You groaned, squinting against the sudden brightness of the flashlight. The attacker’s imposing figure loomed over you, still and silent. As your eyes adjusted to the light, you took in more details of their appearance. They were wearing a side-button-up shirt, a fashionable chain attached to two buttons, an apple shape, distinctive and familiar. Your heart skipped a beat as realization dawned:

this person was Walden's butler.

Walden's other butler pointed the light to herself "it's me".Her face contorted with rage, and she threw the flashlight against the masked figure. "What the hell are you doing, you idiot?" she screamed, her voice cutting through the rain. "Get away from them!"

The masked butler flinched as the flashlight bounced off his Head and fell to the ground, casting erratic beams of light around the area.

The female rushed to your side, her hands firm and reassuring as she helped you up.

"Are you okay?" she asked, her tone shifting from anger to concern as she checked you over for injuries.

She was a vaguely familiar lady

You winced, rubbing your head. The adrenaline that had fueled your escape was starting to wear off, leaving you shaky and disoriented. "I-im nori, calm down okay? " she tried to assure you
"Nori," you managed to say, your voice weak. "What is going on?"

Nori's eyes flicked to the masked butler, who stood perfectly still, his posture defensive. "I'll explain everything," she said, wrapping an arm around you to support your weight. "But first, we need to get you inside and away from him."

The world around you began to blur, the edges of your vision darkening. "Why did he attack me?" you asked, struggling to stay conscious.

Nori's face was tense, her expression a mix of anger and worry. "It's complicated," she replied, her voice seeming to come from far away. "Just hang on, okay?"

You tried to nod and thank her, but your body felt heavy and unresponsive the adrenaline disappearing. As Nori guided you toward the house, your steps faltered, and your legs gave out beneath you. The last thing you heard before everything went black was Nori calling your name, her voice echoing through the rain.

You slowly came to, the warmth of a nearby heater contrasting sharply with the cold you had felt earlier. Blinking, you found yourself lying on a couch, covered with a thick, cozy blanket. The soft glow of the heater bathed the room in a gentle light, casting shadows on the walls.

As you adjusted to your surroundings, you noticed Nori sitting in a chair nearby, her posture relaxed but alert. She glanced over as you stirred, a relieved smile crossing her face.

"You're awake," she said softly. "How are you feeling?"

You groaned slightly, shifting to sit up. "Like I got hit by a truck," you muttered, rubbing your temples. "What happened?"

Nori hesitated, her cheeks flushing slightly. "I brought you here after you blacked out. I would've changed your clothes to get you out of those wet things, but... well, I was a bit embarrassed," she admitted, averting her eyes.

You looked down and realized you were still in your damp clothes, though the blanket had done a good job of keeping you warm. "Thanks, Nori," you said, appreciating her consideration despite the discomfort of your soggy attire.

She nodded, her expression serious now. "There's a lot to explain, and I'm sure you have questions. But first, let's get you some dry clothes and something warm to drink. Then we can talk."

You nodded, feeling a wave of gratitude for her help. "Yeah, that sounds good."

Nori stood up and walked to a nearby closet, pulling out some clean, dry clothes. She handed them to you with a reassuring smile. "I'll step out for a moment to give you some privacy. Call me if you need anything."

You stepped out of the room, feeling a bit out of place in the oversized white button-up uniform Nori had given you. The fabric was soft against your skin, but the sleeves hung past your hands, and the hem nearly reached your knees.

As you walked into the living room, you were struck by a sense of déjà vu. The room was both familiar and unfamiliar, filled with furniture and decorations you recognized but that had an eerie newness to them. It was as if the place had shifted subtly, casting everything in a different light.

Your eyes were immediately drawn to the figure sitting on one of the plush armchairs. The masked person from earlier was there, their hair damp and slightly tousled. Nori stood over them, a towel in hand, vigorously drying their hair while berating them loudly.

"You absolute idiot! What were you thinking, attacking (name) like that?" she scolded, her voice filled with frustration and concern. "Do you have any idea how much trouble you've caused?"

The masked figure sat silently, their posture tense but accepting of the reprimand. The mask was still in place, its winking smile now seemed oddly out of place given the circumstances.

A hoarse voice came from above, interrupting the scene. "What is going on here?" You looked up to see lo and behold your boss at the top of the stairs, clad in a sleeping robe, his face slightly sickly.

Nori glanced up, her expression a mix of frustration and concern. "Sir, The idiot here attacked (name). It was a misunderstanding, but it caused quite a bit of trouble."

Walden descended the stairs slowly, each step deliberate. He moved with the grace of someone used to commanding attention, even in his current state. Once he reached the bottom, he stood in front of Nori and the butler, his gaze intense despite his weariness.

"I should put you down for what you did," Walden said sharply, his voice cold as he looked at Ysio.

Nori interjected, "Sir, you didn't say anything about (name) coming. They were trying to bring you medicine." She turned to you, her expression vaguely familiar. "Are you alright?"

You frowned, trying to place her face. "Do I know you?" you asked hesitantly.

Nori turned to Walden, an incredulous look on her face. "You didn't tell them?" she demanded and the man responded by just raising a brow, before nori started walking over to one of the drawers near the stairs. She rummaged through it briefly before pulling out a photo and handing it to you.

You took the photo and looked at it, seeing a guy with short wavy hair in a butler outfit. Confused, you glanced back at Nori. The realization hit you like a ton of bricks. The guy in the photo was Nori.

"N-Noah?" you stammered, the name slipped out before you could stop yourself. Of course, you remembered him as Noah. You've met him countless times in the past. But now...

Nori nodded, a big beaming grin on her face "Yes, I was Noah. Things do change, don't they?"

You nodded slowly, still processing the transformation. "Wow," was all you could manage to say.

Nori grinned again as she looked over your form "wow, you're so small, like a bean" she commented exageratedly, you weren't small and she knew it

"Because I choose to" you muttered

Walden sighed heavily, "I apologize for the trouble, assistant. Ysio was only doing what he thought was right."

You nodded again, still a bit stunned by the revelation. Ysio remained silent, his mask betraying no emotion, but there was a hint of Something else in his posture; remorse

Nori stepped forward, placing a hand on your shoulder. "Let's get you something warm to drink and make sure you're comfortable," she said gently, guiding you to a nearby chair.

You recalled the panic of realizing your medicine bag might still be out in the rain-soaked garden, likely damaged, you were about to stand and ask if you could get it but the butler, to your surprise and relief, produced it seemingly out of thin air and handed it to you with a solemn nod. The sight left you bewildered yet thankful.

Nori, sensing your confusion, explained how a sudden blackout caused by the heavy rain had led Ysio to venture outside without an umbrella. It was during this blackout that he heard the bag fall into the garden, prompting him to search and find you, and well, attack you like a rabid animal (her words not yours) as she gave you a cup of hot chocolate

"Its bitter" she warned you first "I forgot to buy sugar"

As you settled into a nearby chair, exhaustion and relief washing over you, Nori and Walden focused their attention on Ysio. Despite the mask concealing his features, his posture spoke volumes of remorse and guilt. Nori's scolding softened slightly as she continued to towel-dry Ysio's hair, her motions a mixture of care and frustration.

Walden stood nearby, his expression a blend of slight anger and disappointment. "Ysio," he began, his voice firm yet tinged with an underlying emotion of vulnerability, "Impulsive actions, again and again how many times do i have to say it to you? "

Ysio remained silent, his head bowed under Nori's ministrations, and you wondered if he was mute.

As the atmosphere began to settle, Walden approached you, his usual composed demeanor showing cracks of fatigue and strain. He offered you a nod before he took a dose of his medicine, his eyes reflecting a flicker of his usual sharpness.

"His actions were out of line"

You nodded, still processing everything. Walden reached for a glass of water and took a sip before grabbing a small vial of medicine that you bought. He uncapped it and downed the liquid in one go. "I appreciate your understanding," he said, his voice already sounding more fatigued.

Before you could respond, you noticed Walden's eyes clouding over. He suddenly doubled over, a violent cough wracking his body. Nori's shriek cut through the air, her hands flying to her mouth in alarm.

"Sir! " you yelled in panic

Ysio, displaying a swiftness that belied his earlier actions, was the first to react. He caught Walden just as his legs gave out, lowering him gently to the floor. His body language panicked as if saying 'Nori, help me!'

You watched, heart pounding, as they carefully lifted Walden. His face was pale, beads of sweat forming on his forehead. You follow closely behind, feeling helpless yet determined to assist in any way you could.

In Walden's bedroom, they laid him gently on the bed. Nori's hands trembled slightly as she adjusted the pillows under his head, .

"Hes going to be okay..." Nori said, her voice wavering. She turned to you, her eyes wide with concern. "(Name), could you fetch some cool water and cloths from the bathroom? We need to bring his fever down."

"Lay the cloth on his forehead and neck," Nori instructed, her voice steady. "We need to monitor him closely."

Finally, after what felt like an eternity, Walden's eyelids fluttered, and he let out a soft groan. The sound was a small but significant relief, and you shared a hopeful glance with Nori and Ysio.

"He's coming around," Nori whispered, a small smile breaking through her worry. "Keep the cloth cool."

"He's just fainted," she added, relief mingling with her worry. "But he's burning up. He needs rest and probably more medicine."

Ysio nodded, his masked face turned towards Nori

You sat beside the man, hesitating, wanting to hold his hand to reassure yourself but you didn't, that was a wall you wouldn't dare climb or break "What can I do to help?" you asked,

Nori looked at you. "Stay with him. Make sure he’s comfortable and keep an eye on his breathing. I’ll get more medicine."

As Nori hurried off, you turned your attention back to Walden, whose face was pale and sweat-drenched. Ysio remained close by, his posture now stiff, almost like a sentinel, sensing tension with his creepy presence, he left.

You let out a sigh of relief as Walden's condition seemed to stabilize. The tension in the room had eased slightly. You decided to find another blanket to keep him warm, the rain pattered outside

You moved around the room quietly, careful not to disturb Walden. Your eyes scanned the space, landing on a small chest at the foot of the bed. You opened it gently and pulled out a thick, soft blanket, perfect for keeping the chill at bay.

As you stood up, your gaze drifted to a stack of papers on a nearby desk, half-buried under some books. Curiosity got the better of you, and you leaned closer, squinting in the dim light to read the topmost document. The bold, printed word caught your attention
immediately

"DIVORCE SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT."

Your heart skipped a beat. Divorce? You glanced back at Walden, who lay motionless on the bed, then back to the papers. The name Julie Joyful was clearly visible in the text. Walden was....divorcing Julie?

The realization hit you like a tidal wave, and you struggled to process the information. Walden and Julie's relationship had always seemed solid, unshakeable even. This document suggested otherwise, you knew they've been tense for a while but this...

As you stood there, the door creaked open slightly. Nori stepped in, her face softening when she saw you with the blanket. "He'll be alright," she whispered, her eyes flicking to the papers you were holding, looking confused "what's-"

You quickly set the papers down and approached Walden, covering him with the extra blanket "some drawings from...you know".  feeling guilty that you had to use the name that you knew made the household weak, focusing on the immediate need to care for Walden.

Nori moved to Walden's bedside, checking his temperature again. "Thank you" she smiled

As you settled into a chair nearby, ready to watch over Walden through the night, the word "divorce" echoed in your mind.

For now, questions about his personal life would have to wait.

You held your hand over the bump of your pants, your phone

Or you could ask Julie, check on her