"This is...!"
Startled by an unexpected situation, I unwittingly parted my lips but quickly closed them.
Having already used the ring to converse with Xenon's phantom, I was aware that my voice right now could potentially wake the sleeping Xenon.
With my lips tightly pressed together, I froze for a moment before carefully moving my body.
Since I had come to Xenon's room in phantom form, I could not make contact with objects.
Naturally, even sitting on the bed would not transmit my presence to Xenon.
However, sitting idly beside him as he lay defenseless felt somewhat sinister.
'How does this work again?'
There was definitely a time limit for maintaining the phantom. And to return on my own, I think I was told to move the ring like this?
It was when I grabbed the ring to dispel this magic immediately.
At that moment, a sound of shifting came from the bed.
"Mmm..."
Xenon was murmuring as he changed position.
In doing so, the blanket covering him slipped down, revealing most of his upper body.
Along the dim shadows, the contours of his body were clearly visible. Realizing this, my mind went blank for a moment.
'Surely there should be pajamas provided by the imperial palace...'
Where did he leave his clothes to end up like this... No, wait. He is more muscular than I thought?
It was true.
Due to Samuel's large frame making him appear relatively slender by comparison, Xenon actually had a lean body without any excess flesh.
Unable to react, I just stood there staring blankly, when Xenon shifted once more. The blanket slipped down below his ribs.
'Wait!'
Standing frozen beside the bed, I reached out desperately.
I wanted to pull the blanket up, but of course I could not.
Having withdrawn without success, I tried to avert my gaze and empty my mind. However, erasing the scene I had already seen from my thoughts was no easy task.
What kind of... why while sleeping, it is not even hot, for goodness sake!
'But will he not catch a cold like that?'
At the thought that sprang to mind, I first slowly surveyed the room. To check if the heating was adequate.
'The heating seems to be properly done.'
This room was an average guest room provided by the imperial palace. Not too extravagant, but not too shabby either, just that kind of room.
'Even so, for a guest of the Magic Tower to be given merely such an average room?'
I had intended to just glance around, but I ended up crossing my arms and began scrutinizing the room in earnest.
'Good heavens! Not even a balcony?'
What I could see slightly through the curtains was only a window.
In such a narrow space, with not even a balcony, no wonder Xenon wanted to leave the imperial palace quickly!
With dissatisfied eyes, I checked between the curtains and turned my body.
There was not even the common drinking water in the room. Usually, depending on preference, there would be wine one could drink before sleeping, but there was truly nothing.
'Is this not rather poor treatment?'
Having heard that the imperial palace mages were begging him to stay, I assumed they would be treating him well, so this was absurd.
'Should I tell Prince Heinry to take good care of him... no, or would it be better for me to just finish the work as quickly as possible?'
But I have to hold out until my sister brings the marriage registration. I have not yet uncovered Roam's corruption, and there is also the Lilia issue.
I should hint to Heinry after all...
It was then.
"...Lady Anneli?"
A thick, muffled voice called from behind me as I was lost in thought.
Startled, I swallowed a dry breath and froze, but shortly after, amidst rustling sounds, a voice that had become clearer called me again.
"L-Lady Anneli...?"
Should I just run away like this?
The urge to activate the ring surged within me, but I struggled to suppress the impulse.
If I fled without even a minimal explanation, I would definitely be branded as a pervert who secretly crawled into someone else's bedroom in the middle of the night.
After taking a calm deep breath and turning around, I saw Xenon with his upper body half-raised.
His face, examining me with narrowed eyes, still showed traces of sleepiness.
"A dream?"
Muttering as if to himself, it seemed he was not fully awake yet.
'There might still be a chance to escape.'
Just as Xenon's phantom had appeared before, I too, in my current phantom state, would likely look like smoke.
So in this dark room, if seen while not fully awake, there was room for him to mistake it for a dream.
With my lips tightly closed, watching for an opportunity to turn the ring if needed, Xenon completely sat up.
At that moment, the blanket that had been covering his body slipped downward smoothly.
'Ah!'
I turned my head sharply to avoid looking at Xenon, and the rustling sound stopped abruptly.
"Must be a real dream then."
The clear voice now seemed fully awake.
"If it were really Lady Anneli, she would have been much more shameless..."
Xenon's voice was small, but the room was quiet enough to hear it clearly.
I held back the urge to retort to his words and turned my body a bit more to turn my back to him.
'Of course I would be conscious of it...!'
If it were a man unrelated to me, that would be one thing! But this is someone I have kissed, and nearly had even more intimate contact with!
At the very least, if he had been wearing even a thin shirt, I would not have been this surprised.
How would I know what state his lower body is in when he is not even wearing a top!
'Does he think I am as unfeeling as a stone or something?'
Suppressing my complaints and stubbornly keeping my back turned, I heard no more words.
In the already dark and quiet room, with Xenon exposing his bare skin and saying nothing, I felt strangely awkward for some reason.
'I must never touch the ring carelessly again.'
No, perhaps I should suggest changing the communication magic tool altogether.
Making a firm resolution in my heart, I placed my hand lightly on the ring.
Then a low question came from behind.
"Are you leaving?"
'...'
"I am trying to dismiss it as a dream, but could you not spare a little more time?"
...What dream. It seemed Xenon had already recognized this was reality some time ago.
Struggling to keep my head from bowing in embarrassment, I cleared my throat and opened my mouth calmly.
"I know you must be surprised. Hard to believe, but this is a mistake. I was just thinking and inadvertently touched the ring..."
"Where are you looking while saying that? If you are going to explain, you should explain to me, not the wall."
A light laugh was mixed in with the complaining tone.
Seeing him, who usually acted sloppily and carelessly, now acting with composure, I somehow felt a competitive spirit rise. I composed my expression calmly and turned around.
...Whether fortunately or unfortunately, he was properly dressed in his lower garments.
If he had not been wearing those either, I would have left without making any more excuses.
"Did the palace not provide pajamas?"
Trying to hide my embarrassment, my tone came out more accusatory than intended.
That might have been annoying, but Xenon answered casually in a light tone.
"It felt suffocating. And the less I wear, the more sensitive I am to magic."
"What reason would there be to respond to magic while sleeping?"
Had he perhaps received death threats within the imperial palace?
At the thought that suddenly occurred to me, I looked at Xenon with a serious face, and he spoke with a smile.
"Something like today."
Xenon, who had replied lightly, got down from the bed.
"I mean the sudden contact from Lady Anneli. Well... I did not expect you to appear as a phantom without any notice."
He glanced down at his own bare upper body and found a shirt nearby to put on.
Seeing how large and loose it was, with the front fully open, it seemed to be pajamas.
How could he put on clothes and still not have the impropriety disappear at all?
"Is something the matter?"
Glancing at his loose shirt that seemed worse than wearing nothing, I answered curtly.
"...I just had a nightmare."
After answering him quietly, the dream I had earlier came back to mind. However, the low mood I had felt after the dream did not follow.
Probably because the surprise from facing an unexpected situation was greater.
"There is no way one could sleep peacefully in such a dubious household."
He sighed and shook his head, then approached my side.
However, his hand could not reach me and merely passed uselessly through the air.
He waved his hand in the air a couple of times as if regretful, then frowned and said.
"Since you are in phantom state, there is nothing I can do for you."
"I did not come expecting you to do anything. It was a mistake. I was about to return immediately."
Perhaps because he had just woken up, Xenon looked more disheveled and languid than usual. Seeing his appearance, I felt inexplicably restless.
Trying not to show this bewilderment, I was about to say goodbye when he asked in a disappointed tone.
"You are going to wake me up and then just leave?"
"...I am sorry about that."
"If you are sorry, could you not stay by my side until I fall asleep again?"
Surprised by the unexpected request, I widened my eyes, and Xenon scratched the back of his head sheepishly.
"To be honest, I have not been comfortable with my sleeping quarters, so I could not fall asleep late. When camping, I slept listening to Lady Anneli's breathing, but here it is too quiet."
"We never slept close enough to hear each other's breathing."
"I listened while sleeping."
Even at my suspicious gaze, Xenon stubbornly maintained his claim.
During camping... he must have slept listening to owl sounds, but certainly would not have heard my breathing at all.
Even though it was obviously a transparent ploy, the reason I could not easily refuse was because I had woken him from his sleep.
While I hesitated, he had already returned to the bed, settled in, and lay down.
'Not a trace of shame to be found.'
A hollow laugh escaped me at the sight of him lying quietly under the blanket, staring straight at me. Who would have thought that someone I always considered timid would have such a shameless streak.
Seeing him act with such thick-faced brazenness made my own embarrassment feel meaningless.
With a somewhat more comfortable mind, I sat lightly on the edge of the bed and asked quietly.
"Does something like my breathing help?"
"There is plenty of room, so you may sit properly. And as for the answer, yes. Since it obviously helps, that is why I asked."
At Xenon's answer, I hesitated.