"Dear Ceres, what is wrong with you? He looks pale..."
With that said, a crimson-haired young man peeking into my face worryingly - he is Adley, Almel's twin brother.
My brothers and sisters are all visiting my room today. Apparently, Almel's suggestion, worried about me not feeling well, set me up to re-model the room. I think you cared to make me feel a little clearer.
The kindness between them smudges me. If, suppose, I told the two of you the truth, I'm sure they would lend me a hand for my escape without hesitation.
However... I am constantly being watched by Richter, so it is impossible to escape from here as long as there is a contract ring.
Besides, it's obvious that if you give me a hand, you two will get a terrible beating...
─ ─ All you have to do is break your heart and think about me.
I try to rebel over and over again in my head the words that Richt told me.
I'm sure Richt is going to break my heart and brainwash me so I can only think of myself.
I've been stuck in this room for about a month now, but I'm already going crazy.
There are also limits to resisting with the strength of spiritual power. If this continues, it's only a matter of time before my spirit breaks down. As it is, it becomes the pot he thinks it is.
Last night, before I went to bed, I remembered Fuji's "The Magic of Erasing Memories".
Maybe Richt is going to use that magic to erase my memory. That's what made me anxious. I asked Almel, who came to wake me up this morning with details of that magic.
Almel's answer was against my expectations. Apparently, that magic can only erase memories in fragments.
Besides, since the law prohibits the abuse of magic to erase memories, which way do you have to go and get permission, and you can't use it unless you have something extra special?
When that happens, we just have to twitch and brainwash. Either way, Richt is serious. Seriously trying to break my heart.
For the past month I have made a reality escape by remembering Richter before the leopard changed. By doing so, he managed to maintain mental stability.
I felt that if Richt came home and I welcomed him "home," he would smile and say "I'm home" and gently stroke his head.
However, the dreams between those bundles quickly collapse due to the ruthless grin he turns to me.
I liked that smile...... I can't wait to be sad when I think he never smiles as calm as he used to be anymore.
"Dear Ceres...?
"... oh, the... it's okay! Never mind!
I rush back to Adley.
"I hope so... if you don't seem to be feeling well, please tell me. I'll be in touch with Master Richter shortly."
"... Yes"
With him now, I don't want to look at him if I can. But there's no way I could say that. I just nodded.
"Oh, and. I forgot to tell you. Earlier, someone came to visit Master Ceres..."
……
"Master Richt was pressed to 'I'm not feeling particularly well right now, so I won't let you see me if someone visits me', so I asked him to go home... I've been eager to ask about Master Ceres, so I had trouble dealing with it. At first he said 'Rosetta' so I was confused wondering who it was about... that said, that's what you named it when you were going out before you got sick"
"What..."
"The name is for sure, Mr. Nate... he said. Gray hair, old as Ceres..."
"Oh, really..."
"Do you know him?
"Oh, uh... yes. That's the place."
To my vague reply, Adley was strangely inclined to his neck. I wanted to hear more about it, but I couldn't go on talking about it any further when I thought Richt was asking me about this conversation as well.
But... Nate came looking for me. I think he heard that 'Rosetta' was a servant here because of his wide face.
It's been another month since, and anyone would be suspicious to see me again in this world because of it and no tone out.
◆
That night, I was even introducing myself to Nate.
But Richt, who returned home, unexpectedly did not mention the matter.
You were so hostile to Nate, you didn't try to touch him at all. If they don't ask me anything, I get anxious the other way.
In the meantime, I can take a sigh of relief as Richt returns to his chamber.
I thought so. I took out a hair decoration with white flowers from a mirror stand drawer. This hair decoration was given to me by Nate before. One day, after completing the accounting as usual, Nate told me, "This, besides," and I was handed a small paper bag. I went home and opened the paper bag, and this was in it. The letter I was accompanied by said, "Think it looks good on you. It's always a thank you for coming to the store," he wrote.
In the end, I stopped going to the store that day for the last time, so I was thankful, but I've been taking care of this hair decoration ever since.
I'm sure I'll never see you again. So from now on, let's live in this closed room with the slightest memories we've had with him in our hearts.
"... eh"
As soon as I realized I couldn't get out of this mansion for the rest of my life, I accidentally whimpered.
That's how I pushed my voice for a while to kill him and cry, along with the sound of knocking on the door, "Ceres, what's up?" I heard a voice caring for me.
It's Richter. I think he's crying.
"Sorry, it's nothing..."
I gave it back, but he ignored it and walked right into the room.
I hurry to pull out my hair decorations and wipe my fingers with tears and behave as if nothing had happened.
But Richter looked surprised when he saw me clearly swelling his eyes red.
"Were you crying...?
……
I was in the mood to say even one of my complaints, but there's no way I could say "it's all your fault". When I swallowed the words, I leaned down silently.
As Richter approached us silently, he swung around behind his back and embraced my body.
"I'm fine. I'm with you. - No, I'm the only one you have. The grief, too, is only temporary. Soon, I will be free from all suffering..."
When Richt whispered so in my ear, he put his strength into the arms he hugged. I'm sure the phrase 'free from all suffering' means when my spirit will collapse completely.
"Oh, yeah. Long time no see, shall we sleep together?"
"Huh...?
When Richter said so, he lay in bed with me in his arms. And when I turned off the lights and lay in line next to him, he held my shoulder and turned towards himself.
Somehow, I was supposed to sleep across the street.
……!?
"Why are you looking so surprised? I'm just gonna go to bed, so I'm not gonna do anything.... Now (...) is (...)"
……
"Oh, or... have you changed your mind and cared about that? Yesterday, even though it was a throwing attitude, I invited it from you. If you really want me to..."
"No... because I'm not...!
When I shook my head (wearing it) desperately, Richter gave him a luscious grin when he creaked and returned it as a "joke".
Watching Richt treat me like a lover every day makes me almost forget that he's my brother from time to time.
That's why I can't see him as a lover... but maybe he's already a lot brainwashed at the time he starts thinking that way.
Am I going to be a Richter puppet like this......
"This is how you used to sleep with me in my previous life and in this world. I remember when you said," I'm going to sleep alone today, "I was pretty depressed."
……
You remember me really well, I'm impressed. But I couldn't put it in my mouth.
Because I don't know what touches his scales. Given the current situation where I have to pick a word and speak, tears come up again.
I am lonely. I have a brother right next door, but I'm lonely. The dark room where the moonlight plunged in made me feel even more lonely.
As soon as possible, a glimmer of tears conveyed his cheeks. I bury my face in Richter's chest lest I see that tear.
Was it pleasant, that Richter turned his hand on my back and held me gently?
It doesn't change that I'm afraid of leopard-changing Richter. But the peace of mind held in his chest remained the same. I feel comfortable with the beating of my heart and the temperature that touches my skin.
All, I wish I was dreaming. I wish it had all been a long dream that Richt had changed and that the three of us had died and been reincarnated into another world.
When I woke up, I was back in the world where I was, and I wish the three of us could have another peaceful routine......
I fell asleep in Richter's arms, dreaming of an unfulfilled dream.