There was once a time during childhood when I had fallen ill.
The memory felt very distant for me.
Ramo, who was in charge of guarding and assisting me, left me soon after I was engaged to Schneider. Ramo, who had a very strong sense of responsibility, was always nervous due to the expectations of being a servant of the Gavizera family, who aim for perfection in all their work. By nature, however, he was a very kind person who always cared for the me who never had time for a breather due to the various classes I had to take. He let me rest within the carriage, or brewed tea for me.
After Ramo left, those small gaps of rest disappeared as well. Soon, I developed a fever.
âWhat a negligent child you are!? To think that you cannot even monitor your own health!!â
I could hear motherâs voice from my bedroom.
âŠJust as my mother said, I am a negligent child. Like in my previous life, I lost my life due to not noticing my limits, and I fell ill the same way even now.
Agonizing in my fever, tears flowed out. Then, all I could do was cry.
Gradually I fell asleep, and drowned deeper in unconsciousness. I was awakened by the gentle touch of fingers on my cheek. There, I could see Schneider. Sitting on the bed, he wiped off the tears on my face. I could not understand why he was there.
My tears flowed again in response to his kindness. Holding onto Schneiderâs hand, I started talking about various things. Although I did not mention about how I had memories of my previous life, I honestly confessed to him about what a suffering it is to be in the Gavizera family.
Schneider felt great anger towards my family members, and made a promise to me.
âIf we get married, I will never make you cry like this. Youâre going to be my family. Iâll definitely protect you⊠Rhonya.â
Few years passed after that, and the time I spent with Schneider was filled with warmth and peace.
Schneider looked at me as his loved one, not merely his political marriage partner. He promised to protect me and care for me.
Thinking about the future where I could be with Schneider, I could even bear the stuffy noble life. And thanks to him, I could continue on living as Rhonya Gavizera.
But all had ended. I let his hand go, and he too did the same.
If I had loved him with all my heart, I should have fought against destiny with all my might. But I, I did not have the confidence to fight this war alone. And so, I easily convinced myself that I could not win against destiny, and gave up.
âŠI might have regretted not standing up against destiny. That is why, my heart currently hurts like this, due to the sadness.
The promise with him was a hope for me. An irreplaceable hope.
After leaving the academy, I decided to part with Schneider and the Gavizera house as well. But perhaps, there were some lingering regrets in me which stopped me from moving forward.
But now Iâm fine, I now have the strength to move forward.
Thank you, Schneider, and farewell.
Like the rain, my tears continued to flow.
But it gradually dries up. The sky soon clears up, and a wide plain of bountiful fields spreads across my eyes. Riding the pleasant wind, I dash through the plain. The scent of the forest wafts around me, the scent of greenery basking in the sunlight.
âThe dream made me felt very peaceful.
Opening up my eyelids, in front of me was a fluffiness like the green plain. Taking ahold of that pleasant feeling, I started to brush my cheek against it. It was very silky, and had a scent of the gentle forest, which made me want to fall back to sleep again.
As I closed my eyes again, I came to a realization.
Was there such a fluffy towel in my room, I wonder? I have no memories of it. This is too voluminous. Moving my fingers to ascertain this object, I found a squishiness within it. It was somewhat elastic, and meaty. I wonder, what is this? I remember touching it somewhere before.
Wanting to ascertain this object, I once again opened my eyes⊠What I was holding was a fluffy green colored hand. A big hand like a dogâs paw. Moving my gaze upward from the wrist, my gaze met a pair of deep green colored eyes.
Sharp features, and big ears stretching straight.
He was looking at me intensely.
And so, I finally woke up and quickly raised my body up, letting go of his hand.
The one in front of my eyes was none other than Sena-san, and the fluffiness was from Sena-sanâs hand.
I unconsciously brushed my cheek against it!
âI-I am sorry! To think that you had transformedâŠ:â
Since he came with his half-beast form, I wonder when did he transformed.
âNothing for you to worry about. And since there was no visitors who came, I was playing around with the Rotos in my beast formâ
Sena-san stood up and stretched his body, his fluffy looking tail too stretched straight. There, three Rotos who clung onto it looked very happy.
Fufu, so cute.
It seems Sena-san was staying by my side the whole time while I was asleep.
â⊠Feeling⊠any better?â
âAh, yes. Thanks for your concernâ
Thanks to the Rotos and Sena-san who took care of me, I feel refreshed. I then showed a grateful smile to the Rotos on top of the bed as well.
Sena-san patted the Rotosâ head with his tail. The huge fluffy tail made the Rotos blush in hapiness⊠How enviousâŠ
âWhat kind of dream did you have?â Sena-san stared down at me.
Dream? Speaking of, I felt like I had a long dream. But I forgot the contents.
âI have forgotten⊠Did I perhaps⊠said something in my sleep?â As I asked in a panic, where Sena-san laughed it off.
Sena-san placed his fluffy hand onto my cheek to check, âYour fever seems goneâ, and lightly patted meâŠ. MofumofuâŠ
âYou should be hungry right? Since itâs way past afternoonâ
âItâs past that time alreadyâŠ? Then, I will make something quickâ
âWhatâre you talking about. You just got better, are you trying to make it worse?â
âI am quite alright, I have fully recoveredâ
âDefinitely a no to that. Thereâs soup among the get-well gifts, Iâll heat it up and bring it over. Youâre not to go down to the first floor. Rotos, stand watch after herâ
Although Iâm quite fine now, but Sena-san did not allow me to. The Rotos who were tasked to watch over me made a salutation, âAye!â and clung onto me.