Please Fall in Love with Me! – A Villainess on Her Second Loop, using 'Seduction' to Avoid Ruin! - Chapter 4.9

Perhaps due to my nerves, I ended up stumbling while leading the way to the dining hall (Lord Siegvard caught me), and I also fumbled my words in an utterly ridiculous manner during our conversation (which made Lord Siegvard chuckle). I really made quite a few minor blunders.

Even so, sitting side by side on the sofa in the lounge, enjoying chamomile tea together, I can say without a doubt—tonight’s dinner was a perfect success! A solid one hundred out of one hundred!

As a parting gift, I prepared recipes for the dishes and drinks served tonight, along with extra sachets of the coffee-scented pouches from the other day, and a candle of the same fragrance. I had stayed up late making them myself.

I can’t heal the wounds in his heart, but at the very least, I want to help him find moments of peace and relaxation.

I didn’t have time to prepare it this time, but next time, I’d like to get my hands on some rice and rice malt to make amazake. As for coffee… While caffeine can have relaxing effects, it also has the potential to stimulate wakefulness depending on how it’s consumed. That could be risky. Maybe I should—

I was lost in thought, planning my next steps, when suddenly—

A faint, familiar scent drifted over, and I felt a gentle weight against my shoulder and head.

“…Huh?”

At the same time, I heard the quiet, rhythmic sound of steady breathing. My eyes widened in surprise.

Wait… What? No way—

Lord Siegvard was leaning against me, fast asleep.

The shock nearly made me cry out, but I hurriedly clamped my hands over my mouth.

No way…! This can’t be real!

Due to his past trauma, Lord Siegvard has an exceptionally strong sense of caution toward others. He can’t let his guard down in the presence of people. The only one he truly trusts is himself. Not even Archduke Argento, his family, or their attendants are exceptions. Because of that, he can only sleep when everyone else is in a deep slumber.

And yet—this is the Kishtaria Ducal House. If he can’t even let his guard down in his own home, there’s no way he could feel at ease here.

And I’m sitting right next to him.

But… he fell asleep?

No, there’s no point in questioning why. That doesn’t matter.

What matters is that right now, he’s asleep.

I feel relieved that he’s finally resting, and I’m glad that my hospitality helped him relax. But at the same time, I can’t help but worry.

If he let himself doze off beside me… how exhausted must he have been?

“……”

I could feel his breath gently grazing my forehead.

The warmth of his body against my shoulder and the soft weight resting on my skin made my heart race.

If I move, will he wake up?

Would it be better to stay still?

But… I want him to rest as much as possible.

Carefully, taking every precaution not to disturb him, I gently wrapped my arms around him.

Then, slowly and cautiously, I shifted his body, easing him down so that his head rested on my lap.

Even though I moved him, he didn’t wake up. I let out a quiet sigh of relief.

But now that I could see his face more clearly, the pallor of his complexion was painfully obvious, and my chest tightened with concern.

I wish he would let me share the burdens he carries.

I want him to rely on me, to trust me.

I know I’m still far from being someone he can lean on.

But even so—I want to help him.

I want to protect him.

In my first life, Lord Siegvard believed in me. He fought desperately to save me. That had been my salvation.

I want to return even a fraction of what he gave me.

I may not be a heroine, but still, I hope—

I hope that, even just a little, his wounded heart will heal.

That one day, he’ll be able to live a peaceful life.

“…Lord Siegvard…”

I whispered softly, almost to myself.

Just then, a gentle knock sounded at the door, and Claude peeked inside.

As expected of him. From where he stood, he wouldn’t have been able to see Lord Siegvard’s figure hidden by the sofa’s backrest. But the very fact that he couldn’t see him—and that I didn’t turn around—must have been enough for him to grasp the situation.

Without a word, he withdrew.

Two minutes later, he returned with a plush, warm blanket.

I mouthed, Thank you, and Claude quietly draped the blanket over Lord Siegvard. His eyes softened slightly as he did so.

“…I share Lady Fiona’s opinion.”

“Huh…?”

“You said you weren’t sure whether what you feel is love.”

Claude straightened his posture, then continued calmly.

“But if you’re willing to go to such lengths for him—if you care for him so deeply and devote yourself entirely to his well-being—then isn’t that already love?”

His unexpected words left me stunned, eyes widening in surprise.

Claude gave me a polite bow and silently left the room.

“…Is that… what this is?”

Can I really call this love?