Intruding the Dreams of a Knight - Chapter 5 - Don't make promises on your own!!!

Once again, I had a dream.

In the dream, Irene――Camille walked while holding hands with ‘Irene.’ The surroundings were slightly blurry, and it seemed like different kinds of scenery were mixed in, but it was most likely the front gate of the royal castle. Those who commuted from their homes like Irene passed through here every morning on their way to work.

The time seemed to be evening, and the area was dimly lit. The two walking while holding hands stopped near the gate.

“Thank you for seeing me off,” said ‘Irene’ with her back facing him. Camille replied with something. Then, ‘Irene’ shook her head with a smile.

“It’s okay. You live in the castle, Camille, so I’m already happy enough that you walk me here every day.”

(Hmm… Maybe he said something like, “I’m sorry I can’t walk you all the way home?”)

By the way, Camille didn’t commute from home every morning; he was staying at the dormitory in the Knights’ order. In his dream, it seemed that he would walk ‘Irene’ to the front gate like this every day.

Camille said something, and suddenly ‘Irene’ became serious.

“I understand… This is a dream, right?”

(Oh, there’s even this kind of development.)

It’s rare for a character in a dream to expose it by saying, “This is a world inside a dream,” but if Camille himself is aware that it’s a dream, such a development might be possible.

I see, I see, Irene understood, but…

“So, let’s make a promise. Tomorrow, the real ‘me’ will wait for you at the Knights’ Order’s cafe terrace during lunch break.”

(…Huh?)

Suddenly, ‘Irene’ began saying something outrageous, and the astonished Irene received Camille’s enthusiastic response. It was a loud voice, so even though it was somewhat blurry, it reached Irene’s ears.

“Is that alright?! …No, but, the real you…”

(I see you understand…)

“No, it’s okay.”

(Don’t decide it’s okay on your own!)

“I’ll be waiting. Even in the real world, I’ll be waiting for you properly. So, let’s have tea together, okay? It’s a promise.”

(Don’t make promises on your own!!!)

“…Yeah, a promise.”

(Don’t just accept it like that!!!)

Despite Irene’s scream, ‘Irene’ and Camille clasped their hands, intertwined their fingers, and exchanged smiles.

“….What should I do?”

In the morning, when Irene woke up, she was holding her head. Ever since she started dreaming about Camille, she has had days where she wakes up feeling unsatisfied.

This morning’s dream was quite shocking.

(In the dream, “I” made a promise to meet at the Knights’ Order’s cafe terrace during lunch break… and “Sir Gresler” accepted it…)

Her face turned hot at the thought.

It’s unlikely, but what if Camille actually came to the cafe terrace today?

(N-No, surely I understand the difference between dreams and reality, right? The Lord Gresler in the dream seems to know that the real me is distant…)

However…

If this were Irene, wouldn’t she think, “I know it’s a dream, but why not try”? Even if there was no one at the meeting place, she could just laugh it off and say, “That’s okay too.” And if, by some stroke of luck, the other person was there, she would be ecstatic, saying, “It’s a dream come true!” The cafe terrace is accessible to anyone working in the Knights’ Order, so there is a good chance that Camille might come.

(If, if Gresler-sama is at the cafe terrace, we can confirm that we are sharing the dream.)

***

Irene dragged her heavy body to work and pondered over what to do about that “promise” while doing her job. And in no time, it was lunch break.

Irene typically brings a  lunchbox made by her home’s cook and eats it together with Doris and the others in the office.

Today, too, when she woke up, the cook had already made a delicious lunch for her. It would be impolite to decline, so she brought it with her and spread it out on her desk, making sure to avoid the documents.

“You seem a bit down today. Is something wrong?”

Doris, who was sitting in the next seat and had spread out her lunchbox — apparently her husband’s handiwork — asked Irene, who was taken aback but smiled.

“Well, um… I had a strange dream.”

“Oh, there are times like that. Even if you know it’s a dream, you can’t help feeling anxious or nervous.”

Nodding along with Doris, Irene glanced outside the window.

Based on today’s work schedule, Camille should be on lunch break around this time.

(Is he at the cafe terrace…? I wonder…?)

She was curious. Very curious.

In Irene’s mind, the probability of him not being there was high, but maybe, just maybe, he believed in the promise in the dream and would be there.

(I’m so curious…!)

With that in mind, as soon as she finished her meal, Irene stood up from her seat.

“Hmm, what’s up?”

“My body feels a bit stiff, so I’ll take a walk.”

“Okay, take care not to be late.”

Nodding in response to Doris’s friendly reply, Irene left the office.

(I still want to check!)

However, she didn’t have the courage to boldly go to the cafe terrace. Therefore, she decided to check from the third-floor corridor, which offered a panoramic view of the cafe.

(Around here, it wouldn’t be strange to walk, and I can quickly return to the office. Yes, I’m just passing by!)

Making excuses to herself, Irene opened the door leading to the third-floor corridor. Her heart was strangely pounding.

He’s there, he’s not there, he’s there, he’s not there… with every step she took, she felt like she was doing flower divination. As she approached the position where she could overlook the cafe terrace, she leaned out over the railing.

(…He’s there!)

She thought that not screaming was commendable.

Under the clear early winter sky, she could see several people on the cafe terrace. Among them, in the far corner, she spotted a head of blond hair. No doubt about it, it was Camille.

The reason she could conclude that it was Camille based only on the top of his head was that there were young ladies wearing colorful dresses a little further away.

Camille seemed to be drinking tea, but a courageous young lady approached him and said something. Camille lightly waved his hand in response, and after the young lady bowed and left, he probably gently asked her not to sit with him.

(He’s really there. Waiting. Is he really here as promised?!)

No, perhaps Camille often uses the cafe terrace. It wouldn’t be strange… But then, a knight who approached Camille yelled in a loud voice, “Hey, Camille! It’s rare to see you here!”

(It’s intentional)

He probably came here specifically because of the promise he made with ‘Irene’ in the dream. It’s touching, single-minded… It almost makes Irene feel guilty.

(No, no. It’s quite convenient if I want to be disliked by Lord Gresler! I just have to leave him alone here!)

Even though it was just an exchange in a dream, if Irene doesn’t appear here, he will be somewhat disappointed. As Irene, she should be fine with that.

…However…

Irene knows about Camille’s dream. Despite knowing, it didn’t sit well with her to leave Camille waiting so earnestly.

After all, Irene doesn’t have a negative impression of Camille himself. She just doesn’t like his appearance, but she thinks he’s a good person, cheerful, friendly, and hardworking.

Ignoring it and pretending she didn’t see anything would be the right thing to do. But now, it feels like she’s trampling on Camille’s pure feelings.

“Aargh! That damn guy!”

As Irene was leaning against the railing, tormented by her thoughts, a voice that sounded agitated reached her ears. When she turned around, she saw a male colleague walking briskly down the corridor.

“Hello, Sir Boltzman. Is there something you need?”

“Hey, Lancel. …Ah, you’re just in time!”

The veteran staff member, about ten years older than Irene, came over quickly and made a gesture of “pleading,” putting his hands together.

“Sorry to ask, but could you go and get something for me to eat? One of the idiots from the Seventh Knights’ Order is saying they lost the documents they were supposed to submit today! I need to get them reissued, but I don’t have time for lunch! I’ll pay you back later, so please buy something for me!”

“Well… Okay, I understand! Please don’t push yourself too hard.”

“Thanks, I’m sorry to bother you!”

Boltzman thanked her again and quickly left.

While most office staff members follow their schedules diligently, there are many loose knights. Therefore, it’s not uncommon for them to say on the day of the deadline, “I don’t have the documents” or “I never received such a thing,” leading to a rush to reissue them.

(Sir Boltzman looks like he’s in trouble. If I could buy something quick and substantial at the cafe…)

As she thought about that, Irene suddenly raised her head.

…It seems like she now has a good reason to go to the cafe terrace.