Chapter 83
“Let’s Sleep Together.”
“W-wait a second! I-I don’t have a room to offer Your Grace!”
I hurried after Calliere, who was already tying his horse to a post near the house.
He looked back with a puzzled face.
“Didn’t you just say? There’s a room on the first floor and one in the attic.”
“T-that’s…”
I froze, unable to answer.
Of course, I hadn’t expected him to actually stay the night when I said that!
I tried to think of an excuse, but he tilted his head, amused.
“That’s?”
“I-I mean, it’s true, but the first floor, that room is… Ah! It’s impossible to sleep there!”
“What do you mean?”
“I haven’t cleaned it yet. There’s too much dust, and I didn’t wash the bedding.”
It was a flimsy excuse, but not a complete lie. The first floor really was a mess.
Calliere narrowed his eyes.
“Let me ask just to be sure.”
“Yes?”
“Is it that you don’t want me to stay here at all?”
“N-no! Of course not! It’s just that there really isn’t a proper room ready for you.”
I forced a harmless smile.
He stared at me for a moment, then smirked.
“Is that so?”
“Y-yes!”
“Then I must’ve misunderstood.”
“Misunderstood… what?”
“I thought maybe you didn’t want me to sleep here.”
My conscience stung at his words, but I ignored it.
“Haha… o-of course not.”
“Good. Because otherwise, I might’ve thought you were hinting that I should ride back through the Babylon Forest at night.”
“W-what? No, that’s not—w-wait. Did you just say monsters?”
“You didn’t know?”
“…?”
“The Babylon Forest is very dangerous at night. It’s crawling with nocturnal beasts.”
I turned toward the forest surrounding the house.
The sun had already set beyond the ridge, and bright moonlight shone over his head.
From deep inside the dark woods came the cries of wild beasts. The wind rustled through the leaves, sending a chill down my spine.
“Even you can see it’s dangerous, right?”
“Y-yes, but…”
I knew traveling at night was risky. A forest that dense was best crossed in daylight.
Calliere pressed on, watching me hesitate.
“If I were fully healthy, I’d risk it just to spare you the trouble.”
“…?”
“But in this condition, I might die on horseback before even meeting a monster.”
“What… what are you talking about?”
“The wound in my chest aches worse at night.”
He placed his hand on his chest.
Only then did I remember—barely ten days ago, he had nearly died from a Fenrir’s strike to the chest.
“Why are you telling me this now?!”
I glared at his teasing smile, then hurriedly opened the cabin door.
“J-just come inside, please. It’s shabby, but…”
“Thank you. Excuse me.”
He stepped in with a grin, leaving me with the feeling I’d just been tricked.
Meanwhile, far away, Zember spoke with concern.
“Are you sure it’s right to just leave things like this?”
Lafer shrugged.
“Convincing the Lady is Calliere’s job. This is something the two of them must resolve.”
Zember sighed, still uneasy.
“I know His Grace will manage, but… I can’t help worrying.”
Lafer chuckled. “That’s not just age speaking. Honestly, Call should’ve given you more headaches in the past.”
At that, even Zember smiled faintly.
They spoke a little more, and finally Zember said, “I’ll return first to make preparations for their return.”
“Do so. You work hard, Zember.”
“I can endure this much easily,” the butler replied, bowing politely before leaving.
As his carriage rolled away, Lafer muttered to himself with a sly smile:
“Life never goes according to plan, does it?”
After a quick bath, I showed Calliere the bed.
“Then please sleep here, Your Grace.”
“What?”
Blinking, he looked at the bed I had neatly arranged.
“The first floor is far too dusty. You can’t use it in your condition. This bed is old, but the bedding is clean—I washed it all today.”
“And where will you sleep if you give me the attic?”
“I’ll take the first floor.”
It wasn’t ideal, but better for me to use the dusty room than for an injured man.
I bowed slightly.
“Well then, I’ll be going. Sweet dreams, Your Grace.”
I tried to slip out the door.
Creak—Thud!
“…?”
The door closed again before I could leave. A hand pressed it shut—Calliere’s hand.
I froze, his presence looming behind me. My throat went dry.
He leaned close to my ear and whispered:
“Then let’s sleep together.”
“…What?”
“I said, let’s sleep together.”
