A Midsummer Night's Dream
"......Haa."
I stood in front of the mirror and let out a sigh. The light pink silk slip. I had ultimately ended up wearing that problematic nightgown handed to me by the Head Maid.
The thin shoulder straps looked like they'd snap if flicked, the neckline plunged deep in a V that revealed a precarious glimpse of cleavage if I bent over even slightly. And the hem rode well above my knees, letting the night air brush my thighs with every step.
A lifetime of navy uniforms buttoned to the collar or baggy training clothes, and now this.
This... this really isn't me...
I crossed my arms over my chest and glared at my reflection. My face burned bright red. I wanted to rip off this scrap of fabric and change into my usual cotton t-shirt right that instant.
But the Head Maid's words echoed relentlessly in my head.
Men are weak to that sort of thing. The young master will love it.
"......Will he really like it?"
I bit my lip hard.
Tonight was the night we'd promised to read the next volume of that romance novel together in the young master's room. A glance at the desk clock showed it was almost time.
"G-Gotta go. A knight doesn't back down."
I mustered my courage and stepped out the door.
The night air prickling my bare skin raised goosebumps all over as I crept down the hall, hushing my footsteps lest anyone see. Reaching the young master's door, I swallowed dryly and took a deep breath.
Knock knock.
"Young Master, I'm coming in."
I turned the knob carefully.
Creeeak.
"Oh, Seria. You're here? I just finished washing up and—"
The young master, perched on the bed towel-drying his hair, looked up. Our eyes met through the open door.
"......"
"......"
Silence stretched.
The towel slipped from his hand and thudded to the floor.
His gaze lingered on my face, then slid down very slowly, very blatantly. Over the deep plunge at my chest, across my exposed white thighs, then back up to fixate on the curve of my breasts.
H-He's staring!! The young master's staring!!
My head spun. What do I do? What do I do!? Shame burned so hot I wanted to bolt, but my legs were glued to the floor.
"Y-Young Master......"
My voice came out a squeak. He jolted, whipping his head away.
"A-Ahem! Cough! H-Hey, Seria! What the hell is that outfit?!"
His ear tips glowed like freshly boiled crab shells.
"Th-That is... the maids... said it was summer, so something cool and......"
"The Head Maid's got a twisted sense of humor! Even for summer, that's too much! And you just wore it?!"
"I-Is it weird......?"
I clutched the hem, voice barely a whisper.
"It's not weird, it's—! Ugh, whatever! Get over here and sit! You'll catch a cold!"
He patted the bed frantically, making space, then yanked a thin summer blanket from his side and draped it over my knees. He still couldn't look straight at me.
At least... he doesn't seem to hate it.
I sighed inwardly in relief, calming my pounding heart as I perched carefully beside him.
Awkward silence fell. Normally we'd be wrestling playfully or bantering nonstop.
"Uh...... shall we read?"
He cleared his throat awkwardly and grabbed the novel from the nightstand.
I Became the Maid Obsessed Over by the Northern Grand Duke Volume 2.
"Y-Yes! Let's read."
I pulled the blanket up to my chest and nodded. We leaned back against the headboard side by side, opening the book.
At first, our eyes darted everywhere but the page, but as the story unfolded, its pull drew us in, easing the tension bit by bit.
Before departing to subjugate the mana beasts, Grand Duke Calix lightly kissed Cecilia's forehead.
"Wait for me. I'll cut down every beast in this forest and return to your side."
"Pfft, this grand duke guy's full of hot air again."
He snickered, turning the page.
"Aw, come on, it's cool. He's reassuring the woman he loves, acting all dependable."
"Dependable my ass. If he gets hurt, Cecilia's the one suffering. A real dependable guy doesn't put his woman in that spot to begin with."
"Ooh, Young Master, getting all mature on me?"
"I've always been pretty mature. If you ever run into a poser like that, just run. I'll pick you a better, more solid guy."
"Hmph, speaks the one with a nose of stone."
Bickering over the story brought us back to our usual selves. Relaxed, I nudged the blanket down a bit and leaned toward him comfortably.
We were deep in the tale when—
Cecilia burst into tears at the bloodied return of Calix.
"Why did you push yourself so hard?!"
Calix smirked, wiping her tears.
"Seeing you hurt would be a hundred times worse than me bleeding."
"......"
I let out a soft gasp reading that line. Even as fiction, it tugged at my heart. Willingly bleeding for someone—that resonated deeply with me as a knight, a noble sentiment.
"What an idiot."
The young master murmured beside me.
"Huh? Isn't it cool?"
"Cool, sure, but idiotic. Think how much it hurts the one left behind."
He set the book aside and turned to me, his usual playfulness gone, face serious.
"Seria."
"Yes, Young Master."
"Don't go getting hurt trying to protect me alone later. Got it?"
"It's a knight's duty to guard her lord. Even if it costs my life—"
"I don't need that duty."
He cut me off.
"I'd rather get hurt myself than watch you bleed. Just stay by my side. That's the escort knight I want."
"......!"
My heart didn't just pound—it exploded.
That was a hundred—no, a thousand times cooler than the grand duke's line!
He thinks that highly of me...
Heat surged in my chest. Reason blurred. Knightly duty, this embarrassing nightie—all vanished in a white flash.
"Young Master......!"
Unable to contain it, I yanked him into a fierce hug.
"Wh-Whoa?! Seria?!"
He toppled back in surprise. I crushed his head to my chest, refusing to let go.
"Thank you...... thank you so much. I'll stay by your side forever."
"H-Hey! S-Seria! Wait! Can't breathe!"
He flailed, pushing my shoulders. But I hugged tighter.
Then—
"Hmph......!"
His hot breath puffed right into my cleavage.
......Huh?
Only then did I realize what I'd done. Hugging him so fiercely had splayed open the deep V of my pink silk slip, burying his face squarely between my heaving breasts!
"E-Eek!!!"
I shoved him away in panic, scrambling to the bed's corner.
"S-S-Sorry!!!"
My face wasn't just burning—it was erupting.
What had I done?! Such indecency toward my lord!
He sat against the headboard, face tomato-red, panting hard. His eyes wandered the air, then fixed on me.
"Haa, haa......"
The room filled with our ragged breaths. Awkwardness, embarrassment, and some indefinable sultry tension thickened the air.
"Seria."
He broke the silence, voice an octave lower.
"Y-Yes......"
He glared with fierce eyes.
"Were you seducing me just now?"
"N-No......?! Absolutely not! I was just so moved—!"
"Liar."
"N-Nooo!!! It's a misunderstanding! I-I'm leaving now!"
I couldn't bear the shame, sliding off the bed toward the door.
Slap!
My wrist was caught.
"Where do you think you're going."
He yanked me back. I lost balance and flopped onto the bed.
"Kyaa!"
Before I could recover, he pinned me down—the classic bed straddle.
"Y-Young Master?!"
"This is your fault, Seria."
So close! Too close!!
"So, we're sleeping together tonight."
"......S-Such."
My heart would burst. I should shove him off, but my body felt strangely powerless.
"......"
I gave up resisting, clutching the sheets meekly.
He chuckled softly, rolling off to lie beside me, pulling the blanket over us.
Two bodies side by side in one bed. Our shoulders brushed lightly.
Thump, thump, thump.
My heartbeat was so loud, I fretted he'd hear.
We stared at the dark ceiling for a long while when—
"Seria."
He called softly.
"Yes......"
"Can we... cuddle tonight?"
"......!!"
My breath hitched. Cuddle? In this thin, sexy nightie?
But I couldn't refuse. Didn't want to.
In the dark, I nodded slowly, silently.
Rustle.
He turned toward me, arm wrapping gently around my waist. I nestled into him, hugging his broadening back.
Warm. Cozy. The earlier shame melted away like snow.
Lavender mingled with his soft, clean soap scent, tickling pleasantly.
"Goodnight, Seria."
He rested his chin on my crown, whispering.
"......Sweet dreams, Young Master."
Thus embraced tightly, we sank deep into the sweet dreams of a summer night.