The next day, when I opened my eyes, I tasted the pain of muscles aching all over my body.
It wasn’t to the point where I couldn’t move, but it felt like the sound of creaking echoed in my ears even if I moved a single finger.
On top of that, my throat was scratchy and painful.
“Ugh.”
The traces of the previous day’s intensity had rushed in late.
The dull pain spreading from a place that is hard to talk about with others is something I still haven’t gotten used to.
“Adrian. Do you want some water?”
“……Yes.”
I reached out my hand, but Klen grabbed my chin.
Soon, our lips overlapped.
As I opened my lips slightly, appropriately cold water poured into my mouth.
For my dry throat, it was truly like rain during a drought.
That was nice, but it wasn’t like I didn’t have the strength to hold a cup.
“Do you need more?”
He asked as if he had timed the moment my throat swallowed the water.
“I can hold it and drink it myself.”
“Hmm. As expected, yesterday a bit more…….”
Knock, knock—
But before any more useless words could continue, a light knocking sound rang at the door.
“Come in.”
I hurriedly gave permission to enter.
Anyway, the only person who would visit this early in the morning is Linda.
Soon, the person who appeared behind the cautiously opened door was indeed her.
She didn’t seem flustered, as if she was used to the sight of us being so close our lips could touch.
Even if she didn’t make a fuss, there must have been some aftereffects from my kidnapping, as the corners of her eyes curved softly just by looking at me.
She bowed deeply in greeting and then spoke.
“Master Adrian. How is your body? Do you have a fever?”
“I’m okay.”
“Your voice is cracked…….”
“…….”
The words that it was because of Klen kept swirling in my mouth.
I even glanced at him.
“Is it because you were exposed to the cold wind for too long?”
Those eyes looking at me with worry, as if he knew nothing, were detestable.
Linda didn’t notice yesterday’s events at all.
It was thanks to not using scented oils.
And she probably couldn’t even imagine that someone who had just lost consciousness would do such things until late at night so soon after their first night.
Usually, that would be the case.
Perhaps he still had a conscience, as Klen quietly placed the cup in my hand and stepped back.
Linda smiled slightly as she watched that scene.
“Still, thanks to Master Adrian, Master Klen has become much more mature.”
“What?”
I first thought about whether the word “mature” suited Klen.
Was it because of yesterday?
It didn’t really resonate with me.
“Lately, he hardly makes any mistakes.”
“…….”
“…….”
Klen and I looked at each other without a word.
He was certainly a bit different from when we first met.
Did he lose his composure because incidents kept happening one after another?
Even if he smiled sillily, the acting of knocking things over or tripping had significantly decreased.
“Maybe it’s because his desire to look good to his wife is great.”
“Is that so?”
He brushed it off with a clumsy smile.
Linda’s face broke into a gentle smile, as if she felt some trust from that appearance.
The sight of the two people looking at each other and smiling was harmonious, but…….
‘No, Linda. That’s not it. It’s not because of that, so don’t be fooled.’
The words I shouted in my heart couldn’t have reached her.
After that, I finished my meal and preparations and left the room with Klen.
To others, I was someone who had been kidnapped and rescued, so the servants strongly opposed it.
However, they nodded their heads at the words that I should hear the reason directly.
They probably wanted to protect my pride at least.
[Where are we going today~?]
Aren, who had eaten so many cookies yesterday that his belly bulged, woke up late and sat on my shoulder.
Even while nodding off, he was trying his best to stay by my side.
Of course, the place we headed to was not the prison where they were held, but the meeting room.
Perhaps the meeting hadn’t started yet, as the door was wide open.
Klen and I stood in front of it.
Then, a wide, round table immediately came into view.
Naturally, Brother Fabian was sitting in the center, and behind him were Neser.
Also, several vassals whose faces were unfamiliar and Willoy could be seen.
For some reason, Elliot, who was caught between them, was looking at the table with a hollow face.
“Klen. I had a lot I wanted to ask anyway. Did Adrian come along too?”
The first person to discover us was Brother Fabian.
Only then did the people sitting indifferently turn their eyes this way.
The expressions that remained unchanged until they confirmed Klen stiffened subtly when they saw me.
“…….”
But what was even more surprising was that there was a person here who didn’t fit in at all.
The seat right next to Sir Willoy.
The girl who gave a fragile impression compared to the others was Madeline.
She quickly stood up from her seat and offered a shy greeting.
Among the people in this room, she was the only one who seemed to welcome me.
And it was when I tried to step inside.
“Is it okay to bring your fragile wife?”
“It would be a big problem if she suddenly collapsed during the meeting.”
“The kidnapping was just yesterday…… she should rest today.”
[Could it be that the fragile person they are talking about is my master? Surely not~]
Several people said with a frown.
It wasn’t just dissatisfaction in their eyes.
An uneasy look that they couldn’t completely hide was slightly visible.
“Isn’t it better to have more people for this kind of thing?”
And for once, Willoy stood on my side.
I think I understand a little from that.
It seems those who hold a grudge against me are the group following Brother Fabian.
They are probably wary that Klen’s position might increase and he might control the meeting as he pleases.
Did only I hear the declaration that even if we help Brother Fabian, the results of this work would belong entirely to him?
“Is it okay if you don’t rest?”
[No, were they really saying that to you?! My master is not that weak!]
Brother Fabian asked cautiously.
Unlike the words of other people that were thorny, I could feel that he was sincerely worried.
“Lord Fabian is right. Your body is weak, so how about resting?”
And the following words from Neser were wariness disguised as worry.
At least his tone had become quite soft after losing to me, but his attitude hadn’t changed much.
There was no need to be discouraged by their words.
I walked inside confidently.
“There is no need to worry, Brother. If my wife’s body was that uncomfortable…… there’s no way I would have brought him, right? Since he is also entangled in this matter, I think he has the right to participate.”
[Of course, of course~]
Klen, who had been just watching quietly, finally opened his mouth.
He seemed to have been waiting for my decision on whether to stagger and collapse or push inside.
He definitely would have matched my rhythm either way.
Once the path was decided, he gave a bright smile and grabbed my hand.
Unlike his face with a smile so bright it seemed foolish, our hands were firmly intertwined.
And he led me without hesitation.
His seat was right next to Brother Fabian.
And naturally, I was next to him.
