Fate: “How did it end up like this…?”

Fate groaned his question to the ceiling as he then turned his gaze towards the girl who currently had her arms gently wrapped around his waist, latching herself to him as she blissfully hummed. It was Liza, who seemed to be even cheerier than Fate had remembered.

However, despite her blatant clinginess, she seemed to be taking extra care to not exercise too much force in her embracing of Fate, who was still in a good deal of pain from his injuries…

Liza: “Did you sleep well, my young lord? I slept even better than usual with you by my side!~”

Fate: “Please, stop…”

Liza: “It was such a delight, being able to fall asleep while witnessing the young lord’s adorable sleeping face.~ Not to mention the gentleness in your hand as you intertwined your fingers with mine…~”

Fate blushed for a moment, but quickly responded in a childish fashion...

Fate: “You were the one wrapping your fingers around my hand...I just didn’t have the energy to fight you off, understand?! And, why were you watching me sleep, that’s just creepy!”

[Giggle]

Liza giggled as she bore witness to Fate’s short lived temper-tantrum, before slowly and reluctantly removing herself from his side…
She now poised herself above Fate’s head, a concerned expression clearly visible on her face as she swept his hair to the sides, exposing a carefully bandaged forehead as she seemingly pulled out a small pail of water and a cloth from nowhere and began to wipe Fate’s face.

Despite his temper, Fate now seemed to have gone docile, allowing Liza all the time she needed as she smoothly swept a damp cloth over his eyes.

Fate: “Haaaaaaahhhh...So, just out of curiosity, and I’m still not going to drop the ‘watching me sleep’-thing, why do I feel so...terrible?”

Liza didn’t respond until she had finished her sweep and had returned her supplies to whence they came…

Liza: “Perhaps it is because you do not allow yourself to be adored and cared for by those around you, leaving you feeling empty inside as you slowly begin to crave the company of an adorable servant…~”

Fate shot her a cold look, causing her to cease her speech, coughing slightly before starting again, in a much more worried tone…

Liza: “My young lord...do you especially resent Lord Jacob?”

-Huh, why is she bringing this up?

He wondered to himself as to why she would bring up such an obvious question. Fate had not said much, for fear of being targeted, though he certainly was opposed to Jacob’s...methods of examination…

Fate: “I don’t think I have any special fondness for the man…”

Liza: “Well...it would seem as though you might have somehow forgotten some frightening hatred. As it has been a month since I was last able to converse with you...and your second brawl with Lord Jacob...haha…”

She nervously laughed while breaking the news to Fate, who reacted as if he’d been hit with a bombshell…

Fate: “Excuse me...WHAT?!!”
...