Chapter 15: Girl's Troubles (1)
"You're the one who killed your grandmother!" The man's stern face twisted with anger; there wasn't a trace of warmth left in the old man's features.
"Father, what are you talking about?" "You are also one of the culprits."
"Father, are you really leaving?" "Of course. I no longer have any reason to stay in this family, after all, she is gone."
The old man's eyes flashed with both hatred and deep love. Without hesitation, he stepped through the door, leaving behind a man filled with pain.
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"Shut up! I don't want to hear those old, cheap comforts. I only demand one result from you. Everything else is useless!"
The man, reeking of alcohol, shouted in anger. His once-handsome, bright face was now twisted by malice.
"So? Anyway, this time you probably can't even get that one result. I've already brought His Excellency Fabres, the Kingdom's treasure 'Ao,' here so many times, yet the lady still refuses to cooperate. Truly discourteous. Alas, I am deeply apologetic."
The man staggered toward the two doctors. Then, standing in front of the silent Fabres, he poured the contents of his wine bottle over the Kingdom's strongest healer's head.
There was no trace left of the once-kind, upright, and diligent knight.
"Please return from there as usual, quack healer and beast-stinking demi-human."
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Reinhild opened her eyes and sat up, holding her slightly dizzy head.
"A dream?"
She whispered softly, shaking her head. She remembered—it was a past memory, buried deep in her mind, a fear and avoidance of the emotion called "love."
Reinhild put on her shoes and walked to the window, pulling back the curtains. She shielded her eyes from the glaring sunlight and looked toward the nearby room—Subaru's resting
room. Memories of her impulsive actions last night gradually surfaced, and Reinhild felt her head heat up.
Splashing cold water on her face, she calmed herself slightly. She tidied her hair in the mirror, organized the temporary room, and then left.
What should I do when I finally see him?
As she neared Subaru's room, Reinhild suddenly thought:
—Have a child? —Discuss family interests?
Two thoughts flashed through her mind. Preserving the family line and maintaining family interests—that was Reinhild's understanding of what couples should do. But instinctively, she felt that what Subaru wanted wasn't that kind of relationship.
—What should couples do?
Reinhild wondered. She had chosen Subaru not for the Astrea family, but for him. But for him, what should she do? What kind of partner would Subaru hope for? What is a normal romantic relationship?
Reinhild suddenly realized she knew nothing. Even her omnipotent Divine Protections had no effect here—this was something she alone had to figure out. She stopped and began thinking.
—Anyway, start with a greeting. —As a couple, how should I greet him?
Images of her grandmother and mother appeared in her mind, but a deceased woman and a Sleeping Beauty asleep for over ten years offered no reference.
Reinhild held her face with one hand, realizing she didn't even have a reference. She regretted avoiding this topic in the past.
—What should I do?
Looking at the sky, she felt lost.
—Maybe just greet him as usual.
She patted her cheek, stood up, and moved toward Subaru's room.
-"Good morning, darling!" -"Mm~ hmm~" -"Good morning, my love!" -"Mm~ hmm~"
The couple in love performed their morning ritual, lightly kissing each other's cheeks. Seconds later, a girl suddenly appeared in the air.
"Waaah! Is that the correct way couples greet each other?"
Reinhild covered her face, remembering the night she had sneaked a kiss on Subaru.
—No, no, no. We already kissed yesterday. So a cheek kiss should be fine… maybe.
Reinhild instinctively touched her own lips with a finger.
"Waaah, what am I thinking?"
—Just greet normally! Yes! Say good morning and ask how he feels.
She took a few steps, then hesitated again.
—What if all couples greet that way? Would Subaru expect that this morning? If I greet him normally, would I disappoint him?
Her eyes suddenly lit up. She hurriedly picked up a branch lying on the floor.
"Couple's greeting… normal greeting… couple's greeting?"
Looking at the empty branch in her hand, Reinhild fell silent.
"This is fate. No reason to hesitate." "Anyway, it's a normal greeting between couples. There's no shame, no reason to retreat. I am Reinhild!"
She turned the corner, reached for the door, and stumbled.
???
She looked around, confused. She had entered Subaru's hospital room, but he wasn't there.
"Ah, good morning, Reinhild meow. The door's broken; Subaru's next door." "Ah! Good morning, Ferris!"
Reinhild hurriedly responded, then noticed the missing door.
"Subaru wasn't hurt, right?" "Nope. It was me who got trapped under the door, meow. Really, during the check last night, Subaru got half-scared to death. Thought he'd become the funniest dead knight ever. Let's go—you're here to see Subaru too, right?"
Ferris led a relieved Reinhild next door and pushed open the door.
"Good morning, Subaru." "Morning, Reinhild, Ferris."
Reinhild froze for a second at Subaru's greeting, but all the courage she had gathered disappeared during the earlier door-stumbling and Ferris revealing the broken door.
—If it were just the two of us!
Seeing Ferris beside her, Reinhild gave up.
"Good morning, Subaru."
She smiled, and so—even as a couple—their way of greeting hadn't changed at all.
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