After that, time flew busily.
Enkalton lies beyond the capital from Veret territory, requiring a flying vessel.
Flying vessels are rare aerial transport this era; in Rondism they land only at the capital and the four ducal-house territories.
Flights are few, so tickets are always contested.
This time, Father happened to secure five Enkalton tickets, and happened to be the only passengers.
Departure: tomorrow at dawn.
We rushed travel prep; everyone’s now in their rooms in dream-land for tomorrow.
I, too, lay staring at the ceiling.
By the way, Cabunika-san left by simply flying back with magic.
His mana control was so uniform it was unsettling.
…… Right, time to address what I’d overlooked.
“Alice? I told you to leave.”
After she helped me pack, I told her to return to her room, but she was still standing by the bed.
…… But I’m not so dull.
What she wants, what she’s trying to do — I can guess.
Let me strike first.
“Lord Ouga…… my apolog——”
“——Will you sleep beside me?”
”…… Eh?”
I remember.
Mashiro and the others saying look forward to tonight. Alice carefully making the bed.
Unfortunately, with early-morning departure tomorrow, the three aren’t here and it isn’t the guest room. Alice’s overwhelming loyalty must have kept her in the room.
Her unusual something to say throughout was her timing it.
“L-Lord Ouga…… um, I……”
“Alice.”
”…… U-Understood.”
When I called her name, she gingerly mounted the bed and came beside me.
I drew her arm, laid her beside me, draped the blanket over.
With Alice, I can be assertive.
With Mashiro and the others, the smoothness wouldn’t be the same.
They’d take pace control and I’d resort to virgin moves. Fact: virgin in this and prior life.
I reached for her beautiful gold hair.
Alice, with a pained expression, began murmuring confessions.
“Lord Ouga…… I’m not in a position to be treated this kindly. To have made you make that decision……”
The cause clear, no need to immobilize the arm; freedom regained, she hugged my right arm.
…… Ah!? So this is what Alice wanted to discuss!?
Bad…… I misread and embarrassed myself……!
I scrambled to recover points, but first, calming Alice is priority.
I don’t want her serving me with lingering guilt.
“It was a necessary cost to save Alice. That’s all. ……Are you saying your master’s decision was wrong?”
She opened her mouth to retort, then buried her face in my chest to mask her emotions.
”…… Lord Ouga, you’re unfair. Said that, I can’t reply.”
“I understand Alice has a strong sense of responsibility. So sleeping beside me is the punishment. ……How’s that?”
“That’s…… not a punishment, Lord Ouga.”
She hugged me back tight.
Without that decision, this warmth in my arms wouldn’t exist.
She can apologize any number of times; I won’t blame her.
Complaining about a result of my own decision to save her would be third-rate.
“In fact, I’m excited. Since the prosthetic is a magical implement, I could try gimmicks not possible before.”
Modifications are every man’s dream. I’ve walked that path.
So I didn’t fear losing the arm or replacement.
This will undoubtedly trigger another power-up.
A rocket-fist or flamethrower I want to build in. A hidden blade is nice too. Though bare-handed I’m strongest.
“You can do it, Lord Ouga.”
“I’ll be asking your opinion too. Lend your strength?”
“Of course. The expertise of my secret techniques — all for you, Lord Ouga.”
Her dark mood seemed cleared.
And I successfully covered the misread……
Covering and successful sleep-beside-me — two birds, one stone!
My genius brain shines in such moments too.
But sleeping with Alice — who said she wants to be my bride……
This is practically marriage.
“All right, let’s sleep.”
“Yes…… like this.”
Usual bedtime approached; consciousness shifted toward sleep.
“Good night, Lord Ouga.”
After a yawn, I used Alice as a body-pillow and drifted into dreams.