𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝟑𝟎: 𝐋𝐨𝐯𝐞 𝐌𝐚𝐤𝐞𝐬 𝐏𝐞𝐨𝐩𝐥𝐞 𝐄𝐦𝐨𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐲 𝐔𝐧𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞
As night fell, I finished taking a quick bath in the first-floor bathroom of the inn and suddenly remembered that there was only one bed.
Cid said he would sleep on the floor, but I feel like that’s not right.
I was troubled.
Very troubled.
Tomorrow was supposed to be the heartwarming reunion between parent and child, and it would be a problem if he had to sleep on the floor and couldn’t rest properly.
Ah, if only my maid Elsa were here, she would give me precise advice. Without the smiles of everyone who was always by my side, the loneliness gradually creeped in as the night went on after fleeing abroad.
I thought I understood, but I realized how fortunate and loved I have been.
Even the rough-looking young men were lively and fun when gathered in a group. I thought about it deeply.
I don’t know how many months or years it will take, but once things settle down, I want to go see everyone. I want to say “thank you” a lot.
For now, I just wanted to cherish Cid, who came with me.
――Kii. . .
When I opened the door, I saw Cid preparing to sleep.
“Oh, thank goodness. I was just about to go pick you up if you were a little later.”
He said while casting a purification spell on the blanket he brought, The rich brown blanket was incredibly soft, as if it hadn’t been on a journey at all.
He really can do anything!
I have no role at all.
Cid spread the blanket on the floor and planned to sit on it and lean against the wall to sleep. It’s wasn’t much different from camping.
Hmm, maybe I should forcefully bring him into the bed. . .? Oops, the choice of words is wrong!
But it’s a bit difficult to say “Let’s share the bed.” I furrowed my brow and pondered.
“Vi-sama? What’s wrong?”
Cid, who finished organizing the luggage, asked with a puzzled face.
Ah, that expression is cute. . .! I want to pet him. Like a dog.
However, I had the task of persuading him.
After placing the luggage on the floor, I gathered my courage and opened my mouth.
“Cid.”
“Yes?”
“Would you like to lie down on the bed for a bit?”
“Huh???”
Yes, this is surely the right answer. I can’t say “Let’s sleep together” because it’s too embarrassing!
However, it seems that Cid doesn’t quite understand what I mean.
“Anyway, lie down here!”
“Huh? Oh, okay.”
Cid, while still confused, sat on the bed and laid down.
Seeing that, I nodded and also laid down next to Cid.
“Vi-sama?!”
Cid, tried to sit up in a hurry, but I pressed his arms down with all my strength and held him on the bed.
“It’s okay! I won’t do anything bad! I just thought it would be nice if you could rest and get rid of your fatigue by sleeping together!!”
“Vi-sama! That’s a perverted line!!”
“How rude?! I just thought it would be good if you could sleep next to me and get rid of your fatigue. . .”
Yes, I had no ulterior motives.
I just purely wanted Cid to lie down and sleep next to me.
Fortunately, the bed is slightly wider than a regular single bed. When we laid on our backs together, there was enough space for our shoulders to touch slightly.
If we sleep on our sides, there won’t be any contact at all.
Cid resisted for a while, but since I maintained a stance of not letting go with all my magical power, he reluctantly gave in.
“Ugh. . .! Live on, live on, damn it.”
That’s like something you say before going into battle.
I just want him to rest his body.
Cid, lying on his side and holding onto the edge of the bed, was facing away from me.
“If you sleep so close to the edge, you might fall, you know?”
“I won’t fall. I’ll support it with a barrier.”
What a waste of ability!! No, maybe it’s effective?!
Even during camping, it was difficult for the barrier to work properly while sleeping. Cid naturally uses magic, but for someone like me who can’t even learn it, it’s like entering the realm of gods.
“In that case, goodnight!”
“. . .Goodnight.”
When I turned off the lamp, only the moonlight faintly filled the room.
I still couldn’t sleep, so I spent my time gazing at Cid’s back.
Although he lies on the bed, he doesn’t seem to intend to face this way.
I wonder if his neck isn’t cold in the thin black collarless shirt.
The blanket only covers up to his waist, and his slender yet well-toned neck is clearly visible.
It’s probably because I grew up in the peculiar House of Duke Marcus that I find myself thinking, “Can I kill him now?” about that exposed neck.
I apologize for having such thoughts.
“”. . .””
There was no sign that he was sleeping either.
Perhaps he’s thinking about what would happen when he reunites with his mother tomorrow.
I’m glad I came here.
I hope we can have conversations that fill up the time we’ve been apart. . .
I quietly approached and pressed both my hands and forehead against Cid’s back, closing my eyes.
“Huh?!”
“I hope you can have a lot of conversations with your mother tomorrow.”
The warmth that came through his thin shirt felt pleasant.
Sigh. . .My fingertips were gradually warming up.
“Vi-sama, your sadism is incredible.”
Cid, still facing away, sighs mixed with exasperation.
“Why? It’s just a little bit of body heat I stole.”
“What you’re stealing is my sanity.”
“. . .In that case, I’ll let go.”
Sensing the situation somehow, I quickly let go of his hand from behind.
But he suddenly turned around and grabbed both of my hands.
When I was facing his back, I was fine, but the moment he turned around and our eyes met, my heart started pounding rapidly.
I was surprised by the closeness of our foreheads and involuntarily trembled.
Cid stared at me with resentful eyes and tightened his grip on my hands.
“After attacking me yourself, are you planning to run away?”
“Attack? I didn’t. . .!”
It’s a good thing it’s dim. My face, neck, and even fingertips seemed to be turning red.
“I told you to be careful not to touch me carelessly, didn’t I?”
Oh, is he a little angry?
“When a man falls in love with a woman, there are limits to patience.”
Cid said that and let go of my hands, throwing his legs out of the bed and sitting down. It seems like we won’t be sleeping together after all.
I also quietly sat up and asked him, facing away again.
“Why do you like me, Cid?”
“Why. . .”
Even though I am the daughter of the main family, I have no memory of doing anything to be liked.
Cid is a commoner and our guard, but he was popular not only among the servants but also among the Misses from other families. I can’t figure out why he would fall for someone as troublesome as me.
“I want to know the reason. Well, it’s true that I have a cute face and a good family background, and I can make a good rolled omelette.”
“Do we really need the last one?”
Huh, we do. Isn’t it an important point?
After a moment of silence, Cid spoke up, still facing forward.
“It’s not because of your cute face, good family background, or your skill in making rolled omelettes that I like you. For example, let’s say your face is not my type, you live in a poor neighborhood, you can’t cook anything, and you’re practically naked. . . Well, actually, that would be something to be happy about.”
“What are you talking about?”
Are you saying that now?
I glared at his back with half-closed eyes.
“Haha. . . I apologize. It’s just my nature. It’s just that. . . I want to be with you because you need me and because you genuinely smile from your heart.”
For example, if I were to lose my ability to use magic and fall from grace, what would you do?”
If Cid were to lose everything.
I can’t imagine it, but I can predict my initial reaction.
“I’d call you an idiot. And then, we’d figure something out together.”
In response to my answer, he stifled a laugh and said.
“That’s what I mean. Even if everything is gone, you would forgive me. I think you would say it’s okay for me to be by your side. That’s why I like you, Vi-sama. . .Is that too vague of a reason?”
Cid’s voice is gentle.
I suddenly felt an overwhelming desire to embrace his back.
“Do you need something extraordinary like a tremendous trigger, words, or attitude to fall in love? For me, just being there makes me think, ‘Ah, I love you~,’ and that’s enough. Is it different for Vi-sama?”
“I. . .”
I was taken aback by the sudden question.
“Is it impossible for you to fall for someone without something special?”
Finally turning around, Cid looked at me as if confirming something.
“Something special. . .”
For me, the fact that Cid is there, that he himself is special.
There was no reason beyond that.
Because Cid is Cid, I love him.
Perhaps we are kindred spirits.
“”. . .””
Our gazes met, and for some reason, I couldn’t look away. I clenched my right hand in front of my chest, feeling suffocated as I muttered.
“. . .Cid.”
It was such a small voice that I couldn’t even hear it myself.
Cid didn’t say anything, just patiently waiting.
I took a deep breath again and spoke, this time with a firm voice.
“I love you. I love Cid.”
In the darkness, his red eyes widened without blinking.
My heart is pounding so intensely that it feels like it’s reaching its limit, and with a single-minded desire to escape from this suffocating feeling, I continued speaking.
“I’ve loved you for a long time. I’ve often wished that you were my fiancé. When I heard that you would come with me when I left the country, I was so happy. . .!”
“Vi-sama!”
“Cid, I’m fine as long as you’re here,” I said seriously. “Uwaaah!!”
I was speaking with a determined resolve, but he suddenly pounced on me, almost suffocating me.
“Vi-sama! Vi-sama!”
“Kyaaah! Stop it!! I’m going to die!!”
He hugged me tightly, nuzzling my cheek, as if I were truly being cherished by a dog.
He rubbed my head and shoulders, and I felt a surge of embarrassment.
“You said it well! I was wondering what would happen. . .!”
Huh?
Wait, what does this mean?
Could it be that he knew? About my feelings?
Since when???
Seeing me in a daze, Cid laughed.
“You were shouting while brushing your teeth, you know. I was wondering when you would clearly confess face-to-face, but you confessed surprisingly quickly.”
“Stop using the word ‘confess’! I put so much effort into confessing!”
Wait a minute, did he find out when I was practicing while screaming while brushing my teeth!?
Oh no, that was such a terrible way to come out!!
Ignoring my dejected state, Cid hugged me tightly and continued to stroke me.
“My Vi-sama. . .”
What was I so worried about all this time?
I said in a tired voice.
“Yes, yes, I’m Cid’s Vi-sama.”
I want him to let go already.
I wanted to sulk because I was shocked by everything.
As I thought that, Cid suddenly loosened his grip, revealing a look of joy.
“Viara.”
“Hauah?!”
This is too much of a surprise attack.
I was so stubborn until now, and suddenly he called me by my name. . .!
I covered my face with both hands, immersed in the excitement of being called by my name for the first time.
Then, once again, this time in a gentle whisper, his voice came down.
“Viara.”
“Stop it! Don’t kill me! Something inside me will break!!”
Cid must be teasing me on purpose. An aura of smugness emanated from his entire body!
“Viara, look this way.”
“Stop it! I wanted you to call me that, but now that I hear it, my eardrums feel like they’re melting! My love is overflowing, and it’s driving me crazy!”
“Do you really like me that much? It’s troublesome, isn’t it?”
What’s with that?! He’s not troubled at all!
“Please, leave me alone! This is the most crucial time right now!!”
Even though I didn’t know what I was saying myself, I quickly escaped and covered my head with a blanket. I could hear Cid chuckling.
“Goodnight, Vi-sama.”
“. . .Good night.”
He’s back to using honorifics again.
I’m a little dissatisfied with that, but it’s dangerous to push it further, so I’ll endure it for today.
The bed creaked, and I heard him descend to the floor.
He really won’t sleep together after all. I thought to myself that Cid is just as stubborn as I am.
Inside the blanket, I desperately tried to calm my still pounding heart with deep breaths.
How should I face Cid tomorrow?
Ah! Should I greet his mother as his “wife”!? Is it too early!?!
My mouth kept loosening.
On this day, for the first time in my life, I fell asleep with a grin on my face.
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