"Ceres-sama, here is a document in case you lose it... Well, even if you lose it, there is no problem because the owner can be identified because she has a sl*ve's crest engraved on it... this woman belongs to you now... thank you very much."
With this, I am already Ceres-kun's property!
What should I do from here on?
Surely, he doesn't still like me...
When Ceres-kun said he liked me, I was still in my twenties.
Back then, I was just barely holding onto my youth as a woman.
But now, I'm in my thirties... It's a world of difference.
Haha, if my previous state was like a slightly rotting fruit, I'm completely rotten now.
Even Zect, my own son, hasn't hugged me for over ten years.
So, a 15-year-old good-looking boy wouldn't be interested in me.
He probably bought me out of pity...
Anyway, both of us went to a second-hand clothing store. At first, Ceres-kun was trying to choose, but in the end, he couldn't decide and left it up to me.
Come to think of it, Ceres-kun was a villager, and later he traveled with my son as an adventurer. He probably never bought clothes, right?
Looking back, I really did some awful things... saying things like "Please take care of my son" so lightly. I was terrible.
I picked out a set of clothes that seemed to suit me and went into the changing room.
Hmm...
I haven't really bought clothes much in my life... Is this a safe choice?
"...What do you think?"
I opened the changing room curtain and showed Ceres-kun.
"Shizuko-san, you look cute! It suits you really well!"
Getting compliments from someone, it's been so long.
Afterwards, we bought some yakitori and booze...
"You must be tired."
Saying that, Ceres-kun invited me to a nearby inn.
He's really kind...
He must have realized from my condition at the sl*ve trader's place that I wasn't feeling well.
I've never been treated like this... ever.
He's so kind. Even though I'm a sl*ve, he poured booze into two glasses, arranged the yakitori on plates...
And there are two beds in this room. Normally, sl*ves sleep on the floor, unless they're high-class sl*ves...
Ceres-kun is really kind... just like he used to be.
But I must not get the wrong idea.
I'm Ceres-kun's sl*ve now, so I need to maintain that distance.
I immediately knelt and bowed my head...
"Thank you very much for buying such a worn-out sl*ve, from now on I will be faithful to you..."
"Shizuko-san, you don't have to do that."
"I'm a sl*ve, I'm supposed to do this, so, *Sob...*"
I don't know why...
I've never cried before, but...
When I looked at Ceres-kun, tears just wouldn't stop...
"Please don't cry, I'll wait until you calm down... and then you can tell me what happened."
I didn't want to trouble him, but the tears just kept flowing...
"Sob... Yes..."
That was all I could manage to convey...
I continued to cry like a child, leaning on Ceres-kun's shoulder.
Finally, when my emotions calmed down...
I have to explain it to Ceres-kun.
"My husband sold me"
Ceres-kun's face showed surprise.
"Uncle Sector sold you? But didn't the kingdom give him a lot of money, so it's not like he needs money, right?"
It must be complicated for Ceres-kun.
After all, my ex-husband was kind to him too.
Well, even if my ex-husband had a terrible personality, if he was called "cool" so many times, that's what happens.
Besides, we received a lump sum of money and lived comfortably, so it must sound strange to him.
"That money... my ex-husband spent it all. I think that money is probably gone too."
I told Ceres-kun everything as it was.
How Sector, after getting the money, changed completely, getting addicted to gambling, women, and alcohol. And how he had affairs freely, and how I was sold when I reprimanded him... Everything.
"That's a terrible story, but if that's the case, why don't you write a letter to Zect?"
Normally, one would think that.
"No good, he was attached to his father and hated me."
I had asked him to be serious, but towards the end, he just saw me as a "nagging old woman." Well, it's impossible, I guess.
"I thought Uncle Sector was a serious person... Did things really turn out that way?"
"Money has changed him... but even without money, he's still like that."
Ceres-kun looks at me with a complicated expression. Well, it's understandable.
"Come to think of it, when I was a child, I remember saying, 'I want to marry Aunt Shizuko.' And you said, 'Hmm, Ceres. But by the time you're 15, I'll be an old lady... Ah, yeah, you can have this gold coin instead of me.' I think you said something like that. There was always that kind of atmosphere."
"Really? I see."
"But, aren't you angry with Uncle Sector?"
"Of course, I'm angry, but I can't help it... and that man... he's going to hell anyway, even without comparing it to having been a sl*ve."
He spent money, even the money meant for taxes. There's a hell waiting for him that's far worse than being a sl*ve.
"I'm sorry for asking such a difficult question..."
He's making an apologetic face, but there's no need to worry.
"Heheheh, it's all right, since you bought such an old lady, I'm glad."
When he looks at me with such moist eyes, it makes me uncomfortable.
"Shizuko-san is not an old lady."
"Really? Heheheh, Ceres-kun is the only one who can say such a thing."
Even if it's just flattery, it makes me happy. Maybe it's because it's coming from Ceres-kun?
"That's not true, Shizuko-san is really a wonderful woman."
Truly, ever since he was a kid, he's been like that! What should I do with my heart fluttering like a girl's, even though I'm old?
"Heheheh, well, in that case, I'll do anything for you. Oh, I was already Ceres-kun's sl*ve before that, wasn't I? Is there anything you want me to do?"
"Then I'd like it if you'd treat me like a lover or a couple."
"Oh, you must be joking, what will you do with this old lady..."
That must be a joke... right?!
There's a more than double age difference...
"I'm serious... you know I confessed my feelings to you when I was a kid, right?"
I was certainly told that... but at that time, Ceres-kun was five years old, and I did receive bouquets and sweets, but...
Hmm, come to think of it, there's no way that was a joke.
After losing his parents, Ceres-kun "gave something" to me, and he must have understood the weight of that gesture. He worked hard, as a child. Wasn't that so?
And without me realizing it, he had grown so much...
"But I'm almost twice Ceres-kun's age. I mean, Ceres-kun is a handsome boy, pretty girls won't leave you alone, right? Even some of your childhood friends..."
"Hahaha, but, Zect took them all."
Really? Those girls really have no taste.
Between Zect and Ceres-kun... obviously Ceres-kun is the better choice, right?
He's kind, hardworking, and responsible... a really good kid, despite his age.
"They're such a fool! Ceres-kun is definitely better than Zect, but those girls really don't have good eyesight. Well then, I'll be your lover until Ceres-kun finds a girl he really likes."
"Thank you."
His face is bright red. Really, I'm an old woman! What should I do? Even I'm blushing now.
"Don't worry, you're the nicest guy I've ever met, and I'm the one who should be thanking you... Ah."
Ceres-kun takes my hand and holds it.
"Anyway, I still thank you."
But, is it really okay?
Even though he's the same age as my son... But, I'm sure Ceres-kun will get tired of it eventually...
If that happens, I'll just have to be like a mother to him.
From now on, a new life with Ceres-kun begins. The blue sky, the refreshing breeze, everything feels so wonderful.
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