To sum up everything, I have told the Empress what my life was like. I told her everything up until the moment I walked into her tent. She went silent for a long moment, I have thought she knew more about me for some reason, but she has only guessed most of it.
After seemingly making her mind up, she called it a day and advised us to go and rest up. It certainly got late by the time we have arrived. She offered a place for me to sleep, but Tenna was reluctant and pressed on, that she will take care of it.
This might have been her way of thanking me, for openig the gates, though she was certainly pushy with the idea. I didn't pay much attention to it, well, until I heard what she thought up.
After we were done talking with the Empress, we headed straight for Tenna's tent. It was, of course, a lot smaller with a very simple interior. A makeshift bed which was left messy, a wardrobe, a table with two chairs and a rack full of... glaives?
Does she break them often? Isn't that a bit too much? I thought to myself as I was making my way in.
The atmosphere got quite awkward as she started taking off a few pieces of her clothing. I still couldn't wrap my head around what she was wearing. My eyes got caught on her face. She usually wore a composed expression, but she seemed somewhat flustered.
Of course she would, I didn't even think off to turning around!
The guilty quickly started to creep up in me, but she started doing it so casually and I never had to sleep with anyone before.
"A-ah sorry, I forgot to turn around." I started making my excuses.
"N-nevermind, I wasn't going to get naked anyways. It's just I started like always and forgot you were here and..." she said staring at the ground.
"You couldn't stop in the middle of it? Sorry, I'll go out, you should change."
As I was about to leave she called after me.
"Wait! I u-usually sleep like this, so there is no reason for you to go out."
Wasn't she a little bit too daring?! I mean, she is a devil and I am certainly no match, but...
She finally looked up at me, with determination in her eyes.
Just what did she decide on?
She walked to her bed and gestured for me to sit down next to her.
Tenna-san don't tell me you want me to?!
With some indicisiveness I sat down next to her, our shoulders almost touching. She seemed even more flustered, seeing her this close one thing hit me like a boulder crashing down on me. Something that escaped me for some reason.
Have I ever seen someone this beautiful?
Sure, I have seen a fair amount of noble women in my life, but all wore weird powders on their faces trying to hide the ugly nature within them. Everything was a facade to play the noble and kindhearted.
Tenna was different. At these thoughts my face grew hotter and I had to avert my gaze. She certainly noticed it. Yet another awkward silence fell upon us. After another painfully long moment, I tried to break the silence.
"I know this is your way of thanking me, but you don't have to do anything that makes you uncomfortable. I-I mean I can sleep on the ground, I am quite used to it by now." I said staring holes into the ground.
Tenna's eyes widened at my suggestion and she jolted a bit. She quickly turned to me and grabbed my hand which was next to hers. After realising that she has jumped to action without a thought, her face lit up bright red, but she didn't let go.
"I-I c-can't allow that. You sleep with me!." she said barely holding herself together.
It was getting late and I certainly didn't want to dishearten her, so I gave in without much resistence. Soon we layed next to each other with the candles blown out. The Moon's gentle light seeped through the tent's crevices. Tenna fell asleep rather quickly, maybe due to todays stressful events or maybe, because our interaction exhausted her.
The gentle light illuminated her face ever so slightly.
I am such a creep. Watching a defenseless girl sleeping.
I couldn't do anything about it. She was still the most beautiful girl I have ever seen in my life. I also felt somewhat stupid for being this easily flustered by things like what happened. I certainly never had hopes of a relationship, I was a slave after all. For Tenna it might has been a whole plethora of emotions too. She might never has interacted with a boy in her life. Well, she certainly hasn't with something like me.
Soon I turned on my back as Tenna shifted on her side, now showing her back to me. This girl was way too loosely dressed for me to look at her more.
Half demon, half human, huh... Will I be able to master magic? Who were my parents? Is it even possible for a demon and a human to fall in love.
Random thoughts flashed in my mind one after another. I was concerned, but felt a weight being lifted from my shoulders. I finally found somewhat of a place where I am not an outsider, not a thing, a tool to be used and abused.
I caught a final glimpse at Tenna as she was peacefully sleeping next to me.
Never thought I would enjoy the time before bed.
With that thought I finally closed my eyes anticipating another night of agony. The nightmares surely wouldn't leave me just because I was free.
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