Cinderella is… the Male Lead? - Chapter 38

“Uh-huh…”

Rona’s green eyes trembled at Cinderella’s words.

Sleeping together would eliminate her fear and bring her one step closer—no, more like ten steps closer—to her wish of becoming close to Cinderella.

She should have readily agreed, but a feeling of unease lingered.

It was because of the brxxst massage she had dismissed as nothing significant.

If she had to do that every day with Cinderella, it would be a problem. It felt good, and that was the issue. How could she feel good from a woman’s touch?

‘Still, this is a golden opportunity to get closer to Cinderella…’

Rona hesitated and then proposed an alternative. She wanted to grow closer to Cinderella while keeping appropriate boundaries.

“Cinderella, how about moving to the room next to mine?”

“No, that’s fine. I’m comfortable in the attic.”

“Oh…”

Rona’s face showed a hint of disappointment. She had expected a positive response when Cinderella said to let ‘her’ know if she needed anything, but her proposal was promptly rejected.

Cinderella continued to eat leisurely, unaffected by Rona’s reaction. Wiping her mouth with a napkin, she spoke softly.

“But I do like sleeping together with you.”

“I see. Then…”

Rona’s brow furrowed slightly. She had no other choice. There were only a few months left until the day of revenge. Whether the future had changed was uncertain, so she had to seize every opportunity to grow closer.

“Ahem! Then, um, if you want to stay in the attic, that’s fine. But like last night, whenever you want to come over, feel free! How about it, is that okay?”

“Sure.”

Cinderella nodded slightly and smiled brightly. ‘Her’ smile, with ‘her’ chin propped up, shone more brilliantly than usual. It was a genuine smile rarely seen but now frequently displayed.

Seeing that smile, Rona ignored the discomfort in her heart. There was something subtly off, but it was hard to pinpoint exactly what it was.

‘What else could it be? In a revenge novel, every hour and minute feels like walking on thin ice with someone who could dismantle me at any moment. That’s all that it is, right?’

In a revenge story, one must never let their guard down. For a villainess destined for ruin, a revenge novel is like a savanna. An animal in the wild that relaxes will soon become prey. Rona rationalized her uneasy feelings and resumed eating.

Cinderella waited until Rona finished her meal. Rona occasionally met ‘her’ eyes and smiled.

‘There’s not much time left. Ignore the small stuff.’

***

After that incident, Cinderella occasionally visited Rona’s room. Since ‘she’ started sleeping beside her, Rona’s condition gradually improved. The hallucinations that caused her insomnia disappeared completely, and her anxiety about becoming a necromancer’s minion eased.

Her worries about another embarrassing situation, like the first night, were unfounded. Cinderella behaved. ‘She’ didn’t pester to touch Rona’s chest but maintained an appropriate distance while sleeping. Seeing ‘her’ even turn ‘her’ back, Rona thought Cinderella must have found the situation embarrassing too.

Contrary to Rona’s thoughts, Cinderella did want to touch her chest again. But if he did, he might reveal he was a man and want to cross the line, so he held back. Just sleeping next to Rona was enough. Of course, the next day, he had to relieve herself in the attic. If only she knew, Rona would be amazed by his self-control.

Despite their different dreams, their relationship improved as they slept together every now and again. Sharing daily routines and trivial worries naturally brought them closer. It was hard to believe they had been awkward at first. Cinderella’s personality sometimes led ‘her’ to be curt with Rona, but ‘her’ actions were always friendly.

Sometimes, waking from a deep sleep, Rona found Cinderella’s hand on her body, even resting on her chest. Rona just assumed it was a bad sleeping habit and went back to sleep.

***

Time flew by, and soon it was autumn with cool breezes. It was the second autumn since Cinderella had awaited her coming of age.

One day, when the trees at the mansion entrance turned red, Cinderella’s body glowed in the darkness of the attic. He looked down at his body with satisfaction.

‘Is this my incomplete awakening? I no longer need to pretend to be a woman?’

He closed his eyes. The mana circulating through his veins was incomparably stronger than before.

Without realizing it, thinking only that he had met the first condition of awakening and thus strengthening his mana, this was already his complete awakening.