Apparently, I’m a Poisonous Woman Who Sells One-Night Dreams, but I Ended Up Awakening a Hero’s Devoted Love - Chapter 2.4

They arrived at the inn where Aiden was staying at dusk, after visiting the graves.

Having completely digested the pancakes from lunch, Mariadoll finished every last bite of her dinner, prompting Aiden to chuckle softly.

“Honestly, that part of you hasn’t changed a bit since the old days. I can’t help but wonder where all that food goes in that slender body of yours.”

“Don’t make me sound like a glutton. By the way, Ben, how are you feeling?”

When she spoke to Ben, who was slowly spooning soup into his mouth, he awkwardly set his spoon down on the plate.

“I’m not sure if I’m nervous, excited, scared, or happy.”

Many men stiffen up when told they’ll be shown a dream for the first time, but it was rare to see someone this flustered.

(I think it’s better to start sooner rather than later.)

The longer he sat facing Mariadoll like this, the more rigid he seemed to become. Mariadoll, having already finished her meal, stood up.

“I’ll go get ready. I’ll come to your room in one hour.”

“Y-yes! Please do.”

Mariadoll gave a wry smile at Ben’s vigorous bow and headed to the room Aiden had prepared for her.

It was an inn used by mid-scale merchants and slightly wealthy commoners, so there was no bathroom in the room. Upon request at the front desk, they lent her a bucket and a towel.

Naturally accustomed to such arrangements, Mariadoll thanked them, returned to her room, and instead of a proper bath, carefully combed her hair over the bucket and wiped her body with a damp towel.

Knowing she would be bedridden for two or three days afterward, she set water by her bedside and changed into a dress that didn’t require a corset. After that, she prepared a sleep aid and was about to leave the room… when there was a knock at the door.

Thinking it might be Aiden coming to get her, she opened it to find Jerf slightly out of breath.

“Good, I made it in time.”

“Thank you for coming all this way. I was just about to start since Ben seems so nervous.”

“…Incidentally, in that case, who were you planning to ask to look after you until I arrived?”

Jerf’s red eyes seemed frightening as he raised the corners of his mouth while catching his breath. Mariadoll took half a step back, feeling a chill, and plastered on an ambiguous smile.

“W-well, I was going to ask Aiden for now until you could come, Lord Jerf.”

“Oh?”

Jerf took a step forward, closing almost all the distance between them. When Mariadoll reflexively stepped back, he swiftly wrapped an arm around her waist.

“I understand that you and Aiden are old acquaintances, but I didn’t realize you were so familiar as to show him such a defenseless, nearly unconscious state.”

“N-no, it’s not like that. To Aiden, I’m like a little sister.”

She tried to laugh it off, but Jerf’s red eyes remained cold.

(Admittedly, as someone who’s engaged, it might have been a bit reckless.)

Putting herself in Jerf’s shoes, she realized it probably didn’t sit well with him. Reflecting on her lack of awareness as a fiancée, she said, “I’m sorry,” and heard Jerf let out a heavy sigh.

“I’m not angry. Sorry, I was just a little jealous. So, you’re going to Ben’s room now?”

“Yes, it’s right next door.”

As she answered, her cheeks grew warm.

(Jealous? Lord Jerf was jealous because of me?)

Her heart raced at the casual words that had slipped from Jerf, who was always mature, composed, and unshaken by anything.

(No, I mustn’t be happy about this. I’m about to show Ben a dream, so I need to stay calm, stay calm.)

Taking a light breath to suppress the heat in her cheeks, she left the room. Jerf followed her out, and when they knocked on Ben’s door, Aiden answered.

Upon seeing Jerf, Aiden bowed slightly and said, “I’ll be in the room across the hall, so if you need any help, please let me know,” before leaving. Mariadoll entered as he exited and promptly handed Ben the sleep aid.

“I’m sorry for putting a strain on your body, Lady Mariadoll.”

“It’s alright. Since Jerf got me that high-quality fever reducer, it’s become much easier.”

The imported medicine, apparently made by an excellent female researcher from a foreign country, had helped a lot.

Once Ben lay down and closed his eyes, Jerf took a seat in a chair by the wall.

Mariadoll sat at the bedside, confirmed Ben’s chest was rising and falling steadily, and took his hand.

(He said he wanted two small pictures: one of his wife in her youth, and one of her in her later years, absorbed in her hobby of embroidery.)

Ben had shyly admitted he loved secretly watching her profile as she embroidered, which had warmed the depths of Mariadoll’s heart.

Closing her eyes quietly, her consciousness was drawn inward.

From the many fragments of memory, she selected the oldest one, took it in hand, and unraveled it like a scroll to view the memory.

What appeared was a woman in her late teens.

Her freckles were charming, and she had the radiant smile characteristic of women that age.

The location seemed to be a park somewhere perhaps where they had their first date.

Walking under the autumn-colored trees, keeping a slight distance from Ben, she looked fresh and innocent. In the mild, sunny autumn weather, her red hair bounced with her movements.

After firmly committing that smile to memory, Mariadoll searched for a more recent memory.

Easier to find than the older ones, a vivid memory surfaced: an elderly woman sitting in a rocking chair in the corner of a room, embroidering in profile.

It must have been winter; the fireplace crackled, casting a rosy glow on the old woman’s cheeks. Nearby was a small round table with a half-finished cup of tea, a tin of tea leaves, and a few stacked books.

One was a children’s picture book, another a book of myths, and on top, a book of embroidery designs lay open.

A perfectly ordinary winter day.

The old woman looked up, showing the unfinished embroidery, but Ben’s response was curt.

The old woman smiled. A trace of her youthful self still visible and said, “You always say that,” before returning her gaze to her needlework.

Just as Mariadoll’s chest filled with warmth, a sensation of being pulled backward overwhelmed her.

(I’ll be waking up soon.)

With a headache, dizziness, and her whole body burning with feverish heat, Mariadoll opened her eyes.

Before her was Ben, sleeping peacefully. At the same time, her body swayed unsteadily, and she was caught in a pair of strong arms.