Moonlit Knee Pillow
Right after I accept Ardella's proposal, she steps out briefly for some other business. In the meantime, I head to find Amelia unnie and tell her about what happened with Ardella. Naturally, Amelia unnie already knows all about it. Ardella had apparently filled her in completely beforehand before coming to see me.
Amelia unnie just warns me not to mass-produce anything like the thing I gave Siron and leaves it at that. I return to my room, and soon after, Ardella comes back alone. But this time, she's not empty-handed.
Scratch, scratch, scratch. Ardella is sprawled on my bed, reading through the documents she brought, scribbling notes with her quill pen and flipping pages rapidly. I'm beside her, roughly sorting the towering stacks by category.
I don't ask the idiotic question of why she's doing this in my room. Instead, I just wonder why she's using the bed when there's a perfectly good desk. She replies, "Why sit uncomfortably in a chair when I have a bed that's firm like a desk and lets me lie down?"
It's not wrong, but considering her explosively busty chest, lying prone doesn't seem all that comfortable. Of course, I don't say that out loud.
"Unnie. This is the last one."
"Mm. Got it."
I hand her a document on security issues in some city I've never even heard of. She skims it, jots a quick note with her quill, rolls it up tightly, and sets it aside. Seeing the pile of neatly rolled documents stacked almost as tall as me makes it feel like we actually got some real work done.
"Thanks to my little brother helping out, it finished faster than I expected."
"Glad I could help."
Ardella sits up straight on the bed. My eyes naturally flick to her chest as it sways for a moment.
"Come to think of it, I haven't had dinner."
"Ah, y-yeah. You're right."
Her clear voice snaps me back, and I look up to her face. Bathed in the lantern light, Ardella's expression carries a strange allure unlike her usual self. Maybe sensing my gaze, she turns from the moonlit window to look at me.
"Hm... Going out to eat isn't a bad idea, but I'm not really in the mood to move today. So, little brother, could you fetch some food for your unnie?"
"If that's what unnie wants, of course. Just wait a sec—I'll be right back. Uh, any preferences on the menu?"
"Nothing in particular. I'm the type to eat whatever's edible."
"Hm... Got it."
I've just received the world's most impossible order—"anything"—and head straight down the back stairs to the kitchen. Luckily, Amelia unnie's there, so I explain the situation and ask for simple sandwiches.
"Pay up later."
"...I have to pay?"
"You nuts? Of course you do. You think I dig for gold or something?"
"Unnie..."
"Tch. Save the aegyo for your girlfriends. Anyway, pay later. Got it?"
"Tch."
Amelia unnie cackles as I click my tongue, then hands over a plate piled high with sandwiches stuffed with veggies and meat. I skip the bland beer, pour milk into a glass instead, balance everything skillfully, and head back to my room.
"Sandwiches, huh. Not bad."
Her lips curve faintly upward—looks like she's genuinely pleased. For the Ardella still perched on my bed, I arrange the food neatly on what might as well be the floor-level mattress.
She picks up a thick sandwich and says, "Whenever I'd tour the territory and rest in a village before leaving, the village chief or her husband would always make something like this."
She takes a bite, then adds, "But this tastes way better. Haha," with a small, pleasant laugh. It's a lighter, more down-to-earth side than when she was buried in paperwork.
"Mm..."
"Something wrong?"
After devouring half her sandwich, Ardella glances at me and furrows her delicate brows ever so slightly.
"Now that we're eating together like this, I have no idea what to talk about. All I know are boring stories—or ones too brutal for a man like you."
"Uh, um..."
Her unexpected response leaves me speechless. Normally I'd ramble on, but given her status, and the fact that I've never left Molingta, my stories probably wouldn't entertain her. And I sure can't pull out Earth tales again.
But with her frowning like that, I can't just sit silent. I rack my brain desperately.
"Uh, unnie, what's your daily life like usually?"
"Me?"
"Yeah, unnie."
Pathetically, that's the best my brain can muster. So I decide to just listen to her stories and nod enthusiastically. She brushes her small lips with the half-eaten sandwich and says:
"Daily life? I spend more time patrolling the territory than at the mansion."
"So you're constantly traveling from city to city?"
"Usually, I inspect two cities, return to the mansion for a week to rest, then head out again."
Her casual tone sends a slight chill down my spine. In this medieval world without cars or trains, constantly riding horseback between cities—it's unimaginable how grueling that must be.
"Th-then, what do you do at the mansion?"
"Catch up on paperwork. Mother's always busy roaming the borders."
"I heard you have siblings..."
"They prefer swinging swords at beasts or bandits over staring at documents."
I might be imagining it, but behind her sandwich, her lips seem to twist into a bitter smile.
"So... when do you rest?"
"Processing paperwork is my rest. At least I can relax, sit properly, sip tea, and snack. Haha."
"Oh shit..."
I genuinely pity the woman before me. Resting by sitting at a desk with backlog paperwork? What kind of life is that?
"Boring, right? I know I'm not much of a talker."
She smiles faintly, finishes her sandwich, and polishes off the milk.
"Unnie, so today was supposed to be a mansion day, but you came all the way here on purpose?"
"Hm? Ah, yeah."
She sets down the glass.
"Your matter, those two girls' issues—I could've sent a retainer. But I wanted to see you, so I came myself. Brought paperwork along for the ride. Haha."
She glances at the rolled stacks in the corner of my bed and chuckles softly. The soft glow of lantern and moonlight blends with her hazy smile, tickling something in my chest.
Damn it, Smith, you perv. Snap out of it.
I clear my throat and slap my cheek lightly.
"What's wrong?"
"Nothing. More importantly, are you full?"
"Ah, I don't eat much usually, so it's just right." She pats her belly oddly cutely. I quickly shove the rest in my mouth, gulp it down with milk, grab the empty plate, and stand.
"I'll clean this up. Need anything else?"
"Mm. No."
"Got it. Be right back."
I dash downstairs, drop off the plate and glass in the kitchen, and return. Naturally, Ardella's still on my bed, gazing at the moonlight through the window. She turns as I enter.
"Don't just stand there—come sit close."
She pats the spot right beside her. I hesitate, then sit with just the barest space between us. She watches, nods with her signature hazy smile, and turns back to the moon.
"Smith."
"Yes, unnie."
"As your unnie, I have a small request. Would you grant it?"
"Anything I can do."
Her blue eyes sparkle as she turns from the moon to me.
"I'd like to nap a bit. Lend me your lap?"
"...My lap?"
"Yes. Your lap."
Honestly, I'm stunned. Totally caught me off guard.
"I-I mean, no problem, but... you're sleeping here?"
"Uncomfortable?"
"N-no, it's not that, it's just..."
A man and woman sharing a room overnight. I swallow dryly. She giggles at my reaction.
"I'm not so improper as to lay hands on my little brother. Relax."
"Ah, well... ahem."
"Haha. I didn't arrange rooms for my subordinates either. So, put your unnie to bed."
Her pure smile leaves me no choice but to nod.
"Then, lend me your lap a moment. Sit here."
She positions me at the head of the bed, stretches my legs out straight, gathers her fine silver hair neatly over my thigh, and lays her head down.
"Mm, not bad. Not heavy?"
"Not at all. Super light."
"Haha, good."
She closes her eyes, folds her hands over her stomach.
"Once I'm asleep, I won't wake easily. Feel free to do your thing and leave me be."
"Got it."
Conversation ends. My room holds only the dim lantern, moonlight, and her steady breathing.
"......"
"......"
How much time passes? Lost admiring her moonlit face, time slips away. Snow-white skin like fresh powder, a sculpted nose, small red lips like cherries. Doll-like perfection.
"...Unnie."
"......"
"...Unnie. Asleep?"
"......"
I call louder a few times—no stir, just even breaths. Convinced she's out deep, I shift carefully.
Poke, poke. Her cheek is incredibly soft. Squishy. Smaller frame than mine, slimmer wrists—only her ample breasts outdo me. How does a body like this handle that insane schedule? Pitiable, really. Though a slave like me shouldn't worry about others—especially the heir to a countess title.
But that's that, and this is this. I gently, oh so gently, brush her bangs aside. Her hair's as soft as her cheek, shimmering silver in the moonlight.
"So pretty."
"......"
Pure sincerity from the heart. Siron's red locks and Kernax's golden blonde are gorgeous, but sorry—Ardella's silver hair is peerlessly beautiful.
I stroke for a while until my eyelids grow heavy. Should be prime activity time, but her calm influences me. I carefully support her head, grab the room's only fluffy pillow, and place it under her.
"......?"
Descending the bed, her face seems faintly flushed.
"The lantern...?"
I snuff it out, drape the blanket over her, pull spare clothes from the wardrobe, spread them on the floor, and lie down. Back's chilly, but full belly sends me drifting off instantly.
"Tch...?"
I wipe drool from my mouth and wake. Floor-sleeping left my body sore.
"No way—morning already?"
Blinding sunlight through the window makes me squint.
"Ah."
I whip around to the bed—empty. Blanket and pillow neatly folded.
"She... left?"
Document stacks gone too—she must've slipped out while I slept. I scratch my belly, rise from the floor.
"Hm?"
A small note on the desk catches my eye. I unfold it immediately.
Smith. Thanks to you, I rested comfortably. Your lovers should be released around lunchtime, so no worries. If Mother approves the item you made... our next meeting will likely be at the mansion. Stay healthy until then.
A few scribbles and erasures in the middle, but I ignore it. I fold the note carefully, tuck it into my emergency cash box under the bed, and stretch.
"Uggggh...!! Whew~"
I fling open the sunlit window.
"Things are gonna get real busy from today."