12
So it seemed Cedric had reached the extreme conclusion that since I didn’t agree with Riette’s words, I must be on his side.
“…Does it really work that way?”
“Of course. You disagree with her, don’t you?”
Cedric, who had somehow become triumphant, said this while glancing at Riette across from him. Riette let out a scoff as if she found it absurd.
“So partners stick up for each other, is that it?”
“That’s right. Eddie is mine.”
Why am I yours, dude.
…I was about to argue with that, but I stopped.
Looking at Cedric, who seemed more excited than usual, I somehow didn’t want to say anything that would kill the mood.
That’s when Riette slouched in her seat and complained.
“Haah, I want to meet my partner soon too.”
The moment the word ‘partner’ came out of her mouth, I unconsciously watched Cedric’s reaction carefully. Cedric, who happened to be looking toward Riette, clicked his tongue quietly.
“That Gareth or Lace guy or whatever.”
“Gareth Leonhardt. Still, he’s your friend’s partner, so you should at least memorize his name out of courtesy.”
“Did you like him that much?”
“Hmm hmm hmm. Curious? Want to hear about it?”
Riette’s expression suddenly changed completely as her eyes sparkled. Cedric made a disgusted face as if he regretted bringing it up, but it was already too late.
Riette began chattering away about what happened that day with Gareth.
Thanks to that, we were forced to listen to someone else’s love story until we asked for a nap midway through.
After riding in the carriage for quite a while like that, by evening we finally arrived at Glis territory.
The coachman and porter who had been sitting in the front seats stopped the carriage and horses at the station, then helped us with our luggage.
‘Ugh. I’m tired.’
It had been a while since I’d ridden in a carriage for so long, so my whole body ached. Still drowsy and half-asleep as I got out of the carriage, I habitually extended my hand to help Riette down.
“Thanks, Eddie.”
Riette must have been tired too, but her smiling face was as bright as the sun as always. I was unconsciously smiling at the pleasant sight when…
I felt someone’s gaze and turned my head…
‘Huh. What, what’s this.’
I was startled when I saw Cedric. He was glaring at me with a deeply somber expression.
He… soon withdrew his gaze. He moved toward the coachman and porter as if he was going to approach them.
“……”
Maybe he wanted to escort Riette himself. Perhaps I had stolen that opportunity from him. I was very bothered by this thought and felt uncomfortable.
“Young masters, miss! We’ll be moving now.”
Just then the coachman and porter called out loudly.
I put my unsettled feelings aside and moved to the inn with the group.
The coachman and porter were guided to regular rooms separate from the other luxury suites, while Riette, Cedric, and I were each guided to luxury rooms.
Since this inn was exclusively for nobles and didn’t serve commoners or tourists, the interior was relatively quiet, and most people passing through the corridors were nobles.
‘The room is clean and nice.’
I looked around the room and unpacked only the necessary luggage in a corner. Since we had to leave first thing tomorrow morning anyway, there was no reason to unpack everything.
As I was taking off my coat and hanging it on the hanger, I heard Riette’s voice through the open door.
“Eddie, let’s go down to the hot springs.”
“Oh, wait a moment. Let me get some clothes.”
“Okay! I’ll call Cedy too.”
Listening to the footsteps fading away, I gathered the items I’d need for bathing and a bathing robe. When I went out to the corridor, I could see Cedric also just coming out of his room following Riette.
“I want to get in quickly.”
“Ret, do you like it that much?”
“Yes! It’s perfect for recovering from fatigue.”
We headed to the hot springs together.
The place we arrived at had baths divided by secondary gender and sex, so Riette, who needed to use the female omega bath, was sent in first.
The male alpha bath existed without any problems too.
The problem was me.
“The beta bath is currently unavailable?”
The beta bath was temporarily closed due to maintenance issues.
“Yes, I’m sorry.”
I guessed it was probably because the proportion of betas among the noble population in the empire was relatively small, so maintenance had been neglected.
“Hmm.”
“I’m truly sorry. You could use the mixed bath or the male bath for other secondary genders if you’d like – what would you prefer?”
“……”
“The mixed bath has too many guests right now, so if you go to the alpha bath with this other young master, it would be safer and better. There’s only one guest who just entered the alpha bath.”
The attendant was subtly recommending the use of the male alpha bath.
Even though I’d go in wearing a robe, going into the mixed bath alone would be awkward, and using the male omega bath seemed like it would make them uncomfortable to share the hot springs with someone of a different secondary gender, even if they were beta, so it was quite an awkward situation.
Since Cedric was there too, the male alpha bath was probably the best option.
“Let’s go in together.”
Perhaps for that reason, Cedric, who had been listening to the conversation with me, pushed my back as I hesitated back and forth.
…Right. It would be sad to be the only one who couldn’t enjoy the hot springs.
In the end, I decided to enter the male alpha bath with Cedric without thinking about it any longer.
“Well then, you two, please enjoy yourselves leisurely! I’m always in the management office, so if anything happens, just press the call bell immediately or speak loudly and I’ll take care of it right away.”
I received the attendant’s polite greeting and entered the changing room with Cedric. As soon as I opened the door, the humid, hot air that seemed to constrict my throat was unfamiliar.
I was about to take off my vest with anticipation when…
“…What are you staring at like that.”
Cedric was staring intently at me.
“Can’t I look?”
“No, you can’t. Why are you watching me undress so shamelessly.”
Suddenly Cedric’s eyes curved into crescents.
“We’re going to see everything once we get in the bath anyway.”
It was mischievous teasing.
…Maybe I should have just said I’d use the mixed bath.
‘Geez.’
Sensing the playfulness in that annoying smile, I got stubborn and quickly took off my vest and pulled off my shirt too. It seemed like he was enjoying me hesitating.
And we’re both men, so what’s the big deal.
With that mindset, I was grabbing my pants when Cedric flinched like a startled person and turned his body away completely. Since he reacted like that, I became embarrassed again too.
“Hey! You said we’d see everything once we got in the bath anyway!”
“We go in wearing robes.”
…That’s, that’s true.
“……”
“……”
We quietly stood with our backs turned, rustling as we changed clothes. The indescribable awkwardness that filled the changing room was suffocating.
After quickly putting on my robe, I quietly looked back. Cedric seemed to be finished dressing too, as he was adjusting his waist tie.
When I silently walked toward the bath first, hearing my footsteps, he followed behind me as if by agreement.
“I guess that’s the entrance door.”
“I suppose so.”
We exchanged words naturally as if nothing had happened.
The door leading to the bath under the stone arch was made of old oak planks. I grabbed the handle of the door with the metal nameplate engraved with bathing rules and pulled it open.
From there, warm humidity spread and enveloped my skin. After passing through the short corridor leading to the bath, the hot spring came into view.
“Wow, it’s spacious.”
“I wonder if the water is very hot?”
“I don’t know. You go in first.”
“You go in first.”
I was having a silly argument with Cedric when I slyly turned my head.
The sight of him loosely wearing a robe felt quite different from usual.
“…Cedy. Haven’t you been to hot springs before either?”
“Yeah. This is my first time coming directly like this too.”
“Really?”
I stepped on the cold stone floor and approached the steaming hot spring. I was crouching down in front of it, about to put my hand in the water, when…
“Oh? How nice to meet you here.”
At the unfamiliar voice that sounded nearby, echoing as if filled with moisture, I quickly turned my head. I could see drooping red hair through the steam. There was supposed to be one guest who had entered before us, and this must be that person.
But…
“Whoa!”
The moment the figure who was slowly tilting his head at us appeared clearly as the steam thinned, I was completely startled.
That face was quite familiar.
“Prince Castian Your Highness….”
Red hair glistening wet and intense golden eyes positioned beneath it.
He was one of the legitimate sons who was a spitting image of the Nemad Empire’s emperor, and Prince Castian, the famous 2nd Prince who had voluntarily renounced his succession rights.
Author: Hyacinthus B
Hyacinthus
