Chapter 133: Would it be alright if I took care of your tired body

Unlike the shock that had made me faint as if my mind had crumbled away, when I opened my eyes, my body was surprisingly fine.

My arms and legs moved properly, and aside from a tingling sensation in my head and a slight thumping in my lower abdomen, there was no particular discomfort.

“Hoee…”

In front of me, Luella lay collapsed, her face flushed bright red. No—more precisely, my childhood friend had collapsed.

I knew she was an evil being. But for some reason, the moment she told me she loved me, all my rationality began to blur.

To the point where I wanted to offer her my soul.

Even though I knew she was a wicked existence, she had been there for me when I was struggling. That’s why I told her she could devour my soul if she wanted.

And yet… she suddenly started spinning in circles before fainting on the spot.

“…I thought she was inside me.”

I gently pressed Luella’s sleeping nose.

I had always assumed she was inside me. Never in my wildest dreams did I think she had been hiding in Luella’s body.

A part of me felt strangely disappointed, as if she had left me.

But well… since she came back to find me and even confessed her love, I suppose it’s fine.

Thump-thump—

As I recalled the fact that she loved me, my heart began to race again. My head grew hazy, and my body flushed with heat once more.

‘This is strange… I wasn’t like this before.’

Ever since that flower burrowed into my mind yesterday, something had changed. But for now, I couldn’t tell exactly what.

Slowly, I rose from my seat, leaving my sleeping childhood friend behind.

On my desk, a neatly wrapped gift box caught my eye.

Now that I think about it, I was supposed to head to the Empire today. These gifts were prepared for the ones I loved.

“…I miss Mother.”

I hugged the gift box tightly.

Sitting at my desk, I picked up a sheet of paper and began writing a letter for my sleeping childhood friend.

If Lillian were to find out Luella’s true identity, she wouldn’t stay quiet.

Others might call her a demon, but to me, she was a precious friend. And I believed my childhood friend thought the same about me.

I never wanted to lose such a friend.

Leaning close to her ear, I whispered softly.

“If you stay quiet… I’ll give you what you want.”

I tucked the letter into her arm, quietly opened the door, and stepped out.

Miranda Grandma had already left for work. Since I had told her I was taking the day off, she must have gone alone.

Now that I think about it, there had been all sorts of noises last night. It was strange that Miranda Grandma hadn’t woken up.

Luella must have done something mischievous in my room. Considering her eerie personality, it was entirely possible.

I sat at the dining table and waited patiently until the clock struck nine.

As the promised time approached, I stepped outside. A large carriage had pulled up in front of the house.

Standing beside the carriage door was the person I had longed to see.

“Lady Viviana!”

“Tina.”

Without hesitation, I ran into her arms. Viviana wrapped me tightly with her broad embrace.

“You really came to pick me up… I told you I could go alone.”

“I promised. And it’s dangerous for you to travel alone right now.”

I had sent a letter saying I would visit today, and Viviana had replied that she would come to pick me up herself.

I had tried my best to refuse, but there was no breaking Viviana’s stubbornness.

In any case, thanks to her, I could return to the Empire comfortably, so it wasn’t a bad thing.

“Viviana… I have something for you.”

Before getting into the carriage, I handed her a gift—a small black box wrapped with a purple ribbon.

“What’s this?”

“I… I prepared it while thinking of you, Viviana.”

Viviana’s eyes widened. Her violet irises trembled as she stared intently at the gift box.

“Can I open it now?”

“Yes…”

Without hesitation, Viviana unwrapped the package. Inside was a luxurious black handkerchief with fine embroidery. It rested lightly in her hand.

“Since you often wield a sword… I thought you might sweat a lot.”

“This embroidery…”

“Oh, that embroidery… I stitched it myself.”

The embroidery was of crossed swords—a pattern I had carefully designed while thinking of her.

Viviana silently looked at me. Countless emotions flickered in her violet eyes.

Just as the prolonged silence made my face grow hot, she suddenly reached out, wrapped her arms around my waist, and gently pressed her lips to my forehead.

Smooch—

“…Huh?”

“Thank you, Tina. I’ll treasure this gift forever.”

For a moment, I was stunned. The spot where her lips had touched burned as if it had been branded.

It was just a simple forehead kiss. It shouldn’t have been surprising between us. And yet, for some reason, the lingering warmth wouldn’t fade easily.

Why? It’s just a kiss…

My entire body started to heat up. A tingling sensation spread through my brain, and an unfamiliar vibration stirred in my lower abdomen.

It felt eerily similar to the moment that strange plant invaded my thoughts yesterday.

“Tina?”

Noticing my unusual expression, Viviana tilted her head slightly, looking puzzled.

“L-Let’s just go.”

Why was I reacting this way? Why was I so shaken over something so small?

I couldn’t bear her gaze any longer. With my burning face lowered, I hurriedly pushed her into the carriage.

Maybe the rushing wind during the ride would help me cool down.

As I took a seat across from Viviana, the carriage slowly started moving forward.

Despite the poor road conditions in Lahel Village, the large carriage barely shook at all.

I cracked open the window and took in a breath of fresh air. The cool breeze was momentarily comforting, but the heat surging inside me refused to subside.

“Tina, are you okay? Your face is red.”

“It’s nothing.”

It was something.

I tried to act calm, but my reflection in the window betrayed me—my face was still flushed.

I couldn’t even look Viviana in the eye. Even the faint sound of her breathing sent shivers through me.

That flower from yesterday definitely did something to me. Otherwise, there was no way I’d be feeling like this.

Sure, Viviana was close to my ideal type in my past life, and yes, my heart always raced a little when I saw her well-toned muscles…

But it had never been this bad.

Lost in my turmoil, I suddenly felt Viviana’s hand on my forehead.

Her cool palm gently brushed against my skin.

After checking my temperature a few times, she looked at me with deep, serious eyes.

“Tina, you should go rest today.”

“Huh? Why…? I’m completely fine…”

“You have a fever. Where do you think you’re going in this state?”

“I-It’s not a fever.”

“Tina.”

Viviana spoke in a soft yet firm voice.

“As I’ve told you before, you are my top priority. I can’t let you wander around when you’re like this.”

A firm tone, yet overflowing with warmth—this was a kindness only Viviana possessed.

“Why… do you care about me so much?”

I couldn’t hold back my question any longer. No matter how much I thought about it, I couldn’t figure out why someone like her would concern herself with someone as insignificant as me.

“…I think I’ve said this before.”

It was a question that could’ve been annoying, yet she answered with a gentle smile.

“Tina, it’s because I love you.”

Love.

That single word shattered my composure.

“You are now someone I can’t live without.”

At such a direct confession, my entire body stiffened with tension. Even breathing became difficult.

“So please, Tina… take care of yourself first.”

Her warm voice seeped deep into my heart. My breaths grew heavier, and my mind became hazier.

“…Tina?”

Viviana’s concerned amethyst eyes gazed at me. But, unfortunately, her words didn’t fully reach me.

Because my mind was already overloaded.

With only one thought filling it completely.

‘Viviana said she loves me, Viviana said she loves me, Viviana said she loves me, Viviana said she loves me, Viviana said she loves me, Viviana said she loves me, Viviana said she…‘

I couldn’t stop the trembling in my waist.

Was this an illusion?

In my reflection on the window, I saw faint heart-shaped lines in my eyes.

No matter how hard I tried to calm myself, every effort crumbled the moment I looked into Viviana’s beautiful eyes.

Ah, I don’t know anymore…

Viviana, I’ve fallen for you too much.

“Viviana…”

As I stood up and approached her, Viviana’s eyes widened in surprise.

Spreading my legs to either side, I sat down on her lap.

“T-Tina?”

Viviana looked utterly flustered, but even in her confusion, she firmly held onto my waist.

It was her way of making sure I wouldn’t fall backward.

‘Viviana is so kind, I love her, she’s so reliable, I love her so much, I love her, I love her. Please, love me more, more, and even more.‘

Burying my face in the crook of her neck, I hugged her waist tightly.

“T-Tina… ngh…”

Each time my breath brushed against Viviana’s neck, her body trembled slightly.

I looked up at her.

The expression reflected in her eyes was anything but ordinary.

But this wasn’t my fault.

It was Viviana’s fault for loving me this much.

For being so incredibly charming.

Exhaling an excited breath, I brought my lips close to her ear.

“Thank you for bringing me all this way… You must be exhausted, right?”

Pressing my trembling hips against her lap, I whispered softly into her ear.

“Would it be alright… if I took care of your tired body, just a little…?”

At my hushed words—

Viviana’s eyes began to shake violently.