v1c8 - The troubled Alex by the unexpected effect of the shirt she put on to reduce exposure
“Ugh …… I’m sorry you had to see something so unflattering, Mr. Alex.”
“What!? No, what are you talking about? I’m the one who should be sorry …… you had to see that.”
“No, it was my fault that I almost slipped. Mr. Alex was just trying to help me, so it wasn’t your fault at all.”
Back to back again, slightly awkwardly, we apologized to each other.
“Well, it’ll be bad if we both catch a cold, so let’s go inside.”
“Yes, sir. You’re right.”
I reach behind my back to pull Lydia’s hand away.
“Hyah! M-Mr. Alex. That’s my butt.”
“I-I’m sorry! I didn’t do it on purpose!”
“…… Fufu, you don’t need to apologize so much. I was a little surprised, but I know that Mr. Alex is not that kind of person.”
This time, I properly took Lydia’s hand and went into the cabin.
We both change in the corner of the room, and I suddenly realized…
“That’s right. Lydia, I’m sorry if it’s with my change of clothes, but here…”
“Um, what’s this?”
“No, the clothes Lydia was wearing were pretty torn up, weren’t they? It’s got big holes in places, and it’s probably not the right size, but I thought it might still be better.”
“Mr. Alex’s shirt …… T-Thank you so much!”
I took the shirt out of my luggage bag and handed it to Lydia, who was still extremely pleased, as I thought, she didn’t like her tattered clothes.
…… Did she just bury her face in it for a second and smell it!?
I’ve washed it properly, so I don’t think …… it smells bad.
I …… I’ll have to ask Lydia later to make some water out to wash the clothes I wore today.
Really, I’m grateful to Lydia for everything …… and for being there.
I thanked Lydia from the bottom of my heart, and as she started to get dressed, I turned around and waited for her…
“Mr. Alex. You can turn around now.”
“……. Huh? That’s strange. Why is that?”
I made her wear my shirt to reduce her exposure …… It should have reduced her exposure, but for some reason it made her look sexier.
“Mr. Alex? What’s wrong?”
“No, it’s nothing. Nothing.”
“But you seem to be blushing a little.”
“Because I’m really okay.”
“Really? …… Oh, I understand. You must be hungry. I will prepare dinner right away, so please wait a bit.”
Saying that, Lydia took some things out of the box with food and started cooking something in the corner of the room.
I, on the other hand, asked Lydia to give me a little water and decided to wash the clothes I wore.
I washed them carefully so that Lydia would no longer be able to smell them, and I hung them out to dry along with the tattered clothes Lydia had originally worn outside the cabin in the tangerine tree.
Then, like at lunch, I provided the magic power and Lydia built a fire outside.
“Thank you for waiting! Mr. Alex, the rice is ready!”
She made dinner for us with cabbage on bread, served with baked potatoes.
After tasting Lydia’s delicious food and cleaned up with words of gratitude, the sun had completely set, leaving us in darkness with only the moonlight shining through the windows.
“Then, Lydia. I’m going to sleep around here. Also, Lydia can use the blanket.”
“What!? These blankets are not from the cabin, but from Mr. Alex’s belongings. Please use it, Mr. Alex.”
“It’s all right. I’m an adventurer, so sleeping without a blanket was a regular occurrence.”
“If you’re saying that, I was a slave too, you know? I was made to look like a spectacle, so I slept in a cold cage …… Oh, that’s right!”
As we were giving one blanket to each other, I felt Lydia notice something and stand up.
Then she slowly approached me…
“Mr. Alex. I’m scared, so can I sleep with you?”
“What!? What’s up with you all of a sudden!?”
“I’m afraid of the dark and can’t sleep alone. And since you are a paladin, Mr. Alex, you will protect me when I am afraid of the dark, right?”
Lydia snuggles up to me without question, and we wrap ourselves in the blankets together.
She asked me to protect her because she was scared, and I couldn’t say no, so I ended up sleeping with Lydia with my back to her.