Chirp- Chirp-

The morning birds sang as sunlight filtered through the window.

My eyes opened wide, unusually alert today.

Immediately remembering yesterday’s events, a deep moment of reflection came over me.

‘Ah, I’ve gone mad.’

The blanket was pulled up to my neck.

Fearing the worst, I felt my body and found I was still clothed. That was a relief at least.

I jumped up from the bed and dashed out of the duke’s bedroom.

‘What if I had fallen asleep there!’

I entered my room and clutched my head.

Even in the morning, the sensation of his weight pressing on me remained vivid.

Last night.

Kashar had refused to let me go when I said I wanted to sleep.

‘My cheek still hurts.’

My struggling body suddenly stopped.

His cheek, reddened from my pinch, was starting to bruise.

I had forgotten about the trouble I’d caused.

Cold sweat ran down my back. As I closed my mouth, he whispered tenderly.

‘The crime of harming the duke’s body would be severe.’

Tap tap. His beautiful fingertips gently cupped my cheek.

Handsome face, perfect naked body. The scene was so stunning I didn’t know where to look as heat rushed to my face.

Surely we weren’t about to spend a passionate night?

My face felt like it would burst from blushing.

Just as my heart was pounding wildly,

Drip.

‘…Huh?’

I felt something flowing. Wiping under my nose, my hand came away red.

‘N-nosebleed…’

Quickly pinching my nose, I hurriedly made excuses.

‘Ah, this is because I’m tired today!’

I couldn’t admit I’d gotten a nosebleed imagining a hot night, even with two mouths.

As I rushed to wipe under my nose, Kashar was faster.

‘Lower your head.’

He held a cloth to my nose and made me tilt my head down.

How embarrassing.

I had to stay like that for a while until the nosebleed stopped.

‘…I’m sorry for pinching your cheek.’

Maybe it was the sight of blood, or maybe I was too tired, but my mind felt hazy.

I mumbled with bleary eyes.

‘I thought it was a dream…’

Why am I so sleepy?

The bed was so cozy. Kashar’s body heat was so warm. It was like I’d taken a sleeping pill.

My eyes kept closing until finally I couldn’t open them.

‘But the castle was really scary.’

It’s not easy for a person to faint.

As I grumbled, a low laugh spread.

‘You can change it however you like.’

‘…Really?’

‘Whatever my lover wishes.’

His embrace pulling me close felt especially warm.

‘No taking back those words.’

I succumbed to sleep after leaving those last words.

And so I woke to morning.

Only after frantically running to my room did I recall my last conversation with Kashar.

‘In exchange, sleep with…’

He definitely said something, but what?

“What was it?”

The memory was blacked out, I couldn’t recall.

“Well, I can ask him later.”

Right now, getting my bearings was more important.

‘No matter how tired, to fall asleep in that situation.’

It was lamentable that I did nothing with that body before me.

‘I can’t act so pathetically!’

I should have at least hugged his neck!

Imagining his naked body again, I slapped my cheeks to get ahold of myself.

‘Clean thoughts. Clean thoughts!’

At this rate I’d get another nosebleed first thing in the morning.

Taking deep breaths, I barely managed to hold onto my reason.

‘Phew, a bit better.’

Actually, the reason I didn’t make more of a fuss was because I’d done the same thing in my dreams.

Tearing at the white furball living in the dream supermarket.

‘Kyuuuuuk-!’

The white one’s scream was still vivid.

‘I should apologize to Whitey when I fall asleep tonight.’

I vividly remembered ranting about how amazing Kashar’s body was.

I felt so sorry to Whitey. Even so, I checked my hands.

“…I didn’t bring anything back, right?”

Both hands were empty.

I hadn’t grabbed anything for fear of seeming strange to Kashar, but he was already gone when I woke up.

‘Thankfully there’s nothing.’

I didn’t have the confidence to face him right after doing that yesterday.

As I was rubbing my face, there was a knock at the door.

“Come in…?”

I said awkwardly, and the door opened.

Eshtra was standing there.

She entered with her characteristic expressionless face.

“You’re awake.”

“Ah, yes. I woke up early.”

“I checked the master’s bedroom first but you weren’t there, so I came here.”

She knew I had slept in Kashar’s bedroom.

I thought I could brush it off casually, but when she pointed it out directly, I was at a loss for words.

‘…Well, this might be for the best.’

Given the situation, I resolved to be even more brazen.

After all, it wasn’t strange for lovers to come out of each other’s bedrooms.

“I didn’t see him.”

“He’s probably at the training grounds.”

“I see. That’s our darling for you!”

I giggled coquettishly, but Eshtra remained expressionless.

“Ah, haha. A man who takes care of himself is the best, right?”

Eshtra nodded silently.

I heard the sound of my empathy meter shattering.

After finishing preparations and stepping into the hallway, I thought of the children.

‘I hope they didn’t wake up crying in the night.’

I was worried since the environment had changed and it was their first time sleeping in separate rooms.

“How are the young princes?”

“They’re fine. Lady Hallen’s maid is attending to them.”

“I’ll go down too.”

My steps quickened.

Hurrying down to the second floor, Emma and the children were already in the hallway.

Louis, who met my eyes first, ran towards me.

“Eileen!”

“Prince Louis, Prince Evan!”

I lifted Louis up in my arms like a family reunion.

Evan, who spotted me next, came trotting over.

I set Louis down and gave each of them a kiss on the forehead.

“Did our young princes sleep well?”

“Yeah yeah, I was surprised when no one was there in the morning, but it’s okay now.”

Since they always slept together, it seems they were surprised by the empty space beside them.

In contrast, Evan said with a calm face.

“I wasn’t bothered at all.”

“You opened the door right away when I knocked!”

“…That’s!”

Evan flinched. It seemed Evan had also been about to go to Louis.

Though they appeared to be arguing, they were precious children who cared for each other.

Soon, the twins looked up at me and asked.

“Did Eileen sleep well?”

“O-of course!”

Though there had been a series of events in the middle of the night, and I fell asleep where I shouldn’t have, I did sleep deeply.

“Well then, shall we go eat now?”

“Yeah yeah, I’m hungry!”

Louis took my hand and shook it.

At this, Eshtra, who had been standing silently, stepped forward.

“I’ll guide you.”

“Ah, it’s the strong sister from yesterday.”

“You can call me Eshtra.”

“Okay! Hi Eshtra!”

Louis waved at Eshtra with a bright smile.

At last, the same smile from yesterday appeared on Eshtra’s face.

‘…Do all Mains smile like that?’

Looking at Dracu, it didn’t seem so, but it was hard to find a reason.

While I was confused, Evan murmured softly.

“…Magician.”

Evan was gripping my clothes tightly, but his gaze was fixed on Eshtra.

‘He must find it very fascinating.’

It seems Evan was interested in magic even before manifesting.

Both twins would grow up to be powerful magicians, but of course Evan would show the most delicate control.

‘I should ask about finding someone to teach magic.’

Since they’ll manifest anyway, wouldn’t it be good to know the basics of magic in advance?

While I was pondering, Eshtra had led the twins quite far ahead.

I watched the children skipping along, then turned to the side. Emma was standing there.

“Emma? Are you really alright?”

“…Yes. I’m sorry about yesterday.”

Emma seemed to have lost weight overnight.

But seeing her forced smile, she seemed better than yesterday.

“No, it’s understandable to be surprised.”

“…How can I face the Mains? We’ll be working together from now on, I think I overreacted.”

“They’ll understand. Don’t worry too much.”

“I hope so.”

She looked very concerned, probably thinking she had been rude to Dracu yesterday.

‘Emma, actually I fainted last night too.’

I confessed only in my mind.

Going down to the first floor, the dining room came into view.

The dining room that had looked like a scene from a horror movie last night…

‘Still the same.’

Blood-red curtains covering the windows and a crimson carpet. The table was black, decorated with crystal skulls on top.

While I was calmly accepting the facts, servants came bringing food.

“Serving the meal.”

‘Wait, with the dining room like this, the food…’

A chill ran down my spine. I quickly scanned the dishes.

Soft-looking white bread and salad. Mushroom soup and jam. Scrambled eggs and even fried eggs.

‘Thank goodness.’

Seeing the ordinary foods, I could finally relax.

“The chef is from the Rihart Empire. It should suit your tastes.”

“Ah, thank you.”

‘That’s even better then.’

I picked up my utensils at Eshtra’s explanation.

As she said, the bread, soup, and salad were simple but tasted familiar to me. I couldn’t be more relieved.

It was while I was having breakfast with the children.

I raised my head at the constant whispering I kept hearing.

‘Those people are…’

The source of the voices was the servants beyond the dining room.

‘Imperial citizens and Mains mixed together.’

They seemed to be secretly watching us, but I could see them all clearly.

There were quite a few Mains besides Dracu and Eshtra. Among the people, there were occasionally some who looked foreign.

‘What’s going on here.’

It’s full of suspicious points. But.

“…Look at the young princes, how can they be so small?”

“Their hands are just the size of my fingers!”

“Small but determined. Really…”

“They’re so cute!”

The servants burst into cheers every time the twins moved.

Watching them, I couldn’t help but feel proud.

‘Our kids are pretty cute, aren’t they.’

Mains twisting their bodies because the children were cute. There was no pretense in their behavior.

‘Everyone likes them.’

It was a completely different scene from the imperial palace where they had been treated coldly as abandoned children.

That point was bittersweet, but also reassuring.

“Um, Prince Louis. Would you like to try this too? It’s jam made from simmered wild strawberries.”

“This is ham smoked by the chef himself, it’s really delicious.”

A few servants who had been watching from afar began to approach and speak to the children.

“Wow, is this for me? Thank you!”

“Here’s some for Prince Evan too. Do you like sweet things?”

“…I’ll eat it well.”

Louis was excited, while Evan was shy.

Seeing the children surrounded by people, it finally felt real that we had moved.

‘Though the environment is a bit…’

The twins needed many kind adults around them.

In that respect, I felt a little relieved.

Just as quite a few people were surrounding the children. But there were still some hiding beyond the corner.

They were all Mains, pretending not to while glancing at me.

‘…Why are they doing that?’

Is there something on my face?

As I awkwardly scratched my cheek, I could hear them muttering too clearly from over there.

“Is that person… the master’s lover?”

“Is it really that woman?”

Doubt was evident in the Mains’ voices.

‘Do they not believe it? But whispering so openly is a bit much.’

I sharply turned my head towards where the Mains were gathered.

“Eek-!”

“W-we’re sorry!”

The Mains who met my eyes ran away with their tails between their legs.

‘I didn’t do anything though.’

I felt like I’d become Medusa.

It was unsettling, but I couldn’t very well run after them to ask.

As I poked at my salad, I thought of Kashar.

‘Kashar isn’t here.’

Though I’d surely get indigestion if we ate together first thing in the morning, I was a bit worried that he went to the training grounds without eating.

After hesitating, I asked Eshtra.

“Isn’t Kashar coming?”

“Ah, the master rarely eats… He doesn’t often come down to the dining room.”

“I see, he usually eats separately then.”

“He doesn’t enjoy eating.”

It was a somewhat gloomy answer.

‘That’s strange. He ate well when he was with me?’

Is there some problem?

I wondered if his palate was extremely sensitive, but if so, he wouldn’t have eaten the food I made.

‘And the food here doesn’t taste bad.’

While I paused with my fork, the children were picking up and eating various things.

“Young princes, does the food suit your tastes?”

“Mhmm.”

Louis answered with his cheeks full.

A moment later, after swallowing his food, Louis gestured to me.

“Hm? What is it?”

As I leaned down, Louis put his mouth to my ear and said.

“Everyone here seems nice. And there’s lots of yummy food. But you know, I like Eileen the best. The food Eileen makes is the most delicious in the world.”

It was a heart-bombing confession.

‘It was good we moved.’

My feelings changed in an instant.

“The little one knows how to sweet talk.”

A hand reached out to pat Louis’s head.

“Eileen’s lover!”

“You should call me ‘elder brother’.”

“Ugh-!”

Kashar, who had been pressing down on Louis’s head, came to stand next to me.

Wet hair as if just washed after exercise. I could see moisture flowing inside his unbuttoned shirt.

Gulp.

As I swallowed dryly, his hand reached out to me.

“Seeing you in my territory is even better.”

Kashar was kissing my hair.