In the quiet of the night, Riveria slowly awoke from her sleep. The soft moonlight filtered through the small gaps in the warehouse walls, illuminating Shirou's sleeping face in front of her. As Riveria opened her eyes, the first thing she noticed was the warmth she still felt from Shirou's lap, where she had been resting.

She smiled softly, realizing Shirou was still there, sitting in the same position. His eyes were closed tightly, his breathing steady and calm. Riveria understood that Shirou had chosen to sleep sitting up just so she could rest comfortably on his lap.

Riveria's heart was still filled with the love and happiness that lingered from the dream she had just experienced—a dream where she played Juliet and Shirou was Romeo, who had risen from the dead just for her. Though it was only a dream, the love she felt remained very real, deeply rooted in her heart.

Seeing Shirou's peaceful, calm face, Riveria felt a gentle urge within her. Unable to resist, she lowered her head and tenderly kissed Shirou on the forehead. The touch of her lips was so light, like a soft night breeze, as if afraid to wake him from his sleep. "Never leave my side, my Romeo," she whispered softly, her voice barely audible amid the gentle night wind. Those words came from the deepest part of her heart, feelings she had long suppressed.

After kissing Shirou's forehead, Riveria gazed at his face again with a sense of peace. The love she had carefully hidden was now slowly growing stronger. Not wanting to disturb his sleep, Riveria resumed resting, still leaning on Shirou's lap, feeling safe and comfortable beside him. A small smile lingered on her face as she drifted back into sleep, feeling warmth in her heart as she lay on the lap of the man she loved.

With a calm and loving heart, Riveria continued her dream, hoping that one day her feelings for Shirou would be returned.

Shirou woke up to the gentle rays of sunlight sneaking through the warehouse window. The morning sun began to peek in, filling the room with its warm light. As Shirou opened his eyes, he felt warmth on his lap. Looking down, he saw Riveria still sound asleep with a peaceful expression and a small smile on her lips.

Riveria looked so serene, even in her sleep. The elegant green gown she had worn the night before still draped her gracefully, making her look as though she were dreaming in a beautiful fairy tale. Shirou, seeing this sight, felt torn. He wanted to wake Riveria, but he didn't want to do it abruptly or rudely. He wanted to be as gentle as he had been last night when calming her.

Gently, Shirou began stroking Riveria's long green hair. His fingers glided through her soft strands, trying to wake her with a soothing touch. He remembered how his touch last night had made her smile and sleep more soundly.

However, instead of waking, Riveria only smiled wider in her sleep. Her face looked even more peaceful, and her steady breathing signaled how comfortable she was resting on Shirou's lap. Rather than waking up, she seemed to sink deeper into her sleep, as though feeling safe and protected.

Shirou began to feel a bit confused. "How can I wake her without disturbing her peaceful sleep?" he thought. He knew Riveria rarely showed this vulnerable side to anyone, especially in such an informal setting.

He weighed his options. If he called her name softly, perhaps she would wake more gently. Or if he let her sleep a little longer, they would lose more of the morning. But what if Riveria needed more rest?

Finally, Shirou took a deep breath and gently whispered, "Riveria... it's morning." His voice was soft, like a gentle breeze. He continued to stroke her hair softly, hoping his touch and voice would be enough to wake her without startling her.

But Riveria only stirred slightly, murmuring in her sleep, as if reluctant to wake up. Shirou smiled faintly, not having the heart to wake her more forcefully. After a few moments, he decided to try again, this time a little louder. "Riveria, it's morning," he said, a bit more clearly.

At last, Riveria's eyelids began to flutter open. Her green eyes gazed softly as they adjusted to the morning light filtering into the warehouse. She looked momentarily confused before realizing her position, still resting on Shirou's lap.

A warm smile spread across her face when she realized who was with her. "Good morning," she said softly, her voice still filled with warmth from her sleep.

"Good morning," Shirou replied, smiling. "Sorry if I woke you."

Riveria shook her head gently. "No, you woke me up so softly. I didn't even realize I'd slept so long."

Shirou just smiled, relieved that he had managed to wake her gently. The morning sunlight bathed them both, bringing a new warmth that wrapped the moment in peace.

Riveria felt the warmth from Shirou's hand, still softly stroking her hair. In her heart, she wanted to savor this moment a little longer, enjoying the rare chance to forget her responsibilities. But the sunlight streaming through the window reminded her that morning had come, and with it, her role as one of the leaders of the Loki Familia.

With a bit of reluctance, Riveria began to rise from her comfortable position on Shirou's lap. She sat up straight, and as her gaze fell on the beautiful gown she was still wearing, a sudden sense of embarrassment washed over her. The gown was a symbol of the intimate moment they had shared the night before, and Riveria knew that if she returned to the Manor wearing it, many questions would arise from the people of Twilight Manor.

Riveria realized she couldn't return to the Manor like this. With a calm face and a slightly shy smile, she decided to ask Shirou for help.

"Shirou," she said gently, glancing at the gown she was wearing, "I just realized... I'm still wearing this dress." She looked at him with a slightly troubled expression. "Could you please get my change of clothes from my room?"

Shirou, unaware of Riveria's dilemma until that moment, quickly nodded. "Of course, where can I find them?"

Riveria pulled out the key to her room from beneath her gown and showed it to Shirou. "Here's the key. My change of clothes is behind the door of my room. You just need to get it." However, as Shirou reached for the key, Riveria quickly pulled it back with a sly smile.

"Wait," she teased. "Actually, you don't need this key, do you? With your abilities, you could project a copy of my room key anytime. Isn't that right?"

Shirou chuckled, acknowledging Riveria's words. "Yeah, I can," he replied, a bit awkwardly, still unaware of the hidden meaning behind her playful comment.

Feeling a bit more confident, Riveria smiled softly. With a rare playful tone, she looked at Shirou and said, "You know, that means you could enter my room anytime if you wanted to."

Shirou was startled by her remark. His face turned red instantly. "I-I wouldn't enter without permission!" he quickly replied, stammering. His face flushed as he tried to process Riveria's sudden familiarity.

Riveria simply laughed softly, amused by how flustered Shirou had become. Inside, she felt a little more at ease. At least, her teasing had managed to break the tension within her. "I know," she said with a smile, "I was just joking."

Finally, Shirou carefully accepted the key from Riveria, promising to return quickly with the clothes she requested. As he left the warehouse, Riveria watched his figure slowly disappear behind the door, a small smile still on her face.

Shirou tiptoed into Riveria's room with great care, ensuring he made no noise that might attract attention, especially given Riveria's status as one of the respected leaders of the Loki Familia. As the door to her room opened, a soft, unique scent greeted him—the soothing, cool aroma characteristic of Riveria's High Elf nature. The fragrance was gentle, calm, and seemed to embody her graceful and peaceful presence.

Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.

As soon as Shirou entered the room, he didn't want to linger. His eyes immediately focused on Riveria's change of clothes hanging behind the door. Feeling a bit awkward handling a woman's personal clothes, especially someone he respected as much as Riveria, he quickly grabbed them.

However, before leaving, Shirou's gaze was drawn to something familiar on Riveria's bed—a wooden board he had used to teach her Magecraft. It was neatly placed there, and Shirou paused for a moment, looking at the board with fond memories.

He recalled the weeks they spent together in that very room, with Riveria diligently learning Magecraft techniques from him, despite already being the most powerful mage in Orario. What touched him the most was that Riveria had kept the board even after their lessons were over. It wasn't just the board itself, but the moments they shared together that seemed to hold deep meaning for her.

"So, she still kept it…" Shirou thought, smiling softly. Riveria always appeared strong and mature on the outside, but seeing how she took care of something as simple as a wooden board made him realize that beneath her elegant exterior was a gentle and thoughtful side.

With Riveria's clothes in hand, Shirou stepped out of the room. Before closing the door, he glanced back at the wooden board, feeling an unspoken bond between him and Riveria growing stronger.

In his heart, he silently promised that he would always be there for Riveria, just as he had been before—perhaps as more than just a friend.

As Shirou carefully closed Riveria's door and turned around, he was startled to see Lefiya standing not far away, her eyes wide with surprise.

Lefiya, usually cheerful, now looked shocked and confused as she saw Shirou coming out of Riveria's room with her clothes in hand. Her face turned red, and her expression filled with suspicion, as if imagining various scenarios of what could have happened inside Riveria's room.

"W-what were you doing in there, Shirou?!" Lefiya stammered, her voice shaky but clearly tinged with jealousy and anger. "You… you couldn't have…!"

Panicking, Shirou raised his hands, trying to calm Lefiya, who was getting more and more upset. He half-lied to avoid further misunderstandings.

"Uh, it's… not what you think! Riveria just asked me to grab her change of clothes because… uh… her dress got dirty while we were training Magecraft yesterday. That's all, really!" Shirou explained, stumbling over his words, trying to appear as calm as possible.

But Lefiya wasn't entirely convinced by Shirou's explanation. She squinted at him and then gave a mischievous smirk, as if she didn't fully believe him.

"Are you sure, Shirou? You're not being a peeping tom, are you?" Lefiya teased, covering her smile with her hand. Although she tried to joke, there was an unmistakable hint of jealousy in her tone.

Shirou could only give a wry smile at her words. He knew it wouldn't be easy to convince Lefiya, especially in a situation like this. "I'm serious, Lefiya. Nothing strange happened. I was just helping, that's all," he replied, still a little nervous.

Lefiya, half-believing him, finally sighed. "Alright then… but I'll ask Riveria about this later. We'll see if your story holds up!" she said teasingly, although a bit more relaxed now.

Shirou chuckled softly. "You can ask her if you want, but I'm sure Riveria will confirm what I said," he replied, trying to maintain his calm, though he was slightly worried about what Riveria might say if Lefiya actually asked her.

With Riveria's clothes in hand, Shirou carefully made his way back to the warehouse, where Riveria was patiently waiting. When he arrived, Riveria smiled softly and thanked him.

"Thank you, Shirou. You're always so reliable," Riveria said as she accepted the clothes from Shirou.

As Shirou prepared to excuse himself so Riveria could change in private, she suddenly stopped him with a calm but slightly playful tone.

"No need to leave, Shirou. Just turn your back. I won't take long," Riveria said, catching Shirou off guard, but he obediently followed her request.

With his back turned to her, Shirou felt his heart race slightly, aware of how close they were. To distract himself from his nerves, Shirou decided to tell Riveria something more serious.

"Riveria," he began cautiously, "I ran into Lefiya earlier when I left your room. She saw me, and I think she misunderstood. If she asks you later, could you explain that I was just grabbing your clothes because… your dress got dirty from our Magecraft training?"

Riveria, who was changing behind him, initially agreed without thinking too much. However, in a teasing tone, she added something that made Shirou a little nervous.

"What if I let Lefiya keep her misunderstanding, Shirou? That might be more interesting," she said, holding back a small laugh.

Shirou paused for a moment before responding, giving a wry smile even though Riveria couldn't see his face.

"In that case, I'll be seen as a peeping tom and a pervert," Shirou replied jokingly.

Hearing this, Riveria finally laughed softly, her tone light and warm. "Alright, alright. I'll explain to Lefiya. I just wanted to see your reaction," she said playfully, still chuckling.

Shirou could only smile, feeling slightly relieved, yet still impressed by how different and warm Riveria could be in private moments like this.

While Riveria continued changing, Shirou, with his back turned, couldn't help but imagine how she looked. Her beauty in that elegant gown from the night before lingered in his mind, making him feel slightly uneasy. To distract his imagination from running wild, Shirou decided to speak, trying to steer the conversation toward something lighter.

"Riveria," Shirou called out, breaking the silence. "Last night, when you were asleep, I saw you crying. I'm curious, what were you dreaming about?"

Riveria, still adjusting her clothes, smiled upon hearing Shirou's question. "Hmm, I dreamt about something you might find familiar. Have you ever heard the story of Romeo and Juliet?"

Shirou was surprised to hear that name. "Of course, I've heard of it. It's one of Shakespeare's famous works. Though I've never fully read it, I know the gist."

Riveria paused briefly, recalling her dream with a smile. "In my dream, it felt like I was inside that story. I could feel the deep sadness and love between them. But…" Riveria purposely left out the fact that she was Juliet, and Shirou was Romeo in her dream. That was too embarrassing to reveal.

Though Shirou didn't know the details of the dream, he could understand from her story that it might have been a tragic one. He already knew how Romeo and Juliet ended tragically, so it made sense why Riveria had cried. "I understand why you cried in your sleep," he said gently. "It's a sad story, isn't it?"

Riveria smiled, but inside, she remembered how her dream had ended happily, thanks to Shirou's comforting touch. Even though the original story was a tragedy, in her dream, Romeo—Shirou—had come back to life, making everything better. Without mentioning the happy twist in her dream, Riveria simply replied, "Yes, the story is touching. But there's something beautiful in their love."

Shirou noticed Riveria's smile and said, "It seems like you really like that story."

Riveria nodded, still smiling. "It's not just the story. I like Romeo. He's a man full of love, willing to sacrifice everything for the woman he loves. A man like that is ideal to me."

Shirou was slightly taken aback by Riveria's admiration for Romeo. Not realizing that she was indirectly talking about him, Shirou felt a little jealous of the fictional character. However, he could only smile and respond politely, unaware of Riveria's true feelings hidden behind her words.

After a few moments, Riveria finally said, "I'm done changing."

Hearing this, Shirou turned around and saw Riveria back in her usual elegant green cloak, which gracefully covered her entire body. It was quite different from the stunning dress she had worn the previous night, which had revealed a more feminine and alluring side of Riveria.

Riveria stepped closer and invited Shirou to return to Twilight Manor. "Let's head back. It's getting late," she said softly, yet her voice regained its usual grace and dignity.

As they walked side by side back to Twilight Manor, Shirou could sense the stark contrast in Riveria's demeanor. Last night, she had shown a more open, playful, and caring side, but now, she had returned to her elegant and honorable self, the respected leader that everyone in Loki Familia admired.

Upon reaching her room, Riveria paused briefly, glancing around to make sure no one else was watching. With a slight smile on her lips, she quietly said, "Thank you for a lovely night." Her ambiguous and soft tone made Shirou's face flush instantly. Her words could easily be misunderstood, and Shirou couldn't help but feel embarrassed.

Before Shirou could respond, Riveria smiled slightly and quickly made her way to her room, leaving Shirou standing there, still red-faced. He could only sigh, giving a wry smile as he headed back to his own room, reflecting on the intimate moments from the night before with mixed emotions.

After putting away the beautiful gown she had worn the night before, Riveria walked toward her bed with slow steps. Upon reaching it, she couldn't hold back the rush of emotions that hit her. Without thinking, Riveria leapt onto the bed and buried her face in the pillow, as if trying to hide all her embarrassment.

In the quiet of her room, Riveria replayed the events of the previous night in her mind. With her heart racing, she recalled how daringly she had presented herself so elegantly and, more than that, how boldly she had flirted with Shirou. "What have I done?" she murmured, her face red beneath the pillow. In her daily life, Riveria always carried herself with strictness and grace, far from the attitude she had shown the night before.

However, despite her embarrassment, there was a subtle sense of satisfaction. She vividly remembered Shirou's awestruck reaction to her beauty, the way his face turned red each time she teased him, and the gentle touch of his hand when he softly stroked her hair. Every moment felt etched in her memory.

Riveria smiled softly behind her pillow, especially as she remembered her dream. In it, Shirou had become Romeo, the hero of a love story that made her heart race. Even in reality, she felt the same warmth whenever she was with Shirou. She relived the feeling, thinking about how, in her dream, Shirou had revived the beautiful moment—the moment where they should have parted in tragedy, but it had turned into a happy ending.

"I really am… falling in love with him," she whispered softly, her voice almost lost within the pillow she hugged tightly.