A Peaceful Day's Embrace
Peaceful morning light filtered gently into her room.
"Hehe, Mr. Karl."
Lying on the bed, Elia clung to me tightly, as if she couldn't bear to be even an inch apart. "Don't go anywhere now.... Stay with me forever."
Like a little puppy, she nuzzled against me, then lifted her head to gaze at me with desperate eyes.
"You got it, right?"
"Haha...."
Her gaze was so intense it was hard to put into words, so I just responded with an awkward laugh.
It's gotten even worse.
Normally, I'd play along just fine, but....
"Your hands are so warm...."
Ever since that incident, her clinginess had intensified rapidly over the past few days.
─Mr. Karl? Where are you, Mr. Karl?
─I'm lonely, Mr. Karl... Where did you go...
Whenever I had to step out for a bit, I'd hear her sniffling voice echoing through the house.
─Where are you going?
─Take me with you.
And every time I headed outside, she'd beg to come along.
"Warm enough?"
"Yeah... So warm, it's making me sleepy."
Honestly, her condition was serious enough to warrant some tough decisions, but....
"No napping in the middle of the day, though. You'll gain weight."
"Eek─!"
Still, considering what she'd been through these past few days, I couldn't bring myself to push her away. At her young age, she'd endured something unimaginable—she needed months of rest at least.
"Just kidding."
"Phew..."
I knew that pain all too well, so I quietly indulged her whims.
"Hehe, so soft."
As I gently stroked her hair, Elia smiled with her eyes, clearly enjoying the touch.
"The weather's nice—shall we head out for a bit?"
"Outside...?"
Even if it wore me out a little, if it helped heal her heart, I could endure it for years.
"As long as I'm with you, Mr. Karl, anywhere's fine."
"Then let's go, Miss Elia."
We'd decided on a short walk, and as we stepped into the street, the sunlight felt even warmer and brighter than it had from the window.
Chirp, tweet!
Birds soared freely between the buildings, perching here and there to fill the air with their beautiful songs.
Chirp! Tweet! Chirp!
"Hello?"
As we strolled along, a bird suddenly flew down from a rooftop toward us and landed right on Elia's hand.
"Looks like you've made a friend, Miss Elia."
"Hehe, what do you think? Isn't it cute?"
She proudly stroked the brown-feathered bird that matched her own hair color, showing it off to me.
"As cute as you, Miss Elia."
"Heehee! You got praised because of me."
I smiled at her adorable display and gave her the compliment, and Elia, clearly delighted, thanked the bird with more pets.
Flap flap!
"Bye-bye~!"
Having basked in her gratitude, the bird took off into the sky with a satisfied flutter, and she waved goodbye as it soared away.
"Here we are."
"Whoa...."
Chatting about this and that along the way, we'd arrived at our destination before we knew it.
"I had no idea the capital had a place like this...."
"First time?"
Trees lined both sides of a clear stream that stretched out ahead, its waters sparkling cleanly.
"Yeah, first time!"
"It's where I come whenever my head hurts."
Amazed by this hidden gem amid the bustling city, Elia looked around excitedly and pointed to the water's edge.
"I wanna dip my feet in there."
"Shall we?"
She wanted to try the refreshingly cool-looking shallows, and who was I to deny her?
"Kyaa─!"
"Hyah!"
To grant her wish, I scooped her up from the wheelchair and carried her down to the water.
"But Mr. Karl."
"Yes?"
"Am I not heavy?"
Secure in my arms, Elia asked cautiously.
"Hm...."
I'd never really pondered questions about a woman's private life before, so after a moment's thought, I answered.
"Light as a feather."
"Really!?"
"Nah, actually like a sack of flour—heavy."
"Eek─!"
"Kidding."
One word made her laugh, the next made her yelp.
"Seriously, Mr. Karl! Women are sensitive about that stuff!"
"Haha, sorry."
"Ughhh...."
Elia pouted in mock anger. Honestly, she looked better like this—full of everyday spunk—than all mopey.
"We're here."
By the time our banter ended, we'd reached the water's edge. I carefully set her down on a rock.
"Feels cool."
A cool breeze brushed past as I stood beside her.
"Mr. Karl! Look at this!"
I turned at her call.
"What is it...."
Splash─!
Elia started splashing water right at me.
"Hehe!"
Grinning, she kept it up.
"Payback for earlier!"
She was utterly unstoppable.
"Take this!"
Splash! Splash!
"Eek!"
I unleashed splashes several times bigger, and she covered her face with both hands.
"That's cheating! Cheating!"
She whined for mercy, arms flailing.
"How's that cheating...."
Flustered, I paused and straightened up.
"Now's my chance!"
Elia fired back with rapid splashes.
"This is, seriously, cheating!"
Her sneaky tactics left me defenseless, soaking up every drop.
"Take that! Gotcha!"
And then—
Sploosh─!
"I win!"
I lost my balance and toppled into the water.
"Hehe! How's that? My secret move!"
"I surrender, I surrender...."
Wiping my wet face as I climbed out, I looked up to see her beaming at me—wearing my oversized dress shirt, which looked twice her size.
She looked truly happy.
"Now you have to grant my wish!"
"Wish?"
As I stepped away from the water, she reached out her hand.
"'Cause I won!"
Her expression was pure confidence as she demanded her prize.
"What wish?"
"Hm...."
She pondered my question for a moment.
"I'll save it for later!"
She tried to brush it off slyly, but....
"Can't do later."
"Ehh! Who says!?"
"Me."
"Ugh...."
Curiosity got the better of me—what could it be?—and she was cornered.
"Hm...."
She racked her brain, tapping her knee, then continued.
"Lie down here!"
"Huh?"
Her bold request gave me pause. Anything but that—her legs were still in bad shape.
"Hurry!"
Reluctantly, prodded by her urging, I lay my head on her lap.
There, I saw the blue sky and the bulging shirt.
And....
"Heeheehee."
Elia, wearing a suspiciously mischievous grin.
"Okay! Now close your eyes!"
I complied with her shady command, and soon various sounds reached my ears.
The refreshing rush of flowing water.
The rustle of fabric as she shifted.
"Sleep well~ Sleep well~"
And Elia's lullaby.
I'm not a kid or anything.
She stroked my hair while singing, and I chuckled inwardly.
It was so her.
Still, not bad.
Savoring the rare calm, I relaxed my body, let go of my worries, and sorted through my tangled thoughts.
The nonstop strain of the last few days had left me exhausted.
At least the stubborn knots I'd been unable to untie for months were finally resolved.
The debts secured by those fortuitous encounters? Paid off in part with the reward from Celestia's commission.
And that parasite gnawing at Elia's mind? I'd made sure it could never live like a human again for months.
If only we could just live peacefully like this forever.
"Yawwn."
Elia, who'd been singing her lullaby, yawned—now sleepy herself.
"Ugh... So sleepy...."
I slowly opened my eyes and looked ahead.
There she was, eyes half-closed, head bobbing as she dozed off.
"Alright, let's head back, Miss Elia."
I rose from her lap, hoisted her onto my back, and carried her away from the stream.
"So high...."
Was she already dreaming? She murmured softly.
"Whew."
I settled her into the wheelchair and draped the blanket we'd brought over her sleeping form.
"Yummy...."
Drooling in her sleep, dreaming of food, no doubt hungry.
What should I make for dinner tonight?
Pushing the chair toward home, I pondered the menu.
Last time it was porridge, so maybe something girls like—tteokbokki?
Hmm....
Living alone was simple, but with company, these little dilemmas cropped up.
Back then, anything went.
Hm.
Lost in food thoughts, we soon reached our cozy, comfortable home.
"Ah, finally."
And there, waiting in front of the house again, was Celestia—this time, alone without her attendants.