| Author: Tensei Mikami | Original Source: Syosetu | Word Count: 2269 characters |
| Translator: Jiro | English Source: Re:Library | Word Count: 1149 |
| Editor(s): Robinxen | ||
◆ ◆ ◆ ◆ ◆
Plush carpets, exquisite furnishings, and intricately made glass windows adorned one of the royal castle’s guest chambers.
Despite being a guest room, it was in no way inferior to the accommodations offered in the most upscale inns in the royal capital.
The room was filled with a lovely scent as flowers from the renowned garden of the royal castle lined the windows.
Elita constantly maintained the fire in the fireplace, keeping the space pleasantly warm compared to the chilly early spring weather outside.
A single giant bed was put in this space, which could accommodate a modest gathering.
The elaborate bed was so large that it could accommodate up to five adults at once. The down quilt, which had formed a tiny hill, was awkwardly rising and lowering.
As usual, the sleeping beauty was sound asleep today as well. It had been three days since the incident. And Seletina had slept nonstop for the entirety of them.
Next to the bed, Eleanor was seated in a chair she’d prepared, and she was poking Seletina’s cheek.
“Won’t she wake up already?”
“I cannot say. The doctor says that her body is healthy, but still…”
“There’s no way it’s healthy. How could it be after she used a Potion on her beat up body just so that she could wield her sword again.”
“I suppose you are correct… Still, Princess…”
Achoo!
Elita was interrupted by a sneeze just as she was about to complete her sentence. Eleanor felt a twinge of sympathy as she observed the weary Elita.
“You’ve been overworking yourself. Why don’t you go and take a break in the nearby room? I’ll look after Lady Seletina in your place.”
“I cannot burden you with a maid’s duties, Princess Eleanor! Moreover, you too have spent the past three days at Lady Seletina’s side nonstop!”
“We aren’t going to get anywhere like this! Would you prefer for Lady Seletina to wake up just to see her maid pass out before her?!”
“But…”
“No buts! Go rest!”
Eleanor said, driving Elita out of the room halfway through the conversation.
Elita hadn’t slept a wink these past three days. Anyone could agree that she was overworking herself.
There was no hammering on the door. Elita had most likely stopped herself so as to not disturb Seletina. Yet, she still tapped slightly on the door, pleading for Eleanor to let her in.
But Eleanor wouldn’t budge. She was keen on holding down the door until the end.
With her arms crossed together and her ears deaf to any sound, her will was harder to shatter than orichalcum.
Eventually, Elita gave in…
“I’ll come back in an hour,” she whispered.
“Four.”
“Two.”
“I’ll raise it to five.”
“… Okay…”
“Sleep well.”
Elita bowed towards the door before walking away.
Sensing Elita’s presence fade, a smile appeared on Eleanor’s face.
“So Lady Seletina is even loved by her maid.”
After saying that she once again sat on the chair by the bed.
Tick, tock, tick, tock…
The tranquil room became filled with the sound of the wooden wall clock.
Tick, tock, tick, tock…
Eleanor looked straight into Seletina’s sleeping face.
As she rested peacefully on the huge bed, Seletina looked like an angel.
Her face, which was graced with endlessly long eyelashes, a slim, well-defined nose, and plump, glossy cherry-red lips, seemed to be from another world.
Eleanor could lose herself for hours looking at that face.
Tick, tock, tick, tock…
Seletina continued to sleep.
While Eleanor stood there watching her, her uncertainty building.
What if she stays in a coma like this and eventually dies from malnourishment!
Eleanor’s chest tightened as she looked at Seletina.
I must do something!
Eleanor thought. Then, out of nowhere, she had an idea. Whether it was a revelation from God or a whisper from the devil she did not know.
However, the moment the idea came up in her mind, Eleanor’s face turned bright red. Her heart raced faster and faster, shifting gears several times.
Tick, tock, tick, tock…
Eleanor’s jade eyes were drawn to Seletina’s lips as if by some unfathomable force.
In one of the picture books Eleanor had read as a child, she had seen how to awaken a sleeping beauty.
It was with a kiss1.
There is only one way to break a princess’ curse of eternal sleep.
Even Eleanor, who so often had her head in the clouds, was baffled as to why she hadn’t considered this earlier.
‘If… What if… What if Lady Seletina really has such a curse placed on her?’
Gulp!
Eleanor was anxious.
Fortunately, she and Seletina were the only ones in the room.
Even so, Eleanor grew restless, and began paying even more attention to the door than usual.
Eventually, she walked up in front of the mirror, and took a moment to freshen up, after which she sat back in the chair by the bed.
No… This is wrong… I-It’s not like I want to k-k-kiss Lady Seletina. I just, you know, I want to heal her… That’s right! This is a form of treatment; it’s like giving CPR!
Tick, tock, tick, tock…
Unbeknownst to the public, Eleanor’s heart had commenced a competition of solitary justifications.
The justifications conformed to the following patterns:
It’s not like I want to kiss Lady Seletina.
This is a form of treatment.
It might actually work.
I’m not doing anything wrong.
I should be thanked for this.
Eleanor kept repeating these kinds of justifications for close to 30 minutes.
Needless to say, during the whole time Eleanor’s eyes had been glued to Seletina’s lips.
And at last, the time came.
Eleanor tightly clenched her fists that rested on her lap.
Eleanor took a dozen deep breaths before making up her mind, her face still a brilliant red color.
“I can do it. I can do it. You can do it Eleanor!”
Eleanor placed her hands on the bed.
The creaking sound of the bed rattled her eardrums as she put her right knee, followed by her left.
Her heart was about to burst out of her chest.
Seletina’s face was right in front of her.
Eleanor sat on top of Seletina and gradually drew her face closer to Seletina’s
Tick, tock, tick, tock…
Gulp!
Eleanor grew even more anxious.
Before she realized it, Seletina’s face was close enough for Eleanor to feel her breath.
“Haa… Haaa…”
Seletina’s calm breathing was in stark contrast to Eleanor’s panting, which ruffled Seletina’s bangs.
T-This is a form of treatment. I shouldn’t feel guilty about this!
Eleanor chanted as she began to close her eyelids.
“Good morning.”
Seletina’s deep blue eyes opened slowly.
“KYAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA?!?!”
Eleanor tumbled from the bed at a startling rate, hitting her head hard on the carpeted floor.
It goes without saying that the maid, who had been waiting outside, hurried in to see what was happening.
