Now that the date was properly set, I actually felt more at ease.
Now, all I have to do is wait without racking my brain over it.
This is just the right balance.
A period where I won’t inform the child of my death and won’t leave Sena with too much lingering attachment.
One person grieving for me is enough.
Really, it’s enough.
The child seemed to take my muttering as a question.
A response came back from her as she tilted her teacup.
“Not much time left, huh.
Honestly, there’s still a lot to do, so it feels a bit far off.”
“You must be busy preparing for the festival.
It’ll be easier than the Academy once you go back.”
“Probably.
The places to manage have decreased, and there are only three noble lords now.”
Maid Ai grinned.
Seeing her so happy, it seems she really struggled at the Academy.
If they’d paid just a bit less, she wouldn’t have worked in such a noble-infested workplace.
Even if the body gets used to it quickly, the heart only gets used to it after it’s worn out.
Thinking about it, it’s a relief I can return before the child grows up too much.
The child has the right to enjoy life before getting old and tired.
At least she should live in a better environment than here.
Around that time, Sena, who had been watching our conversation with a pleased expression, spoke up.
“Anyway, since the worries are resolved, how about we talk about something fun?”
“Something fun?”
“Show off your sense of humor, Mari.”
“…Huh?”
Even to such a sudden request, the child seriously pondered.
After a brief pause, she hesitantly spoke.
“Uh, the snack sparrows eat is called a sparrow snack…”
Unfortunately, the result wasn’t great.
The warm atmosphere quickly cooled and turned icy.
The child, looking upset, shut her eyes tightly and shouted.
“I can’t do this kind of thing!”
“Pfft, ahahaha!”
Sena burst into laughter.
She seemed to be holding it in at first, but it genuinely erupted.
The child’s cheeks puffed up in frustration.
I covered my mouth and chuckled softly.
It was nice to see the usually mature child acting her age.
Cuteness was a bonus.
“Don’t tease our kid.
If you’re serious about making people laugh, no one can beat you.”
“Our kid?”
I stepped in at the right moment and spread my arms toward the child.
It was a signal to come and hug me.
It wasn’t at all to fulfill any selfish desires.
I just thought that now was the perfect time to comfort her and legally give her a hug.
I smiled slyly.
“Yeah, our kid. Come here.”
“That’s…”
“It’s fine. Come on. My arms are getting tired.”
At first, she seemed hesitant, but after repeated encouragement, she reluctantly nodded.
“…Okay. Got it.”
“Good girl.”
Carefully, the child came over and sat on my lap.
I wrapped my arms around her and pulled her tightly into my embrace.
Most people around me are bigger than me, so I haven’t had much experience holding someone small.
Holding her properly, it felt similar yet different from hugging someone.
It was like filling a void I didn’t know was there.
I tightened my arms a bit more.
Her small, soft frame was, of course, warm, though not as much as Sena’s.
I raised my left hand and gently stroked her head.
The child didn’t seem to mind being held.
A relaxed voice escaped her lips.
“It feels kind of weird being taken care of by someone I’m supposed to take care of…”
“Take care of? Who else does as much as I do?”
“Pfft. Ah, sorry.
Princess, your high-class humor is just too funny.”
“…….”
It was meant as a joke, but this reaction is a bit annoying.
I retaliated with a slightly irritated hand movement.
Specifically, I tickled her side.
The child seemed very ticklish, as she immediately started trembling and laughing uncontrollably.
“Princess?!
Not there… it’s too much…!”
“Punishment. Endure it.”
“What kind of nonsense is that…”
“Princess.”
While I was busy tickling her here and there, Sena, who had been quietly watching, called me.
I was too focused to respond.
“W-Wait a second.
How far are you going?!”
“She’s really ticklish.
I wonder if her armpits are weak too? I’m curious.”
“Don’t… hmph, indulge in strange curiosity…”
“Princess.”
Getting no response, Sena called me again.
Sorry, but my fingers were just digging into her armpits, so I couldn’t look away.
This was the highlight.
The child’s reaction was intense.
She was shaking and laughing so hard it seemed like she might pass out.
Upon closer look, there were even tears forming in the corners of her eyes.
Seeing that, a bit of sadism hidden deep within me surfaced.
I smiled slyly and whispered into her ear.
“You’re weak.”
“Armpits are usually weak!
If you know, then stop…”
“Eek!”
At that moment, the child trapped in my arms was suddenly whisked away.
Startled, I looked in the direction of the voice and saw Sena, looking displeased, holding the child.
“Don’t bully Mari.
You’re having too much fun tormenting her in front of me.”
Only then did my excitement cool down.
I might have gone a bit overboard.
I immediately apologized to the child, who was pouting in Sena’s arms.
“Ah, um. You’re right. Sorry.”
“Hmph, you should be.
You need to apologize properly.”
“That’s right.
If you’re going to bully someone, do it to me!”
“Right…”
I agreed without thinking, then tilted my head in confusion.
Sena’s words felt a bit off.
Is this right?
“Right…?”
“…?”
Even Maid Ai seemed confused about what she just heard.
Only Sena, the one who said it, remained calm.
“There’s someone here who can turn the Princess’s bullying into pure joy.
No need to leave the two of you out.”
Sena set the child down and sat back in her chair, turning her head away.
She was clearly sulking.
“I’m sulking.”
She even declared it outright.
For a moment, I was at a loss for words. Trying to gather myself, I cautiously asked,
“…How do we fix this?”
“Do the same thing you did with Mari. That might work.
Though, I can’t say for sure.”
So, you’re saying you want to sit on my lap and hug me?
Sena, who’s bigger and heavier than me?
Forget the difficulty—it would just look weird.
With a troubled expression, I said,
“Uh, Sena, you’re taller than me, so sitting on my lap might be a bit…”
“Then sit on my lap.”
“That, uh, that’s also a bit…”
Sure, it might look more natural, but I’d feel like a kid.
Sitting on someone’s lap is a privilege for children.
Just imagining it makes my face heat up.
Even if I were to die tomorrow, I couldn’t do it.
There’s a limit to what I can force myself to do.
When I refused, Sena’s face immediately fell.
“You won’t do it…?
Again, just for me…?”
“Have I ever refused just you?”
“If I start listing, there are plenty.”
Sena pouted, clearly upset.
I quickly tried to backtrack.
“Right. No need to list them.”
“The first time was with Wharton…”
“Stop it!”
I shouted, cutting off any further words.
I sighed deeply and shook my head.
At this point, there’s no escaping it.
“Ugh… fine. I guess I have no choice.”
With a reluctant expression, I stood up and approached Sena.
Feeling a strange unease from her brightening face, I whispered a request.
“Don’t touch me too much.
I’m sensitive to being touched.”
“I’ll just hug you.
Don’t worry, come here.”
I’m not reassured at all.
Though I was still hesitant, I eventually sat down.
As if she had been waiting for this moment, Sena’s arms wrapped around me and pulled me close.
I already felt my breath quicken as I complained.
“…This feels weird too.”
“It feels nice, like hugging ice…”
“It feels like being wrapped around by a flame slime…”
From the times I’ve hugged her before, I know Sena’s body temperature is unusually high.
It’s so hot it makes you wonder if she has a fever.
Not warm—hot.
And, well, she’s big.
In certain areas.
Even when hugging from the front, the sensation of our chests touching was strange, but hugging from behind made it even more obvious.
The “flame slime” comparison wasn’t a joke—I meant it.
Somehow, Sena seemed to take my words the wrong way, and her sulky voice reached my ears.
“Calling a person a slime?
You’re making me sad again.”
“But, based on the sensations, you’re hot and soft… No, forget I said that. Sorry.”
What am I even saying?
That’s straight-up harassment.
Friends shouldn’t talk like that.
I shook my head, already feeling dazed, and cut myself off. Sena tilted her head curiously.
“Huh? Well, of course, humans are soft…”
Then, as if realizing something, her body, which had been moving slightly while hugging me, froze.
“…Wait, you’re not imagining something weird, are you?
The part we’re touching is starting to feel a bit awkward.”
“I didn’t! I didn’t!
It just sounded weird when I said it out loud.”
“Hmm. Either way, I kind of get what you mean.”
“What are you talking about? No, I don’t.”
Despite my denial, Sena giggled and whispered to me.
“Princess. You’re such a pervert.”
What are you even saying?
My ears tingled and grew hot.
I frowned, my face slightly red, and tried to stand up.
“…I’m leaving.”
I tried to get up.
But Sena didn’t loosen her grip.
My limbs flailed in the air, making me look ridiculous.
I got even more annoyed and started shaking my body.
“Stop flailing.
Once I’ve got you, you’re not escaping.”
“I, I’m leaving! Let go!”
“No can do~”
Determined, I struggled to break free, but with every movement, Sena’s arms tightened around me.
At first, it was bearable, but gradually, I started to feel suffocated.
It wasn’t just physical.
Being held by someone in any form never brought good memories.
My vision flickered, and my head spun.
I weakly slumped and said to Sena, who looked puzzled.
“Se, Sena… hick, I can’t breathe… let go…”
“Ah.”
Finally, her arms loosened.
I staggered to my feet, leaning on the table as I gasped for air.
“Huff… huff…”
“I’m so sorry!
I got carried away… Are you okay…?”
I waved my hand at Sena, who was frantically patting my back.
It wasn’t that big of a deal.
Just a little shocking.
By now, it’s something I’m used to—not even in the category of “difficult” anymore.
“I’m fine…
It’s more psychological than physical.”
“Now I feel even worse…”
“You should. You went too far.”
“Ugh…”
After comforting the sulking Sena for a bit, I turned my gaze to the maid, who was watching us nervously.
A strange urge to pass on what I’d just experienced started to grow.
Since Sena’s too much, I’ll go for someone smaller.
“…I need healing after being squeezed like that.”
The maid, sensing danger, started backing toward the door.
“Um, can I go now?”
“Come here.”
“Sure.”
The exit was quickly blocked by me and Sena.
The maid visibly deflated.
“The nobility exploiting the commoners…”
“I’m not nobility anymore, so it doesn’t matter.”
“Wow… an invasive species…”
I walked over and hugged the maid tightly.
She sighed but let herself be held.
After that, similar scenes repeated dozens of times.
In the end, the only memory left from that day was of us hugging and being hugged.
