Mushoku Tensei — Chapter 85 - A Day with Roxy

Early morning.

Waking up in Rudeus's arms.

"Mmm..."

I sat up in bed. Rudeus and Sylphiette were still sleeping.

So cold.

I really wanted to nestle back into Rudeus's embrace and keep soaking up his warmth, but in this weather, lying back down meant sleeping until noon.

I have a class this morning, after all.

"Good morning... Teacher."

Rudeus's drowsy voice drifted from beside me.

"It should be Roxy."

I poked him on the nose with my finger.

He smiled, a slow dopey grin, and said, "I have a class today too. Let's walk together."

"Mm."

That settled, the two of us climbed out of the bed — the kind you could genuinely call a nest of comfort.

Before we left the room, Rudeus leaned down and murmured something in Sylphiette's ear.

After brushing our teeth, Rudeus and I sat together in the living room waiting for the maid to finish breakfast.

By the time we reached the dining table, she'd already set out what we liked to drink in the mornings.

Rudeus likes hot milk. So do I.

Incidentally, on mornings when I don't have a class, Sylphiette and I make breakfast ourselves. But it's winter now, and Sylphiette — with her elven blood — seems to find waking up early genuinely difficult.

"By the way, does Aisha not have class today?"

Rudeus took a sip of his milk before answering. "No, but she'll still head to the academy in the afternoon."

"Helping Miss Nanahoshi?"

"Mm."

Miss Nanahoshi. I'd met her a few months after joining the family.

According to Sylphiette and Aisha, she's one of Rudeus's very few friends, close enough that you could even call her a dear one.

As for how they got that close, neither of them knew.

Sylphiette had even told me privately that Miss Nanahoshi might become Rudeus's fourth wife.

But I got the feeling... there isn't actually that kind of feeling between them.

......

After breakfast, we walked to the academy together.

Both Rudeus's scarf and mine had been knitted by Sylphiette. The moment she gave mine to me, I was genuinely moved, and in the same breath, I quietly made up my mind: next year, I'm learning to knit. One scarf for Rudeus, one for Sylphiette.

Mm... probably Miss Eris and Aisha too?

We walked in holding hands and stepped through the academy gates.

Not many students paid us any attention. Rudeus isn't particularly well-known on campus, and I... well, I look rather... mm... young. Or whatever other adjective I'd rather not hear.

In any case, most students probably took us for a student couple.

There were a few teachers who recognized us and knew exactly what the situation was.

"Rudeus, I'm heading this way."

I pointed toward my classroom.

Rudeus smiled, bent down, and kissed my forehead.

It's a habit we've only had for the past six months or so. Every time I say goodbye to him with that reluctant look on my face, he bends down and does this.

I'd honestly prefer it if he kissed me on the lips. But with people walking past, probably not the best idea... Rudeus was likely thinking about how flustered I'd get, so he keeps it to the forehead.

"Roxy, see you this afternoon."

"Mm..."

Every time Rudeus calls me Roxy, I feel this little rush of embarrassment.

But even with the embarrassment, I love it.

How to describe it... the student who once sat across from me in lessons has become my husband, and the way he addresses me has shifted from Teacher to my name.

Mm... I might be a little more twisted than I'd imagined.

But then again, my daily campaign to correct how he addresses me hasn't been for nothing, now, except at home, Rudeus almost never calls me Teacher anymore.

"Alright... time for class. Focus!"

I patted my warm cheeks, forced myself to stop thinking about Rudeus, and walked into the classroom.

.......

After school, I packed up my materials and stepped out.

The moment I cleared the door, his voice found me.

"Good work, Roxy."

Same as always, Rudeus waiting at the classroom door. Sometimes he'd be in Nanahoshi's laboratory instead, and on those days I'd be the one heading over to wait for him.

"Mm..."

Without saying anything else, I took his hand.

"You two are so sweet~"

Aisha popped out from behind Rudeus, eyes dropping straight to our joined hands.

I startled and instinctively tried to pull back, but Rudeus had a firm grip, and my hand didn't go anywhere.

Careless of me. She didn't have class today, so I'd assumed she wasn't around. I'd completely forgotten that Rudeus mentioned she was coming in the afternoon.

"Aisha, what are you doing..."

"Just envying Sister-in-law Roxy~" She pressed the back of her hand to her cheek with a mournful look. "Big brother only has one hand now, so he definitely won't think about holding his insignificant little sister's hand, right? It's fine~ I'll manage on my own just fine..."

She delivered the whole thing with a devastated expression that made absolutely no sense, and both Rudeus and I burst out laughing.

But... the mention of Rudeus's hand. I still feel like that was my fault.

If it weren't for me...

"What are you thinking about?"

Rudeus's voice cut through my thoughts.

"Hm? Ah... nothing."

"Don't overthink things."

"Mm..."

The walk home was quiet.

Not awkward, we just didn't have much to say. Nothing happened today that was particularly worth bringing up, and Rudeus isn't a big talker to begin with.

I tilted my head up to look at him. In the light of the setting sun, he looked like he'd stepped out of an oil painting.

So handsome... this is my husband. It really does feel like a dream.

At first, it was simple: he was handsome, and the way he'd appeared to save me was almost absurdly dramatic, and I fell hard on the spot. But now it's something different. Every part of Rudeus, I love, his personality, the way he carries himself, the way he handles things. The child I once thought was unusually mature grew into a man who still makes me feel that same way.

If there's one complaint... it's that Rudeus seems a little sexually indifferent.

Except that isn't quite right either, because he clearly reacts, it's just that he's never once made a move on Sylphiette or me.

I don't really understand what he's thinking. But Sylphiette seems to, so I've left it alone.

These things are best left to unfold on their own. It's not like I'm suffering.

...Right?

Just then, Rudeus lowered his head and looked at me.

Our eyes met. My thoughts snapped back.

I watched his lips part slightly.

"So beautiful..."

Is he talking about me...? Or the sunset...?

Ugh. I really am hopeless in moments like this.

"Big brother is such a flirt~"

The second Aisha spoke, whatever that moment was dissolved completely.

"I meant the sunset... ha... haha..."

"Next time I won't walk home with big brother~ Let big brother and Sister-in-law Roxy properly nurture their relationship~"

"That's really not necessary."

"Really not? I saw that look in big brother's eyes."

"What look?"

"That look is just that look~"

I watched them bicker and felt something warm and easy settle in my chest. Honestly, I think I prefer this.

I love being alone with Rudeus too, but when Aisha's around, there's this feeling that surfaces. It's hard to name it precisely. It's just home.

Mm... if we ever have children, I hope they're as lively as Aisha.

Under the setting sun, in an atmosphere that was somehow both gently awkward and quietly cheerful, we made our way home.

➤ Next: One Day, Sylphie