Chapter 76
‘Maybe it’s because I’ve only seen her with her eyes closed for the past few days… but she looks so beautiful when she smiles.’
Her eyes curved like crescent moons, her cheeks puffed up and sparkled like stars, and her mouth formed a wide half-moon.
Ha. Why am I even looking at the night sky?
Whenever Estelle smiles, the moon and stars seem to quit the sky and all gather on her face.
‘Ah… this is what life is all about.’
I had been so miserable not seeing Estelle smile for so long.
Finally, the joy of life had returned.
I was looking at Estelle, who was smiling proudly, when she gradually stopped laughing, either from exhaustion or finally calming down a bit. She wiped her eyes and spoke to me.
“I know you’re sleepy. I can see how tired you are all over your face. Let’s go to bed.”
Ugh. Was it really that obvious?
I rubbed my cheek with my hand. Maybe it was just my imagination, but my skin felt oddly rough and dry. I must really be tired.
“But… Estelle just woke up. What if I fall asleep and Estelle gets bored?”
Estelle had been sleeping nonstop for several days since the day she collapsed, and she had just woken up. In that situation, even if it’s bedtime now, she couldn’t possibly be sleepy.
‘Look at her face. Her eyes are wide open, not a trace of sleepiness.’
How could I possibly sleep coldly and alone like that?
Estelle would definitely be awake.
Wouldn’t she be terribly bored with nothing to do alone? It wouldn’t be fun at all.
‘If Estelle would be bored, it’s better for me to stay awake a bit longer, even if I’m tired. Right?’
Besides, my “Estelle level” in my blood was dropping, and I was feeling weak too.
I deliberately stretched my arms high to wake myself up.
Then Estelle grabbed my arms and pulled them down.
“No, I’m actually sleepy because I overslept. My head feels foggy too.”
“Really?”
“Yes. I was thinking I should sleep a little more from the moment I woke up. Claude just came by, so I’m only saying this now.”
Estelle held my hands with both of hers and gently shook them side to side. Then she led me to the bed and jumped up onto it.
Once on the bed, she crawled to the edge, creating space beside her.
“Let’s lie down together.”
Estelle tapped the empty space with her palm. Each time her hand touched the soft blanket, it dipped and puffed back up.
‘Ugh…’
The temptation of the bed—and Estelle herself. It was far too sweet a temptation.
‘I can’t resist this.’
I had no choice but to give in to the temptation.
“Ugh.”
I climbed onto the bed following Estelle and took the space she made for me.
“Hehe.”
Seeing me settle in, Estelle looked at me with a satisfied smile.
I lay Estelle down on the bed and gently stroked her head.
“What? Why aren’t you lying down, Reina?”
“I am.”
“Chii. How is that lying down?”
I wasn’t leaning my head on the pillow, just bent an arm to rest my body. Estelle pouted at my neither-sitting-nor-lying position.
I had no choice. This was the best way to stroke her head while looking at her.
But Estelle didn’t seem pleased. She suddenly turned her head and lay on her back, turning away from me.
“Alright, alright. I’ll lie down.”
I reluctantly leaned my head on the pillow. Even though I was lying on my side to see Estelle.
Noticing I had lain down, Estelle peeked at me.
“Hehe. I wanted to lie down with you like this.”
Seeing I was lying down, Estelle turned her body toward me, smiling. After a moment, she faced me fully and snuggled into my arms.
‘Huh…’
What’s happening? Estelle came this close to me?
She had come much closer than before, though not this close yet.
‘Ha. This is what it feels like to raise a child.’
I was so happy.
I raised my trembling hands and carefully embraced Estelle.
She wriggled closer into my arms. I had held her many times while standing, but holding her while lying down felt completely new.
Maybe because I was supporting her back and waist. She felt even smaller.
‘This little one has been through so much pain… You’ve worked so hard, my Estelle.’
Holding her lying in my arms, I suddenly remembered how she suffered with a high fever in this bed. Tears almost came.
I felt ridiculous, but I couldn’t help it. Estelle was too precious to me.
I fought back the rising tears and patted her back.
“Mm…”
Perhaps thanks to the steady patting, Estelle let out a small sigh, like a satisfied cat, making me smile.
“Haam…”
As I continued, maybe because of the rhythmic sound near my ear, my eyelids grew heavy, and my body sank as if into water.
Before closing my eyes, I checked on Estelle.
‘Sleeping well… Thank goodness.’
Seeing her sleep well was my last thought before drifting off.
Not long after Reina had fallen completely asleep, Estelle, who had been quietly snuggled in her arms, opened her eyes.
“……”
Her eyes were bright and alert.
Sure, the transparent green of her eyes reflected the moonlight, but that wasn’t the only reason. She wasn’t sleepy at all.
‘Hmm… good.’
In truth, Estelle wasn’t sleepy. She could stay up all night if needed.
Reina, on the other hand, was exhausted. Her face showed every trace of fatigue.
Of course, Estelle had wanted to spend more time with Reina while she was awake. But seeing Reina’s face immediately made that thought vanish.
Dry lips, rough skin, hollow eyes.
It was believable that Reina, not Estelle, was the one who had been suffering.
So Estelle lied.
To make sure Reina could sleep peacefully.
“Hmm…”
And like now, she could stay close to Reina in her own way.
‘Good.’
To be this close to someone who always believes in and supports her was pure happiness. It made her smile unconsciously.
‘Ah… I want to stay like this longer.’
But she couldn’t. Reina was deep asleep, and there was something she had to do.
“Mm.”
Reina turned slightly with a small noise. Estelle’s arms were released, and the warmth she had been close to receded.
Estelle felt a little disappointed. But she saw it as an opportunity—an opportunity to leave the bed.
‘Ugh.’
Estelle carefully moved so as not to shake the bed and quietly got off.
She tiptoed to the door.
‘I’ll be back.’
Before turning the handle, she looked back at Reina and gave a small greeting. Reina couldn’t hear her, but that was fine. She’d be back anyway.
Estelle gently opened the door and walked down the long corridor of the mansion toward her destination: Claude’s office.
Perhaps because it was late, the hallway was completely empty and quiet.
The soft sound of Estelle’s footsteps on the carpet was the only noise.
Even though her steps were light, any noise might have made someone notice, but Estelle seemed unconcerned.
She was focused only on completing her task quickly and returning to Reina’s room.
Her hurried footsteps finally stopped at Claude’s office.
She paused at the door, stared at it briefly, and then lightly knocked.
Knock knock.
“Come in.”
Immediately, a voice inside told her to enter.
Hearing this, Estelle grabbed the handle with urgency, opened the door without hesitation, and stepped inside.
