Chapter 16
Kaiden glanced at the now docile Reina and let out a chuckle.
When she was rampaging saying it hurts, and now she’s lying down like it’s her own bedroom, dozing off.
In the end, Reina couldn’t resist the drowsiness and closed her eyes.
Perhaps because it was a massage after bathing in bathwater, her eyelids kept getting heavy.
“……Since I’m sleeping…… later…….”
Shortly after, Reina, who vaguely heard Kaiden talking to someone, completely surrendered her body to sleep.
Until she was carried in someone’s arms to the bedroom afterward, Reina slept a comfortable sleep.
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Chapter 2. Territory
The next day, Reina woke up to the sound of birds chirping, stretched, and got up.
‘When did I fall asleep?’
She was clearly receiving Kaiden’s massage.
When she opened her eyes, she was on the bed.
Moreover, not only her sore legs but her whole body felt refreshed.
How long had it been since she slept so deeply like this.
With a much lighter body, Reina headed to the window, drew the curtains, and admired the outside scenery.
Perhaps because it was morning, the snowy mountains were shrouded in thick fog.
Reina, who had been blankly staring at the magnificent view for a while, suddenly stared at the door connected to the living room.
‘Is Kaiden working?’
Just in case, when she opened the door to the living room, she ran right into Kaiden who was right in front of the door at that moment.
“Are you up? I was just about to check if you were awake.”
“Ah.”
“You look well-rested.”
Unlike Reina who had just woken up, he was already fully changed into clothes.
Reina then realized that she was facing Kaiden with her just-woken-up face.
Reina quickly fixed her disheveled hair and spoke.
“I’m sorry about yesterday. I must have been tired and fell asleep.”
“It’s understandable to be tired. Aren’t you hungry? If it’s okay, I was thinking of going straight to the dining room.”
As soon as Kaiden finished speaking, thunder rumbled in Reina’s stomach.
Reina, even more embarrassed by this, bowed her head deeply and nodded as she said.
“Just wash my face…….”
“Will 10 minutes be enough?”
“Are you going to wait?”
When Reina made a surprised expression, Kaiden tilted his head.
“Then should I go alone? Leaving someone who doesn’t know the location of the dining room?”
“……5 minutes! 5 minutes will do!”
Reina urgently exclaimed and headed to the bedroom.
Just before the door closed, a pleasant laughter and an affectionate voice came from behind.
“Take your time. No one’s rushing you.”
* * *
Upon arriving at the dining room, food for two people was set.
In front of Reina, there were mainly easily digestible foods that weren’t burdensome on the stomach.
On the other hand, in front of Kaiden, there was a pile of meats that seemed a bit burdensome to eat in the morning.
Reina looked at Kaiden, who was quickly devouring large pieces of meat, with a wondrous expression.
Well, to move that large body, he probably needs quite a lot of calories.
Seeing him eat well made her feel full just by watching.
Meanwhile, Kaiden, seeing Reina holding a spoon and staring blankly, asked.
“Why? Do you want to eat this more?”
Upon checking, compared to his plate, Reina’s plate seemed to have too little meat.
Reina, realizing she had been staring too obviously, lightly shook her head.
“Ah, no. I was just watching because you eat so well.”
“Don’t just watch, eat. It looks like you haven’t even emptied half yet.”
Kaiden glanced at the stew bowl that hadn’t decreased in amount at all, then cut a large piece of meat from his plate and offered it.
“Eat this too.”
“It’s too much…….”
“You need to gain some weight, you do.”
Kaiden glanced at Reina’s slender wrist and frowned.
“Right now, you look just like a cucumber drying up in a drought.”
At the following words, Reina blinked.
It was because it was similar to what he said before the regression.
He didn’t express it as dried and twisted, so it was better than before, but it was still words that made her bristle.
“It’s not that bad.”
“If you want to prove it’s not, eat it all. I’ll watch until you finish, so don’t think of playing tricks.”
Despite the repeated threats, Reina ate half-heartedly.
Then Kaiden sat close next to her and held out the fork.
“You’re not a child, do you have to have me feed you one by one to eat?”
“No, I’ll just eat myself…….”
“No more talk, open your mouth. Don’t think of leaving my side until you eat all this.”
Stubborn eyes that showed no intention of backing down.
In the end, Reina ended up being fed the meat by him reluctantly.
After emptying all the meat and stew Kaiden gave and even eating dessert like that, her stomach was too full.
It was embarrassing only at first, after that it felt relatively easy.
While blankly looking at her full belly, Kaiden, propping his chin, murmured.
“You eat well. Good job.”
“……Do you like that I eat well?”
“It’s better than not eating well, right?”
Kaiden chuckled as if asking such an obvious question.
Reina found it a bit amazing that he was unusually concerned about her eating, both in the past and now.
It was just a meal.
Receiving excessive praise made her feel strange.
At that time, Kaiden stood up from his seat and said.
“I have to go now. Some of the subjugation team I sent last time has arrived this time.”
“Ah, have they arrived already? No one injured?”
“Fortunately, they found it before hatching, so there were no casualties.”
“I heard that Goreth’s eggs are the hardest just before hatching. Was it not difficult to remove?”
At Reina’s sharp question, Kaiden made a strange expression.
It was because most young ladies don’t know much about monsters.
“You know quite a lot about monsters.”
To the wary tone, Reina tried to answer calmly.
“I had a lot of time reading books when I was mostly alone. I remembered reading books about monsters then.”
When she was confined underground, the emperor forced her to read various books.
The reason was that it would allow more detailed explanations when receiving prophecies.
What she thought was torture back then became an excuse this time.
Kaiden, knowing that Reina had considerable knowledge about monsters, added to the explanation.
“Indeed, it seems it will take quite some time to completely remove it. Since hatching has already progressed quite a bit, if removed carelessly, there’s a high risk of magi spreading and causing injury. Of course, thanks to discovering it in time, we prevented complete hatching, so the big danger is reduced.”
“Then, did the subjugation team that returned this time bring the Goreth’s egg?”
“Only some. It’s the first time discovering the egg directly, so for research for next time.”
“If it’s okay, can I see it too?”
When Reina mustered courage to say, he changed the topic.
“It’s good to be enthusiastic, but how about getting a tour of the castle interior with Dive first? He’s been looking this way since earlier.”
Kaiden gestured with his eyes towards where Dive was standing.
Reina, realizing she had been too eager to help with monster subjugation seriously, obediently nodded.
* * *
Dive’s castle tour was very easy to understand.
Thanks to giving a simple map for easy reference later, there was no need to ask again bothersomely.
After Dive’s tour ended like that, the head maid Celine took over the baton.
“I’m Celine August, who will serve madam from now on. For household matters, consult with me.”
Her stern-looking face showed no emotions at all.
Reina, staring at Celine who maintained a true poker face, warmly welcomed her.
“Nice to meet you, Celine. Ah, can I call you Celine?”
“Of course. And these are the girls who will assist madam from now on. Rose, Lily. Hurry and greet.”
At Celine’s command, the maid with charming freckles greeted cheerfully first.
“Hello, madam? I’m Lily Daily!”
Following, Rose, who had been primly turning her back, greeted elegantly according to noble etiquette.
“I’m Rose of the Daily family.”
Unlike Lily, it was quite cold response, but Reina didn’t mind.
Because if it’s the Daily Earl family, it’s one of Crencia’s loyal families, so it’s natural to be hostile to the imperial family.
Moreover, since it was a family that helped Crencia until the end and was exterminated, Reina felt a new emotion.
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By Anna 💓
