Ch.168Chapter 168

After returning to the palace, Wendigo hid his possessed body in a suitable room and released the possession.

Perhaps due to having moved while possessing a body for quite some time, Wendigo felt rather stiff after returning to his original form.

Staying in one position for too long was just as taxing as putting the body through rigorous activity.

‘…I might as well take a bath while I’m at it.’

Nothing was better than a bath for relaxing both body and mind. Soaking in hot water always made all worries fade away like the flowing water.

When Wendigo opened the door and stepped outside, the servants guarding the door were startled and bowed their heads.

“We didn’t realize Your Majesty had awakened and haven’t prepared a meal. I can send word to have food prepared right away…”

“It’s fine. The timing is awkward, so just have dinner prepared. I plan to wash in the bath, so inform others not to disturb me unless it’s urgent.”

The servant was about to ask about bath attendants but closed his mouth. Through experience, he knew that Wendigo didn’t particularly like such things.

Honestly, considering His Majesty’s build, he thought not one or two but five or six attendants should be assigned…

‘His Majesty is frugal and doesn’t care for such things.’

The servant felt pride in serving such a king, thinking this was another aspect of a wise ruler.

In reality, Wendigo simply found it uncomfortable to be under curious gazes whenever he received bath attendance.

After the servants withdrew, Wendigo made his way forward. After encountering about ten servants, he entered the room with the bath.

Inside the room filled with mild heat, a servant sat at a desk scribbling with a quill pen.

“These new fragrances… why do merchants always send plenty of rose and mint? They might as well make perfume and send that instead.”

“You seem busy. I’d like to use the bath now, if that’s all right?”

“?”

The servant who had been frowning in irritation looked up at the sound of the voice.

Recognizing that a monster—no, the king—was standing before him, the servant was so startled that he flailed his arms and sent the quill pen flying.

The liberated quill pen sliced through the air like a dagger, grazing past Wendigo’s head.

The servant, realizing what he had done, turned pale and tried to kneel…

BANG!

“Ouch!”

Forgetting he was seated in a chair, the servant reflexively tried to kneel and banged his knee against the desk before falling backward.

Wendigo felt a slight guilt, as if he had done something wrong.

“…Are you all right?”

“I-I’m fine! The bath is always kept clean, so please don’t worry. And please forgive my family for the disrespect I just committed!”

When the servant threw himself sideways, kneeled, and begged for forgiveness, Wendigo was taken aback. But he could understand the servant’s feelings.

While he himself could deflect even a decent sword with his skull, for an ordinary person, even a quill pen could be a dangerous weapon capable of leaving wounds.

Moreover, the quill pen the servant had accidentally launched had been quite fierce.

‘…Perhaps a former assassin?’

Though now a pillar of the kingdom of Manheimr, this place had once been where fugitives made their last stand, so it wasn’t impossible.

But Wendigo shook his head with a smirk. The ever-sensible Geron would never employ a former assassin as a servant.

A fallen noble or a noble’s illegitimate child would make a perfectly plausible servant—why bother training someone as hard to find as an assassin?

“It’s fine, just continue with your work. I want to bathe alone, so please inform anyone who comes that I am using the bath.”

“Yes! If anyone dares disturb Your Majesty, I’ll teach them a lesson and send them away!”

Amused by the unexpectedly bold response, Wendigo entered the bath with a faint smile.

The servant crept to the closed door. Hearing water splashing from inside, he finally relaxed and let out a sigh.

He picked up the quill pen he had thrown and examined the nib.

‘As if someone of my caliber could harm His Majesty… still, I’m glad it didn’t hit him.’

They say old habits die hard, and there was truth in that old saying.

The servant righted the fallen chair and sat back in his place. He dipped the unusually shiny tip of the quill in ink and returned to his work diligently.

Someday, he hoped to break this wretched habit and become a new person his family could be proud of.

* * *

Depending on the era, bathhouses might be common, but at least now, they were not.

It was difficult to supply large amounts of hot water, and above all, people didn’t feel the need for bathhouses.

When your body itched, you could simply go to the river, strip naked, and wash—why would you need a bathhouse?

Moreover, if you were lucky, you might even see naked women bathing—so why bother?

‘…Surely that’s not why they have no interest in bathhouses.’

Wendigo chuckled as he washed his body under the flowing hot water. Though he had little interest in power, at times like this, he couldn’t help but think how wonderful power was.

Without power, how could he have built a bathhouse to enjoy whenever he wished?

After washing himself adequately, Wendigo lay down in the tub. He reached out and grabbed a handful of fruit from the cold water prepared beside the bath.

Grapes and pears entered his mouth, releasing their distinctive sweetness and soothing his mind.

“Enjoying cold-chilled fruit in a hot bath… this is luxury.”

Wendigo savored the fruit, uttering words that would have prompted his ministers to show him what real luxury was had they heard him.

He popped a whole grape into his mouth and chewed while thinking.

What was the reason for Elhemina’s visit?

‘It would be convenient to think she visited out of boredom, but Elhemina’s position isn’t insignificant.’

Wendigo rolled the grape in his mouth while speculating on Elhemina’s reason for coming. In truth, there were quite a few possibilities.

Perhaps a high official from the Republic of Elvenheim had sent her to test the waters for some suspicious purpose.

Or maybe there was friction between the people of Manheimr and the elves, and she wanted him to mediate.

Or perhaps she couldn’t contain her desire to marry Dario and had impulsively visited.

Honestly, Wendigo hoped the last guess was correct.

Not because he wanted Dario to be happy. The man could take care of his own happiness.

It was simply because it would be easier to deal with than the first two options. Surely love between a man and woman would be easier to resolve than national issues.

‘But Elhemina isn’t the type to be so impulsive.’

Though she was somewhat of a simpleton when it came to caring for the World Tree, Elhemina was capable enough to command hardened soldiers despite her young age for an elf.

If she hadn’t been capable, the soldiers wouldn’t have followed her orders when they were shipwrecked, so it made sense.

Though somewhat timid, she had a strong sense of responsibility and wasn’t the type to visit for trivial reasons.

Wendigo, who hadn’t anticipated the trouble of dealing with such a capable visitor, scratched his shoulder and grumbled.

“I hope this is an issue that can be resolved quickly.”

Wendigo put the last piece of fruit in his mouth and rose. Having eaten all the fruit from the cold water, it was time to get out.

Wendigo left the bath, hoping it wouldn’t be a major issue.

* * *

“Your Majesty, shall we go meet Elhemina now?”

“……”

Wendigo looked at the dolled-up Dario with disbelief.

He had somehow obtained perfume and applied it, giving off an ill-fitting floral scent that was quite annoying. Even if he was meeting someone he loved, this was still an official matter…

Wendigo considered saying something but decided against it. After all, the man had been kidnapped and betrayed by a friend—he deserved some leniency.

Walking alongside Dario, Wendigo asked a casual question.

“Did you prepare a gift?”

“Honestly, I’d like to give her a gift… but since she’s probably here on official business, I thought it might be inappropriate to present a gift in this situation, so I’ve only been considering it.”

Though he had groomed himself meticulously, Dario’s head wasn’t completely filled with flowers. How could someone who couldn’t distinguish between public and private matters rise to a high position?

Realizing that Dario wasn’t (?) completely blinded by love, Wendigo nodded approvingly.

When they arrived at the reception room, servants bowed respectfully and opened the doors. Wendigo spotted Elhemina drinking tea and greeted her.

“It’s been a while. I’d like to ask if everything’s well, but I assume you’ve come because there’s an issue.”

Elhemina, who had been drinking tea, was slightly startled and hastily put down her cup. She rose and greeted him according to protocol.

“I should have greeted you first, I apologize. The priestess who serves the green-leaved World Tree greets Your Majesty.”

“There’s no need for such formalities when no one’s watching. After all, your allegiance is to the Republic of Elvenheim, and you serve the World Tree.”

When Wendigo dismissed the formalities and treated her casually, Elhemina smiled.

Compared to the old councilors of the Republic who scrutinized every action and word for proper etiquette, Wendigo was a very comfortable superior.

At first, she had thought living in a foreign land would be difficult…

But compared to the Republic’s officials who mentioned bribes or promises to get things done, this was incredibly comfortable.

Above all…

“It’s been a while since I’ve seen you too, Lord Dario, and I’m glad to see you looking well. Was the medicinal herb I gave you helpful?”

With a land containing someone she loved, how could she dislike Manheimr?

When Elhemina asked about the medicinal herb in a bright voice, Dario hastily replied.

“Hahaha, of course. Thanks to you, I was able to survive on the battlefield.”

Being tactful, Dario didn’t mention how the herb was actually used.

Wendigo barely managed to keep his mouth shut despite the temptation. Revealing who actually consumed the herb would create quite an amusing situation, but he didn’t want to earn their resentment.

Wendigo, Dario, and Elhemina enjoyed tea and refreshments while chatting.

As the atmosphere lightened, Dario felt some hope.

‘It seems this isn’t such a serious matter after all…’

Thinking that he might have an opportunity to invite Elhemina for a meal together, Dario’s lips twitched.

People naturally find it harder to hide their expressions around those they care for.

Once the mood had sufficiently relaxed, Wendigo broached the main topic with Elhemina.

“So, what brings you to the palace? It’s nice to chat like this, but you couldn’t have made this journey easily without a reason.”

“Ah, well…”

Elhemina scratched her head with a troubled expression.

But her expression wasn’t dark, so perhaps it wasn’t such a serious problem after all…

“There’s a problem with the World Tree.”

“……”