Chapter 37
When I woke up, I was on the bed in my own room.
I was sure that Rick and I had gone into the forest, and that we’d been attacked by wolves there.
“……”
But nothing hurt. It didn’t seem like I was injured anywhere.
Did Rick protect me?
…Come to think of it, just before I lost consciousness, I feel like I saw Leo and Mirko… Was that a dream?
Leo had thrown a knife with a desperate, serious expression on his face, killing the wolf that was about to attack me.
At that moment, Leo looked incredibly cool.
“…It really must have been a dream.”
But then, how did I get back here?
While I was asleep, I felt like I smelled Leo’s scent.
As if I had been sleeping in his arms, held close against his chest…
It was probably just a dream born from my own desires.
“—Shibel, how are you feeling?”
“Ms. Elga.”
As I was absentmindedly thinking about all that, Elga entered the room.
“It looks like you ended up with a fever, so make sure you rest.”
“Yes… I’m sorry for causing trouble.”
As she said that, Elga replaced the towel that had been resting on my forehead.
The new one was cool and felt nice.
“Um, is Rick all right?”
“Hm?”
We had been attacked by monsters.
Rick might have been injured.
“…Do you remember what happened?”
“A little… I do remember being attacked by wolves.”
“I see…”
“Is Rick hurt at all?”
When I pressed a hand to my forehead and sat up to ask, Elga narrowed her eyes sadly.
“Rick… He’s the one who put you in danger, isn’t he?”
That might be true.
But he was also the one who protected me.
“Well, anyway. He’s unharmed. For now, he’s under suspension… or rather, confined.”
“I see… Thank you very much.”
“For now, just focus on resting, all right?”
“Yes…”
I was relieved that he was safe.
After being told that, I lay back down again.
Once my cold is completely better, I’ll ask Leo to let me see Rick.
＊
Three days passed, and my cold had completely cleared up.
I had taken three days off work and caused trouble for everyone.
I need to work properly again starting today!
“Oh, Shibel-chan! Your cold’s better?”
“I’m so happy I get to eat Shibel-chan’s cooking again!”
“Everyone, I’m sorry for worrying you. I’m completely fine now!”
The knights who came to the dining hall for breakfast greeted me one after another.
“Shibel-chan.”
“Leo, Mirko.”
And then, these two as well.
“I’m glad you’re looking better.”
“Yes, thank you for your concern.”
“Don’t push yourself too hard.”
“Yes, um—”
“Ah! Shibel-chan! Thank goodness, your cold’s gone!”
“Yoti.”
I wanted to ask Leo about Rick.
But before I could say his name, Yoti called out loudly and rushed over.
“I missed your cooking so much!”
“I’m sorry. Starting today, it’s my cooking again.”
“Man, that’s great!”
“Ah…”
While I was talking with Yoti, Leo and Mirko left.
I’ll ask after breakfast.
After finishing cleaning up from breakfast, the laundry was brought in right away.
Once I hang this up, I’ll ask.
“Shibel, it looks like lunch will be busier than usual today. Can you start preparing a bit earlier?”
“Yes! Understood!”
After lunch… I’ll ask…!
“—Um, Leo…!”
“Shibel-chan.”
In the end, I stayed busy with one thing after another, and it was already night by the time I had a moment to myself.
“Um, about Rick…”
I was heading for Leo’s office when I happened to see him along the way, so I called out and hurried over.
I hadn’t seen Rick even once since that day.
They said he was suspended, but was he at least eating properly?
“Rick is currently under suspension. He put you in danger.”
“But he’s also the one who protected me.”
“…That’s being taken into account. But until a decision is made, he can’t leave his room.”
“A decision…?”
What’s going to happen to Rick?
He won’t receive such a harsh punishment, will he?
“I’m perfectly fine, as you can see. And Rick didn’t take me into the forest intending to put me in danger.”
“I know that.”
“…I see.”
Leo said this gently, as if trying to calm me down.
