Ch.40Don’t Leave Me (2)

Irefi’s delicate skin firmly gripped my hand.

“Irefi?”

“Mm.”

Her grip loosened slightly, but she didn’t let go.

My mind was in turmoil from Irefi’s sudden approach.

In a moment that felt like either an instant or an eternity, she firmly stated her position.

“Nepy is not an option, Lady Enella.”

“Ugh, but I’d like Nepy to give me a ride. May I ask why Marquess Justitia is opposed?”

Enella protested with an aggrieved tone. Irefi glanced at me before taking a calm breath.

“Well, Nepy has no horseback riding experience. You could get hurt. And it wouldn’t look right for Nepy to hold the waist of a young lady like yourself.”

“Is that true? I find it hard to believe that Marquess Alteon, who’s mastered martial arts, has no horseback riding experience.”

“…It’s true.”

Bartlant couldn’t hide his astonishment. I admitted the truth and hung my head.

Then I blurted out a question that suddenly occurred to me.

“Actually, I’d like to ask—why ride horses when I’m faster than them? Wouldn’t running be more efficient?”

When we rescued Charle, it would have taken much longer if we’d traveled to the Great Cavern on horseback.

In fact, when Irefi went to apprehend Troph, didn’t she go on foot because time was precious?

At my question, Bartlant’s focus became incredibly hazy.

“…Um… well… That’s a good point. Why do we need horses…?”

“Oh, brother! Even if it’s not just a means of fast transportation, horseback riding is part of a warrior’s education!”

“R-right! It’s about education!”

Bartlant suddenly understood at Enella’s rebuke. He wiped away cold sweat as he placated his sister.

“Unfortunately, we’ll have to postpone riding together for another time. Let’s not impose too much on the Marquess.”

“Ugh… alright. Then I’ll be going now, Brother Nepy.”

“Hmm! Take care, Enella.”

Life returned to Enella’s dejected green eyes.

She bowed to say goodbye, then whispered very quietly.

“Ah, he called me by name! How wonderful!”

‘Having such good hearing is sometimes a flaw…’

Occasionally, I unintentionally overhear someone’s secrets like this. But I’m too accustomed to my current specs to downgrade my hearing.

I should have learned how to activate and block my senses earlier.

“…Ah.”

Something soft and slender wiggled in my left hand. It was the sensation of Irefi’s pale, delicate fingers moving.

She still hadn’t let go of my hand. I’d been too distracted by Enella to notice.

‘Should I let go?’

Honestly, I don’t mind holding on like this.

There might be a tiny bit of personal desire too, just a speck, perhaps as small as the crescent of a thumbnail…?

My confused thoughts were scattered by none other than the large man.

The moment I met Bartlant’s intense stare, I quickly let go of her hand.

“No, you don’t need to mind me.”

Bartlant awkwardly tried to be considerate.

“Just a moment. It’s not like that.”

“Don’t worry. I can keep a secret. I can hold my liquor too. I’m not the type to go around gossiping.”

‘It’s not like that!!!’

I worried Irefi might be uncomfortable. There’s nothing more disrespectful than forcing misunderstandings.

I urgently whispered in Irefi’s ear.

“Um… Irefi. I know you don’t have those kinds of feelings at all. I’ll explain…”

“Ah, your hair is stuck to my ear, so I couldn’t hear well.”

She cut me off and smiled brightly. Then she looked up at Bartlant and added:

“And Lord Bartlant, you can say whatever you like. I’m insensitive to rumors and don’t care about them.”

“Well…”

“Now that we’ve finished our discussion, we should go. Nepy, do you have anything else to do?”

“Huh? Oh. No, nothing at all.”

“Then let’s head back.”

“…Okay.”

It was an awkward situation and forced conversation by anyone’s standards. What made it strange was that Irefi was the one leading it.

The situation wrapped up so quickly that I hastily said goodbye to Bartlant.

He also saw us off, looking somewhat bewildered.

“Miren, we’re heading home now. Let’s get down from the horse.”

“That was fun. I’m sad it’s over.”

From behind the disappointed Miren, Arnel gathered his courage.

“Next time you come, let’s ride together again.”

“Really? Promise!”

“Yes!”

Miren and Arnel linked their pinkies.

That scene was heart-warming… actually, no. I might allow horseback riding, but nothing beyond that.

As soon as the children finished saying goodbye, I swiftly picked up Miren and seated her in the carriage.

Just as the carriage was about to depart, Enella’s cry reached us.

“Brother Nepy! Don’t forget me!”

“…”

I decided to forget quickly.

After all, that child is quite burdensome.

◇

After leaving the Chester estate, we arrived at Irefi’s home… the Justitia manor.

The reason I came to her mansion was because of Miren’s suggestion. Since we had dinner at our house before, she wanted to return the hospitality this time.

Irefi also nodded readily, which led to our current situation.

“It’s big and beautiful.”

That was my first impression.

Mansions of high-ranking and wealthy nobles are typically grand and lavish. But the Justitia manor was on another level. Though not as large as Netionphis’s mansion, it inspired a sense of majesty.

Now I could understand her reaction when I offered to give her half of my mansion.

[“Do you think I’m poor?”]

Her cold retort still feels vivid.

‘Compared to then, Irefi has really changed a lot.’

She achieved the “you’re the first for me” cliché so perfectly.

Our first meeting was full of twists and turns—she had her limbs cut off and was even cut in half.

To think that someone like me would be invited to her mansion now—truly, fortune is unpredictable.

“Irefi. You’re incredibly wealthy?”

“How have you been seeing me all this time?”

“As someone with only one outfit.”

“That’s because I was the Knights Commander!”

Irefi screamed with a face flushed with shame. The side effect of always sticking to her knight commander uniform was terrifying.

“But what do you do that makes you so rich? I remember you mentioned something about your family business.”

I thought Irefi’s family would specialize in military affairs like mercenary work.

However, the business that came from her lips was far from my expectations.

“I own various types of mines. Second only to Duke Estern’s family.”

“Damn, I never expected you to be a jewelry bourgeois…!”

“You’re still saying things I don’t understand. Besides that, I’m also involved in food ingredients like sugar and salt.”

‘Yet she herself has the hands of culinary destruction?’

My trust in the Justitia family business plummeted in my mind.

“…I’m really looking forward to tonight’s dinner.”

“I think it will be similar to the meal at Nepy’s mansion.”

“I can’t trust someone who can only taste sweetness.”

“What did you say?”

“Nothing… nothing at all.”

Along with her, whose taste was closer to a cheap military mess hall than an army sergeant’s, I entered the mansion.

As soon as the mansion doors opened, I saw servants neatly divided into two lines.

They all bowed their heads in unison.

“Welcome home! Marquess Justitia, Marquess Alteon, and Miss Miren!”

“Thank you for your hard work.”

“I’m back.”

“Huh? Oh…”

It’s fascinating how the two sisters naturally accept these disciplined servants.

I’m so uncomfortable that my back is about to curl up like a shrimp!

“Irefi, how did you ever live at our house?”

“Your mansion is excessively relaxed, Nepy.”

Our servants usually look at me with surprise when I go outside, as if wondering why I’ve ventured out.

Then they slightly nod their heads, and I awkwardly bow back before we go our separate ways.

These people even have the convenience of not questioning if I skip three meals a day.

‘Our house is definitely better…’

Hoping for labor welfare to be established in the Empire as soon as possible, I followed Irefi.

◇

It happened as dinner was wrapping up. I received an invitation that made me doubt my ears.

“Nepy, stay overnight today.”

“What?”

“Sister Elfi?”

Miren also blinked her golden eyes, unable to hide her surprise.

“I won’t force you if you don’t want to.”

“No! It’s not that I don’t want to, it’s just so sudden.”

“So you’d like to?”

“Huh?”

Her direct question left me dazed.

Like… like isn’t the wrong expression, but it’s quite nuanced.

That’s when Irefi let out a small laugh.

“Pfft, I’m joking, Nepy. Are you taking this too seriously?”

“Ah… haha, it was a joke? Then I should head home…”

“The part about staying overnight wasn’t a joke, though.”

“*cough*!”

Was Irefi always like this?

She seems so relaxed—it feels like I’m dealing with someone older than me.

‘I really don’t understand what Irefi is thinking these days.’

Usually, she gets easily irritated when I tease her. Yet sometimes I feel like I’m dancing in the palm of her hand.

“Sister Elfi, Brother Nepy. I just remembered something I need to do, so I’ll excuse myself!”

Miren, who had been watching our conversation with great interest, suddenly stood up.

Her quick footsteps reminded me of a young fawn.

Now only the two of us remained at the table, creating an awkward silence.

Irefi was the first to speak.

“I’ll show you to your room.”

“…Okay. Got it.”

Following Irefi’s guidance, I was assigned a spacious room. The servants’ gazes, as if witnessing a rare sight, felt unfamiliar.

They surely had many questions, but they silently prepared everything for me to wash up.

Even as I tried to clear my mind while soaking in the bathtub, questions kept flooding in like the tide.

‘These days it feels like Irefi is all I think about…’

Come to think of it, I’ve always been thinking about Irefi, even when she’s not around.

It must be because of her unpredictable attitude.

To make matters worse, my social circle is extremely limited, so I don’t have anyone else to interact with besides her.

‘Irefi… Irefi… Irefi… What do I really want?’

Whenever I come to my senses, I’m always chasing her lingering presence. These days, it’s become so natural that I don’t find it strange at all.

‘This feels like being conditioned.’

If she heard that, she’d be seriously offended by such a crude observation.

Feeling somehow embarrassed, I quickly washed up, changed, and jumped into bed.

The softness that enveloped my body brought peace to my mind and body.

Soon, the light that had been illuminating the room was sucked up into the night sky.

How much time had passed?

In an environment where it was hard to calm down, I noticed footsteps approaching from afar.

They seemed too deliberate to be just a passing servant.

The footsteps stopped right in front of the door, and the faint glow of a single candle entered the room.

“Irefi…?”

“You’re still awake.”

The intruder was indeed Irefi.

……

She erased all the worries and questions that had been swirling in my mind.

Perhaps I was overwhelmed by the mysterious atmosphere.

Her thin nightgown resembled a stereotypical ghost. That ghost was beautiful like the pale moon at first glance, captivating people.

Brushing her hair back, the pure white ghost spoke.

“Did I startle you by coming so suddenly?”

“Y-yeah…”

She smiled at my weak response.

“Actually, I have a favor to ask of you, Nepy.”

“What is it?”

After a brief pause, Irefi asked politely.

“May I take the place beside you tonight?”

“…What?”

“To be honest, this was my purpose in asking you to spend the night here.”

“What are you say… no, no, that’s not right.”

This is Irefi, not just anyone. Surely she’s far from having impure intentions.

I regained my senses and asked:

“What’s the reason? Honestly, you know… it’s inappropriate in many ways, right?”

Irefi simply agreed.

“You’re right, Nepy. I’m sorry for bringing this up so abruptly.”

“So there’s a reason.”

“Yes. Actually, I’ve been having strange dreams lately, but I can’t remember them at all. However, the one time I slept with you, my memory was very clear. It was so vivid and seemed so important…”

Irefi modestly clasped her hands together and hesitantly pleaded.

“I want to confirm it somehow. I don’t know if you’ll believe such a superstitious story…”

“I believe you.”

“What?”

“I’ve never seen you lie, Irefi.”

“…That’s true. Thank you, Nepy.”

Irefi seemed pleased to have her outlandish claim trusted. Though she couldn’t raise her head, her smile was clearly visible.

‘In a fantasy world, it’s not surprising if superstitious things turn out to be real.’

If such a small action could ease Irefi’s worries, that was enough.

And soon I had to admit that I was a fool for maintaining such noble thoughts so stubbornly.

‘I-I didn’t anticipate this!’

It was truly what you might call a strategic shock.

“Nepy? What’s wrong?”

Irefi whispered. At a distance close enough to be considered pillow talk.

‘It’s because of you… because of you.’

Her clear eyes looked up at me from slightly below. I trembled with fear that my constantly vibrating pupils might be noticeable.

She smiled slightly, then burrowed into my arms like a puppy searching for warmth.

‘I-Irefi…!?’

“Being closer might be more effective. I hope… was that too forward?”

“N-no, it’s fine.”

She asked so carefully that I couldn’t possibly refuse. It truly felt like my entire body was being absorbed by Irefi.

The sweet floral scent must be from the perfume in her snow-white hair.

The reason it’s so warm despite the cold season must be due to her body heat.

Then, for whom is my heart beating so hard that my ribs ache?

Every time our skin touched, I felt a burning sensation.

‘Irefi… because of you, I can’t think straight anymore.’

I must have been staring at Irefi with a dumb expression without realizing it, because she smiled broadly.

“Nepy. Can’t you sleep?”

“I guess not.”

“What a strange answer. I wonder why sleep eludes you?”

“I wonder too.”

“Could it be because of me?”

There was mischief in her eyes as she asked, almost flirtatiously.

It annoyed me so much that I firmly denied it.

“Of course not.”

“Hmm, that’s a relief.”

*flinch*

“You? W-what are you doing…”

“If Nepy is so bold, I won’t hold back either.”

Wriggle, wriggle.

Irefi’s body moved little by little. Like a ferret finding a narrow hole, she twisted her body and burrowed in as far as she could.

Nestled completely in my arms, her breath moistened my collarbone.

“Will you let me stay like this until the morning sun rises?”

She closed her eyes with a strange moan.

‘Ah.’

I gave up thinking any further.