Obedient Only to Me! Sir Knight - Chapter 5

Chapter 5

“Um… my lord.”

Though he heard a voice calling him, Lowie buried his face deeper into the pillow and let the tears continue to fall. After crying it out like this, he would feel better again. Morning always came, after all.

“Hic…”

The long night felt unbearably sorrowful, and once again, the tears overflowed.

“My lord.”

The voice sounded a little closer now. Lowie simply sobbed harder. He had no strength left to pay attention to anyone else.

“My lord.”

The voice came from right beside him. The blanket lifted slightly. His chest felt tight, his mood was crushingly low, and his eyes burned. Everything was terrible. Lowie lifted a hand weakly and shooed the intruder away.

“Go away.”

His voice trembled with tears. That only made him sadder, and he sniffled again. Ice cream, whatever. I’m depressed. I’m a depressed person. Lowie spiraled downward, sinking deeper and deeper into himself.

And then—

A hand suddenly grabbed his.

“What—”
“Excuse me.”

How dare he grab his master’s hand without permission. If his head hadn’t been pounding so badly, Lowie would have punished him on the spot. He glared up at Ban with tear-filled eyes—but Ban paid no heed. He simply pulled Lowie out from under the blankets in one smooth motion. His strength was such that before Lowie could even resist, he was already sitting upright on the bed.

“What are you—”
“Shh. Please stop crying. At this rate, you’ll exhaust yourself.”

A large hand gently wiped away Lowie’s tears. The sudden tenderness startled him enough that the crying paused.

“What are you doing?”
“Comforting you.”

And then—he was pulled straight into Ban’s arms.

The solid warmth pressed against him, and Lowie sucked in a breath. A broad hand slowly stroked down his back. At that, the tears began to fall again, heavier than before.

“Hh….”

When someone comforts you, you always end up crying more.

“There, there. It’s all right.”
“H-huuuh….”

Tears and snot poured out together. Lowie clung to his slave and wailed. Ban said nothing, simply patting his back over and over. The sorrowful crying went on for a long while. Ban’s warm hand never stopped, continuing to stroke Lowie’s back patiently.

“Hic.”

Now, Lowie was practically draped across Ban’s arms, limp and boneless. After crying so hard, all his strength had drained away, leaving him barely able to move. As a magician, Lowie had never possessed much stamina to begin with.

“Are you feeling all right now?”

Ban was still gently patting his back. Little by little, Lowie’s awareness returned. He glanced toward the window. It was still the middle of the night.

“I want… water.”
“Here you are.”

His voice was hoarse from crying. Ban quickly brought him water. After drinking, Lowie felt a bit more alive.

“Thank you.”

It was a pitiful sound. Today alone, the clearly-not-normal Lowie had said thank you three times. If Josef had seen this, he would have dragged Lowie straight to a healer. Ban, seeing Lowie for the first time, could only look on helplessly, continuing to rub his back.

“Would you like to wash and change clothes?”
“That’s annoying…”
“Even so.”

Ban coaxed him back onto the bed and soon returned with a warm towel. He carefully wiped Lowie’s face, hands, and feet, then handled him almost like a doll—turning him this way and that to change him into his sleepwear.

Having a strong slave really is convenient.

Through his foggy, tear-soaked thoughts, Lowie realized this. In truth, he had never particularly liked being waited on—even though, as a duke’s son, it had always been natural. People said he was just sensitive, blaming him instead. But…

This isn’t bad.

Ban handled the completely limp adult man with effortless ease. Entrusting his body entirely to those hands, Lowie felt a strange sense of satisfaction.

It’s like magic.

Without even using mana, his clothes were changed for him. A faint, pleased smile tugged at Lowie’s lips.

“Ban.”
“Yes.”
“Hold my hand.”
“Yes.”

Ban immediately took Lowie’s hand. Lying on the bed, Lowie smiled faintly. It was the satisfied smile of a master pleased with an obedient slave—but drained of strength, it looked nothing more than pitiful.

“Don’t let go until I fall asleep.”
“I’ll stay right here.”

Lowie exhaled softly and pulled that hand to his chest. Thump-thump—Ban’s warm palm rested over his heart. Outside, raindrops began to fall one by one. Rain clouds swallowed the moon, plunging the world beyond the window into darkness. Night was always the time when depression struck. Always. And yet…

Pat. Pat.

“Please sleep now.”

As if losing consciousness, Lowie drifted into sleep.

Ban faithfully stayed by Lowie’s side all night. When Lowie woke and stared blankly at the hand still clasped in his own, he smiled. Still, the rain continued to fall, the sky dull and heavy, and his mood wasn’t fully restored.

“Are you still unwell?”
“Mmh. Nom.”

From the moment he woke, Lowie had been demanding—wash me, change my clothes, carry me over there—behavior bordering on outright tyranny. By now, he wasn’t even feeding himself.

“Mmh… I don’t like cucumbers.”
“…Yes.”

At this point, Ban couldn’t help wondering whether he should stop indulging this behavior and start disciplining him instead.

He’s going to develop bad habits.

Thinking that, Ban still continued to wait on him without complaint.

“This is annoying. Why did it suddenly have to rain?”

Seraphila was a warm island nation where the weather was usually pleasant—but sometimes, rain would pour endlessly like this. They checked for a ship back to the island, but as expected, all departures were canceled. Lowie’s mood sank further and further. Seeing him like this, Ban made a suggestion.

“Shall we go eat ice cream again?”
“…Yeah.”

Good idea. If things were going to be like this, he might as well eat more ice cream. Lowie nodded weakly.

“Shall I carry you on the way?”
“Yes!”

“Welcome.”
“Hi.”

The shop they returned to was quieter than the day before—likely because of the weather.

“Um… are you feeling unwell? Do you need assistance?”
“No?”

Seeing Lowie being carried straight into the shop, the employee failed to keep their expression neutral. Lowie, of course, didn’t care.

“…I’ll guide you to a private room.”

Deciding it was best to isolate them, the employee led them to a secluded room.

“Honey ice cream. Strawberry parfait too. And almond cookies and apple pie, and…”

In the short walk to the room, Lowie rattled off orders nonstop. What else was there? That chocolate thing…

“Just bring everything on the menu.”

The sweet smell already lifted his mood slightly. Lowie kicked his legs a bit more energetically. Ban carefully set him down in the designated seat. Before Lowie even fully got off Ban’s back, a welcome cookie was already in his hand.

“Aren’t you ordering too much?”
“Huh? You can eat too.”

Lowie said magnanimously. Of course, yesterday, everything he hadn’t finished had ended up in Ban’s stomach anyway.

“Honey ice cream first. I never leave that one. If you want it, order your own.”
“That’s all right.”

Who would crave honey ice cream that much? Seeing his master so earnestly excited, Ban smiled a little.

But is it really okay to eat this much sugar? What if his stomach hurts… Ban’s expression grew serious. After indulging Lowie’s behavior since yesterday, he had unconsciously begun treating this grown man like a child.

“Your desserts are ready.”

The dishes arrived quickly. The table filled to the brim, and Lowie’s eyes sparkled. Ban slid the ice cream toward him and pulled the hot items closer to himself.

“I’ll cut the pie and let it cool. Please eat the others first.”

Lowie had already buried his face in the honey ice cream and didn’t respond. Ban, now well-practiced, began cutting the pie. When the apple pie split open, the filling spilled out thickly. Cutting into something that oozed honey and fruit juice felt strangely familiar.

Peaceful.

Ban thought. A pastel-colored room filled with sweet scents, and a beautiful master sitting before him. After a life spent hunting demons, who could have imagined such a gentle scene?

Perhaps because of that, he suddenly felt like settling down—like staying. Ban glanced at Lowie. Lowie was still locked in battle with the honey ice cream. Despite having ordered far too much, his appetite was small and his pace slow. Watching him nibble with a tiny spoon made Ban smile without realizing it.

Ban cut the pie more leisurely, matching Lowie’s pace. He had to avoid burning him—but he couldn’t let it get completely cold either.

The swordsman wielded a dessert knife in silence, while Lowie ate his ice cream with ingrained noble elegance. Thus, a peaceful moment flowed by. Stuffed with sweets, soothed by the cozy atmosphere, both were content. With nothing else to do, they could probably have stayed like this for hours.

“On a date?”