Ch 137 - Sleep Like a Baby
After Dowager's maids left, only the Royal Guards and a couple of maids who originally served in Pluvia Calot's bedchamber remained. For a long mont, everyone just stood there silently, unsure how to handle the situation.
"Here's what we'll do," one of the guards suggested. "You stand watch inside, and we'll wait outside for Commander Sonya. Make sure she reads the letter before coming in. If she walks in cold, I doubt we could stop her..."
Everyone who worked under Commander Sonya knew her abilities. Sonya was formidable in both combat and tactics—brilliant, but the difference between smart people is sotis in the details. So people can keep their head even when their loyalty is tested, but others? If she sees sothing like this, reason might go out the window.
"We'll make sure the voice of reason is heard first. That's the only way to avoid a disaster," another responded.
"Alright."
While the staff outside discussed their plan, Kenji was running through all the possibilities in his head.
He more or less figured out what kind of dicine Dowager was peddling. Her earlier words to him did have truth in them—there were things that Pluvia couldn't bring herself to do, but needed to be done. Dowager was the one willing to give her daughter a push when it mattered.
But what could be so urgent—sothing Pluvia couldn't do herself, that required her mother to hide Kenji in her bed?
Kenji didn't want to even begin guessing.
His best plan was simple: Wait until the maids and Royal Guards left, then quietly slip away before Pluvia woke up. If he left cleanly, there'd be no evidence, and since Pluvia hadn't woken, no harm done.
Unfortunately, that plan was dood from the start. The staff never left Pluvia's side for a second.
There was no way out. He couldn't just open his eyes and run out—they'd catch him, and he'd be the one left with the bla.
Helpless, Kenji kept his eyes shut and kept pretending to sleep. But everyone knows the problem with pretending to sleep: if you lie there long enough, you'll fall asleep for real.
Despite his best efforts to stay alert, the exhaustion of constant work, the peaceful ambiance of the bedchamber, and the comforting softness of the bed—plus the warmth and pressure of soone pressed up against him—overwheld his last reserves of willpower. He couldn't use any magic to keep himself awake; the Royal Guards would notice. With only sheer force of will, eyes closed, anyone would have failed.
And that wasn't even the worst part.
The worst was when, perhaps searching for sothing to cuddle in her sleep, Pluvia unconsciously rolled up against him, murmuring softly.
Your Majesty, please don't!
Kenji wanted to shout, but of course he couldn't. He had to "grit his teeth and bear it," waiting for the staff to leave or for a shift change to give him a chance to escape. Now was not the ti to reveal he was conscious.
She pressed up against his chest, and even if she was slim, her warmth and the faint scent of her hair was dizzying. Then, her soft arms slipped around his neck.
He'd rescued her once before, and she'd grabbed him the sa way. Back then it was a desperate, bone-crushing grip for survival, and he'd been too busy to notice how it felt.
But this ti was different—very different. Now, with no crisis to focus on and forced to keep his eyes closed, all of his attention was centered on every subtle sensation.
Warmth, fragrance, softness—every last bit tempting his nerves to relax. After all the stress and fatigue, his mind finally let go.
So, in the end, his act of pretending to sleep actually worked a little too well. He fell completely asleep.
...
Dawn crept in from the east. Sunlight poured through the elaborately carved windows, filling the room with golden brightness.
Pluvia slowly opened her eyes.
As she stirred, she imdiately felt the benefits of the herbal steam; she was almost fully recovered. The clear, energetic feeling as she woke up was enough to get her motivated again.
But then, as her eyes focused, she nearly forgot to breathe.
Right in front of her—so close that her heart thudded in her chest—was a face she'd only seen in dreams. She knew the real Kenji would never so brazenly approach her like this, but the sight was unsettling all the sa.
And now, that face was right there. Way too close.
She forced herself not to scream—because she realized sothing, sothing worse than his proximity: she was in her own bedchamber!
She carefully assessed the situation. The man in front of her was fast asleep. Asleep, his face was less tense, even a little more handso. Then she realized her arms were wrapped around his neck.
And she'd thrown a leg over him, too.
Most girls in this situation might shriek or cover themselves, but Pluvia simply untangled herself, sat up, flicked back the covers and quickly checked herself for anything amiss—all in one smooth, practiced motion.
She let out a long breath—everything was fine. There were only two maids in the room, both asleep. The Royal Guards rotated shifts outside, so her safety was assured. She had told the maids to sleep if nothing urgent happened at night, since she usually slept straight through until dawn.
Pluvia tidied her nightgown, then turned to take a look at Kenji. Though he'd been stripped to the waist, she confird with her quick scan that nothing inappropriate had happened.
Drawing a deep breath to calm herself, she crept out of bed, found her day clothes, dressed and put herself in order. She brushed her hair, checked her reflection, and made sure there was nothing unusual on her face.
Instead of waking Kenji, she sat at a nearby table and began to order her thoughts.
Judging by all this, soone was trying to set up!
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