Chapter 8 (Part 5)

This miserable situation.  

Grace felt utterly exhausted, to the point where she wanted to run away.  

The dissonance between her heart, mind, reason, and emotions was unbearable.  

“What do you expect me to do… really.”  

Leonardo, holding her as she wept without shedding a single tear, stared at her quietly.  

He also wanted to know why they were having this dream. But right now, there was something more important.  

He wrapped his arms tightly around Grace, who had grabbed his underwear and waist, and began patting her back gently.  

“Sir Leonardo?”  

This was so unlike him that Grace’s eyes filled with confusion.  

But he said nothing and simply continued patting her back.  

The slow, rhythmic motion made Grace blink her eyes sluggishly. Somehow, even in a dream, she felt sleepy.  

“―This isn’t like you. What are you doing?”  

Her voice slowed.  

Blinking slowly, Grace looked up at Leonardo standing before her.  

As their eyes met, Leonardo seemed to realize something and, still holding her, laid some clothes on the ground. Then, he lay down on them and positioned Grace on top of him.  

As their bodies pressed together like a sandwich, Grace, flustered, said,  

“What, what is this… really.”  

Leonardo’s reassuring smile felt strangely familiar, as if she had seen it before.  

She tried to recall where she had seen that expression.  

But Leonardo’s large hand covered her eyes, as if telling her not to look anymore.  

“Really, this is so strange.”  

Being soothed while her eyes were covered made Grace feel genuinely sleepy, even though it was just a dream.  

The thought of feeling drowsy in a dream struck her as absurd, but Grace closed her eyes anyway.  

The warm hand gently stroking her back and the darkness that filled her vision felt strangely peaceful.  

“Really, you’re such a strange person.”  

A Leonardo who acted like a rational human being in a dream.  

What a strange thing.

Grace thought, as she closed her eyes. Whatever happened here didn’t matter much.  

Everything would disappear like a mirage once she woke up anyway.  

But even so, she was curious.  

“Sir Leonardo.”  

Fighting her drowsiness, Grace looked up at him.  

Leonardo smiled faintly as if asking what was wrong. Grace reached out and touched his face, asking,  

“Do you hate me that much?”  

Even though it was a dream and the question had no meaning, Grace had always been curious.  

The first day their bodies switched, they had yelled at each other and even resorted to punching. But after that, hadn’t they gotten along somewhat peacefully?  

“I… I’ve grown to like you a lot, though.”  

Half-asleep, Grace’s murmurs made Leonardo’s hand, which had been patting her back, pause.  

Seeing her mumbling with her eyes closed, a small chuckle escaped Leonardo’s lips.  

She must have thought he was just a figment of her imagination, lamenting to a spirit.  

“Would you do this to someone you hate?”  

Leonardo’s words made Grace suddenly lift her head.  

Her confused eyes met his, and he chuckled softly. Then he covered her eyes again and continued patting her back, as if he hadn’t said anything.  

But Grace was now completely awake. She hadn’t expected him to respond to her question at all.  

“Sir Leonardo?”  

Grace called out to him again, but Leonardo remained silent, as if he couldn’t speak.  

Resting her face against his chest, Grace closed her eyes again.  

‘Come to think of it… I can hear his heartbeat.’  

The steady, pleasant rhythm of his heartbeat made Grace realize something.  

‘Have I ever heard Sir Leonardo’s heartbeat in a dream before?’  

Even though they had been so close and intimate in past dreams, she had never heard Leonardo’s heartbeat or even his breathing.  

‘Then why can I hear it now?’  

That was her last thought before falling asleep.  

The steady rhythm and soothing touch seemed to tell her it was okay to let go and do as she pleased, making her feel at ease.  

Leonardo, who had been patting Grace’s back as she slept, held her tightly once he confirmed she was asleep.  

‘Really… she never gives me a moment’s peace.’  

He hadn’t expected Caleb’s words to unsettle her so much. He had thought she’d brush them off, but they had clearly left a deeper impression than anticipated.  

Thanks to that—or perhaps because of it—Leonardo had been able to confirm that Grace liked him to some extent.  

‘I’ve received unexpected help.’  

Leonardo closed his eyes and smiled deeply.  

Tomorrow morning, everything would return to normal, but for now, he wanted to savor this comfort.  

Breathing in Grace’s scent, Leonardo slowly fell asleep.  

***  

The next morning, Grace woke up, frowned, and muttered under her breath.  

“―Ah, damn it.”

Her menstruation had started a few days early.  

Thinking it must be due to stress, Grace pulled on the bell cord.  

Becky, who had been summoned, hurriedly darted into the room like a nimble squirrel.  

“Young Lady! What’s the matter?”  

“Becky, I need menstrual cloths.”  

“Oh my, already? There are still a few days left, aren’t there?”  

At her words, Grace nodded with a face full of irritation.  

As Becky skillfully replaced the bloodstained bedsheets and blankets, she added,  

“You haven’t been feeling well lately, so it must be because of that. How’s the pain?”  

“Not yet. But just in case, could you bring up plenty of medicine?”  

“Yes, Young Lady.”  

Holding the spare menstrual cloths that had been kept in the room, Grace gestured for Becky to leave and sighed deeply.  

She placed the thick muslin cloth inside her undergarments and wondered if Leonardo would be able to move properly.  

‘Should I just tell him to stay home?’  

But today, there were piles of documents that absolutely needed to be dealt with.  

She had already wasted an entire day yesterday, and missing the submission deadline was now a possibility. If she failed to submit on time, overtime work would naturally be guaranteed.  

‘There’s no helping it. I’ll just have to stay with him all day.’  

With that thought, Grace washed up quickly and dressed in simpler undergarments than usual.  

Today, the thick menstrual cloth made of muslin felt particularly uncomfortable.  

‘Ugh, seriously. Even I, who’ve been using this for so long, find it bothersome. How will Sir Leonardo manage?’  

Her lower abdomen had also started to ache slightly, and Grace’s expression became increasingly grim.  

At that moment, Becky brought in medicinal tea and a meal, setting them down on the table.  

“Young Lady, would you like to take the medicine first?”  

“Ah, yes. I should take it now.”  

Since the medicine took time to take effect, if she didn’t take it in advance, she’d soon be drenched in cold sweat, clutching her stomach.  

That was the last thing she wanted, so Grace gulped down the medicinal tea Becky handed her.  

It was only after she set down the teacup that something occurred to her.  

“Now that I think about it, didn’t Mother say she wanted to spar this morning? Why is it so quiet?”  

At Grace’s muttering, Becky shrugged as she moved the teacup onto the tray.  

“How could I possibly know what the lady of the house is thinking? But perhaps it’s because she knows you haven’t been feeling well lately.”  

Grace remained silent at Becky’s words.  

She had a feeling that wasn’t the reason, but as Becky said, how could anyone fully understand Amelia’s intentions?  

Grace unconsciously cut a piece of meat, placed it in her mouth, and chewed.  

‘I can’t taste anything.’  

Chewing the unusually bland steak out of obligation, Grace furrowed her brow.  

Seeing her young  master unhappy face even with meat in front of her, Becky looked at her with concern.  

Noticing Becky’s gaze, Grace waved her hand.  

“I’m fine. Go and tell them to prepare a basket of sweet treats.”  

At Grace’s words, Becky bowed her head and left the room.  

Once Becky closed the door behind her, Grace put down her knife. Then, she pushed the plate aside and tilted her head slightly.  

“Could it really taste this bad?”  

It seemed her appetite had completely vanished due to menstruation.  

Though rare, it wasn’t entirely unheard of, so Grace let out a deep sigh.  

Not being able to enjoy her favorite food was incredibly upsetting.  

“Well, Sir Leonardo’s body can’t eat anything properly anyway.”  

For some reason, that body couldn’t even handle snacks, let alone full meals.  

If she ate even slightly more than usual, her stomach would feel bloated, and she’d instinctively want to put down her spoon or fork.  

Returning to the table, Grace picked up her knife again, determined to finish the leftover meat.  

Meanwhile, Becky, who had stepped outside, turned right and headed toward the kitchen.  

However, she hadn’t taken more than a few steps before she encountered someone.  

Seeing who it was, Becky greeted them warmly, bowing her head.  

“Head Butler! Are you here to see the Young Lady?”  

She was about to add that the young master was eating when the butler interrupted her in a low, serious voice.  

“Becky, the lady of the house has summoned you.”  

“…Madam has?”  

“Follow me.”  

Looking at the butler’s face, Becky involuntarily gulped.  

For some reason, she had a bad feeling that something serious was about to happen.