Chapter 32
“Waking Up on Her Lap”
(Kai and Lutia’s Summer Vacation Arc — Part 1)
A faintly sweet scent drifted through the air, pulling his hazy consciousness back to the surface.
When he forced open his heavy eyelids, the first thing that filled his vision was a crimson ribbon.
Next came a cascade of silky golden hair.
And then—something soft and warm brushed gently against his cheek.
“…What in the world…?”
The moment he muttered those words, he felt a tender warmth shift beneath his head.
His eyes darted downward—and met a view of smooth, pale thighs.
In other words, a lap pillow.
“Wha—!!”
He instinctively tried to jump up, but a gentle hand pressed his head back down.
“Fufu… good morning, my dear husband.”
The sugary tone made his heart skip a beat.
And smiling with satisfaction right before his eyes was, of course, Lutia.
“L-Lady Lutia!? What’s goin’ on—why am I… here!?”
“Not ‘Lady’, my dear. ‘Wife.’”
“Don’t go promotin’ yourself without permission!”
Panicking, Kai looked around.
They were inside a luxurious carriage.
The interior was lined with red velvet, and beyond the window stretched a countryside he didn’t recognize.
Each gentle sway of the carriage made his head bounce slightly—along with the softness beneath it.
“Hey, Lutia… I coulda sworn I went to bed at the academy dorm.”
“Yes, you were sleeping very soundly.”
“Yeah, I remember sleepin’, but how’d I wake up on a carriage gettin’ a lap pillow!?”
“That’s simple—because you’re spending your summer vacation at my estate.”
“Who decided that!?”
“I did.”
“Dictator much!?”
Kai’s shout only made Lutia more pleased; she smiled and ran her fingers through his hair.
Her smooth fingertips traced the back of his head, brushing lightly behind his ear.
“H-hey! Quit that—it tickles…!”
“But when I do this, it really feels like you’re mine, and it makes me so happy.”
Her flushed cheeks and tender gaze sent Kai’s heart racing again.
(Damn… that angle’s too powerful…!)
“…Wait a sec, Lady Lutia. You put somethin’ in that wine last night, didn’t ya!?”
He pointed accusingly, and Lutia tilted her head, smiling sweetly.
“Yes, just a little. Even you can’t resist a sleeping draught, it seems.”
“Don’t just admit it like it’s normal!”
“But thanks to that, I can give you a lap pillow now. You should be grateful.”
“Grateful my ass!!”
Over the rattle of the wheels, Kai could swear he heard the muffled laughter of the coachman outside.
“In a few more hours, we’ll arrive at the duke’s estate, my dear husband.”
“At least call me teacher!”
“Oh, no. For the entire summer, you’ll be my husband. You can’t escape.”
With that radiant smile of hers, Lutia declared his fate. Kai could only look up at the ceiling in despair.
“…I’ve got a bad feelin’ this summer vacation’s gonna be hell.”
“No, it’ll be heaven.”
“Depends on who you ask, I reckon.”
Lutia gazed down at him, her blue eyes suddenly serious.
“…You know, this almost feels like a dream.”
“A dream?”
“Yes. Usually, I’m just barely able to sit beside you. But now, you’re resting right on my lap…”
As she spoke, she leaned closer, her breath brushing his cheek.
Her soft lips drew near—just a hair’s breadth away.
“W-wait, hold up! That’s cheatin’!”
“Even cheating counts as victory.”
—The carriage jolted sharply.
Caught off guard, Kai and Lutia’s foreheads collided.
“Ow!”
“Kya—!”
Both of them clutched their heads and groaned.
A few seconds later—
After a moment of awkward silence, Lutia began to giggle.
“Fufu… Kai, your face is bright red.”
“So’s yours!”
“Oh no, I’m just happy to have been touched by my dear husband.”
“Don’t say that while holdin’ your head in pain!”
Still, the air inside the carriage felt soft and warm, filled with the same sweet fragrance as before.
Each time the carriage swayed, Lutia’s hair brushed against his cheek.
Sighing deeply, Kai finally gave up.
“…Fine. Guess I’ll be in your care for summer break.”
“Yes—please rely on me as much as you like, my dear husband.”
Beaming with satisfaction, Lutia stroked his head again.
(…Y’know, maybe this ain’t so bad after all…)
Rocked gently by the moving carriage, Kai found himself drifting once more into a pleasant sleep.
