The day felt beautiful and peaceful.
The girl carried out her usual routine—washing, tending the garden, folding dried clothes, and cleaning the house. Even though her aunt never ordered her to do all of it, she still felt… she had to do something.
Even though her aunt never ordered her to do all of it, she still felt… she had to do something. Especially whenever she saw the "mess" caused by her aunt.
After finishing her chores, Rurika hurried to the place where the young man lay. She needed to remove the bandages that had been wrapped around his body all this time.
"Thank goodness… he's getting better. His wounds have closed completely. And that strange black fluid hasn't appeared again either," Rurika said after finishing.
"Hoam…" sheyawned softly.
"Sleepy?" a voice asked—the small ball of light emerging from her body.
"Just a little. But I still need to watch over him," Rurika replied.
"Tsk… tsk… you trust Sarona's words too much. But this time I agree with her… he has caused you quite a lot of trouble," Etral muttered.
"Go to sleep… I'll watch over him for you," Etral coaxed.
"No. I'll stay and watch him myself," Rurika said.
Drowsiness was slowly creeping in after everything she had done. Her body was clearly exhausted… yet she stubbornly refused to leave the young man's side.
Seeing this, Etral spoke again. "Wait a moment.""
He flew toward Sarona's room, then returned carrying a small box containing heart-patterned handcuffs.
"Isn't that Auntie's secret box? Why are you bringing that?" Rurika asked, confused by Etral's actions.
"Hehe… of course, to bind this young man so he doesn't escape. Don't worry, it's not dangerous," Etral said—though his thoughts were different. [Actually, this is something used for… indecent purposes… but it's quite fitting for a sinner like him.]
"Uuh… no… I don't know why, but I feel like we're doing something wrong if I agree to this, Etral…" Rurika refused, though sleep was starting to weigh heavily on her mind.
"Didn't your aunt say not to let him escape? Just for a short while. Besides, you look very sleepy. You've done so much exhausting work already. Why don't you treat yourself a little… and close your eyes?" Etral tempted her, his voice almost seductive.
"No… that belongs to Auntie. And if it gets damaged…" Rurika hesitated.
"Relax. I'll teach you a special spell. The object and the young man will both be fine," Etral continued persuading her.
"Still… Auntie…" Rurika murmured softly.
"Your aunt will like it," Etral coaxed.
"Really?" Rurika asked hesitantly.
"Of course. Have I ever lied to you?" Etral said, trying to reassure her.
Rurika fell silent for a moment, then slowly shook her head. "…No."
"Then trust me," Etral said.
In the end, the two of them used the item—fastening the restraints onto both the young man's hands and feet.
**
A few hours later—around two hours had passed.
The young man showed signs of regaining consciousness. After all, he felt extremely uncomfortable—like something heavy was pressing down on his body.
"Ugh…" a deep groan escaped his lips.
[Heavy… my stomach feels heavy…? And why can't I move my hands and legs? Am I still alive…?]
Slowly, he opened his eyes. And at that moment—his vision landed on something warm.
A girl… using his stomach as a pillow.
A fair-skinned girl with a soft blush, her bright blonde hair seemingly reflecting a gentle light around her.
Her eyelashes were long and delicate, framing her still-closed eyes. Her lips were soft pink—resembling a ripe peach.
[So… this is what beautiful is.]
That was the first thought that crossed his mind.
He was captivated.
For a moment—he forgot the pain.
But then—
that feeling collapsed the instant he realized… he couldn't move.
[?!]
Shock surged through him. His gaze darted wildly—then stopped.
On his own condition…
He was restrained—both hands and feet locked in place.
His sudden movement unintentionally woke the girl resting on his stomach.
"Mm…?" she murmured softly.
Slowly, she opened her eyes, though sleep still weighed heavily on her.
Through her half-lidded gaze, a pair of blue eyes appeared—clear as a summer sky.
Once again, the young man froze. That sight… was too beautiful to let go of.
But—
"Ah?!" the girl's scream cut through the moment.
"You're awake! You haven't opened your eyes for four weeks… I was really worried," she said.
Without waiting for a response, she placed her hands on his head and gently turned it left and right.
"Thank goodness… you look fine now." Her tone was full of relief. She seemed genuinely happy.
However, she didn't realize that her actions were actually torturing him—who was now growing paler from the pain, especially in his restrained condition.
"Ugh—?!" Stop it!" the young man snapped.
"Ah—sorry!" The girl quickly stopped what she was doing, realizing she had hurt him.
She fell silent.
"Tch…" the young man clicked his tongue in annoyance. With a firm voice, he said, "Let me go!"
"Oh… alright." The girl immediately let go and fell silent again.
Even though he hadn't felt any pain when his head was pulled earlier, a faint trace of annoyance still showed on his face.
"Umm… why are you still frowning like that?" she finally asked, sitting beside the bed and looking at him hesitantly.
"Do you seriously not understand?" His gaze was filled with contempt.
"Do you seriously not understand?" His gaze was filled with contempt.
"Ah… I get it. Wait a moment." Without further explanation, the girl suddenly stood up and ran toward the kitchen.
"Hey—hey… damn it. Why are you just leaving like that?!" he muttered angrily.
"At least take off these ridiculous restraints… or replace them with something else…" he grumbled under his breath, stuck in place—unable to move, and increasingly irritated by his situation.
Not long after, the girl returned—carrying a bowl of hot soup. She sat beside him as if everything was perfectly normal.
"Hey—!" he tried to call out, but his words were cut off as a spoon was suddenly brought to his mouth.
"Today I made mushroom soup. Try it," the girl said with an innocent expression.
Without waiting for a response, she began feeding him—completely ignoring his condition.
He was restrained, unable to refuse or dodge—no room to move. [This girl… is going to drive me insane.]
[I don't mind being restrained… because I'm dangerous.] The young man accepted his situation with quiet resignation—being fed and bound at the same time.[But not… with something this ridiculous.]
[I can't even break it…]—but that didn't mean he was willing to wear something so indecent. [What is she trying to do to me…?]
"If you eat it with bread, it tastes better, you know. By the way, my name is Rurika Merokara. I'm fifteen years old," Rurika said as she continued feeding him.
"Right now, you're in our home—on the slope of Mount Astrella. The nearest village from here is called Asti." She kept talking without pause.
"And at the peak of the mountain, there's a resting place called Gandelion… I suggest you don't go there." Without Rurika realizing it, the young man's lips and tongue had begun to redden—whether from the heat of the soup… or from the way she kept forcing it into his mouth.
"Ukh—! …Stop—!" At last, he managed to speak between the next incoming spoonful.
He was truly irritated—her behavior felt like… she didn't understand words or the situation at all.
"Hm? You want to eat it with bread? Alright… here—try this. How is it? Good, right?"
Completely missing the point of his protest, Rurika pushed bread into his mouth instead by force.
"Mmgh—!"His protest was muffled, his mouth now stuffed with bread.
[&£¥¥$#@##!!] All he could do was curse inwardly—frustrated. Annoyed. And… helpless.
—
STOMP… STOMP…
Heavy footsteps echoed, growing closer. The young man twitched slightly at the sound.
[Looks like… another strange one is coming.] he muttered inwardly.
A bad feeling crept over him—he was certain his problems were about to get worse.
BANG!
The door slammed open violently. The air in the room seemed to tighten.
"Ah… it looks like Auntie is back. She'll definitely be happy. I made mushroom soup and her favorite bread… and you've already woken up," Rurika said with a smile.
From behind the roughly opened door, a pink-haired woman appeared. But from her expression alone, it was clear—her mood was terrible.
"Argh—! That damn old man! One foot in the grave and still causing trouble. Disgusting!"
A heated presence instantly filled the room—no magic, just raw, overwhelming emotion.
[Not a strange person…a crazy one.] the young man muttered inwardly, growing more exhausted by the situation.
"Welcome back, Auntie. Should I get some hot water ready… or would you like to eat first? Oh, and he's already awake," Rurika said as she walked closer.
[Tch… dragging me into this. I was trying to make my presence as small as possible.] the young man complained inwardly.
"Ruri, didn't I tell you to call me 'big sister'—huh? You said that young man is already awake?" The woman immediately grabbed Rurika by the shoulders.
"Mm-hm," Rurika answered with an innocent smile.
—
But the moment her aunt saw the young man's condition—
THWACK
"Hey—! Why are you using my personal collection?!" the woman snapped, smacking Rurika on the head.
"Ow! That hurt, Auntie! But you said not to let him escape…" the blue-eyed girl protested.
"Hah… that's not what I meant. Although… seeing him like this does stir something in me. I need to maintain my image." She sighed to herself. [This must be Etral's doing.]
—
The young man, on the other hand, shuddered at what he heard.
Without much discussion, they finally decided to remove the restraints binding him.
As soon as the restraints were removed, the woman said, "Nice to meet you. My name is Sarona Merokara. I apologize for my little girl's behavior—she truly meant no harm. It's just… she thinks a little differently. Hoho…"
But the young man remained silent. No response at all.
"How are you feeling?" Sarona asked in a friendly tone.
Still no answer. Only a cold stare—and a hint of disgust from him.
"He doesn't seem to trust you, Auntie," Rurika said.
"Tsk… that's because of you. Now I've been exposed," Sarona muttered.
"Fine, I won't waste time. We didn't save you for free. You'll repay us—with your service."
Sarona said firmly, "[After all, you caused quite a lot of damage during your treatment.] So?"
"You're a perverted old woman," he said, his voice dripping with contempt.
CLATTER!
A metal tray flew and struck him.
"What did you just say?! Old?! Who are you calling old?! I'm only twenty-eight! Which part of me looks old?! Look at this body—does this look old to you?!" Sarona snapped, her emotions exploding. She even pulled open her white coat slightly, revealing her purple dress.
"And another thing—who told you to act like a gigolo? Do you even realize how much damage you caused? I'm only asking for your labor to fix it!" Sarona raged.
"Aunt… he's already unconscious. So it's pointless for you to show off your dress," Rurika said innocently, touching the young man's cheek.
"Aunt, what about him? He fainted because of you," she added.
"Throw him away! I don't want to deal with someone who calls me old!" Sarona snapped irritably.
"Can I take him to my room, then?" Rurika asked.
"Do whatever you want. As long as I don't have to see him," Sarona replied before walking off toward her room.
—
"Aunt has given permission. So you'll be sleeping in my room tonight," Rurika said gently.
"That way, you won't feel alone… or lonely. Hehehe…" She smiled softly as she touched the young man's cheek.
Without much difficulty, the girl dragged him toward her room. Then, as if it were the most natural thing in the world, she lay down on the bed—casually wrapping her arms around him.
Like a body pillow.
They fell asleep together.
But the position was strange—one was human.
And the other…
was treated like an object.
Unaware.
Without permission.
Without a choice.
As if it were something… perfectly normal.