episode_0028

Clatter clatter-.

The sound of dishes clinking echoed through the room.

Luna ate her meal differently from when we first dined together.

Though compared to an average person, she still ate considerably less.

Thankfully, it seemed the food suited her taste, so perhaps she wouldn’t end up eating as little as an average person if things continued this way.

I still vividly felt the lightness when I held her yesterday, and I earnestly hoped for her quick recovery.

However, despite worrying about her so much, I couldn’t focus on my meal at all.

What can I say.

It was because of Luna sitting across from me.

Even as I raised my spoon, I found myself staring blankly.

Even as I chewed my food, I found myself staring blankly.

I knew it wasn’t right, but I couldn’t bring myself to look away.

Sometimes, when our eyes met, I quickly averted my gaze.

Why did Mother ever give her that hairstyle?

“I love you, Mother.”

I continued my meal, trying to conceal my joy.

But my eyes were still fixed on her.

Then, Mother spoke.

“Albert, focus on your meal. There’s plenty of time, isn’t there?”

“Yes, Mother.”

In the end, it was a warning from my usually patient mother.

“Don’t burden Luna, just focus on your meal,” is what she meant.

Mother was right.

If anyone stared so intently, it would make the meal uncomfortable.

And there was plenty of time.

At most, we had half a day together before we had to leave, so we could easily spend the whole day together now.

Even if not now, there was ample time to see her.

So, I decided to focus solely on my meal.

It was regrettable that I couldn’t watch Luna eat, but more than that, I hoped she didn’t feel pressured.

After enduring the mealtime, we naturally moved on to tea time.

A simple dessert and tea were placed on the table.

I simply sipped my tea, neither particularly enjoying it nor disliking it.

But Luna was different.

Hm-.

As she sipped her tea, a subtle change came over her expression.

It’s as if I should be surprised, her eyes and eyebrows were slightly widened.

Come to think of it…

“You really liked cars, didn’t you?”

Even when working, even when taking a light breath in the garden, she was always with her tea.

I remember the days when I tried to drink tea that I didn’t like just to spend time with you.

I didn’t understand why I was drinking something so bitter, but thanks to you, I can drink it to some extent.

If there’s time, it wouldn’t be bad to find tea leaves from different places and enjoy them together.

I added one more thing I wanted to do with Luna and put a snack in my mouth.

“Did Melina make this?”

It tasted so familiar that I thought that.

The snacks I eat are the only things Melina makes.

She makes them with healthy ingredients, so I’m grateful to eat them.

“It would be nice if Luna could enjoy it too.”

After all, she’s my exclusive servant, isn’t she?

It would be good to look good to Luna, who will become the mistress of the house.

Just then, Luna put down her teacup and picked up a snack.

It was a cookie of just the right size to put in your mouth.

Luna, who put it in her mouth, showed a slightly surprised reaction, just like when she drank tea.

This should be considered a success.

I should definitely compliment Melina later.

As tea time continued, Mother spoke.

“Albert, what should we do about Luna’s room?”

“…Yes?”

I understood Mother’s question.

But I couldn’t understand why she was asking me about it.

Isn’t it a strange thought?

As if she’s telling us to stay in the same room.

Of course, since we haven’t officially married yet, it’s unimaginable to think of staying in the same room….

However, it was inevitable that such thoughts arose.

Luna awkwardly enters my room, and I awkwardly greet her.

On the same bed…

“Although there is a room prepared for guests, it doesn’t seem right to ask you to stay there. We’ll soon be family.”

“Oh, yes. Yes, you’re right.”

Startled by the unexpected words, I hastily gave an affirmative answer.

Mother looked at me with a suspicious glance, then eventually smiled and turned her gaze to Luna.

I breathed a sigh of relief inwardly.

Mother spoke to Luna.

“Luna, if it’s not too much trouble, I would like to treat you like family rather than a guest. Is that okay?”

Luna nodded.

She didn’t seem to mind being taken care of by her parents.

That fact made my heart pound.

Because it felt like you had accepted becoming a part of our family.

Your expressionless face made me excited as if you were taking everything for granted.

Even if you simply accepted the kindness without any thought, it was an incredibly special and happy moment for me.

However, that feeling didn’t last long.

It was because of what Mother said.

Mother lightly clapped her hands as if everything was settled and said,

“So, how about Albert’s adjacent room?”

“What?!”

I was startled and jumped up.

In the mansion, there were many rooms, and among them, it had to be the adjacent room.

How could she possibly think of putting a grown girl to sleep in a man’s adjacent room?

Luna might feel uneasy and unable to sleep.

I couldn’t understand Mother’s thinking at all.

And apparently, Mother felt the same way, as she chuckled and said,

“Albert, it’s not your room, it’s the adjacent room. And both of you will live together once you both graduate from the academy. Why are you so surprised? Lastly, I wasn’t asking you, I was asking Luna.”

“…I’m sorry.”

I lightly bowed my head and sat back down.

After hearing Mother’s explanation, my own thoughts felt truly foolish.

But what could I do?

With the woman I love on the other side of the wall, how could any man remain calm?

Father looked at me and shook his head.

His pitiful expression seemed to say, “You can’t even handle this.”

Mother turned back to look at Luna and said,

“So, Luna, what do you think?”

Perhaps Luna would accept it.

She might think it impolite to refuse her parents’ suggestion.

But why are you looking at me?

Luna’s head slowly turned towards me.

It seemed as if she was asking for my opinion.

Perhaps she was concerned about the reaction I had shown earlier.

Feeling that I had unintentionally burdened her, I sighed and nodded.

In response, Luna also nodded slowly.

However, in doing so, it almost seemed like I was telling her to go to the next room.

Realizing this belatedly, I felt embarrassed and lowered my head.

I couldn’t bear to look at my parents’ or Luna’s faces.

After the eventful tea time had ended, I escorted Luna to the room where she would be staying, in place of the servants.

Of course, this was also part of my parents’ scheme.

While I would welcome anyone who treated Luna well, I couldn’t help but wonder if, in the end, she might be more favored than their own son.

No, perhaps it had already become that way.

Well, whatever. The more people who love Luna, the better.

Squeak—.

As we opened the closed door and entered, moonlight greeted us through the window.

When I pulled the nearby handle, the room brightened as the lamp’s light flooded in, dispelling the darkness.

The room felt somewhat empty with just a bed, desk, and bookshelf, the essentials.

In a way, it could be said to resemble Luna’s room a little.

“You can use this room. If you need anything, you can ask the servants, and if that’s inconvenient, let me know, and I will make arrangements.”

Luna, who had been nodding, looked around the room.

I wondered if she was pleased that she now had a room in the Duke David’s residence.

Her steps seemed a bit lighter.

Suddenly, Luna’s steps stopped by the window.

I approached her, thinking there might be something worth seeing, and looked in the same direction as her.

The garden.

At the end of her gaze, there was a garden.

Nighttime garden strolls.

That was what you liked the most.

We stood side by side at the window, looking at the same place.

From that distance, where one could almost feel each other’s breath, I turned my head slightly to look at you.

“Luna, if it’s alright, would you like to take a short walk?”

Your eyes shine.

Is it the walk that’s good, or the fact that you’re with me?

You tilt your head.

Seemingly happy, at a slightly faster pace than usual.

Watching that, I wished quietly.

I hope it’s both.