Chapter 74
Ael tried to keep his expression as calm and harmless as possible, but Kiara still gave him a suspicious look.
“If you’re not doing anything with me, why should I come there?”
“I don’t know when you’ll have to go out again. Let me sleep a little.”
“Then I shouldn’t come closer. It’s already cramped enough.”
“Well…”
Ael closed his mouth reluctantly. As she said, Kiara’s bed was tiny. It suited the small northern tower, but for someone as big as Ael, it was extremely uncomfortable.
Yet, strangely, he liked that. If they lay together, they’d have to be very close, and holding Kiara helped him sleep better.
Though even he didn’t understand why, so he had no way to explain it.
Instead, thinking quickly, he came up with a good excuse.
“This bed’s actually pretty soft…?”
Ael tapped the bed lightly and motioned as if calling a cat.
He’d succeeded in coaxing her like this before, so valuing experience, he tried once more.
This time, he even put on as gentle and friendly a look as he could muster. For some reason, his subordinates were more afraid of this expression than anything else…
“…Really soft…?”
Oh? Looks like that actually worked better than expected.
Kiara glanced again at the bed Ael was pointing to. No joke— the crisp white sheets looked so soft and fluffy it was almost tempting.
‘I am very tired.’
She sighed and gave her own shoulder a light pat. Even though all she’d done was go to the library, it had been pretty exhausting. Probably from all the flying books inside, which had kept her on edge.
“So? Oh, by the way, looks like they changed the sheets while you were out?”
Ael put on his most harmless expression, like he was coaxing a kitten. Though his clumsy act was obvious to anyone else, it worked on the innocent Kiara. Or maybe she really was just that tired. She started inching closer to the bed.
Of course, she wasn’t giving in that easily.
“I-I’m not lying down, though!”
“Suit yourself.”
“I-I’m just going to sit a little bit…”
“No one’s stopping you.”
With every step she took, Kiara made sure to insist loudly that she wasn’t going to be an easy mark. No matter what she said, Ael just replied with a nonchalant tone, acting like he didn’t care at all. And all the while, he wore a big, wide smile on his face.
Still, Kiara’s guard didn’t easily come down. No matter what, Ael’s smiling face was just as intimidating to her as when he frowned.
“J-just for a moment… I’m just resting for a bit.”
“You can sit and rest as long as you want. After all, it’s your room.”
Even though she crept closer like a wary little kitten, the room wasn’t that big anyway. After only a few steps, Kiara reached the bed and lightly perched on the edge, letting out a soft sigh.
“Phew…”
Though the distance from the fireplace to the bed was short, it felt like she had traveled a long journey.
Seeing how exhausted she looked, Ael wore a sympathetic expression.
“First outing in a while, huh? Must be tiring.”
Fortunately, he didn’t seem to have any other intentions. He just propped his elbow on the bed and half-sat up, watching her quietly.
Kiara absentmindedly tapped her knees and answered his question.
“…My legs hurt.”
“That’s because you’re sitting too lightly. Come sit closer.”
Ael clicked his tongue with a pitying look. It was true — the bed, sized for the average height of the Altnebrans, was a bit high for Kiara. She might get hurt if she fell off in her sleep.
Sitting awkwardly on that high bed, Kiara’s legs dangled in the air, making her already sore legs feel even more painful.
Still, she looked at him with a suspicious expression.
“Y-you’re not going to do anything, right…?”
“I told you, I won’t.”
Showing all ten fingers as a sign he absolutely wouldn’t touch her, Ael reassured her. Reluctantly, Kiara shifted deeper onto the bed and gave a small smile.
“Ah, this is really a bit more comfortable… Ah!”
Suddenly, Ael wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled her close. Before she knew it, Kiara’s vision spun, and in an instant, she was laid down on the bed.
Struggling in his arms, she desperately shouted.
“W-what are you doing! I said I don’t want—!”
“Yeah, yeah, I’m not.”
“Th-then why… l-let go!”
No matter how much she struggled, Ael’s hands holding her didn’t move an inch. Perhaps from exhaustion, Kiara’s resistance quickly weakened, and she finally fell silent.
Only then did Ael break into a satisfied smile, gently patting her back as he comforted her in an embrace.
“Let’s just stay like this for a bit. Talk a little too.”
“Talk, you said…?”
Startled, Kiara blinked wide-eyed and asked again, while Ael gazed down at her face quietly. It was as if two red jewels sparkled from within his embrace.
How on earth did I end up with something like this?
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