Chapter 45. A Change in Mindset
Night grew ever deeper.
Bright white moonlight filtered through the gauze window, falling upon the faintly trembling expression on Kaguya's face.
The placid smile she usually maintained finally couldn't hold it in anymore.
"Pardon me. This concubine didn't catch it just now. Husband, what's the name of your game?"
"To the Moon."
Xander repeated it once more.
The scoundrel who had made all her previous efforts come to nothing really was him!!
Kaguya felt a rush of hot blood, and her vision darkened a little.
The person who had cost her a chance at freedom ended up, by a twist of fate, becoming her husband, and this dramatic outcome left Kaguya unsure whether to be angry or to cry.
Her raised hand ignored the teacup on the table that was still steaming.
Clatter!
"Ah!"
The teacup in front of Kaguya was knocked over.
Pale tea spilled all over the table, some of it splashing onto her hand and making her frown in pain.
"Are you okay?!"
The tea was still quite hot, and Xander immediately moved to Kaguya's side and took her by the wrist.
The originally fair back of her hand had turned bright red.
Without time for many words, Xander pulled her up from her seat.
"Where's cold water?"
Feeling that unquestionable tone, Kaguya opened her mouth, then silently pointed in a direction.
Still holding her by the wrist, Xander pulled her along at a quick pace to the washroom.
It was clearly a traditional Japanese-style room, yet the washroom's décor was quite modern.
Xander didn't bother with the contrast; he set Kaguya's reddened hand under the basin faucet and turned the cold water to full.
As the icy tap water rinsed over it, the tight knit of Kaguya's brows finally eased a little.
The washroom wasn't large, and in the confined space their bodies were almost pressed together.
The male scent that washed over her made Kaguya feel rather ill at ease.
For the first time, her voice carried a hint of shyness: "Thank you…"
"How could you be so careless?"
Because the sense of déjà vu was so strong, Xander subconsciously used the tone he used to scold the children at the orphanage.
Whenever they did something that hurt themselves, he would say this while helping clean up after them.
Hearing this, Kaguya felt a little awkward.
How was she supposed to explain—say it was because you made her so angry she lost her head?
"This concubine only…"
Kaguya had intended to toss out a casual excuse, but when she looked up and saw the unhidden concern within Xander's stern expression, the words halted of their own accord.
She simply looked into his eyes, silent.
At that moment, Xander also realized that Kaguya was not one of the little ones from the orphanage, but his fiancée who was two years older than he was.
The words of rebuke he had prepared were swallowed back down, and that direct, inscrutable gaze fixed on him made him all the more ill at ease.
"Um, what I mean is, you must be careful and cherish your body."
His quickly averted, concerned gaze left Kaguya secretly feeling it was a bit of a pity.
Then she nodded obediently and, for the first time before Xander, showed a faint fragility: "Mm. This concubine understands."
The air fell quiet again.
In the silent night, the rush of water drowned out the intermittent chirring of insects.
In the cramped washroom, Xander could clearly catch the intoxicating fragrance Kaguya exuded.
Kaguya seemed to sense something as well.
She lowered her head, quietly pressed her body against Xander's, standing on the inner side away from the door.
Her breathing turned a bit hurried, as if whatever Xander did, she wouldn't resist.
But Xander naturally couldn't do anything to Kaguya in such a state.
He opened the washroom door wide and let the slightly cool night breeze disperse the room's suggestiveness.
"Is there a first-aid kit in the bedroom?"
"Mm. It's in the cabinet near the doorway."
"Okay, I'll go get it. Keep rinsing here for a while. Remember, don't move."
Stepping out of the washroom, the cool air pressed down the restlessness of adolescence, and Xander immediately felt much better.
Following Kaguya's directions, he soon rummaged a first-aid box out of the drawer, took out burn ointment and gauze, and returned to the washroom.
Kaguya stood obediently where she was, still rinsing with cold water.
After having her wait for about twenty minutes more, Xander turned off the tap, gently wiped the water from her hand with a towel, and led her to sit on the edge of the veranda along the corridor.
"It may hurt a little in a moment."
Squeezing some burn ointment onto his fingertips, Xander spoke in a reassuring tone.
"Mm. It's fine."
With Kaguya's assent, Xander carefully applied it to her burn.
Moonlight poured down, draping the other in a layer of white silver gauze in Kaguya's eyes.
He held her hand and seemed to be applying with great care, so much so that he didn't even notice she was secretly watching him.
Time flowed slowly in this quiet, gentle togetherness.
Once he finished applying the ointment and bandaging it with gauze, Xander breathed a sigh of relief and smiled.
"That'll do it. Remember not to get it wet. Avoid spicy, stimulating foods for now. This burn isn't severe, so it won't leave a scar on your hand."
"It's getting late."
Looking at the moon already high in the sky, Xander braced himself on the veranda and stood up.
"Then this concubine will just…"
"I should head back."
Kaguya's movement paused, and she lifted her head to look at him in puzzlement.
"Head back?"
"Yeah. Go home. There are still people waiting for me there."
A smile rose at the corner of his mouth.
Xander stretched lazily, then turned his back to Kaguya and waved.
"See you next time, my cute fiancée~"
"Wait!"
The slightly hurried voice quickly drew up behind him, and Xander turned around toward it.
"What the— Mmph…"
Like a streak of starlight, it touched down at his lips and parted in an instant.
The soft sensation left Xander staring blankly ahead.
"In that case, why not have a lovely farewell kiss, my handsome fiancé~"
Their bright eyes met, and Kaguya adorably blinked at him.
Then she clasped her hands behind her back and skipped back two steps, showing him the sweetest smile of the night.
It was the first time she had shown the look of a mischievous girl; the charming, radiant expression made his heart speed up despite himself.
He didn't come back to himself until he had gotten into Reisen's car, when the unending honks out on the street finally roused him.
But when he closed his eyes, what surfaced was still that sweet smile.
This scene was something he might never forget.
On the other side, after seeing Xander's figure off, Kaguya lifted a hand to lightly touch her lips, and as she thought and thought, an irrepressible smile rose.
Truly adorable—her husband's reaction.
Over the course of one night, the mindset of a certain princess who had already resigned herself quietly changed.
Only, however…
Recalling the tender smile that had unwittingly risen at the corner of her husband's mouth when he mentioned going home, the curve at Kaguya's own lips slowly smoothed away.
Family, huh?
That's truly something to envy…
Enjoyed the story? Support me and get access to early chapters by joining my Patreon!
Find me at: Patr*eon*.com/Resium
Free members can read 10+ Chapters Ahead of Release
Paid member can read 150+ Chapters Ahead of Release
Stories Available
Honkai? No, This Is Daily Life
Hogwarts Pet Master
Pokémon: Who Let Him Leave Pallet Town!
Scrolling Yu-Gi-Oh! Shorts