Taming The Villainesses

(EP-203.1) Summer #1

203 – Cold Summer #1

Aira woke up some time after that.

But it was enough time for people to be alarmed, calling priests and healers to determine the cause.

It might have been for a very long time, but for me, those moments felt exceptionally excruciating. It felt like the day was being endlessly stretched.

“…….”

Aira in bed, gradually woke up, blinking her long eyelashes and glancing around.

She didn’t show much surprise or embarrassment.

Rather, she was just calm. It felt as though she was reminiscing, gazing at a beautiful, long standing tree in her old hometown.

After a while, her black eyes finally fixed on me. Her soft lips parted and she asked.

“How long have I been lying down?”

“It’s been about thirty minutes.”

“I see…”

With that, our conversation briefly ended. It looked like she wanted to ask more, but Aira’s lips remained sealed.

On the contrary, I couldn’t stay still— I have many questions for Aira.

“Aira-nim, the priests and healers said it was due to sleep deprivation. It was the accumulated fatigue.”

“I haven’t been able to sleep well lately. I had to wake up early in the morning and listen to lectures.”

Was she simply admitting to collapsing due to lack of sleep?

Everyone was greatly alarmed when Aira suddenly collapsed after demonstrating magic. I even thought that she might have been hit by a poison dart from somewhere.

Fortunately, it was not a major illness or threat of assassination, but only symptoms of overworking and fatigue.

The sudden loss of consciousness was attributed to a sudden onset of drowsiness.

But, drowsiness?

Aira spent most of her days sleeping. For someone like her to suffer from sleep deprivation seemed incomprehensible to me. Ahh, my head hurt with all these complications!

“People must have been surprised.”

“We managed to cover it up somehow, so it should be fine. And Aira-nim’s health is more important than anything else. Still, sleep deprivation…, how did that happen?”

“Just as it sounds. I was lacking sleep.”

“But, Aira-nim, you are already getting enough rest.”

At my half-worried, half-doubtful question, Aira chuckled as if she heard the obvious.

“Theo, just as people have varying appetites, people also have different sleep needs.”

I knew that. But that was when the margin of error was relatively narrow, like 7 hours or 6 hours of sleep a day. Meanwhile, Aira slept an average of 8 hours or more.

For someone like her, suddenly collapsing because she was waking up a bit early to attend lectures and engage with people in the morning seemed quite problematic.

“… Rather, I had a very interesting dream. Dream of seeing the sea under the hot summer sun. The white sand is spread like chalk powder, with shells and crabs scattered about.”

Aira casually talked about her dream. But I knew that she was just trying to change the subject of the conversation.

Normally, I would have let it slide.

But after seeing her suddenly collapse in front of many people, I couldn’t just ignore it.

“Aira-nim, don’t you think you should undergo a thorough examination? I’m concerned that your continuous long sleeps might indicate a problem.”

“I am the Queen. I know every single stone in Angmar. So how can I not know my body?”

As Aira said this, she subtly avoided my gaze.

Suddenly.

I began to suspect whether Aira was hiding something from me. As she said, she would know her own body’s condition best.

Why were her sleeps so long?

However.

I didn’t think she’d tell me why. After all, Aira had kept many secrets from me.

This was probably just one of them…

Seureureuk.

Aira pushed aside the soft blanket and stood up, placing her feet on the carpet. She quickly straightened the white gown draped over her body, then drew the curtains and looked outside the window.

The world was still bright.

It was just around 3 o’clock in the afternoon.

Narrowing her eyes against the dazzling sun of that summer, Aira said.

“Wasn’t there a gathering scheduled at the square from 3 o’clock today? I might be a bit late. Theo, get ready to go out. Now, bring me my clothes.”

“It was already cancelled, my lady. There’s no more schedules for today. It would be good for you to rest.”

“… Cancelled?”

Aira, who had been basking in the sun by the window, took a step back.

Then, slowly turning her head, she looked at me. Black silky hair cascaded down her shoulders and chest as she tilted her head.

“Who dares to cancel my schedule without my permission? This cannot continue. Even at this moment, that cunning Serazade must be lurking around!”

“Aira-nim, you need to rest today. I’ve cleared all your schedules.”

“…….”

Aira’s expression turned extremely cold.

As she slowly examined me, her gaze, as sharp as ice, pricked at my chest like frost.

But only for a moment.

Just as the cloudy sky cleared, Aira’s expression also softened slightly.

“Theo, wasn’t it you who suggested it would be good to present myself frequently to the people? Why are you saying such things now?”

“… I did say that at the time, but now it’s different. If Aira-nim has any health issues, it’s better not to do it….”

“And arbitrarily canceling my schedule, that was foolish. Decision-making is the duty of the Queen. If it were someone else, they would have faced severe consequences.”

“…….”

“Well then, go and reschedule the cancelled appointments. It’s not too late.”

“No. You must rest today. And, you may have to continue to rest in the future as well.”

“Theo Gospel…”

Aira called my name. It felt as if everything around was engulfed in cold air.

“… This is not a request but an order. Are you refusing to obey your Queen now? You know very well what I do to those who defy me, don’t you?”

Seureuk, seureuk.

Edited by: faker