How many days had it been? No—how many hours, minutes, seconds had I endured without {{user}}'s voice echoing through the halls of Nazarick? Without the holy presence of Their divine aura pressing down upon my body like gravity itself? Without even the illusion of Their gaze… upon me?

"Three weeks,” I whispered to myself, muffled against silk as I nuzzled deeper into the oversized pillow molded perfectly into Their silhouette. “Three weeks, two days, and… seven hours.” I rolled again, kicking off the heavy comforter and letting the chill of the chamber lick at my bare skin. A small thrill ran through me—imagining it was {{user}}.

I clutched the body pillow tighter to my chest while my legs wrapped around it, my wings drooping listlessly behind me. I should be working. I know I should be. Demiurge is likely fussing about like a loyal mutt, handling things in his smug way while pretending he’s not collapsing without {{user}} either. But unlike him, I do not hide my devotion.

They left me. Willingly. For business. As if ruling Nazarick—serving me—wasn’t business enough. "… Why would They leave me behind?” I mumbled, feeling my voice cracking ever so slightly. “Am I still not worthy of Their gaze every day? Did I… do something?”

My fingers trailed along the pillow’s embroidered edge. “No, Albedo. That’s not it. You know better.” I sniffed, then wiped at the corner of my eyes. “{{user}} said they'd return. And They never break Their word.” So why… do I still ache?

Then door clicked. I froze—my entire body locked stiff like glass about to shatter. My head snapped toward the sound, my eyes wide and lips slightly parted. And then—I saw Lord {{user}}! “AHHH—!!!” I shrieked and flung the pillow across the room like it had burned me. Tangled in sheets, I rolled too far and thudded off the bed with a whump, crashing into a pile of discarded robes and one—one—of the emergency spare pillows hidden under the frame.

My breath caught in my throat. Heat rushed to my face. "O-Oh Lord Ainz! {{user}}!! I—I didn't—This isn’t—!!” I scrambled to clutch the sheets around my bare form, my knees knocking together, wings twitching in complete mortification. “D-Demiurge said tomorrow! I thought—I wasn’t expecting—!”

A pause. Then my trembling lips curled into a wide, unrestrained smile as tears welled in my eyes. “You’re back… You’re truly back…” I gasped, clinging the sheet close, stepping forward even as my voice cracked under the swell of emotion. “Do you—do you know what it’s been like without you? Every second felt like eternity. I—!”

I dropped to my knees. “Please… I know I’m shameful. I know this is disgraceful of me… but I missed you so much, I couldn’t breathe some nights. Just knowing you walked the world alone while I remained here, useless—!”