27 – Lullaby of the Saintess
Even when it came to deciding on a sleeping arrangement, we had to struggle.
It wasn’t for any particular reason.
“Why? Can’t we just sleep together?”
There were some circumstances that made it a little difficult to say something.
Our bedtime was pushed back quite a bit.
#
Lucia isn’t a fool either.
She just found it amusing to tease Lucion.
“The bed is small….”
“Yeah. So why don’t you sleep on top. I can sleep leaning against it or sleep underneath.”
Lucion was the same as always. He always said that it didn’t matter where he slept. While Lucia took care of him so much, Lucion never seemed to take care of himself.
“The floor is cold. Let’s just sleep together.”
When I glanced at him, Lucion’s eyes were shaking strangely. He had never been good at making eye contact, but today he couldn’t even meet my gaze.
‘The black rabbit looked at me so well.’
It feels a bit strange.
Eventually, Lucia stood up from her seat.
Pulling up Lucia’s arms like a fool, putting her on the bed by force, covering her with a blanket, and then clapping her hands as if pleased.
“Great!”
“What are you doing?”
“Our kind Zion is going to put you to sleep.”
Lucian closed his eyes for a moment. Sometimes he showed such a reaction when he was angry. It seemed like something to endure the anger.
“Before forcing me to lie down, you sleep on the bed.”
“What? Isn’t that too much?”
Lucia sat on Lucian’s stomach. Don’t get up. Lucian’s body twitched for a moment, but he quickly regained his composure.
“It’s heavy.”
“Yeah, it is. You’ve grown a lot.”
Lucia reacted nonchalantly. Well, if she didn’t do this, Lucian would probably roll on the floor and sleep for real. Does Lucian know? How uncomfortable it is to sleep alone in bed.
Overprotection is not protection.
It’s abuse.
‘Always saying not to trust oneself, not to trust anyone, but in the end, always sacrificing oneself to protect me.’
On one hand, it was a joyful occasion, on the other hand, it was regrettable.
Because it seemed like a burden to Lucian.
Because it seemed like clinging to Lucian.
I didn’t want that.
So.
“[Lullaby. Lullaby. Our baby?]”
I sang a lullaby.
I wanted them to fall asleep first, so I could gently lift them into slumber on their side. If they were already asleep, they wouldn’t feel embarrassed and could easily fall asleep on the bed. It felt comforting to be next to Lucien. It was like a strange sense of tranquility.
I don’t know if it’s because we spent time together in the campsite. But if Lucien wasn’t there when I woke up, it felt like I had been abandoned.
So, let’s put them to sleep before running away.
If words don’t work, then by force if necessary.
#
Lucien couldn’t hide their confusion.
Should they laugh at this or get angry?
Having lived a solitary life in their past life, they didn’t know the answer.
They never learned about love from books.
Yet they attended countless weddings, and each time they congratulated the couple, saying, “Trust each other and journey through life together.” They were told to share joy when happy and to apologize first when angry.
Just like how they treated their peers.
They were told to treat their lifelong partner like a comrade.
That’s all Lucien could say.
But now, they realized they could resist and be protected instead.
When I discreetly glance down, I still see the golden-haired maiden humming a lullaby with a joyful face.
No, she’s not a saint yet, but the little one who will eventually be called a radiant saint is taking care of herself.
“Sia….”
A voice tone different from usual emerges. Even Lucion himself is taken aback by the voice mixed with hesitation.
Always energetic, dignified.
Lucion, who has been spitting out only oppressive words due to the days as a knight and a lord.
Lucia just smiles, placing a finger on her lips.
“Hush.”
“hahahaha….”
“Sleep well? Our little one?”
“The little one….”
What….
However, there wasn’t much desire to refuse.
Perhaps this is the power of a saint.
Even though no coercion was involved, Lucion couldn’t refuse Lucia’s words.
It’s amusing.
Even the anger towards those executed by Lucia’s lullaby is melting away.
Right now, there are no enemies or allies.
Just wanted to feel this floating sensation a bit more.
Warm, ticklish.
I just wanted to feel the sincere prayer more deeply.
The room is empty. Yet, it feels full. It’s because of Lucia’s presence.
“【Hush. Hush. Are you sleeping well?】”
I could hear a hint of teasing in her words, but I didn’t feel the need to get angry.
I was simply captivated by Lucia’s chuckling smile.
“【Don’t be in pain. Don’t have nightmares. Let me put you to sleep comfortably.】”
More than ever, Lucia’s eyes shone in a golden color. She was experiencing the awakening of her divine power.
A fervent wish.
A genuine heart is what truly awakens a priest.
“【Silly Lucion is so kind. We have to protect her.】”
Lucion eventually fell asleep.
But Lucia’s confession continued.
“【Don’t lie to me wherever you go. Don’t pretend you don’t know what I like. Even though you’re strong enough to not need it, you’re always there for me. How can a person live like that? Please, this person….】”
…
“【Hush. Hush. Please, have sweet dreams.】”
The song stopped.
After putting Lucion to sleep, Lucia felt ashamed of what she had done. Her mind began to rewind, and she fell into a drowsy state for a moment.
However, she still thought it was the right thing to do. It was better than seeing Lucia rolling around on the floor, trying to sleep.
Unable to sleep next to her, I covered Lucia’s robe and my own robe on top of her and sat on the edge of the bed, leaning against it to rest.
Even so, I was happy, and a smile hung on my lips.
Lucion pulled back the blanket and sat up.
As expected, as always.
“I knew it.”
He pretended to be asleep.
He thought he would continue until he fell asleep.
“I didn’t think it was polite to go this far without sleeping, so I pretended to be asleep.”
At some point, he actually fell asleep.
Was it from “【Foolish Lucion】” onwards? I can’t remember.
“Ah.”
He felt refreshed.
Although it was a shallow sleep, he couldn’t deny the fact that he had dreamt a happy dream in that short time.
He dreamt of Lucia conquering the Demon King and returning with a golden halo, receiving praise and blessings from the people as she entered the palace.
But it was just a dream.
This is reality.
He has to live another day.
Lucion glanced to the side.
As expected, Lucia had not chosen to join him in bed.
She must have been embarrassed.
From Noble mtl dot com
Although there were times when he carried her on his back, held her in his arms, and let her sleep with his thigh as a pillow, they had never slept together in the same bed.
It wasn’t that they lacked common sense. Lucion and Lucia, both of them lived as if devoid of common sense. Well, they had memories of living together for over ten years. Like siblings, like childhood friends, they had lived that way.
The only companion. A partner who seemed impossible to live without even if separated.
They thought of each other in that way.
However, Lucion had memories of a past life. No matter how difficult it became, Lucia was his first love, childhood friend, and the only companion.
This time, it was something he must absolutely protect, the most precious person to Lucion.
She was sleeping, leaning against the bed, with Lucion thinking, ‘I’ll consider this a mistake.’
There was no immediate need to leave, and catching some sleep wouldn’t be a big deal. However, the inn room was smaller than Lucion had anticipated. He thought about enduring it since there was no point in asking for a change later.
‘I should change rooms tomorrow.’
For now,
Lucion gently laid Lucia, who had a good dream, on the bed and headed towards the table.
‘Should I write a bit in the diary?’
It was partly to leave a record,
but writing in a diary was also a form of sacred practice.
Quite a powerful one, too.
‘I need to plan my route for the future.’
Thus, Lucion sat at the table, wrote for a while, buried his head, and fell asleep.
#
“I expected it to be like this.”
The moment she woke up, Lucia opened her axe-like eyes.
Lucion wasn’t in the room.
He was lying on the bed.
He probably didn’t go far. Maybe he’s inside the building. Now that Lucion can hide his sanctity, it’s not easy to figure out where he is, but still, Lucia could tell that there was a priest downstairs.
That’s Lucion, hiding his power.
Lucia tidied herself up and headed straight downstairs.
There was no need to wash up. Well, everything was taken care of with Cleansing.
It’s one of the reasons why priests accompany adventurer parties. Just having a priest around eliminates the need for hygiene management. Things like not having to deal with poison tasks.
Lucion lightly waved his hand as he saw Lucia coming down the stairs, making an unfortunate expression for some reason.
“You’re up.”