Chapter 47

On June 25, 2021, the second volume will be published by Overlap Novels F, and the comic adaptation will begin serialization in Comic Gardo.

Thank you!

Laila suddenly woke from a doze.

(...Huh? When did I fall asleep?)

Laila sat up and looked around.

This was the bedroom she usually shared with Julius. She recognized it immediately, but for some reason, her head felt fuzzy, and the details of the room were blurry and hard to see.

The room was faintly lit. It still seemed to be daytime.

(...I feel a bit strange. Where could Master Julius be?)

She put on her slippers and left the bedroom. The corridor beyond was also somewhat hazy, and her bodily sensations felt vague.

With a fuzzy feeling, Laila descended the stairs, where she encountered Vernelle.

"Ah, Vernelle--"

"Laila-sama, are you feeling better now?"

"Huh?"

Asked suddenly, Laila tilted her head--she remembered feeling unwell and resting in her room.

"Yes, I'm better now."

"That's good. * * * and * * * * have been throwing tantrums, saying they want to see Laila-sama."

Vernelle seemed to mention some names, but they didn't form clear sounds and reached Laila's ears in a vague way.

(...What did he just say?)

Seeing Laila's blank expression, Vernelle clapped his hands.

"Oh, right. Master Julius is waiting for you. If you're feeling better, please go to his room--"

"Laila!"

Vernelle's words were overlapped by the voice of her beloved. Looking up the stairs she had just descended, she saw Julius hurrying down.

(...Oh? Master Julius seems a bit different...?)

There wasn't a tremendous change, but he looked a bit older and had shorter hair.

She wondered when he had cut it--and then she remembered that Julius had started cutting his hair shorter recently.

Vernelle had disappeared, leaving Laila and Julius alone in the hazy corridor. Julius, with his short hair, gently placed his hand on Laila's shoulder and peered into her face with concern.

"Are you feeling better?"

"Yes, thanks to you."

"That's good. Ah, * * * and * * * * were looking for you, but Helka took them out. They're playing in the garden now."

"* * * and * * * *..."

"Yes. They both said they would wait patiently until their mother feels better."

Laila murmured, "Mother," and then she remembered that * * * and * * * * were her children.

Julius smiled and gently touched Laila's lower abdomen. It had become noticeably round, and Julius's bony hand lovingly caressed the fabric of her dress.

"Will it be a boy or a girl? This house will be lively again."

With Julius's words, Laila finally realized.

(...Ah, that's right. This is a dream.)

That's why everything felt hazy, and various things could be dismissed as "I feel like..." She tried pinching the back of her hand, but it didn't hurt.

In the dream, Laila was still living with Julius, Vernelle, and Helka... and she had two children. It seemed she was expecting a third child soon.

(What... what a happy dream...)

Seeing Laila's emotional state, Julius gently moved his hand from her shoulder to her wrist.

"If you're feeling well, shall we go outside? * * * and * * * * are waiting for their mother."

"Yes... but not just me, Father--Master Julius should come too."

The words slipped out smoothly. Julius, turning around, widened his eyes in surprise... and then smiled happily.

"Right. Let's go."

"Yes... oh!"

Just as she was about to follow Julius, her hand slipped from his.

"Laila?"

Julius turned back, looking puzzled--but Laila realized.

The surroundings were blurring, and different sounds were heard. It seemed it was time to wake up.

(I wanted to stay in this dream a bit longer...)

"Master Julius"

A little distance away, her beloved husband stood. The front door opened, and the laughter of children could be heard.

Although they had let go of each other's hands here, it was okay.

This dream--it wouldn't end here.

"...Can you wait for me a little longer?"

In her fading consciousness, Laila heard Julius's voice clearly.

"Yes, I'll wait. ...Take your time, Laila--"

Laila suddenly woke up.

She was lying in the bed in the bedroom. The room was still dim, and the light seeping through the curtains was faint. It seemed there was still some time before morning.

Looking to the side, she saw her husband sleeping soundly. His hair was as long as usual, and he had the face of a man in his mid-twenties.

(...So, that was just a dream after all.)

She gently reached out and touched Julius's wheat-colored hair. With her other hand, she slowly lowered it to her flat abdomen.

The older Julius and her with a big belly, and their lively children.

It was a dream, but not just an illusion.

It was a dream that she would surely live in the near future.

She couldn't catch up to the Julius in the dream, but he had said he would wait. He said, "Take your time."

"...Laila?"

Seemingly sensing that Laila was awake, Julius opened his eyes drowsily. Laila, feeling guilty for waking him, shrank back, but the still sleepy Julius blinked a few times and wrapped his arms around Laila's body.

"...Laila? Magic, something... here..."

"Master Julius...?"

"Something else... no, maybe it's just my imagination. Yes. Just my imagination..."

Julius muttered something while caressing Laila's waist, back, and abdomen. Gradually, his voice faded, and soon the sound of his deep breathing could be heard.

(...Was he talking in his sleep?)

Laila couldn't make out what he was saying, as he mumbled incoherently.

Besides, Laila was still sleepy and wanted to go back to sleep until Vernelle and the others came to wake her up.

"...Good night, Master Julius."

Whispering, Laila closed her eyes.

The happy dream Laila had seen.

Its continuation would surely be drawn in the not-too-distant future.