The Grand Duke's Maid Writes a Consultation Log Today - Chapter 43

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————

The Grand Ducal House Maid Writes a Consultation Journal Today – Chapter 043
‘…My person.’
Surely Yulias meant ‘a person of the Demint Family.’
Yet, it felt so strange that it almost sounded like something else.
Was she reading too much into it?
However, Yulias also flinched a beat late and awkwardly turned his head away.
“Rest today, and wait until tomorrow to return to your assigned room.”
“Pardon?”
Yulias sat back down and tilted his head.
As if asking if there was anything wrong with what he just said.
“I, at least, thought I would use this room until the day after tomorrow. At night, well… because we have to hold hands.”
Elysia awkwardly interlaced her own two hands.
There was no other way to explain it.
Predicting his reaction, he might reject her now, saying he was fine, or perhaps suggest promising a next time.
Either way, Elysia intended to accept it readily.
But her inner thoughts were a little different.
It was already promised, her physical condition had improved, and moreover, it felt somewhat a shame to back out after receiving his nursing care.
Besides, moments where she could speak honestly with Yulias were rare.
If she thought that time was precious…
‘Will I look like someone with another hidden agenda?’
“Would that be alright with you?”
When he asked back instead, though she thought he would refuse, Elysia answered quickly.
“Pardon? …Of course!”
Because of that, her voice burst out sounding somewhat excited, though.
Yulias turned his gaze back to the documents and said.
“Then I will see you tonight, so lie back down for now.”
Elysia lay down quietly.
After washing her body, filling her stomach, and lying down cozily again, sleep came drifting in.
“…Have sweet dreams.”
She thought she heard Yulias’s voice faintly, but at the rushing drowsiness, Elysia ultimately couldn’t answer and closed her eyes.

* * *
After night fell.
Elysia crossed over to Yulias’s room.
Having already finished preparing for bed, he opened the door for her.
“Excuse me.”
“Go ahead.”
As Elysia sat on the chair, Yulias naturally lay on the bed.
“Did you sleep somewhat comfortably last night?”
“I slept without waking up for the first time in a while.”
Yulias closed his eyes with his palm extended face up.
Recognizing the meaning, Elysia overlapped her hand over his.
“What about you.”
“Pardon?”
“Will you be able to sleep?”
It was a question asked out of concern that she might not be able to fall asleep because she had slept all day.
By now, she could judge whether the question he tossed out was out of worry or not.
“I tend to sleep well the moment my head touches the pillow.”
Elysia whispered with a small laugh.
This time, too, he was quiet as if he would fall asleep right away.
It would be thirty minutes at the longest, so if he seemed to have fallen asleep before then, let’s leave.
However, perhaps because she had taken a fever reducer after dinner, she kept feeling a yawn coming on.
Whenever that happened, Elysia held it in tightly, putting strength into her eyes.
When she absolutely couldn’t hold it, she turned her head and let out a silent yawn.
Then, the exact moment their eyes met.
“You can go and sleep.”
Yulias said in a low voice.
“Ah, no. I should go after seeing you fall asleep.”
Yulias did not push her away any further.
He just turned his body slightly toward Elysia and closed his eyes.
“Do you remember what you said yourself in your sleep?”
In her sleep?
It must have been what she said while she was receiving his nursing care.
Elysia thought hard and then remembered.
Saying that his hand was cool.
Going further, even calling his name as he held her forehead.
Wary that she might be scolded, she checked his countenance, and Yulias, who had quietly opened his eyes, spoke.
“You said you saw your mother in your dream.”
“Ah, yes. That’s right.”
“…Are you going to follow her?”
“It’s just a dream.”
No matter how much it was a dream, she knew well enough that she couldn’t follow.
But Yulias continued as if that wasn’t the case.
“What if.”
“Yes.”
“Even if it’s two years later… your mother might come looking for you.”
Yulias’s voice was getting lower and lower.
As if he would fall asleep at any moment.
“Then… that would be nice.”
Since it was only a what-if.
If her mother, whose whereabouts were unknown, was alive, she would be purely happy and glad.
Elysia kept her voice low, lest she disturb his sleep.
“Does that mean you will leave.”
“That…”
Elysia trailed off.
It wasn’t simply that she hesitated to answer, but because she was surprised by Yulias’s action of moving his hand first to interlace their fingers.
“…I don’t want to let you go.”
“…”
“Don’t go, Elysia.”
At his honest feelings, Elysia’s pupils trembled.
It was close to the appearance of whining like a young child.
She wasn’t leaving right now, so why was he anxious?
Elysia whispered without releasing their interlaced hands.
“I am right here.”
She had told even her mother, whom she met in the dream, that she couldn’t go right away.
Would he be relieved if she told him that fact?
But Yulias was already quiet, as if asleep.
At least until tomorrow, they would be together at this time, so if he said something similar, she should tell him.
If he would be relieved by that…
“…Huh?”
Elysia tried to get up from her seat, but she couldn’t pull her arm out at all.
How firmly he had interlaced their fingers, he didn’t move an inch.
‘If I shake him off here, he will definitely wake up…’
After deliberating for a moment, she decided to stay a little longer.
Lowering her half-standing posture, Elysia sat on the floor.
To sit back on the chair, she would be pushed back too far, and the floor was more comfortable.
Maintaining their interlaced hands, she rested her head against the bedsheet.
Since he was asleep, there would be plenty of opportunities to leave.
Suppressing a rushing yawn, she blinked her eyes.

* * *
“Elysia.”
“Mmm…”
The voice calling her was low and quiet, making it pleasant to hear.
It was familiar, and on the other hand, it sounded tender.
The touch of the hand that brushed away the hair tickling her face was delicate.
Above all, the posture was comfortable, and warm…
“Huh?”
The moment she snapped out of it, raising her head abruptly.
Elysia stared at the face visible right before her eyes and blinked a few times.
Is this a dream too?
She wanted to believe so, but Yulias’s words immediately reminded her that it was reality.
“You didn’t go back to your room.”
“I, I must have, have dozed off. I’m sorry.”
Surely she was below the bed.
When did she come up and sleep?
No matter how drowsy she was, it would have been better to just fall asleep on the floor.
At least she shouldn’t have come up to the bed!
Observing her restless face, Yulias spoke again.
“For your information, nothing happened.”
“…P-Pardon? …Of course. No, it shouldn’t have? The time…”
As she hurriedly checked the clock, it was early morning.
Seeing the faint light coming through the curtains, dawn was just breaking.
“I, then before anyone sees, I will…”
It was just when Elysia was trying to hurry out.
-Knock, knock.
“Your Grace, are you awake?”
Hilmaiten’s voice was heard beyond the door.
Elysia, her mouth agape, looked at him with a helpless expression.
But Yulias also seemed equally in a bind.
His gaze showed he didn’t expect Hilmaiten to come already.
“What, what should we do?”
“Calm down. First…”
It was when the two were whispering, lowering their voices as much as possible.
“Excuse me.”
The sound of Hilmaiten turning the doorknob was heard.

* * *
-Creak.
“As expected, you were awake.”
“Hilmaiten, it is far too early in the morning.”
Hilmaiten looked at him with a strange gaze.
Yulias was lying down, propping his chin with his arm, with the blanket pulled behind his back as much as possible.
Unlike usual, at his defenseless appearance, Hilmaiten only stood near the door and did not approach.
“There are quite a few morning reports… so I did come thirty minutes early.”
Hilmaiten’s gaze naturally headed behind his back.
Yulias got up to sit as if nothing was wrong and asked.
“Is it a report I must hear right now?”
“…No, it is not. I will come back at the scheduled time.”
Having answered nonchalantly, he left, and the door closed.
Staring intently at the door, Yulias spoke toward the presence felt behind his back.
“You can come out now.”
“Phew…”
Elysia, who had been buried inside the blanket, stood up.
Whether she had held her breath completely for fear that the sound of her breathing would be heard, her face was flushed red.
“…He probably didn’t know, right?”
“Probably.”
With a high probability, he must have known.
But Yulias didn’t bother to add the following words.

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————