Chapter 25

"Miss Lissette, I have brought your meal."

How many days have passed since then? In this space, there are no windows or clocks, and all sense of time has vanished.

Ralph brings me meals three times a day, but after a while, my life became irregular, and I can no longer tell if what I'm eating is breakfast or dinner.

Once, I asked him what day it was, but he only replied, "You don't need to worry about that, Miss Lissette." This place even has a bathtub, and everything is provided. That's why Ralph absolutely refuses to let me leave here.

Where is this place? Since Ralph always brings warm meals, it might be near the Marquis's mansion.

"Please, could you eat a little more?"

"…I don't have an appetite."

Even though I know I'll need strength, in this situation, there's no way I can feel hungry. Ralph looks at me with a troubled and deeply sad expression.

"Just one more bite."

He says this and brings the spoon to my mouth. I open my mouth slightly, and he gently inserts it. After I manage to chew and swallow, Ralph smiles happily.

How long will this life continue? How are Nadia, the Holy Maiden, and Melvin doing now?

The questions never end, but he won't answer any of them.

"…Hey, Ralph. Can we stop this? I'm really sorry for leaving without telling you. I promise I won't do it again, so let's go back to the Holy Maiden and the others, okay?"

Even as I plead, staring intently into Ralph's eyes, he averts his gaze and remains silent.

Eventually, Ralph wraps his arms around my waist, clinging to me. The chain attached to my ankle rattles. Since I've been here, he has started touching me like a child.

…It's my fault that he has become like this. I should have talked to him, even if I knew he would oppose it.

But the main reason I didn't is something I understand myself. If he had said "no," I might have lost the will to live. I ran away from Ralph.

Gently, I reach out to touch his soft silver hair. He looks up in surprise, then his face shows a look as if he's about to cry.

"…Miss Lissette, I love you."

And so, today too, I spend my time in this room, quietly and with no sense of the future, just with him.

◇◇◇

"Good morning, Miss Lissette."

"…Yeah."

It seems I fell asleep again. My body feels incredibly heavy. I feel like my mind isn't working as well as it used to.

Ralph, who had been sitting beside me, had already changed into formal attire and was about to go to work.

"I might be late, so I'll leave two meals. If anything happens, I'll come back immediately."

I nod slightly, and Ralph smiles in relief.

He must hardly be sleeping. Except for his duties as a hero, he stays here all the time. After I fall asleep, he quietly returns.

During that time, he must complete his paperwork and come back here when I wake up. When I express concern for his health, he just smiles and says, "I'm fine," refusing to listen.

Eventually, Ralph caresses my cheek lovingly, says, "I'm off," and leaves the room.

"…………"

Alone, I eat a little of the food he prepared, then sit on the bed, leaning against the cold wall.

He has provided books and sewing materials, but I have no interest in them.

– What will happen when my 20th birthday comes? A happy future where both of us are safe is too sad to even imagine.

As I sit hugging my knees, thinking about this, a sudden crackling sound catches my attention. I look up to see a familiar red color in my field of vision.

"…Why are you here?"

He frowns as soon as he sees me in the cell. His gaze then shifts to my feet.

"Wow, Ralph really went this far. That's just creepy."

Looking extremely tired, Melvin sighs deeply.