episode_0089

“Oh. I’m so full?”

I had to go through a lot of suffering trying to eat all the food piled up on my plate.

I was able to empty the bowl by giving it to Mr. Lendler, who was looking sad.

Of course, it was a happy humiliation in the midst of a feast of exquisite flavors.

And we also had a warm time together over dinner.

[Thank you for enjoying the meal.]

“You can’t help but enjoy it, right? Even if you search the entire continent, there’s no other Grand Duchess with such great cooking skills than Grand Duchess Lumiang Winterfell. Hehe.”

[Ariel, if it’s okay, could you be more comfortable with me? Erincia.]

At Lumiang’s words, Ariel looked at me.

During my time at the Academy, I looked surprised at the name that reminded me of the oath that everyone is equal in learning.

To him, I nodded with a pleased smile.

If I treat Lumiang comfortably as Erincia, but my friend Ariel treats her with difficulty as an archduchess, isn’t that no different from a young girl who got caught up in the crowd twisting her family tree?

I had no intention of becoming an uncomfortable link, and for me, who was not bound by status or class, it was more comfortable in many ways to share flexible friendship and warmth with the members of the culinary expedition than to observe rigid formality and etiquette.

Of course, we don’t know yet whether or not Lumiang will travel around the country with us.

I thought it was some inexplicable delusion that the opaque crossroads would not be decided by the Archduke of Winterfell.

“Okay! Erincia.”

anyway.

Ariel responded to Lumiang’s request with a bright smile.

[Also, if you like, you can treat me comfortably, butler Rendler and Lady Rachel. I don’t want to be treated like that by those who are righteous.]

“Hehehe. I think this might be the hardest request I’ve ever made in my life as a butler, but since it’s the Archduchess’ will, I’ll try my best.”

The old man answered with a hearty laugh.

“… I never really thought of myself as a righteous person. I just followed the will of Prince Elden.”

Rachel’s eyes were filled with a look of restraint, indicating her intention to refuse.

I guess I understood because the gap in status was so big.

In a society with strict class systems, it would be almost a miracle for a princess and a commoner to live without formality.

It was a bit disappointing, but I thought that time would solve the problem.

Because I know that even though he always acts cold on the outside, he is a warm person on the inside.

“Thank you for the delicious meal. Erincia.”

The sumptuous dinner was over, and after everyone cleaned up, they each went their own way to spend the night.

I am.

with a plop!

I threw myself into the hot spring to enjoy the bath again.

It’s a hot spring that you never know when you’ll see again.

I’m planning to head straight to Daegongryeong tomorrow morning after breakfast, so this late-night hot spring bath will be my last.

Also, hot springs are said to be good for digestion, so for me, whose stomach was bloated from overeating, it was like killing two birds with one stone.

The fantastic night view created by the stars in the night sky is so beautiful that it is almost miraculous, and it is no exaggeration to call it a paradise on earth.

I was enjoying the warmth of that wonderful night with my whole body when I heard footsteps behind me.

Towards the end of dinner, I asked if anyone wanted to take a hot spring bath.

I asked with the intention of making concessions if there were any, but no one was willing to do so.

That’s why.

I warmed up the mana in my danjeon and created an appropriate amount of tension.

There’s no harm in being careful.

Of course, I was embarrassed to say that I was nervous, but the owner of the footsteps was familiar.

no.

He was so familiar that I could picture him clearly even with my eyes closed.

“Ariel… ?”

Ariel approaches, timidly, with a towel wrapped around her naked body.

Ariel, who had never shown any skin other than her neck, face, and hands for six months and who was always conservative and shy about relationships with the opposite sex and sexual ideas, appeared with only a towel covering her body.

And Ariel’s slender arms and smooth legs, which we see for the first time, are, as expected, so pure that even in the moonlight they boast a pure white glow.

The bright red face stood out considerably against the pale glow.

Ariel approached me, hesitating and timidly, one step at a time, and called me with a shy face.

“I…Elden?”

“Huh?”

“If it’s okay… By any chance, can I, can I come in too…?”

I couldn’t help but be taken aback by Ariel’s appearance, who clearly said she had no intention of enjoying the hot springs, and people who are taken aback tend to have short thoughts.

So I agreed without thinking much about it.

Although it was an unexpected situation, there was no reason to refuse the invitation of a noble person like Ariel.

“Well. I’m fine… .”

“Thank you. Then… .”

Ariel carefully begins to dip her toes into the hot spring.

The problem arose shortly thereafter.

“Ah.”

this.

By the way, I’m not wearing anything right now because no one is going to bathe in the hot springs.

ah.

**

Swish.

Ariel, who had melted into the water, sat opposite Elden, looking down at the rippling water surface.

Towards the end of dinner, Elden asked if anyone wanted to take a hot spring bath, and I said no, I didn’t have any particular plans.

but.

《If no one else can do it, I will?》

My ears perked up at Elden’s words.

Of course, I didn’t show it.

Ariel came into the room as soon as dinner was finished and picked up a towel.

Originally, I should have been sitting at my desk and writing Elden’s biography, but once the battle with Rachel began, I couldn’t let the opportunity to get closer to Elden pass me by.

Fortunately(?), the enemy didn’t show any particular movements after entering the room.

Sigh.

Sssssut.

Ariel quickly arrived at the empty room next to the back door, holding a towel in her arms, as if she was looking at someone.

Her actions of trying to take off her clothes suddenly freeze like ice.

The reason why I, who used to think that mixed bathing was only allowed between married couples, and even if I were to give them as much leeway as possible, it was only allowed between lovers who had promised to have a future together, was because I now thought it was strange that I was taking off my clothes without any hesitation.

‘… I think I’m crazy.’

I spent my entire life without any interaction with the opposite sex.

Why did I, a man who had neither interest nor curiosity, commit impulsive acts to the point of betraying even my beliefs?

I don’t know if it was bravery born of ignorance or recklessness, but what is clear is that she was determined to reveal even a single bit of skin that she had been ashamed of and had hidden.

The desire to get what you want is sprouting and spreading its branches.

That’s why.

Hurling!

Ariel boldly took off her clothes and wrapped her body in a towel.

I was shaking and nervous.

Her collarbone was exposed and her thighs were exposed.

I thought my body was thin compared to Rachel’s, but I felt like I had exposed a sensitive part of my body and I was so embarrassed.

I feel like I want to get dressed again right now, go back to my room, turn the blanket over my head, and kick it away.

“After.”

Ariel tries to calm down by taking deep breaths.

It is impossible to break a branch that has already spread out.

It will stretch and stretch, and at the end it will bear fruit.

Ariel, who had made that resolution, opened the backyard door and went out, and with a staggering gait, she reached the hot springs and sat down across from Elden.

Elden did that the other day.

Well begun is half done.

It was hard to get here, and I haven’t accomplished much yet, but just like Elden said, I feel like I’ve made strides toward something.

A feeling that is good, yet scary, trembling, nervous, and excited.

It was a feeling she was experiencing for the first time, and she wanted to keep the momentum going and get a little closer to Elden, but Ariel, who didn’t know what to do for the time being, just stared at the moon above the water.

‘What should I bring up… . Ah.’

Ariel, who had been pondering, raised her head.

As usual, I was going to start by talking about writing… .

Island.

I had to turn my head to the side because of the creepy feeling on my shoulder.

Digging.

Digging.

I could see a frog sitting on my shoulder and croaking.

Two huge eyes that seem ready to pop out look at you.

Slippery toes wiggle as they rest on my shoulder.

Of all the amphibians, a frog that Ariel absolutely hates climbed onto her shoulder, and a little while later.

“Gyaaak—!!”

A scream echoes throughout the backyard.

**

Daughter.

Meanwhile, Rachel, who had been checking on Ariel through the crack in the door, leaves the room, looks around, then carefully opens Ariel’s door and goes in.

It was a strategy to make up for the shortcomings felt in the first battle.

After a while.

“… Is this it?”

The script for Elden’s life that Ariel was writing comes into Rachel’s sight.

Even the detailed information about my beloved disciple was meticulously organized.

“… .”

Each of their nights were deepening like that.