OMI 13

Honest Feelings

Yesterday was a hectic day.

The doctor who made a house call during the day diagnosed no immediate problems and we went home that evening. 

As I walked through the door of our home, I breathed a sigh of relief. I felt truly at ease knowing that we were home. 

“Welcome back, Éclair.”

“I am home, Lumière.”

I replied to Lumière, who called out to me to show concern for my condition. 

After a light meal, I was advised to rest in my room, although it was a little early. 

The doctor had instructed me to be very careful with my health for the next two or three days.

It’s my usual room but I still can’t sleep. 

But when I close my eyes, I feel like I’m remembering being in that river. 

I tossed and turned several times. 

Even though my body is tired, my nerves are on edge. 

I gave up and decided to go down to the dining room to get some water.

“Are you thirsty?”

Lumière seemed to be working on something in the living room. 

He had said he would take a few days off. Maybe he was doing some work that could be done at home. 

“I just can’t sleep.”

“I’ll make you some warm tea.”

The aroma of the tea he made somehow calmed my mind.

“Can I sit next to you?”

“Of course, would you like to read something?”

Reading in the living room after dinner was a habit. We each read our favorite books, and sometimes Lumière would do some paperwork.

I nodded and looked at the book about tourist sites that I had been reading a lot lately.

The azalea field was beautiful.

Despite everything that had happened, going there was a good memory.

“Éclair? Shall we go upstairs?”

Before I knew it, I was staring blankly at the book in my hand.

I feel calm when I’m at his side.

Lumière carried the half-dreaming me to the bed.

“Let’s sleep together.”

I whispered this in his ear. 

Sleeping alone tonight is a bit lonely. 

“I understand, I’ll stay next to you.” 

He carried me to his bed. 

“Do you think you can sleep?”

“Maybe. Sorry, you still had work to do, right?” 

“Nothing is more important than you. I’ve always wanted to do this.” 

He hugged me gently and patted my head. 

I leaned against him, clinging to him, but Lumière showed no sign of annoyance. 

The warmth I felt next to me was comforting, and though I had trouble sleeping earlier, I quickly drifted off into a dream. 

Lumière was very concerned, but I didn’t have any major health problems. Despite being told that I wasn’t eating enough, I felt that my appetite had returned. 

The rope marks on my wrists were treated carefully every day and were healing. 

Lumière was much more concerned about whether the marks would remain than I was. Because he was concerned, I also wanted them to heal properly, so even though I found it annoying, I followed the treatment properly. 

“Éclair, my brother wants to visit you. Is that okay?” 

About three days had passed and we were completely back to our daily routine when Lumière asked me this. 

“Renard! Yes, I want to see him. I think I made him worry.”

I remembered the last time I heard his worried voice. With a goodbye like that, it’s no wonder he’s worried. 

Renard came with Aubert, bringing lots of sweets. 

“Éclair! I’m so happy. Are you okay? Are you feeling better?” 

I hugged Renard, who ran up to me with tears in his eyes. It was a little embarrassing, but I was getting used to this kind of interaction. 

“I’m fine. Everyone helped me. Even Lumière came to help me.” 

“I heard about that! He found you and jumped in the river! He’s not usually the type to do that.”

“I was aware of the risk of secondary catastrophes. But… my body just moved.”

Lumière apparently jumped in while wearing a life jacket. Still, he was later scolded by the security team.

“If I had been a little later, Éclair would have sunk. It’s better than drowning completely.” 

“Well… I was at my limit. I hardly ever swim.”

I was told to take the opportunity to practice. We never know what might happen. If I’m not afraid of water, it’s better to be able to swim at least a little.

“Lumière, you heard Éclair’s voice, right? That’s nice.” 

Strangely, my voice only reached Lumière. 

A voice from the river should have been really small and fragmented, not something that could be heard clearly. 

“Did they catch all the culprits?” 

“The perpetrators and the transporters at the port. They are currently pursuing additional charges.”

“Recently, there have been many victims of Betas. Shutting down a kidnapping route is significant. Of course, we can only say this because Éclair is safe.” 

Aubert continued, showing concern for me. 

“However, we need to review our security measures. We’ve also reviewed our contracts with the guards we have.” 

It seems they were often assigned to protect the children, so they weren’t with Renard that day.

Of course, the government covered that part. But he said they should have brought familiar faces. 

“We’ve also hired guards for our house. You saw them at the gate, right?” 

We’ve already met three of our exclusive guards. They come in shifts every day, so we’ve talked a bit. I hope to have a good relationship with them.

“Which company did you choose?”

While Aubert and Lumière were discussing this, I had something I wanted to ask Renard. 

“Um, Renard, can I talk to you for a second?”

“Hmm? What’s up?”

I invited Renard to take a look at the garden. Of course, that was just an excuse.

“Éclair? Are you going outside?”

“I just want to show you the garden. It won’t take long.”

I made sure to emphasize that we weren’t leaving the mansion.

“Is Lumière being a little overprotective? If it’s too much, I’ll let him know subtly. Surely you want some time alone in the house?

Renard whispered softly after overhearing our exchange.

“Oh, that’s fine. He doesn’t come into my room, and it’s just me being clingy.” 

I’ve had more contact with Lumière, and even the distance we sit has changed. 

Renard only saw us for a short time, but he seemed to understand these things. 

“Oh? Éclair wants to be by his side. I see, I see. Lumière must be delighted, so it’s okay to be more affectionate.”

“Um… I want to ask you something else… Renard, you approached Aubert yourself, right?”

“That’s right! I made some bold moves.” 

“That’s amazing… How do you express your feelings? Is there a standard way to do that here?” 

Ever since I’d been in Mauve, I’d been clueless about such things. 

If there was a current trend in Padilla, I wanted to know. 

“Eh, this kind of talk! We talkin’ about love now! I’ve always dreamed of having these conversations”. 

His face lit up and he responded enthusiastically. 

“There is no standard. Just express your feelings! It can be simple or anything. It will definitely come through.”

“I still feel unsure and vague, but is that okay?” 

“But Éclair, you want to say something, don’t you?” 

Renard’s direct gaze was on me. 

That’s right. 

I definitely regretted it that day. That’s why I felt I had to tell him. 

“Yes.” 

“Then it’s okay. Just say how you feel. It’s not difficult. Éclair, you greet Lumière in the morning, right?” 

Of course, that’s common sense. When I nodded, Renard continued. 

“Saying “good morning” requires emotion. “Let’s have a good day today”, “I’m happy to see your face in the morning”. Well, maybe you don’t think that deeply, but you say it because you want to, and the other person responds. Even greetings are an exchange of emotions.” 

“An exchange of feelings…” 

“Éclair, you often thank Lumière for small things. You express your gratitude. It’s simple and beautiful. No need to embellish.” 

Renard nodded as he said this. 

“I think Lumière will understand your simple words.” 

As an older brother, and probably to encourage a younger, more anxious Omega, he supported me. 

That night I stopped Lumière. 

“I have something important to tell you.” 

“Yes, what is it?” 

Lumière’s expression was a bit stiff, perhaps influenced by my serious demeanor. 

“I thought about a lot of things during the recent incident. There was a possibility that I could have ended up with another Alpha.” 

I was rescued in Padilla, and it was Lumière I met there. Had it been any other country, it might not have been him. 

I still don’t believe in the concept of destiny partners. 

“They said I would be well taken care of if I was taken in by a wealthy Alpha. In the past, I would have just gone along with it.” 

Yes, as long as my basic needs were met, I didn’t care where I was. 

But that’s not the case anymore. 

I no longer believe that it doesn’t matter who is by my side. 

“I don’t know if this is love, but I want to be with Lumière. If possible, forever.”

He just listened to my words in silence. 

“Um, can we take this as my answer?” 

Feeling a little anxious, I continued, and he immediately hugged me tightly. 

“It’s enough. Stay by my side forever. I will never make you regret this. I love you, Éclair.” 

His strong words were heavy, but strangely I didn’t mind. 

“Yes, I’ll be by your side forever.” 

I know there’s no guarantee. 

It may just be words for now. 

But that’s okay. I want to cherish this feeling right now. 

There is no time to say that I don’t have confidence. 

If I speak from my heart now, this feeling will surely be conveyed. 

“I love you too, Lumière.”