Chapter 60

“Gasp.”

When I came to my senses and opened my eyes, the sun was already up.

I turned my eyes to the clock and saw that the hour hand was pointing to 10.

“I’m screwed…”

I had definitely planned to get up early in the morning to prepare, but I woke up late because I had been preparing too hard yesterday.

However, I couldn’t just stay in bed.

“I’ll go wash up first…”

Yes, I needed to wash up and change clothes first.

Since yesterday, I had been working as Kyle’s servant.

I shouldn’t be walking around in loose clothing like now.

I shouldn’t be working while wearing pajamas that unnecessarily showed my cleavage and navel.

Normally, I would put on regular clothes after getting up and washing, but today especially so.

This wasn’t the time to be in this kind of outfit even in my room.

Since I couldn’t go to the bathroom in complete pajamas, I grabbed a top.

I could button it up on the way.

I grabbed the formal attire hanging on the clothes rack and opened the door right away.

“Moop.”

“Ah.”

As I opened and went out, I was suddenly blocked by something.

By something extremely firm.

“Huh.”

“Hello?”

And a voice was heard from above my head.

It was a very familiar voice.

It was a completely different voice from when he was young, having gone through voice change, but still a familiar voice.

“Young master?”

For a moment, I couldn’t understand why he was here.

Although I had woken up a bit later than usual, it was still morning.

And I thought he and others would return around noon.

But why so early…?

“I came early because I wanted to see Miss Sofia.”

Kyle said that with a smile.

Though Kyle came faster than expected, what I had to do was the same.

I moved my body that had been completely pressed against Kyle backward and bowed.

“Welcome back.”

“… Miss Sofia.”

“Yes?”

I looked up at Kyle while still bowing.

“Um… I can see your cleavage.”

“Huh?!”

Come to think of it, I was only wearing a top over my pajamas.

The hem of the top was long enough to cover my body, but… I hadn’t buttoned it up yet.

The only thing I was wearing underneath was pajamas.

Without even wearing a bra.

“Just a moment!”

-Slam!

I closed the door forcefully for now.

Perhaps because it was morning or because I was still half-asleep, I felt embarrassed.

Although I had shown myself almost naked to Kyle when he washed me, I still felt embarrassed.

“First, clothes…”

Whatever the case, I first buttoned up the top I was wearing.

No matter what, I shouldn’t be exposing my skin while being Kyle’s servant.

“You’re going to wash up, right?”

Kyle’s voice came from outside the door.

Perhaps because it had been a while since I heard it, it sounded better.

“Yes.”

“Then I’ll rest in my room for a bit. Come after you’ve washed up.”

“Thank you.”

Kyle said that and went back to his room.

As soon as Kyle was no longer visible in the hallway, I headed straight to the bathroom.

*

-Knock knock.

“Young master, I’m coming in.”

I opened Kyle’s door wearing proper formal attire, not pajamas.

“S… s… s…”

When I entered, I saw Kyle sleeping.

Was his statement about resting actually about sleeping?

Still, I understood.

No matter how well he slept in a tent, it wouldn’t be as good as sleeping here.

No matter how resistant to cold he was, such a place wouldn’t provide a good rest.

And Kyle’s bed was extremely comfortable.

“Hmm…”

I didn’t particularly want to wake Kyle up.

That’s because he must have been very tired for 15 days.

I turned off the lights in the room so Kyle could sleep comfortably.

Though it was daytime, being a bit darker would make it easier to sleep comfortably.

“Sleep well.”

I said that as I sat next to the sleeping Kyle.

By the way, why did he come so early like this?

Even his friends had expected him to arrive just after 12 o’clock.

Did he perhaps wake up early in the snow field?

Well, whatever the case, I was happy to see him early.

I had never suddenly been unable to see someone I met every day, except for my parents.

Well, I haven’t gone to see my parents yet.

“Still… it’s nice to see him after a while.”

Although I was very surprised when he was suddenly in front of the door at first, it was still nice.

I placed my hand on the sleeping Kyle’s head.

And stroked it.

There was no special reason.

I just did it because I was proud of him.

“He’s all grown up now.”

The little boy who was shorter than me when I first saw him had grown up so splendidly, and in many ways, I could now feel that he had fully grown up.

I probably won’t be needed anymore.

Since Kyle is an adult now.

“Haah…”

I’ve been thinking about quitting for a while.

Despite thinking about it a lot, seeing this kid’s face after a long time made that feeling diminish.

But that didn’t mean I couldn’t quit.

Kyle should have a truly more useful servant by his side, not me.

It was a job that started halfway temporarily.

I didn’t expect to work this long.

Probably Kyle didn’t expect it either?

What kind of tutor would also serve as a servant and then continue being a servant for 8 years?

I couldn’t even remember how I ended up doing things like a steward.

“Pfft…”

It’s ridiculous.

I came to earn some money, and somehow I ended up not only as the tutor of the eldest son of a grand ducal family but also as his personal servant.

Even I thought it was strange.

When I first saw Kyle, I didn’t have any deep thoughts.

His situation was sad, but I just thought of him as a child I would encounter while working.

But as we continued to live together, my thoughts changed a lot.

“S…. s…”

I spent time stroking the sleeping Kyle’s head like that.

Perhaps because he was so tired, Kyle slept with a very comfortable expression even though I was stroking his head.

“Ah, young master, you’re awake.”

“Yes.”

After about 2 hours had passed, Kyle woke up.

“It’s been a while, young master.”

“Indeed. It feels like it’s been a very long time.”

Two weeks, that was the time it took for us to meet again.

It wasn’t an extremely long time, but it felt long to us.

It couldn’t be helped.

We had met every day for nearly 8 years.

“What would you like to do? Would you like to wash up? Or go eat? Or sleep more?”

“Since I’ve already washed once after arriving, let’s go eat right away.”

“Yes.”

The preparations to celebrate Kyle’s return were already complete.

That’s why I woke up late.

Probably by now, many people would be gathered in the dining hall.

Of course, the head of the family, as well as Adela, Louise, Elin, and others would be there.

Since it wasn’t just a normal meal but a party to celebrate Kyle.

“Young master, today, please open the door yourself.”

If I were seen first because I opened the door at a place where everyone is celebrating, it would look strange.

Kyle followed my words and opened the door.

As the door opened, Louise and Adela’s hair could be seen through the gap.

“Brother!”

As Kyle opened the door, Adela rushed to Kyle.

“Welcome back~!”

“Yeah.”

Kyle casually accepted Adela who clung to him.

It was a nice sight.

But Adela would also be an adult next year, is it okay for her to cling to a man like that?

Isn’t it too defenseless even if they’re family?

Even if her brother returned after 2 weeks…

“Adela, let’s go inside and sit down first.”

“Okay.”

Anyway, we had a party in the dining hall together to commemorate Kyle’s return.

Though there wasn’t much to see to call it a party, we still called it a party.

If it’s enjoyable, that’s a party, right?

By the way, Kyle also drank alcohol.

Based on him saying he promised the head of the family, it seems the head of the family wanted to make him drink on the day of the coming-of-age ceremony.

“Kuh haha haha!! As expected of my son! You drink well despite it being your first time!”

“Y-Yes…”

Come to think of it, today was Kyle’s first time.

He didn’t touch alcohol when we went to the capital, and he had never drunk alcohol at the castle either.

But if he keeps drinking like that…

“Here! One more glass!”

It was clear he would soon be drunk.

“Young master, are you alright…?”

“Co-cough!! Ha… no…”

I asked while waking Kyle, who had his head on the table after the party ended.

How could he be alright when the head of the family, who likes to drink, made him drink?

And it was Kyle’s first time with alcohol.

“I’ll move you to your room right away.”

Despite the huge size difference between Kyle and me, there was no choice.

If he’s going to sleep, he should at least go to his room, not sleep on the table.

“Hoo… hoop…!”

So somehow I supported Kyle and dragged him to his room.

Since he was close to 190cm tall or perhaps 190cm, it was terribly difficult.

“Phew… finally done.”

Kyle, probably because he was drunk, wasn’t saying anything.

Is he sleeping?

Anyway, I laid Kyle down on his bed.

“Haah…”

If I had known this would happen, I should have stopped the head of the family when he kept making Kyle drink.

I made it harder for myself by leaving them be.

“I should get up now…?!”

After laying Kyle down, I, who was resting on the chair, was about to get up to return to my room.

But suddenly Kyle grabbed my hand.

“Uh… young master? Why are you grabbing me? Do you have something to say?”

“Sofia…”

“Yes?”

Kyle, who kept speaking informally because he was drunk.

Should I bring him water?

“Don’t go.”

“Wait..!”

Kyle suddenly pulled me onto his bed.

How is his strength so strong despite being drunk?

“?”

Anyway, I suddenly found myself lying on Kyle’s bed.

I didn’t know what was happening, but I took off my shoes first.

“Uh… young master? What is this…”

“Don’t go and stay here.”

“…”

I don’t know what it was, but suddenly he started hugging me as I lay on the bed.

I wasn’t resisting such a Kyle.

I’ve heard that some people have a habit of hugging anyone nearby when they’re drunk.

Is Kyle that type?

“Uh…”

I didn’t know what it was, but one thing was certain.

It was extremely warm.

Kyle’s body temperature is higher than mine.

It was a natural fact.

Kyle was born and raised in the north.

Perhaps because of that, it felt extremely warm due to Kyle who was hugging me.

“Sofia…”

Whether it was sleep talk or drunken rambling, Kyle kept calling me.

“Yes, young master.”

“Sofia…”

I don’t know what it was, but I kept answering.

Anyway, I couldn’t escape while being hugged like this.

All I could do was be hugged by Kyle.

“Yes, I’m here.”

“Sofia…….”

Kyle, who kept calling me desperately.

Does he have something to say?

“I love you…”

“What?!”