The Young Lady Has Disappeared

After that, daily life flowed by quickly. Before we knew it, midterm exam time was approaching.

To be honest, most nobles, including Lillian, weren't very interested in grades, so even though it was midterms, they didn't seem very excited.

But Yulia was different. Although she would receive a noble title in the future, she was still a commoner, so proof of her education was always necessary, and thus she put more effort into studying.

"So, Catherine. Can you help me with this?"

"...Alright."

"Wait, Yulia. Aren't you relying on Catherine too much? You should try studying this much on your own."

"Oh come on. This much is fine, isn't it?"

Watching the two of them running parallel, I slightly rested my chin on my hand and looked at the problem. There was no need to wait anyway, as Yulia always won their arguments.

Whatever the case, my schedule recently had been quite tight. Partly because of the secret guard duty for the imperial princess that I had kept secret from Lillian, but mostly because I spent a lot of time creating expected exam questions for Lillian's last-minute cramming.

I had to keep it a secret because if Lillian found out in advance, she would express her opinion that she absolutely wouldn't study. Because of this, most of the work was done when Lillian was studying at the academy, which further reduced the time I had for laundry, cleaning, cooking, and other chores.

In any case, when Lillian is around, it's my duty to always be by her side.

"Then why don't you study together with Lillian?"

"...Fine, do it. Do. I'll go out for a bit, so don't do anything weird, okay?"

"What's weird?"

"...There are. Such things."

With those words, Lillian went out, and Yulia, who had won the argument with her, approached me with a bright smile.

Hmm, isn't this a bit close? Is this normal between girls?

Many thoughts momentarily flashed through my mind, but I moved away a bit without verbalizing them. This much, Yulia should have realized it was uncomfortable.

"So, how do you solve this?"

But Yulia, easily kicking away my hopes, came even closer to me than before. It was close enough to hear her breathing, but Yulia seemed completely oblivious, blinking innocently.

Finally giving up, I inwardly let out a small sigh and opened my mouth.

"Here, if you substitute this part and move this part over, you get the answer."

The one saving grace was that studying at Aptem Academy wasn't that difficult. Is it because it's the first year? The part I was doing now was basic linear equations. Problems that would be learned in elementary school in Korea.

"Wow, it really works. Thanks!"

"..."

Honestly, I wish she would move away a bit.

I don't have many memories of my previous life, but I was a pure young man who had never even held hands with a girl. As such, I had no immunity to women. If my facial muscles hadn't died, my face would probably be bright red by now, not knowing what to do.

Yulia's hand slightly touches mine as she checks the solution. Feeling as if electricity had passed through, I startled and moved my hand away, and Yulia smiled brightly.

"Ah, sorry. It was an accident."

"Ah, yes."

Hmm, hmmm. Hmmmm. Okay. I'm not flustered. It was an accident. Yes.

But a woman's hand seems much softer than a man's hand. Or is it? The only women's hands I've held so far are the young lady's and my own. Can I generalize this?

No, wait. Should I count my hand as a woman's hand? Since my body is female, isn't that right?

Feeling like a stack overflow had occurred in my head, I suddenly stood up and lay down on the bed. Glancing at Yulia, I saw she was concentrating without a care in the world. Well, I guess it's okay to leave her like that for a while.

Thinking this, I savored this rare moment of leisure. Pondering about Lillian who had gone out unusually, I slowly closed my eyes.

* * *

"Hm?"

Suu- Ssuu-

Small breathing sounds could be heard. It wasn't loud enough to break her concentration, but since all her attention had been focused on Catherine from the start, she immediately put down her pen and approached Catherine.

At first, Catherine was just making breathing sounds with her eyes closed, but soon she started breathing regularly as if she had fallen into a deep sleep.

Catherine's appearance, lying down without furrowing her brow even while wearing the uncomfortable maid uniform, looked like a doll. As if she had stepped out of a fairy tale, Yulia carefully, very carefully approached Catherine.

Each step towards the bed felt heavy. Although it felt like she was doing something she shouldn't, she convinced herself that she wasn't really doing anything bad right now.

Yulia stood in front of the bed where Catherine was sleeping. Looking quietly at Catherine, who was sleeping with her hands neatly folded on her lower abdomen and a face oblivious to the world, made her heart flutter.

What is this feeling? Yulia didn't know, but right now she was just moving as her heart guided her.

Catherine's hands, neatly folded on her lower abdomen, fell apart. Yulia, who had been staring blankly at the hands fallen on the bed, slowly, very slowly reached out her hand towards Catherine's hand. Her fingertips touched the snow-white hand. As expected of Catherine who always did household chores, there were calluses on her fingertips, but even that sensation somehow felt good.

Feeling as if she was burning up, Yulia rubbed her cheeks and reached out her hand again. She aligned her fingers with Catherine's fingers and slowly started to intertwine her fingers between Catherine's. It was like the mating of animals, but Yulia was completely oblivious and just focused on intertwining their fingers.

And so, the fingers intertwined and locked. She gripped the hot fingers tightly, embracing them.

As hand embraced hand, a tingling current rose. Yulia hastily let go of the hand at the strange feeling that rose without resistance.

At that moment, the door suddenly burst open.

"I'm back- Huh? What were you doing?"

It was Lillian who opened the door and came in. Of course, it was her room, but Yulia was startled and moved away a bit from Catherine's bed.

Lillian tilted her head at Yulia's behavior.

"U-Um?"

"...Catherine is asleep? What were you doing?"

"No, just. It's the first time I've seen Catherine sleeping. I was just a bit curious."

Lillian narrowed her eyes suspiciously at Yulia, who was hastily waving her hands and making excuses.

"But why is your face so red? Don't tell me...!"

Has something been discovered? Just as Yulia's complexion was about to turn pale again, Lillian raised her finger and opened her mouth with an "Ah."

"Don't tell me you're sick?"

"Huh? Yes! Ah, I think I might have a bit of a fever...!"

"Really? Then you should rest quickly. Here, lie down on my bed."

"U-Um. Thanks."

Thank goodness. It wasn't discovered.

Feeling relieved, Yulia lay down on the bed, and Lillian stood beside her with a bright smile. Then she slowly opened her mouth.

"I don't want to share what's mine with anyone else."

"Huh?"

"Ah, did you hear that? Sorry. I was talking to myself."

"...Okay."

Momentarily feeling a chill, Yulia looked away for a moment, but Lillian was just smiling brightly while looking at Yulia. Thinking it might have been her imagination, Yulia stared blankly at Lillian, and perhaps interpreting it in some way, Lillian's smile deepened even more.

"Ah, I went out today and Lady Cetra asked to borrow my tea set."

"Huh? Ah. Yes. That's what you were talking about."

"Yes. That's what I meant."

There was no reason to question further given the words spoken with a bright smile, so Yulia just closed her eyes.

She closed her eyes and slowly threw herself towards the sleep that was coming to her.

* * *

"Hmm."

Lillian, who had pulled the blanket up over Yulia who had fallen asleep, slowly approached Catherine's bed. "I don't want to share what's mine with others." This was a sudden outburst. As if the words had a will of their own, it had burst out like something she wanted to say to someone coveting what was hers.

What had become of 'Lillian's' obsession? Just from Yulia standing in front of Catherine's bed, such words had burst out. To be honest, it was even a bit scary. That's because for a moment, her body had moved not according to her own will.

"Haah. I should sleep too."

Lillian pushed Catherine, who was sleeping in a straight posture, slightly aside and burrowed into Catherine's bed.

Then she hugged Catherine tightly like a body pillow. She didn't know why, but it felt like she should do this. Because it's mine. Yes. Because I don't want to lose it, let's keep it confined in my arms. It seemed like such a voice was heard from within her heart.

You don't want to lose it either, right? Yes. Of course. It's been a life of always losing things. So Catherine, at least, is ours.

The thoughts that arose in her mind weren't being processed. Although she wasn't particularly tired, her mind started to become hazy. Slowly, as if falling into hypnosis, she fell asleep. Soon, Lillian slowly closed her eyes.