Chapter 49: Bath Time
by rosalie“Could we bathe together today?”
I couldn’t say no.
Sweat trickled down from his forehead, across his cheeks, and beneath his chin.
‘Is the curse’s pain acting up?’
But it’s still evening?
Remembering our first night, I couldn’t easily refuse.
How did he manage to hide his pain from me before?
Eventually, bath preparations were made in my bathroom, which was larger than the one in his room.
Rosetta seemed to want to say something with her flushed, excited face, but Maya must have told her to keep quiet, as she just grinned without saying much.
I entered the bathroom wearing a bath robe, holding my fluttering chest. Hot steam made the bathroom hazy.
Xavier was in the round bathtub, wearing a white robe.
His damp upper body turned toward me. His closed eyelids slowly opened, and teal eyes gazed at me.
“You came.”
“…Yes.”
“Don’t be afraid. Just stay by my side.”
I slowly nodded and carefully stepped into the bathtub water. I sat down next to Xavier, maintaining a proper distance.
The appropriately heated water rippled up to my chest with buoyancy.
He closed his eyes again.
“Are you in pain?”
“It started early suddenly. Perhaps using the portal disrupted the flow inside my body.”
His fine, straight forehead wrinkled. His tightly closed lips twisted. He was clearly trying not to groan to avoid worrying me.
“Clenching like that will damage your teeth.”
His eyes looking at me were bloodshot. How much pain and suffering must he be in.
“Don’t hold it in. I’ll help you.”
Without thinking, I placed my hand on Xavier’s face. His skin was slick with moisture.
“Yuria?”
His eyes widened. Teal eyes as cute as Kiki’s.
“A contract is a contract.”
I turned my head and slowly captured his lips. Then I climbed onto his thighs.
“?”
Xavier’s pupils gradually dilated. I watched his reaction as I pulled away from the kiss.
“I’ll help make the pain go away.”
I could feel Xavier’s heart pounding beneath his robe, beating as fast as my own racing heart.
I pulled at his attractive lower lip to part it and kissed him. I was the one who invaded Xavier first. For a very long time, I explored and tasted him as much as I could.
A bright golden light appeared and disappeared repeatedly on my back. I could feel his body tensing and trembling. I felt a strangely thrilling sense of conquest.
I pulled away and smiled while meeting his eyes. Xavier, who was examining my face with dazed eyes, said,
“Now I see you’re a dangerous woman.”
His voice was much more relaxed. His cold sweat had decreased too.
“What do you mean?”
“Doing this makes me feel too good. Makes me want to try other things.”
He kissed my lips again. I pushed his forehead back with my finger and firmly stated,
“Don’t even dream about it.”
“Hah, how cruel.”
I quickly got off his body and said,
“Hurry and finish washing. I need to wash too.”
“That’s even more cruel.”
Xavier, with drooping eyebrows, watched me getting out of the tub and said,
“Xavier, I’m hungry.”
That was the truth.
At my words, Xavier burst out laughing, and I had to quickly leave the bathroom with a reddened face.
*
After enjoying dinner, Xavier and I headed to our respective rooms. Fortunately, Xavier said he didn’t think he would be in pain anymore tonight and escorted me to my door.
“Good night, wife.”
“Ugh, I’m still not used to being called ‘wife.'”
“I quite like it though.”
As I was rubbing away the goosebumps on my arm, Xavier asked,
“Won’t you call me ‘honey’?”
“Honey?”
“I’ll give you something in return.”
“What something?”
With a playful face, he looked at me and kissed my forehead.
“This is a goodnight peck.”
“What if someone sees?”
I quickly looked both ways down the corridor.
‘Thank goodness. No one’s here.’
“There’s no one here.”
“Well, that’s true, but…”
And once again his lips landed on mine. He gently parted my lips to breathe in, then pulled away with a languid expression.
“This is a goodnight kiss.”
“Ah, okay, good night… honey.”
I called him reluctantly with a bright red face.
“Hehe, that sounds nice. Call me that often from now on.”
He really likes it that much?
This person is quite particular about titles.
Looking up at him as he stroked my head, I asked,
“Will you really be okay? What if the pain comes back at night?”
“Yes, it all went away thanks to my wife’s enthusiastic attitude earlier.”
Ah.
The expression ‘face about to explode’ fits perfectly.
Xavier burst out laughing, then grabbed my shoulders and turned me toward the door. He personally grabbed the handle and opened the door for me.
“You must be tired, go rest.”
And he even kindly pushed me into the room by my back.
“Xavier?”
The door was already closed. The last thing I saw was his handsome face quickly passing through the gap in the door.
Will he be okay?
I stood blankly in front of the door for a moment, but being tired, I got into bed. Being full and warm made me drowsy and I dozed off.
Some unknown time later…
“Mmm.”
It feels damp and heavy.
I woke up in the hours before dawn in the morning. Despite the spacious bed, it felt strangely narrow and stuffy. Something tickling my cheek was also bothering me.
When I opened my reluctant eyes with furrowed brows, I froze in my lying position from surprise.
Xavier was sleeping while holding me, his black hair completely damp.
“I was worried. You came to find me because you were in pain.”
“Mmm, Yuria.”
I smiled at him calling my name in his sleep.
I slowly lowered my hands that had been awkwardly held away to avoid touching his body. His firm muscles could be felt at my fingertips.
A smile spread across his face as I hugged his back.
“Sleep more, husband.”
*
Berg, where the compensation negotiation meeting would be held, was a neutral city-state far from both the Empire and the Beast Kingdom.
It would take five days by carriage.
The Auguste household had been busy for days preparing for the 5-day schedule. The servants were busy with long journey preparations, and my maids were no different.
But honestly, I didn’t want to go!
“Ah, 5 days? Should I not go?”
“Oh my, Madam. What are you saying? The Duke said you must come along.”
“……”
That charging thing again.
Since Pope Melvin is coming this time too, I’ll make sure to ask!
I looked at Maya with the most pitiful expression I could manage.
“Can’t I just stay home and relax?”
“No way. They say husband and wife should be one in mind and body.”
“You mean like soulmates?”
“Ah, yes! That’s it!”
“Maya, you’re the same age as me but you talk like an old lady?”
“Old lady? I’m just mature. Madam is the immature one.”
Huk, there it is again. Straightforward Maya.
“I hate you.”
“Puhehe.”
Rosetta holds her stomach laughing beside us.
Tch.
“Rosetta, what’s so funny?”
“You’re both so cute. By the way, this is my first time going to Berg so I’m very excited. I heard the scenery is so beautiful? There’s a bridge over a big stream, and a large castle where the princess lives.”
“I see.”
“Madam, don’t be so down. We’ll go camping on the way, grill meat over charcoal, listen to insects chirping. Won’t that be nice?”
“Ah, meat?”
I didn’t like the insects, but that part caught my attention.
Right, they say meat is the answer when you’re feeling down. I’ll eat tons of meat on the way.
“Rosetta, tell the chef to load up some pork belly.”
“Yes.”
“From Pork Valley.”
*
“Hm hm hmm, ho ho hong.”
Rosetta came down to the kitchen humming a tune. She was on her way to deliver Madam Yuria’s order to load up lots of pork belly.
That’s when her cheerful humming abruptly stopped.
They say you meet your enemy on a narrow bridge. She ran right into Margaret, the new maid, at the kitchen entrance.
Margaret was just coming out of the kitchen, chatting pleasantly with what appeared to be a senior kitchen maid.
They must have gotten close, as Margaret waved goodbye to the senior maid before turning her attention to Rosetta.
Unlike last time when she had tucked her tail and run away, now she approached Rosetta with a confident smile and greeted her first.
“Good morning, Miss Rosetta.”
“Yeah.”
Rosetta’s dark eyes quickly scanned Margaret from crown to toe. Margaret had a basket at her side.
“What’s that?”
“The chef asked me to prepare vegetables needed for the long journey.”
“Hmm, our Madam doesn’t like greens though.”
“The Duke said they must be included.”
“That’s true.”
Rosetta peered into the basket full of garden vegetables. Though suspicious, without proper knowledge they all looked like the same greens to her.
Margaret bowed her head submissively in greeting.
“By the way, aren’t you coming?”
“No. Since I’m still in training, I won’t be joining this trip.”
Margaret’s appearance as she waited quietly for a response with her head slightly bowed was the very picture of an innocent young girl.
But Rosetta was bothered by this girl who General Jude had brought, especially after testing her about being ‘low-born’ before.
‘Hmm, nothing seems off… but something doesn’t feel right.’
Rosetta watched Margaret swallow as she looked at her, then waved her hand.
“You may go.”
Rosetta watched Margaret until she hurried back to her quarters.
That retreating figure was truly suspicious.