I don’t know how many hours I’ve been reading internet articles.
When I came to my senses, it was already late at night.
When I checked the time, I was startled. It was already long past my bedtime.
My master was probably waiting, wondering why I hadn’t come.
Ah, one last time, my former master…
“What are you doing here at this hour?”
“Gah!”
Startled, I sprang up.
At the same time, my smartphone slipped from my hand, declaring its freedom.
I frantically tried to pick up the fallen smartphone, but my master’s hand was faster.
“Hmm?”
Oh no…!
It must still be on the screen with my master’s dating scandal article…!
Sure enough, my master looked down at the screen and began to scroll rapidly.
I fidgeted nervously, anxiously watching my master’s reaction.
My master, however, simply gazed at the screen with an unenthusiastic expression.
After checking his own dating scandal, which was plastered with provocative phrases, my master scoffed and handed the smartphone back to me.
“Why are you looking at this kind of thing so late at night? It’s past bedtime, so come quickly and sleep. If you oversleep tomorrow, I’ll leave without you.”
My master didn’t seem to care much.
His reaction was unexpectedly indifferent, so I cautiously asked,
“Master, aren’t you upset…?”
“About just this? It’s not the first time. No need to worry about it.”
Indeed… a remark befitting the century’s playboy, as the media calls him…
Perhaps it was a good thing I was caught looking at his dating scandal articles.
If my master had noticed I was looking for articles about my previous master, with whom he supposedly had a bad relationship, the situation would have been much more awkward.
I said goodbye to Eve, promising to see her tomorrow morning, and went up to the room with my master.
My master, who usually worked late into the night before sleeping, lay down in bed with me today, seemingly intending to sleep early.
“Master, good night.”
“Alright, sleep well.”
I closed my eyes to sleep, then suddenly opened them again, remembering something I had forgotten.
Come to think of it, I never did find out how my previous master was doing.
I blinked, thinking I should look it up again tomorrow.
Secretly, when I was alone, in case I ended up crying.
How had my previous master lived without me?
Given that William was here, he must have safely married the woman he was supposed to marry back then.
I had wanted to see my master’s wedding too.
Of course, it would have been sad that I wasn’t the one standing beside him, but I still wanted to congratulate my master.
He must have been beautiful.
Although the bride is usually the flower of a wedding, in my master’s wedding, he would have been the most radiant being in the world.
I quietly turned my head and looked at my master in the darkness.
My current master, who strikingly resembled my previous one, was also beautiful.
His sharp eyes, firmly closed lips, and piercing blue eyes combined to give him a cold impression, but at the same time, he possessed intense charm.
His nose, as if sculpted with a carving tool, and his sharp jawline.
Was this what a classic handsome man looked like?
Even if a robot were made to imitate him, it would be difficult to perfectly replicate my master’s face and aura.
Just like the dating scandal article I saw earlier, my master would someday find someone he truly loved.
When that happens, I hope he’d take Sophia, Eve, and me along.
Without turning off our power or abandoning us…
My chest ached just imagining it.
Swallowing my sadness, I stared intently at my master’s face.
Perhaps feeling my gaze, my master suddenly opened his eyes wide.
As soon as our eyes met, I flinched and quickly turned over.
“Didi?”
My master softly called my name, but I closed my eyes and pretended to be asleep.
I held my breath and kept my body still as the surroundings grew quiet.
Did he fall asleep again…?
I listened with my eyes closed.
But then I felt the bed sink and my body tilt, then my shoulder was grabbed, and my body was suddenly turned over.
My master was slightly propped up on his elbows.
“Ugh!”
“See, you’re not sleeping. Pretending to be.”
“Master…”
“Why are you looking at me like that?”
What should I answer?
If I told him the truth, my master would definitely be upset.
So, instead of being honest, I chose a small lie.
“I can’t sleep…”
I mumbled quietly, avoiding his gaze.
It was dark, so he wouldn’t be able to see my expression clearly, and I thought my master wouldn’t notice my lie.
But my master’s displeased voice came back.
“Do you expect me to believe that?”
It seemed my lie had already been exposed.
I felt my master would get angry if I kept pretending, so I finally confessed the truth.
“Because you resemble my previous master…”
As expected, my master’s face contorted.
It was a very displeased expression.
That’s why I didn’t want to say it…
I quietly watched my master’s expression.
My master only released my shoulder after hearing the reason, but his face still looked displeased.
I decided to keep my mouth shut, thinking that a clumsy excuse would only provoke him further.
“So, you’re saying I remind you of that old man?”
“Ah, no…”
“Don’t turn your head.”
As I tried to avoid his gaze, my master’s hand firmly grasped my chin.
Pulled by his rough touch, my face was lifted. I was forced to face my master.
My master’s face was close.
His blue eyes, shining even in the darkness, stared deeply as if piercing through me.
His cold, sharp gaze felt as if it was stinging my skin.
“Master…”
I cautiously called my master.
My heart pounded uneasily as I faced his clearly angry expression.
As I looked up at my master as if pleading, he whispered lowly in a mocking voice,
“Why do you want a kiss?”
“A k-kiss?”
My face flushed hot.
The scene of my master kissing me suddenly flashed through my mind.
Surely he hasn’t remembered it?
I looked up at my master with eyes mixed with embarrassment and tension.
My facial muscles, which must have been red even without seeing them, trembled nervously.
My master seemed to misunderstand my reaction, lightly kissing my round forehead.
I paused for a moment, discerning the nature of the brief touch on my forehead, then immediately widened my eyes and looked at my master.
However, my master simply covered himself with the blanket again and lay down as if nothing had happened.
“Go to sleep quickly. I have a meeting tomorrow, so I need to leave early.”
“Yes…”
My master turned his back and lay down.
I answered obediently and shifted my gaze towards the ceiling.
But with my heart making such a racket, there was no way I could easily fall asleep.
My face is hot.
Am I getting a cold or something?
I thought I should wear warmer clothes starting tomorrow and forced my eyes shut.
My heart was still pounding.
***
As usual, I ate dinner and said goodnight to Eve, then headed up to my room.
Seeing Eve looking up at me from the bottom of the stairs, I suddenly became curious.
Come to think of it, what does Eve do to pass the time alone?
Eve always seemed lonely.
Every morning when I woke up, she would be waiting for me at the bottom of the stairs.
Except for the time she spent cleaning the first floor, it seemed she spent most of her time waiting for me there.
I looked at the corner of the living room, a space just big enough for Eve, left empty for her.
Sophia had her own room, but Eve didn’t have arms that could open doors, so the living room corner became Eve’s space.
And even now, Eve was gazing wistfully at me, ascending to the second floor from below the stairs.
Perhaps it was because I understood the feeling of waiting for someone in loneliness.
Seeing Eve looking at me from the bottom of the stairs, I couldn’t bring myself to move.
I stopped halfway up the stairs. When I didn’t follow him, my master turned to me and asked,
“Didi, why aren’t you coming up?”
“Um… Master.”
I hesitated for a moment before continuing.
“Can I sleep in the living room with Eve tonight?”
“What?”
My master retorted, as if dumbfounded.
My master narrowed his brows and stared at me for a long time.
When he realized I had no intention of changing my mind, he abruptly turned his head away.
“Do as you please.”
Then he let out a short snort and strode upstairs.
I thought my master would be happy if I said I’d sleep separately, thinking it meant less trouble… but his angry reaction was a bit surprising.
Maybe he was in a bad mood today.
In that case, perhaps it was better for him to sleep alone.
It might have even been good timing.