Chapter 80. Refined and Being Refined?
The showerhead rinsed away the remaining traces.
Xander dried himself and changed into a fresh set of pajamas.
As he opened the bathroom door, hurried footsteps sounded from the stairway at his side.
Looking up, he saw Seele in her school uniform hurrying up the stairs with Bronya close behind.
He let out a breath.
If Seele and Bronya had come back a little earlier and heard noises they shouldn't have, that would've been bad.
Seeing her brother standing in the hall, the worry on Seele's face turned to surprise, and she asked in a rush, "Brother, how is Sister Kaguya?!"
"Not bad.
The fever's gone down, but she still needs to lie in bed and rest.
Didn't I already message you about it?
Seele, do you still not trust me?"
With the towel for his hair draped over his shoulder, Xander said lightly.
"Mm..."
Seele's wavering, evasive gaze suddenly made Xander feel a little hurt, and Bronya even laughed as she twisted the knife: "Isn't the reason she's not reassured precisely because you're here?"
"...I will cry for you two, you know!"
"I-it's not that serious."
No sooner had Seele's voice fallen than Bronya spoke in delighted surprise.
"Really?!
Hurry and cry, I haven't seen you cry before.
I heard Seele say that when you were little you often got beaten to tears by Cocolia-mama—"
"Sister Bronya!!"
Startled, Seele spun around and clapped a hand over Bronya's mouth.
Then she turned her head and saw her brother's face darkening, and could only give an awkward "heh-heh" smile.
Judging that Kaguya should have lain back down, Xander stepped forward, knocked first, then opened the door.
"If you don't believe me, go see for yourselves.
There, Kaguya's still lying there."
Inside the room, Kaguya lay in a neatly made bed, smiling at the three by the door.
"Sister Kaguya, how do you feel now?"
"Thank you for your concern.
Thanks to my husband's efforts, this concubine feels much better."
Her pleasant voice carried a hint of languor, the comfortable ease not sounding like an act.
Seele let out a breath of relief, bent down to feel Kaguya's forehead, and said, "That's great.
As long as you're alright, Sister Kaguya."
Feeling that her temperature was back to normal, Seele smiled.
Bronya didn't speak; she simply stood behind Seele and observed carefully.
The pallor from the morning had given way to restored vigor; in particular, those dewy cheeks had taken on a faint blush.
It was obvious she had recovered her health—and that both body and spirit were satisfied.
She nodded and praised Xander beside her: "Looks like you did a pretty good job."
"Hey, hey, hey, have a little faith in me, will you?
This is my fiancée, you know."
He let out a helpless sigh and couldn't help shooting Bronya a look.
"It's not that I don't believe you; I just don't believe Kaguya."
"Eh?
You don't believe this concubine?"
Kaguya, who had been chatting and laughing with Seele, tilted her head in puzzlement.
"What else?"
Folding her arms, Bronya teased: "You spoil this guy too much.
Seele and I suspected you'd lie so as not to worry Xander."
"I-is that so?"
Kaguya silently pulled the quilt up a bit to cover her slightly flushed cheeks.
"This concubine didn't do that..."
She cast a quick glance at her husband and murmured in a small voice, yet quickly ducked under the covers in embarrassment under Seele and Bronya's straightforward gazes.
"Speaking of which."
Seele suddenly bent down, looked at the sheets and quilt, and asked in puzzlement, "Why were the sheets and quilt both changed?"
"..."
Kaguya's heart suddenly sped up.
She clenched the quilt tightly and simply buried her head without making a sound.
With no other choice, Xander hurried to explain: "After taking the antipyretic and sleeping under the covers, she naturally sweated a lot, so I changed to a fresh set of bedding.
And just now I also helped wash her body while I was at it."
"Helped?"
Bronya's eyes took on a meaningful look.
"Ahem, well, I had to take care of the patient..."
"As expected of you."
Bronya suddenly felt she herself was being a bit absurd—she actually found this matter perfectly normal.
"Then where's the quilt?
Seele will wash it right away."
She looked around; the floor was spotless, so Seele asked in confusion.
"I've already washed it.
It's fine."
"You washed it, Brother?
Then I'll go hang it up to dry in a bit."
"...I've already hung it up."
"On the balcony?
Then Seele will bring it in this evening."
Please stop asking!!
The more he said, the more holes he'd dig, so Xander quickly cut off Seele's questions: "Oh, right!"
"What is it?"
Only after he had drawn the three's attention did Xander continue: "Let Kaguya move in from now on.
This will be the room she'll use."
Then he looked at the room's original owner, raised an eyebrow, and said with a smile, "Anyway, you don't need this place anymore, do you?"
"Tch, I have no objection."
Bronya turned her reddened face aside and cast her vote in favor.
"Seele has no objection either.
Sister Kaguya should have moved in long ago—going back and forth over there is a hassle."
Their unhesitating acceptance filled Kaguya with emotion.
She poked her little head back out from the covers and looked at Seele and Bronya with dewy eyes.
That look made Seele and Bronya feel a bit embarrassed, and having confirmed Kaguya was fine, they quickly excused themselves and left the room.
"It's getting late—Seele should start making dinner!"
"I'll help too!"
Soon, the room was once again left with only Xander and Kaguya.
After a while, Xander exhaled and sat on the edge of the bed, looking helplessly at the rosy-cheeked Kaguya.
"Why hide it?
We almost got exposed just now."
This was his first time lying to Seele, and guilt welled up inside him.
He hadn't expected that both "first times" would be handed over today.
"T-this kind of thing is really embarrassing..."
Kaguya murmured in a small voice with a blush, then reached out and tugged at the hem of Xander's clothes, leaving only her eyes showing as she timidly asked, "Husband, are you angry?"
That cute little gesture made Xander lose his temper at once, and he quickly responded gently.
"Of course not."
"Hehe, that's good."
Kaguya broke into a happy smile, sat up, and lifted her arms toward him for a hug.
Xander naturally leaned closer and embraced the Kaguya who had started to act spoiled toward him.
"Husband, this is this concubine's husband~"
Her syrupy voice echoed by his ear as Kaguya nuzzled against him in his arms, and that clinging look made Xander's expression all the softer.
After a while, Kaguya leaned on him, touched her little belly, and pouted with a hint of regret.
"It's a pity—Husband didn't stay inside. I was really looking forward to having a baby, you know."
Hearing that, Xander went numb at once.
He looked a bit pained at Kaguya, who had once again fallen into fantasy, and voiced a complaint he'd already made more than once today.
"After this New Year I'm only seventeen, you idiot!!!!"
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