I Healed the Cold Dark Goddess’s Loneliness, and Now She Won’t Let Me Go! - Chapter 22

A year had passed since I started living with Lady Reine.

The days continued peacefully. In the morning—well, there’s no sunrise, so technically it’s just whenever I wake up, I greet Lady Reine and we have breakfast together. It’s a time where she happily savors the food I make, even though she doesn’t actually need to eat, simply because I was the one who made it. Afterward, we take baths, I tell her stories about my old world and sometimes, she kisses me. Once every five days, I head down to the village to interact with Mina-chan and the others and convey Lady Reine’s will. Then at night, I fall asleep wrapped in her arms.

Life was so happy it almost made me anxious, but I was satisfied.

That’s why it wasn’t out of boredom, but rather a simple whim, that I asked her one day:

“Hey, Lady Reine.”

“What is it, Haruno?”

As usual, I was sitting on the sofa leaning against her when I asked casually.

“Do you ever go outside, Lady Reine?”

It was just a random thought. In the past year, she hadn’t stepped foot outside the temple even once. I wondered if there was a special reason for it.

“……There is no need.”

Lady Reine knit her brows. By “no need,” she likely meant it literally. She probably felt there was nothing of value beyond the temple walls. In that case, it was worth a shot.

“Hmm, but I’d like to go on an outing with you sometime!”

“I-is that so…?”

When I expressed my honest feelings, her expression softened. Seeing her react with such obvious joy was so cute it made me want to shower her with more words. She doesn’t flinch much when I praise her directly, but when my “love” reaches her, she becomes incredibly adorable like this.

“However, Haruno. Even if we go out, this place is not like your homeland. There are no locations specifically worth visiting together.”

“Ehh? Even just saying hi to everyone in the village would be meaningful, wouldn’t it?”

I figured if she was going out anyway, showing her face to the faithful villagers would be a great way to boost her popularity! …Or so I thought.

“……I will not go out of my way to cause a commotion.”

It seemed she was against the idea. She was right about the “commotion” part, so I suppose it couldn’t be helped. But I still wanted to go out with her, so I tried to think of a different plan.

An outing that wouldn’t cause a scene… hmm, a picnic in the forest? But it’s a forest of eternal night…

“……Ah.”

Then, a revelation struck. Right. There was a place I had never been to but was very interested in. I had heard rumors about it constantly, but I had never seen the real thing. Once the idea took hold, I couldn’t stop thinking about it. Unable to contain myself, I blurted it out.

“I know! How about Lord Sulug’s domain?”

“……Hah?”

Ah. The air turned frigid in an instant. Lady Reine’s face grew grim before my eyes. I-I did it again…! I really need to learn to be careful with anything related to Lord Sulug!

“Haruno. Are you like the others? Are you the one person who—”

“No, no! I’m suggesting we go together! I thought I’d feel safe in an unfamiliar place if you were there to protect me! I want to go precisely because I’ll be with you, Lady Reine!”

“Mu…”

Utilizing my year of experience, I gave a sincere defense before her thoughts could spiral into a negative loop. She fell silent. She seemed convinced, though she still looked a bit grumpy.

“Oh, wait… is it that you can’t enter Lord Sulug’s domain for some reason? If that’s the case, I won’t force—”

“That is not it.”

Lady Reine looked down at me with a slight pout.

“There is nothing that fool Sulug can do that I cannot.”

“Ah, true…”

Come to think of it, Lord Sulug used to drop by this dark domain of hers quite casually. He even showed up without permission back when this place was still barren. If he can do it, it stands to reason she can go to his side too. It wasn’t that she couldn’t, she just didn’t want to.

In that case, I wanted her to indulge my selfishness. I took her hands and looked up at her with my best “pet-like” gaze.

“Please, Lady Reine. I want to see all sorts of places with you.”

“…………”

Her purple eyes wavered. She looked away as if trying to escape my gaze, then finally let out a small sigh.

“……Fine. If you insist that much, it may be fine to visit his domain once.”

“Really!?”

I was so happy I reflexively hugged her.

“I love you, Lady Reine!”

“……I… I love you too, Haruno.”

Perhaps as a reaction to the brief tension, her words of love were a bit more awkward than usual. That just made her cuter, and I hugged her tighter.

“So, when should we go? Tomorrow?”

“There is no need to be in such a rush…”

“There’s no time like the present! …Wait, since it’s not today… strike while the iron is hot?”

“……Hmph.”

She snorted with feigned dissatisfaction, but she stroked my hair. Her touch was gentle, telling me she wasn’t truly upset.

“Very well. Then tomorrow, we shall journey to his domain together. ……But Haruno, do not expect too much. That place is different from my domain. There is no guarantee you will like it.”

“It’ll be fine! Anywhere is fun as long as I’m with you, Lady Reine.”

“……I see.”

And so, it was decided that we would go on our first trip tomorrow.

That night, tucked into bed and held by Lady Reine, I was buzzing with excitement for tomorrow. According to Mina-chan and the villagers, Lord Sulug’s domain is incomparably livelier than this place.

“Haruno, go to sleep.”

“Okay~”

Lady Reine gently scolded me as I struggled to drift off. Following her voice, I closed my eyes, and her cool arms pulled me in even tighter.

“……We will not stay long tomorrow.”

There was a hint of grumpiness in her quiet mumble.

“Do you really hate it that much, Lady Reine?”

“I do not hate it. ……I am looking forward to the act of going out with you, Haruno… but I truly do not like that place. I might even say I hate his domain more than I hate Sulug himself.”

“That much?”

“……Of course, I have no intention of canceling now. You desire it, and I wish to grant your wishes.”

It seemed she truly despised Lord Sulug’s domain. But even so, she was going there for me.

“Thank you, Lady Reine. For doing this for me…”

“There is no need for thanks. Only… no matter what happens over there, do not leave my side. Stay with me at all times. Do you understand?”

“Yes, I promise.”

Satisfied at last, Lady Reine dropped a light kiss on my forehead.