My Soulmate Is I (Patreon)

Chapter 22: Laphae and Lotte

(Yue)

Things have finally come to a close.

Laphae's parents returned to the capital yesterday as they had work to attend to. Only Laphae stayed behind for a holiday at my house.

On my (Yue) side, after my father discussed the results with me (Night), he quickly took the whole family back to the capital.

Time is money, after all. Preparations alone for the Dolge Kingdom and the Anli Kingdom's alliance will take at least a month, and there will be plenty of diplomatic wrangling. It's likely that the war with the Green Kingdom won't officially start until the end of the holiday.

On the other hand, my (Yue) father probably wants to avoid any contact between me (Night) and me (Yue). Seriously, a father who dotes on their daughter too much can also be quite troublesome.

However, even though things have come to a close, the dire situation on my side has yet to disappear.

Lotte is still at the Baron's mansion, awaiting the day she goes to the capital. During this time, it's impossible to keep Lotte and Laphae from meeting.

One morning, Lotte knocked on the door of my house, and it was Laphae who answered, having woken up early to help her mother with cooking.

"Who are you...?" Laphae looked at Lotte in confusion.

Lotte, on the other hand, first appeared puzzled, then she looked at Laphae's face with seriousness. Afterward, she curtsied politely and said with a smile, "Lotte has come to see Night. Night is Lotte's guardian knight."

Laphae's eyes darkened for a moment.

Then she turned her body and took steps towards the central bedroom.

Nights, she was heading towards me (Night).

At this moment, I was still asleep, completely unaware of Lotte's arrival, and therefore, completely defenseless.

Yes, defenseless.

I had no defenses against Laphae swiftly tying my limbs to the corners of the bed.

It was only when I realized something was amiss and woke up that it was too late.

I looked at Laphae, expressionless, and asked, "What are you doing?"

"It's interrogation time now."

"....Ask away."

"Who is that girl named Lotte?"

"My employer."

"What employer?"

"I serve as her knight, and she pays me a salary. That's what I mean by employer."

"How did you meet her? What happened while I was away?"

"One day on the way home from school, I saw her about to fall from a tree, so I caught her, and then she got attached to me."

"Night, let’s tie the knot."

"Why did you suddenly bring up such a topic?! By the way, how do you even know this vocabulary?! Do you know what it means? What happened while you were away from me? Come on, tell me the truth!"

"Um..." Laphae seemed a bit stunned by my sudden questioning and didn't seem to know how to respond. She said hesitantly, "Nothing really happened. I only made friends with Yue and Xue'er during your absence."

"How did you know what 'tie the knot' means?!"

"Xue'er lent me a book with it written..."

"Xue'er, you're quite something," I nodded emphatically. "Laphae, release me."

"Huh? Oh."

Laphae, bewildered, loosened the ropes.

"What do you want to do, Night?"

"Of course, I'm going to settle the score with that girl Xue'er before she escapes!"

Hmph, when dealing with someone like me, turning the tables can be applied not only in negotiations but also in dealing with little troublemakers!

At this moment, before I(Night) could get out of bed, Laphae, who had just come off me, seemed to have finally realized something.

"Wait a moment! How did you know what 'tie the knot’ means?!"

How did I know? Well, do you think Father's (Yue father) collection of books is off-limits to Xue'er alone?

Of course, I(Night) couldn't say that.

Instead of explaining, what's more important right now is to deal with this mischievous girl.

With a quick turn, I reversed the situation, pinning Laphae beneath me and holding her hands down.

"Laphae, who would have thought you dared to tie me up? You really have no fear, little troublemaker. If I don't subject you to an hour of tickle torture in a corner of hell today, I'll donate a hundred cradles to charity every day from now on!"

"No! Auntie Fay, save me! Don't do this! Hahaha, I won't dare anymore, hahaha!" Laphae laughed, tears streaming down her face.

Lotte, on the other hand, smiled emotionlessly. "Heh... heh... heh..."

My body gradually stiffened, and I turned my head to the right.

Lotte was smiling, a smile devoid of any emotion. I couldn't discern any feelings from it.

"...Lotte, when did you arrive?"

"When this girl, who I'm meeting for the first time, tied Night up, Lotte was already at the door. Night, what kind of game are you playing? Can you include Lotte?"

Looking at Lotte's emotionless smile and hearing her emotionless words, I once again felt - this girl is truly terrifying!!!

And what's even scarier is not just Lotte.

After I stopped the tickle torture in the corner of hell because of Lotte, Laphae also quickly stopped laughing.

Now, Laphae, who was sitting beneath me, looked at me with dimmed eyes, scanning various parts of my body up and down. She seemed to be constantly grinding her teeth as she muttered something under her breath - He can’t keep getting away with this.

Maybe I should just run away from home.