IITYVA 15

Chapter 15

As soon as those words were spoken, a knight who had been engaged in a serious conversation nearby approached Sir Jared.

“Commander, there’s an urgent report you need to hear right away.”

“A report? Is it critical?”

“Yes. Just now, from the capital…”

The reporting knight faltered, glancing briefly at me and As.

Sensing instinctively that this was a matter outsiders shouldn’t hear, I quickly spoke up.

“Sir Jared, please feel free to attend to your duties. As and I can take care of the meal ourselves.”

“But…”

Sir Jared frowned, looking concerned.

I shook my head and continued.

“I can’t burden someone who’s already busy. Besides, As said he knows a great place to eat nearby. Thank you for your concern.”

I firmly drew the line.

Sir Jared hesitated as if wanting to say more, then sighed and nodded.

“…Understood. If you ever need help, don’t hesitate to ask.”

“Thank you, Sir Jared. Then, we’ll take our leave here.”

After bidding farewell, As and I immediately left.

I could still feel his lingering gaze behind us, suggesting he felt some regret at not being able to help more.

“He really seems like a good person, doesn’t he? Sir Jared, I mean.”

Once I was sure we were out of sight, I spoke to As.

As paused for a moment, then slowly lifted the corners of his lips into a smile.

“Does he?”

“Yeah. He offered to show us a famous restaurant himself, even though he’s busy.”

Some might call that meddlesome, but to someone like me—unlucky and terrible with directions—it felt like an angel’s grace.

Besides, wasn’t today the first time I’d met Sir Jared?

“To be so kind to someone he just met… He must be a really good person.”

“…Maybe that’s a good thing.”

“Hm?”

“It’s nothing.”

As shook his head and smiled brightly.

I tilted my head in confusion, but didn’t think too much of it and let it go.

Right now, the most important thing was to feed As.

By the time we returned home after eating, it was nearly noon.

Between writing a report to the Emperor and handling chores, the day had passed in the blink of an eye.

“It’s already this late…”

I collapsed onto the bed, completely exhausted.

Little Quiels began to gather around me one by one.

“Time really flies.”

I was already twenty-five.

Petting the little spirits rubbing their cheeks against me, I let out a silent sigh over how quickly time slipped away.

Before I knew it, I must’ve dozed off.

Knock knock.

In the middle of a sweet nap, a sudden sound half-woke me.

‘What was that? A dream…?’

I dazedly pondered, not even thinking to open my eyes.

Was that real? Or was I still dreaming?

Even with my eyes closed, my thoughts were racing.

Just as I was about to drift back into sleep—

Knock knock.

The knock came again, clearer this time.

That’s when I realized it wasn’t a dream—it was real.

I opened my eyes and yawned so wide my jaw ached.

“As… is that you?”

I wiped the tears from yawning and called out.

There was no response at first, but then the door slowly creaked open.

“…Einra.”

As expected, it was As.

Standing in the dim moonlight with a pillow tightly clutched to his chest, As looked strangely fragile and lonely.

He hesitated at the doorway, then took a few steps inside, stopping near the entrance without coming closer.

“As, what’s wrong? Are you sick?”

It was the first time he had come to me at night with a pillow, so I stared at him wide-eyed.

He hesitated, half-hiding his face behind the pillow, and glanced away as he murmured,

“…I had a nightmare.”

“A nightmare?”

I tilted my head in confusion.

Then, like a flash, I recalled the strange symptoms he had shown on his first day here.

“Ah… No… Don’t come…!”

“Please! Don’t look at me!”

The pained face soaked in cold sweat.

His tiny arms desperately trying to shield his face like he was having a seizure.

Tears streaming endlessly down both cheeks.

‘Was that all because of a nightmare?’

Just what kind of nightmare could torment a child who looked barely ten years old like that?

My face hardened. I clenched the edge of my blanket.

Then As spoke again, slowly.

“I was scared… and thought I’d feel better if I saw you, Einra…”

He mumbled, clearly not even sure what he was saying himself.

My heart ached at the sight.

Suppressing a sigh, I gently said,

“Then… should I help you fall asleep?”

As flinched and looked up at me.

His eyes widened in surprise.

“…You’ll help me sleep?”

“You said you were scared of having nightmares. I’ll stay with you, and if you seem like you’re having one, I’ll wake you right away.”

“…Even if I ask you to help me sleep, you won’t… hate me?”

He hesitated for a long while before asking.

His fingers clutched the pillow so tightly that the knuckles turned white.

I’d heard similar words before, and this time I answered even more firmly.

“I already told you, right? I would never hate you.”

“….”

No answer came from As.

The moonlight at the window slowly shifted.

A silence so deep it seemed to muffle even the sound of breath filled the room.

As I wondered if I should speak again, a quiet voice broke the stillness.

“…You were the one who offered to help me sleep.”

“Of course. I said so earlier, didn’t I?”

“So even if you regret it… it doesn’t matter.”

“Why would I regret it?”

I frowned.

If anything, I’d regret turning away a child who couldn’t sleep because of nightmares!

‘Was he hurt before by someone who said they regretted helping him…?’

That thought briefly crossed my mind, but I shook it away.

I’m not someone who regrets things like that anyway!

“Come here, As.”

Smiling, I reached out, and As slowly walked over and slipped under the blanket.

The blanket must’ve been too big—he fidgeted for a while before peeking out and looking up at me.

His clear red eyes, like garnets soaked in moonlight, shimmered softly.

As I stared blankly into those eyes, I was hit with a strange sensation that made me snap out of it.

I forced a light laugh to dispel the feeling and gently patted his chest.

“Good night, As.”

As slowly lowered his eyelids.

The moonlight caught on his long lashes, glowing faintly.

After blinking a few times, he looked up at me again.

With a soft, affectionate gaze, he whispered,

“…Good night, Einra.”

Steady breathing filled the room.

After confirming Einra was deeply asleep, Akes quietly got up.

With Einra sleeping right beside him, there was no way he could sleep himself.

His heart pounded so fiercely it was too much for a child’s body to bear.

Carefully getting off the bed, Akes knelt beside her.

The moonlight spilling from the window cast a pale glow on her sleeping face.

Sitting at the edge of the bed, Akes cautiously reached out, brushing her hair with his fingertips.

That longed-for chestnut hair slipped softly between his small fingers.

The face he had yearned to see was right there, peacefully asleep.

The person he had so desperately wished would stay by his side… was now right next to him, breathing softly in slumber.

And that alone made him feel deliriously happy.

“……”

A child’s body… was truly vulnerable to emotion.

After a moment of controlling his breath, his brow slightly furrowed, Akes brought a strand of her hair to his lips and whispered,

“…You were the one who reached out to me first.”

“……”

“You said you wouldn’t regret it. Right?”

With the moon behind him, his red eyes, now shrouded in shadow, curved faintly.

“It’s okay if you don’t love me. Even if I cross a line…”

“……”

“As long as you don’t hate me.”

His soft voice dissolved quietly into the night air.

And from the sleeping woman beside him… there was no reply.