Sometimes, even without an alarm, your eyes just open on their own.
The moment my eyes opened, I felt an oddly refreshing and invigorating sensation. I thought to myself, it’s been such a long time since I’ve slept so well, but that thought quickly turned into another.
“Ah, crap.”
I hurriedly pushed the blanket aside and sat up. Looking out the window, I saw the sun already high in the sky.
The sun in the center of the sky seemed to mock me for being late, making me feel an unwarranted sense of annoyance.
An unusually antique curtain caught my eye, but I decided that was a problem for later. My first priority was to check what time it was.
I quickly turned my head to look at the clock by the bed, but all I could see was a wooden bed and a single diffuser placed on it.
There was no clock in sight.
Realizing this, I instinctively reached out, and only then did I notice that this was not my room. And this world was not the one I had lived in before either.
“Haa…”
What a way to start the morning. Or should I call it lunchtime since the sun is already high up?
Sighing deeply, I checked my attire. Was it because it has become a habit to unbutton my clothes when I sleep due to discomfort?
My nightgown was wide open, revealing my undergarments. As I fumbled to button it up, a knock on the door caught my attention.
Attempting to answer that I was awake, I found my throat too dry to produce any sound. Before I could clear my throat with a “khem,” the door swung open.
With a “squeak,” Abel stepped into the room.
“Uh.”
“Ah.”
Our voices overlapped. As usual, Abel’s indifferent expression transformed right before my eyes into one of obvious discomfort.
His reaction was so dramatic that I couldn’t help but think, so Abel can indeed become flustered like this.
When his gaze met mine, an awkward atmosphere began to spread, but in an instant, he swiftly closed the door again.
Still dazed by the sudden situation, I just stared blankly at the closed door.
Not long after, Abel’s voice came from behind the door.
“I’m sorry. I knocked, but there was no answer, so I thought you were still asleep.”
It wasn’t too obvious, but I could detect a slight tremor in his voice. I cleared my throat and replied,
“My throat was dry after sleeping, so I couldn’t answer.”
Though I wasn’t sure how long I had been asleep, judging by my throat, it must’ve been a while.
After facing Kartra on the Forgetful Whale and rescuing Yurph, I pushed myself pretty hard.
With even my muscle pain gone, it seemed like I must’ve slept for days straight.
At the extermination fight, I had indeed overexerted myself beyond my limits, so it wasn’t surprising.
Come to think of it, wasn’t there a similar situation before?
Not long after our contract marriage, there was an incident where Abel accidentally saw me in my negligee, though his reaction back then wasn’t like this.
Back then, he only teased me about not buttoning it properly. So, what happened in between to change his reaction?
“…Why, really?”
Physically, there hasn’t been much change. Though training has added a little muscle, it’s barely noticeable.
No matter how intense the training, my body training has just begun a month ago. It can’t have changed dramatically.
“Are you ready?”
Prompted by Abel’s voice from the other side of the door, I hastily fastened the remaining buttons, realizing this wasn’t the time for daydreaming.
After confirming the bottom button was fastened, I replied.
“I’m done.”
“Squeak.”
Abel cautiously reopened the door and stepped in. The flustered expression from earlier was gone; only his usual indifferent face remained.
I felt a little regret at missing the chance to witness that rare moment of Abel’s flustered expression. Had I had a camera, I would’ve cherished it forever.
His flustered expression was truly something rare.
“Haa. Adelle, you really are clumsy.”
With a sigh, he pointed at my buttons, and I noticed the oddity. The buttons on my nightgown were all off by one.
Though I confirmed that there wasn’t a button at the bottom, I hadn’t noticed the one left dangling at the top.
“..Ah.”
Now, redoing the buttons would be weird.
“You just woke up, so it’s understandable.”
“Aha. Right. I’m a little scatterbrained…”
The spectacular event from the extermination fight had left me somewhat dazed. Up until a moment ago, I even mistook this place for my original world.
Though, considering the timeline of my reincarnation and the memories I retained, it felt somewhat odd for someone who has lived in this world for over a year to make such a mistake.
“Are you feeling well?”
Just as I was about to continue pondering, Abel asked me.
“I’m fine.”
Unlike the past, when I forced myself to act fine, this time, it was genuinely true.
After rescuing Yurph, I had felt like a sick chicken, barely able to stand. But now, my body was absolutely free of fatigue, refreshingly so.
Well, that did bring back the nightmare of being late from my past life.
The memory of missing out on a promising job interview at the company.
Uh, thinking about it now still makes me feel a little shiver.
“Seems like this time you’re truly fine.”
“How do you even know if it’s real or not?”
Upon my sudden inquiry, Abel paused for a moment before answering.
“We’ve lived together for quite a while now; I wouldn’t exactly be a fiance if I didn’t know such things.”
He said this with a somewhat smug expression.
“Urk…”
For some reason, his words felt like a fork poking at my heart.
Even after living together for months, I still couldn’t properly read Abel’s expressions.
Of course, his perpetually poker face also contributed to that. Maybe his status as a duke had made him that way.
In any case, I still hadn’t reached the level of understanding his expressions.
“I still can’t quite read Abel’s expressions.”
“You wouldn’t. This is the result of extensive training.”
“Training?”
As I asked, Abel began to open his mouth but soon sighed deeply. For some reason, he seemed reluctant to explain to me.
“Hmm, if you don’t want to say it, that’s fine too.”
“Ask Lora or Alan later. It’s amusing to hear it from my own mouth.”
Abel replied with a smirk.
I had no intention of pressing the matter further. Digging too deep into things like this might make him dislike me, which happened frequently in my past life. Though I don’t think I’d be any different now.
“Well, if you’re fine, that’s fortunate. I, and everyone else, was worried.”
“Huh? But…”
“Didn’t you know? You’ve been asleep for four days.”
“Huh?!”
Now that I thought about it, it was indeed strangely free of exhaustion. But I had no idea I had slept for four straight days.
It was hard to believe, even coming from Abel, but since he had no reason to lie, it must be true.
“Huh? So, were you worried about me, Abel?”
I smiled and asked, but Abel only glanced at me with an expression of disbelief.
“Do you think I’m some kind of heartless person?”
“Aha…”
I can’t really deny that. Sensing my expression, he crossed his arms and sighed.
“I’m not a person who’s cold to my own people.”
“Oh. So now I’m your person?”
“Yes. Even regardless of our contract relationship.”
There was a momentary flutter at his words.
Even outside our contract relationship, he considered me his. The feeling of my heart racing made me feel awkward.
Truly, he says things that make me blush, all while maintaining his stoic expression.
Of course, it made me incredibly happy too.
“Hehehe…”
An uncontrollable, silly laugh escaped my lips, and Abel smirked as he glanced at me.
He seemed to have finished what he wanted to say, and he straightened up.
“Well, now that you’ve rested, come to my study. We have something to discuss.”
With that, Abel closed the door and left. I continued staring at the door until his figure disappeared.
It’s hard to express.
He’s definitely changed a lot from the beginning. Back then, he’d deliver a message and leave immediately.
It felt like during our contract marriage period, it wasn’t just me who had changed but Abel as well.
It seemed during this few months, he had also developed some level of intimacy for me.
While I was in thought, another knock came from the door.
“Adelle-sama?”
“Ah, Lily. Come in.”
As I replied, the door opened with a “squeak.” Lily cautiously came in and stood, staring at me sheepishly.
Though normally bold, her unusual demeanor caught my attention, but I didn’t question her.
“Are you feeling alright?”
“Of course. It’s been so long since I’ve felt this refreshed.”
As I stretched and replied, Lily hesitated for a moment before slowly approaching me.
There seemed to be some added caution in the way she treated me. Did something happen?
When she finally came close and started fidgeting, I smiled and pulled her in for a tight hug.
“Huh!?”
“What’s the matter?”
I sat the petite Lily directly on my lap. At first startled, she eventually settled down.
“Is there something worrying you?”
“Worry… Yes.”
“Can’t you tell me?”
“..I’m sorry.”
Lily’s sudden apology slightly startled me, but I didn’t show it.
After all, I was aware Lily, despite her energetic nature, was somewhat shy.
“It’s okay. Even if I can’t solve your worries, I can still be here for you.”
“Adelle-sama…”
Her voice slightly quivered, as if on the brink of tears.
Something must have happened while I was gone. I’ll have to ask Lora later if there’s anything troubling Lily.
For now, calming her down is the top priority.
“I was just worried about you, Adelle-sama…”
“Aha. Is that what it was?”
As I gently stroked her hair, I continued speaking softly.
“I’m fine now, see? No need to worry too much.”
“I’m sorry…”
Sorry?
I still don’t understand what’s making Lily keep apologizing, but comforting her is the priority now.
She may seem meticulous and capable on the surface, but she’s still a young, tender child at heart.
