Chapter 11
Chapter 11
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 11
Chapter Title: Wicked Lady Laura (3)
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Picky eating.
The phenomenon of not eating a variety of foods and only sticking to certain types.
It mostly appears in people who have more than enough to eat and are stuffed, and in most cases, it resolves itself with age.
But it seemed this daughter of the duke's family hadn't gotten over it yet.
In that case, as someone who'd received the hefty sum of 5,000 gold in compensation, I'd have to swallow my tears and fix it for her.
It absolutely wasn't out of spite from being called a mere baron's lackey.
At that moment, Rainy—who'd been waiting for the young lady to come surrender—asked,
"But do you think the young lady will really come?"
"Pfft, she's human too. How long can she hold out against hunger? Especially a precious duke's young lady who's probably never gone hungry before. She won't last long."
Rainy, sprawled out on my bed, swung her pale white feet as she spoke.
"I think differently. That young lady looked full of venom at first glance. I know the type well—when they're like that, they grit their teeth and endure out of pride."
"Oh, has the Saintess thrown tantrums like that young lady before? You seem to know it so well."
"I heard it from a... friend!"
"You don't have friends, so don't lie."
"Shut up."
As Rainy's pale foot kicked my back, I did worry a bit that maybe she was right and the young lady wouldn't show up.
I had no intention of starving her to death, so I'd have to feed her eventually.
While thinking I might need to bring some meat tomorrow morning to soothe her, Rainy's pale toes started wiggling and poking my side.
I was serious, but she was just playing around, so I got a little annoyed and grabbed her foot tight.
"Ow, stop messing around."
"I'm bored."
"Go read a book in your room."
"Pfft, what if the young lady comes to your room alone while you're gone and does something weird?"
Rainy had barged in uninvited because I'd told the young lady to come to my room if she got hungry, and she insisted on staying to keep an eye on things.
Her excuse was that she couldn't trust me alone with the young lady who might show up...
"But you said the Saintess thinks she won't come."
"Th-that's true, but you never know!"
"Go back and sleep now. It's late enough that she won't come today, and I'm going to bed."
"No way. She could come at dawn."
Rainy spread out like a starfish on my bed, showing no signs of leaving.
Dragging her out by force didn't seem feasible.
"But then how are we supposed to sleep? I absolutely won't give up my bed. No matter what, I'm defending this bed."
Honestly, sharing a room with Rainy, who was like a friend, was no big deal.
Her pretty face and figure sometimes stirred a bit of desire...
But she was a former saintess, after all, so I was confident I wouldn't cross any lines.
Sharing a bed was fine, but my bed was non-negotiable.
I could sleep elsewhere, but I wouldn't get proper rest and couldn't focus the next day.
"Then sleep next to me."
Rainy smirked, convinced I wouldn't dare lie down.
Hah.
It looked like I needed to show this saintess that I'm a man who follows through.
If I acted bold, her surprisingly shy nature would make her fluster and back off.
"Fine, let's sleep together then."
"Huh...?"
As expected, Rainy looked flustered when I stepped up confidently.
"W-Wait, are you seriously going to sleep right next to me?"
"Yes, I'm a man who keeps his word."
To prove my resolve with actions, I lay down beside her.
Thanks to the bed's large size, two people fit without much discomfort.
Rainy swallowed hard and said,
"Hey... I-I'm still a former saintess, you know?"
"So what? You were excommunicated anyway."
"..."
Rainy, who had been sprawled out, blushed as our hands touched, pulled back, and curled up.
Hm, with that reaction, she'd probably soon be too embarrassed, throw a pillow, and flee to her room.
Having observed her for weeks, I'd analyzed her thoroughly and was certain of my prediction.
"F-Fine! Let's sleep together! Turn off the light."
Surprisingly, Rainy defied my expectations and chose to tough it out.
A bit thrown off, I obliged by flicking off the lamp and lying back down beside her.
She probably thought leaving the bed now would mean admitting defeat, so pride kept her there.
People's senses sharpen in the dark, after all.
Lying side by side in pitch black, she'd get too aware of me and eventually bolt.
I waited a bit with that in mind.
But this woman.
She really planned to sleep here.
She twitched periodically, so she seemed awake, but showed no sign of getting up.
I held my tongue for a while but finally couldn't take it.
"Um... Saintess?"
"Yeah?"
"You're really sleeping here? I'm a guy, you know."
"You're not going to pounce on me."
"Well, of course not, but..."
"Then it's fine. Friends sleep together sometimes anyway!"
"..."
"And like you said, I'm not a saintess anymore."
"Where did you hear friends sleep together...?"
"Huh? The church knights did it. I asked why, and they said friends do that sometimes."
"..."
Church knights sharing a bed?
Ugh, just imagining it made me want to puke.
The church really was rotten.
And Rainy believed that excuse.
As I marveled at Rainy's innocence and the church's corruption, it hit me—she had no friends.
As a kid, she'd been a back-alley pickpocket boss, too busy surviving to make friends.
Even after becoming a saintess, she never had the chance with peers her age.
'Then... am I her first friend?'
Her pure acceptance of skewed info suddenly made sense.
With no friends, she couldn't tell truth from lies.
Feeling a twinge of pity, I decided not to shatter her illusions and closed my eyes obediently.
"Alright, good night."
"Uh... yeah."
***
Truth be told, Rainy wasn't that naive an idiot.
It was true the church knights said friends sleep together sometimes.
But she knew well that usually didn't apply between men and women.
Even so, the reason she stayed in Raden's bed with lame excuses was...
'I don't know...'
Rainy herself couldn't say exactly.
She just didn't want to leave his room for some reason.
Knowing it was a ridiculous excuse, she still chose to stay.
As she fidgeted with her fingers, pondering why, she quietly turned over.
In the dim room, Raden's sturdy silhouette was visible.
Rainy poked his shoulder cautiously with her finger.
"Hey, asleep?"
"..."
"Really? With me right here?"
"..."
Rainy scooted closer to check his breathing.
"Suuuu..."
Steady breaths.
Incredibly, this guy had fallen right asleep with her beside him!
Rainy knew objectively that she was quite—no, extremely—beautiful.
That's why she'd always been careful with her posture and wary of men.
Yet this eunuch bastard was sleeping soundly next to her without a care.
It was definitely a good thing he had no lust for her.
A good thing.
Yet Rainy felt an odd discomfort deep down.
She couldn't understand why.
Irritated for no reason, she decided to get revenge.
How dare he ruin the saintess's mood.
He deserved punishment for making her feel bad.
Careful not to wake him, Rainy slipped out of bed.
'Around here...'
Even in the pitch dark, she groped until she found the drawer.
She pulled out a pen.
Then cautiously lay back down.
Raden slept peacefully, unaware of the doom approaching.
Had her eyes adjusted after so long in the dark?
She could make out his facial contours.
Rainy, who'd never closely examined his face before, leaned in to observe.
His eyelashes were surprisingly long, his thick brows manly.
His nose was straight, lips nicely shaped.
'Prettier than I thought.'
After admiring briefly, Rainy hesitated a moment.
Then took out the pen and started doodling on his face.
On his left cheek:
[I love Saintess Rainy so much]
On his right cheek:
[Marry me, Saintess Rainy]
"Heehee."
Smiling satisfied at her creation, she shoved Raden—who'd rolled to the bed's center—and lay down.
Plagued by insomnia from withdrawal symptoms, Rainy fell asleep peacefully that night.