Chapter 138
Chapter 138: After the Dream
――When I suddenly woke up, the outside was bright.
It seemed I was laid down in bed.
『You idiot』
Antendeixis’ ghostly hand popped out from my chest and naturally poked my eye.
“Ow!”
“Oh, you’re awake.”
By the small chair next to the bed sat Leila in a maid outfit. As soon as I woke up, she quickly hid something behind her back.
I sat up. On the sofa by the window, Liliana was having a peaceful nap.
“…How long have I been asleep?”
“About half a day.”
Leila answered while keeping her hands behind her back. I had lost consciousness for quite a while.
『It’s because you bled like an idiot, you fool.』
Antendeixis was fuming. I’m sorry, okay? I put my life at risk for something so trivial.
I intended to just get a minor injury, but I was serious up to a point, so it went deeper than I thought.
『Hmph, if that little brat was such a nuisance, you should have just killed her.』
The ghostly hand of Antendeixis pinched my cheek. Sorry about that.
“…What happened after that?”
“It was a big commotion.”
Leila said with a wry smile.
“That princess was apparently on the verge of cardiac arrest, and her family was desperately trying to revive her.”
No way.
However, according to Leila, her breathing and pulse stabilized soon afterward, so it seemed there were no issues.
The onlookers, caught in my intense killing intent, mistook it for Lumifia getting her head chopped off, and they were somewhat taken aback by how calm I’d seemed despite bleeding profusely from my wound.
Looks like my reputation is going to rise in this place…
“Did you stay by my side the whole time?”
“Yes. Well, sort of…”
Leila, still awkwardly hiding both hands behind her back, grinned. She had been in that position for a while. When she finally stood up from the chair, she walked sideways to avoid showing her back—
“…What’s in your hand?”
It was too suspicious not to point out.
“Oh. Um… well…”
Seeming a bit embarrassed, Leila resignedly showed me “that.”
――A crochet hook and yarn.
“I tried learning to knit… but I couldn’t do it at all…”
As Leila mentioned, on the crochet hook was something resembling a—what? A wriggly, indescribable object was taking shape. Wait, is that even a finished product?
“It’s getting cold soon, so I thought I’d make some socks…”
So that’s what it is…
She was embarrassed about the rough albeit heartfelt attempt, huh? I feel bad now.
『This girl has a clumsy side to her.』
Well, that’s true. I guess it’s because her body is fundamentally different from humans. Leila has a bit of ineptitude. This could be said for all the transformed dragons, not just Leila.
Garunya tried to teach Leila combat skills before giving up on her too.
Yet despite that state, Leila perfectly handled ironing. Just thinking about the time and effort it took to master that makes me want to cry.
However, isn’t it amazing that she’s managed to make that much as a beginner?
『Well, indeed. It seems she’s filled with determination—she practiced with some serious focus.』
I see! Leila is eager to learn…! She even passionately read books while traveling in the carriage, I should take a page from her book.
Winter is coming, huh? Dragons don’t seem to care about temperature differences—no matter if they’re roasted over charcoal or dunked in icy water, they don’t flinch—but I guess it feels cold for a human body.
The temperatures have been dropping lately, and Leila might be feeling chilly at her feet. I’m worried.
“Leila, if you’re cold, don’t hesitate to let me know. I can prepare as much winter clothing as you need.”
“Eh? …O-oh, okay.”
Leila tilted her head cutely at my words, then nodded with a slightly pouting face.
『This fool.』
Antendeixis attacked my eye again.
“Ow!”
What the hell are you doing!!
『That’s exactly the problem with you.』
What are you talking about?
『Well… It’s fine. You’ll understand eventually.』
So what exactly?
…But Antendeixis didn’t answer anymore beyond that.
“…Whew.”
Liliana, who was watching me quizzically with half-opened eyes, yawned boredly and began to snore again——
†††
(――Bright)
In a hazy, dreamy state, a girl opened her eyes.
“……….”
A dimly lit room. Sunlight streamed in through the curtain gaps, and the chirping of small birds could be heard.
(…Morning?)
I wondered why I had woken up at such a time.
Gradually, my thoughts began to sharpen.
――Then I realized I was alive.
“Hyie!”
Lumiafia instinctively touched her neck. …No wounds, just smooth skin. Soft silk pajamas. It seemed she was laid in her own bed.
“…Huh?”
In the corner of her vision, there was movement. Looking over, her brother—Eijivart—was seated on a chair beside the bed and seemed to awaken to Lumiafia’s voice.
With sleepy eyes, her brother raised his face.
Their gazes clashed.
“――Lumia! You’re awake!? Are you okay!?”
Eijivart nearly knocked over his chair as he jumped up. His sturdy hand gripped Lumiafia’s shoulder. Warm—both of them.
“Onii-chan… what happened…?”
As she asked, Lumiafia’s breath gradually grew more frantic.
She vividly remembered.
Something hot and cold was embedded into her throat and neck—
The horrid sensation of her life essence, warmth, slipping away from her body——
“Ha… Ha! Hah…!!”
“It’s okay! It’s okay…!”
Suddenly, Lumiafia began gasping and shaking, and Eijivart instinctively embraced her.
“It’s okay…! It’s all over now… It’s okay…!”
Gently stroking her head and rocking her body slowly, feeling his warmth and heartbeat up close… Lumiafia gradually regained her calm.
At the same time, an overwhelming sense of security spread throughout her chest——
“Ugh… Uwaahh…!!”
Lumiafia buried her face in Eijivart’s chest and began to cry like a child.
“I was so scared――!!”
Thinking she might die, she sobbed, sniffling.
At that moment, what Lumiafia thought at last was, “I’m going to die…” The level of killing intent directed at her from that terrifying Demon Lord’s Prince was truly palpable.
She hated the thought of undergoing extreme pain, and yet she had still foolishly assumed she wouldn’t die.
Recollecting the moment made her heart crumble completely.
As she sobbed, even reflecting on her feelings of dissatisfaction or defiance against Zilbagias, none of those feelings arose, astonishing even herself.
Her heart was completely shattered.
Her body no longer grasped the horror of voicing dissatisfaction against such a being.
She couldn’t understand why she had acted so contemptuously towards a being like him. She had no confidence in herself to remain standing before him the next time they met. She wasn’t sure if she could avoid bowing at his feet.
(I don’t want to…)
If at all possible, she didn’t want to even see his face ever again—but as part of the clan leader’s family, that couldn’t be helped.
She couldn’t blame anyone but herself, so all she could do was cling tightly to her brother.
“……….Are you calm now?”
“…Mm.”
After a while of crying, Lumiafia finally regained her composure as Eijivart gently stroked her head.
“Alright. …Is there anything you want?”
“…I might be thirsty.”
“Then should I bring something? What do you want?”
“…No, I’ll get it myself…”
Lumiafia, feeling dry in her throat, also wanted to take a little trip to the restroom.
She tried to get out of bed, but her feet wobbled unsteadily.
Although her brother tried to lend her a shoulder, she felt embarrassed to be half-embraced while walking down the hallway, so she put on a brave face and said, “I’m fine…”
“Then, use this for now.”
Seeing his sister wobbling, Eijivart handed her something he had propped up by the bed as a walking stick.
――A training spear.
It was meant for training, so it had been dulled. However, the moment the tip caught Lumiafia’s eye—
“…Ugh.”
She rolled her eyes back and collapsed flat.
“Eh…? Huh? What!? Lumia!? Hey, what’s wrong, Lumia! Stay with me, Lumia—!!”
Eijivart, shocked and confused, couldn’t understand what had just happened.
――Since that day,
Lumiafia Reiju became incapable of handling sharp objects.
