“Mmm… Kyle?”
“Oh, Sophia.”
I woke up to the sound of rustling.
It was still early dawn, yet Kyle was dressed for some reason.
Not in any weird sense, just the kind of clothing you’d wear when going out.
“Where are you going…?”
Looking out the window, the sun hadn’t even risen yet; what on earth was he planning to do?
They say there’s a festival today, but there’s no reason to get up this early.
Besides, the Duke was handling all the work anyway.
“I’m just going out for a bit. You can just stay in bed, Sophia.”
“Okay…”
Normally, I would’ve followed him, but since I was just waking up, I didn’t have the energy for that.
I just wanted to go back to sleep.
Had Kyle finished getting ready, he stepped out of the room.
I had no idea where he was going so early, but surely he wouldn’t do anything strange.
“Yawn.”
Well, Kyle was too much of a model citizen to do anything weird.
He had never dabbled in gambling like Louise or gone crazy over girls.
“I should just sleep some more…”
Though I woke up, it really was too early.
Even when I used to work, I didn’t wake up this early.
At least, I would wake up after the sun was up.
*
“Yawn…”
Lately, my body felt sluggish…? Was it just the morning making it feel that way?
Anyway, after saying a quick goodbye to Kyle, who left at dawn, I went back to sleep.
I had no idea what Kyle was up to, but he still hadn’t returned.
“Should I wash up for now?”
Normally, I would start the morning with Kyle.
I would tidy up his messy hair from the night and chat with him to chase away the sleepiness.
Since Kyle was gone, I had a slightly different start to my morning.
By the way, what on earth was he doing out so early?
Did the Duke ask him for help or something?
That was certainly possible, given the volume of work.
“Yawn…”
By the way, how would Kyle handle bathing me?
I thought it would be so much better to wash comfortably on my own.
Especially in the morning, it would be awkward to think about a not-so-close person washing my body.
“But Kyle… we’re pretty close.”
I had no aversion to entering the bathroom together with Kyle.
But having someone brought in separately to wash me felt off.
Was it because of showing my body?
“Hmm… maybe.”
No matter how I look at it, showing off my body like that would be embarrassing.
Even though I was a guy in my previous life, it’s still perfectly normal to feel shy about exposing one’s body. Anyway, I still preferred solo bathing.
“When Kyle comes… we can go out and have fun again.”
After all, the festival lasted until tomorrow.
By the way, being alone in the tub allowed me to think quite clearly.
Thanks to that, I could reflect on my feelings related to Kyle.
Whether I liked Kyle in a romantic way or not, and just how I felt about him.
To be honest, I wasn’t very good at serious thoughts.
If I were good at serious thoughts, I would have already reached a conclusion long ago, right?
“Sigh.”
If I told my mom these worries, I’d probably get a slap.
Or she might send me to some dormitory school again.
Even so, reaching a conclusion was difficult.
“I don’t even know what liking someone really is, so what am I supposed to do…”
I muttered to myself while floating in the tub.
Having been a loner in both my past and present lives, how would I know such things?
If I knew, I would have dated someone a long time ago.
“It’s strange, but technically, I’m in a relationship.”
Floating on the water, I scoffed at myself.
It was truly absurd.
Not knowing whether I liked him or not, yet still dating him was kind of funny, and it’s been over a month now, which felt pathetic.
It was definitely embarrassing that a guy six years younger than me was succeeding while I wasn’t.
Still, I thought I had graduated from the dormitory with good grades and could think for myself to some extent.
Turns out, not at all.
“In reality, I’m just a clueless idiot who doesn’t even understand myself.”
I’ve seriously pondered a lot lately about what it means to like someone.
Well, not just lately; I had thought about it even in the palace.
I asked the princess too and read a book or two about relationships once in a while.
But still, I don’t get it.
I couldn’t understand the idea that, just because my heart races, it directly correlates to love.
I couldn’t wrap my head around the idea that someone seems cooler when you’re in love.
Kyle was already an awesome guy.
When I first met him, he was a bit shy and awkward, but he grew into an incredibly dependable man.
“….”
I just couldn’t understand the idea of someone being seen as cooler.
He was already ridiculously cool, so he didn’t appear any cooler to me.
Even just as he is, he was such a good person.
That’s how Kyle was.
Except for the first time we met, I could only see him as more and more amazing.
“Ah, wait, no? I thought he looked good even when we first met.”
He was shy and a bit scared, but I thought he looked handsome even back then.
Well, back then he was more cute than handsome, but still.
Anyway, although I’ve sought advice and read some things, they were all things I just couldn’t understand.
“Sigh…”
Thirty minutes had already passed.
Since someone else might use the bathroom, it’d be better to head out soon.
If I were to suddenly run into Adela while staying here, it would feel… awkward for many reasons.
So, I exited the bathroom, changed my clothes, and went back to my room.
Kyle was still… not there.
“…”
I hadn’t made plans to go out today, but I still felt a bit disappointed that he wasn’t around.
“I wonder if he’ll be back before lunch.”
That was my personal wish.
I wasn’t hoping he would return by breakfast, but I’d like him back before lunch.
Eating alone wasn’t very enjoyable.
Plus, I had nothing to do.
Everyone else must be enjoying the festival outside, but it would be far from fun to enjoy the festivities alone when Kyle wasn’t back yet.
I’d rather wait for Kyle in the room than go out alone.
“If I had known this, I should’ve asked when he’d be back.”
So, I waited for Kyle in the room, but it was dreadfully boring.
It felt incredibly awkward to call the other servants for snacks like Kyle did.
When Kyle and I hung out in the room, he ordered treats from other servants.
“I hope he comes back soon…”
In many ways, Kyle’s absence felt inconvenient.
Really, in so many ways.
When I was with Kyle, I could pass the time thoughtlessly.
Even just chatting together felt great.
Being alone in the room was just no fun at all.
“Tch…”
*
“So, where did you go since early dawn?”
“I just went to prepare for some work.”
“Work preparation?”
What kind of work would require leaving so early?
Did the Duke really need him that desperately?
It was a job Kyle and I had done together up until last year.
So, it seemed that doing it alone might be tough for him.
“So? Did it go well?”
“Um… I think it went well. It was just preparation, after all. Sophia will probably like it.”
“Really?”
I didn’t really understand it, but it seemed like he had done something related to the festival.
If it were actual work, there wouldn’t be a reason for me to like it or anything.
Well… the festival would be over tomorrow, but he must’ve done something worthwhile.
“I’m glad if it went well. Let’s have lunch. You didn’t eat yet, did you…?”
“Yeah.”
Relief washed over me.
If he had eaten alone, it would have created an awkward situation.
Once we entered the restaurant, even though there were many people, it wasn’t overcrowded.
“Kyle, are you going to order the same as usual?”
“I’m fine with steak. What about you, Sophia?”
“Hmm… I want to try something different today.”
Steak is great and all, but I kinda wanted something else.
Preferably something meaty, because I loved meat.
“Kyle, order me the hazenpeffer.”
“Got it.”
The fun of the festival continued.
Some knights were putting on little duels in the street to entertain the crowds.
Some magic users were performing magic shows, literally to make some coin.
While they might not be as skilled as Louise, it wasn’t a magic competition; this was about flair and storytelling, so it didn’t really matter.
Watching them fill in their lack of magical skill with a storyline turned out to be more entertaining than I expected.
After finishing lunch, Kyle and I strolled along, enjoying the festival together.
With so many people around, we held hands, just in case we got separated.
Oh, by the way, I was the one who suggested holding hands first.
Neither Kyle nor I were kids, but it felt nice in many ways.
In so many ways.
“Kyle, let’s go over there.”
“Okay.”
Kyle always listened well to whatever I said.
Personally, I wished Kyle would occasionally suggest things first, but then again, he was Kyle.
Always overly considerate of me.
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