NOVEL WEB Chapter 40
Chapter: 40
“Is the cold… a bit?”
Just a little bit better.
Could it be that resting all day yesterday made a difference? I certainly felt improved.
At least my head didn’t ache while sitting still.
“Rize…”
“No.”
“…That’s too much.”
Still, I was unable to go outside.
I had merely shifted from the bed to a chair.
“I’m not even in much pain now.”
“Those who are coughing shouldn’t say that.”
“Ugh.”
“You, Young Lady, need to be a bit more… calm. Your body isn’t well…”
“Even if I say I’m fine…”
Honestly, I felt wronged.
I’m not really sick.
Yet Rize, who treats me like a full-blown patient, was in my room acting as if nothing was wrong.
If I’ve truly caught a cold, shouldn’t Rize be the one to stay out?
Sure, it’s true that Rize is incredibly healthy…
“Sometimes, it feels like Rize thinks I’m completely weak!”
“I’ve never thought that.”
“Then why won’t you let me go outside?”
“…It’s unavoidable.”
What am I, some kind of virus? Sure, I have a cold, but…
Even if Rize was deeply concerned, I couldn’t help but think she was overdoing it about every hour.
Honestly, it felt like Rize was worrying more than Rosalyn.
“Still, I’m glad I’m better than yesterday… yesterday was really bad, right? You wouldn’t even let me sit on a chair.”
“…There was no choice.”
“I was so bored; if I hadn’t read any documents, it would have been unbearable.”
“Sick people should be resting.”
I felt like I was just hearing the same words over and over.
Sure, it’s right for sick people to rest, but personally, I don’t find it enjoyable.
“Young Lady, here. Medicine.”
“…It’s bitter.”
“…Medicine is supposed to be bitter.”
“…That’s true, but still.”
It wasn’t even strawberry-flavored, just a completely bitter cold medicine.
Of course, I didn’t like it.
But since Rize kept glaring at me, insisting I take it, I had no choice but to down it.
Even though it didn’t taste great… I felt like if I didn’t eat it, Rize would force it on me.
“Rize, this is gross…”
“Just chug it down quickly.”
“Ugh…”
So I reluctantly gulped down the medicine from the bowl… really gulped it down.
Ugh.
Totally disgusting.
After finishing it, I stuck my tongue out for a moment.
…Seriously, why isn’t there a strawberry-flavored cold medicine?
No matter how much it’s a fantasy world, people here must prefer something sweet over bitter.
“Rize… hurry up with the candy.”
“Yes.”
After eating the candy that Rize pulled from her pocket, I finally felt a bit better.
Truly…
So gross.
“Yawn…”
“Are you sleepy?”
“Ugh… I’m tired.”
“Then rest for a while. Put your work aside.”
“Maybe I will.”
Honestly, I was a bit sleepy.
Having had lunch, medicine, and feeling a little sick might be why.
Lately, I hadn’t taken naps, but today… maybe…
“Rize?”
“…Young Lady.”
“Come over here for a moment.”
Before I even stated my intent, Rize wore a strange expression of realization.
But I didn’t plan on backing out of what I intended to say.
“Rize, how about we sleep together for the first time in a while?”
“…Young Lady.”
“Oh, should I not because of the cold…?”
I initially intended to lie down with Rize in the bed like before.
We hadn’t done it often recently, but I’d still occasionally lay down with Rize in bed.
Of course, Rize would still blush even after many years, but…
We hadn’t ruled it out completely.
“Rize, no…?”
“…First, change your clothes. If you sleep in that shirt, it’ll get wrinkled.”
“It’s fine. I don’t mind wrinkling my clothes.”
“…Young Lady.”
Ignoring Rize’s protests, I climbed onto the bed.
Well, Rize is… a bit weak to insistence, right?
Sure it wasn’t outright coercion, just a bit of urging?
“Rize, hurry.”
“…Sigh.”
“As expected, Rize is so kind.”
I couldn’t help but smile seeing her reluctantly come up to the bed, even while saying that.
So cute.
“Because of this cold… it feels a bit strange to face each other while sleeping.”
No way would I want to spread my cold to Rize.
Sure, I hadn’t worn a mask and since Rize had been in my room continuously, she may have already caught it…
But still… it didn’t feel like that yet?
Plus, to be honest, the thought of avoiding transferring the cold felt lesser than the desire to sleep holding Rize’s pillow? Need?
Yeah, that was there.
“Heh…”
“…Young Lady.”
“What? Don’t like it? Feel uncomfortable?”
“…No.”
From behind Rize, I began to embrace her.
It felt as pleasant as expected.
” Cough…”
“…Young Lady.”
“Yes?”
“…You should cover up with the blanket.”
“Yes?”
Suddenly, Rize slipped out of my grasp and covered me with the blanket.
…Did she really just react to my cough?
Come on, surely…
“You still seem quite unwell. You should rest for about an hour.”
“Rize?”
“I’ll go outside.”
“…Rize?”
And just like that, Rize dashed out of the room.
She literally ran out.
The moment she heard me cough, she bolted out.
In that situation, I…
“…Huh?”
I could only respond with a foolish voice.
“…Did she run away because of my cough?”
No matter how I thought about it… this felt a bit off…
Rize’s face looked flushed when she left, her expression different from usual, but still… it was too sudden.
No matter how I looked at it, Rize being here in a sick room for my cough…
“…Is she angry…?”
*
After that, Rize seemed a bit… different from usual.
The cold was certainly gone, but still.
“Rize.”
“…No.”
“What’s wrong?”
“…No.”
Before I had even said anything, she began to refuse!
Rize wasn’t supposed to be like this all the time; how adamantly she’s been saying no made me feel apologetic.
She never avoided me like this before, and considering her persistence, it was concerning!
“Are you perhaps angry, Rize?”
“…What?”
“No, you’ve just been… rejecting me constantly lately.”
“…That’s not it.”
“Then why keep avoiding?”
“………”
Yeah, before I proposed something, she would refuse but now she was actively avoiding me.
Originally, she spent nearly all her time in my room.
Not for any particular reason; she was just my dedicated maid, so I never asked her to do much else.
It was like we were good friends to talk with.
But lately, Rize kept leaving my room for some task, constantly finding something to do.
So different from before.
“Rize, please just be honest with me. Okay?”
Of course, I couldn’t say I hadn’t done anything annoying to her…
Having spent time together, regardless of being the same gender, I had asked a lot from her.
“…If you’re really angry, I’m sorry…”
When I tried to hold Rize’s hand or hug her, it felt somewhat… you know, a bit like that.
Like a boss making advances on a subordinate…?
While I’m not her superior, it still felt somewhat akin to that.
“…Huh?”
“…No. I really don’t.”
“If not, then why keep acting this way?”
“…I’m sorry.”
“…Rize.”
Rize continued to evade my questions.
If she truly had nothing to hide, she would normally answer straightforwardly.
But now, it felt like she was deliberately dodging my questions, contrasting from usual shyness.
I’m not someone who wouldn’t notice something like that about Rize.
“Rize… if you keep acting like this, I can’t help it.”
“…?”
…I’m sorry but it can’t be helped.
I just didn’t want this frustrating atmosphere.
Given how I am and the circumstances with Rize, I felt even more so.
This heavy, stifling feeling was definitely not what I wanted.
“…I’m sorry.”
Apologizing first, I immediately…
“Young Lady?”
“…Mhm.”
Pulled Rize towards the bed and laid her down.
Somehow… this feels… a bit suggestive.
“Rize.”
“…Yes.”
“Answer me honestly.”
I positioned myself over Rize, who’s now lying on the bed.
Rize was taller and probably stronger than me but still, I had the upper hand.
At least Rize wouldn’t push me away suddenly or hurt me.
“…If you don’t answer, I won’t let you go.”
“Ah, Young Lady… even so, this is…”
“Rize.”
“If someone comes to the door or… if the Lady sees us, it would definitely…”
“Rize.”
“Young Lady…”
I kept interrupting her, just calling her name and pushing her on this matter.
I hadn’t intended to pressure Rize this much at all.
Honestly, it felt a bit hard for me to confront Rize like this.
Not to mention, being forceful to Rize was making me feel guilty.
I don’t often feel much guilt, but with Rize, this was unavoidable.
“…Rize, are you really angry?”
“…That’s not it.”
“Then what is it?”
“…It’s about you.”
“It’s about me.”
Rize’s face grew red.
Is she angry?
Or is she just embarrassed?
Of course, considering the state and position we were in now, it felt oddly embarrassing but, you know, it was just two girls.
I was merely laying there rather than anything else.
If I had been a boy, the situation might have been way weirder in so many aspects.
“…Honestly, you trying to do this is tough for me.”
“…Like what?”
In reality, I had many things I felt guilty about when it came to Rize.
Weirdly, I didn’t need to ask.
“Just holding hands… trying to be physically close…”
“…Did you dislike it?”
“…It’s not that I dislike it. It’s just that it’s hard for me.”
“…….”
I can definitely see why she wouldn’t like it.
Honestly, Rize must be quite remarkable for putting up with it until now.
I’ve been doing this since we were little and never had she so clearly refused or disliked it until now.
“…I’m sorry.”
“That’s not it. You’re not bad… I’m the one who’s wrong.”
“…Huh?”
What does she mean by that…?