Chapter 24

"Actually, I want to sleep with Master if possible."

Yuel grabbed the hem of my clothes and faced Elise.

The place was Elise's clinic.

After picking up Yuel, we moved to Elise's clinic to live.

We had dinner at a tavern and discussed various matters, such as the handover to Elise and the possibility of reducing my visits to the tavern.

After all that, it was time to go to bed at the clinic... and a problem arose.

"But Yuel, while nothing might have happened in the past, it doesn't mean it won't happen in the future. Besides, you're a girl, so it's not appropriate to keep sleeping together, right?"

As night fell, Yuel tried to enter my bedroom as a matter of course, saying goodnight to Elise.

Elise caught her in the act.

"Look, there are still extra beds, right?"

Elise tried to persuade Yuel with a gentle, motherly voice.

Elise is a strict woman when it comes to such matters.

Although there was a hint of sadness, it might be time for Yuel to stop sleeping with me.

Indeed, it was unusual in the first place.

Even though Yuel is still young, it's wrong to sleep in the same bed with a girl I have no intention of touching.

"..."

In response to Elise's words, Yuel looked down as if thinking, and then... glanced at me as if seeking confirmation.

As the season changes to summer, it will be difficult to keep sleeping together.

It will be hot.

While this world does have convenient magical devices like air conditioners, they are generally expensive and out of reach except for a few mass-produced ones that can ignite, emit light, or release water.

This is because magical devices are typically produced from treasures found in dungeons or ancient ruins.

Considering the future, Yuel should either get used to sleeping alone or sleep with Elise.

I nodded at Yuel to affirm Elise's words.

Then, Yuel opened her mouth—

"Well, I have a promise with Master that he will take me when I grow up, so it's fine."

—she said, blushing and fidgeting.

This is bad.

"…What do you mean?"

Elise's low, interrogative voice.

Her eyes seemed to be filled with anger.

This is not good.

If I respond incorrectly, I don't know what will happen to Elise's opinion of me.

I can feel a bead of sweat running down my cheek.

No, I need to stay calm in a crisis.

Let's look at this objectively.

How does Elise see me right now?

A kind and gentle young man who has made a promise to a young girl to marry her when she grows up...

"…To make such a despicable promise with such a young girl... Did you really do that?"

No, that's not it.

Elise's eyes now look at me as if I am a cunning man who has tricked an innocent young slave girl into a sexual relationship.

They look at me as if I am a sex offender.

This is not good.

I feel like my reputation with Elise is continuously declining, despite our recent reconciliation.

However, I did indeed promise Yuel before.

"I'll take you when you grow up," I promised her.

...But that was just a pretext to get her to sleep in the bed instead of on the floor.

"Elise, wait, it's a misunderstanding."

"Wh...?"

As I denied it, a pained cry came from Yuel.

Looking to the side, Yuel was looking up at me.

Her face was clearly filled with genuine sadness.

This is not good.

Yuel's expression right now is like that of someone who has been betrayed by someone she trusted.

This is not good.

I don't want to see Yuel's face like this.

"Ah, no, it's not a misunderstanding after all."

"…It's not a misunderstanding?"

Elise's low, contemptuous voice, as she crossed her arms and glared at me.

Elise is angry.

She's a bit scary.

This is not good.

There's no way out.

If I deny Yuel's statement, Yuel will be hurt. If I affirm it, Elise will despise me.

What should I do?

What should I do?

Should I just be honest and say, "Yuel was trying to sleep on the floor, so I said something to get her to sleep in the bed"?

No, that's not good.

Yuel will be shocked.

Even if it was just a temporary solution, breaking a promise is not good.

I can't let that adorable smile of Yuel's be clouded.

Is there any other good excuse... or, to begin with, since Yuel is my slave, isn't it none of Elise's business how I treat Yuel?

...No, if I say, "It's none of your business,"

Elise will probably give up on me for good.

After buying back the clinic, Elise wouldn't kick me out, but she might leave.

To avoid being disliked by Elise and hurting Yuel, I need to get out of this situation...

"Elise, you're beautiful, you know."

"I'm not going to be fooled."

Indeed.

Where did that cute Elise from before go?

After the dogeza, when I tried to casually touch Elise's butt where Yuel couldn't see, she slapped my arm.

I had heard that girls would melt just by being touched, but it seems that was a lie.

"Elise, let's talk later. There's a complicated situation, and I can't explain it right now."

I glanced at Yuel while saying this to Elise.

Elise should be able to imagine why I can't explain, given Yuel's attitude just now.

Will she understand?

Elise sighed and looked at me, more exasperated than angry.

Does she understand?

Actually, thinking about it, Elise probably didn't believe I was serious about the promise with Yuel.

She just wanted an explanation because of the nature of the promise.

I should have said this from the beginning.

"Alright... But Yuel, it's still not good to sleep with a man. If you feel lonely, you can sleep with me."

The conversation returned to the beginning.

"I... I..."

Elise's considerate words.

Yuel didn't say no to Elise's offer.

Looking at Yuel... her fingers gripping the hem of my clothes tightly, the tears welling up in her eyes, the sad expression on her face as she pressed her lips together.

I can clearly see what she's thinking.

Still, Yuel doesn't say no.

Probably, for Yuel, insisting on sleeping with Master would be "selfish."

Yuel, who rarely expressed her own desires, has a clear line between what she can and cannot do.

Whether it's because of her position as a slave or the environment she grew up in, Yuel definitely has some standard by which she restricts her actions.

She wants to sleep together, but if she says it again, she will cross that line.

But she really wants to sleep together.

But she doesn't want to be selfish.

These conflicting feelings are making Yuel unable to speak, with such an expression.

How...

How innocent...

I feel ashamed for thinking that Yuel should just sleep alone or with Elise if she feels lonely.

"Sorry, sorry, Yuel, I'll sleep with you. From now on, let's always sleep together."

"Y-Yes! Yes, Master!"

I knelt on the floor and hugged Yuel's small body.

Yes, Yuel is still a child.

It's natural that she hasn't grown independent.

I'm not her parent, but I am the closest person to her.

It's similar.

I made Yuel make a difficult choice.

I gently hugged Yuel's head, as if holding her in my arms.

I slowly stroked her soft silver hair, like patting a child's back.

I was wrong.

I should have spoken up for Yuel, who couldn't express her desires properly.

"Hey, Elise..."

While hugging Yuel, I looked into Elise's eyes with determination.

I have a firm resolve now.

I can't let Yuel be sad anymore.

Maybe I'm spoiling Yuel.

But I don't want to see Yuel sad.

I want Yuel to smile.

"Alright, I understand. But... if that's the case, I'll sleep with you too."

When she said "sleep together," it didn't mean in the same bed.

Right now, in this room of about eight tatami mats, there are two beds.

One for me and Yuel, and one for Elise.

To be honest, I didn't expect Elise to go this far.

Elise is quite a reserved person.

This could be considered a sign of progress in our relationship, thanks to Yuel.

While the beds are separate, sleeping in the same room is a significant step forward.

If we sleep in the same room, I could accidentally crawl into Elise's bed when I come back from the bathroom at midnight, or I could fall into Elise's arms when I'm drunk.

Next time, I'll be more careful.