It felt soft and a little warm.
Leo withdrew his hand, but a nagging sense of wrongness made him reach back out.
He gave the object a tentative pinch and knead. It was still warm and held a slight elasticity. Compelled by a drunken curiosity, he patted it gently. It was springy, even trembling slightly from the impact.
Sitting up, Leo pressed a hand to his own forehead, confirming he did not have a fever.
"Drunk? That shouldn't be the case! I only had twenty cups."
After muttering these words to himself, he lay back down, convinced he was merely hallucinating.
Curled up in the innermost part of the bed, Furina felt as if her entire body were burning, but she dared not move a muscle.
The first time, Leo had touched her waist and stomach. The second time, he had touched her buttock.
That was her buttock! He had touched, rubbed, and pinched it. She resolved to simply endure it until he fell asleep, and then she could make her escape.
But why did he have to pat it? Why?
She desperately wanted to yell at him, but the thought that he was utterly drunk subdued her anger.
Twenty glasses of wine! How could anyone drink so much?
What if… what if a drunken Leo became violent? If he were to harm her, to whom could she possibly appeal for justice?
Neuvillette? She could almost hear his calm, stern reply: 'You sought the key yourself, Lady Furina…'
Now, she could only pray that Leo would stop moving and let sleep overtake him.
But hopes are beautiful, while reality is often cruel.
Leo lay down again and decided this particular hallucination was rather pleasant. He shifted his body inward.
Stretching out his hand, he groped blindly in the darkness, searching for that softness once more.
No matter how Furina tried to shrink away, the bed was too small. Leo's hand soon found her again.
Aha! Got you!
Grasping the soft form, he rubbed and squeezed it firmly, deciding the sensation was truly excellent.
As he continued to explore, Leo suddenly understood why his master had loved drinking so much. These hallucinations were incredibly vivid.
It felt just like the real thing.
Furina froze completely, enduring Leo's hands roaming over her waist and stomach in disbelief.
She couldn't comprehend why he was so certain this was a hallucination instead of, say, lighting a lamp to see what was in his bed.
Feeling his hand begin to travel upward, Furina's heart beat faster and faster. Her body grew hotter and hotter, until she felt utterly weak.
No! Any further up and it would be…
Seizing Leo's wrist, Furina decided to gamble. She would bet that he was not beyond reason, and that he was, at his core, a good person.
Feeling something grab his hand, Leo was first confused, then surprised. He leapt out of bed in an instant, fumbling for the lamp switch. Light flooded the room, and he prepared to confront the situation.
The scene before him made his blood run cold, then hot.
There, on the bed near the wall, the Hydro Archon herself, Lady Furina, lay curled deliciously against the pillows, her face a deep crimson, her silken pajamas slightly disheveled…
"L—Lady Furina!"
Lying on the bed, Furina felt a wave of despair. She didn't know whether to move or stay perfectly still.
Could she blame him? There was no grounds to blame him this time!
She was the one who had crept into his bed…
Shrinking her body further, Furina slowly raised a hand in a timid wave and whispered, "Leo… good evening!"
As she said it, she flinched slightly, for the look in Leo's eyes was indeed frightening.
It shifted from fear, to shock, to confusion, and finally to a dawning, incredulous joy.
This dream is far too real!
Leo couldn't process that the real Furina would be in his room. How could Lady Furina possibly be in his room, let alone on his bed?
He shook his head, touched his temple, and decisively turned the light off again, climbing back into bed.
If it's a dream, I might as well enjoy it.
Watching the light vanish, Furina was utterly bewildered, unsure of his intentions.
But a second later, her confusion vanished.
Because Leo gathered her into his arms directly, wrapping one around her shoulders and the other around her waist, holding her tightly against his chest.
"Lady Furina," he murmured, his voice thick with sleep and wine, "you're so well-behaved in my dream."
Hearing his fervent words, Furina swallowed hard. Feeling the warmth of his embrace, she replied in a soft, hesitant voice, "N-no… this is not a dream."
Feeling the softness, the warmth, and the faint, elegant fragrance of hydro and noctilucous jade from the form in his arms, Leo only smiled.
"Oh, in my dream, Lady Furina, please don't be so stubborn."
As he spoke, he hugged her tighter, one hand splayed against the small of her back, the other cradling her head.
"My Lady Furina, you smell so good, you're so soft… this is so comfortable."
The words made Furina's blush deepen to a scarlet hue. So, Leo liked her this much?
Just as the thought formed, she felt him press a kiss to her forehead, then her left cheek, and finally her right.
She felt her face burn so hot she thought she might combust, but Leo, in his blissful ignorance, didn't seem to notice.
Finally, Leo looked down at Furina's wide, slightly frightened eyes. He raised a hand and gently stroked her cheek, marveling at how soft she was.
Then, content, Leo simply closed his eyes, held Furina close, and drifted into a deep, peaceful sleep. Even in what he believed was a dream, he would not allow himself to be truly outrageous.
Hearing Leo's breathing become deep and steady, Furina finally let out a sigh of relief.
She had feared he would do something unthinkable in his 'dream,' but the reality was that even his dream-self was a gentleman.
With a long, quiet sigh, Furina managed to wriggle one hand free and gently touched Leo's face.
Was he dreaming?
She recalled Neuvillette once saying that when one is drunk or dreaming, their truest thoughts are revealed.
Leo was drunk and believed himself to be dreaming. Everything he did and said was sincere.
The young guard… liked her.
It was a very simple, earnest fondness, asking for nothing more.
After calming her racing heart, Furina tried to extricate herself from Leo's arms, but found it impossible.
The embrace wasn't crushingly tight, but it effectively blocked all routes of escape.
Any forceful struggle would undoubtedly wake him.
And if he woke, would he still believe this was a dream?
Trapped, Furina had no choice but to admit defeat for the night.
She couldn't escape. She couldn't break free.
And so, Furina simply closed her eyes and surrendered to the conclusion of today's farce.
As for what to do tomorrow? She refused to think about it now.
And so, Leo, who believed he was dreaming, and Furina, who was painfully awake, fell asleep together.
The next morning, Leo, who maintained a healthy schedule, slowly opened his eyes, ready to begin his day's work.
Huh? Something is wrong.
After blinking the sleep from his eyes, Leo froze, utterly stunned.
There, nestled in his arms with her head pillowed on his shoulder, was the petite Hydro Archon, Lady Furina, still fast asleep. She looked incredibly cute and well-behaved.
In an instant, Leo's heart shot from the ground to the sky and then plummeted back down, as if on a roller coaster.
Last night was not a dream!!!
The faint, elegant scent of water and flowers that clung to her filled his senses. His heart began to hammer against his ribs, so loud and frantic he was certain it would wake her.
Why was Lady Furina in his bed? Why? How?
As the events of the previous night replayed in his mind with horrifying clarity, Leo wished desperately for the power to turn back time and slap his past self.
How could someone who could normally drink thirty cups without a stumble get so utterly drunk on twenty?
What had he been thinking?!
And Lady Furina had heard all those sincere, drunken confessions!
It's over. It's over. It's all over.