I stood naked in front of the mirror, hugging the negligee that Raide had given me as a gift the day before.
He had presented it to me as sleepwear. I could tell from his expression that there was no hidden motive behind it.
I don't often buy fashionable things or things for myself.
Part of it is because running 『Suzuya』 has been difficult, but more than that, I wanted to make sure Raide never had to go without anything.
Knowing that, he went out and bought me sleepwear.
He said it was cheap, even though I could tell at a glance that it wasn't.
Since he bought it at Flower Mist, there was no way it was cheap.
"…Such a terrible person."
I also heard from a regular adventurer that the son of the Dwarf Chamber of Commerce had been arrested.
At the same time, I learned that both Erika and Raide had been there.
He also mentioned that he had switched our supplier to Erika's place.
At first I was worried, but the ingredients and seasonings that arrived were all high quality.
The problem had somehow been solved without me knowing.
I let out a soft breath and looked in the mirror.
There I saw a woman's face staring back at me.
He said he would hold me.
That he had made up his mind…
That rather than let someone else take me, he would be the one to take me…
That he loved me, and because he loved me, he wanted to hold me.
I placed my hand on my stomach.
Until recently, I hadn't really felt sexual frustration.
Of course I had been courted and confessed to before.
Part of it was that just living day to day was already hard, but more than anything, I had always put Raide first.
But lately…
Ever since he said he would hold me, I've been doing it alone more often.
Despite what my heart says, my body is clearly craving Raide.
If he has made up his mind,
then as his mother… and as the woman who loves him, I should make up my mind too.
For him, who has done so much for me and probably crossed many dangerous bridges.
My heart was pounding so hard it felt like it might burst, yet the woman reflected in the mirror had the completely feminine face of someone in love.
I slipped on the negligee and checked my appearance in the mirror, then smiled with a troubled expression.
It felt like I was about to experience my first night all over again.
It wasn't wrong, but I never imagined that at 37 years old I would be experiencing this again…
"…Mother… ends today."
I said it to my reflection in the mirror, then left the room to go to Raide.
Searching for the right words, carrying anxiety…
And carrying expectation.