"Ugh… Huh, where is this…?"
When he woke up, it wasn't an unfamiliar ceiling—it was one he recognized.
It was the ceiling of his own room.
Not the mansion in Count Clover's domain. This was the room he had been given at House Rosemary's townhouse.
"Ah… are you awake, Rest?"
"Celestine?"
The figure of a woman sitting in a chair placed by the bedside.
A woman dressed in an elegant dress the colour of fresh grass… It was Celestine Crocus.
"I… I see. I fell asleep in the carriage, huh…"
"Yes. When we arrived at House Rosemary's townhouse, the butlers carried you here."
"…Am I a child? How could I be so dense as to not even notice being carried?"
Rest held his head in his hands, completely dumbfounded.
If he were a small child it would be one thing, but a fully grown man being carried to bed like that was far too embarrassing.
(Worst of all, Viola, Primula, and Celestine had seen it…)
"You must have been truly exhausted. It can't be helped."
"…Come to think of it, why are you here, Celestine?"
"I was invited by Viola and Primula to stay here. Yuri is here too."
"Ah… I see."
Before he knew it, the four of them—Viola, Primula, Celestine, and Yuri—had become close friends.
It's not simply a matter of being schoolmates. They are women who are engaged to the same man... in other words, they are fiancées who plan to marry Rest.
(How should I put this... well, it's fine, I suppose. It's much better to get along than to be at odds...)
But... why is that?
The closer the four of them became, the more Rest felt like he was being surrounded.
If another woman, like Urla Lavender, were to join them here... what would happen then?
"Viola and Primula are preparing the meal. They said they want Rest to eat lots of delicious things when he wakes up."
"That's nice to hear... now that you mention it, I am hungry."
I haven't had a proper meal in a while because I was holed up in the fortress.
I had been eating only simple food like reheated preserved provisions, monster skewers, and barley porridge.
"I'm not as skilled at cooking as those two, so I asked to accompany Rest."
"Ah... I'm sorry. It seems I made you worry."
Being nursed back to health by a duke's daughter... what a luxurious time it was.
Even more so if I had only fallen asleep from exhaustion. I even felt it was a waste to have been unconscious.
"No, not at all. There's still some time before the meal is ready... if you'd like, would you like to have some fruit?"
On the table next to Celestine, there is a plate filled with cut fruit.
"Ah... yeah, I suppose. Then I'll have a little bit."
It was before the meal, but he was even hungrier than that and wanted to put something in his stomach.
"Well then... say 'ah'—"
"Huh...!?"
Celestine stabbed a fork into a fruit that closely resembled an apple and offered it to Rest.
"I-I can eat that much myself, you know!"
"What's wrong with that? I want to reward Rest, who's been so active on the battlefield."
"That's... um..."
"Or... can't you eat fruit from my hand?"
"Urk..."
Celestine's face fell in a sad expression.
Though he felt as if his heart had been shot through by Celestine, whose eyes were welling up with tears, he knew full well that it was an act.
She was enjoying it—having this kind of lovers' banter with Rest.
(Even though I know it's an act, I could refuse... but her irresistible pull and pressure are hard to resist. This is why you can't underestimate beautiful girls...!)
"Ah, aah..."
Rest was drawn by some mysterious force and opened his mouth.
The fruit was placed in his mouth. It had a pleasant crunch, and the sweet and sour juice spread across his tongue.
"Is it good?"
"…Good."
"Then, one more bite. Say 'ah'—"
"…Ah."
Rest resigned himself and chomped down on the fruit.
Frustrating as it was, the fruit that Celestine fed him was exquisite.
For some unknown reason, he felt like he had lost.
"…If I keep eating like this, I won't have room for dinner, so this is enough."
"Ah, is that so? That's a shame. I was just starting to have fun."
"…You've really developed quite a personality, haven't you? You too."
When we first met, I could have sworn she was a much stiffer, more uptight person. She's become terribly informal.
Where did that picture-perfect, straitlaced young lady of a duke's house go?
"Heheh… I only ever let you see this side of me, Rest. I'd absolutely never act like this with anyone else."
"…Is that so."
"This makes me so happy… Rest, thank you for coming back safely."
Celestine placed her hand over Rest's.
The warmth of her skin. Its soft touch.
His heart gave a jolt at her white, slender fingers.
"Celestine…"
"Rest…"
The two of them looked into each other's eyes.
Their hearts beating faster, they slowly drew closer.
"Oh, Rest! You're back! Welcome home!"
But… at that very moment, the door swung open with a bang.
The one who burst into the room as if kicking the door open was Yuri Cattleya.
The red-haired girl appeared with a full, bright smile.
"Waah!"
"Kyah…!"
Rest and Celestine hurriedly moved apart.
Seeing their awkward distance, Yuri tilted her head in puzzlement.
"Huh? What's wrong, Rest? You too, Celestine."
"N-nothing… More importantly, I'm home, Yuri."
"Ah, welcome back! I was waiting for you!"
"Nwahh…?!"
Barely done with greetings, Yuri jumped onto the bed where Rest was lying.
Straddling Rest, who was dumbfounded at what was happening, Yuri declared loudly.
"I heard you're really tired! Rest, let me give you a massage!"
"Wh-what?!"
At the sudden proposal, Rest's voice cracked.
He looked to Celestine for help, but she was looking down with a flushed face.
"…………"
When their eyes met, Celestine gave a wry smile and winked.