Side Story ~ 13
Perhaps due to the relief that Lexion wasn’t seriously injured or simply because the tension had eased, he seemed to have fallen asleep with a peaceful expression.
Seeing that it was still dark outside, Sereniel, who had been looking out the window, slowly shifted her gaze towards Lexion, who was nestled in her embrace.
In a way, this habit of burying himself in her embrace was unchanged. It was somewhat expected; after all, he had only lost his memory temporarily, not changed as a person.
Brushing Lexion’s black hair silently, Sereniel began to rise from the bed.
It would be good to inform Kina and Vain in advance about Lexion’s condition while he was asleep and reassure them not to worry.
But as Sereniel started to get up from the bed, she paused abruptly.
It was because of Lexion, who was looking up at her with wide-open eyes.
“You’re not sleeping?”
Instead of answering, Lexion nodded his head.
“Why? Is it uncomfortable for you?”
“No.”
“Then…”
“I’m afraid I might wake up from a dream. I don’t want to.”
Sereniel said it wasn’t a dream, but he couldn’t believe her. Therefore, Lexion couldn’t sleep, not even a little bit.
Sereniel’s face as she faced Lexion was filled with numerous emotions.
She thought he was asleep, simply nestled in her embrace without any movement, as usual. So she thought he might have fallen asleep listlessly…
But judging from him speaking, it seemed he had no intention of falling asleep at all. Moreover, his eyes staring at her were remarkably clear, so Sereniel gently tidied his tousled hair and spoke again.
“It’s a bit early, but shall we have breakfast?”
If Kina and Vain had waited until they were tired and fallen asleep, she thought she’d do it. Since there should be plenty of yesterday’s food left over, it would be as simple as preparing it.
“You only had breakfast yesterday morning. So today, you mustn’t skip a meal.”
Lexion nodded as if understanding, and Sereniel firmly held his hand. Then, together with Lexion, she began to leave the bedroom.
—
Before they knew it, the day was dawning.
“Good morning, my lord.”
Kina and Vain were not asleep.
It seemed they had been waiting for Sereniel and Lexion, as they smiled and greeted them as soon as the couple came out.
“Please have a seat here. I will prepare breakfast a little early.”
Vain wore his usual expressionless face, but he carefully pulled out a chair for Lexion, as usual.
In Lexion’s eyes watching him, there was a hint of wariness, but Lexion didn’t refuse his kindness.
“I’m sorry, Kina. I… I was trying to put Lexion… no, my lord to sleep, but I ended up falling asleep myself.”
Sereniel whispered quietly into Kina’s ear.
“I thought so. And we probably couldn’t sleep either, so don’t worry.”
It was exactly as she said. Despite various concerns, they probably couldn’t do anything because they were worried.
“Madam, Vain and I will do as usual.”
“Kina?”
“Just because I think it would be better.”
Kina remembered it even now.
On a sunny day… When I was making a fuss about Vain’s “dull color.”
Lexion sat quietly and listened to their conversation, then casually threw in his words.
[The maid really talks a lot.]
Until then, they weren’t as close as family, so Kina glanced slightly nervously, worried that her actions might be seen by Sereniel.
[Thanks to you, the mansion is very noisy. It used to be like a tomb. Isn’t that right?]
But that was a wrong worry.
[So continue to talk and nag hard in the future because living like this doesn’t seem so bad.]
As soon as Kina saw Lexion’s face, which seemed to smile faintly, she instinctively realized something.
In that “tomb-like” mansion, Lexion must have spent very lonely, terribly lonely times.
That’s why even now, she just wanted to treat him as usual.
“Okay. I understand,” Sereniel nodded her head, as if to say she knew Kina’s thoughts. She couldn’t help but understand. After all, she felt the same way.
“Master, I’m not sure how you’re feeling today,” BlVain, who was assisting Kina, slowly spoke up.
“Normally, as soon as you open your eyes, you find fault with me for no reason. Seeing you so quiet makes me worry.”
“…I found fault with you for no reason?”
“Yes. Our master has always been like that. They say humans are creatures of adaptation, and it seems not an unfounded remark. Strangely, it seems somewhat regretful.”
Lexion furrowed his eyebrows slightly, as if he couldn’t understand Vain’s words at all.
Never once in my life have I spoken to anyone without any reason…
Found fault for no reason?
“Well then, please try it, Master.”
Kina, who had finished preparing the food by now, set a large plate in front of Lexion.
“I learned a new recipe. Originally, making it spicy is the right way, but I changed the sauce a bit on my own. I thought it might not suit your taste.”
“Right. The Duke doesn’t really like spicy things.”
Lexion grinned and looked at Sereniel, who was looking at him with affection, then alternated between looking at the food Kina had prepared.
Their words were right. He could eat it, but he didn’t particularly like spicy food.
But I’ve never told anyone such minor preferences, not even to my mother.
How do these people know all this?
“I’ve also spread the meat and fish nicely so they’re good to eat. Our master seems to have a constitution where weight doesn’t easily stick, so his stomach sometimes gets upset.”
Come to think of it, these people have been calling me “our” continuously since earlier.
To Lexion, who had returned to the past, all these things were unfamiliar. The warmth, affection, and consideration were all so strange and unfamiliar.
But he didn’t seem to dislike it.
And right at that moment, Lexion realized.
That he had found fault and teased just to attach himself to that steward, or that maid who talked too much, and that Sereniel and the maid knew all my eating preferences without me telling them.
It was because they were comfortable with me.
“Anyway, it seems like our Duke is turning all his food into muscles. It’s terribly unfair. Isn’t that right, Vain?”
“That’s correct. Kina complains that every time he eats, it all turns to fat.”
“Why is my story coming up here?”
Even though it was just having a meal, the mansion was incredibly noisy.
The stifling atmosphere that had always been like a tomb was completely gone.
… Have I been living like this?
Having ended the life that was vicious and nightmarish, am I now spending these dream-like happy days?
“Duke Lexion, why are you like that?”
“Yes, why? You haven’t eaten anything….”
“Shall I call the doctor again?”
To Sereniel, Kina, and Vain’s words, Lexion didn’t respond at all.
Instead, he nodded as if to say it was okay.
“Every day….”
Then, in a quiet voice, he asked, “Was it like today?”
“…I just can’t remember. That’s why I’m curious.”
Above Sereniel’s emerald eyes, Lexion’s hand toyed with a knife, indicating he was lost in thought. She seemed to know what was on his mind.
“Yes, it was.”
Sereniel responded with a gentle smile.
“Every day was as noisy, chaotic, and peaceful as today.”
“…”
“Always.”
As Sereniel finished speaking, Kina and Vain grinned at Lexion.
Lexion alternated between looking at them, then at Sereniel, and finally uttered in a voice that seemed to crackle like embers, “I see.”
“…Yes.”
“That’s right.”
After Lexion’s soft murmuring, the three of them remained silent for a moment. No, perhaps they didn’t know what to say.
They seemed to know so well what emotions he was feeling right now.
After a lengthy silence, Sereniel smiled brightly again and looked at Lexion.
“Duke, after we finish eating, shall we go out for a little walk?”
“That sounds good. It might be a bit early for an outing, but it means we can visit several places.”
“Should I pack a lunchbox? Whatever you and the lady like.”
“If you’re going with me…”
Lexion looked at Sereniel.
“I don’t mind where.”
“Oh, Duke, you’re still the same.”
Kina teased with a wagging tongue, and Vain chuckled silently.
Lexion quietly looked at Sereniel again before resuming his meal. Where should we go together? Where can we go? So much has changed. If so… Sereniel was right. It was indeed a noisy, bustling breakfast. At the same time, it was incredibly peaceful and warm.
