Chapter – 18
“I don’t really want to be disturbed here, and besides, this place is connected to the bedchamber anyway.”
It was far too strange an answer to just let slide.
“All the more reason there should be guards here, shouldn’t there?”
“Ah.”
Calysion looked down at me with an almost approving gaze.
“That door only opens from the bedchamber. You can open it there and come in this way, but it doesn’t work in reverse.”
That was extremely unfortunate for me.
Without showing my disappointment, I rolled my eyes slightly and peered inside.
“Hmm, is it really all right for me to see such a secret place?”
He shot back playfully.
“Well? Are you curious?”
I nodded with an innocent expression.
“Of course. As you know, there are no hot springs in Bristol, so I’ve only ever seen large bathhouses in books.”
“Ah, if that’s the reason, then by all means, take a look.”
Only then did Calysion drop his teasing attitude and extend his hand politely.
“It’s dry, but just in case it’s slippery.”
When I took his hand without hesitation, Calysion pulled me toward him and wrapped an arm around my waist.
Good heavens, was all this really necessary?
Still, I couldn’t exactly call him strange, considering how many times I’d already nearly tripped in front of him.
We entered the bath together.
Standing so close together, looking at the bath as fragrant steam rose from it, created an oddly intimate atmosphere.
The private bath of Crown Prince Calysion.
Thinking that, I suddenly imagined the man beside me sitting in that bath.
Oh, good heavens. Stop it, April.
Startled, I turned my head, and he asked,
“Are you feeling dizzy from the heat? Your face is red.”
I couldn’t exactly say it was because I’d instinctively imagined his naked body…
Ah, whatever.
I relaxed slightly and leaned against him.
“…A little. The scent is nice, but it makes me feel a bit lightheaded.”
He chuckled softly.
“It’s mostly used at night, so we use a fragrance that helps with sleep. There are quite a few baths like this in the Empire. My palace may be inconvenient, so I’ll find you a suitable bath within the imperial grounds.”
“Oh my, I’d really appreciate that.”
I found myself answering sincerely. After all, the only baths in the life of Mage A had been dull, grimy public bathhouses.
“If it’s all right, shall we go eat now?”
After casting a regretful glance at the door leading to the bedchamber, I replied,
“Sure, Your Highness. I was just getting hungry.”
We stepped back into the corridor, but I kept pretending to be dizzy and leaned on Calysion’s arm.
If I’d lived my life doing tricks like this, I’d probably have dated a hundred times by now.
This was the first time I’d ever stood this close to a man other than Raphael.
Biting my lower lip lightly, I regretted my past life.
“That’s a bad habit.”
Before I could even understand what he meant, Calysion’s finger lightly pressed under my chin.
The most handsome face in the Empire was dangerously close.
I couldn’t even close my foolishly parted lips and could only blush.
…No, habits like that are far worse for my mental health!
The dinner—beef soup, fish with cream sauce, risotto, lamb and duck with vegetables, fruit jelly, and iced pudding—was lavish beyond belief for just two people.
We chatted quite amicably throughout the meal.
Near the end, Calysion slid a serving of pudding toward me and said,
“If I’d known you couldn’t bowl, I would’ve taught you.”
He must have heard about the bowling lesson from Young Lord Huebner. Remembering my embarrassing display that day, I replied with a sheepish smile,
“It would be mortifying to show Your Highness such inadequacy.”
“Hmm, but it’s fine for the young lord?”
Here he goes again.
Calysion skillfully began flirting, pretending to be jealous of Samuel.
“If it hadn’t been in such an open garden, I might have felt quite jealous.”
Which, of course, was exactly what I wanted.
“Th-that’s…”
As my flustered hands moved, they knocked into a nearly full wine glass.
“Ah!”
While I panicked, deep red wine soaked into the tablecloth and dripped onto my pearl-colored dress.
The maids Calysion hurriedly summoned tried to blot it with dry towels, but it was no use.
After all, I’d worn a muslin dress on purpose for this very moment.
The thin fabric absorbed the wine instantly, turning a blood-red hue.
I jumped up, pretending to be terribly flustered.
As I did, I discreetly rubbed the dress against the wet tablecloth, making the stain even worse.
“I-I’m so sorry, Your Highness. I think I should return now.”
Calysion took a robe from a servant and stepped closer, gently draping it over my shoulders.
Not that it did much to hide the dress, which was stained with wine down to my knees.
“It’s all right, April. There’s no need to panic. Are you cold from being wet?”
I nodded with trembling lips. As a “delicate princess,” I couldn’t very well sit around in a soaked dress.
Besides, Mousebell had said that crying at this moment was essential for maximum effect.
But the tears wouldn’t come easily, and Calysion was starting to usher me out.
“I’ll escort you. It’s chilly in the evening, but it’s only a short while. You can bear it, can’t you?”
This was driving me mad. When had I ever cried in front of others?
Failing to produce tears naturally, I bit hard into the inside of my lip.
Ow!
Damn it—I bit too hard.
“I’m sorry… You kindly invited me, and I ruined the meal.”
As pain brought a glimmer of tears to my eyes, Calysion’s gaze wavered.
“…April.”
I could say with certainty that I’d never seen him look this flustered before.
So he liked innocent types—was he weak to crying girls? Mousebell’s scheming worked again?
Either way, thank goodness the script was working.
Seizing the momentum, I let tears fall and complained,
“I-If I return like this, everyone will laugh at me. I’ve disgraced Bristol by coming all the way to the Empire. How can I face my father? Sob…”
“April, what are you saying? You are my guest, and what happened here is entirely my responsibility.”
“Hic…”
“My goodness, April.”
At last, Calysion stepped closer to comfort me, and I didn’t miss the chance to bury my head in his chest.
Wow… he smells amazing…
For a moment, he lost his balance and grabbed the back of a chair.
Are those broad shoulders just for show? Is my head really that heavy?
What a fragile man…
Regaining his composure, Calysion gently patted my shoulder and said,
“Don’t cry. No one will ever know about this. Let it remain a secret just between you and me, hm?”
“Sniff… really?”
I looked up at him with teary, pitiful eyes, pretending not to notice his mistake.
To think that I, once a loyal citizen of Justiny, had been dragged this deep into the mire—the client was truly cursed.
As I thought that, genuine tears of frustration welled up and fell.
Though, admittedly, my bitten lip hurt like hell too. Damn it—did I tear it?
“B-but I still have to return to the main palace.”
“Ah, then…”
At last, Calysion came up with a solution.
“I’ll send someone to your room to fetch a maid. Until then… yes, since you’re wet, use the bath.”
Yes! That’s it!
I was thrilled that things were going as planned, but I put on a troubled expression.
“T-the bath? How could I dare use one in Your Highness’s palace…”
“I’ll stay right here. I won’t even go near the bath.”
Hadn’t I seen countless guards in that corridor earlier? Looking down at my wet dress, I continued to hesitate.
It wouldn’t do to cause a scene with so many onlookers outside.
Calysion quickly read my hesitation.
“The guards in this palace have neither eyes nor ears. But if you’re uncomfortable, I’ll have them withdraw for a while.”
Yes! Yes! Yes!
“R-really… would that be all right?”
