Intermission 3
“Uu……”
Late at night, when the surroundings had grown quiet.
After finishing her usual routine of tending to her hairpin and necklace, Sia—who had nothing left to do but sleep—let out a weak whimper as she lay in bed.
“Hauu……”
From morning until evening, she had spent the entire day alone with her beloved master. It had been such a wonderful date that she couldn’t stop replaying it in her mind.
And perhaps that was precisely why this problem had arisen.
(I feel so lonely…… Lord Byleth……)
Now that she was alone in the silence, the stark contrast overwhelmed her.
While tending to her hairpin and necklace, she had been able to distract herself by focusing intently on the task.
But now, in this moment when she had [nothing left to do but sleep], there was no escape.
“Lord Byleth……”
She clutched the sheets tightly, doing her best to endure.
But—
The sensation of clinging to her master.
The feeling of being embraced by him.
The warmth of holding his hand.
The gentle touch of his hand stroking her head for the first time.
Unconsciously, she revisited each memory, sinking deeper into a vicious cycle.
She longed for her master’s warmth—his very presence.
And knowing that he was under the same roof…… that she could go see him right now if she wanted……
(…………)
She had reached her limit.
The patience Sia had once prided herself on—it no longer functioned.
“Lord Byleth aah……”
With a voice so faint it might disappear, Sia hugged her favorite pillow and rose from the bed.
Without lighting the lantern on her desk, without relying on its glow, she padded out of her room.
Careful with her steps—yet still hurrying.
She walked down the dim hallway, illuminated only by moonlight, heading toward the second floor.
After descending the stairs and reaching her destination, she knocked a few times.
(Please… don’t be asleep yet……)
With that wish in her heart—
“Hmm? Yes?”
“M-Lord Byleth!!”
—He had answered.
She heard the voice she so desperately wanted to hear.
“Um…… It’s Sia……”
“Eh, Sia!? H-Hang on a sec!”
Her master, who had apparently been lying in bed, quickly approached and opened the door with hurried footsteps.
“I-I’m terribly sorry for disturbing your rest……”
“No, no, it’s fine, but…… is something wrong?”
He looked at her, then at the pillow clutched in her arms, clearly confused.
……Yet, his voice remained gentle.
“W-Well, um……”
“It’s okay. I won’t get mad, so take your time.”
Because he was trying so earnestly to understand her, she managed to speak.
“I…… I felt lonely being by myself…… and I couldn’t sleep……”
“Mhm.”
“S-So, I…… wanted to ask if I could sleep next to you, Lord Byleth…… B-But…… that kind of thing is still…… scary for me……”
She was being completely honest.
But precisely because she was making such an unreasonable, selfish request, she felt pathetic.
Guilt gnawed at her, and her eyes grew damp with tears.
After all, for a woman to visit a man’s bedroom at night uninvited would usually be seen as a request for…… adult activities.
But that wasn’t what Sia wanted.
She just wanted to be near her master.
To sleep beside him.
Yet, she was still too scared to take that final step.
And now, she had gone and done something so presumptuous and misleading—
“Ahaha, you really shouldn’t blame yourself for that. Those kinds of things shouldn’t be forced, after all.”
Far from looking displeased, her master smiled warmly, his eyes softening as he reassured her.
“Anyway, you have to wake up early tomorrow, right? Come on, hurry inside.”
“Y-Yes……”
Not only that—he took the lead, guiding her in
as if it were the most natural thing in the world before closing the door behind them.
(Because my voice was trembling……)
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Whenever she was at fault, he always did this.
He helped her in ways that were almost too obvious.
He masked her nervousness, making it easier for her to act spoiled.
Being treated so kindly by him only made her emotions swell even more……
“Oh, um…… I know saying this might make you wary, but don’t worry, I won’t do anything weird. I understand how you feel.”
Hearing that might normally make her overthink things. But her master—the one she trusted most—was different.
Words that didn’t apply to someone special.
“Oh, and one more thing…… If you feel uncomfortable or uneasy at any point, you’re free to leave, okay?”
“U-Understood.”
“Alright, then…… Sia, you can sleep here.”
“Th-Thank you…… Really……”
“You’re welcome.”
Her master climbed into bed first, patting the sheets to indicate where she should lie.
Of course, she was nervous about sleeping next to the person she adored.
But more than that, Sia was overflowing with happiness.
Step by step, she approached the bed, then slipped under the soft, fluffy covers her master used……
(Fuaah……)
The warmth of his bed enveloped her, and beside her, her master lay on his back.
Already, her heart was full of excitement and bliss.
This was nothing like when she secretly made his bed or, when no one was looking, briefly leaned her upper body against it—
“Lord Byleth…… Um…… y-your hand……”
“Here.”
“……Yes.”
Lying on her side, Sia sought permission before carefully taking his outstretched left hand in both of hers.
(I’ll gratefully accept your kindness……)
She intertwined their fingers, ensuring they wouldn’t come apart.
—Just being able to touch her master directly was enough to satisfy her heart and body alike.
And just as she was finally ready to sleep……
“……I should be the one thanking you. For letting me spoil you.”
“—!”
Out of nowhere, he expressed his gratitude.
“Thanks to you, I’ve repaid about half of that lap pillow debt, right?”
“A-A debt……? That’s…… I’m the one who’s imposing on you……”
“Not at all. Honestly, I’m happy.”
“Lord Byleth……”
His voice carried genuine emotion. She could tell he truly meant it.
“……I like both sides of you—the diligent, hardworking Sia, and the spoiled, clingy Sia.”
“Y-You can’t just say that……”
“It’s true.”
He wasn’t praising her as his [devoted personal maid], who took care of his every need without trouble. He was saying he loved her—just as Sia, even when she was useless, even when she was a burden.
It was an admission that made her happier than words could express—
And hearing that only made her want to be even more spoiled.
“Lord Byleth…… I…… I’m not…… scared of…… k-kisses……”
“That’s a no. That’s an order.”
“U-Uuu……”
Because she had mustered the courage to say it, his absolute [command] made her let out a wordless whimper.
“C’mon, no pouting. If we did that, you’d be too nervous to sleep, right? You have to wake up early tomorrow.”
“……I understand.”
But she quickly felt happy again.
Because the reason he had used his authority was out of concern for her.
“Then…… may I keep holding your hand like this……?”
“Mhm. ……B-But, just so you know…… if you ever do want that…… just say the word. Just…… not right now.”
“Yes…… Understood……”
She couldn’t disobey an order. A kiss would have to wait—but she didn’t feel the slightest bit upset.
Knowing her master wasn’t opposed to the idea……
Still, just to distract herself from the tiniest bit of disappointment, she did something she normally wouldn’t dare.
“……Lord Byleth, goodnight.”
“Goodnight, Sia.”
“Mhm……”
Facing each other on the same bed, exchanging those words—
It was────just as joyful as a kiss would have been.
TLNOTE : There’s one chapter left, see you next month!
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