Chapter 53

Felix, who had just returned from going out, stopped in front of the door after discovering me packing my bags.

“You’re home?”

I looked back at him and greeted him briefly before finishing packing my bag. Felix asked.

“Where are you going?”

“Yeah, I’m going to visit my parents’ home for a bit.”

“When?”

“Tomorrow.”

I informed him of the contents of the letter I’d received from Leonis. I also told him that depending on the contents of the prayer book, I might stay at the mansion for a day or two. Felix sat on the edge of the bed.

“You look excited.”

“Hm? Did it show? You’re right. To think I’ll be able to read a new prayer book after so long; just the thought makes it feel like a fresh breeze is blowing through my mind.”

I have a few hobbies that I could call my joys. One is growing flowers, the second is dating Felix, and the third is studying and digging into subjects of interest. Of course, there are a fourth and fifth, but those aren’t important right now, so I’ll skip them.

The prayer book reading proposed by Leonis belonged to my third hobby.

Which acquaintance did he borrow it from? I chattered on about how I hoped it was an acquaintance who would give me permission if I asked them to let me transcribe it.

Even after packing everything, I sat on Felix’s lap and revealed the excitement in my heart without filtration. Then, without realizing it, I even dangled my legs like a child, and in the end, Felix hugged me firmly, as if telling me to calm down. Only then did I realize how incredibly excited I had been, and I felt shy.

He placed the back of his hand on my heated cheeks to cool them down.

“If you’re this happy, I won’t even be able to stop you.”

“Hm? You’re going to stop me? Why?”

I’m going to come back home anyway?

“What if you just settle down there? Seeing your current state, it doesn’t even seem like a completely absurd thought, which makes me more worried.”

“Even if I settle down there, you’ll just climb over the wall to get in, won’t you?”

I hadn’t forgotten the ridiculous and absurd experience from last time. Because I trusted in Felix’s shameless and brazen personality, I could say it for certain. But it seemed Felix still couldn’t admit to his own shameless conscience. He rolled his eyes and attempted to make an excuse.

“I was a bit out of my mind back then. But I was just cornered by the situation. To say it was truly me…”

“You said you weren’t in your right mind a few days ago, too? Then just how many days a year do you actually maintain your sanity? If your sanity flies away that often, shouldn’t we just consider that a normal part of you?”

Felix seemed unable to find a retort in the end, as he covered his face with his hands.

“Right?”

“Please don’t interrogate me….”

I wrapped my arms around the neck of Felix, who was reflecting, saying, ‘I’m sorry. I was trash.’ I pressed my lips firmly onto his cheek as he lifted his head, then pulled away. Then, I closed my eyes and declared in a solemn tone.

“I absolve you of your sins—”

Also, I command you: right now, use that body to please me.

Felix accepted my joke solemnly as well.

“Whose command would I dare to disobey?”

He immediately lifted me up in a flash and kissed me. Soon, we laughed aloud and dove onto the bed.

The next day, I waved goodbye with a lighthearted air, holding my luggage.

“Well then, I’ll be back!”

“Don’t be so happy. It makes me spiteful.”

Felix stood with his arms crossed, looking at me with some dissatisfaction. He’d seemed to accept it obediently until yesterday, but upon reflection, it seemed there was something he didn’t like. However, that mood dissolved as if he had no choice once I bared my teeth and laughed, hee-hee. I liked that about Felix.

“Have a safe trip.”

“Yeah! But aren’t you going to see me off to the gate?”

“My clothes are like this right now.”

Felix was wearing light pajama pants and was shirtless. I pouted my lips.

“You can just change. You’ll be active from now on, anyway.”

“I’m going to laze around at home today.”

“The garden wall is high enough, anyway.”

In reality, the wall surrounding my house was quite high. It wasn’t at the level of a mansion, but it wasn’t a height that could be easily seen over, so it wasn’t a big problem even if Felix walked around naked.

Plus, I had planted climbing roses with thorns on the outside to wrap around the wall. This wasn’t to stop thieves, but to prevent curious passersby from trying to peek in; it was quite a bothersome device for anyone trying to attempt it on a whim.

So, although I grumbled for a bit, I was eventually satisfied with his send-off at the front door and left the house. A carriage sent from the mansion was waiting outside the main gate. When I sent a reply back immediately through the errand runner who had brought the letter the day before, they had sent the carriage like this today.

“Welcome, Meriel.”

When I entered the mansion, for some reason, Leonis came out to greet me personally. Normally, it would be correct to change clothes in my room and then go find Leonis myself. Although I was bound to him as ‘family’ on my mother’s side, I wasn’t his superior, either.

Since my surname had changed, I was technically a person of a different household, so it was a bit ambiguous, but if one were to insist on rank, I was a common house servant, so from the perspective of Leonis, the heir, was his subordinate.

Above all, unless they were greeting an incredibly precious guest, it was rare for the head family to come out and welcome someone themselves. That was usually the work of servants.

It was standard practice to guide the guest to a place where they could rest or wait first, and only move after notifying the master or their family of the arrival.

So, I wondered who else was scheduled to come after me. Perhaps the acquaintance lending the book was visiting in person.

However, Leonis turned his body after receiving my greeting, saying we would see each other a little later. It was as if he had come out purely to welcome me. I couldn’t grasp his intentions at all.

My room had been tidied up once after I got married, but it had been remade by Anne after the Lallanne County collapsed and I returned alive. It had been decorated to be similar to the room I had originally used, so it felt new but not completely unfamiliar.

Anne probably intended to simply embrace me because I had nowhere to go, but that had fallen through when I obtained a house to live in separately. Now, it was just a room I stayed in when I occasionally visited. It would be a waste of manpower to keep it managed exclusively as ‘mine’ forever. Though, it was convenient for me.

Even if Father or Leonis thought so, they would only be reading Anne’s mood, so I might have to try telling Anne directly someday.

I dressed in proper formal attire and headed for Leonis’s study. Since I had once belonged to the scope of this family, I didn’t have to carry a servant with me everywhere if I didn’t want to. Therefore, I didn’t need to be guided. I was free in this mansion.

When I knocked, permission to enter came from inside. I straightened my appearance once before entering.

“Young Master.”

Leonis moved away from the desk and recommended a seat for guests. When I sat down as invited, he sat opposite me.

“The prayer book will arrive in a little while.”

“Is the acquaintance bringing it in person, by any chance?”

Leonis nodded.

“It is someone you also know. I introduced you last time. Kairen Belosch.”

“Ah…! It’s that person. I happened to see him at a bookstore once more after the meeting.”

“I see. So that’s how it is; it seems Kairen found out about your book tastes then.”

“Yes, after sharing a few words. But the young master Belosch didn’t seem particularly interested in that side of things.”

“He must have discovered it at home by chance. And then you probably came to mind.”

“Hmm…. Then, is he lending it to me specifically because of me?”

“That is my thought. I’m not really one to seek out and read prayer books, either. Kairen must know that as well.”

Then he really was bringing it purely for me. While I looked forward to the prayer book, the situation itself felt a bit burdensome. Not knowing how to react, I just kept rolling my eyes quietly, and suddenly Leonis called for a servant who was outside the door.

“Did you call, Young Master?”

“Bring some tea.”

“Yes.”

Before long, warm tea was placed in front of Leonis and me. Next, a small plate of cookies was also placed down. There was nothing placed in front of Felix. He noticed my gaze and spoke.

“I don’t particularly like sweet things.”

Then that meant this, too, was prepared entirely for me. Feeling even more awkward, I forcibly lifted the corners of my lips and expressed my gratitude.

It was while we were drinking tea quietly without any particular conversation afterward. A knock was heard. The servant of Leonis, who had stepped back after setting out the refreshments, appeared again. It was to deliver the news that Kairen Belosch had arrived.