NOVEL NEXT “Sophia, do you want to go outside for a bit?”
“Suddenly?”
I was lying in my room reading a book I brought from the library.
Well, it was a world similar to the Middle Ages, where there weren’t many light-hearted activities to do, as always.
Although there was magic, there was nothing to entertain me besides books, so I was just hanging out like this.
Even if I had a cellphone, I probably wouldn’t be doing much differently.
“Right now, at this hour?”
“Yeah.”
I glanced out the window and asked Kyle.
After all, it was that time when it had already turned dark after dinner.
Thanks to magical tools, the streets remained bright at night, but… it was quite sudden.
Normally, after dinner, we spent some time relaxing before going to sleep.
Since we had to get up early in the morning to start our day.
“Well, there’s no harm in it… but first, I need to get dressed.”
“Take your time. We have plenty of it.”
“Okay, got it…?”
Not really sure what was happening, I decided to change clothes first.
Though it was warm clothing, it was a bit lacking for wandering outside.
It was getting colder, especially at night, so I dressed warmly.
If I caught a cold, Kyle would have to do our tasks alone.
By the way, where on earth was he planning to take me at this time?
He never suggested going out like this before.
Could it be he’s preparing a surprise event or something?
…That’s a little exciting.
*
“Whoa…”
When I stepped outside, I brought my hands together and blew warm air into them.
It was definitely cold; there was no escaping the weather.
I’d probably spend most winters living in a cozy castle knitting or something.
Wearing thick, warm clothing while wandering around.
Most people working at the castle were from the north, while I wasn’t.
So naturally, I’d be more susceptible to the cold.
“Kyle, where exactly are we going that we came out here?”
“I just wanted to show you a place.”
“A place you want to show me?”
I wondered where he meant.
Is he going to show me some beautiful scenery like before?
That could be it.
Kyle always liked things like that.
He enjoyed walking on scenic paths or looking at snowy fields during our dates.
“Yeah, it’s just a little walk.”
“Okay, sure. By the way, give me your hand.”
With one hand in my pocket, I said that.
Kyle’s body was always warm.
Of course, when we got close, it felt hot instead of just warm, but anyway.
“Here.”
I took Kyle’s hand with one hand while keeping the other in my pocket as we walked.
Sure, we took a carriage down, but we didn’t let go of each other’s hands.
It was cold once we got down anyway, and my hand had gotten cold before getting on the carriage.
The carriage ride was much smoother than a regular one, and we gradually made our way to our destination.
It felt a bit like when Kyle confessed to me for the first time.
“…”
Back then, I was surprised for various reasons, but now, well, we were already dating and even married.
There wouldn’t be anything to surprise me like back then.
“By the way, it’s lively out here.”
“It’s not completely sleeping time yet.”
“That’s true.”
We were indeed the type to sleep early.
It made sense that the area was a bit lively at this hour.
It wasn’t bad or anything, just pure observation.
The castle usually started getting quiet at this time.
Mornings were the loudest in the castle.
“So, where are we going? This seems far from the center.”
“Um… we should be there in about five more minutes.”
“Hmm… alright.”
I still wasn’t sure where we were going, but I walked with Kyle.
After all, it was about walking with Kyle, and I enjoyed that.
“Whoa…”
Sometimes I wished I could go to a warmer place that isn’t as cold as Eristirol.
Eristirol was a cold place, and I preferred warmer ones.
I was born in the southern region anyway.
But… I’d stopped worrying about it too much.
After all, I had someone who held my warm hand next to me even on such a cold day.
“We’re here.”
“…?”
Anyway, the place we arrived at was… a regular house.
Really, an absolutely ordinary little family home.
The standard size for Eristirol-type houses.
The moment I heard we had arrived, I was surprised if my eyes were playing tricks on me.
“Uh… why are we here all of a sudden?”
It was a really pure question.
Why bring me to a completely dark family house…?
Was someone inside, and he wanted to introduce me?
No, that wouldn’t be it.
So why had he brought me all the way here?
“Let’s go inside first.”
“…Okay.”
Not sure what was happening, I went inside with Kyle.
Of course, the inside looked ordinary as well, so I wasn’t particularly surprised.
After all, there would be no reason to be surprised when the outside and inside looked the same.
– Clap!
“It’s pretty ordinary.”
“Right?”
It was indeed a very ordinary little family home.
With just a touch on the switch, the magically enhanced lights turned on in such an ordinary place.
The hearth fire was lit, slowly warming the home.
“So, why are we here?”
I said to Kyle while sitting on an ordinary wooden chair.
Of course, Kyle was seated on an ordinary wooden chair as well.
“Um… sometimes I want to spend time in ordinary places with Sophia.”
“Eh?”
“Well, since we always stay in the castle, it doesn’t really feel like a normal everyday life, does it?”
“Uh…”
He wasn’t wrong.
Living every day in a splendiferous castle, eating meals prepared by the chefs, and having maids clean all around…
That was definitely not an ordinary life.
In reality, those living that life were in the minority, while most seemed to stay in ordinary homes or inns.
“That’s true…?”
“So I just wanted to relax here sometimes. I bought one.”
“…Wow.”
I decided to just be amazed, not knowing how to react.
Well, a family home isn’t that expensive… or at least not exorbitantly so.
Especially for nobility.
“So? Is just relaxing here the whole point?”
“Well, that’s the primary purpose I bought it for. When we’re in the castle, it feels like we’re always doing something.”
“Oh, I can truly relate to that.”
I completely agreed with Kyle’s words.
When spending time in the castle during the day, it often felt like I had to be doing something.
Even when I was in the library, I’d feel tired from ‘working’.
But when I wasn’t working, it felt like I should be working again…
“If I’m not doing anything, I feel guilty.”
“Exactly. So I prepared a place where I can fully relax.”
I understood what Kyle was saying.
He was saying he bought this little family home as a genuine place to unwind, like a resort.
Of course, compared to a resort, it was a very small home, so it was slightly ambiguous to compare them. Still, the underlying reason for wanting to fully relax and step away from work was the same.
“It’s not bad.”
“Right?”
“I mean… it’s a bit empty, but that’s something we can fill in the future.”
Unfortunately, the inside was indeed quite bare.
Aside from the chair and table in the living room, there wasn’t particularly any furniture around.
But the absolutely essential things were there.
When I glanced at the room coming in, there was a bed, and in the kitchen nearby, there was cooking equipment too.
It was somewhat ambiguous, but it had the necessities.
However, since it only had the essentials, it felt slightly vague overall.
“I think it seems fine.”
“I’m glad to hear that. I wanted to impress Sophia.”
“Oh please, when have I ever said I disliked what you do?”
“That’s not the case.”
We said this and chuckled lightly.
It wasn’t anything incredible, but it was a funny little chat…
“Later, when we have kids, we can build memories together in a place like this.”
It was just idle chatter.
A thing that casually popped into my head, normal and useless.
“…Huh?”
“It’s just something on my mind. Living together in the castle is fun, but I think it’d also be enjoyable to play together in a humble place like this.”
“No, that’s not…”
“What, kids?”
Kyle seemed to focus more on the word ‘kids’ rather than the idea of creating memories in a place like this.
Really… too much libido or something?
I had just innocently thrown out that idea, and he immediately took it in that direction.
“Well, we can’t just remain as just the two of us forever, right…?”
I said to Kyle like this.
Sure, I wasn’t exactly thinking or planning anything at the moment because it was a little frightening.
But having kids within a healthy marital relationship was a normal and blessed thing.
“…Or not.”
Now that I said it, I felt a bit shy.
Saying something like someday I’m going to have your kids was really out there.
Especially since we hadn’t even messed around yet!