Ch. 6: A Moment of Kindness
I slowly opened my eyes, and the soft sound of light rain hitting the window filled my ears.
Keith: “You’re awake.”
Turning towards the sound of the voice, I saw Keith sitting next to me.
OO: “Keith…”
(I… passed out.)
I noticed I was lying in a bed, and I hurriedly moved to get up.
Keith: “Just stay there. I’ll get you some water.”
OO: “I’m sorry, I…!”
Keith: “You were burning up… It’s probably because you got soaked in the rain yesterday and today.”
OO: “But I’m causing you trouble again…!”
Keith: “It’s fine.”
Keith gently placed his hand over my eyes.
Keith: “…just sleep a little longer.”
I felt my heart pound as I heard the kindness in his voice.
From within the gentle darkness, I closed my eyes.
Ch. 7: Nurse
The next morning…-.
Droplets of rain remained in the garden, but the sun shone brightly.
OO: “…Keith?”
When I woke early, I saw that Keith had personally made me breakfast, and I looked at him in shock.
Keith: “You should be able to handle the taste of this.”
OO: “Keith, did you make this yourself…?”
Keith: “…is that bad?”
OO: “No, not at all…! Th-thank you for the food.”
I used a spoon to pick up some of the corn soup and took a bite.
(I’m happy… but I wonder why he’s doing this.)
I glanced at him sideways, and saw Keith was looking at me with concern.
Keith: “…how is it?”
OO: “It’s… it’s good.”
Keith: “Good.”
Keith’s tone seemed to hold a hint of relief, and I found myself smiling.
Keith: “What?”
OO: “Nothing, I’m just happy.”
Keith: “…it’s my fault you were out in the rain for two days.”
Keith’s voice was so quiet I could hardly hear him.
OO: “Keith?”
Keith: “…nothing, never mind. More importantly, I’ll change your iced pillow.”
OO: “Oh, you don’t have to do that for me.”
Keith: “It’s fine, I got it.”
Saying as much, he took the iced pillow from beneath my head, then accidentally dropped the contents on the edge of the bed.
Keith: “Sorry…”
OO: “It’s alright…”
Keith: “…I’m the type of person who uses other people. So, I’m not used to doing things like this.”
Keith seemed embarrassed as he spoke, refusing to look at me.
(His ears are red…)
Seeing him like that, I found myself grinning.
(At first, I thought he was scary… but he’s actually a kind person. But I still feel really bad about him doing all this for me. I’m the one who should be apologizing instead.)
Though I felt impatient, my heart was warm.
…
……
A few days after that…-.
I had made a full recovery and walked in the garden looking for Keith.
(Now I can talk with Keith again. He really took care of me when I was sick, so I have to return the favor.)
OO: “Keith.”
Seeing Keith reading on a bench, I called out to him.
Keith: “Feeling better?”
OO: “Yes, thank you so much for what you did.”
Keith: “Glad to hear it.”
OO: “Do you have any orders for me?”
I asked enthusiastically, and Keith looked at me in surprise.
Keith: “You… just how long do you plan on doing that?”
He seemed angry when he spoke, yet he gently tilted my chin up.
Ch. 8: Desire
Keith: “Just how long do you plan on doing that?”
Keith gently titled my chin up.
OO: “U-um…?”
My heart started pounding loudly in my chest as I somehow managed to look at him.
Keith: “If this is about the music box, I already told you it was fine. You don’t need to keep doing this.”
OO: “But…”
(I still want to apologize properly for the music box.)
Keith: “Besides, it was my immature behavior that caused you to get sick… I’m sorry.”
OO: “But that’s…”
Keith: “This time, it’s my turn to apologize. Is there anything you want me to do?”
OO: “Eh…?”
He gently placed the hand that was holding my jaw onto my shoulder as he looked at me.
OO: “You don’t have to do anything for me.”
Keith: “Think of something. Because I’m not taking no for an answer.”
Taking in his earnest expression, I felt my cheeks heat up.
(Since he told me to be his slave, I hadn’t been able to think of doing anything else. Even though he says that, I still want to do something for him…”
OO: “If I could stay by your side…”
The words flew out before I could think, and I quickly covered my mouth.
(What was I saying…!?)
Embarrassed, I turned away from Keith.
Keith: “Alright then.”
Seeing me like that, Keith smiled.
…
……
The next day…-.
After I finished with my morning preparations, there was a knock on the door.
(Who is that…?)
Thinking it strange, I opened the door and found Keith standing there.
Keith: “I came to get you.”
OO: “Eh?”
Keith: “Come with me.”
Offering me his arm, Keith escorted me out of the castle and to a beautiful carriage stopped outside.
OO: “What’s this…?”
Keith: “We’re going into town.”
With a kind smile on his face, Keith offered me his hand from the entrance of the carriage.
Keith: “Get in.”
Taking his hand, I felt like I was in a dream as I boarded the carriage.
Soon, the carriage started to move, and I looked at Keith as he looked out the window.
(What’s with this all of a sudden? He’s suddenly treating me like a princess.)
Keith: “…do you need something?”
OO: “O-oh, no, it’s nothing…”
Keith: “…”
As he watched me intently, I felt my heart pound.
Keith: “I have something to say to you.”
OO: “A-alright…”
Keith suddenly put his arm around behind my neck and pulled me in to whisper in my ear.
Keith: “Stay with me, forever.”
Keith’s right hand wrapped around my wrist.
Keith: “I’ve taken a liking to you.”
OO: “Eh…?”
Keith: “Didn’t you say you wanted to stay beside me?”
With just a slight smile, he stroked my lips with his fingers.
Keith: “I’m granting your wish.”
As soon as he said it, Keith lifted me up in his arms and placed me sitting sideways on his lap.
OO: “Keith…!”
I raised my voice in surprise, and he placed his elbow on the frame of the window while looking into my eyes.
Keith: “…what?”
His arm was firmly wrapped around my waist.
Then suddenly, he lifted my chin…
OO: “Nn…”
He stole a kiss, quick as the wind.
Keith: “Or is there another wish you’d like to make?”
Even though he asked, I couldn’t think of anything. My heart just continued to flutter in my chest.
OO: “No…”
Keith: “Good.”
Keith smiled, satisfied, then turned his gaze out the window.
(I don’t think there’s any other wish I would make…)
Those were my thoughts as I took in his handsome profile.
Outside the window, the leaves were starting to turn red.
END
Secret Story: An Awkward Wish
That morning, the birds had woken me up early again…-.
(What am I doing…?)
Surprising even myself, I stood in front of the castle’s kitchen.
(I haven’t been here since I used to sneak in as a kid)
The night before, I’d decided to make breakfast for OO as her fever hadn’t broken yet.
Chef: “Lord Keith, are you ready? First take the corn and…-.”
I looked from the yellow vegetable in one hand to the small knife in the other.
(Even though I’ve never cooked anything… when I see her in pain, I end up wanting to do something… Anyway, this weird looking thing is used to make corn soup?)
I swung the knife down at the yellow vegetable.
Chef: “Lord Keith!”
The blade cut my skin…
(I didn’t think this yellow thing would be so slippery… and besides, I wonder how long it’s been since I injured myself outside of fencing.)
As I thought it through calmly, the chef frantically rushed over.
Chef: “Are you alright!? I’ll call a doctor immediately!!”
Keith: “Don’t cause a scene. I don’t need a doctor for something like this.”
The maids and kitchen staff had gone pale.
Chef: “Lord Keith, please leave the rest of this to us…!”
Keith: “I’m fine. What do I do next?”
Chef: “Lord Keith…”
After a maid quickly bandaged my cut, I returned to cooking again.
(I wonder if this’ll make OO happy.)
…
……
I was incredibly embarrassed about the idea of giving someone food that I had made.
Keith: “You should be able to handle the taste of this.”
My heart was beating strangely fast.
(Is this something cooks worry about every day…?)
OO: “Keith, did you make this yourself…?”
Keith: “…is that bad?”
OO: “No, not at all…! Th-thank you for the food.”
OO took a bite of the soup I had made.
(It’s alright. I tested it out…)
Keith: “…how is it?”
OO: “It’s… it’s good.”
(…!)
I didn’t realize as I let out a sigh of relief, then frantically cleared my throat.
Keith: “Good.”
OO smiled at me happily…
Keith: “What?”
(This was the expression I wanted to see, but…)
OO: “Nothing, I’m just happy.”
(Don’t look at me like that…)
My heart leaped, and I hurriedly placed a hand over my chest.
Keith: “…it’s my fault you were out in the rain for two days.”
(That’s right… because of me, you got a fever. I want to say I’m sorry…)
OO: “Keith?”
Keith: “…nothing, never mind. More importantly, I’ll change your iced pillow.”
OO: “Oh, you don’t have to do that for me.”
Keith: “It’s fine, I got it.”
(Can’t you at least let me do this for you?)
I forced the issue and moved to change the ice in the pillow, but I’d never done it before and spilled the contents onto the bed.
Keith: “Sorry…”
OO: “It’s alright…”
Keith: “…I’m the type of person who uses other people. So, I’m not used to doing things like this.”
(But if it’s for you, I’ll do it one way or another. Though everything seems to backfire…)
OO looked at me.
Her gentle smile filled my heart with a warm delight.
(It seems I really do want to see you smiling.)
Acting as if it were a completely natural thing to do, I stroked her hair.
(I’ll do whatever it takes for that smile.)
OO: “Keith?”
OO: “…it’s nothing.”
I smiled slightly, seeing where I’d cut my finger earlier in the kitchen.
(I may never be able to say it though.)
I had an impulse to draw her hair towards me, but closed my eyes to keep it under control.
END