ushernet Chapter 86 Sleeping Where? (edited)
Chapter 86 Sleeping Where? (edited)
A chill yet warm breeze swept across the surface of the ocean, brushing against her face and causing a slight shiver.
"Did the outside get cold all of a sudden?" Lillian muttered, gazing at the sky and absently scratching her head.
She eventually decided to exit her Mana Realm, figuring there wasn't much else to do.
Moments later, after she had closed her eyes and disconnected herself from the realm, she found herself back in the real world.
The temperature of the air still felt balanced—warm but not enough to be irritable.
What was it that had caused her to feel a chill then?
She knew outside forces could cause slight changes inside her realm if her mind perceived it in detail enough.
She soon realised the cause when a familiar and elegant voice echoed beside her.
"Ah... you're finally awake."
Lillian turned her head and faced Marionette, who had her back leaned into the couch—her legs crossed over—with a book in hand.
She wore a beautifully long nightgown with an attractive black and red colour scheme. However, black was the most dominant, as the red was mainly seen on the thin straps over her shoulders.
Her skin was smooth and pure—glistened from the small drops of water coating her skin.
Lillian couldn't help but unconsciously ogle for a moment at the way Marionette's nightgown hugged her spectacular curves before turning away out of embarrassment.
However, it was entirely out of embarrassment but also the fact that Marionette had easily caught her wandering gaze.
Marionette—without raising her eyes off her book—spoke in her usual stoic and neutral tone:
"While your attention is appealing, Lillian, I think you'd prefer your first hot shower in a week over just staring at me read."
Lillian's lips tugged into a small smile—her eyes rolling a bit. She pushed herself off the couch.
"I suppose you're right. Although the smell and sweat from the Trial is no longer on me, I still feel disgusting."
"You didn't smell as horrid as you think, Lillian," Marionette said, turning another page of her book.
"Is that so? Well then, that's a rel—"
Before Lillian could finish her sentence, Marionette chimed in, putting her down.
"You were, in fact, sweaty, though."
Lillian's eyes twitched.
"Yeah, yeah... I'm going to go shower now..."
Marionette nodded at Lillian's words, still deeply focused on the contents of her books.
Lillian stared at her briefly before taking a step towards the bathroom, where Marionette's words once again stopped her.
"By the way, I've placed a comfortable set of clothes inside there for you to wear for bed. This is assuming you didn't bring anything to wear inside your spacial storage."
She looked towards Marionette's stoic face before glancing away, "You do have quite the strange preference for books though."
Marionette rolled her eyes, "I also seem to have a strange taste in friends too..."
Lillian stiffened, "I-I am not that strange... am I?" she asked, tilting her head naively.
She then realised something.
'Wait did she just call me a friend?'
Marionette stared at her before saying:
"... Who knows... it's not something for me to decide. Do you find yourself strange?"
Lillian scratched her cheek, "Well... I guess I am a bit..." she responded with a small pout.
Marionette nodded, "Then you are strange." she waved her book into her spacial storage and held the armrest of the couch.
Just as she was about to get off the couch, she felt Lillian's warm hand softly clutch her wrist.
Turning back, she stared at Lillian's face, which had a certain look to it—a look that Lillian had been using the most once exiting the Trial.
"Even so. Even if I'm a bit odd in your eyes, I'm sure you know that I can act like this around you, right?"
"..."
The two looked into each other's eyes. Unmoving.
Marionette slightly narrowed her eyes before opening her mouth, "And why may that be? Have I done something that would allow you to be so comfortable around me?"
Lillian's eyes twitched, recounting the list of things Marionette had done, "Just a bit. And it's because I like you, Marionette... just enough to where my introverted self can bloom a bit." she chuckled at the end.
Marionette stared deeply at her, moving her other hand over Lillian's and pulling it off her wrist.
Lillian then watched as Marionette quietly turned away and walked off. She later returned back with a dark fur blanket and white pillow.
Lillian raised an eyebrow, "Ehm... what are those for? Are we both sleeping on the couch?" she asked in a confused manner.
Marionette coldly shook her head, "You will be the one sleeping here alone tonight."
"Eh!? For what reason?!" Lillian inquired, reluctantly grabbing the blanket and pillow.
She then pouted.
"I had just gotten used to us sleeping together and now we aren't?"
Marionette raised an eyebrow. She then folded her arms before stating in a deadpan voice:
"Us sleeping together was your idea. You make it sound like I forced that on you."
She then turned her face away from Lillian.
"Not only that... but unlike that hill, the bed doesn't have enough room for the both of us..."