A Morning in Embrace, an Evening of Jealousy

Ophelia slowly awoke.

Emily still lay asleep in her embrace, her sleeping face serene, her chest rising and falling gently.

Her lips were slightly pursed, her eyes closed, lending her a profoundly peaceful appearance.

Ophelia smiled softly, but just as she prepared to rise, her hand was suddenly caught.

“Don’t go…”

“Stay, please stay, don’t leave me…”

The mournful plea tugged at Ophelia’s heart. She gazed at the hand clasped around her arm; she could easily pull away, yet found herself unable to.

Suddenly, the words from last night echoed in her mind.

“I don’t like you being like this, just like my former family.”

She was afraid.

She feared becoming a mere pawn, feared losing that love. What could be wrong with yearning for affection?

Ophelia lowered her head and pressed a soft kiss to Emily’s forehead.

With nothing pressing today, the weather was perfect, the sun a gentle warmth.

Ophelia lay back down.

She pulled Emily back into her embrace, then closed her eyes.

Emily’s eyes fluttered open.

Just as she had anticipated, the Queen’s former tenderness was no pretense; she couldn’t resist Emily’s slightly theatrical plea, and thus remained to keep her company.

‘So, was this also Vina’s intention?’

‘To separate the nobility from the Queen, isolating her in court, so that one day, she could both monopolize the Queen and ascend to kingship herself.’

Emily closed her eyes once more.

She savored the tender warmth.

The sunlight was beautiful, and nestled in Ophelia’s arms, she felt as she had always yearned to feel, in an embrace she had long coveted but never truly received.

Then, her gaze met Ophelia’s crimson eyes.

“You’re awake?” Ophelia inquired.

Emily started, then feigned a sleepy demeanor.

“Mm, Ophe, may I be a little spoiled with you?”

Ophelia’s lips curved upward slightly.

‘Her half-asleep state was truly adorable. Emily, a young lady of such noble birth, was indeed charming, though in the book, she was somewhat tsundere (TL Note: A Japanese term describing a character who is initially cold or hostile but later reveals a warmer, softer side), yet now she rarely exhibits such traits.’

“Of course, Emily. I’ve always told you that you can be spoiled with me. It’s perfectly fine; I don’t mind.”

Emily gently closed her eyes and leaned closer, resting her head against Ophelia’s chest.

“I don’t want to work today. I just want to sleep in.”

“I just want to sleep in Ophe’s arms.”

Ophelia chuckled softly.

She pressed her forehead against Emily’s, holding her close in a warm embrace.

“Of course, there’s no problem, Emily.”

The sunlight was warm, making the blankets feel cozy. The two remained silent, with only the sound of the wind and the gentle flow of time accompanying them.

“Ophe, do you think anything will go wrong if I don’t work for a day?” Emily asked.

‘How could anything go wrong?’

‘If anyone among them was the busiest, Ophelia believed it was undoubtedly Emily. She diligently handled documents, rushed between various nobles, and truly contributed a great deal for the sake of the few of them.’

Ophelia gently stroked Emily’s soft, black hair.

‘I was supposed to be nurturing you, yet you’ve ended up being the one who helps me.’

“Nothing will go wrong. Even if Emily doesn’t work for many days, it’s fine; I can handle the work too.”

“You’re a diligent child, you’ve worked hard enough, and you’ve done very well, Emily.”

Emily truly began to feel drowsy.

Was there anything more important in the world than falling asleep in the arms of the one she loved? Slowly, she closed her eyes.

‘Her head was being stroked.’

‘So comfortable.’

‘Ophelia’s embrace was soft and wonderfully warm.’

Her back was gently patted, and she heard Ophelia softly humming a song to her.

“Rock-a-bye, rock-a-bye, to Grandma’s bridge we go. Grandma says I’m her good baby, with a steamed bun and a cake…”

Slowly, she drifted off to sleep.

When she awoke again, it was already dusk. It was Vina who had come to rouse them. Entering the room, she saw Ophelia and Emily with their foreheads touching, their faces incredibly close. Vina, who considered herself a very calm person, found her temper flaring uncontrollably at the sight.

‘I came here to see Ophelia’s sleeping face!’

‘Now, why is Emily here too? It’s like drinking a pot of delicious soup only to find a rat dropping in it!’

Unable to contain herself, she suddenly yanked the blankets off both of them—

“Get up! Both of you, get up!”

Ophelia, well, she must have been very tired yesterday.

So Vina aimed a kick at Emily’s backside.

“Get up! It’s already dusk! You’ve slept all day!”

The two slowly opened their eyes, then gradually sat up, both still hazy with sleep. Due to their sleeping position, they even found themselves embracing as they rose.

Then, they exchanged a knowing smile.

Vina grew even angrier.

“Emily! Why didn’t you ask for leave when you weren’t coming to handle affairs today? I’m over there dealing with documents, and you’re here sleeping with the Queen!”

“You… you!”

Emily covered her mouth.

“Oh dear, Princess Vina is rarely this angry.”

“Don’t be so anxious, Princess Vina. You stick to the Queen every day; what’s wrong with me occasionally sticking to her? One shouldn’t be so hypocritical.”

She promptly burrowed into Ophelia’s embrace.

“Right? Your Majesty, the love you give us is definitely equal, isn’t it? There’s no problem with me sticking to you for a day, is there?”

Ophelia nodded.

“Of course!”

‘You are all my wings~ No, you are all my heroines. I certainly wouldn’t show favoritism.’

“See? Even the Queen says so, right? Princess Vina, you no longer have any grounds to object, do you?” Emily continued to provoke her like a little imp.

Vina struggled to restrain herself.

‘Forget it, I should have gotten used to this by now.’

‘Emily is also a friend, and quite unlike others.’

‘Later, when I’m fiercely having my way with the Queen, I’ll tie you up next to us and make you watch! Make you only watch!’

“Come on, let’s hurry and eat, or Marta will finish everything.”

All three burst into laughter.

Ophelia straightened her clothes and stood up.

“Speaking of which, why does Marta eat so much?”

‘This gluttonous trait wasn’t in the book. When Marta went out alone with the male protagonist, she was so shy she wouldn’t even eat, only drinking a cup of tea!’

“I remember it’s because Fallen Knights require a lot of energy and magic, right?” Emily mused.

“That’s precisely the reason. Fallen Knights need immense magical power even to swing a single sword. They typically consume large amounts of food to store magic, and Marta is no exception.”

“How enviable, eating so much and never getting fat,” Emily sighed.

“Indeed. We all have to control ourselves and exercise daily, or a little paunch (TL Note: A colloquial term for a small belly or potbelly, often implying slight excess weight) will quickly appear. Marta, however, doesn’t have that problem; I saw her flat stomach the other day, completely free of any excess fat.”

As they walked into the living room, a dozen empty plates were already stacked in front of Marta.

After dinner, Ophelia returned to her study.

She began to ponder how she would unlock the heart of the God of Wisdom and the Stars tomorrow.