Chapter 82
“I’ll take Sibyl-chan back to her room first.”
“Okaaay. Take your time~”
With grins that said “We knew it would turn out like this,” Yoti and the others saw us off. Supporting Sibyl-chan as we walked, I escorted her to her room.
“We’re here, Sibyl-chan.”
“Yesh… thank you very muchh…”
Leaning against me yet still walking on her own, I guided her to the bed in the room she was using.
A wonderfully delicious wine had been served at dinner tonight, and I’d ended up recommending it to Sibyl-chan. I thought a little would be fine, but because it went down so easily, she drank more than planned.
Just as I’d worried, her face flushed and her words started to slur, so I decided to take her back to her room early.
We were already done eating, and the others were still lively, like back in Tori. Letting loose once in a while isn’t a bad thing. Once we return home, we’ll have to behave appropriately as the crown prince and his guard. Father isn’t overly strict, but even so, chances for all of us to enjoy a boisterous meal together like this are rare.
Still, we’d had enough fun for tonight, and I wanted to leave before Sibyl-chan started clinging to Yoti or Rick.
If it were just me, I wouldn’t mind—but still.
“You must be tired today. Get some good rest.”
“Yes…”
I meant to support her until she sat down on the bed, but just as Sibyl-chan rubbed her eyes and glanced up at me, she suddenly lunged forward and hugged me with force.
“Wha—!?”
Caught off guard, I fell backward onto the bed.
“Sibyl-chan…?”
“……”
Before I knew it, Sibyl-chan had pinned me down.
This is supposed to be my role—or rather, not that I ever planned to do anything like that.
Still… I really can’t win against Sibyl-chan.
“Sibyl-chan, I should go back to my room, okay?”
“Leo-shan…”
Her arms were wrapped around my waist, her face pressed against my side. From how closely our bodies were touching, I could feel her warmth and the soft, feminine curves unique to her, and my heart began to race.
She’s usually so adorable, with a girlish sweetness—but of course, Sibyl-chan is a grown woman. A truly captivating, beloved fiancée of mine.
“……”
I lifted my upper body slightly and looked at her, but with her face buried, I couldn’t see her expression. Still, her voice sounded sleepy. If she fell asleep like this, honestly, that would be a problem.
“Sibyl-chan.”
Thinking I needed to wake her, I reached out and gently shook her shoulder as I called her name.
“Thank you, Leo…,” she murmured.
“Hm?”
But the tone of her voice, whispered while she clung to me, sounded a little different than before, and I listened closely.
“Even though you’re busy… for Queen Melanie’s—no, for my sake…”
“Sibyl-chan…”
At her correction, something stirred deep in my chest. She understands. She knows who I was really thinking of when I acted—that it wasn’t for this country’s queen.
Instead of replying, I stroked her head. In response, her arms tightened around my waist, and she pressed even closer.
“Thank you. Truly… Sibyl is happy to be engaged to you, Leo.”
“So am I. I’m very happy to be engaged to you.”
I still couldn’t see her face, but I could feel her feelings through her warmth.
I wanted to lift her higher and hold her against my chest.
But Sibyl-chan was holding on tightly, showing no sign of letting go.
So I simply continued to gently stroke her head as we lay there together on the bed for a while—well, more accurately, while I was pinned beneath her.
A very quiet, happy time passed.
We didn’t exchange many words after that, but just being together like this filled me with contentment.
I want to stay with her forever. If possible, I don’t want to be apart from her even for a moment.
So maybe I should just sleep here tonight—
Imagining Sibyl-chan panicking when she woke up in the morning made my chest tickle and a smile tug at my lips. But no, that’s something to save for after we’re married. Once we are, we can do that every day.
“—Good night, Sibyl-chan.”
After I’d continued stroking her head for a while longer, I finally heard her breathing settle into quiet sleep.
Careful not to wake her, I slipped out from beneath her, tucked her in, and gazed at her adorable sleeping face.
Sibyl-chan is a saint.
Just looking at her like this soothes my heart.
She doesn’t even need to use her saintly powers—just being here is enough.
To me, she’s an irreplaceable, precious existence.
I pressed a gentle kiss to her forehead through her bangs, then quietly left the room alone.
