episode_0036

After a hard-fought wrestling match with Lily, my right arm extended at a right angle to my body, and Lily buried her face in my armpit.

Come to think of it, when I think about Lily’s feelings towards me, it’s understandable that she would do this.

“Sniff… Hooaa…”

Her warm breath tickled my armpit.

I realized that Lily had buried her face in my armpit, and I wasn’t wearing a shirt at the moment.

Since I had wounds on my back, it was natural that I couldn’t wear clothes. In other words, my armpit was bare.

So Lily’s breath was directly touching my armpit.

It seems like a big deal after a week. Lily was more obsessed with me than usual.

“I, I’m back!”

Behind Eah, who was coming back with a tray, there was another maid with her.

The maid quickly cleaned up the spilled food on the floor and then disappeared.

I still spoke to Lily, who was still in my armpit.

“Lily? You should eat.”

“Sniff… Hoo… Okay…”

Lily slowly got up.

Lily got up and carefully held onto my body. Realizing that she was holding onto me to help me get up, I relaxed my body so that Lily could hold onto me more comfortably.

In the process, Lily’s hand warmed up, and the pain in my back slightly decreased, allowing me to get up somehow.

Food was set up in front of me and Lily. Steam rose from the food and entered my nose.

I didn’t feel it earlier because there were too many things going on, but I was really hungry.

I felt like sticking my nose into the food in front of me.

But my body was in so much pain that I couldn’t move as I wanted, and Lily, who knew that, picked up a spoon and scooped up the porridge in front of her.

“Let me feed you. Amelia.”

Lily blew on the freshly made porridge to cool it down and then fed it to me.

“Mmm…”

Even though it was just porridge, it tasted so delicious that I couldn’t think of any other food.

Thanks to Lily and Eah, I was able to eat the food safely.

Now, even standing like this was difficult, so I wanted to lie down immediately, but it was hard until the food was digested, so I was thinking about what to do.

“Amelia, I’ll help you digest.”

Lily gently placed her small hand on my stomach and smiled softly at me.

Lily started to gently stroke my stomach.

“Is it okay if you don’t eat, Lily? You were supposed to eat.”

Lily shook her head in response to my words.

“It’s okay. Just watching Amelia eat makes me full.”

I felt like I had something to say, but Lily kept stroking my stomach, saying it was okay.

I closed my eyes for a moment and felt Lily’s hand.

After some time passed.

“Gulp!?”

I quickly closed my mouth, but the burp had already come out, and Lily vividly heard my burp.

“Hehe… Looks like digestion is almost done. I’ll do a little more and then you can lie down.”

After that, there was no further conversation. Lily just continued to stroke my stomach diligently.

I felt like digestion was almost done, so I said it was okay.

-Squelch.

“Ugh!?”

Lily’s hand pressed down on my stomach.

It was a smooth stomach, but Lily looked at the slightly protruding part below my belly button and pressed it firmly.

Despite it just being my stomach, I felt a sudden pleasure and groaned in embarrassment.

Lily seemed surprised by my groan and quickly removed her hand from my stomach.

A moment of silence ensued.

After removing her hand, Lily didn’t say anything and gently laid me down.

Then Lily quickly left the medical room. Perhaps she was embarrassed by my sudden groan?

I had foolishly made a weird atmosphere by suddenly groaning.

-Squish.

I was lying down again, feeling something sticky on my hand. It must have been where Lily was sitting.

“I must have spilled something while eating earlier.”

Thankfully, it wasn’t hot since it had been a while since I had eaten. The problem was that I couldn’t clean it right now.

As I felt uncomfortable with the stickiness on my hand, someone quietly entered the room.

It was Helena.

“Hel! …Are you okay?”

I called out to Helena with joy, but she looked very tired.

Dark circles were visible from afar, and her eyes showed signs of slight congestion, making it clear that she was much thinner than she was a week ago.

Seeing my relieved expression, she walked over to me.

“Did you sleep well?”

One of our promises.

“Yes, I rested well. How about you, Helena? Are you feeling better?”

We speak informally to each other. It’s still not very natural, but I’m trying hard for Helena’s sake.

Although she’s been misbehaving a lot lately.

“Yes, I’m fine. Did you eat well, Amelia?”

“Yes. Lily helped me.”

“Is it okay if I lie down next to you?”

“Of course, lie down quickly.”

Helena climbed onto the bed with her tired body and lay down.

And then.

“Why is Helena doing this again…!”

Helena buried her face in my armpit just like Lily.

I feel embarrassed that she’s doing this because of my armpit. But if it helps, I’m willing to let her do it.

I moved my wrist and gently patted Helena’s body with my hand.

After a while, Helena’s breathing became steady.

She must have been very tired. How long has she been lying down to fall asleep like this?

As I gently stroked Helena, I lost myself in thought.

Assassination. And it happened right in the Estelle family.

Honestly, we were too careless within the family. It was an environment where something like this could easily happen if you just thought about it for a moment.

It hasn’t been long since Lily became the head of the family, and judging by the expressions of those who attended the appointment ceremony, I thought something was going to happen, but I never expected an assassination attempt within the family.

I sighed.

Once again, I began to think about what kind of world this place was.

But what can I do? I can’t shake off that thought.

So, what can a maid like me do?

“Amel…ia…”

Before my negative thoughts could grow, Helena’s sleep talk echoed in the quiet infirmary.

“…Mom.”

Mom. Come to think of it, I’ve never heard Helena talk about her parents.

But leaving that aside, why can’t I do anything?

I’m trying to guide Lily and Helena on the right path.

I patted Helena’s buttocks as she sleep-talked earnestly.

I hope she doesn’t misunderstand. I can’t move my arms, so my buttocks are the only part I can move.

“I… love… you, Mom.”

Helena must have loved her mother very much to say this in her sleep.

My life in the infirmary continued.

The most uncomfortable part was using the bathroom and bathing.

For now, I rely on Lily and Helena’s help to go to the bathroom. So, I try to hold it in as much as possible, but the sound was loud when I couldn’t hold it in anymore, making me a little embarrassed.

Next is bathing. My back hasn’t fully recovered yet, so I can’t get it wet. Lily and Helena take turns wiping my body with a wet towel.

I can now eat on my own. As long as I don’t twist my waist and move my back muscles, I can move.

Thanks to that, eating is no longer a burden.

And a new routine has emerged, which is Lily’s actions to help me digest.

After finishing my meal, I couldn’t lie down right away, so I have a routine of patting my stomach to aid digestion.

Last time, I accidentally pressed a sensitive part of a woman’s body and let out a groan without realizing it, but now I know better.

Honestly, I didn’t know why touching this area helped with digestion, but when I asked last time, I was told, “By patting and massaging here, it releases a lot of hormones that aid in healing.”

As a man, I didn’t know much about women’s bodies, so I just nodded my head.

So, when I asked Helena about it, she said, “Oh? What… Oh! Right. I remember reading about it in a medical book. So, I’ll do it from now on too.”

After that, Lily and Helena took turns patting my stomach after meals. Of course, the last part was stimulating the slightly protruding area.

At first, it was sudden, and I let out a groan, but now, it feels strange, maybe? A bit confusing.

So, let me be honest.

“That’s evidence that hormones are being released!”

I think hormones can influence emotions, so it makes sense.

But the biggest problem is right there.

My panties get slightly wet…

How embarrassing it is to hand over underwear to Eia every evening… It’s fortunate that they dry a bit by evening.

If I handed them over immediately, I would probably die of embarrassment.

An adult leaving marks on their panties at this age… It’s dreadful just to think about it.

Eia washes them and brings them back, and lately, her skills seem to have improved a lot.

She washes them so well that they almost look brand new, clean and fluffy.

“Amelia, here you go.”

Eia is pulling out the freshly washed underwear from the laundry basket with her small hands.

I opened my mouth while looking at Eia.

“Eia, come here.”

-Tap, tap.

I called Eia while tapping my bed right next to me.

“Yes? Yes.”

Eia tilted her head in confusion but listened to me.

Eia has definitely changed since that incident. Always looking at me with bright eyes, she now avoids my gaze.

I can’t recall a single time after the incident in the medical room when I made eye contact with Eia. It means she feels guilty towards me.

As soon as her small body came close to me, I hugged her.

“There’s nothing wrong with you, Eia. It’s okay. So, let it all out and cry as much as you want.”

After I finished speaking, Eia hugged me tightly and sobbed.

==

Helena