How I Take Care of Her -1- Peaceful Desmont Olivia's Mansion
Olivia's mansion in Desmont was peaceful.
Blink... blink... Olivia woke up today with an unusually clear head, her sparkling eyes wide open as she stared blankly at the ceiling.
"Hmnya..."
One star. Two stars. The phosphorescent stars that Ricardo had added to the ceiling—born from his wish that she wouldn't grow bored of staring at the same old sight every time—shone before her eyes. They weren't anything special, just glow-in-the-dark stars, but to Olivia, who spent so much time alone gazing upward, they twinkled like a galaxy.
How was the Big Dipper shaped again...?
What are you doing?
Making a night sky on the ceiling that you can see every day.
Why?
I thought you'd get sick of the same ceiling. Besides, the feeling's different from looking out the window. And I can even pluck one down for you.
Pluck a star for me?
Don't you remember what I said at your butler appointment ceremony?
That I won't let you go hungry?
No, not that.
Recalling the past, Olivia smiled faintly. "Idiot."
Seeing the stars still twinkling told her it was early, before dawn had fully broken. They only lost their glow come morning. Having woken too soon, Olivia pouted her lips, inwardly cursing herself for rising at such an hour. If she got up now, she'd be too sleepy tonight to properly listen to the fairy tale Ricardo read her before bed.
"I need to go back to sleep..."
Sleep wouldn't come easily. Olivia drew in a deep breath, ready to belt out her usual shout—the one that made Ricardo worry about the empire's safety while bursting into laughter with a "Puhaha! What the hell is that?!" But...
"Air raid..."
She clamped a hand over her mouth and swallowed the word. It was too early to wake Ricardo. He needed his rest amid his busy days, so Olivia stifled the sound, turning her body toward the clock on the wall.
Tick. Tock.
It was 4 a.m. Two whole hours until Ricardo rose.
"Boooring."
Olivia's lips pursed in a sulk as she hugged her blanket tight. Enduring two hours alone sounded no fun at all. Her eyes were wide and alert; falling back asleep seemed impossible, and even if she did, she'd probably wake right up again. She loved sleep, sure, but even a beauty like her had her limits.
If Ricardo were here, time would fly.
But it was too early to wake him. Olivia let out a deep sigh, her lips puckering again.
"Boooring..."
So boring on her own. She needed someone to play with.
Cautiously, Olivia peered under the bed. There was only one being in the mansion who'd play with her at this hour—and wouldn't complain if woken.
The ultimate freeloader, lazier than anyone else in the house. Olivia flashed a triumphant smile, checking if the guy was sleeping there as usual.
Puuu...
"Heehee..."
Olivia grinned at the black-furred lump curled up beneath the bed. A perfect chance to exercise her rightful authority as owner—it was time to collect on his room and board.
Slowly, she extended her fingers under the bed.
"Wake up."
Her fingers sank deep into the fur with a poke. The soft, fluffy texture made her giggle. Now he'd jolt awake in surprise and play with her...
...
Olivia's head tilted with a question mark. She poked Gomtang again.
"Wake up..."
Gom.
"Wake up, you pig."
Gooom...
No reaction. As if fiercely proving he loved sleep more than his owner, Gomtang didn't so much as twitch, ignoring her calls with only a faint grumble.
"..."
Her pride stung, Olivia stared blankly at him, wondering if she was really his owner. She fed him tasty treats, played with him, even trimmed his fur sometimes by skimping on his naps. Yet here he was, offering zero help when his owner needed him.
Clenching her fist, Olivia began hammering away, intent on tenderizing him like meat.
"Eek! Wake up!"
She kept up the fluffy punches, hoping persistence would do the trick, but Gomtang's heavy frame only sank deeper into slumber.
Puuu...
Fuming with betrayal, Olivia glared at him.
"Eek..."
In my house. Eating my butler's food. And ignoring me? The irritation boiled over. Olivia shook him, whining.
"Bear cub. I'm booored."
...
"I'm bored."
...
"Eeeek... I'm bored, I said!"
Gomtang, with his chubby ears, ignored her diligently. Olivia sighed, deciding that come morning, she'd tell Ricardo to keep him outside—no more meals, no treats.
Back in the day, she'd have said toss him out, but that felt too cruel now, pricking her conscience. Send this pampered beast back to the wild, and he'd starve for sure.
Giving up on playing with Gomtang, Olivia lay back down to court sleep. Sounds drifted in from outside: crickets chirping, a roe deer's kyueeek, the whisper of wind. Nature's serenade under the moonlit sky was calm and serene— the kind others might call "healing." Olivia pulled her blanket tight, a warm smile on her face.
"Eek... scary."
Olivia was a scaredy-cat. Ghosts, specifically. Monsters and people she could smack, but ghosts? No hitting them. To Olivia, who saw raw power as the quickest path to conversation, ghosts were unbeatable foes.
Plus, she figured God hated her. Her usual behavior, plus all those times pilfering snacks from the cathedral—her conscience knew better than to expect any divine protection.
Ever self-aware, Olivia clutched her blanket, mumbling in a trembling voice.
"Scary..."
Sure, a grown woman fearing this was laughable, but scary was scary—what could she do?
Hating the elusive sleep, she flinched at every tiny sound near her ear.
Whiiiish.
"Eek!"
Gom...
"Eeeek!"
Hoo...
"Heeek!"
The wind felt extra chilly tonight. She wanted to close the window, but what if a ghost popped out while she did? Nope, abandoned that idea.
After about thirty minutes of solo battle...
"Eeeek..."
Still awake, Olivia poked her face out from the blanket, gulping fresh air. A hard-won victory after endless internal debate on whether to risk it.
Pouting, she sighed. "Idiot. As if ghosts are real."
Whiiiish...
"Eek! Sorry!"
She really did worry too much, even by her own standards. Sipping the crisp air steadied her, and she lay back down stiffly, hoping for sleep this time.
Ten minutes after drifting off with a refreshed mind...
"...Oh no."
Having conquered the darkness, a new ordeal loomed terrifyingly: Olivia's eyes widened, cheeks puffing out.
"Did I drink too much water...?"
Fidgeting her fingers against rising panic, she sensed the signal coming—too much water.
Her fingers wiggled as she whispered, "Gotta pee..."
An hour left until Ricardo woke. Unable to go alone, Olivia bit her lip hard, glaring resentfully at the seemingly frozen clock.
"Why's it so sloooow..."
Tick.
"Hurry up already."
Her face flushed crimson, ready to burst. She didn't want to wake Ricardo, but she needed the bathroom.
Clenching her fists, she endured. And then...
"Hic... hic..."
To preserve her human dignity, she decided to give up cleanly. She'd respected his sleep enough already, right?
The moment teary-eyed Olivia steeled herself to utter her familiar code word...
"Air raid..."
Creeeak. The door swung open, and Ricardo entered fresh from his shower, towel around his neck and a refreshed smile on his face. Spotting her, he chuckled softly.
"Oh? You're already awake, Young Lady?"
In a quivering voice, Olivia called to him. "Ricardo..."
"Yes?"
"I gotta pee."
Ricardo chuckled softly at her words and nodded. "That's a problem."