Unexpected Warmth
Hah.
When I came to, the sun was already high in the sky.
I glanced at the clock and saw the hour hand pointing at ten.
Ugh...
I had planned to wake up early and get ready, but I stayed up too late preparing yesterday, so I overslept.
But I couldn't just lie in bed.
First, I need to wash up...
Yeah, first wash, then change clothes.
Since yesterday, I've been working as Kyle's maid, so I couldn't wander around in this sloppy outfit.
I couldn't do my job wearing pajamas that showed my chest and navel.
Normally, after waking up in the morning and washing, I wore plain clothes, but today was even more so.
It wasn't the time to be in this outfit in the room either.
Since I couldn't go to the bathroom in just pajamas, I grabbed a jacket.
I'd button it up as I went.
I took the suit hanging on the hanger and opened the door right away.
Mmm?
Ah.
When I opened the door, something blocked me suddenly.
Very solid something.
Eh?
Hello?
And a voice came from above my head.
It was a very familiar voice.
It had changed after puberty and was completely different from when I was young, but it was still familiar.
Young Master?
For a moment, I didn't understand why he was here.
I had woken up a bit later than usual, but it was still morning.
And the others were supposed to return around noon.
But why so early...?
"I came quickly because I wanted to see Miss Sophia."
Kyle said that with a smile.
Kyle had come faster than expected, but the things he had to do were the same.
I backed away from my body that was completely attached to Kyle and curtsied.
Welcome.
... Miss Sophia.
Yes?
While bowing, I looked up at Kyle.
That... your chest is showing.
Huh?!
Thinking about it, I was only wearing a pajama top with a jacket.
The jacket's hem covered my body, but... I hadn't buttoned it yet.
Underneath, I was only wearing the pajama.
I hadn't even put on underwear.
Wait a minute!
-Bang!
I slammed the door shut.
Because it was morning, I was half-asleep, so I was embarrassed.
I had almost shown my naked body to Kyle when bathing before, but still, it was embarrassing.
First, change clothes...
No matter what, first button up the jacket I'm wearing.
Even so, as Kyle's maid, I wasn't exposing my skin.
Are you going to wash?
Kyle's voice from outside the door.
For the first time in a while, it sounded good.
Yes.
Then, I'll rest in the room for a bit. Go wash.
Thank you.
Kyle said that and went back to the room.
I turned to the bathroom as soon as Kyle disappeared from the hallway.
*
-Knock knock.
Young Master, I'm coming in.
I opened Kyle's door in proper suit, not pajamas.
Snore... snore...
When I entered, I saw Kyle sleeping.
I had said he'd rest, but was he actually sleeping?
Still, I understood.
No matter how much he slept in the tent, it wouldn't be as good a bed as here.
No matter how strong he was to cold, it wouldn't be a good place to sleep.
And besides, Kyle's bed was always very comfortable.
Hmm...
I didn't want to wake Kyle.
After all, he must have been extremely tired for 15 days.
I turned off the light in the room so he could sleep comfortably.
Although it's daytime, a bit darker would be better for sleeping.
Sleep well.
I sat beside the sleeping Kyle and said that.
By the way, why did he come so quickly?
I had expected my friends to come after noon.
Maybe he woke up early from sleeping in the snow.
Well, whatever, I was glad to see him early.
There was no one else who could suddenly not see the person I meet every day except my parents.
Well, I hadn't gone to see my parents yet.
Still... seeing him after a long time felt good.
I was surprised when he suddenly appeared at the door, but I was happy.
I placed my hand on Kyle's head while he slept.
And stroked it.
There was no particular reason.
I just did it because I was happy.
Now he's all grown up.
It was one thing that the little boy who was smaller than me when I first saw him had grown so well, and another that he had grown in many ways.
Now, I don't need him anymore.
Kyle is an adult now.
Hah...
I had thought about quitting for a long time.
Even though I had thought about it a lot, seeing this guy's face after a long time made my heart soften.
But I couldn't quit.
Because next to Kyle, there should be a real, more useful maid, not me.
It had started as about half temporary work.
I didn't know I'd work this long.
Maybe Kyle didn't know either?
How could a tutor become a maid and work as a maid for 8 years?
I didn't even remember how I got into being a butler-like thing.
Hah...
It was absurd.
I came to make some money, but somehow I became not just Kyle's tutor but also his direct maid.
It was strange even to me.
When I first saw Kyle, I didn't think deeply.
It was a sad story, but I thought of him as just an kid I would meet while working.
But as I continued to stay, my thoughts changed a lot.
Snore... snore...
While stroking Kyle's sleeping head, I spent time.
Perhaps because he was so tired, Kyle slept peacefully with a face as if he was comfortable even though I was stroking his hair.
Ah, Young Master, you're awake.
Yes.
About two hours later, Kyle woke up.
Long time no see. Young Master.
Yeah. It seems like a really long time.
Two weeks until we meet again.
It wasn't an extremely long time, but it felt long to us.
It couldn't be helped.
Because we had met every day for nearly 8 years.
What would you do? Are you going to wash? Or go to breakfast? Or sleep more?
Since I already washed once, let's go to breakfast.
Yes.
I had already prepared for celebrating Kyle's return.
This was why I woke up late.
By now, the dining hall should be full of people.
Of course the duke, and Adela, Louise, Elin, etc.
It wasn't a normal meal, it was a party to celebrate Kyle.
Young Master, today you open the door and come in.
Because if I show up first when everyone is welcoming, the picture would be strange.
Kyle opened the door according to my words.
When the door opened, Louise and Adela's hair peeked through the gap.
Oppa!
When Kyle opened the door, Adela ran to Kyle.
Welcome back~!
Yeah.
Kyle accepted Adela who was hugging him without any issue.
It was a good sight.
But Adela would be an adult next year, so is it okay for her to be hugged like that by a man?
Even if family, it was too defenseless.
Even if it's her older brother she hadn't seen in two weeks...
Adela, come in and sit.
Yeah.
Anyway, that was how we had a party in the dining hall to commemorate Kyle's return.
It wasn't a party with much to see, but we called it a party.
If it's fun, that's a party.
By the way, Kyle drank alcohol.
From what he said about the duke's promise, it seems the duke tried to make him drink on the day of the coming-of-age ceremony.
Whoa ha ha ha!! As expected of my son! You drink well for the first time!
Y.. yes...
Thinking about it, today was Kyle's first time.
He didn't drink when I went to the capital, and he hadn't drunk alcohol in the duchy either.
But if he keeps drinking like this...
Cheers! One more drink!
He would definitely get drunk soon.
Young Master, are you okay...?
Col.. rock!! Ha... no...
After the party ended, I woke Kyle who was passed out on the table and asked.
The duke who likes alcohol had made him drink, how could he be okay?
And Kyle was a first-timer with alcohol.
I'll carry you to the room right away.
Even though Kyle's build is much larger than mine, I had no choice.
If you're going to sleep, at least go to the room to sleep, not on the table.
Hah... Hup...!
So, I somehow carried Kyle to his room.
Since he was so tall, around 190, it was extremely hard.
Hah... Finally done.
Kyle, perhaps from being drunk, didn't say anything.
Was he sleeping?
Anyway, I laid Kyle on his bed.
Hah...
If I had known, I should have stopped the duke from making him drink more.
I left him and it only made it harder.
Now I have to wake up...?!
After laying Kyle down, I who was resting on the chair tried to get up from the chair to go back to my room.
But suddenly Kyle grabbed my hand.
Eh... Young Master? Why are you grabbing? Do you have something to say?
Sophia...
Yes?
Perhaps from being drunk, Kyle continued using informal speech.
Should I bring water?
Don't go.
Wait...!
Kyle suddenly pulled me to his bed.
Even though he's drunk, how strong is his power?
?
Anyway, I ended up lying on Kyle's bed.
I don't know the situation, but first, I took off my shoes.
Eh... Young Master? What is this...
Don't go, stay here.
..
I don't know what, but suddenly he started hugging me who was lying on the bed.
I didn't refuse the Kyle who was doing that.
I heard that people who are drunk have a habit of hugging anyone around them.
Is Kyle that type?
Eh...
I don't know what, but one thing was clear.
It was extremely warm.
Kyle's body temperature was higher than mine.
It was a natural fact.
Kyle was born and raised in the north.
That's why, being hugged by Kyle made me feel extremely warm.
Sophia...
Whether drunk or sleep-talking, Kyle kept calling me.
Yes, Young Master.
Sophia...
I don't know what, but I answered anyway.
After all, I couldn't escape while being hugged like this.
What I could do was only be hugged by Kyle.
Yes, here it is.
Sophia.......
Kyle kept calling me desperately.
Is there something to say?
I love you...
Yes?!