Chapter 426 – Respect and Affection

“Well, can you just read a book until I fall asleep? I can’t sleep…”

“!”

Atra’s request to read a book instantly made Roman stiffen and made him think a lot.

This is something that wasn’t even in the black notebook Majella gave me.

The hallway becomes so quiet. Roman doesn’t answer and just shuts her up.

Atra, who was hiding her gaze behind the mug, felt like a wave that she had caught Roman, who must have been tired as an escort.

‘···Why am I really like this?’

The pampering seen recently. I commit it every time and feel regret.

These were actions that Atra herself would never have done.

It feels awkward and unsettling to see herself periodically reacting emotionally and impulsively in front of Roman.

To the point where I wondered if I had some kind of disease.

“I’m sorry for being rude…! Well, if you pretend I didn’t hear…!”

“No, Atra. That’s not the problem.”

“···?”

Atra slowly lowered the cup she was holding and looked at Roman.

The first and foremost emotion in the sky blue eyes was doubt, but it was followed by things like shame and embarrassment.

“I wonder if reading a book will really help Atra to get some sleep. I think listening to my voice will disturb Atra’s sleep.”

Roman’s act of reading a book to Chloe is an expression of affection.

By reading a book while holding her in your arms, you develop a sense of stability and communicate with her, and then naturally fall asleep.

That’s simply the way it is.

It is absolutely not true that Roman’s reading voice to someone is exceptionally soft, that he is talented at reciting printed words, or that he has the skill or ability to cure insomnia by gently inducing sleep.

Roman, who continued to give an explanation that he thought was valid, ended it as if it were not true.

Atra answered in a confident voice, meeting her eyes directly.

“It helps… Unconditionally.”

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In conclusion, Roman entered Atra’s room.

Atra, the owner of her room, couldn’t let go of the idea of ​​being committed, which made her nervous and display awkward behavior.

Since Roman behaved business-like as usual, the atmosphere was not so stiff that there were no answers.

“Isn’t the milk too bland? You can get some sugar or salt.”

“···It’s so delicious.”

Before Atra lay down on the bed, she sipped the milk Roman prepared and filled her stomach.

Roman was looking around to make sure the room was free from any elements that would disturb the saintess’s sleep.

I see a doll occupying a spot on the bed.

“Atra. Have you kept her seat warm?”

“Wouldn’t it get warm quickly if you lie down?”

Nodding, Roman took out a white towel from the basket.

“The room itself is warm, but a little dry. I’ll hang up a towel.”

“Thank you.”

After wringing out the towel soaked in water, I hung it on her empty hanger.

Roman then looked around to find a book.

“What kind of book would you like me to read to you?”

“Uh… Just a moment!”

“You can take it slow.”

Atra put the cup with some milk left on the table and started rummaging through the backpack in the corner.

I crouched down and covered one side of my body so that Roman wouldn’t see my underwear or anything embarrassing.

I put my hand in and search for the books underneath.

You can get a feel for what kind of book it is just by touching the cover and looking at the thickness without having to take everything out.

‘Because you are not a believer. The religious scriptures are not allowed. Novel books…’

Thinking of her name tag as a saint, she would have to bring out the scriptures here.

Atra’s personal wishes were different.

····

‘It’s the essence of fantasy fairy tales.’

Roman smiled slightly when he looked at the book handed to him by Atra.

The story of a warrior who saves the world and enjoys a happy future with the princess, with the theme of good and evil.

Even decades after its publication, this is a children’s book that you can always see at any bookstore in the empire. I don’t know who wrote it, but I think this book alone has made enough money for generations to come.

“You look familiar with this book.”

“Brother, have you ever read it?”

Atra must have read it once or twice, and the traces of her handwriting remain dark.

The cover, which has not withstood the test of time, is discolored and gives off a faint feeling.

“I heard it was the first book Chloe read when she was young. It seemed like everyone except me had read it at least once when they were young.”

“Ah···.”

Atra tried to ask about Roman’s past, but he shut her up. Because it’s not good for her to hear other people’s past history by asking prying questions.

“I felt like it was very popular because I saw this book no matter which bookstore I went to.”

“I think that’s what everyone is hoping for. A story that just works out well and is happy… Isn’t it nice? I like books where you don’t have to worry about a tragic ending or a breathtaking conflict in the back.”

“···I agree.”

Atra turned around and found herself lying down, probably trying to take a nap.

Atra’s gaze is staring at Roman, hugging her jelly.

Roman sat on the floor next to the bed and opened a book, receiving all the attention.

“If you go to sleep, I will go back to the next room and wait for you.”

“Yes···!”

“Hmm! A shining star rose on the day a child was born in a village.”

Atra smiled brightly as she cleared her throat and began reading the book.

From Roman’s perspective, I understand her feelings.

I can sympathize with Atra’s statement that she feels relieved and can sleep quickly if she has someone by her side.

‘The crisis that the goddess spoke of continues to occur…’

Roman still remembers the words he heard when he encountered the goddess in her sanctuary.

– A great crisis will befall my beloved child.

– At the moment of crisis, the two will be together.

The goddess said that if the saint did not exist, even the word peace on the continent would be an illusion and harmony would be shattered.

Of course, she doesn’t really believe that. Because there is no guarantee that she is not lying even though she is a god.

Even so.

Even Roman acknowledges the good influence her saint has.

“···The Demon King fell, and the dark clouds that filled the world cleared. Sunlight finally began to fall on the continent.”

Although the book is not thick, the content unfolds quickly as it includes pictures.

With the end just around the corner, Roman rolled his eyes and Atra’s eyes were still open.

“The hero married the princess and lived happily ever after.”

After closing the book, Roman fell into trouble.

Since I haven’t fallen asleep yet, should I read one more thing? Atra called out to Roman, who was struggling with such thoughts.

“Brother.”

“Yes?”

“Is it because someone read it to me? Again… No, for the first time, I have questions about this fairy tale.”

“What is it?”

I can feel Atra holding the doll tightly with hesitation as she purses her lips.

The doll, named Jelly, was about to fold in half.

“There’s a line in the middle that says the princess respects the hero, right?”

“That’s right. It says that I had heard rumors about him before he was kidnapped and that I had always respected him.”

It’s just a few lines in passing, but there’s definitely something to it.

Roman, who has completely memorized the content by reading it dozens of times, is confident that he can find the parts by hand.

“But the princess gets married at the same time the hero saves her and returns?”

“Yes, that’s right.”

Even though he didn’t know what Atra wanted to ask, Roman nodded as he felt the foundation stones building up towards her goal.

“Is respect… An emotion that can be a sure thing in marriage?”

“That’s a pretty difficult question. Still, it’s a positive feeling, so it’s possible that the princess’s feelings may have changed as we stayed together on the way back.”

“That’s true, but the line he gave when he came back includes a phrase about respecting you, the hero… I’m just curious about your thoughts.”

In Roman’s opinion, Atra’s question had too much depth to be something that came purely from a fairy tale book.

The curiosity itself is Atra, a feeling that feels like it’s colliding with something you have.

‘I don’t think you want an answer like saying that a country used a princess to possess the strongest military power.’

I felt that I should not give a half-hearted answer.

After carefully contemplating Atra’s questions and ending her concerns, Roman looked at the cover of her book and opened his mouth.

“If the marriage is based solely on respect… I think it would be difficult for some people to distinguish between respect and affection.”

“Is it because we have some similarities?”

“I think so.”

I wonder if the emotional lines were put that twisted in an actual children’s book.

This is the case that immediately comes to mind when thinking about the character’s situation.

“…Brother, in your opinion, is there a line that separates affection and respect?”

“It is often said that dating a person of the opposite sex is a tightrope walk between respect and compassion, but I think it is simple and personal greed that determines it.”

“Greed···?”

Atra’s eyes flashed as she longed for an answer.

Roman expressed his opinion about Atra, who whispered and repeated the word greed.

“From a personal perspective, I think it’s good to just watch the admiration. It may not be without affection, but for my personal greed, I want to keep it only by my side and I also feel a sense of possession.”

“···.”

“Are you a little relieved?”

“Yes. I feel refreshed and will be able to fall asleep soon… Can I ask you something else?”

When Roman nodded coolly, Atra asked a question as if she had been waiting for it.

“Sometimes the main character says that it is enough for the person he loves to be happy by someone else’s side, not by his side… Brother, what do you think of such stories?”

“If you ask me about my personal inclinations, I am not that type of adult. I am greedy, so even if the person I care about is happy, he has to be happy next to me.”

A question followed that seemed to confirm something.

While answering those questions, Roman also felt something. Maybe she is a saint, and at this point she is trying to open her eyes.

“After exchanging questions and answers with Atra, I realize how narrow-minded I am as a person.”

“Hehe… It’s not strange. It’s the same for me too…”

Atra, who was lying down and continuing his sad conversation, started to trail off.

Her eyes began to flutter and press against her forehead.

“···.”

Atra’s eyes closed completely.

Her hand lost strength and the doll she was holding down fell and rolled under the bed.

‘Should I just take care of that and leave?’

Roman wakes up quietly and without a sound. I picked up the doll that had fallen on the floor and dusted it off.

Roman approached the bed without hearing her steps and lifted the blanket on one side.

By pushing a doll into it, I tried to create a heartwarming picture of a jelly-like doll and a saint sleeping together.

“Ugh…”

Atra, who was lying next to her, seemed uncomfortable and turned over to look at her ceiling.

I fumbled around to find Jelly, who I sleep with every day, and grabbed the sleeve of Roman, who was making up the bedding.