Chapter 4 — A Nap Beneath the Sun

Chapter 4 — A Nap Beneath the Sun

Stella Rivera had once been feared in the halls of the Duke’s estate. Her footsteps alone were enough to send servants scrambling out of sight. But now?

Now, the halls echoed not with scolding or demands—but with yawns.

Stella, nearly twenty and carrying the power to shatter dimensions, spent most of her days in bed. Not reading. Not thinking. Just sleeping. Eating. Then sleeping again.

It had been over a week since she first woke from her long sleep, and during that time she had been disturbed at least seven or eight times a day.

Meals were delivered promptly, despite her usual groaning protests. The doctor made regular visits, sometimes poking and prodding, sometimes asking questions she didn’t care to answer. Her parents often dropped in with warmth and worry, asking about her dreams, her memory, her health.

And there was always—always—a maid stationed in the corner of her room. Watching. Quiet. But very much present.

Stella didn’t complain. She simply buried herself deeper in her blanket cocoon.

“You need to stretch your legs, darling,” her mother had said just yesterday.

“Just walking a little might help restore your strength,” her father had added, patting her head gently.

Stella had mumbled something about “too much effort” and “sleeping counts as physical activity,” and promptly turned over.

But today… today felt a little different.

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The sun was warm outside. The breeze through her window was soft and sweet.

Stella stirred, blinked slowly, then yawned and sat up. Her personal maid—Clara, who had just been checking the water basin—jumped slightly.

“L-Lady Stella? You’re… awake?” she asked, surprised. “Do you need something?”

Stella rubbed her eyes lazily and let out a long sigh.

“Mmhmm… I’ve decided… I want to take a nap somewhere… fluffier.”

“Fluffier?” Clara repeated, tilting her head.

“Yes... the garden,” Stella murmured, standing up with her pillow in one hand and her blanket wrapped around her like a cape. “I need an afternoon nap… in the sun… with the birds... and the wind...”

Clara blinked, stunned.

“T-the garden? I’ll let the head maid know right away!”

She hurriedly turned and rushed out of the room.

Stella waited precisely two seconds… then began waddling down the hallway herself.

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The Rivera estate halls were quiet. Servants paused their tasks and glanced her way with wide, puzzled eyes.

Stella didn’t offer explanations.

She walked barefoot in her long, silky nightgown, the starlit tips of her hair trailing behind her like liquid night sky. She wandered past the portraits, the polished columns, the decorative vases—all with the blank expression of someone on a divine quest for sleep.

She reached the garden.

Sunlight streamed through the trees. Flowers swayed gently in the wind. Birds chirped far above in a lazy harmony.

Stella scanned the space like a sleepy predator… and found her target.

A large, beautiful tree, with cool shade and soft grass.

She walked over, dropped her pillow beneath the tree, and flopped down with a soft pomf. The grass was warm. The wind kissed her cheeks. She yawned.

“Mmmm… perfect… sky blanket… grass bed…”

Just as her eyes began to close—

“Lady Stella!”

Clara came running from the stone path, panting with panic.

“Why did you leave without me?! You should have waited! What if someone had seen you like this?!”

Stella opened one eye and gave a sleepy pout.

“You were taking too long… And I was really, really sleepy. I thought I’d just… teleport here with effort alone… but walking was fine too.”

“Milady, please, let me arrange a proper place! You can’t just—sleep on the ground!”

“Why not?” Stella muttered. “It’s soft. The sun is warm. The birds are singing lullabies. What more do I need?”

Clara looked close to tears.

“You frightened everyone! One of the other maids said you were walking through the palace in your nightgown with a pillow. Like a ghost!”

Stella blinked.

“A cute ghost… probably. That sounds like me.”

Clara knelt down beside her, smoothing her gown.

“At least… at least allow me to fix your posture…”

“Noooo,” Stella groaned, curling up. “You’re worse than the doctor. Just sit down and nap too. I command it as the sleepy duchess of this garden.”

Clara let out a helpless giggle and finally sat beside her mistress, brushing grass away gently.

Stella yawned one last time and mumbled into her pillow,

“Wake me when the sun gets boring…”

And with that, she drifted off again.

Dreaming of skies and stars and nothing in between.