Alice Tale in Phantasmagoria Chapter 79

The world spun dizzyingly.
Why why, without settling down I was left rolling, it seems like my mood has already become this bad.
It's said that a person with weak semicircular ca.n.a.ls has an impulse to scatter the contents of her stomach in an instant.
In any case it's a condition that makes getting up from bed impossible.

「……Feeble, aren't I.」

That my mood would become this bad, or should I say……

――The condition that has become strange is not the world's, no matter how I think about it, it's mine.

I looked at my right hand as I stretched it up toward the ceiling, just that was heavy labor like lifting boulders.
Endurance 1, defense 0.
This delicate body came and went between Wilmington's princ.i.p.ality's capital and the national border.
Consecutive fights with Leymia and then Eclair.
My left hand's high cla.s.s magic, trump card 『Lightning G.o.d Barrier』.
……It's hard to think of a reason why my body's condition wouldn't crumble.

「Water……」

I stretch my hand toward the pitcher on the side table beside the bed.
Gunununuuu.
Just by moving my body a little, it hurt enough that I wanted to scream.
I want to rant with a loud voice already.
Even maturely sleeping is impossible with this level of pain.
……Temperature is, what degree?

「Ah――」

I hazily touch the pitcher with my hand, and as such I pull on it forcefully over and over again.
The gla.s.s pitcher fell and created a dull sound on the thick carpet.
Fortunately the carpet became a cus.h.i.+on so it didn't break but, the water within is soaking into the carpet.
Aah, such a thing……

「Clean, if it's not cleaned it'll feel bad……」

I rolled up my sleeves with vigorous will, crawled out of bed like I was rolling and writhed.
Either way the world's spinning.
It won't make any difference if I roll a little.

――As if, it was impossible.

Don't put out that sort of empty energy, it's really impossible.
What is this save me, I'll die.
At the point where I crawled out of bed, my head slammed into the floor.
……Oww.

「Good morning to you, ojousama.」

At such a time, having properly knocked and received my reply, Ilya showed her face.

「Ara? Is this a morning exercise? That is a cute bottom there.」

As if such an exercise could exist……

The mansion I received from Marisan in the princ.i.p.ality.
Before returning to the royal capital, my body's condition crumbled while we were catching our breath there.
Though in truth, I had expected to quickly return to the royal capital.

「Somehow, ojousama's body's condition seems to have crumbled.」

And because of Ilya's sharp insight like that, it seems that our departure has been delayed and I'm staying here and recuperating.

「U～～, it hurts～～. Quickly make it better.」
「Please don't say such pathetic things.」

Ilya's nursing me while rebuking me.
Returning to the bed, I'm given water, and a chilled towel is placed on my forehead.
More important than what the effect may be, it really is a nice feeling forehead towel.
She also cleaned up the fallen pitcher.
Aah, it's good that you came here Ilya.
My eye was not mistaken.

「Please rest well, ojousama.」
「I just woke up so, I can't sleep～, it hurts so, I can't sleep～」
「Then, would you care to converse with me?」
「Un, what should we talk about～」
「That's right then, how about the origin of the kingdom and the surrounding countries?」
「……That sort of conversation is, right now, slightly.」

My head hurts so, let's not study, studying is.

「Then in regards to Luxeine empire's occupation policies and hyper inflation.」
「……」

What is this, that I'm looking at with half closed eyes?
That sort of smile came back.

「……I'll sleep.」
「Fufu, just being quiet and laying sideways isn't the same thing. Please give up, ojousama.」
「Ilya you malicious……if I recover, I'm punis.h.i.+ng you.」
「I will be waiting with antic.i.p.ation.」
「Ah, Ilya……it's fine if you don't constantly nurse me you know.」

Since if I don't say it, she seems like she really will stay here all day.

「That is understood. I would not do something that would trouble ojousama's heart.」

While saying as such, my slave-san left a graceful smile and exited the room.
That child is, really a considerate child issn't she.
Rather than punis.h.i.+ng her, this time I really need to reward her don't I.

The next time I woke up, the light coming in from the window energetically lit the room, it was just around noon.

「So, so you're awake, Alice.」
「……Oneechan.」

Sitting on the bedside chair, s.h.i.+on-san was reading some book.
I stretched my hand toward ane for no real reason and, for no real reason s.h.i.+on-san also took that hand.
Somehow, rea.s.suring……

「You really did break down your body's condition didn't you.」
「I even surprised myself……」

I even got a perfect attendance reward in the past you know, I really did you know?
I think that having used heal too much is a reason that can't be helped though.
However it's certain that when something happens I end up stuck in my sleep.
……The truth is that doing me in is, quite simple isn't it.
My weak point is obvious.

「I and oneechan as well, are the type to s.h.i.+ne momentarily in battle aren't we……If Ilya and Aim aren't with us the balance is poor……」
「Maa, we really can't be like Marisan after all.」

That person is……she seems like she can deal with pretty much any situation on her own after all.
a.n.a.lyzing myself, speaking of the people I know, the type of opponent that I'm bad with is……Ilya and, Till!
It's Till!
Wait just a bit, above the difference in our actual ability she's an opponent with a bad affinity!
The worst!
Is that to say that it's already impossible for me to rival Till!

「……Ma, it's fine I guess? By the way oneechan, would you sleep with me?」

Because I can't be Till's rival, what does that say.
It's become kind of stupid.
Something like above or below is besides the point.

「Yare yare, what is that, by the way. As always you're astoundingly pampered aren't you.」
「Saa saa, this is the fate held by a pampered imouto.」
「……Fumu.」

rolling up the bed covers I waited with the preparations completed flawlessly, ane observed me carefully.
Quickly quickly, I tried pulling on her connected hand but, in any case given our relative strength she won't budge.

「You should stop, imouto-sama.」

While smiling, s.h.i.+on-san sat down on the end of the bed.

「Eeh～」

She rustled and stroked my head as I seemed discontent.

「Aren't you enduring for your pride. Stop acting healthy, Alice. It looks really painful.」

…………From my behavior just now, she understood that then?

「……It can't be helped if it's exposed.」

I obediently released the strength from my body and layed down.
I left just my connected hand as it was.

「What about food and drink?」
「……No need.」
「I see, maa, don't push yourself. If you're a little better by evening, you should eat then.」
「Hai……」

She has no enemy does she, Oneechan.
While having my head stroked, I started wanting to sleep again so with that I let my body doze off.

This time I was awakened by a knocking sound.

「……Nn, hai?」

At some point I couldn't see even the light coming through the curtain, so I understood that it had become night.
I suppose I slept for a good time.
Oneechan is also, not here.

「Eto, Alice-san, is it okay nya?」

Oh, it's Saira.
Her face emerged from the door with her ears hanging like she was worried.

「Ah, it's fine so please continue resting as you are!」

When I was about to get up she stopped me.
Though it's not that I'm so gravely ill am Iー.
Since it's simply something like my body's condition is poor (because I'm feeble) isn't itー.

「Un, Saira, what is it?」

Huh, come to think of it at some point weren't fruits placed on the side table.
Did someone come?
Seeing my gaze, Saira nodded.

「That was Eclair-san nya.」
「Aah, Eclair came.」
「Hai, for some reason she left with a red face though.」

It would've been good if Eclair had stayed over with us, for her to go out of her way and get an inn.
What a waste.
On that note, a red face?
……Did, she do something to me?

「……Come to think of it, Aim is looking after Rin-chan then?」
「Hai desu. She came to visit at noon, and they slept beside eachother for a while.」

So she got to sleep next to Rin-chan.

「After a little bit, Aim-san carried her off nya.」
「Aim is like that, since she's used to children.」

Unlike me, she has modulation in her interaction doesn't she.

「Nn, by the way, there's some sort of good smell.」

Hooked by the smell, I looked carefully at Saira's hands where there was a soup tray on top.
Seeing that, my appet.i.te came out like it had been remembered.

「Haii, can you eat?」
「Un, it seems fine. Did Saira make this? Thank you.」

Placing the tray on the side table, Saira helped me get up.
Like that looking at the food while thinking how tasty is seemed I might have been revitalized.

「Itadakimasu.」

I took the bowl of soup from the tray with my hand, and scooped it with a spoon.

「……」
「……Ano, this is difficult to eat, Saira.」

Don't stare at me, that stare.

「I, I'm sorry, but, I was worried nya……」
「?」

Is it really because it's the soup she created?
I really don't understand but, for now one bite.

「Tsu!?」

Saira, looked at me with increasingly serious eyes.
I finished tasting with my tongue and, quickly drank down the soup.

「How, how is it nya?」
「……It's like it warms my heart. Like the kind flavor that Saira created is being conveyed, something like my body's poor condition flies away doesn't it.」
「Is that true!?」
「Of course.」

Of course but.
However……

「Eeeh, that's right. That's, right isn't it……」

Where should I start?
Go one by one I guess, one by one.

「……For now, how should I say this, it's at a temperature that's easy to eat isn't it?」

Even though it's a soup, it's like it can be swallowed dry like a drink.

「Hai desu! Alice-san's bodily condition is poor and, I thought it'd be difficult to eat if it was too hot!」

So that's how it was, she looked out for me didn't she.
It's something to be thankful for.

「Saira has, a cat's tongue don't you.」
「Cat's tongue……?」

Unya?
And, Saira put her tongue out cutely.
Really, cute issn't she.

「Ah～, un, I really understand.」

With the cooking I bring out as well, it's hot so she blows on it doesn't she?
Yosh, time to go on to the next item I guess.

「How to say this, your creative originality can be felt from the flavoring can't it, it was really sweet.」

That was sugar right?
There was obviously sugar put into this wasn't there?

「Hai desu! Alice-san is tired nya! When you're tired, I have heard that sweet things are good.」

Alice-san, a slightly dryer taste would be better nya.
Hai, then let's go to the next item.

「There's quite a lot of ingredients put in so, it's really filling isn't it.」

It feels like at this point rather than the soup what's inside it is what takes over doesn't it.

「Take in a lot of nutrition and, I hope you quickly get better nya!」

Since it's this substantial, I feel like it's definitely an option.
But you know?
Rather than the amount, might there be a problem with the size of the ingredients?
Fire is you know?
It hasn't penetrated you know?
The innards are still you know?
scooping a really large potato from the soup, I brought it to my mouth.
It resisted my teeth with full points in freshness.
Un, it's like I'm training my jaw.

「……It really, isn't tasty, is it?」

Looking at my appearance as I dispa.s.sionately ate, Saira's ears drooped.

「I've, only done blacksmithing since long ago so, boss-san also banned me from making food nya……」

Fu～mu.

「Because I'm clumsy, I always do unnecessary things……So I thought I should be one part more dedicated than other people.」

That explains it doesn't it.
Not a prodigy at everything but, more the king of invention perhaps?
Though I feel that for either of the them, insight and effort are necessary.
It's just a conversation of the sort of breaking through a wall at one point isn't it.

「Nn……Gochisousama. It was heartwarming, really good cooking you know? Saira.」

Eating it all, I returned the bowl to the tray.
Saira had a face like she couldn't believe it, her eyes were bewildered.

「It's a lie nya……」
「Fufu, Saira? I haven't told a single lie you know?」

Since saying that it was tasty for her here, would actually have been quite simple after all.
You don't want that do you, that sort of thing?

「Alice-san……」

Come over come over, I beckoned with my hand and, when Saira offered me her head I stroked her.

「Ne, Saira? Come to think of it didn't we make a promise for our housework rotation? For cooking, would you try making it together with me?」
「Is that okay?」
「Un, cooking alongside with someone else is, fun after all.」
「I'm happy but……it seems like I'll be causing you trouble nya……」
「But, what sort of interesting thing will Saira make, right now I'm looking forward to that you know.」
「That's terrible, Alice-san!」
「Fufu, please excuse me?」
「You're not repenting at all nyaa.」

I pushed her head around in circles.
Somehow this is like a cat has become attached to me isn't it.

「Alice-san, I love you nya……」
「I'm honored.」

I enjoyed some time with Saira.

Men are, a lifeform that endures.
Right, for example, if their feeble body seems to scream out, this heart of mine still cannot break.

「U～～, It hurts～～～, I can't take it anymore, someone destroy the world～～」

I didn't think something like that even a little.
Ei, I didn't think it at all.
Everyone's sleeping silently in the middle of the night.
It seems like what could be called the body's condition becomes worse at night, this is precisely that.
It's decidedly not that the food is. .h.i.tting or the like, something like that is absolutely false.
My body's hot.
Has my fever risen?
U～～～.

「Heal……」

I tried using a self heal but, there was practically no effect.
I knew it……
Furthermore, having needlessly used magic power, I felt even worse……
Ah～～～.
U～～～.

And, unable to sleep well I pa.s.sed through the night while half asleep, suddenly nice feeling cold air enveloped my body.

「Nn……」

Even I, noticed that my breath calmed down a little.
Though my eyelids were heavy and I didn't have the willpower to open them, I noticed that someone had come up beside me.
In fact, on my forehead something small and chilled, I kind of noticed a nice feeling hand placed on me.
Contrary to it's cool temperature, I somehow felt something like a motherly warmth from it.

「Suu……」

Finally, I could fall asleep with a peaceful mind.

And so on the next day, my body's condition finally recovered.

By the way, the lovable sleepyhead-san didn't wake until evening.