*****

When I woke up, it was completely bright outside.

I had been kidnapped, stayed up all night, returned safely to the mansion, and then listened to a long bedtime story. I had gone to sleep when the sun was already setting in the evening. It seems I had slept for a full half-day since then. Since the sun was quite high up, it must be around noon. Even though I slept for half a day, staying up all night in this child's body really took a toll.

I still haven't had enough sleep... I thought, glancing around the room.

***

「Melissa?」

She wasn't always here. There wasn't a rule for that. But she was always the first person I saw when I woke up from sleep. So unconsciously... naturally, I looked for her. But the room was utterly silent and gave no indication of Melissa's presence.

That's unusual, I thought, but then remembered she also stayed up all night and went through the tremendous ordeal of rescuing me. It wouldn't be strange for her to be sound asleep. I tried to think of it as normal, but I couldn't shake the sense of unease. Something feels wrong. Thinking that, I stood up and put my hands on the bed railing designed to prevent falls. In this body with its still-wobbly steps, climbing over the railing was impossible. But I could call for someone.

I grabbed the railing and shouted with all my might.

「Someone! Is anyone thwee-er! Mama! Melissa Mama!」

(Some servants don't know I'm a reincarnator. I raised my voice, trying to sound as much like a child as possible.)

Immediately, I heard the sound of someone running with quick steps.

Is it Melissa?

I stared at the door, and after a knock, it quietly opened, and Mira the maid peeked her head in.

「Oh, it's Mira.」

「Is that a challenge to me, sir? If so, please throw down a glove, and I shall return a rag.」

「I'm not throwing one, and please don't throw one either!」

(A rag in response to a glove—she's annoyingly good at being a maid.)

「What is it, Lord Arthur?」

(She's an excellent maid with quick changes of mood.)

I replied with a wry smile.

「Oh, yes, I just woke up.」

「You seemed very tired, so Lady Melissa instructed us not to wake you.」

Hearing Melissa's name brought relief. See, she's around after all. I had worried for nothing.

「I'm hungry. I want something to eat.」

「Understood. I will prepare it right away.」

「By the way,」

「Yes?」

「Where is Melissa Mama?」

Mira was momentarily blank-faced at my words, and then she looked around the room curiously. I felt that sense of unease again, an unreasoning anxiety bubbling up. Mira said, 「Oh?」 A truly unpleasant thing to say.

「Mira?」

Before I could ask what was wrong, Mira said, 「The Mistress?」 while looking around searchingly. Wait a minute, did Mira think Melissa was in this room?

「Has Melissa been in this room this whole time?」

「No, not exactly... but I haven't seen her for a while, so I naturally assumed she was here... But you are right, if Lady Melissa were here, Lord Arthur would not need to call out. I had forgotten that.」

「In other words, you don't know where Melissa is?」

Mira nodded awkwardly at my question. Suddenly, a wave of cold dread washed over my body.

What is this? What is this anxiety I'm feeling?

True, Melissa was always by my side. Even so, there were times when she wasn't next to me... No, there weren't. Come to think of it, she was next to me twenty-four-seven. How overprotective can one person be?

This means this is the first time Melissa has ever left my side. If this were normal times, I would probably just let it go with things happen.

But this is right after that incident... the kidnapping. And the mastermind hasn't been caught yet. In a situation like that, is it possible for that Melissa to leave me alone?

...Absolutely not.

I trust Melissa that much. Moreover, I believe her actions are incredibly simple and that she would never do anything complicated.

So, realizing the abnormality of the situation, I hastily looked at Mira. It seemed the maid had finally noticed the strangeness of the matter as well.

「I will go and ask Lord Cloud and Lord Rauldo.」

「I'm coming too!」

When I held up both hands demanding to be taken, her hesitation was momentary. Perhaps thinking time was precious, the maid immediately scooped me up, placing her hands under my arms. And she headed toward the study at a tremendous speed.