Chapter 33
Chapter 34
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 33
Chapter Title: Ruena Has Become Even Stranger (3)
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That doting dad agreed?
It's okay for me to come and go from his daughter's bedroom while she's sleeping?
I just blinked, wondering what nonsense I'd heard.
My hair turned white in an instant.
But I quickly pulled myself together.
'Stay calm. It could be a trap.'
I figured the Grand Duke was more than capable of something like that.
He might have laid out some insolent bait just to test my reaction.
If right here─
"Ah, sure? Then I'll go in and wake her up."
─I said something like that,
the Grand Duke could toss me out like he'd been waiting for it.
Or maybe the moment the words left my mouth, that doting dad's hand would lop off my head.
A chill ran down my spine.
But I forced a calm smile and opened my mouth.
"It's true I'm Ruena's friend, but no matter how I think about it, that seems improper. Even friends have boundaries to respect."
"Is that so."
I let out a quiet sigh of relief inside.
Good thing I didn't step into the Grand Duke's trap.
'All I can do is wait for Ruena to wake up.'
Just as that thought crossed my mind, a noise came from inside Ruena's room.
Like kicking off the blankets.
Or maybe burying her face in the pillow.
It sounded just like the noises I heard from outside Trisha's door when my little sister got mad.
"There's a noise. Isn't Ruena awake?"
"It's sleep-talking."
"Sleep-talking?"
The maid stated it flatly, her expression unchanging.
Her mechanical response made me feel awkward instead.
'Her sleeping habits are intense...'
Maybe she sensed some possibility anyway.
The maid, who'd been standing by the door, finally gripped the handle.
"Young Master Celen."
"Yes?"
"Would you like to come in with me?"
"...P-Pardon? Come in together?"
When I double-checked, the maid nodded without even blinking.
"As I mentioned earlier, the Grand Duke has permitted Young Master Celen's entry."
"Ah, yes. I heard that, but..."
But I feel like my neck might snap the second I step in.
I swallowed that thought and plastered on a brazen smile.
"The Grand Duke is already aware of the young lady's morning wake-up issues. And how inefficient they are."
"...Yes, it does seem that way."
"Exactly. That's why we're asking you... because we judged it to be the most efficient option."
"Efficient?"
The maid nodded slightly in response.
"The young lady tends to respond well to your words."
"Ah..."
It's not so much responding well as just answering obediently.
Even now, when I try to head home, she just answers but won't let go, making it a hassle.
'But it's not entirely wrong...'
Otherwise, Ruena did follow my instructions.
She'd stop obediently when I said enough,
hurry after me when I said let's go,
and wait quietly when I asked her to.
'Though her clingy habits show no sign of improving.'
As I pondered that, the maid's voice reached me.
"What Young Master Celen is worried about is that entering her room while she's asleep would be inappropriate."
"Yes. Exactly. We're friends, but she's still the opposite sex, and it's not polite..."
"The latter has already been permitted by the Grand Duke, and the former can be resolved by entering with me."
"Th-That's true."
"House Eliad values efficiency. Having you wake her is far more rational than wasting time every morning."
Hearing it laid out like that, it did make sense.
Besides, the maid kept persuading me,
and with her there, I could probably get away with it somehow.
'If things go south, I can just blame the maid.'
I pretended to hesitate for a moment, then smiled and nodded.
"Alright. I'll give it a try, at least."
"Thank you, Young Master Celen."
The maid knocked on the door with her free hand.
Knock, knock.
The sound echoed down the hall.
At that moment─
another rustling from the blankets inside the room.
'What now...'
Just as I opened my mouth to say something,
the maid, who'd been holding the handle, spoke first.
"She's particularly talkative in her sleep today."
"Pardon? Sleep-talking? She's not awake?"
"It's sleep-talking."
I was suspicious, but there was no proof.
The maid's expression remained serene as ever.
She turned the handle calmly while looking at me.
"We're coming in, miss."
"...You even warn sleeping people."
"That's the etiquette of a servant."
It did make sense when she put it that way.
Maybe I was the one being overly suspicious about everything.
With that thought, Ruena's firmly shut door swung open.
"Celen! Celen!"
"Morning. Good to see you, Buddy."
"Happy! Happy!"
"Yeah. Me too."
I exchanged brief greetings with the parrot Buddy, who recognized me.
Was Ruena really sleeping deeply?
Buddy was flapping his wings in his cage, but she didn't stir.
'Buddy's voice is so loud, and she still doesn't wake?'
I eyed the bed suspiciously.
Next to the bear doll I'd given her,
a blanket burrito lay snoring softly.
The maid approached the bed cautiously.
"Miss Ruena."
"......"
"It's time to get up."
"......"
"Young Master Celen has been waiting."
The burrito in the middle of the bed twitched.
Thinking she was awake, I crept closer, but she just hugged the blanket tighter and curled up.
"Miss."
"......"
"Please get up."
The maid approached the burrito─
no, Ruena─grabbed her shoulder, and shook hard.
But there was no reaction at all.
It was so still, I wondered if she was dead instead of sleeping.
The maid straightened up and looked at me with a blank face.
"See? It's not easy to wake her."
"...Yeah."
"Please, Young Master Celen."
"Ah, sure."
I wondered if it'd make any difference if I tried.
Sighing, I headed to the bed where Ruena lay.
"Ruena."
"......"
"Get up. Classes are starting."
"......"
A brief silence.
No sign of life.
'She responds well to my words, huh.'
I started to shake her, but shot a side-glance at the maid.
She stared back expressionlessly, her eyes urging me to continue.
I let out a short sigh and shook Ruena.
"Hey, Ruena."
"......"
"Get up. Or the history teacher will scold you."
Still quiet.
Just as I thought there was no reaction this time either─
"...Celen?"
A mumbled voice came from the bed.
A drowsy, hazy voice, like she was half in a dream.
'How does she react only to my voice like clockwork.'
Suspicious, but waking Ruena came first.
I leaned in closer─
and shook the sleeping girl harder than before.
"Yeah, it's me. Get up."
"...Celen."
"Right, right. Hurry up. We'll be late for class."
"...Okay."
Finally, the motionless burrito slowly sat up.
Phew, done.
Just as relief washed over me─
Ruena, still wrapped in the blanket, toppled forward.
"Whoa, hey─!"
"...Huh?"
I rushed forward and caught her.
Ruena just tilted her head, oblivious to what happened.
"...Celen?"
"Be careful. You almost fell."
"Okay..."
A pale arm slipped out from the blanket.
It hovered for a moment before wrapping tightly around my back.
Ruena looked up at me with half-lidded eyes, then buried her face in my chest.
"Sleepy..."
"Yeah, yeah... But you still have to get up for class."
"Okay..."
"Let's go wash up. Unwrap the blanket first."
Ruena nodded slowly.
But as always, she just answered without moving.
'Yeah, that's more like you...'
Sighing, I gently unwrapped the blanket around her.
"The bathroom's over there, right?"
"Yeah... Celen."
"Hm?"
"Hand..."
"Sure. Let's hold hands. You might trip if you go alone."
What about my answer was so funny?
Her sleepy eyes curved into a gentle smile.
That one smile lit up the whole room.
'Cu... Cute...'
Her unexpected smile made my heart skip.
My expression nearly faltered, but I quickly schooled it.
"Come on. We have to hurry. We're super late."
"Hey, Celen."
"Yeah?"
"...You'll wake me tomorrow too?"
In the end... I lost today too.
I swallowed a sigh and smiled as I replied.
"Yeah. I'll stay by your side until you get up, just like today."
"...Okay."
Ruena nodded, satisfied, with another smile.
My heart pounded again at the sight, but I kept my poker face.
And so, after that day─
'Ruena alarm clock' became part of my routine.
I wondered if the Grand Duke had really approved, but no restrictions came.
I even got the hang of waking Ruena.
Today was no different as I shook the burrito girl.
"Ruena, time to get up."
"......Mmm."
"...Get up."
One arm slowly emerged from the blanket at my words.
The other soon followed, wrapping around my waist as always.
Sighing, I unwrapped the blanket around her.
"Jeez... Why do you always hug me like this?"
"...Celen."
"Yeah, it's me. Come on, up you go. We're late again."
Instead of answering, she pressed her face harder into my stomach.
I stroked her head, giving her time to wake up.
Eventually, she'd rub her eyes and sit up bit by bit.
Though the arm around my waist stayed put...
"Sleep well? Good morning."
"Yeah. Good morning."
"Let's go. Holding hands."
"...Okay."
Humans really are creatures of habit.
I'd grown used to this bizarre morning routine.
'Oh, right.'
Another odd duty came to mind.
Telling Ruena my schedule in advance.
"Ruena."
"Yeah?"
"I'll probably come late on weekends."
"...Why?"
"Got some shopping to do in the market district."
At my words, Ruena's half-lidded eyes sparkled.
"Me too."
"Huh?"
"I wanna go too."
Her eyes brimmed with anticipation.
Hard to believe this was the same girl buried in blankets moments ago.