Rest
A few days later.
Maryne took a day off.
“Today, I’m doing absolutely nothing!”
Morning.
Lying on top of her bed, Maryne made that declaration.
Firuru meowed beside her.
Maryne pulled Firuru close and fluffed against him.
“Fluff fluff... fluff fluff...”
She buried her face in the soft fur.
It felt wonderful.
The best.
She wanted to keep fluffing like this forever.
“... Haaah.”
She let out a deep breath.
These past few weeks had felt like a nonstop sprint.
Product development.
Opening stores.
Hiring and training pastry chefs.
Launching the second and third stores.
Even for her, the burden had been heavy.
(Even with the knowledge and mental age from my previous life, this body is still that of a child...)
That was exactly why, when it was time to rest, she needed to rest properly.
That too was one of the secrets to staying in business for the long haul.
Maryne rolled over lazily on the bed.
The canopy curtains swayed.
Soft spring sunlight streamed in through the window.
She thought about nothing.
Not sales.
Not new products.
Not store expansion.
She pushed it all out of her head.
She focused only on breathing.
Inhale, exhale.
Inhale, exhale.
She practiced mindfulness.
“......”
It was quiet.
From the open window, she could hear birds chirping.
She could hear the wind rustling the trees.
She could hear Firuru meowing.
(... This feeling is nice.)
Time spent with an empty mind.
She stayed like that for a while.
She had no idea how much time had passed.
Before she knew it, it was noon.
Maryne slowly got out of bed and went into the mansion garden.
She sat down on a bench in the garden.
A maid brought her some tea.
“Thank you.”
She took a sip.
Mm.
Delicious.
She spent a peaceful stretch of time.
---
Evening.
Maryne returned to her room and collapsed onto the bed.
Firuru immediately came over and settled beside her.
“Meow.”
“Firuru... today was the perfect day.”
Fluff fluff, she buried her face in his fur again.
She hadn’t produced anything.
She hadn’t worked either.
But her heart felt full.
(Alright. Fully recharged.)
Starting tomorrow, she will throw herself back into business.
Thinking that, Maryne gently closed her eyes.
What do you think about this chapter?
