Two days after leaving Minami-sencho, Wataru was swaying on the Hypo as he struggled with drowsiness. The blue sky, white clouds, and the blazing sunlight over the lush green fields made for a refreshing scene, but his heart was not uplifted.
Despite declaring he wouldn't indulge, he found himself excited and unable to sleep once he ended up sharing a bed with the two slaves. In fact, Mariel and Eir had fallen asleep much quicker than he had. He was bemused by their lack of tension or fear.
Wataru, being a healthy man, certainly had the desire to be with them, but he also wanted to be a good master and earn their respect. These feelings coexisted within him without contradiction.
At the moment, the balance between these desires was maintained, but it could easily tip in either direction depending on how things developed.
As he yawned and continued his peaceful journey, Wataru remarked, "It's so peaceful."
"Isn't that a good thing?" Mariel replied.
