307 - On a Sleepless Night
After finishing a lunch that also served as breakfast, I move to the kotatsu in the living room. Petrona has returned, and the Divine King Festival night is over, so the hearth has been lit again since today, making it warm.
...The kotatsu still has room for improvement, huh?
If I sit facing Leonardo, there's no problem, but when I try to sit beside him like I did when we were in Grenore, the swivel chair is inconvenient. Since I made four single-seat chairs, even if I say I'm sitting next to him, I can't snuggle right up against Leonardo.
...Should I make a kotatsu lounge chair, or a semi-sunken kotatsu?
If I'm going to improve it anyway, I feel like being particular about the kotatsu part too. This year, to keep warm without using fire, I made a kotatsu-like table with a thick cover, but if I don't bring the original research documents of the Saint Yuuta Hiraga into the room, I can light the hearth. In that case, I should be able to make a kotatsu that uses fire.
...I've heard that in the old days they used charcoal, and if you weren't careful you'd get burned, you know?
The kotatsu in my memories was a relatively safe one that used electricity. As for the kotatsu my grandparents' generation used, I only have memories of "hearing bits and pieces about it."
...Well, there's no need to make the exact same thing, so maybe I'll think about it a bit?
In this world where reincarnators exist here and there, there might even be a possibility that something similar already exists. It might be good to ask someone if there's anything like it.
"Tina?"
"Ah, I was lost in thought."
At Leonardo's voice, my thoughts return to reality. I moved next to him saying I wanted to sit beside him, but I felt dissatisfied that I couldn't stick as close as a lounge chair would allow, and my thoughts wandered off. Right now I'm playing Reversi with my brother whom I haven't seen in a while. Rather than organizing improvement plans for the kotatsu, I want to savor Leonardo.
"I don't think this is a situation where you need to worry about where to put things..."
"No, that's not it. I was thinking I want a lounge chair for the kotatsu."
When I complain that I can't stick to Leonardo with a single-seat chair, Leonardo says, "Then how about sitting on my lap?" I do feel like snuggling up close to Leonardo whom I haven't seen in a while, but I've graduated from sitting on laps. I feel like I fleetingly thought that we could still play Reversi even on his lap, but that must be my imagination. I'm aware that I'm a clingy girl with a brother complex, but I believed in myself that I'm not that far gone.
...What should I do about the orphanage story?
Last night I prioritized talking about things I thought needed to be reported, but now that a night has passed, I'm telling him about trivial things that happened while Leonardo was away. Among them, there was one thing that wasn't trivial but was hard to tell Leonardo.
...About the Fake Godwin, if I don't tell him, Leonyaldo-san will remain unaware, right?
After encountering the Fake Godwin at the Dupre Orphanage, I thought it was strange and contacted the real Godwin through Felicia. At that time, since it was a disturbing story at Leonardo's home orphanage, I didn't let it reach Leonardo's ears. Also, because Leonardo was happy saying there are kind nobles too, I couldn't say that man was suspicious.
...What should I dooo?
"Tina? Your hand's stopped again."
"A girl of a certain age has many worries, Leonyaldo Big Brother-sama."
For now, I shelve the matter of telling Leonardo the truth and deliciously enjoy the oshiruko that Kalisa brought. I boast to Leonardo that Ethelbert lent me a chef as a reward for reviving one of the secret arts. I tell him that since Kalisa is learning Napaji cuisine through the chef, even after the chef returns to Ethelbert, we'll be able to eat various Napaji dishes.
It seems today's oshiruko was made by Kalisa under the chef's supervision. That said, the mochi-like thing inside isn't mochi but dumplings. They're lightly toasted, a little fragrant, and smell nice.
"The oshiruko is delicious, isn't it."
"The soup is... black sweet beans on a plate."
"It's anko. Do you not like sweet beans?"
"It feels strange."
If I had the chef evaluate it, it seems it's still not perfect, but Kalisa has learned how to make anko. Kalisa is research-oriented, so she'd probably master it even if left alone, but if she takes it back to the Mandez residence, Salisa might take over the research.
"Tina? If you're getting sleepy, go sleep in your own room."
"I'm not sleepy at all. Besides, I was sleeping until just now, so if I sleep again, I won't be able to sleep tonight."
When my stomach is filled with the snack oshiruko, drowsiness comes again. My eyelids gradually grow heavy and start drooping. I'm putting up a brave front to Leonardo saying "I'm not sleepy," but drowsiness isn't something you can shake off through sheer willpower.
When my head starts bobbing, I can't even respond anymore. I can hear Leonardo saying something, but when I try to reply, my voice comes out unrecognizable even to myself. I feel Leonardo's arms support my back and legs, and I plop my head onto his broad chest.
...So comfy, so comfy.
At the swaying of my body, it seems Leonardo is going to carry me to bed like this. I give up resisting the drowsiness and trying to open my eyes, deciding to accept this blissful moment.
...Being carried to bed after losing to drowsiness is kind of like a baby, though.
I make the excuse to myself that today is special, and indulge in Leonardo's affection. Starting tomorrow, I'll try to remember that I'm eleven years old.
...It's been a while since I've seen Leo. What's wrong with a little sister being spoiled by her big brother?
"Oh my, Christina. Weren't you taking a nap?"
When I wake from my nap, I receive word that Felicia, who had been called to Christoph's castle since yesterday, has returned to the detached palace. I go to the entrance to welcome her back, but Felicia, who returned still in her Divine King Festival costume, is wearing a very familiar-looking outfit.
...What was it? Was it a heroine from an old anime, or a villain?
As the basis for Felicia's costume, what I first suggested was something inspired by villain costumes from manga and anime, designed to bring out Felicia's wonderful body line. The costume made for Felicia this time, while following the lineage of those skimpy outfits, was matching with the one prepared for me, but it was a horned owl rather than an owl.
...Well, even if they match, it's just owl vs. horned owl.
The shapes are completely different. For one thing, my costume is a round, fluffy, cute baby owl. In contrast, the costume Felicia is wearing is a horned owl with a foundation of fictional villain costumes, with skin exposed. The lower half is warm-looking pants covered in fur mimicking bird legs, but her chest is almost completely exposed, and she wears a hood with a horned owl face and wings on her head.
...That's it. A harpy. A monster with a human woman's torso and bird arms and legs.
I couldn't remember what it resembled, but something close came to mind and I feel relieved.
"Welcome back, Henrieta. Were you able to relax with just family?"
"Relax is... a bit of a stretch, but I mostly enjoyed it. By the way, have you seen Alf?"
"Alfred-sama?"
I search my memory... come to think of it, I haven't seen him today. Speaking of Alfred, last night he went to the night festival with us, and when Petrona got lost, he said we should first return the other children to the detached palace, and came back with me. After that he went back to search for Petrona, but I feel like he came back with Petrona.
"...He was searching for the lost child (Petrona) until dawn, so he's probably resting at his own residence about now."
"I see. So he went to the night festival but didn't show his face to Father and Mother."
...Ah, it feels like I stepped on a landmine.
Before leaving, Felicia had told Alfred to "show his face to your parents." Alfred should have agreed to this, but from Felicia's reaction, it seems the promise wasn't kept.
"Um... yesterday was tough because we got lost in the inner city and such, so please don't be angry at Alfred-sama."
"I'm joking. The report about the lost child reached Father too, so I heard about it."
Since it seems he was working, she'll overlook him breaking the promise, but Felicia seems to have reconsidered, thinking she must make him show his face at least once during the Divine King Festival. Since I'm aware he helped me a lot last night, I try to change the subject to support Alfred a bit more.
"Leonyaldo Big Brother-sama told me that during the three days of the Divine King Festival, Christoph-sama was secluded in the 'Spirit Seat' performing rituals..."
"He's not secluded for three consecutive days, of course. He has dinner with his family, and they're just a series of small rituals... each one doesn't take that much time."
...Unlike the Recollection Festival, he wasn't slacking off for half a day or more. That seems tough.
Beside me, as I reflect inwardly that maybe I was wrong to doubt him, Leonardo looks down at me with a face that seems to say "See? Told you so." He must be holding a grudge about me having only half-listened when he talked about Christoph's work. The gaze from Leonardo is a bit uncomfortable.
...And as expected, I still can't sleep.
I welcomed Felicia, ate dinner, played plenty with Leonardo until my usual bedtime, and then said goodnight and got into bed. But because I slept too much during the day, drowsiness won't come at all. I've closed my eyes several times, but the sleepiness shows no sign of coming, and lying in bed has become painful.
"Well, it's only natural, I suppose."
It's too boring, and I end up saying it out loud. I wonder if I startled Solana, who's on night watch, but what's said is done. I strain my ears hoping she'll at least think it's sleep talking, but there's no sign that Solana caught my murmur. I can sense someone is there beyond the canopy, but there's no sign of her opening it and coming inside.
After waiting a while, I relax and return my gaze to the ceiling... or rather, to the belly area of the black dog plush toy. The round bulge of its belly bothers me strangely tonight.
...Inside that round belly, my treasure is hidden.
In terms of hiding treasure, it's not something you tell others, but I honestly told Leonardo. Or rather, I boasted. About Kalisa's skill, the cuteness of the jewelry box Basilia gave me, and my treasure stored in that jewelry box.
...Besides the treasure, there's one more thing inside.
Feeling like I want to check the contents of the plush toy's belly, I roll up the clothes I put on it as a sheet. When I open the door disguised as stitching, the door of the safe inside appears.
...Huh? Why the key?
What I put in the safe along with my treasure because I didn't know where to store it was the key to the door at the end of the hidden passage. It's not something I use frequently, and I have no plans to use it anyway, so I hid it in the plush toy's belly. But even as I take that key in my hand, my head is full of question marks.
...Why am I picking up the hidden passage key at this hour?
I realize this, but my body starts moving differently from my will. I hang the key I took from the safe around my neck and sluggishly move around on the bed. Then I climb down from the bed just like that.
...Wait. If I'm getting out of bed, I need to put on my beast costume in winter.
My guardian told me to do so during winter, but right now I ignore that. I get off the bed barefoot, casually push aside the canopy, and step out. Surely Solana will notice something strange, I think as I look around, and I see Solana, who should be on night watch, nodding off in her chair.
...Solana dozing off is rare.
Rare. That's what I thought, until I found Aaron sleeping on the other side of the door.
...This is weird. Something's strange. Even Aaron is dozing off? That's impossible.
I realize something is wrong, something is strange, but I don't shake Aaron awake and quietly pass by him. I sense for the dogs to see how they're reacting to my movement, and I find Kokumaro at my side and Oscar the Black Dog following a little behind.
...Kokumaro and the others are awake, but they won't stop me? Why?
I clearly think my actions are strange, but the dogs show no sign of stopping me. They're just obediently following along.
...Where am I going?
I should be walking through the corridor without hiding in particular, but no one notices me. Or rather, I don't meet anyone, oddly enough. Somehow, I'm convinced they must be sleeping like Solana and Aaron.
...The Spring Room?
The place I've come to with the hidden passage key is the Spring Room, which hasn't been used yet. It's starting to be tidied up little by little for spring, but it's still close to the state the previous owner left it in.
...As I thought.
If I come to the Spring Room with the hidden passage key, anyone would know my purpose. I find the hidden passage from the unlit fireplace and enter it barefoot. I sense the two dogs following behind me, but there are no other signs of people.
I walk through the hidden passage with the pattering sound of bare feet. I don't have any light or anything, but even though it's night, I don't have trouble finding my way. I've only entered the hidden passage twice, so I don't think I could remember the way, but right now I'm walking without hesitation.
...I have to unlock the door...?
I stand before the door at the far end and take the key hanging from my neck in hand. Just as I raise my arm to insert it into the keyhole, a loud sound comes from outside... something hard hitting the door.
"Eep!?"
At the overwhelmingly loud sound, my consciousness snaps awake in an instant. I grip the key tightly and look around, realizing that this isn't a dream, that I've truly come to the depths of the hidden passage. I open my hand, close it again, confirming that my body moves according to my will. Until now my body had been moving against my will, but it seems the loud sound woke me up.
...Why am I in a place like this...?
At the same time as my mind starts spinning, the sound of something hitting the door echoes again. The moment my head understands that this is a bad situation, a voice louder than I thought possible escapes from my mouth.
Time is up.
Will fix typos and errors at a later date.