Kimi to Boku no Saigo no Senjo, Aruiha Sekai ga Hajimaru Seisen - Volume 10 - Chapter 1.3

3

The Empire, middle of the night.

In the far eastern jurisdiction of Altoria, a certain town quietly slumbered. Most of the rooms in Iska and the others’ hotel had gone dark for the night.

And in that darkness…

“…Hee-hee.”

Sisbell got up from the sofa, quietly giggling to herself. The living room was pitch-black.

Careful not to wake Nene or Commander Mismis, who were sleeping farther back in the room, Sisbell crouched low to the ground as she inched away. She opened the door and headed down the hall.

“…It’s flawless, if I do say so myself. My late-night love plot!”

She was heading to the room next door. Yes, to the one Iska was sleeping in. She clutched the key she had pilfered in the afternoon as she walked through the corridor.

Ka-chak. The door opened with a light click. Her plan was as good as done now that she’d made it this far. All she needed to do was sneak into the room Iska was sleeping in.

…I was groaning about my fever into the afternoon.

…But in an unexpected twist, I’ll use the deep of night to get even closer to Iska!

She needed a bodyguard.

They were heading to the Imperial capital now, and she knew not what would await them except that Lord Yunmelngen would be part of it. Because of that…what she wanted—no, required—was to be even more emotionally close to her guard.

“That means we must strengthen our bond, Iska!”

And so, she had hatched a plan that went like this… Step 1: Sneak into Iska’s bed, claiming she still felt unwell. Step 2: Inch closer to Iska, claiming she couldn’t sleep from anxiety.

She’d get just close enough to feel the heat of his body next to hers and vice versa. They would awkwardly settle in until they’d eventually fall into a peaceful slumber.

“The fact that I, the Third Princess Sisbell, am allowing a member of the opposite sex to be so close to me will be certain proof of my trust in him. You’ll see, Iska!”

She had even dressed appropriately for the occasion. If she were to pretend to be half-asleep and wrap her arms around him, then the thin nightgown she had chosen to wear would allow him to feel her warmth through the fabric—or so she imagined.

There was a chance he would even be able to feel her heartbeat.

…Can you hear it, Iska? The flutter of my heart?

…Wait, that might be going too far.

Everyone knew Sisbell was something of a bibliophile, and even she would readily admit it. She was well aware from the romance novels she’d read that a girl of her age stopping by to meet someone of the opposite gender would invite misunderstandings. She, of course, would not be telling the queen of her actions. She didn’t even want the queen to be aware this was happening.

“But it’s not like that, Mother. I’m not doing anything questionable.”

This wasn’t a matter between a man and a woman, though she was also prepared in case it did come to that. She knew it was possible.

…Iska is at a certain age.

…But he’s not the type who would force me into anything.

Sisbell felt comfortable approaching him to the point of sneaking into his room even in the dead of night. She simply wanted to feel comforted and safe. She wanted to be closer to him, and to see him blush. That was enough for her. She didn’t intend to overstep more than that.

“…”

Still in the hallway of the hotel room, she stopped to consider things for a moment. Now that she thought about it, Iska wasn’t the only one present. The sniper, Jhin, was here, too. He was likely sound asleep right now, just like Iska.

“This is perfect.”

A mischievous grin spread over her face. Her heart pounded slightly in her chest as she took another step down the dark hallway.

“I’m going to be sneaking into Iska’s room anyway. I’ll pay a visit to that charmless boy, too, just to see what he looks like in his sleep. Regardless of how apathetic he looked in the afternoon, I’m sure he must be somewhat endearing while asleep. Ha-ha. I’ll enjoy taking peek at a young man in the bloom of his youth… Eep!”

She tripped. Sisbell’s foot had caught on something as she tiptoed in, and she crashed loudly to the floor. Just when Iska and Jhin were so close at hand.

What had she tripped on?

As Sisbell rubbed her eyes, she spotted the glint of a thin thread.

“What?!” She couldn’t help but shout. “A steel wire?! Wh-why is there a wire along the ground?!”

“Hee-hee-hee.”

“Yeek?!”

She realized someone was behind her, but it was too late. They grabbed her by the shoulders, which elicited another yelp from her.

“There’s no way?!” Sisbell said.

“…I knew it. I thought this might be what you were up to.”

“Commander, aren’t you grateful we set up a trap in front of Iska and Jhin’s rooms?”

“Y-you two?! But you were asleep!”

Sisbell had no idea when they had arrived. Nene and Commander Mismis, who should have been fast asleep in the room next door, were standing behind her. They were both wearing cute pajamas as well…but the bold smiles on their faces were so frightening that Sisbell froze in terror.

“Hee-hee-hee. So, Miss Sisbell, where were you headed off to? Did you realize you’re right in front of Iska and Jhin’s rooms?”

Even in the darkness, Sisbell could still see Nene’s eyes shine. For whatever reason, the red-haired girl held a rope in her hands.

“You stole the room key from my bag this afternoon, didn’t you?” Mismis closed in on her—the commander held a pair of handcuffs.

“You can’t run now.”

“How about we make our way back to our room and have a liiittle talk. I think this feisty kitty needs a little lecture on common sense.”

“W-wait! I… It’s not like that!” She frantically flailed her hands at the two as they closed in on her. “I—I simply…j-just wanted to cuddle a little. I wasn’t planning on doing anything unscrupulous—”

“Time for your punishment.”

“Now let’s head back, Miss Sisbell.”

“Noooo! I—I was so close to reaching the garden of dreams…!”

She had only been two yards from their rooms.

With her goal just out of reach, Sisbell was bound and cuffed, then dragged back to the next room over.