Chapter 112
“Ugh…”
Wendy was basking in the warmth under the blanket.
She couldn’t remember when she had fallen asleep.
Right now, she just wanted to rest, intoxicated by the pleasant drowsiness.
“A nice smell…”
A comforting scent wafted from the blanket.
A familiar scent… one that somehow made her happy.
Yes. This is definitely… his scent.
“…Huh?”
Realizing this, Wendy opened her eyes.
She was in a room with an antique feel.
Luxurious decorations were scattered everywhere. No, upon closer inspection, everything seemed to be of great value.
Even the blanket Wendy was under was incredibly soft, with a black lion emblem embroidered at the end. It was none other than the emblem symbolizing the master of this mansion.
Which means…
“Why, why am I here…?”
Only then did Wendy realize where she was. It was the bedroom of her master, Count Tristan.
If it got out that a mere servant like her had dared to sleep in her master’s bed, it would be a disaster.
Wendy quickly tried to get out of the bed.
“?!”
At that moment, something squirmed under the blanket.
Goosebumps ran down her spine.
Her heart raced uncontrollably.
This was Tristan’s bedroom. So, the person she had been sleeping with couldn’t possibly be…
Preparing herself, Wendy carefully lifted the blanket.
But the person there was not who she had expected.
“Who, who are you…?”
She looked to be around ten years old.
A girl with strikingly shiny lemon-colored hair. She was wearing pajamas of the same color, hugging a pillow as she slept.
“Ugh… Mama…”
“Uh, hey…”
“Huh?”
At Wendy’s call, the girl opened her eyes.
Rubbing her sleepy eyes, the girl yawned and spoke.
“Did you sleep well…?”
“Y-yes…”
“Nice to meet you… It’s the first time we’ve met in person, but…”
“D-do you know me?”
“Ugh… I’m Liri.”
Stretching, Liri looked at Wendy with a mysterious gaze.
“I’m the god who will back you up.”
“G-god?!”
“Ugh…”
Wendy couldn’t help but be flustered.
Not only had she been sleeping in the same bed with a girl she had never seen before, but the girl was also calling herself a god.
As far as Wendy knew, gods were lofty beings who only revealed themselves to heroes or warriors who saved the world.
Perhaps the appearance of one of these gods was related to the hero’s blood flowing within her.
Wendy cautiously observed the girl.
The girl exuded a unique aura.
A kind of shimmer.
Around her, something like a heat haze sparkled and floated. At the same time, an aura that couldn’t be felt from ordinary people was palpable.
Seeing this, Wendy couldn’t help but drop her suspicions. She was about to bow her head when Liri stopped her.
“Ugh… I don’t like that. Even if I’m a god, I’m not that great. Such formalities are uncomfortable…”
“Y-yes…”
Following Liri’s words obediently, Wendy asked, just in case.
“But… am I dead?”
“No… You were on the brink of death. If it weren’t for your master, you would have died.”
Only then did Wendy recall that the Count had come to save her from the jaws of death.
“Is, is the Count alright?!”
“Ugh… He’s fine.”
“That’s a relief… Really a relief…”
Wendy hugged the blanket in relief.
Seeing this, Liri spoke in a still sleepy voice.
“I saw your performance… I judged that you have the qualities to become a hero.”
“Me, a hero…?”
“Ugh. Talent is one thing, but the spirit of sacrifice is one of the qualities a hero must have…”
Wendy remembered risking her life to fight within the barrier.
She hadn’t expected that action to catch the attention of a god.
Liri yawned sleepily.
“Soon, this world will need heroes and warriors. I want to push you as a strong candidate for a hero.”
“B-but suddenly…”
“I’m not saying you have to become a hero right away. You can think about it slowly… I just came to inform you of your options. Heroes are given many privileges…”
Wendy fell into thought.
Even after realizing that a legendary hero was her ancestor, her life hadn’t changed much.
Wendy had hoped to live as Tristan’s exclusive maid, not as a hero.
But she didn’t think she could escape her fate forever.
With the blood of a hero running through her veins, she would inevitably face that destiny someday.
But Wendy wanted to stay by Tristan’s side until that day came. She wanted to be of some help to him.
“Oh, right…”
As if suddenly remembering something, Liri reached out her hand.
“Give me your palm.”
“Y-yes…”
Liri placed something on Wendy’s palm.
It was a coin glowing with a lemon-colored light.
“This is my sponsorship money…”
“S-sponsorship money?”
“Ugh. This is a miracle coin. You can collect these to buy miracles from me. So, put it away before anyone sees…”
“Th-thank you…”
As Wendy pretended to put it in her pocket, the coin disappeared in an instant.
At the same time, a message appeared before her eyes.
[100 coins have been sponsored by a god.]
[-Sponsor: Liri]
[-Sponsor’s message: Hehe. Mama.]
“Uh……?”
Staring blankly at the mysterious message floating in the air, Wendy noticed Liri spreading her arms.
“Hug me.”
“Huh?”
“Hug me…”
Liri pouted her lips.
Hesitating, Wendy eventually hugged Liri tightly.
The two lay on the bed, embracing each other.
Thinking she was lying in the same bed as a god, Wendy felt strange.
“Hehe…”
Liri murmured, savoring Wendy’s embrace.
“Ten years…”
“Huh…?”
“In ten years, you’ll become a great mama…”
“Mama…?”
“Ugh…”
Liri, who had said something incomprehensible, then fell out of Wendy’s arms and spoke.
“Your dream is really sweet… I like it because it’s untainted. I might want to sleep here sometimes.”
“My dream…? So, is this my dream?”
“Ugh. I just hitched a ride in your dream for a bit. Thanks for the fun… See you later.”
“Huh? What do you-.”
As Wendy tried to ask, she realized the space beside her was empty.
“Liri?”
She lifted the blanket and looked around, but Liri was nowhere to be found.
Was this also the power of a god?
But the location hadn’t changed.
Wendy was still in the Count’s bedroom.
Why hadn’t she woken up from the dream yet…?
As this question arose, the door opened.
“Awake?”
“Count…?”
Entering through the door was the head of the Ruelberta Family and the Dark Noble, Tristan.
Even in the dream, he still had his radiant appearance.
“How’s your body?”
“I-I’m fine…”
Now that she thought about it, there wasn’t a single wound on her body.
After such a terrible injury, being this unscathed…
‘This must still be my dream…’
The question in Wendy’s mind was resolved.
There was no way a servant like her would wake up in his bedroom unless it was a dream.
Tristan sat on a chair by the bed and unfolded a newspaper.
Even though it was her dream, he was just as elegant and dignified as in reality.
‘Then…’
Seeing this, a naughty thought bubbled up in Wendy.
Here, she could do what she had secretly thought about without consequence.
It’s a dream, after all.
Gulp…
With that thought, Wendy got out of the bed and approached Tristan.
To commit a transgression.
“…Huh?”
Without warning, Wendy sat on Tristan’s lap as he read the newspaper.
“Hehe…”
“…What are you doing now?”
“I’ve always wanted to do this…”
A taboo that a servant could never cross.
Wendy was committing the transgression of sitting on her master’s lap and acting spoiled.
And perhaps because it was a dream, Tristan merely muttered without much reaction.
“…I see. If you’ve always wanted to do it, then I can’t help it.”
“Yes!”
Wendy giggled.
As Liri had said, it was truly a sweet dream.
To be this close to him…
Confirming it was a dream, Wendy made an even bolder request.
“Count. My, my head… Could you pat it…?”
“…Hmm.”
This time too, Tristan silently began to pat her head.
“Hehe……”
Feeling his gentle touch, Wendy soon became entranced and leaned against Tristan.
“I feel like a princess…”
“…Is that so.”
Seizing the moment, Wendy began to list the things she had secretly wanted to say.
“I always think of you, Count.”
“I see.”
“I wanted to see you.”
“I see.”
“Did you want to see me too…?”
“…I see.”
“Hehehe… Me too!”
Wendy buried her face in Tristan’s chest.
She had missed his embrace.
She had missed his scent.
In this vivid dream, Wendy couldn’t help but murmur.
“I’m so happy… I wish I wouldn’t wake up from this dream…”
“…?”
At those words, Tristan, who had been nodding along, tilted his head.
“Wendy.”
“Yes…?”
“Are you still half-asleep?”
Wendy, who had been nuzzling her face against Tristan’s chest, froze.
A sense of unease washed over her.
No way, no way…!
“This isn’t a dream…… is it?”
“……”
Tristan silently brought his hand to Wendy’s nose.
Then, he pinched it lightly.
“Ouch!”
“Snap out of it.”
Wendy’s back was drenched in cold sweat.
No. It can’t be.
“B-but I don’t have a single wound…”
“Thirty top healers from the university hospital gathered to treat you. The best in their respective fields worked hard to heal you. But you’re not fully recovered yet, so rest.”
“Th-then why am I in the Count’s bed?!”
“Your cheap bed isn’t suitable for a patient. You’ll sleep in my bed until you recover.”
With those final words, Tristan closed the newspaper.
And then, he scooped Wendy up in his arms.
“Eek?!”
It was the so-called princess carry.
Wendy trembled as she looked up at Tristan.
He laid her back on the bed, covered her with the blanket, and whispered.
“If you want to act spoiled with me, wait until you’re fully healed.”
“……!!!!!”
So, it wasn’t a dream after all!
Wendy’s face turned bright red as she began to stammer.
“Th-that’s not it… Count… That’s not it at all!”
“Rest well.”
“Sniff…! Please forget about it!”
As Tristan was about to leave the bedroom, he paused at the door.
Then, looking at Wendy, he spoke as if amused.
“Don’t give me orders. Princess.”
