Episode 16
Kaiden glanced at the now-docile Reina, letting out a soft chuckle.
‘When was she thrashing around in pain, and now she’s lying here dozing as if it’s her own bedroom?’
Unable to resist her drowsiness, Reina finally closed her eyes.
Perhaps it was the massage after soaking in the bath, but her eyelids kept growing heavier.
“…If I fall asleep… later…”
A moment later, Reina vaguely heard Kaiden speaking to someone before completely surrendering to sleep.
She slept peacefully, even as she was carried in someone’s arms to the bedroom.
Chapter 2: Territory
The next morning, Reina woke to the sound of birds chirping, stretching as she rose.
‘When did I fall asleep?’
She had clearly been receiving a massage from Kaiden.
When she opened her eyes, she found herself on the bed.
Moreover, not only had the pain in her legs vanished, but her entire body felt refreshed.
It had been so long since she’d slept so deeply.
Feeling much lighter, Reina walked to the window, pulled back the curtains, and gazed at the scenery outside.
Perhaps because it was morning, the snowy mountains were shrouded in thick mist.
Reina stared blankly at the breathtaking view for a while before her gaze shifted to the door leading to the living room.
‘Is Kaiden working?’
Curious, she opened the door to the living room and came face-to-face with Kaiden, who happened to be standing right there.
“You’re awake? I was just about to check if you were up.”
“Oh.”
“You look well-rested.”
Unlike Reina, who had just woken up, Kaiden was already dressed and ready for the day.
Only then did Reina realize she was facing him with her just-woken-up appearance.
Hurriedly smoothing her disheveled hair, she spoke.
“Sorry about yesterday. I must’ve been tired and fell asleep.”
“You had every reason to be tired. Are you hungry? If you’re up for it, I was about to head to the dining hall.”
Before Kaiden could finish, a loud rumble came from Reina’s stomach.
Embarrassed, Reina lowered her head and nodded.
“I’ll just wash up…”
“Ten minutes enough?”
“You’re going to wait for me?”
When Reina looked surprised, Kaiden tilted his head.
“What, should I go alone? Leaving someone who doesn’t even know where the dining hall is?”
“…Five minutes! Five minutes is enough!”
Reina hurriedly exclaimed and dashed toward the bedroom.
Just before the door closed, she heard a pleasant laugh and a warm voice from behind.
“Take your time. No one’s rushing you.”
***
When they arrived at the dining hall, food for two was already set out.
In front of Reina were dishes that were easy to digest and gentle on the stomach.
In contrast, Kaiden’s plate was piled high with meats that seemed a bit heavy for breakfast.
Reina stared in awe as Kaiden swiftly devoured the large cuts of meat.
It made sense—he probably needed a lot of energy to move that large frame of his.
Watching him eat so heartily made her feel full just by looking.
Meanwhile, Kaiden, holding his spoon, glanced at Reina, who was staring blankly, and asked, “What? Want some of this?”
Upon closer inspection, it did seem like there was far less meat on Reina’s plate compared to his.
Realizing she’d been staring too openly, Reina lightly shook her head.
“No, no. I was just watching because you eat so well.”
“Don’t just watch, eat. You haven’t even finished half of yours.”
Kaiden glanced at her barely touched stew, then sliced a large piece of meat from his plate and offered it to her.
“Eat this too.”
“That’s too much…”
“You need to put on some weight.”
Kaiden glanced at Reina’s slender wrist, frowning slightly.
“You look like a cucumber wilting in a drought.”
Reina blinked at his words.
They were similar to something he’d said before her regression.
Though he hadn’t called her “withered and twisted” this time, it was still enough to ruffle her feathers.
“It’s not that bad.”
“If you want to prove it’s not, finish your food. I’ll be watching until you do, so don’t try any tricks.”
Despite his repeated stern warnings, Reina only picked at her food.
Kaiden scooted closer to her side, holding out a fork.
“What, are you a child who needs to be fed one bite at a time?”
“No, I’ll eat it myself…”
“No excuses. Open your mouth. You’re not leaving my side until you finish this.”
His resolute gaze showed no sign of backing down.
In the end, Reina reluctantly accepted the meat he fed her.
After finishing the meat and stew Kaiden gave her, followed by dessert, her stomach felt overly full.
The initial embarrassment faded, and it became surprisingly easy.
As she stared at her bloated stomach, Kaiden propped his chin and muttered, “You ate well. Good job.”
“…You like that I ate well?”
“Better than not eating, isn’t it?”
Kaiden smirked as if it were an obvious question.
Reina found it curious that, both in the past and now, he paid such particular attention to her eating.
It was just a meal, yet receiving such excessive praise felt strange.
At that moment, Kaiden stood up.
“I’ve got to go. Some of the subjugation team I sent out last time has returned.”
“Oh, they’re back already? No one was hurt, right?”
“Luckily, they found it before it hatched, so there were no casualties.”
“I heard that Goreth eggs are toughest just before hatching. Was it difficult to remove?”
Kaiden’s expression turned peculiar at Reina’s sharp question.
Most noble ladies didn’t know much about magical beasts.
“You know quite a bit about magical beasts.”
Sensing a hint of wariness in his tone, Reina responded calmly.
“I spent a lot of time reading books when I was alone. I remember reading about magical beasts back then.”
When she was confined underground, the emperor had forced her to read various books.
He claimed it would help her describe her prophecies in greater detail.
What she’d once considered a burden now served as a convenient excuse.
Noticing Reina’s considerable knowledge about magical beasts, Kaiden elaborated.
“It’ll likely take some time to fully remove them. They’re already far along in hatching, so removing them carelessly could spread the miasma and cause injuries. But since we found them in time, we prevented a full hatch, so the major danger is reduced.”
“So, the subjugation team brought back some of the Goreth eggs?”
“Just a few. It’s the first time we’ve directly encountered the eggs, so we’re keeping them for research.”
“Could I see them if that’s okay?”
When Reina mustered the courage to ask, Kaiden changed the subject.
“It’s great that you’re enthusiastic, but how about a tour of the castle with Dive first? He’s been watching us for a while.”
Kaiden gestured toward where Dive stood.
Realizing she’d been overly eager to help with the magical beast subjugation, Reina nodded obediently.
***
Dive’s tour of the castle was incredibly clear and easy to follow.
He even provided a simple map for later reference, so she wouldn’t need to ask again.
After Dive’s tour, the head maid, Celine, took over.
“I’m Celine August, and I’ll be serving you from now on, my lady. Feel free to consult me regarding household matters.”
Her stern face revealed no emotions—a perfect poker face.
Reina greeted her warmly.
“Nice to meet you, Celine. Oh, is it okay if I call you Celine?”
“Of course. And these are the maids who will assist you—Rose and Lily. Go on, introduce yourselves.”
At Celine’s command, a freckled maid with a charming demeanor greeted her enthusiastically.
“Hello, my lady! I’m Lily Daily!”
Following her, Rose, who had been standing aloof, gave a refined greeting in accordance with noble etiquette.
“I’m Rose of House Daily.”
Unlike Lily’s warmth, Rose’s response was rather cold, but Reina didn’t mind.
House Daily was one of Crencia’s loyal families, so it was natural for them to be hostile toward royalty.
Moreover, since they were a family that had been destroyed while aiding Crencia until the very end, Reina felt a sense of nostalgia.
