令嬢はまったりをご所望 (HIATUS)

V3 Chapter 3.4

Soon after, it felt like Shize-san's eyes glimmered. He grabbed on my chin, moved his face closer... and then... and then...

__

-I have no memory of what happened after that.

It was morning by the time I was conscious, and I was sleeping within Shize-san's arms. It seems I spent another night together with Shize-san.

The jet black lion stared at me. As I realized what was going on, my cheeks flushed like how heated I was last night when I was drinking.

"G-good morning."

"Morning" as so, he replied in a low toned voice.

I staggered and awakened my body, then I fixed my hair. Shize-san's coat was draped on my shoulders.

The lively open plaza last night felt like a lie after seeing the spirits and everyone else gone. It seems they have each went back to their lodgings.

"Do you remember anything about last night?" Shize-san asked as he stood up.

"... I don't remember."

It was my first time that I had drank until I lost myself.

I felt that I had done something bad as my body stiffened in response to Shize-san's smile.

It was my first time seeing him making such an evident smile. His smile, with one side of his lips curved up, looked very sexy in my eyes.

He held out his black hand, and touched my lips with his claw.

"Try to remember."

My cheeks were so flushed that I felt as if they were melting.

The last of my memories was Shize-san's face approaching mine. And I could guess what had happened afterwards. But why wouldn't he tell me what exactly happened? He was teasing me.

"I haven't received your answer from my question last night. What are you going to do? Live here?" asked Shize-san, I looked upward towards the white Spirit Tree, and the greenery of the surrounding forest.

"I do want to live here. But, I still have to run the café. And Shize-san and the others will be coming over for lunch, right?"

My beloved café where the DemiMercSquad comes by, Café Mattari.

At first, I had planned to run the café due to my personal reason of wanting to leisurely spend my life, but now it had become a place where even they could spend their time leisurely, or so I hope.

"My brother did find out about my whereabouts now, but thanks to Shize-san and the others, I don't feel as scared as I thought I would be. So, I think I'll be continuing my café as the shop manager as usual. At the town, where everyone is." I made a mischievous smile.

Although I postponed answering it, I reached the answer instantly.

Even after being found by my brother, and being scolded badly, nothing had happened afterwards. I was sure he wouldn't be coming for a second time.

If by chance Orphedot knew about how my brother came by, I'm sure he would invite me to live here. However, I resolved to decline his offer using the café as the reason.

"... Your brother, found you, you said?"

I flinched and looked upwards to the owner of the voice. It was Laclain who approached us as he walked with his wings retracted.

"What do you mean by your brother found you? I didn't hear about this! When... Is that why you coop yourself at Shize's house?! Why didn't you say sooner!! Why did you keep it quiet from me!!"

*swoosh*, as he started fluttering up, and I felt the anger within Laclain's eyes. His magic power imbued by his anger made me shiver.

"Knowing him, he definitely spouted more hurtful nonsense towards you, right! I'll rip him apart!"

"P-please stop, Laclain!"

Laclain planned to attack my brother.

I approached Laclain to stop him from flying away.

"Why are you stopping me!? All he does is scorn you! Without trying to know about your strengths, and only picking on your weaknesses! Since he broke your heart, I'll do them same and rip his body apart!"

"Laclain! I am fine, really!"

"How are you even fine like that!" He swept his wing forcefully, and shouted.

"I am fine!"

As we shouted towards each other, the sound of flapping wings and the gushing wind stopped. Even so, I still held tightly onto Laclain.

"Why, did you not say anything... Why did you not tell me..."

"Laclain."

It was the first complaint Laclain ever blurted.

"I vowed to become the wind that would always protect you... To sway my wind, my blade towards anyone who dares to harm you... What else can I do for you other than protect you?" Laclain asked in a frail voice, while burying his face on my shoulder.

Laclain had always moved for my sake. And he would even protect me against my brother for my sake.

"I am very sorry... Laclain," I patted Laclain's head.

It was also the first time that I patted him.

"But Laclain, your wind is not just any blade. There were times where it was my shield, and that which could be used to fly through the sky was of great help to me. So please do not say that your wind's only purpose is to hurt others as a blade."

"... I am not trying to touch on that topic but... Enough, please forget about what I said."

Laclain shrugged his shoulders and turned his face away.

Although all I wanted to was to convey to him how much he helped me, but the way I conveyed it might have been slightly off.

"Please do not worry about my brother. I am sure we will not meet any longer. And even if it is Laclain who went to fight my brother, I am not sure that you will return unscathed... So please do not go..."

I hugged Laclain's wing even tighter and asked of him.

My brother is one of the members of the Security Squad in charge of the security of Fiorsan by the south-eastern capital. He, as well as the members of his squad, were very competent.

For Laclain to go there alone would be disadvantageous, and I hated the idea of it happening.

"If Laclain gets hurt... I will feel hurt too" My heart hurt as I thought about how Laclain would get injured. So please, don't do it.

"...Alright"

"Thank you. And, could I ask of another favor instead? Please heal me with Laclain's wind."

"... with my wind?"

"Yes, please bring me to the sky."

I wanted to convey to Laclain how his wind had always healed me, and not to be used for attacks, hence I purposely wanted to be spoiled by him.

Alas, Laclain ultimately accepted, blowing a gust of wind and making a mischievous smile.

"I'm not responsible if you scream."

"Please be gentle with me."

I made sure to hang tightly on to him to make sure I didn't fall.

"Oh, would Shize-san like to come together?"

"I still want to talk with the spirits."

"I understand. Well then, until later."

Shize-san looked over me and Laclain's conversation and I waved my hand towards him while hanging onto Laclain's back. The sound of Laclain's flapping wings spread.

Not long after, I flew towards the sky with the light-green and sky-blue mythical beast.

(She's talking about Laclain)