Only with Your Heart

His eyes narrowed on the shimmering morning sun as he plugged through the window, and Chizuru was smiling naturally.

The sheets on the bed were completely disturbed by the remnants of last night, but something like a soft, warm blanket of cotton is sprayed over the thousand cranes. Last night's act of love really lasted until the morning sun began to melt on the horizon, and Chizuru fell asleep to lose his mind at some point.

And now, I'm awake.

Maybe even a lot of them should only be asleep for a few hours, but their heads and minds are neat and pleasant. Only the female part, who accepted Ruklov many times, hurt a little, but she also didn't feel much of the morning hypotension that plagued her from time to time.

─ ─ Because if you wake up and soon you can see a sight like this, even your heart will work to the fullest in the morning.

"Morning...... Luklov"

As Chizuru spoke, Ruklov, who was dressed with his back to this side of the bed, looked back over his shoulder. I woke up. I saw Chizuru smiling, and he smiles back calmly, too.

I felt like I saw the most dazzling sight in the world.

Ruklov tied the string tightening his hips tightly, looking back and putting one knee on the edge of the bed, right next to the thousand cranes. Guisserie and bed sink into his weight, his face approaching right next to him as his beard began to grow just a little indiscreet.

"Morning. You don't have to sleep more?

"Yeah, I think I woke up... maybe I'm hungry"

"Due to the feast, there will be no big deal in the dining room this morning. There are a lot of cooks who can't wake up on time. Here."

Ruklov, who took the first apple (apple) that was at the table by the bed, handed it to Thousand Cranes.

After staring at the lukewarm red fruit on the surface, Chizuru slowly woke up his upper body and looked around as he pulled over the blanket.

Indeed, the castle is quiet at this hour.

Normally, it hardly smells like breakfast, which reaches slightly upstairs, or maybe everything goes relaxed this morning. I was also glad that Ruklov was big on it and wouldn't complain about this or anything. I even feel proud of him for noticing the tired servants and giving him a rest for a while.

Though hungry, Thousand Cranes was still naked except to be wrapped in a blanket on the bed, but clung to the received apple. It has a more sour, waking flavour than Japanese apples.

I noticed Luklov staring at Chizuru, who had left his core and finished eating everything. Somehow embarrassed by its colourful gaze, Chizuru dyed her cheeks red.

"Hey, what?

Though I was eating it properly peeled and cut into eight pieces in Japan, it is normal to stick to the skin like this here, and Chizuru was used to it at some point and did so. So I didn't feel uncomfortable about this... but when I can stare at it that way, I feel like I'm doing something embarrassing.

The edges of Lucrov's lips draw a fun curve.

"... I used to wonder who put people in trouble when I first gave them apples, saying they couldn't eat without peeling them off."

"Oh, that's right."

Chizuru's cheeks would surely have turned bright red exactly like the apples he had just eaten.

When I first came to this other world... I had just met Luklov... naturally, though, Chizuru only knew modern Japanese common sense, and now I think I've done something quite embarrassing. I think I've said something about them as barbaric...

This is my second time, and my liver has sat down, although I don't feel like making a scene if it's not about anything else. I think it's all because I've decided to stay on Ruklov's side for the rest of my life. It's not all easy, so I just want you to give me a little credit, not make fun of me.

Chizuru stretched his spine to resist Luklov, letting his lips hang together,

"She lost her old common sense because she fell in love with a savage knight."

And declared.

"Huh?"

Luklov's eyes are dancing with increasing pleasure.

"That's right. She won't say she wants to take a bath every day anymore, will she? I'm just happy to clean myself up in a barrel of hot water. Because we are all determined to live our whole lives in that barbaric, difficult world of knights."

Wanting to know how Luklov reacted, Chizuru peered into him.

He... I don't know.

You look satisfied with something.

"Are you... satisfied?

"Oh."

Ruklov touched Chizuru's cheek with one hand, smiling gently. "Not as long as the savage knight and the others are me."

Relax, Chizuru smiles too. "It's hard, isn't it?

"Well, I'm aware"

"Then don't make fun of me for that"

"Okay, I get it."

Agreeing so, Ruklov gave a light, slightly touchy kiss to Thousand Cranes' cheeks. Somehow I felt like that was a lot more intimate than a thick kiss using my lips and tongue, and Chizuru accidentally lit up.

Alde also had no sign of coming yet, so Chizuru picked his own clothes to get dressed and went down to the hall on the first floor with Lucrov after finishing a light breakfast just for the fruit.

I also showed my face in the dining room, but thanks for breakfast it seemed that the leftovers from last night were the Lord (also), and the servants and knights were sparse, just after the festival. Still, they don't lack a flattering greeting when they see Ruklov.

There was still no sign of Lone and his knights.

They're guests, and they don't have to work here, so I guess they're still asleep. I was just a little concerned about what happened to Bal after last night's game, but I didn't really feel like asking around in front of Ruklov. Besides, he's also a knight and a samurai. Oh, those games and duels shouldn't be the first or the last, and maybe we shouldn't make an exaggerated fuss in his honor.

"It's not going to be work or training this morning."

Looking around the cancer hall, Ruklov seems to have decided that, twinkling his hair up with one hand. Chizuru couldn't help but agree.

"I think if it was about lunch, everyone would wake up..."

"Maybe. Well, I don't mind this morning or so."

Saying, Ruklov stared down at Thousand Cranes.

He had meaningful eyes that would make Chizuru look like he would.

"Duh, what's wrong?

"You want to go outside?

"Huh."

To his abrupt inquiry, Chizuru blinked his pussy and eyes. Ruklov continues.

"You've never been outside the walls, have you? I have a few places I'd like to show you before winter arrives. If you're not tired, let's get the horse out. Not so far away."

"Really? Ugh, yeah, I want to go!

Chizuru jumped at the invitation without one or two. No matter how much you live in the adjoining room of the same castle, you have little chance of staying with Busy Lucroff, the Lord of One Castle and Lord of this part of the region, all the time in the morning except for breakfast. Besides, he was right, Thousand Cranes had hardly ever been outside the castle yet, so the excitement was overwhelming.

It was a beautiful lake about thirty minutes away driving a horse from the castle that Luklov took out a thousand cranes for me.

Sleepy-like leaves and flowers float, and waterfowls similar to swans swim on the surface of the water in turn (cont 'd). The lakeside was swayed gold with earthy grass like autumnal suki, spinning a gentle sound of sagging every time the wind blew.

They sat by the lake and watched the view quietly.

When swans made strange movements or little fish flew over the water, they gave their opinions and laughed at each other about it, but otherwise they just leaned against each other and kept their bodies in their warmth. That's natural and comfortable.

I wanted to think that Luklov was enjoying this moment just as much as Chizuru.

The lake scene is beautiful, peaceful and vivid.

He wanted to "show" this view to Chizuru... just thinking about it makes my chest tremble and I can't cut it. It makes me happy. And it makes me love you.

Luklov hasn't told me yet that he loves Chizuru.

I haven't withdrawn any word that Chizuru is his "guest," let alone mention the future, and he still remains a mystery about the ring Lone was talking about.

But Thousand Cranes thought.

Chizuru is back in this world, about a month. Maybe we just don't have enough time to fill the deep ditch of fourteen years.

Yes, we have time.

Even if we can't get the past back, we both have a future. Now you just allow me to lean next door like this, okay. I want to wait quietly for his heart wound to heal.

On the raucous morning after the festival, next to his beloved, Chizuru still thought so.