I Think My Fiancé Has Regressed

Chapter 39: Things to do before leaving (3)

When I woke up after my last memory, I was in my bedroom in my room at the villa.

Judging by the darkness outside the window, it was probably the middle of the night.

Still, the fact that I woke up in bed was a relief, at least for now.

It meant that I had somehow managed to defeat Grishna, and that the events on the shores of Canbina were over.

It was worth it to use that last bit of magic.

I looked around my room in a daze, and as I expected, I caused Alex some concern.

“You’re awake.”

Alex’s eyes met mine and he gave me a relieved smile.

…A prince charming smile while my judgment is clouded, that’s not good for the heart.

“What about the sea giant?”

It’s not a bad idea to soak in the quiet atmosphere and sentiments, but there were other priorities.

I’m sure it probably would have ended well, but it’s nice to hear that it did.

“Thanks to Ariana, I was able to kill it. Probably I wouldn’t have been able to if it wasn’t for that last second chance.”

“That’s good, it was worth the gamble of using all my remaining magic.”

“Still, it’s dangerous, so don’t do it again.”

“Alex, you’re the one who decided to come to the shores of Canbina to deal with that dangerous creature on your own, without telling me. There are degrees of recklessness.”

“…….”

At my irrefutable logic, Alex reluctantly gave me a bitter smile.

I stiffened up on the bed so that I was eye level with Alex, and I spoke seriously, not wanting today’s incident to repeat.

“I know you’re probably going to be busy dealing with things like this in the future, but I want you to know that you can count on me.”

“Yeah, I will.”

“Not just me, but Kael, Prince Eamon, and Charlotte, they’re not all bad, so I’m sure Alex won’t be disappointed.”

“The others might be willing to listen, but I don’t think Charlotte would be willing at all.”

“Well, I’m sure she’s had her own change of heart.”

I realized that all the grumbling she’d been doing to Alex had been out of concern for me.

Now that he has shown that he’s willing to overcome the effects of the dreamweed, I’m sure Charlotte’s attitude will soften.

“Well…I’m sure I can convince her.”

“Yeah, I’m sure Charlotte would listen to you.”

After saying that, Alex looked troubled for a moment, as if he was trying to get something out of his mind that he’d been holding onto with difficulty.

“Ariana, don’t you have any doubts?”

“Doubts? Of whom?”

“Of me, of course; who else could there be?”

“Well, Miss Sierra’s case was concluded to be due to dreamweed, and you’ve shown yourself to be able to overcome even that.”

“…I didn’t mean it in that way.”

Alex shook his head slightly, then restated his original question.

“Ever since the night of the ball, when I atoned for my wrongdoing to you, I’ve been exhibiting a series of strange behaviors that wouldn’t make sense to a normal person.”

“…Well, I suppose that’s true.”

“Perhaps you realize, Ariana, that there are at least one or two secrets I haven’t told you.”

“…….”

“And yet you never ask me about those secrets, and I wonder why you continue to trust me without question.”

Well, I don’t know what to say to that.

Now that I know that Alex is a hidden saint, I have a reasonable reason to not be skeptical about the future things he tells me.

But Alex would want to keep this secret, so I can’t be the first to talk about it.

First of all, the reason I trust Alex is because it was before I even figured it out.

So my answer to that question, it was kind of set from the beginning.

“I just want to believe you.”

“…What?”

“I believe Alex because I want to believe you, but that’s not an answer, is it?”

Even if I didn’t have a complete grasp on the secrets Alex was hiding.

Even if I hadn’t figured out what caused his mind to suddenly change after he was manipulated by Miss Sierra.

Even then, I think I would still have believed him.

It’s just a woman’s instinct to think it’s okay.

…Well, a woman, but technically only half a woman.

“No, really, that’s a good enough answer. Thank you.”

“I’m glad to hear it, Alex.”

“On that note, do you mind if I give you a hug?”

“…….”

I stiffen, momentarily nervous at the bluntness of Alex’s words.

“Alex.”

“…Why not?”

“Well….You don’t have to ask.”

“Really?”

“And, uh, since when has Alex ever been conscious of what other people think of him, when he’s done far more embarrassing things in front of other people….”

I’m not sure why he’s unusually shy in this direct physical contact, because the fact that he feed me would be a much more intense form of affection.

“…Because I don’t think I’d be able to control myself if I didn’t get clear permission to do it, and to what extent.”

“Control?”

“If I don’t draw a line in the sand that says I can only feel you up to this point, at some point my reason will lose control of my emotions.”

“…….”

…Uh, so.

I guess that’s what this means, right?

If I just say to Alex, “You can do whatever you want,” is he ready to cross the line with me at any moment?

Oh, I’m not completely ready to do that yet, but if I were to say that now….

“Ah, ah, Alex.”

“Come on, Ariana.”

“Oh, for you, Alex, I’m willing to do anything….”

But my words, barely able to contain my embarrassment, were cut off before I could finish.

Alex put a second finger to my lips, hastily cutting off my next words.

“…That’s it.”

“…….”

“I know what’s on Ariana’s mind, and I know what she’s probably going to say after that.”

“…….”

“I still think it’s too soon, though. We still have a lot to work through.”

“Well, but….”

“So for now, I’ll settle for this.”

Alex’s chest was close to my upper body, and soon after, I felt the sensation of his broad chest against mine.

Alex’s arm muscles and wide palms were felt on my back, and I stroked his broad back with my thin hands.

…Well, if you’re happy with this, there’s no need for me to rush to get closer.

It won’t be the only time I get the chance, and Alex will still be my pet after today.

There’s plenty of time to exchange love and affection.

As for Alex’s heart disease, I’m going to fix it somehow.

As I was feeling Alex’s body temperature with my whole body, I heard a familiar voice that didn’t belong to Alex.

“Are you done with the lovey-dovey?”

“……!!”

“……!!”

At the sudden sound of my maid Elise’s voice, both Alex and I quickly pulled away from each other in surprise.

“Eh, Elise?!”

“…….”

“Uh, when did you get here….?”

“How could I rest when you were down? I thought you might be getting up, so I went down to get something to eat.”

“I see.”

As if to prove it, in each of Elise’s hands was a tray with a single-serving soup plate.

“Uh, how much did you see?”

“From the point where Ariana says something fearless to Prince Alexandros, and he puts his finger over her mouth.”

Well, thankfully she didn’t see the part about Alex keeping secrets.

Of course, the rest of the story made me feel quite embarrassed, but I was relieved that I hadn’t revealed the most dangerous part.

“Shouldn’t you be eating now? I’ll go back to my room so you don’t feel uncomfortable, Ariana.”

“Yeah, yeah, see you tomorrow morning, Alex!”

After being caught in an embarrassing hug by Elise, Alex and I hurriedly said our goodbyes and as he headed back to his room, Alex’s face flushed from our midnight act of affection.

My face probably doesn’t look all that different from Alex’s.

“…….”

The embarrassment in my heart grew even stronger when I saw Elise’s gaze wordlessly directed towards me.

…Come to think of it, she’s probably still thinking of Alex in a bad way.

Unlike Charlotte, who saw Alex pull himself together under the effect of the dreamweed, she didn’t get to witness it.

Maybe she was offended by the act of affection I shared with Alex.

“I, Elise…?”

“Yes, Arianna.”

“I…I know you still don’t like Alex, but he’s a good person.”

“He is.”

“Oh, and today, you even put yourself in harm’s way and took on a demon that only Alex could defeat.”

“Yes, that’s right.”

“So why don’t you trust him one more time? I’m asking you on Alex’s behalf.”

Elise pushed a tray of soup over my body, then replied with a blunt statement.

“You don’t have to tell me, Ariana, but I’ve already sorted out all my bad feelings about Alex.”

“Uh, is that so?”

“Well, from the way he threw himself into saving others, even to the point of possibly sacrificing himself, he’s definitely back to the old Alex.”

“Well, that’s what I said, isn’t it?”

“Now that I’ve confirmed that, I have no reason to object any further, and as your servant, I shouldn’t be questioning your judgment in the first place.”

“Thank you for saying that, Elise.”

Now that Elise had gotten her bad feelings about Alex out of the way, I could breathe a sigh of relief.

From now on, she could act like a fiancée to Alex without anyone judging me.

“Not until you’re married, though.”

“Yes, yes….”

Though I guess if we’re going to move forward with our relationship, we’re going to have to hurry up and get married.