Natalia stormed up the stairs and into her room.
She quickly and violently removed her outer garments and everything underneath, before carefully slipping on something more comfortable.
A long nightgown; white with red dots.
She follows a… pattern in her nightwear.
Yezekael couldn't help but observe. He did have enough morality to close his eyes when he needed to.
Caelum and he had both stolen food from the kitchens and smuggled it upstairs. Caelum's location was one of the bathrooms, while Yezekael chose to hide in Natalia's room.
He stood perfectly still within a corner of the room, drawing no attention toward himself.
Natalia threw herself onto her bed.
Then, she cried.
Yezekael felt it was necessary to stand even more still.
"For some reason… You make a lot of noise when you move your hand to close your eyes, Yezekael. Either way… thank you for doing it."
It took a few seconds for Yezekael to realize that Natalia was talking to him. He then escaped from the corner.
"Sorry. I had no intention of staying here for this long."
"I-It's fine."
She spoke through muffled tears. Crying into her pillow. Yezekael felt very awkward and conflicted, wondering if he should try and comfort her or not.
He walked over toward her, lowering himself to sit on the bed, beside her.
Slowly he stretched his hand out ready to pat her back.
Natalia suddenly sprang up. Yezekael retracted his hand just as quickly.
She spoke with a tear-stained face, and eyes that even Yezekael felt a little weak to.
"Everyone says that father was a different person before mother died. Everyone else knew what type of person my mother was, and what my father was like before I was born. Despite holding the weight of that death… they've grown to become phenomenal people. Yet here I am. Incompetent.
Yezekael sat there, stunned. He would have never expected the word 'incompetent' to escape from her mouth.
"He chose not to marry again, because of how spectacular my mother was. He was so rich, he could've had anybody. But he raised all of us by himself. An extraordinary father, sheltering his youngest child, should create an extraordinary daughter. But I'm far from extraordinary. Barely even ordinary.
"I'm so pathetic… It's even more pathetic that I've let out all these bottled emotions to an enemy from another country. My ancestors are watching me with shame…"
She managed to muster the strength to stop crying, releasing shaky breaths.
"…"
The room was quiet.
At that moment, Yezekael felt like he was viewing Natalia at her most vulnerable moment. If he even slightly pushed her, she would fall and shatter into a thousand pieces of glass. Fragile.
She sat beside him on the bed at this point, the tears drying up, but the redness in her eyes was still very visible.
Yezekael thought within a split second. He was not very good with girls. But he was at least sensible.
His arms stretched out, embracing Natalia in a hug.
She didn't expect it. Her hands remained at her side. Stiff.
"Being the only ordinary person in an extraordinary— by definition, doesn't that make you extraordinary? Unusual. An outlier. In your own way, I think you're a bit spectacular."
Yezekael lightly joked.
"It's not always power, or strength, that makes you special, y'know?" he added.
"…Hehe… heh."
She laughed quietly. Yezekael didn't know if she was laughing at herself, or the joke that he had made. But once her arms raised up to wrap around him, he felt a little pleased with himself.
"You're an… interesting butler, Yezekael."
Her hug grew tighter.
With Natalia's lips just barely at his neck, he could feel each breath that escaped from her mouth. And with this, he could smell the scent of alcohol lingering.
So… that's why she was so open.
"Yezekael… you have been really sweet this whole time."
She released her hands.
With a string that came out of seemingly nowhere, Natalia binged Yezekael's wrists together, pushing him onto the bed.
What the— is this the power of a seamstress?!
Slowly, and sluggishly, she crawled atop of Yezekael.
"I took time to fully get over you… And in that time, you could've moved. I'll take that as you're consent, then."
She smiled very loosely.
Both of their faces were flushed, deep red.
Natalia couldn't help it— she was the only lightweight in her family, and the alcohol was strong.
Yezekael's stupid grin was because he was enjoying this way more than he should've.
She reached for his collar with one hand, pulling his face closer.
Tightly, she closed her eyes. It was a bit cute to Yezekael, the way she was doing it.
Yezekael quickly turned his head. Natalia's lips pressed into his cheek.
"…"
She retracted, unsatisfied.
"Wh-what do you think… you're doing?"
Before Yezekael could say anything, or explain how he felt wrong allowing an inebriated girl to kiss her, she collapsed.
She fell onto his chest, her own chest heaving softly.
"She's… definitely a lightweight. That's for sure."
He pulled his wrists away from each other, the black strings wrapped around his wrist breaking with ease.
"Ah… I guess I could enjoy this moment for a little longer."
The door creaked open.
Caelum stood at the door entrance, quietly.
He then shut the door.
Will I ever be able to hear the end of this?
Yezekael sighed.