Chapter 3.5: The Fox Girl and Her Servant’s Restless Night

[Eri's Point of View]

"Mmmh," the gentle purr of contentment emanated from Hina-sama as she nestled into my embrace. I continued to brush her tail, observing her tranquil expression. The cozy room was filled with the soft sound of her purring and the quiet night outside.

"Hina-sama, you are being quite affectionate since we got back from the forest. Did you have fun today?" I couldn't help but giggle, watching her face light up with happiness.

"Yes, I had a lot of fun spending time with you today," she replied, her eyes shimmering in the dim light, nudging my hand for more head pats.

I obliged, gently running my fingers over her ears. She sighed in pure bliss, and I recalled something the mistress mentioned long ago about fox spirits being naturally nocturnal, revealing a different side of themselves as night deepens. Despite her usual shyness, Hina-sama was indeed more affectionate and clingy in these late hours.

"Eri?" Hina-sama's voice broke my train of thought. Her eyes, those beautiful silver-white orbs, were looking up at me with a mixture of mischief and adoration.

"Yes, what is it, Hina-sama?" I asked, intrigued by her sudden serious demeanor.

"I love you," she declared, her voice soft yet filled with conviction.

The simplicity and depth of her statement took my breath away. "I know, I love you too," I replied, my hand automatically moving to check her forehead, half-expecting her to have a fever due to her unusual behavior. To my relief, she was perfectly fine, just extraordinarily affectionate tonight.

"Hehe, Eri said she loves me," she murmured, snuggling closer and rubbing her cheek against my hand. Then, she turned to face me, sitting up in my lap and continuing her endearing actions, cheek to cheek.

The clock struck 11:30 pm, and I realized how late it had become while we were lost in our little world. Knowing the importance of a good night's sleep, especially before our first day of school, I gently suggested, "Hina-sama, we need to go to bed soon."

She shook her head, murmuring a soft "Nyaa..." indicating her reluctance.

"I believe if this continues, you are going to be very embarrassed when you wake up in the morning, you know," I gently reminded her.

"Will you sleep with me again tonight?" she asked, her eyes pleading. At that moment, I felt my heart might just burst from the sheer adorableness of her request. I silently called for Sebas's guidance, knowing I was treading into uncharted waters.

As if on cue, Sebas appeared, his timing impeccable. "Ojou-sama, it is time to go to bed. You know you are not supposed to stay up late during a full moon," he said, his voice gentle yet firm as he coaxed Hina-sama off my lap.

I realized then that her over-affectionate behavior was not just due to the late hour but influenced by the full moon. It had completely slipped my mind to check the lunar calendar.

"Grandpa Sebas, please, can Eri sleep with me..." Hina-sama implored, her eyes big and pleading.

Sebas hesitated, his doting nature battling with his sense of duty. Finally, he replied, "Not tonight, Ojou-sama. But if you behave and go to bed quietly, you can sleep with Eri tomorrow. I'll even have the chef prepare a special treat for your lunch. Okay?"

Hina-sama's face lit up at the promise. "Yay! Okay, Grandpa. Good night, Eri," she said, her voice bright and cheerful as she gave me a quick kiss on the cheek before heading to her room with Sebas.

Once they were gone, I touched my cheek where she kissed me, a smile spreading across my face. "She is going to be quite embarrassed when she remembers what happened tonight," I thought, my laughter echoing softly in the empty hallway.

As I retreated to my room, I ran into Sebas, who had just left Hina-sama's room. He wore an expression that mirrored my own thoughts of the night's events.

"Good night, Sebas," I called out, trying to escape into my room before he could catch me. But his firm grip stopped me in my tracks.

"Eri, may I have a word with you? It won't take long; we just need to have a little conversation," he said, his tone serious yet caring.

I found myself being lectured about the importance of keeping an eye on the moon's schedule and ensuring that Hina-sama was in bed early during full moons. Her susceptibility to becoming intoxicated by the moonlight was something I had underestimated.

As I finally lay in bed, the events of the night replayed in my mind, bringing a mix of amusement and anticipation for what the future held.