Chapter 2: Mushrooms Will Come When Called
“CLAUDE, I’m sorry. Don’t get mad,” Charles spoke apologetically through the palace door he’d cracked open. He felt extremely guilty because Agnes was involved, but he couldn’t exactly back down.
“What are you on about?” Agnes heard Claude reply before she stepped past Charles and entered the room.
On the bed lay a young man with dazzling blue hair. At the sight of Agnes, he opened his silvery-gray eyes so wide, it seemed like they might pop out of his head.
“Agnes?!”
“W-Well then, I’ll be off!” Charles closed the door behind him as he fled.
This was a private room in the royal palace; in other words, Claude’s bedchamber. Even though Claude was her fiancé, this was Agnes’s first time here. Though she knew she wouldn’t get any prizes for effort, considering the circumstances.
Still, she had to see him. She tightly clenched her fists as she approached Claude, who lay frozen with shock.
Claude wouldn’t ever order her to leave—Agnes knew that—but she still felt awkward as she understood she was an uninvited guest.
As Agnes took a seat on the bedside chair, Claude sat up, looking confused.
“Claude,” Agnes began slowly, “are you unwell?”
“I was just taking a rest. Don’t fret.”
Feeling a sense of relief at Claude’s smile, Agnes still wasn’t sure how much she could trust his assurances.
“I heard the crown prince himself has ordered you to rest… Duke Granier also said that entering Oreille must have been hard on you… All because of me…”
Dragon Crest Bearers are strong, all those knowledgeable on the subject agree. Seeing Claude lying in bed, it must also be true they weaken when leaving the country of Visage.
And his current plight was all due to Agnes getting kidnapped by the Oreillians.
“No, no, Agnes, you did nothing wrong,” Claude rushed to assure her. “This is why I told Charles not to speak of this to you, that tattletale.”
“Please don’t blame Prince Charles. I forced him to tell me.”
Claude took a deep breath and held his hand out to Agnes. Confused, Agnes placed her hand in his. In one fluid movement, Claude tugged her forward to sit beside him on the bed and moved his arm around her, making her heart race.
“I’m sorry for making you worry,” he whispered right by her ear. “I’m fine though, really. I was ordered to rest just to be on the safe side, and I only asked it be kept secret because I didn’t want you to worry.”
“But I don’t want secrets between us,” she insisted. “I hate being the only one not knowing.”
Agnes didn’t know how she could help, but she hated the idea of being protected, kept oblivious.
That wasn’t how one treated their wife—more a pet.
Claude’s eyes narrowed slowly as Agnes gazed pleadingly at him. “All right. I’m sorry; I won’t do it again,” he apologized as he stroked her hair, and she could tell from his voice that he truly was sorry.
It wasn’t that Agnes was particularly angry. But faced with that angel face and sweet voice, how could she not forgive?
“It’s okay. I’m sorry too for barging in on you while you were recuperating,” she said.
“Don’t worry. I was in the wrong, anyway. Besides, I’m delighted to see you.”
It was always like this. Claude prioritized Agnes above all else, doing everything with her foremost in his mind. That pleased Agnes, but it also scared her a little.
“You’re too kind, Claude. You could be a little more selfish, you know,” she said.
“It’s you who needs to learn to be a little more selfish.”
“I’d rather be a useful person than a selfish person.” Agnes frowned at Claude, aware that he had managed to get her off the subject.
“I see,” Claude laughed happily. “Well then, let’s go on a date in town soon.”
“Don’t try to put me off.”
What was the point of such silly fancifulness? A date seemed like nothing but a distraction. She wasn’t just going to say yes under the circumstances.
“I’m completely serious,” he asserted. “Well, in that case, I’d like to ask you for something more immediate.”
“Anything!”
It was rare for Claude to ask her for something other than mushrooms. Agnes was ready to do anything she could to repay his constant kindness.
“Would you please hold my hand?” he requested.
“Sure!”
Agnes straightened up and quickly took hold of his hand.
“Look into my eyes.”
“Okay!”
Still gripping his hand, Agnes lifted her eyes to Claude’s shining ones. As requested, she gazed into his eyes, marveling over their silvery-gray hue.
“Tell me you love me.”
“Okay! I love you— Erk!” Agnes shrieked a little, realizing what she’d said.
Of course she loved Claude—she’d already told him as much—but this seemed wholly different. Sitting on the bed together, telling each other how much they loved one another. Agnes was so embarrassed, she felt like her face was about to explode.
Instinctively she covered her face with her hands. As if in response, a loud popping noise filled the room.
Peeking through the gaps in her fingers, Agnes could see that Claude was also covering his bright red face with his hand, upon which several mushrooms shook slightly. The small, milky-white capped Cuphophyllus virgineus jostled next to the white-capped Coprinellus disseminatus.
Thanks to the white mushrooms growing on the back of his hands, the redness of Claude’s cheeks stood out even more, but Agnes wondered why he was blushing in the first place. He was the one who told her to say such embarrassing things.
“Ah! It works! It works all too well!” Claude exclaimed.
“Are… Are you toying with me?!” she asked.
“No! As long as you’re close to me, Agnes, I’ll be fine. I apologize for worrying you.”
Beaming, Claude tried to get out of bed, but Agnes put her hand on his shoulder and gently pushed him back down. Usually, Agnes wouldn’t have been able to make Claude do a thing, but this time he sat back down obediently and nestled his head against the pillows.
“Please, sleep well today,” she insisted. “Your body needs to be well rested.”
Agnes tucked the covers up under his chin, and Claude placed his hands over hers.
“How can I sleep while you’re here? Unless…you’d like to sleep beside me?”
His words, his expression… They were so seductive, Agnes felt her heart thump and words escaped her.
“Claude…”
She didn’t know what to say…but she just wanted him to rest. Worried, Agnes squeezed his hands and he pulled them back under the covers with a sigh.
“All right. I’m no match for you, Agnes. I’ll rest in bed today.”
“Good. Thank you.”
Seeing Agnes let out a sigh of relief, Claude narrowed his eyes mischievously.
“So, how about a kiss goodnight?”
“What?!”
So? So? Surely a kiss isn’t needed!
But Claude looked at her with such hope in his eyes, it was hard for Agnes to say no. Would it be better to grant Claude’s request in order for him to rest?
Agnes’s thoughts started to become confused at what was the right answer, so she chose to let her momentum lead her into leaning for Claude’s hair. She brought her face closer to his, and after a moment’s hesitation, kissed his forehead very lightly.