Chapter 34

Chapter 34

Chapter 34. Kwaaang!

With a huge noise as if shaking heaven and earth, flames soared from inside the Count castle.

“Ugh...”

Seeming like nausea would come I covered my mouth with my hand.

The tea water spilled on the clothes, and the teacup fell to the floor and shattered into pieces.

Already hard from wandering here and there today and suddenly stamina cut so it seemed I would die.

“Madam! Are you okay?”

Butcher supported my back and checked the complexion.

“No...”

Dizzy.

Really seems like I'll faint.

Good that added one lap of the training ground to the morning exercises done with Lus.

If not would have fainted right now.

Even to the extent of wishing I fainted rather the insides overturned.

I stroked my chest and looked at the castle.

Still the defense barrier activated well, and Logan and Blackie also seemed safe.

Lights came on in the Count castle that was off and it started becoming disorderly.

I who was looking at the flames rippling violently enough to be visible even from afar lifted my head.

It's about time to come.

Not long after raindrops started falling from the sky.

At the sudden rain people who met an unexpected fire were seen welcoming.‘Good that proceeded urgently even forcing.’ Being able to know the weather was convenient at times like this.

Thanks to deliberately proceeding the work matching the time rain would come, the fire seemed to be extinguished soon.* * *We avoided the rain and returned to the inn again.

When immersing the body in the warm bath water Bella prepared in advance, it felt like fatigue was relieved.‘Shall I sleep now. Is Lus sleeping well?’ Sticking my head out and checking the corridor, light was leaking from Lus's room attached next to my room.

“Didn't turn off the light?”

Opening the door thinking of turning off the light, Lus sitting in front of the desk basically equipped in the inn room was visible.

When I entered, Lus was startled and looked at me.

“Lus? Weren't you sleeping? What are you doing not sleeping until now?”

Approaching closely, Lus turned his body and urgently covered the book with his hand.

When I took one step closer Lus shrank his body.

What is he hiding like that?

Hiding to that extent rather made more curious.

Is he looking at a strange book?

I who approached Lus peeked with side eyes.

Recognized right away.

Because that book was the Empire language grammar book Lus uses when studying.

With the pulse loosening I asked emptily.

“What, were you studying?”

“...

Yeah.”

“But why did you hide? Studying until this late time is enormously amazing.”

I admired seeing the traces Lus studied.

Wow look at the dense notes.

Just looking at the book I could know how hard Lus studied.

“Older sister...”

Lus couldn't even meet eyes with me and whispered small.

“Yes?”

“Older sister said before that good children have to sleep early and wake early...”

Not knowing what Lus was saying I thought for a long time then recalled.

It was the words said to Lus in passing that Lus alone remembered.

An indescribable feeling struck and passed me like a wave.

“Even so no need to hide like that... Did you think I would scold?”

When saying awkwardly Lus moved his lips as if having words he wants to say then tightly closed his mouth.

I squatted in front of Lus and looked up at Lus.

“Lus. There's something you want to say to me?”

“...

Is it okay to say?”

“Right. I'm Lus's wife. My surname is also Valfruga now? From Felia Poldbish now became Felia Valfruga. They say between couples originally there should be nothing to hide.”

When saying playfully so Lus can talk comfortably, Lus swallowed dry saliva once.

And barely said.

“If I don't listen to words it might hinder older sister... Then older sister might leave. I dislike such things.”

It felt like being hit once with a huge hammer.

I thought Lus was just a kind and well-listening child, never dreamed he was thinking such things.

I couldn't open my mouth and only stroked Lus's small hand.

How much held the pen, only on the middle finger of the small and soft hand callus was worn.

Suddenly, a memory of childhood came to mind.

Abandoned by parents right after birth but luckily adopted once.

They said they liked the kind and quiet me.

Because the first family obtained was so good, at that time I was desperate to be liked by them.

Eat only a little rice.

Always first in studies.

Get along well even with friends who bully me.

In the end, when a real child arose for them I was returned, but what heart I longed for their love at that time I will never be able to forget forever.

At the bad memory the heart beat roughly.

But one thing was clear.

I didn't hope for Lus to become a kind child like me.

I held Lus's both hands together.

Lus who always looked at me this time avoided my gaze with his head lowered.

“Lus.”

“...”

Lus slightly lifted his head and looked at me.

“...

No need to listen to all my words, Lus.”

“...”

“If studying is hard you can say it's hard.”

Tried to say calmly but the voice kept trembling.

“Things you don't want to do you can say dislike, things you want to do you can say you want to do.”

I tightly held Lus's hand and said.

“Whatever you do I won't abandon you.”

Ah, perhaps this is the words the past me wanted to hear.

“We're a couple. Because family. Right? Lus can be sick, can be hard. I'll protect everything.”

Lus quietly stared at me, then rather asked me.

“...

Then older sister?”

“Yes?”

“If older sister is hard? If older sister is sick? Then who protects older sister?”

Lus said calmly.

“I tried to sleep early as older sister said. But I want to grow up quickly. I want to learn more. So I want to protect older sister. I hope older sister never hears strange words again. I want to make older sister eat only delicious things every day, do only liked things, and be happy.”

I tightly gripped Lus's small hand inside my hand.

Otherwise it seemed tears would come.

I really am not used to someone trying to protect me.

A child without parents is like a paper boat floating on the vast sea.

Even if the rough waves of society cover me, have to get wet powerlessly.

Even when suffering unfair things at school the one apologizing was solely my share.

There was no one protecting me.

Pure favor and affection toward me was unfamiliar so I didn't know how to deal.

So I let go of Lus's hand and stood up and said with a bright voice trying hard.

“Still for now I have to protect you.”

“Older sister is also only five years difference with me.”

“Five years is big.”

“Don't know.”

Lus answered primly and turned his head.

And since already caught, whether trying to study the rest put his gaze on the book.

But it was already time approaching 3 in the morning.

Whether from when Lus secretly studied at night, if continuing to overdo it's not good for health.

“Lus.”

“...”

At my call Lus again immediately turned his head and looked at me.

I smiled shyly to loosen the atmosphere.

“I'm sleepy but sleep doesn't come.”

“...”

“If Lus puts me to sleep I think I can sleep well.”

Lus pouted his lips.

“Then you're doing that knowing I'll sleep?”

“Caught?”

Saying that Lus closed the book, and turned off the room's light.

We tightly held hands and lay on the bed.

Lus lay on his side and patted me as I had done.

‘What is this.’ Lus who was looking at me asked.

“Why are you laughing?”

“Just.”

“...

Older sister asked to be put to sleep.”

I laughed and buried my face in the pillow.

A strange conviction arose.

Lus will absolutely not kill me like in the original.

Feeling that and at the same time I said without knowing.

“Hey, Lus. Shall I tell you one secret?”

“What?”

“Actually Blackie is a spirit beast.”

Saying and seeing, I was a bit tense what reaction Lus would show.

The hand of Lus who was patting me paused for a moment then checked my expression.

And soon patted me regularly like the first and asked.

“Am I the first to know that?”

“Yeah.”

“Then it's fine.”

Lus didn't ask more, and hugged me.

Smaller than me so it became the shape of me hugging.

The body temperature of Lus inside the arms was warm, and from the well-washed blanket a good smell came.

Whether intending to really keep the words of asking to be put to sleep that I blurted playfully, Lus continued patting me until I fell asleep.* * *The next day, matching the usual waking time as soon as opening eyes Lus's red eyes were visible.

I reflexively closed my eyes.‘Ah, embarrassing.’ Even by current life age receiving patting from a kid five years younger than me and falling asleep.

Yesterday also got rained on, stamina is bottom, and on top of that it was dawn.

Definitely lost to the dawn sentiment.

“Older sister, will you sleep more?”

Pretending not to know closing eyes here seemed only I would become more embarrassed.

Slightly opening eyes, Lus with messy hair smiled brightly.

“Did you sleep well, older sister?”

Lus smiling receiving the morning sunlight was really pretty.

Seeing the transparent laughter, the embarrassment disappeared and the thought arose that our Lus is that lovely so getting drunk on dawn sentiment is also okay!

Coming outside Bella approached and whispered.

“Madam. The guest you mentioned has come.”

“...

Got it. Tell that I'll prepare and go.”

It seemed Logan came.

Ate breakfast together with Lus, and headed to the room set aside saying it would be used as the room the knights stay.

Logan who was eating breakfast recognized.

“Came. If knowing I'll come why didn't you catch a room on the 1st floor why on the 2nd floor? Thanks to that climbing the tree I thought I would die from hardship.”

“They said no room on the 1st floor. Weren't caught?”

“Don't worry.”

I looked at the wet clothes hanging on one side of the room and asked.

“Why are the clothes wet like that? No umbrella?”

“Ah ah, that. Trying to come wearing an umbrella but while escaping the clothes were scorched here and there and ash also stuck a lot so just came while getting hit to wash off.”

“Thorough.”

“To run away have to run away thoroughly.”

Logan handed me the pocket containing Blackie.

“Here.”