Chapter 43 - Cohabitation

“Your clothes have been washed. Will you be picking up your things yourself? Mr. Pittman instructed us to make separate arrangements if needed.”

“Pardon?” I asked blankly.

I belatedly looked down at the clothes that I was dressed in. I had never seen these pajamas before. 

As I stood wide-eyed, Charles explained, “They’re pajamas that we prepared specifically for guests. I changed you into them. I apologize for that, but you didn’t wake up no matter what.”

“N-Not at all. Sorry for causing you trouble.” My memories slowly returned to me. I finally began to understand the situation. Charles must have carried me all the way here and even changed my clothes. Feeling both embarrassed and grateful, I smiled awkwardly. Charles stood next to me with an indifferent expression and waited for me to drink my tea.

“You have enough time,” he said as if he had read my thoughts. “Mr. Pittman should have just about woken up. You can also start getting ready after drinking your tea.”

“Thank you,” I murmured and hesitated before I continued, “Sorry for intruding on you like this. I had no choice—”

“It’s all right. This is Mr. Pittman’s mansion, and I am his employee. I respect Mr. Pittman’s decision.” Maintaining a formal attitude, he simply cut me off. Thanks to that, I almost felt embarrassed for feeling embarrassed. I brought the teacup to my lips in silence.

Charles, the butler, had graduated from a Swiss butler education institution and had a rich experience as a butler throughout his entire life. I would expect someone like him to rarely show his emotions. It was no different this time; Charles treated me with no sign of emotional turbulence. When I finished the tea, he picked up the empty cup and placed it on the tray.

He proceeded to ask, “Do you have enough medicine on you?”

That was the only question he had asked me. Being a beta, he also carried a risk of transitioning. However, when I had asked him about it once, Charles had replied as emotionlessly as ever.

“I am long past the age where I might transition. Besides, Mr. Pittman is a dignified man, and I am proud to serve him.”

“He also treats me very well,” he had added to suppress my curiosity. I knew that Charles took candies from time to time. That was all the precautions he took. After all, if he transitioned as a man over 50, he might as well be listed on the Guinness World Records.

My meds were carefully placed on top of the side table along with my other belongings. After eyeballing the number of tablets I had, he offered me a piece of formal advice.

“I will prepare some more for you. If you happen to run out or need more, please do not hesitate to tell me. I can get anything ready for you, no matter what it may be.” Before I could say anything, he quickly added, “It was Mr. Pittman’s request.”

I simply thanked him and let it be. Like how it was for me as Keith’s secretary, his thoughtfulness could just be a way of preventing any troubles for Keith as his butler—especially so where the meds were concerned. In any case, his offer brought me some relief. Although I had expressed my gratitude, he left the room without showing any particular reaction.

“Whew.” When I was left alone, I subconsciously let out a deep sigh. The room was silent. If it weren’t for the alien landscape surrounding me, I wouldn’t have been able to believe this reality. I was afraid that this entire thing would flutter away like grains of sand if I had dared to even blink. I couldn’t bring myself to let my eyes close.

In the end, I was unable to bear the dryness of my eyes. I sneaked in a blink and confirmed that the landscape before me had remained the same. Finally, I began to make sense of this reality little by little. I also realized all too late that I had taken over space in Keith’s mansion, and a bedroom at that.