Chapter Text
"I have a personal relationship with the administrator of Meropide. One that started from years ago. When? Hmm... it was a rainy night when he came to see me, with a strange account that was mysterious. Embezzlement, he said, and asked for my help."
"How can I run this place when the previous administrator held nothing but filth and rats in his hold, and that everything is in shambles?"
There in Neuvillette's office, that late rainy night, he saw the man again. Three years or four had it been since he descended to Meropide.
"You placed me there, and I'll root out the rats for you. No, I'm not your cat, Monsieur. Haha, another beast perhaps, what do you think?" The man said.
Neuvillette looked genuinely thoughtful, not shocked by the candidness of the conversation but yes, he was intrigued.
"What do I think?" Neuvillette began slowly, unaware of the closeness between him and the Duke, the way their hands brushed, and the tips of their shoes met, "Where you are, you guard a secret most important. Yet, it would be terrible of me to call you a watchdog."
"Why would it be crass to call a spade a spade, Monsieur, I am a watchdog, a hound that guards the gates," the Duke shrugged amiable and content. He took two steps and came close, close enough for their mouths to meet minus a single breath.
"If you have me do so, I'll guard that secret for you."
Wriothesley leaned in, mouth close to Neuvillette's ear, breath chill, words heated, "And if doing so allows me to come closer to you and see you more, I'll be your hound."