“The floor?” Vivian’s voice dropped even lower, carrying a palpable chill.
“You would rather rest on the floor than on my lap?”
“It’s… it’s a habit,” Lynn quickly added.
“I’ve slept on hard beds since I was a child, and even my pillows were made of wood. I’m not really used to soft things.”
It was a clumsy explanation.
He knew that.
But he couldn’t think of a better one.
“Oh?”
Alicia’s gaze turned toward Vivian.
Not a single ripple of emotion could be heard in her voice.
“It seems Your Highness needs to reflect on your own ‘comfort level.'”
“Lady Saintess, what does it matter to you where he sleeps?”
Vivian shot a look back at Alicia.
Lilith walked over to Lynn’s side and crouched down, bringing her face close to his ear.
Her breath carried a faint floral scent, but it made the hair on the back of Lynn’s neck stand up.
“Brother, you’ve changed,” she whispered, a hint of grievance in her voice.
“Before, you loved leaning on me the most.”
Lynn felt the Blackening Value above Lilith’s head slowly rising.
Vivian’s and Alicia’s Blackening Values were also fluctuating along with their conversation.
“No, Lilith, I… I just…”
Lynn wanted to explain, but he didn’t know where to start.
Seeing that the atmosphere was off, Ignis imitated Lilith and leaned toward Lynn’s other ear, whispering, “Master, my tail is more comfortable than knees.”
After saying that, her dragon tail gently patted Lynn’s cheek.
Lynn felt like he was about to break down.
He struggled and finally managed to sit up.
Sitting on the tatami mat, his body was still weak, but he could finally support himself.
“I… I’ll just sleep by myself,” Lynn said to them.
Silence fell over the room once more.
Vivian, Alicia, and Lilith.
Three pairs of eyes stared intensely at him.
Meanwhile, Ignis hugged Lynn’s arm and muttered, “Master, I’ll help you fight.”
“No one is fighting,” Lynn said, feeling a headache coming on.
“Then… who will take care of him tonight?”
Lilith’s voice broke the silence.
She looked at Vivian and Alicia.
Vivian withdrew her gaze.
She walked over to Lynn and crouched down.
“Your body hasn’t recovered yet.”
Vivian reached out and pressed her hand against Lynn’s forehead.
Her palm carried a chill that gave him a jolt.
“I’ll do it.”
“No,” Alicia immediately objected.
“Your Highness’s status makes you unsuited for caring for the sick. I will do it.”
“Lady Saintess, your Holy Light is for treating illnesses, not for taking care of people,” Vivian retorted.
“I’m healthy and my mind is clear. I’ll do it,” Lilith joined the fray.
“I’ve been with Brother since we were children; I know his habits best.”
Lynn watched the three of them begin to argue.
He was the center of the debate.
He felt less like a patient and more like an item being fought over.
Ignis didn’t understand what they were talking about; she just hugged Lynn’s arm and rubbed her cheek against his clothes.
Lynn looked around.
Aside from the tatami mats, there were no extra beds in the room.
This meant he would have to sleep with one of them — or all of them — tonight.
The air in the room was stretched tight like a string, ready to snap at any moment.
The argument wasn’t loud, but every word was cutting.
“I said, I’ll do it.”
Vivian’s voice left no room for argument.
One of her hands was already pressed against Lynn’s shoulder, ready to drag him toward her side.
“Imperial Princess, please mind your words and actions.”
Alicia stood on the other side, her holy white robes fluttering even without a breeze.
“Purifying evil is the duty of the Temple, and so is taking care of the sick.”
Lilith didn’t say anything.
She simply sat behind Lynn and wrapped her arms around his waist, pressing her cheek against his back.
This action was a silent declaration of ownership.
Ignis looked at the three older girls with confusion, and then imitated Lilith by hugging Lynn’s legs from the front.
Lynn had become a human tug-of-war rope, with four sides pulling hard.
He felt his bones groaning; at this rate, he would die faster than he would have by passing out in the hot spring.
Just then.
Knock, knock.
The Japanese-style paper door was gently tapped.
The dispute in the room instantly came to a halt.
Vivian, Alicia, and Lilith’s movements froze.
Three gazes, like three unsheathed swords, shot toward the door in unison.
The combined pressure was enough to twist the air outside.
Lynn took the opportunity to catch his breath.
He had never thought a knock at the door could sound so melodious.
“Pardon the intrusion, guests. I’ve brought some late-night snacks,” a lazy female voice called out from behind the door.
Before those inside could respond, the paper door was slid open with a shhht.
A woman wearing a deep purple kimono stood at the door, holding a wooden tray.
She was curvaceous, with a perfect professional smile on her face.
Her hair was loosely tied back, with a few strands hanging by the side of her face, adding a touch of charm.
It was the inn’s Proprietress.
The moment she stepped into the room, her smile froze for a second.
Her gaze swept across the room.
First, she saw Lynn “pinned” by four women in strange positions, then the faint muscular lines visible under Vivian’s damp yukata, Alicia’s statue-like perfect profile, Lilith’s morbidly possessive posture pressed against Lynn’s back, and finally, Ignis, who was hugging Lynn’s legs with an innocent expression.
The Proprietress’s eyes lingered on Lynn’s pale face for a moment, showing a look mixed with sympathy, understanding, and a hint of amusement.
“Oh my, it’s nice to be young,” she remarked, her tone meaningful.
She walked in with small steps and placed the tray on the low table in the middle of the tatami mats.
On the tray were several plates of delicate appetizers and a pot of warm sake.
“Seeing how energetic you all are, you must be exhausted from your travels and need to regain some strength,” the Proprietress said while arranging the sake cups.
Her movements were steady, without making any unnecessary noise.
Vivian let go, stood up straight, and looked at the woman who had suddenly barged in with a look of wariness.
Alicia also released Lynn and took a step back, maintaining a posture ready to launch an attack at any moment.
Only Lilith continued to hold Lynn.
She looked up and gave the Proprietress a sweet smile.
“You’re very thoughtful, Proprietress.”
Lynn was finally free.
He rubbed his waist, which felt like it was about to fall apart, and shot a grateful look at the Proprietress.
The Proprietress winked at him.
The message in her eyes was complex, and Lynn couldn’t decipher it for the moment.
“Young man, you look like you’re having a hard time.”
The Proprietress’s gaze turned back to Lynn.
She looked him up and down as if assessing the wear and tear on a piece of merchandise.
“I’m… I’m all right,” Lynn squeezed out the words.
“Mm, young people shouldn’t overexert themselves,” the Proprietress said, pulling an inconspicuous small porcelain bottle from her wide kimono sleeve.