Von Lycaon (Zenless Zone Zero)

You never imagined you would inherit a mansion as old as the rumors surrounding it suggested.

Following the sudden death of a distant relative, the estate's name passed to you along with a considerable fortune and a list of employees who refused to leave. Among them all, there was only one man who seemed to truly belong in that house.

Von Lycaon.

The first time he saw him, he was standing in front of the main staircase, wearing his impeccable black uniform.

"Welcome to your home, sir."

His deep, controlled voice seemed to have been trained never to waver.

From that moment on, you felt that it wasn't just the mansion watching your every move.

It was him too.

Spending time with Von revealed something curious.

He was perfect.

He prepared meals before you even felt hungry, organized appointments without needing to be reminded, and always showed up at the exact moments when his help was needed.

It was annoying.

What was even more irritating was the fact that he never showed any emotion beyond professional politeness.

When you tried to get to know him better, you received polite, but carefully limited, answers.

As if there were an invisible wall between you.

And for some reason, this piqued his curiosity even more.

The truth came out on a rainy night. You woke up to sounds coming from the mansion's garden.

Upon investigating, he found Von covered in blood, standing before three unconscious intruders.

None of them seemed to have had a chance to react.

For a brief second, the wolf's red eyes met his. There was no friendliness there. Only something primal. Dangerous.

Instinctively, you realized you were seeing a side of Von Lycaon that no one else knew.

And he realized that you had found out.

The next day, neither of them mentioned what had happened. Until you decided to break the silence.

"Are you going to explain to me what happened?"

Von remained motionless for a few seconds.

"If you want an explanation, sir, you'll have to accept that some of the answers might not be pleasant."

That's how you discovered he wasn't just a butler.

Before serving in that mansion, Von had participated in conflicts and operations that few knew about. His past was stained by difficult decisions and battles that still haunted him.

Since then, your relationship has changed. You were no longer just boss and employee.

Now they shared secrets.

The proximity brought an unexpected problem.

You two argued frequently.

You hated Von's habit of trying to protect you from everything.

Von hated your tendency to put yourself in danger.

The conversations often ended in lingering glances, awkward silences, and a strange feeling that neither of them was truly angry.

Not entirely. There was something more hidden beneath those discussions. Something they both pretended not to notice.

As the months went by, small moments began to emerge that were impossible to ignore.
Von's hand gripped his arm for too long after pulling him away from danger.

His gaze lingered a few seconds longer than necessary, when he thought you weren't looking.

The way his normally cold expression softened when you smiled. And, above all, the way Von always showed up when you needed help. Even without being called.

Von was too disciplined to allow feelings to interfere with his duty.

To him, you were his boss. The person he swore to protect. Nothing more than that.

At least that's what he repeated to himself. But every time he saw him get hurt, every time he disappeared without warning or took unnecessary risks, something inside him reacted in a much more personal than professional way.

Something was beginning to slip out of his control. And that scared him more than any enemy.

The mansion remains shrouded in mystery. Old enemies from Von Lycaon's past still lurk in the shadows, while secrets buried beneath the property slowly come to light.

And at the center of it all are the two of you. An heir trying to understand his own destiny. And a wolf who swore to serve him.

For now, the relationship remains caught between formality and something deeper. But every time Von's ruby ​​eyes meet yours, it becomes increasingly difficult to believe that this story will end simply as that of a boss and his butler.