Chapter 375: Need to break the shell

After they shared a new yet surprisingly thrilling sensation while washing Luke, he looked so exhausted that they decided to call it a day.

Luke wanted to continue, but Monica assured him that there was no need to rush. They could always continue tomorrow.

He did not insist for long, partly because he was genuinely exhausted, and justifiably so.

He had once again protected the village with barely any support, all while carrying the immense mental burden of worrying about his family and their safety.

So, yes, he deserved some much-needed rest.

As it became increasingly difficult to decide who would stay and who should leave, especially since the bed was not wide enough to accommodate all four of them, Monica suggested that everyone simply stay there and let two people sleep on the floor.

She knew Laila and Ginna wanted to leave them alone, giving Monica some privacy with Luke, but Monica did not want either of them spending the night by themselves. At least, not tonigjt. Thus, she came up with a solution that allowed everyone to remain together.

Now, Laila and Luke were asleep on the bed, their steady breathing making it clear that neither had any trouble drifting off.

Just because Laila didn’t go out to fight doesn’t mean she wasn’t exhausted. Mental fatigue was a great source of sleep

On the floor, the other two women had settled down after spreading out the comfortable mattress Luke had given them before falling asleep himself.

’Really, it’s so comfortable that I don’t even feel like I’m sleeping on the floor,’ Ginna thought, pressing her palm gently against the soft surface beneath her.

She had never particularly minded sleeping on the floor. It had been a normal part of her life before coming here, and she had grown accustomed to far harsher conditions.

But Luke had made certain that they were provided with a level of comfort they had never known before. The mattress beneath her was only one small example of that.

’At this rate, I might actually find it impossible to return to how I used to live.’

The thought brought a faint, almost amused smile to her face. She had once considered such comforts unnecessary luxuries. Now, after experiencing them for herself, she was beginning to wonder how she had ever managed without them.

Just then, she slowly turned over and found Monica awake, her eyes fixed absently on the ceiling as though lost in thought.

"Hmm? What happened?" Ginna asked in a low voice, careful not to disturb the two young ones sleeping nearby.

Monica startled slightly when she realized that Ginna was awake as well. She quickly shook her head and assured her, "It’s nothing. Let’s go..."

"Monica," Ginna interrupted gently. "You know it’s alright to share things with me, right? You can trust me at least this much."

When it came to trust, Monica found herself with little choice but to open up. She hesitated for a moment before finally admitting, "I... was just thinking about what happened back then."

Ginna immediately guessed what she was referring to. She did not press her for an explanation, however, and simply remained quiet, giving Monica the space she needed to continue.

Still staring at the ceiling, Monica spoke in a soft whisper, keeping her voice low enough that only Ginna could hear.

"Back then... Laila confidently stepped forward to defend us. She knew what kind of danger was lurking outside, yet that young girl still walked out of the room, a knife clutched tightly in her hand."

A faint smile touched Monica’s lips as she turned her head toward Ginna.

"And you... despite being worried yourself, you kept assuring me that everything would be fine. You kept telling me that Luke must be safe."

With a self-deprecating smile, she added, "And on the other hand, all I did was scream, make you panic and worry, and then continue fainting time after time."

Ginna shook her head. "You could never rein in your emotions when it comes to the person you love. And we all know Luke matters to you more than your own life."

"Does he not matter that much to you?" Monica asked, tilting her head slightly. "I know how much you love him, Ginna, and yet back then, you remained composed and even consoled Nadia, assuring her that everything would be fine."

Ginna exhaled softly, her gaze drifting toward the ceiling. "I believe... it’s the difference in experience, Monica."

Monica hummed, genuinely curious. "What do you mean?"

Ginna hesitated for a moment before speaking.

"Please don’t take this the wrong way, Monica, but I feel you have spent most of your life surrounded by these four walls. I’m not belittling you, because I know exactly how much effort you put into keeping this family healthy and together. It’s just..." Ginna paused, choosing her words carefully. "I feel that your lack of exposure to other people and, well, to danger itself, might be the reason you panic so much sometimes."

She hurriedly added, "Again, I don’t mean to hurt your feelings. It’s just a fleeting thought, so please don’t take it too seriously."

Monica shook her head, reassuring her, "Not at all. I know what you mean, and trust me, nothing you said hurt me." She exhaled slowly, then looked past Ginna as she reflected on her words. "Now that you’ve said it, I think you’re right. For most of my life, ever since I was mated, I’ve spent it surrounded by a safe and sheltered environment."

It was no secret that, whether by choice or necessity, Monica had spent much of her life indoors, taking care of everyone else. She had accepted that role without complaint, and over the years, it had become so deeply ingrained in her that she had rarely questioned it.

But now, something had shifted.

"I think I need to change."

Ginna hummed in surprise. "What do you intend to do? I mean, you never had any interest in hunting, and you can’t deny that."

Monica groaned. "You’re right... blood still makes me feel a little dizzy." She paused before a determined look settled over her face. "But that doesn’t mean I can’t learn how to protect myself."

Ginna nodded. "True. And if you learn that, Luke won’t have to worry about you as much either."

Monica smiled, this time with a quiet resolve in her eyes. "You’re right. I need to step out of my shell and learn a few skills beyond the kitchen." Her smile grew warmer as she added, "I can’t have him worrying about me all his life. I don’t want to be his restraint... I want to be his strength."

Ginna smiled faintly as she watched the determination take root in Monica’s eyes. There was something different about her expression now, something that suggested this was more than a fleeting thought brought on by their conversation. Monica had made up her mind.

Now... how Luke would react to this was surely going to be interesting.

~~~

A/N:- Thanks for reading. Join my discord server by sending friend request to hayden_greyhart on discord. There are images on my server which I can’t post here.

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