Don’t tremble.

It’s still alright. It was just a minor commotion.

“You have a habit of pushing yourself too hard.”

That could be true.

Charlotte sat back against the sofa. As she draped her arm over the armrest and lowered it, Rya licked the back of her hand.

“You’re not enough to comfort me.”

Rya climbed onto her, scratching her with its claws, hiding its claws by curling its toes, and pressing down on her knee with its front paws.

Rya licked Charlotte’s chin.

“Meow.”

Unable to leave her side while moaning, the creature leaned its cheek against Charlotte’s neck.

“You seem to read me well.”

As Charlotte quietly lowered her head, Rya’s short tail touched her forehead.

Tap-tap. It was light.

It was soft and gentle, as if caressing.

It was small and young.

Such a small creature was coming into contact with her, moaning. It seemed like comfort in its own way.

Rya poked Charlotte’s nose with its short muzzle.

“I’m fine.”

It was while she was whispering softly that a familiar presence approached.

“Coming from your office?”

“If I was coming after finishing work, I would be in my uniform. I was feeling stuffy, so I visited the training ground.”

Charlotte finally looked up. Benjamin shook off his wet hair, which was dressed in thin nightwear. Seeming to sense his presence, Rya jumped down from her lap.

“That one rejects anyone but you.”

“It’s not rejection.”

“Then?”

“It steps aside. When you come beside me, it clearly feels like it willingly gives up its spot.”

As Rya scratched the door in a familiar way, a servant opened it for him.

“Meow.”

The servants seemed indifferent, as if they had seen this many times before.

“I feel a bit dazed.”

“You must be tired.”

“Sleep doesn’t come easily, though.”

“Why?”

“……I feel a bit stiff.”

“So you’re drinking calming chamomile tea?”

“The tea cools quickly.”

“Should I ask them to heat it up?”

Charlotte lowered her head.

“It’s time to sleep.”

Charlotte swept the teacup aside with an indifferent gesture.

“Has the investigation of Tytuga ended?”

“Mostly.”

“……How about that child?”

“They woke up. Due to their subsequent unease, I prescribed more sleep-inducing medication.”

Charlotte closed her eyes. Her throat gradually relaxed.

“Unpredictable events are piling up.”

“Things usually seem to connect in ways we can’t easily trace.”

Benjamin set down a wet towel and moved closer. His presence gradually approached.

“You seem down.”

“I was on my way back from seeing my mother at my maternal home.”

“Did you see any other family members?”

“Just my maternal grandfather.”

“……”

“I was sitting quietly beside my mother when I suddenly understood.”

“Understood what?”

“That I was sick.”

That my life had been difficult.
Even if it seemed balanced, it wasn’t, and I was inwardly tired of the past events. I still couldn’t escape from them, and revisiting the past seemed to reveal such a me.

“…….”

Reluctant to expose my unstable inner self, I kept my mouth shut.

Also, I just buried it deep within myself.

“I’ve become like this now.”

The one who suppressed that suffocation had forgotten how to express it and only remembered how to wear down my own emotions.

“I used to be a little hurt.”

“…….”

“Every moment of breathing was suffocating, and the fact that my life was entangled was somewhat unfair. I wished for the ordinary, but couldn’t even get permission for that.”

My life seemed broken, but there was no way to fix it,

And my path seemed skewed, but there was no way to turn back.

“People think everyone has their own rock bottom. That the worst of life ends at some point…. But I couldn’t.”

“Why?”

“Because my rock bottom didn’t even exist, and I kept going down.”

Only after life had ended did I hit rock bottom. That rock bottom was death.

“I’m fine now.”

Now, it’s as if it all never happened.

Even the past deaths.

The past life became fragments of the past.

“It will get better from now on.”

“It sounds like self-hypnosis.”

Benjamin stared intently into Charlotte’s eyes.

“I can’t possibly be okay.”

It was deep unconsciousness.

“Ah.”

Ah, somehow it felt nostalgic. Too nostalgic.

“You were hurt.”

“…….”

“I’m sorry for leaving you alone.”

Charl. Charlotte. My darling.

Her dark red hair tickled her cheek. The rich hue filled her vision. It turned red. Everything was tinged with red.

“I’m sorry for leaving you alone.”

It was guilt. Deep-rooted guilt was intense.

“Darling. My darling.”

“It’s okay.”

“Charl.”

“I’m fine.”

Charlotte calmly closed her eyes.

Benjamin looked down at the sleeping figure. The even breathing was faintly trembling.

“Where did the determination you had when you came to find me go?”

Why do you seem to be slowly crumbling now?

You look like you’re wandering aimlessly in the vast ocean.

Losing the balance you’ve been maintaining, your body slowly sits down.

“Over the past few years, you’ve struggled like you were climbing out of a grave, cutting off those who touched your ankles.”

Those who made such gestures were generally similar.

“Now you’ve lost such a focus point.”

Benjamin brushed Charlotte’s forehead.

“Are you outside?”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

“Bring me a sleeping herb. The empress will need it tonight as well.”

To sleep a little deeper.

The breath relaxed lazily.

With a thick hand, he covered Charlotte’s forehead.

“I will hold onto your steps.”

The maid brought the sleeping herb and placed it on the bedside table.

He lit a match and ignited the sleeping herb.

“You may sleep comfortably.”

As if dropping red paint on white bedding,

His vision was tinged red.

“I never intended to let you go.”