Tonight is the turning point.
Whether I truly remain a pervert or become a kind guardian.
Honestly, it’s already hard to hold back.
With a pumpkin doll between us, Serena and I are lying in the same bed under the same blanket.
“…Your eyes look suspicious.”
“W-What?”
Serena, who had turned her body toward me, stared at me with a suspicious look.
I don’t know if she saw right through the struggle I was desperately enduring or if it was just written all over my face.
One thing’s for sure: her words hit me hard.
“D-Do you really think I’d do something weird to you?”
“Yes.”
She answered immediately.
With complete certainty, no less.
This little brat…
She knew exactly what kind of trial she was putting me through, didn’t she?
Not just arrogant—downright wicked.
Fine.
If you think I’m going to do something weird…
I’ll—
“…Like I would ever do something like that~?”
I wanted to say otherwise, but if I did, she’d really see me as trash.
I’ve worked too hard to open her heart—I can’t be the one to close it myself.
Right now, I need patience.
Stay calm, Christian von Elsie.
You can’t lose to your desires.
“Anyway, what’s up with you?
You actually asked to sleep together.”
Feeling awkward just staring at each other in silence, I decided to bring up a random topic.
Though, I was actually curious.
“…Just because.”
After a brief silence, Serena finally spoke, her response utterly dry.
But from the way she avoided my eyes, she was obviously lying.
She suggested it herself, and now she was too embarrassed to admit the real reason.
Not honest at all.
“Really?
Not because you’re lonely?”
“No way.
I have Pumpkin, so why would I be?”
“Pumpkin?”
“That’s its name.
I gave it one.”
She tapped the doll’s head and puffed up her chest with pride.
She must think she picked a great name.
So, she liked it enough to give it a name, huh?
“Then…
You couldn’t be satisfied with just Pumpkin, so you needed me too?”
“…I can feel the impure intent in that sentence.”
Yeah, I figured.
I said it that way on purpose.
Just to see that look of pure disgust on her face.
Heh.
…Wait.
Am I developing weird tastes?
Maybe it’s just because it’s nighttime.
Why am I like this?
“Anyway, should we sleep now?
Staying up too late stunts growth.”
We had talked long enough, and the night had gotten too deep.
Since we both had things to do tomorrow, it was best to sleep early.
I patted Serena’s head as if telling her to go to sleep.
She didn’t resist, which meant it was within her tolerance.
Though her face showed slight dissatisfaction.
And so, we closed our eyes.
“…You’re not asleep yet?”
“How am I supposed to be when I’m not sleepy at all?”
“Yeah.
Actually, same.”
No matter how hard I tried, sleep wouldn’t come.
It made sense, though. We had already napped earlier.
And she had been asleep until just a little while ago.
But just lying here doing nothing felt weird, so I sat up in bed.
“If you’re not sleepy, should I read you a book?
Maybe it’ll help you fall asleep.”
My mother had a good voice, but beyond that, bedtime stories had always been a classic way to put kids to sleep.
Walking over to the bookshelf, I hesitated for a moment before spotting a familiar title.
[The Dusty Princess].
A story about a protagonist suffering under an evil stepmother and stepsisters, who, with the help of a fairy, finds happiness with a prince.
It was popular among children—even commoners bought copies.
Which probably meant that the simpler and more childish a story was, the more kids loved it.
Or not.
Who knows.
Either way, I pulled the book out and sat beside Serena, reading to her.
Using a soft voice, I brought the characters to life.
Remembering how my mother used to read to me, I unconsciously became completely engrossed in it.
“…And so, the prince and princess lived happily ever after.”
Closing the book, I glanced at Serena.
But instead of feeling sleepy, her eyes were clearer than before.
Did I put too much effort into reading?
“Do fairies… really exist?”
“Hm?”
Serena, staring straight at me, suddenly asked a strange question.
She really was a kid.
I couldn’t help but chuckle.
“Of course they do.”
“Liar.
I’ve never seen one.”
“What do you mean?
There’s one right in front of you.”
It was a bit embarrassing, but sometimes you had to play along to protect a child’s innocence.
And besides, it wasn’t entirely a lie.
I was literally reborn in this game world to give it a happy ending.
If that didn’t make me a fairy, what did?
Of course, Serena didn’t take me seriously.
She scoffed.
“Idiot.
As if I’d believe that.”
Believe it or not, I’m definitely more impressive than the fairies in the book.
Probably.
“No way a fairy would come to me.
Why would they bother?”
“What are you talking about?
Fairies love cute and lovable kids like you.”
Poking Serena’s cheek, I pressed lightly against the soft, slightly plump surface.
Maybe I was feeling a little mischievous.
“…See?
You really are a pervert.”
Her face flushed slightly with embarrassment.
She pulled the blanket up to her nose as if trying to hide, not realizing that it didn’t really help.
“Don’t you feel shame?
How do you say things like that so casually?”
“I just say what’s true.
And besides, words like that should be said freely.
It helps people get used to being honest.”
If someone held back their feelings just because they were embarrassed, they’d only regret it later.
At least, that’s what I believed.
And I wanted her to be able to call me her onee-chan without hesitation.
“So, Serena, if there’s something you want to say to me, don’t hold back.
Calling me a pervert all the time does hurt my feelings a bit.”
“…But I’m just telling the truth.”
“This little—”
Looks like I’ll have to wait a little longer.
Well, I don’t mind.
I’ve waited twenty years just to meet this girl.
There’s no way I can’t endure a few more days.
That being said, Serena still doesn’t look like she’s planning to fall asleep anytime soon.
What should I do?
I really just want to put her to sleep already.
As I was lost in thought, my gaze drifted toward the window, where the night sky stretched vast and clear.
Yeah.
If we’re not sleepy, moving around might be a better idea.
“Serena, how about we go outside for a bit?”
The night air was slightly chilly.
Maybe because it was a time when life should be asleep in silence, the quietness that came with the darkness felt unfamiliar.
“The moon is beautiful, isn’t it?”
Even so, when I looked up at the sky, a different kind of brightness filled my vision, distinct from the daylight.
A full moon at dawn—something only those awake at this hour could witness.
The sky, adorned with countless stars twinkling together, was like a breathtaking painting.
“Wow…”
Serena, seemingly sharing my sentiment, parted her lips slightly in awe.
Oh, she even brought Pumpkin outside with her.
Lucky doll.
Being hugged tightly in her arms like that.
“I’ve never seen anything like this before.”
“Really?
Well, I haven’t in a long time either.
Lately, I haven’t had the time to just look up at the sky.”
We wandered through the garden, feeling the cool breeze on our skin.
With no particular destination—just soaking in the night.
At some point, we entered a flower bed filled with light purple blossoms.
Perhaps she liked the harmony of white and violet petals because Serena trotted toward them without hesitation.
“What’s up?
Do you like those flowers?”
“…I don’t know.
My eyes just naturally went to them.”
That means you like them.
“Well, hold on a second.”
A flower should never be plucked carelessly.
That was something Ord had always reminded me of when I was young, but I was past the age where I had to follow every little rule.
I carefully picked the largest bloom and gently placed it atop Serena’s head.
As expected—it suited her perfectly.
“Hm.
Now I can’t tell which one’s the real flower.”
“…Don’t say weird things.”
Serena lowered her head and lightly smacked my leg.
It didn’t hurt at all.
But at the same time, she was being cautious, as if worried that the flower might fall.
It was ridiculously cute.
‘One day, she’ll share this kind of moment with a prince instead of me.’
In my mind, I could already see the future—a grown-up Serena, an undeniable beauty, standing beside a prince that everyone admired.
Maybe it was the atmosphere of the night making me sentimental.
Or maybe… deep down, I genuinely wished for that future.
One thing was certain—when that day came, I would probably feel a little lonely.
“Serena.”
“Yeah?”
“What did you think about the prince and princess story from the fairy tale?”
A glimpse into your future.
The ending I plan to create for you.
That’s why I asked.
But her answer was completely unexpected.
“I liked the fairy more than that prince guy.”
“…Huh?
Why?”
“The fairy did everything for the protagonist.
Gave her shoes, a dress, even a carriage.
And they didn’t even know each other.”
“Well, that’s true, but…”
“But what did the prince do?
He just danced with some other girl, then suddenly fell for the prettiest one.
And then they got married?
What’s so great about that?”
I wasn’t expecting that take on the story.
I never thought she’d view fairy-tale happiness in such a cynical way.
“W-Well… they still lived happily ever after, so doesn’t that count for something?”
“I don’t know.
I just don’t like it.
The fairy did all the work, and the prince just swooped in at the last minute and took all the credit.”
No matter how much I tried to reframe it positively, she had already made up her mind.
Did I pick the wrong story?
I wanted her to long for a fairy-tale ending… but instead, it seemed to have had the opposite effect.
Well, whatever.
She’s allowed to think that way for now.
People change their minds all the time.
“…By the way, can I keep this?”
“Hm?
Oh, the flower?
Sure.
I’ll make sure it doesn’t wilt when we go inside.”
Even though this midnight stroll had left me with mixed feelings, we had still enjoyed it.
As we stepped back into the mansion, the warmth inside quickly chased away the lingering chill of the dawn air.
Maybe that comforting warmth relaxed us, because as soon as we lay down in bed, sleep finally came.
“…Ugh.”
Though when I woke up the next morning, I had to suffer a bit—since Serena had climbed on top of me while she slept.