「Ah, u……tsu.」
Losing conscious is a scary thing.
It was after I felt the unpleasantness of the rough sensation from tasting the carpet, that I realized it seemed I was somehow crawling on the floor.
I suppose I cut my mouth when I fell, there's the taste of blood that I've become accustomed to.
Gazing from my position with my feet on the mansion's walls that boast a white that seems to shine, I make a bitter smile.
It seems I collapsed in the hallway.
I suppose I'm finally behaving so feebly that it's difficult to gloss over then.
Pitiful, if not for people's eyes……ojousama's eyes I would've gone to a place where I didn't have to display this much empty bravado.
「You look to be in pain, dragon girl.」
Striking my powerless body with a whip so as to raise my face, teacher-sama is looking down on me with cold eyes.
She happened to pass by at some point did she, though it should've been an unoccupied hallway before I collapsed.
It's a rare event to meet with this teacher who appears and vanishes incomprehensibly, during the early morning when small birds are chirping noisily.
「This is……an unsightly time.」
I couldn't stay down indefinitely so, I roused my energy.
Though not by relying on my hands and feet, I was at the level where I couldn't stand without supporting myself against the wall.
「Isn't this plenty enough, you, do you really think my idiot disciple hasn't caught on?」
「In front of ojousama, I display my empty bravado to the best of my ability.」
「If you think that is getting through to her, you must be quite the fool.」
I understand.
Ojousama, has became quite sharp eyed in some regards.
……She's still an incredibly adorable being with her aspect where she's normally complacent though.
「Dragons are troublesome lifeforms aren't they.」
「Fufu, I won't deny that.」
Fun, and teacher-sama laughed out her nose as if she was amused.
「You all don't form a contract except with someone you're interested in. As a result, even if hypothetically, that body would crumble to dust. I can't understand it, though it's another race's matter.」
「Ara? Likes and dislikes are an important matter you know?」
「You're one to speak. You or that noble daughter or such, don't have likes and dislikes toward other people.」
I unintentionally, ended up breaking into a smile.
「That's an awful prejudice, teacher-sama. Both me and Krancescsama hold human like emotions of that level.」
「Hou? I was thinking that you were a tanuki and a fox.」
「It's fine isn't it, that.」
Since I don't dislike scheming together.
But in that case should I suppose Marisama becomes a great youkai?
「Yare yare, it's enjoyable to converse with a comrade carrying an ulterior motive in their stomach but it's bothersome isn't it.」
While saying that, teacher-sama clenched her fist and struck my shoulder.
That habit certainly seems befitting of an elder person but, even so since her appearance is young I saw it as unnecessarily adorable.
Even saying that, she doesn't let loose and let her guard down like ojousama.
To me as expected, teacher-sama is a person above the cloud and thus, becomes a target of awe.
「Maa, you're free to feel worry for my idiot disciple but, people rot when they're over protected.」
「Fufu, it'd be amusing to live out my life together with a fallen ojousama wouldn't it.」
I answer while expressing a cheerful smile and, teacher-sama made a displeased face.
「There's no point in asking, that's how it is then.」
While cracking her neck, teacher-sama turned her back to me.
「When you're truly unable to persevere, once you can say that, endure with my magic power. The result of which would also be to the benefit of my idiot disciple you know.」
「No.」
I decisively, shake my head to the side.
「Teacher-sama, thank you very much. However regarding the contract it's not the case that just anyone will do. All the more, what's called a connection or the like is something impossible among dragonkin.」
「As expected, you already, have a provisional contract with that Alice person don't you?」
「Fufu, it was actually an accident at first though.」
There was no technique but that to save that time's ojousama.
It was a sudden event but, fate might be that sort of thing.
「Then it's fine. You won't sadden her with pointless stubbornness?」
「That is of course.」
Since ojousama is a kind being.
I don't want to do something that would give her an injury.
「Fun, I really don't understand, something like a dragon's feelings.」
With those words I showed my reply with as much playful intent crammed in as I could, grasping my skirt, I lowered my hips deeply and showed courtesy appropriate for a retainer.
That is clear and simple.
「That is, love.」
◇■◇■◇
Separating from teacher-sama, I noticed there was a sensation in the core of my body on the way toward ojousama's room.
It wasn't something vague but, a clear 6th sense.
While the answers given by that teacher-sama in a disgusted mood were confusing things, that all can't be helped.
It's not such a thing as, like or dislike, connecting or not connecting.
It's not possible if it's not with this person.
It's because it's this person.
It's that sensation.
I suppose it's a sensation that those who aren't dragons wouldn't know.
This primal urge, shouldn't I suppose my kin who go against their instinct are basically nil?
「I suppose, it must be fate.」
I tried releasing a few words and, having arrived, I knocked on ojousama's door.
「……Haa～i.」
A half hearted reply that seemed lost in the mists, came back from within the room.
The adorableness somehow makes me smile doesn't it.
「I'll be intruding, ojousama.」
I opened the door to look in while half imagining the appearance within the room and, scenery no different from my imagination came flying in.
The morning light shining in from a curtain that wasn't completely closed, is insisting that the room's master must get up.
However I can hear a quiet sleeping breath that's as if it's unrelated, from the bed with a canopy attached within the regularly cleaned meticulous room.
While a sweet smell that tickles the nose uplifts me deep within my chest, I approach the bedside.
「Fufu.」
Occasionally, there are these sorts of days.
Ojousama is fundamentally strong in the morning, I don't see her slovenly scenes all that often.
But she has a tendency to read books deep into the night or, become engrossed in something and forget the time.
As expected it's her habit to oversleep on those sort of days.
Of course, something like obstructing ojousama's sound sleep is the height of foolishness.
I want her to attain enough rest to satisfy her but, enjoying this moment becomes my heart's laundry so it can't be helped, it's something like that.
Though I do in fact have a something like a purpose here.
I harden my heart while hiding my impure motives and carry out my work.
「It's morning you knowー, ojousama.」
Lifting the lace partition, I invade the bed of the sleeping girl who's more princess-sama like than a princess-sama.
Embracing a pillow, expressing an innocent smile studded with her silver threads, I've found a faerie from folk legend.
Showing her pure white cheeks with a warm blood color like a young girl's, she has ripe sakura colored lips that seem like they would melt away if touched.
She's leaking an adorable voice like a small animal's from that mouth.
「Nn～, it's not……morning……」
The ojousama going no no and shaking her head, is too cute.
「However ojousama, that which is called morning is currently here, it is morning because it is now.」
「It's too deep, for morning……」
「Ojousama, was it not decided that you would eat breakfast along with Rin-sama?」
「u」
As her eyelids are still something unopened, the ojousama that's moaning while making slight wrinkles around her eyebrows is, too cute.
I think the words called, sense of responsibility, are suitable for ojousama.
「Wouldn't it be fine to sleep once more, after eating.」
It's actually not very good but, humans who live only by rationality are boring.
I feel that, life is coloured because of pointless desire.
「Nn～, nn～～.」
While her nod is something she's making, she appears to have not reached her resolve.
She's very cute.
Even if I make an enemy of the world, I want to protect her sound sleep.
Though the one obstructing it is me.
「Saa saa, ojousama. If you don't wake would you rather end up doing something like a kiss?」
「Kiss……I want to eat.」
She wants to eat, a kiss?
I wonder what meaning that could have.
Should I suppose it's to bite in just as the words imply?
As expected I'd pass on being bitten but, I also have the resolve to see it through should ojousama ask it.
「It is my loyalty to show a reply of 120% to my master's requests. Thus……」
I approached the sleeping ojousama with my face while holding my hair down with one hand.
According to what I've seen, by sneaking in not at night but in the morning I'm sure that if Eclair-sama found fault with something here it'd become something of a big deal.
I've prepared 2 or 3 excuses, for that though.
Ojousama truly is, a sinful being.
「Munya……oneechan.」
「……」
I paused.
And then I took hold of her adorable flower bud like nose.
After that, I softly pressed my hand against her mouth as well.
「Fuaa!?」
The ojousama who's face turned visibly blue came to be awake.
「Good morning, ojousama.」
Having raised her upper body with bewilderment forced into her eyes ojousama confirmed it was me and is making a face like she hasn't grasped the general situation.
「Goo, good morning……Ilya?」
「It is morning.」
「It's morning……isn't it.」
Turning her eyes to the light leaking in from the gap in the curtains, ojousama nodded while tilting her head.
「……」
「……」
Before me as I express an unnatural sort of smile, ojousama is clearly flustered with swimming eyes.
Adorable.
「Ano……I'm awake, you know?」
「I am aware.」
It was ojousama's elegantly shadowy way of asking, how long will you be staying there, but naturally, I ignored that.
Ojousama became speechless while not knowing what she should do, she's adorable.
……And well, since I came to want to bully her just a little.
I separate from that place while expressing a bitter smile and, open the curtain, filling the room with light.
「Nn～～」
And, ojousama is stretching and rubbing her eyes while going damn it I didn't sleep more than around 1 hour did I.
She made another large yawn after checking the pocket watch left at the bedside.
「Will you be changing? Or will you be eating as such and then sleeping?」
「Nn～, I'll change okー」
Ojousama is crawling out of bed and heading toward the clothing shelf.
「I will assist, with your change.」
「Nn.」
Recently, ojousama hasn't become flustered from my suggestions so it's regrettable.
Before it was「Eh!?」and, she went into a huge panic.
In any case, I removed the adorable one piece nightdress from ojousama as she raised her hands.
The clear seeming body that became exposed was truly like a work of art so I swallowed my breath.
Without minding such emotions over here, ojousama is searching for clothes with sleep addled eyes and gazing at the shelf she went「there's no pants……」and became crestfallen for some reason so it's impressive.
I feel that pants don't suite ojousama though……
「Yosh, perhaps something like this～」
The ojousama who quickly finished her arrangements nodded.
I finished my role having combed her dazzling silver threads, morning's personal grooming was completed.
You're the cutest for today as well, ojousama.
「Everyone's plans are?」
「Hai, oneesama is resting today and, Eclair-sama is also planning to stay at the mansion for a while and it seems she doesn't have anything in particular to do. Solt-sama is planning to go out with Rin-sama to the church Marisama introduced for us and, Sairsan is doing research today as well. It seems she remembers a strong impression and frustration from the katana ojousama brought back.」
「……Even though it's herself.」
「Then Ilya, would you come with me for the 2nd job change today.」
「Are you sure you're okay, how is your physical condition?」
「This much isn't an issue you knowー, I'm just sleepy.」
That is a concern though……
「I'll be calling out to oneechan and Eclair as well so, it's fine, it's fine.」
「Certainly it would be reassuring with that lineup wouldn't it.」
「Un, what does Ilya want to become?」
「As ojousama wishes it.」
「Eh～, Ilya is a spear user right? Then the higher rank job of that?」
「Something like a weapon specialty, if you tell me to switch that out I'll gather practice regardless of day and night and show I can master it.」
「But Ilya is good with a spear you know, and that way has good balance.」
「If ojousama, says as such.」
While she went un un and nodded, a lively voice approached from down the hallway.
Somehow they seem to be Rin-sama and the pet ojousama gave the name of, Kyuu.
「Fufu, my house's 2 figureheads that symbolize liveliness have come haven't they. In that case, perhaps we should have breakfast.」
「Hai, ojousama.」
Nodding to ojousama as she smiles softly, I follow after her back.
「――Nee, Ilya. You cut your lip.」
「……Since, I was a little careless.」
「Fu～n, that carelessness. I have a feeling it's been frequent of late hasn't it.」
It truly is as teacher-sama said isn't it.
「Ma, it's fine though isn't it. If that's fine with Ilya. I'm just being a little, gloomy.」
「I have no excuse.」
「It's fine, but I'm asking you so please, I want it such that you don't make me give an order, I guess.」
After arriving in front of the door, ojousama seemed troubled with a manner of the sort that it can't be helped, with that as it is she turned toward me to face me with a soft smile.
This personage, occasionally displays her wide chested kindness.
……She's a sinful personage.
「Yes, my, lady.」
Giving a bow of affirmation, ojousama made a bitter smile and opened the door in reply to that.
Rin-sama's group jumped in while greeting us from the hallway with cheerful voices.
before this scene with peace of the sort that warms the heart, I renewed my feeling of the sort of wanting to protect all of this.
Even if hypothetically Sirius came to invade in earnest.
「……Since this body is your shield.」
Without entering anyone's ears those softly murmured words of vow, were swallowed by the morning's tumult.
「We're goingー, Ilya?」
「Fufu, hai, ojousama.」
And so, I began walking together with ojousama on today as well.