Chapter 9 Warmth

Translator: Skye Editor: thursdays PR: sj_myself

Raphlets back hit the bottom of the bathtub.

He had grabbed Yuriel as they were falling and pulled her into his arms so that she would fall on top of him.

There wasnt a single scratch on her body thanks to his swift action, but Yuriel was much more surprised than if she were to have fallen by herself.

Raphlet got up as soon as his body touched the floor and stepped out of the bath to scan Yuriels body for any injuries. When he confirmed she wasnt hurt, he let out a sigh and tried to push himself away, but Yuriel grabbed him by the forearm and pulled him close.

Master, are you all right?

Im fine. What about you? Werent you surprised to fall down suddenly?

Yuriels eyes glistened with tears.

The Raphlet before her in this dream was no different from the one she knew in her childhood. He didnt care if he was injured himself and only showed concern for Yuriel, worried that she might have gotten a shock.

When Yuriel first began receiving beatings on his behalf, she was once severely punished for ten days as Raphlet argued against her new position to his parents.

As soon as she was released from punishment, Raphlet would examine her to see if she was hurt anywhere and ask her if she was okay.

He never looked back at himself, so Yuriel had to be by his side.

Yuriel vowed to stay next to him once she woke up from this dream.

In fact, this must have been a dream for that reason. It was a dream telling her to stay by Raphlets side so that he wouldnt be alone and to protect him.

What do you mean youre fine. Your arms, no, your back. Please show me your back.

Yuriel threw herself on him with no hesitation. She had a lot of experience serving him as a maid. A minute was more than enough for her to strip and dress someone. Her nimble fingers quickly unbuttoned Raphlets wet shirt and pulled it back.

A wet, solid body was revealed. It was an admirable body that caught peoples eyes. Yuriel was on the verge of tears as she moved her hands around his back, scanning for injuries.

An injury, injuryOh. Theres nothing.

I told you I was all right. I wouldnt get hurt over something like this, so dont worry, Raphlet said, grabbing her wrists. Yuriels fingers, which had been groping his back, hung in midair as they had no place to go.

Only then did Yuriel realize what she had done.

She had rushed in naked and stripped Raphlet of his clothes. And as if that wasnt enough, she even dared to have a scene in this dream of her master fondling her breasts.

Yuriel staggered, feeling dizzy, and ended up leaning forward.

As soon as her forehead touched Raphlets back, he spoke in a low voice that sounded clearly troubled.

Im really fine, so itd be best if you dont touch me too much right now. I can endure it of course, but

He turned around and pulled her into his arms.

At the feeling of something hard and hot poking her, Yuriel cast her gaze downwards but quickly raised her head back up in shock.

How dare I, even the masters erection

Raphlet was a man of nobility. Even if this was a dream, he was not one to show this kind of lust towards her

Yuriel let out a groan while pulling at her hair.

Im sorry, Master.

Im sorry, Im sorry. Im so sorry for dreaming this kind of dream.

It was clear that the Raphlet in her dream didnt know why she was feeling guilty. His expressionless face gently loosened.

After apologizing several times in a row, Yuriel found herself comfortably hugged.

Im really fine, Yuriel. Youre the one who has to be careful as youre still in the early stages of pregnancy. Im sorry for startling you, he said, pressing a quick kiss to her lips.

What?

Yuriel opened her eyes while caressing her stomach.

She could only remember the last moment of her dream. She was pregnant with someones child, and

But she couldnt recall who had appeared and what conversation she had been having.

Its my first time having a dream where no monsters appeared Hm, is it the first time? I think I might have had a different dream on the train.

Yuriel pondered over it for a while, but she ended up deciding to think of it as her first time as she couldnt remember.

To think this kind of dream would be her first normal dream.

Yuriel remembered hearing that dreams were the manifestations of ones desires. The only other person who knew about Yuriels prophetic dreams thought those were also an expression of some kind of desire and wanted to study her.

Yuriel cooperated, but in the end, they werent able to find out what it ultimately was.

So then, was this dream reflecting a desire to build a family? But she didnt want anything other than being next to Raphlet.

Even if she was going to start a family, it would only be after Raphlet settled down and his own child was born. When the moment came that she could no longer support Raphlet, then her child would devote themself to Raphlet and his child.

Yuriel thought so while groping her flat lower abdomen and staring blankly at the ceiling.

I see youre up, but why are you touching your stomach.? Oh, come to think of it, you havent eaten since yesterday.

Sir Helio.

They said your body is all right now, so lets eat first.

Yuriel pressed her hands against the bed and raised herself up. Her long, loose hair trickled down. Roughly combing her hair with her fingers, Yuriel stuck her legs off the bed.

This is where youll be living from now on, so Ill give you a brief tour for now.

Youll be guiding me yourself, Sir Helio? Im fine with being guided by someone else if youre busy.

Im the best person for this task as I have to explain what Ive arranged for you while you were out.

All the pain Yuriel felt before she fainted was now completely gone. Excluding the fatigue from not being able to sleep well the past few days, she was in the same condition as usual.

Helio, who confirmed Yuriel was getting out of bed, took the lead and began to guide her.

The place where the Knights of Albraca resided was designed with intuitive and easily recognizable structures.

There were four paths that stretched out from the strategy office which was in the center. Helio walked on the path heading north and pointed his finger at a building.

If you become Commander Raphlets personal maid, youll use that northern blue building. The knights and servants under his direct command all live there. The soldiers below them use a different building, but thats information you dont need to know, so Ill skip it.

As Yuriel listened carefully to Helios explanation, she sensed something strange.

What do you mean by if I become his personal maid? she asked, tilting her head.

Ah, well, I cant do anything if Commander Raphlet doesnt want a personal maid. We cant force him to do anything if he doesnt want to, but you dont have to worry. If youre able to prove your ability, you can stay within the order regardless of whether Raphlet accepts you as his maid or not.

Recalling how Raphlet tried to send her back at the train station earlier, Yuriel let out a worried sigh.

She felt stifled by the unfamiliarity of his cold way of speaking and demeanor. She couldnt fathom what he must have gone through since joining the order that would cause him to look so expressionless like that. She had no idea at all.

Yuriel tried to forget that memory by changing the topic and forced a smile.

Sir Helio, are you close with Raphlet? Since you both have the same rank, I assume you would have a lot of exchanges

We arent close. We cooperate with each other solely for the sake of the operations, but our relationship isnt one where we could casually talk and laugh with each other. Ah, but since Raphlet never smiles, laugh would be an unnecessary word.

Helio muttered coldly with a smiling face. Rather than intimacy, his face seemed to be full of hostility.

If it werent for us both being in the same order, hes someone whose face I wouldnt even want to see. Im not virtuous enough to have someone next to me who isnt even like a human being, he added, looking down at the blue stones laid in regular intervals.

At the clear rage coming from his voice, Yuriel unconsciously vented her dissatisfaction.

What are you saying? Raphlet is just clumsy at expressing his emotions. You dont know how warm and kind he can be, please dont speak so carelessly about him when you dont even know anything.

Warm. Well, I suppose if the kindness youre talking about includes willingly sacrificing your own knights for a cause, thats quite plausible, Helio snickered.

On the surface, Helio gave off the aura of an upper-class gentleman, but underneath, he turned out to be no different from a scoundrel.

He was the type of person the people back at the Mogris territory told Yuriel to avoid. They warned her that she could run into trouble just by keeping such a shameless and flashy person next to her.

Hes quite a warm person indeed.

Hes much more of a warm and kind person than someone who tortures a civilian to figure out how to predict the activity of monsters, Yuriel shot back sarcastically, rubbing her lips.

She regarded Helio as an enemy. If anyone disliked Raphlet, they were an automatic enemy to Yuriel.

At the sight of her facewhich hadnt distorted even during torturenow suddenly marred by a frown, Helio let out a hollow laugh.

It was evident that this woman was a fervent admirer of Raphlet.

Helio was about to give some proper advice to this innocent, young lady who seemed to know nothing when a low voice came from behind them.

Torture? What are you talking about?

Yuriels face lit up at once, recognizing the owner of the voice immediately.

Raphlet!

She ran forward and hovered around him like a dog wagging its tail.

Raphlet grabbed her shoulder, moving her behind him, and stepped forward. As soon as he grabbed her shoulder, Yuriels face overflowed with emotion.

With Yuriel full of joy behind him, Raphlet addressed Helio in a sharp tone.

Commander Helio. Did you torture Yuriel?