's care. 

"What was it you were about to ask me, Claudia?" He prompted, drawing her attention back to him. 

She hesitated at first, looking at the girl in her arms and back at him a couple of times before sighing. 

{Break}

Something was off — strange, even unsettling, to say the least. Though chained to a torturous existence, Klaus couldn't shake the feeling that something unusual was stirring within the castle. but he couldn't quite put his finger on it due to his condition. His unmoving body lay lifeless on the bed, eyes glued to the ceiling for what felt like hours. This had become his miserable life—trapped in his own mind, tormented by the thoughts of the monster who had done this to him. He imagined, over and over, the intimacy between Claudia and his tormentor, how she might seek comfort in the arms of another. The mere thought filled him with a volatile mix of sadness, rage, and despair.

He wanted her to discover the truth, to stop trusting that vile creature that he once called 'father.' But all he could do was scream internally, watching as the relationship between that man and Claudia deepened to the point she no longer paid him as many visits. TThe pain gnawed at him even more as the maids, unaware or indifferent to his presence, gossiped freely. He listened, helpless, as they spoke in hushed but audible tones about how Claudia and Grave spent hours together in the study. 

She betrayed him… didn't she…

He continued to suffer, trapped in a perpetual cycle of agony, subjected to the so-called treatments of a doctor whose ministries seemed to do more harm than good. His silent screams found no release, and the tears that streamed down his face, dried up as the seconds, minutes, and hours blended together with the only indication of time being the light seeping through the gaps of the closed windows.

"—?"

His grim reverie was shattered by the creak of the door, followed by the unmistakable sound of footsteps approaching. The man's heart froze in terror, expecting one of Grave's accomplices to come in and end his life for good or perhaps the bastard himself wanted to pay him a visit with more stories between him and Claudia. And yet, a part of him longed for it, the prospect of death's sweet release seemed a welcome alternative to this neverending torment. 

Sometimes he'd get nightmares where he would wake from his slumber to find himself staring at the lust-filled eyes of Claudia panting and screaming his father's name as they sunk within a realm of pure pleasure, on top of him.

While he lay there paralyzed, with no choice but to watch.

'I didn't do anything to deserve this. Why me? I hate it! I just want to leave. To get away from this terrible place… I DIDN'T DESERVE THIS!' 

These dark thoughts clouded his mind as the footsteps drew nearer. His breathing became haggard, bracing for the worst. Perhaps the doctor, accompanied by Grave, was here to administer more torment or flaunt Claudia's supposed betrayal.

But then, his eyes widened in shock when the person who entered was Claudia herself, carrying a… child who seemed to be in her late pre-adolescent age, cradled with a tenderness in Claudia's gaze that he hadn't seen in what felt like an eternity.

'N-no… NO! This can't be…' His heart felt like it was being ripped apart when he saw a man follow her—not Grave, but a stranger, younger, with the bearing of a warrior and exotic features unfamiliar to the kingdom. 'Why, Claudia? Why!? You already found a replacement for me!?'

Even though there was no proof of her actions, he still jumped to conclusions. He couldn't shake the feeling that this was all part of Grave's plan to further torment him. The rage and frustration bubbled up inside him, but he felt powerless to do anything about it. All he could do was scream internally and imagine lashing out at her for what he saw as a betrayal.

"Hello dear, I'm sorry I haven't been visiting lately. It has been… busy lately." There was something in her tone, an emotion he recognized after being married to this woman for years. Faint as it was, there lived a presence of hesitation and uncertainty. "I'm so glad to see you're showing signs of recovering, soon enough, Celestine will heal you and we can be together again." 

"..." 

He hated that feeling, this emotion further enhanced by the presence of this unknown stranger standing at the corner of the room, observing him with those gray eyes. One that carried what he felt like was smug mockery, hiding a smirk as he was most likely working with Grave! For him to be around Claudia… what… what… What did they do to her without his knowledge? 'Why are you holding that… that child like that, Claudia!? She can't be yours… she can't be!' 

His eyes twitched, his body spasming as his heart began overflowing with fury, that had been brewing from the endless torture he was inflicted with each day. This feeling became exponentially stronger when he got a whiff of Claudia's scent when she gently touched his forehead. It was the same one that he smelled from the vials he'd seen his father show to the doctor, and that gave birth to a spring of terror within his heart. 

Unaware of the turmoil within him, Claudia tended to him, checking his temperature and carefully combing his greasy hair. "These maids… they can't even look after you properly the moment I turn my back. I'll deal with them once we're done here. I'd like to introduce you to Radomira. She is… she is someone I met recently through pure luck alone, she is not from around here and came from a very far away place. Unfortunately, she was separated from both her parents, and she found refuge here with us. I hope she will stay with us, you'll come to love her like your own daughter, that I can guarantee. Though she can be a bit mischievous at times." SHer voice carried a motherly warmth that Klaus hadn't heard in what felt like a lifetime.

"Hey! My only dad is Archer! He can be the creepy uncle." Radomira, whose Tiefling traits were hidden thanks to Olga's magic, drew closer to get a better look at Klaus. Her curiosity turned into pity and sadness, 

"Don't call him creepy, Klaus is a very intelligent person. He can be an excellent professor." 

Radomira looked back at the man behind her standing without having said much and back at Klaus a couple of times before rolling her eyes. "Humph, I'd like to see him make a pizza… bet he doesn't even know what it is."

"What is a pizza?" 

"We are getting off-topic here," Archer quickly added, visibly steering the conversation back on track. 

"Ah right, sorry about that." Radomira apologized, earning a pat on the head from Claudia. "So… Can he move?" 

"Not yet," the woman behind her shook her head. "I have been told that he is showing signs of recovery and will eventually be able to move his limbs but no one is sure how long that will take."

Lies… LIES! He would have been completely rehabilitated early on if it weren't for the doctor making his case worse! 

"Can you heal him for Mama's sake, Archer?" Radomira asked, earning two drastically different reactions from both Claudia and Klaus. The latter was in pure disbelief and rage at her words, especially when the woman in question for but a brief moment showed a smile on her face before hiding it. Gently scolding the girl but without the slightest hint of genuine anger. 

'Why Claudia… how long have I been stuck here?'

"I'm not a miracle worker nor a doctor mind you. Just because I can treat your weird case and a few wounds doesn't mean I'm capable of curing full-on paralysis of someone I just met."

"I don't hear a no~!" 

"Just what do you think my Magecraft is in the first place…"

"Able to do anything and everything! Even Olga said you can make stuff from nothing and how it doesn't make sense at all. Even the legend about the two giants makes more sense than your ability." 

"Then she's lying to you, also stop having a discussion about my Magecraft with Olga." 

"You made me a dress…"

The man audibly sighed, "because you grew out of your old one. It was only a temporary one until Brynn bought you new actual clothing." 

"You made a kitchen yesterday and a big flat wooden spoon!"

"It was only a pan and some basic utensi—"

"—Ahem!" The two bickering individuals ended their back and forth, looking towards Claudia who glared at the two with a slight glare. "Hush, both of you. You will give Klaus a headache." 

"Sorry."

"..."

As the room settled back to its quiet stillness, Claudia turned her attention to Klaus once more. With a small gesture towards the other guest, she introduced him. "This man right here is Archer, he's… well it's a bit complicated to explain his relationship at the moment. But Celestine-sama trusts him and he's the one taking care of Radomira." 

It was clear there was more to that story but she kept her lips shut.

And that enraged Klaus, knowing full well it wasn't like her to keep secrets from him. 

"Can you truly not help him?" Finally, she asked the same question to Archer. Her voice almost pleading which visibly caught the white-haired man slightly off guard. 

"Putting aside the fact that Radomira asked me the same thing… With what happened just recently and considering what we discussed before coming here, you're willing to trust me to cure your husband?" he said, walking around the room and observing some of the equipment and packets of crushed herbs left behind by the doctor for Klaus to consume daily. "Regardless, my answer is the same. His condition is not due to a curse or spell, had it been so then perhaps I could have tried something. But from what you've mentioned, his attackers most likely damaged his spinal cord. Even if it's not that, I can't treat nerve damage… you said he has shown signs of recovery, right?" 

Claudia nodded, leading Archer to approach the man and give him a much closer look. 

"I'm no expert, but for all I know, it can be a case of spinal shock. Usually, it takes a few weeks to recover from, so the best medicine for that is just time." 

Klaus couldn't make sense of the man's words, but it didn't matter. He didn't trust him one bit, knowing he was just another one of Grave's minions sent to torture him. Or maybe a wealthy individual that Grave had sold Claudia to after growing tired of her.

All the while, Klaus's delusions continued to fester as Archer stood by, observing him for a while longer. 

"I believe I may know someone else who can probably treat him. But before that, Claudia, do you know a man named 'Beardsley'?" 

That question took Claudia aback, "Beardsley? He is both Alicia and Prim's advisor, everyone knows him, he has been serving the Arcturus family since he was a child himself. What about him?" 

"It's related to…" he looked at Klaus for a second, remembering what she asked him to refrain from speaking about in front of him. "It concerns the reason why Alicia had been acting weirdly a while ago, I'm sure you know what I'm talking about. I need to know where to find him, you can accompany me as well if you'd like." 

He wasn't planning on killing the guy yet. He aimed to extract as much information as possible before letting the others deal with him. At this point, he realized he had nearly gathered the last piece of the puzzle needed to locate Draco. There's no need to be cautious about letting Beardsley live. 

A look of shock flickered on her face before her expression sharpened. "Now that you mentioned it, I haven't seen him around for a while. He's usually the one who greets me first before Alicia. I don't know where he is currently but I know someone who definitely does."

{Break}

"Hah, I failed again! Damn it!" The frustrated outburst of a certain blonde Princess Knight echoed through the main study. Shards of glass and wood splinters littered the floor as Alicia stomped her boots furiously. "He was right there! I literally stood before him yet I couldn't say a damn thing! AAARRGH!!!"

These past few days had brought a drastic change to her once orderly life. Gone was the prim and proper Princess Knight who upheld the law within the kingdom, in her place stood a disgruntled, fearful, and ashamed young girl who refused to leave her room despite Prim's insistence to help her. "Curse you, damnable bastard! Why can't you just leave me in peace!?" 

In a fit of frustration, she snatched her rapier and hurled it against a wooden pillar, the thin blade sinking deep into the center of a roughly drawn figure. This crude sketch, depicted a man with familiar features—white hair and clad in red and black armor. Though the drawing was rough, as if made by a child, yet it served its purpose: a canvas for her unvoiced anger and the words she wished she could say to him without having to confront the man in reality. 

Bloodshot eyes glared at the drawing as if it bore the weight of all her grievances. With a deep breath, she approached it and whispered through her greeted teeth. "I-I-I'm so… sor-sorry about… about what happened last time, will you forgiv—RAGH!" But she couldn't finish her sentence. Instead, striking the figure with her armored fist, causing an echo that rattled the very foundations of her room.

"Just say sorry… just say sorry… just say sorry and move on, Alicia! Even if he's nothing but a perverted useless man, you're still an honorable Princess Knight!?" 

This had been an ongoing scene for quite a while, ever since she regained consciousness from her shameful attempt at basically assaulting Archer in broad daylight, a story that she initially refused to believe but was told otherwise by both Kaguya and her own Knights who witnessed the scene in shock. 

This was only compounded by the memories of that day, which had stubbornly refused to fade away as she had hoped. Instead, they returned to haunt her every time she closed her eyes, replaying like a cruel loop. 

"Hah… Hah… Hah… I hate you… hah… I h-hate… you should be apologizing to me instead… hah…"

But that was just the beginning. Whenever she went to sleep, all she could dream of was ravaging him until her body and mind were satisfied, indulging in a cycle of pure carnal pleasure until she broke him and drained everything. Again and again, the sensations grew more intense, erasing any coherent thoughts from her mind, leaving only primal urges in their wake. This continued until she managed to wake up in pure terror covered in sweat, as well as her lower nether region drenched profusely. 

"This is not me… I can't be thinking about a man like that!" 

This torment replayed so many times that she began to dread going outside her room and crossing paths with him. The fear of losing control again loomed over her like a dark cloud, a constant reminder of how she had acted like a disgusting degenerate. "I-I did-didn't want to do that, I do-don't know what came ov-over me so will you please forgi-ah… for—forgive… me…" 

She tried again, barely able to whisper those words at the drawn figure on the wall who had mostly been destroyed by her attacks. 

Despite her hatred, she was still a Princess Knight who had grown up with honor and pride, and no matter how much she wanted to ignore it, that part of her refused to acknowledge her own mistake and what she had done that day. 

But truthfully, she just wanted to do it for Prim. To earn back her dear sister's trust and have her stop acting so cold these past few days.

Then she recalled what Maia had done to him, it was a time when she had mustered enough courage to face him, long before her condition had worsened to such an extent. 

'She claimed his lips so easily, what a whore. Yet I'm sure any man would be instantly smitten by something so crass. Y-yes… he would prefer it if I did it instead of some lowborn peasant, wouldn't he? I won't even need to say I'm sorry to get my point across!'

"Ah~" a moan escaped her lips as her hand fondled her breast, the other reaching beneath her skirt, in hopes of getting rid of that annoying itch. Perhaps having the man forgive her would free her from these nightmares she kept having every day. "You would like that wouldn't you, to be taken by an untainted maiden like me, right!? That's the only thing you men want! You want me don't you, Archer!?" 

She shouted in between her moans, her imagination growing wild to the point she couldn't distinguish between her dreams and reality. Her movement grew more frantic as she gasped, her sweat-covered body growing hotter every passing second. "You want this! You'll like it just like those peasants down the slum who always watch Prim and I with pure lust!" 

Alicia's moans grew louder as her hands roamed her body with increasing urgency. In her lust-addled mind, the crude drawing of Archer on the wall seemed to come to life, his piercing gray eyes boring into her very soul.

"You want me, don't you Archer?" she panted, pulling her top down to expose her heaving breasts. She pinched and rolled her hardened nipples between her fingers, sending jolts of pleasure through her core. "I bet you dream about having your way with me every night, forcing yourself on me, pounding my unsoiled, perfect flower with little care..."

Her other hand disappeared beneath her skirt, stroking her soaked folds through the thin fabric of her panties. She was absolutely drenched, her arousal dripping down her thighs. Alicia's hips bucked against her hand as she rubbed her sensitive nub in tight circles.

"Ah! Yes, right their Archer!" she cried out wantonly, lost in her fantasy. In her mind's eye, it was Archer's strong, calloused fingers pleasuring her, teasing her most intimate places. She imagined him looming over her, his body hard and powerful against her soft curves.

Her body stiffened as she reached a climax, eyes rolling backward at the wave of pleasure before she fell to the ground with her eyes now facing the roof. 

"What… what has become of me…" She wanted to cry but had no tears to shed, for there was no regret in her actions as she would have hoped there to be. Worst of all, she didn't feel satisfied for even a moment and felt the fire within her intensify in a matter of seconds as she remembered his frowning expression about today's meeting… "I barely managed to keep up my composure… had it been for another minute then…" 

She didn't dare imagine that particular scenario.

"W-Where are you Beardsley… I need your help." She whispered, just wanting the only person she could rely on, to be by her side and help her come up with a solution. Yet for some reason, he'd been absent for weeks and she couldn't find him anywhere. "At least with you around, I'm not afraid of losing control." 

What scared her the most was that she couldn't bring herself to trust the words she'd just uttered. But other than him, there was no other man in her circle who she didn't detest or one who wasn't after her body or Prim. 

She couldn't think properly anymore without her thoughts returning to that man!

Creak…

"—!" 

Her ears twitched, hearing the sound of a door handle creaking from the hallway right outside her study. Her eyes widened at the possibility that Prim must have heard her voice and the terrible things she just said in the moment of pleasure. 

"Wait, Prim! It's not what you think!" She hastily got up from the ground, not bothering to put on her armor and not even realizing the liquid streaming down her thighs. She hastily opened her own door only to freeze in her spot at what… or rather who was standing on the other side. 

She faced Archer's back, the man carefully trying to open the door handle leading into the living room. It was probably her imagination but she was certain his ears looked darker than before despite his expression appearing to be calm as he slowly looked back at her. 

"I was just leaving, I-I didn't hear anything… damn it." He stuttered for the first time since she met him, and that alone told her everything she needed to know. 

Her face went ghostly pale, and the entire world around her crumbled into ashes. 

"Right," he said, sounding rushed. "Prim let me in, but we can talk later." He shut the door to the living room and Alicia heard his footsteps hurrying towards the exit.

But she couldn't let that happen! 

She bulldozed through the wooden door, which broke into splinters, her eyes locked onto the white-haired figure who looked back with widened eyes at her abrupt actions. 

Was that panic? She couldn't tell, but he couldn't leave without explaining what he heard was just his imagination!

"COME BACK HERE, ARCHER!!!! IT'S A MISUNDERSTANDING! I CAN EXPLAIN!" 

Unbeknownst to both individuals, none of them noticed the slight vibration coursing through the objects in Alicia's room. Miniscule cracks had formed on the ground before the trembling calmed down.. 

This strange occurrence rippled throughout Feoh, with some of the inhabitants noting a large swarm of rats rushing out of the sewers.

------------------------------

The next 5 chapters of Snafu, and my other Fate fics (Fate Coiling Sword with 3 chapters, A Fake Familiar Reborn with 3 chapters, Steel Eyed Faker soon to be 3 chapters, Hound having 3 and To love a sword having 4 chapters) are already available on my P@treon. With 4 more Broly chapters at /NimtheWriter. Also, I post commissioned arts on each story, already posted a few on an Archer's Promise, Broly and Snafu.