Mushoku Tensei — Chapter 139 - Aisha — Words Unspoken
Sylphiette's Perspective:
Early morning.
I'd just gotten up, not quite awake yet.
I lifted the blanket carefully, just a little.
Kept my movements slow, quiet — trying not to wake Rudeus.
He woke up anyway.
"...What time is it?"
His voice was thick with sleep.
"Still early," I said softly. "Rudy can sleep a little longer."
I started changing clothes.
Then I felt his gaze on me.
Honestly.
"Why so early today?" Rudeus asked.
"I wonder~"
He went quiet for a moment. Then his hand reached out and caught my wrist, drawing me back a little.
"Lie down a bit longer."
I blinked.
Didn't say no.
Sat back on the edge of the bed.
"Alright~"
Rudeus closed his eyes. His hand stayed wrapped around my wrist.
After a while, he really did fall back asleep.
I looked at him.
The corner of my mouth twitched.
I didn't pull my hand away.
"You've worked so hard, Rudy."
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Eris's Perspective:
Noon.
The kitchen was busy. Roxy, Sylphiette, and I were all moving around each other, getting things done.
Rudeus stood off to the side.
"Need any help?"
"No," I said, not turning around.
"I could help Eris chop vegetables."
"Can you even chop?"
"...Theoretically, yes. I mean, I only know how to make a few simple things, but..."
I stopped. Turned to look at him.
"Have you forgotten what you did to the vegetables last time, Rudeus?"
He was quiet for a second. Then he smiled. "That was an accident."
"No need for Rudeus to help! Just wait nicely and eat when it's ready!"
Rudeus gave a pained little smile and resigned himself to watching me from the sidelines.
A little while passed. I noticed he'd drifted pretty far away.
"Why are you standing all the way over there?"
"Didn't Eris say she didn't need help?"
"Hmph! That doesn't mean you should stand that far from me. Come closer!"
Rudeus smiled and stepped over.
I handed him a dish.
"Take this out."
"...Isn't this still helping?"
"It's the easiest thing."
"Eris...is your husband really that useless to you?"
"...He's not! I just...I just hope...hope that Rudeus trusts me completely..."
Halfway through, I caught him watching me with that soft, warm smile.
I'd been played.
"Ah~ Eris, honestly~ now go on and take the dish out."
"...Rudeus."
"Hm?"
"Tonight, I'm going to punish you."
"........"
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Roxy's Perspective:
Afternoon.
The study was quiet.
I was reading. Rudeus was at his desk, writing.
Neither of us spoke.
After a while, Rudeus stopped his pen.
He looked over at me.
I didn't lift my eyes from the page.
"That's three times you've looked at me now, Rudy~"
"...That obvious?"
"Very obvious."
He smiled.
"Then let me look one more time. Could teacher set the book down first?"
I raised my head.
We looked at each other.
One second of stillness.
Every time, I think the same thing — Rudy really does have beautiful eyes.
We didn't say anything else.
We kissed.
Afterward, I said quietly, "Rudy's very free today?"
"A little."
"Then get back to writing."
"As you command, teacher."
I lowered my gaze back to the page.
I turned it a little more slowly than before.
➤ Next: Vita — The Conversation