The Civil Officer Can Have Sweet Dreams Chapter 6

When Priscilla woke him up precisely thirty minutes after as he ordered, Cleatt opened his eyes, annoyed. Afterwards, he asked, ‘Ah, is it time already?' and nodded. As if subconsciously, his eyes followed her hand when she removed it from his head. His gaze looked like he was reluctant to part with it, and Priscilla felt embarra.s.sed deep down.

“That was extremely effective. It felt like I slept more just now compared to a night's worth.”

“I'm glad to have been of use.”

Cleatt looked even more refreshed than when he came into this room with his throbbing head.

“I'll be able to move right ahead with my afternoon work thanks to you.”

Priscilla smiled at those words. Cleatt looked at her expression, and after having thought of something for a bit, he began to talk.

“I know this may be impudent even for me, but I'd like to ask you for a favor.”

“What is it?”

“Is it possible to occasionally do this in the future?”

Priscilla's eyes were wide open at his request. Cleatt smiled wryly and shrugged his shoulders.

“Though this may sound shameful, I haven't been feeling quite good these past few days. But when you put your hand on my head the other day, and even today, it felt extremely pleasant. If time allows it and if you're fine with it, can we meet up once every few days for just thirty minutes?”

“Lord Brody, have you been sleeping on time at night?”

“…Not much. Time is also a problem, but my sleep has been getting shallower every year, and it's harder to handle the fatigue. I wonder if it's due to my age.”

When she looked at his bitter smile, Priscilla became simply concerned. To request a favor from such a young lady, then it must be a really serious problem. Cleatt is said to be the one who's entrusted with the most responsibility, even from among the prime ministers shouldering the country's politics. If that person were to collapse, it would affect the country's issues. Moreover, what Cleatt said about his age—he's still quite young. It's not something that could be seen clearly by just the word age.

“If you're fine with me, please ask for me whenever you please.”

“When are you free?”

“I'm given an hour lunch break from one in the afternoon, so if it's time, then that would be the only one. If it was after, then I would try and make time, but…”

“You're right. Even I'm unable to rest at meetings…”

“Then I'll try as much as possible to be in this room, so please feel free to come whenever.”

“Ah, sorry about that. I can't come here everyday either, so I'll just take your time during your lunch break.”

Cleatt declined her once, but she just quietly laughed and said, “It should be fine since I've never known what to do with my break for a while now.”

When he looked at her face, Cleatt unusually felt like saying, ‘If you say it like that, I might be tempted to take advantage of it, you know.' Of course, he'd only be able to say that because he's fascinated with her hands. At times like these, it would be nice to call for Priscilla during her free time by using the Calling Bird, but those are only given to people in high positions.

“Then I might have to presume on your words just now.”

When she received his request, Priscilla smiled, and said, ‘It would be an honor to be of use to you, my lord.' She had slightly hesitated after, and yet, it's been said that it would be better to talk of it. That's because Cleatt is a man, while Priscilla is a woman.

“Uhm… I genuinely respect you, Lord Brody. You're an extremely important person even to the country so … I've thought of wanting to be of use to the country, and plan on working to do so. And because of that, this…”

“Ah, I understand. You want to say that you don't hold any personal feelings for me, right?”

“…Uhm… Yes, exactly…”

As Priscilla said that, although it may have been rude, she peeked at him. Of course, when speaking of her real intentions, that's because the person in front of her is an extremely charming man. He has a promising future ahead of him, his pedigree is that of a high-n.o.ble, and his looks aren't bad either. Unless one was an extremely popular, and troublesome woman, then Cleatt would be the ideal partner. For that reason, Priscilla dared to say this and draw a line herself.

Priscilla plans to keep her own position in mind. It would be impossible for someone of her position to harbor special feelings for him, which would also trouble him greatly. She will only and completely see this job as ‘Allowing a tired superior to rest.'

Cleatt was accurately able to read her feelings, and he smiled.

He liked a discerning woman, or rather, it wasn't limited to women but to any person. Calmly ascertaining one's own ability and position, with no interest to using people. On the other hand, it can be implied that he hated people who overestimate their own ability, involving others and creating trouble for them.

He had a favorable impression of Priscilla's manners. Even though she's able to use her hands as a s.h.i.+eld to take advantage of him, to flirt, and to allude of her emotions. A girl like her, who was still young, was level-headed.

Because of this, he also decided to keep his time with her a secret.

Most of all, Priscilla's power is fascinating. That's because even now, his head felt surprisingly refreshed. Even though he only slept for thirty minutes.

He looked up at Priscilla, who was making an apologetic face. She looked embarra.s.sed because she plainly said, ‘I don't particularly see you as a man,' which could be seen as rude.

“I perfectly understand your feelings on this matter. Thank you. I'm grateful for your cooperation.”

When he calmly said this, her expression turned into relief, and for the first time, she honestly smiled like a girl her age. Seeing that smile, Cleatt didn't realize that his own heart had swayed just ever so slightly.

After that, the two of them spent that only short amount of time during the day together. Of course, Cleatt was an extremely busy man, so he wasn't able to go to the small room where Priscilla was waiting everyday. But even so, he changed his schedule that allowed him to be able to go once every three days. More than anything, it was for his own sake, for his work's sake. The relief given by her hands were tremendously effective. He was already ruined after once having tasted it. Whenever he's tired, his head would be filled of thoughts saying, ‘I want her hands.'

Priscilla herself also enjoyed spending her lunch break in that small room everyday. It was nice even when Cleatt didn't come. Being able to leisurely read a book in that quiet room with no one around was a time of relaxation within her busy work. Up until then, she would only eat her meals in the dining room with her coworkers, but it seems that her coworkers didn't mind she leaving their circle. She was thankful for the place allowing her to do as she pleased.

Because she didn't know when Cleatt would come, Priscilla prepared meals that she was able to bring with her, and would quietly eat it in the room by herself. This doesn't mean she eats together with him. Rather, she was worried if he was eating properly.

And it was for this reason that Priscilla brought sweets as well. When she gave some to Cleatt, he still ate it despite his wry smile. It seems that he doesn't hate sweet things. Possibly because he knew of her concerns, he gave her some money.

“Ah, no, this isn't really needed.”

“If I enjoyed your meal at all, then as your superior, I should at least give you money for it.”

“For you to… I brought this because I wanted to eat them.”

“As a man who's older and has more money than you, it would affect my good name to only offer this. To be honest, I've been wanting to compensate you for taking your time during your lunch break.”

“You cannot. I can't accept that.”

“Ah, that's why at least you should accept this.”

He smiled bitterly at Priscilla, who was feeling shameful, and pushed towards her the cost of just the sweets. Priscilla knitted her brows, and could only receive it. In the end, she declined it for a while because she was just taking him into consideration. But because it occasionally looked like Cleatt did enjoy the sweets that she brings, she changed her mind, and thought, ‘Oh well.'

The first few times that the two spent their time together was with Priscilla sitting on the floor with her hand on his head as he lied down on the couch, but he pointed out that position might be difficult for her. He was worried having a woman sit on the floor. When Priscilla said that she would bring a chair next time, Cleatt thought for a while, and afterwards said, ‘If you're fine with this,' pointing at the couch for her to sit as well. And before she realized it, she ended up cradling his head in her lap, and thought, ‘Under no circ.u.mstances could this…' but he seemed satisfied. The couch was narrow from the start, but it wasn't extremely narrow.

As for Cleatt, he rationally thought of the outcome, but once he put his head on her lap, he became accustomed to that extremely comfortable place. The position wasn't tough, and with a gentle human's warmth on his head, he was able to feel even more of Priscilla's hand than before. Even he was aware himself of how unbecoming it is to depend on a younger woman, but he was a rational man. Within that short amount of time, he turned on that thought, and figured, ‘Shouldn't this relieve more of my fatigue than before?'

He took advantage of how his position was higher than Priscilla's, and when he indirectly reminded her, ‘You don't have to bring in a chair,' she obediently lent out her lap to Cleatt from then onwards.

OOOOOOHHHHH HOW CUTE. Y'all. Cleatt is starting to like her. Also, thank G.o.d this was a shorter chapter. I wanna cry.