Chapter 13

After holding Lord Albert for about ten minutes, he still showed no signs of letting go.

"Lord Albert?"

"Mmm~?"

"How are you feeling?"

"Not yet."

"I see."

So curse recovery takes time, huh? Apparently it doesn't heal in just a few minutes. More importantly, did his speech pattern just become more childlike? His tone sounds all soft and fuzzy now.

"Mmm. Yuka."

"Yes, my lord?"

"Stay with me."

"...? I am right here with you."

"More."

"As you wish."

"Yuka makes me feel calm."

He started nuzzling his head against me like a little child. What's gotten into him? I was puzzled internally, but when I saw Lord Albert's expression, I sort of understood.

"(Could it be... he's sleepy?)"

His eyes were half-closed, drowsy. He kept gripping my clothes, but the rest of his body had gone limp as if surrendering to sleep.

"(Maybe the curse weakening made him drowsy?)"

Probably the backlash after the excruciating pain subsided. Well, as long as nothing's wrong, it's fine.

"(Though... we're being totally watched right now.)"

Lord Albert's familiars were peeking at us through the door crack.

Mill-senpai was among them too, excitedly talking to the boy in butler attire next to her.

"(Hey! El! Look! I've never seen Lord Albert act so affectionate before! He's kinda cute!)"

"(Calm down, Mill. They might notice us watching. But you're right - I've never seen Lord Albert like this either.)"

"(Right?! That Lord Albert acting like a little kid - maybe Lady Yuka is amazing?!)"

"(Well, she is the only one who can undo Lord Albert's curse. Aren't they engaged or something?)"

"(So nice... I wish I had someone who'd hold me like that too... Like maybe the childhood friend right next to me... who'd stay with me forever... sneaky glances)"

"(This really isn't the place for that...)"

"(Th-then what about in my room...? No good?)"

"(Not no good. Alright, I'll come to your room.)"

"(Really?! Promise, El!)"

Mill-senpai and the boy called El were having an intimate conversation. Lovers, perhaps? I kinda felt like I just witnessed some flirting. Well, I'll pretend I didn't notice. More importantly, when did they hear about that? The engagement (?) part is correct, but that only happened yesterday. How did that leak already?

"Lord Albert, would you like to rest?"

"Don't wanna."

"…I see."

My suggestion was immediately rejected. He had fully embraced his inner child. The haughty demeanor he'd shown when we first met yesterday was nowhere to be seen. Mill-senpai seemed absolutely thrilled by this side of our master.

Come to think of it, where was Lil? It was unusually quiet. Just as I wondered, I felt a slight weight against my back. Glancing back—

"Lil?"

"Nngh… Nngh…"

"She's asleep."

Lill had slumped against me, breathing softly. Maybe she was exhausted from using healing magic.

"You did well, Lil."

"Mmh… Nngh…"

She mumbled in her sleep. I couldn’t help but smile. Then, I felt Lord Albert’s weight shift slightly against me. Oh no, not this again.

"Zzz… Zzz…"

"Lord Albert?"

"Zzz… Zzz…"

"He's asleep."

"(…I can’t move. Well, whatever. A day like this every now and then isn’t so bad.)"

And so, with both of them leaning on me, I spent a peaceful morning.

As for what happened next—well, needless to say, when Lord Albert woke up and remembered everything, his face turned beet red.