"Really slipped up..." Avendial mumbled, his voice barely breaking the stillness of the room. He blinked his eyes open, the blanket pulled snugly up to his chin. The space around him was quiet, soft shadows dancing lazily across the walls from the gently swaying curtains.
He took a moment to take in his surroundings—simple furniture, muted colors, and an overall vibe that screamed: hotel room.
'....Did I really sleep that deeply?' he thought, tilting his head slightly as a light confusion washed over him, realizing that the accumulation of physical and mental exhaustion had caused him to sleep like this, even though it was unusual.
In his past life, he hardly took these deep naps, given that he needed to survive each day inside the tower. His body clock had been set to keep him half awake, even while he was sleeping, to be prepared for any problem.
But after arriving here, it appeared his body still was not adapted, and given how he wanted to rest due to all the exertion, he slept too well.
With a slight struggle, he lifted the blanket and peeked down to see if he was still dressed.
Naturally, he could not overlook the reality that he was not alone and was likely brought to the hotel by Aecilia, a woman.
In a past life experience, he had trusted several women to let him take a deep nap, and he always woke up without any clothes, while the women either escaped or were lying naked beside him.
As he did, a voice floated through the air, smooth yet laced with curiosity, "Pardon me, Marquess, do you really think I undressed you and did anything inappropriate?"
His gaze snapped toward the source of the voice.
Sitting on a nearby sofa was Aecilia, leaning forward with her chin propped on her hands, elbows resting on her knees.
She was staring at him, an intrigued expression on her face, despite the shadows under her eyes that hinted she hadn't gotten much sleep.
"...Were you in my room all night?" Avendial finally managed to ask, noting the dark circles beneath her eyes.
They didn't diminish her beauty, but they definitely indicated to him that she had been awake for quite some time, likely keeping an eye on him, maybe even assaulting him all night just with her eyes.
"Nope, I just got here a few seconds ago," Aecilia replied, her tone surprisingly straight-faced. She didn't look like she was making things up. As she spoke, she closed her eyes for a moment, waving her hand dismissively enough to erase any doubts he had about her timing.
With her eyes shut, memories of the previous night flickered in her mind.
After she'd left the hospital and arrived at the hotel, she had taken it upon herself to help Avendial into the room.
Not wanting to involve the guards, she'd given him her shoulder for support, one hand pressed gently against his abdomen.
It was a balancing act, guiding him in a way that felt respectful.
Definitely respectful.
There was no way she would take advantage of his vulnerability—it just wasn't in her character.
Perhaps she would be able to get even more in the upcoming ones.
'Damn it,' Avendial thought as he moved near a mirror. Due to its size, he could clearly see a reflection of Aecilia looking towards him with a composed expression.
He felt his mouth twitch, given that he could clearly see a nosebleed peeking through her nostril, but before it could reveal anything, it was once again inhaled in.
Somehow, he inwardly knew that even though both of them appeared impassive and without any expression, he had definitely been assaulted by her touch last night.
His eyes kept looking blankly at that woman who was so shameless that he couldn't even gather enough proof.
In the end, he decided he would never fall asleep when she was nearby him, or thoroughly lock the hotel door from today.
He needed to stay in the Free City for a few weeks too, until he solved the matter of Aria.
And while remaining here, he also needed Aecilia to stay beside him for two reasons: the first was to have a proper excuse with the royal family, and the second was his doubt that she was very lucky.
"I will come after I freshen up too, then," Aecilia said, using her knees for support as she tried to stand, thinking about starting a new day.
It was the second day, and she needed to act as his driver once again, and this time she definitely planned to go on a date.
Unlike yesterday, today she had decided that after picking him up from the academy, she would go directly to some restaurants or enjoy something.
"Wait, Miss Aecilia, you are not going anywhere," Avendial, who was about to enter the bathroom, glanced back at her. He heard Aecilia's words clearly stating that she was going to prepare for today too, which he didn't want, given that he wanted to confirm if yesterday's events were a coincidence or effect of luck.
"Huh? Sorry?" Aecilia asked, standing and looking at Avendial with a tilted head, not understanding what he meant; she felt confused.
"Will you please lie down on the bed?" Avendial said, seeing her look at him blankly, appearing confused, though he knew she understood what he meant, prompting him to use this opportunity to push her into showing some openness.
"....okay," Aecilia nodded as she approached the bed, not becoming enthusiastic about his motives, because she knew his character very well.
Nor an innocent woman like her could do much if he tried something bad.
Aecilia sank back onto the bed, her thin black nightdress sliding effortlessly over her smooth skin, clinging to every curve as if sculpted by the fabric itself.
The gown barely grazed her knees, exposing her legs, and the soft material traced the lines of her hips and waist, leaving just enough to stir the imagination.
Her arms rested lazily across her abdomen, and her golden eyes gleamed beneath thick lashes as she gazed up at the ceiling, her black lips slightly parted.
Her long black hair spilled out like ink across the pillow, framing her in dark elegance. She lay there, still and tempting, as Avendial drew nearer, his eyes never leaving her.
"Good night," Avendial said as he grabbed the blanket and pulled it over her whole body. Without giving a glance or feeling tempted—having already seen enough to create mental strength against such alluring sights—he turned and entered the bathroom.
He left behind a room where a single, confused womanly sound reverberated, "Eh?"