Chapter 23
“Quest! Choose the person you’d like to bathe with.”
▼ Option 1. Clayton
Option 2. Joshua
Option 3. Francis
“Master?”
I froze midair, unable to choose, my finger hovering over nothing.
Joshua looked at me with concern—
While wearing something completely see-through!
“Huh?”
“What’s wrong? You look pale.”
“Yeah, what’s going on, Gracie?”
You! That’s what’s wrong—you, Clayton!
Option 1 is absolutely out of the question! Not him! That chest is too dangerous! That’s an American-sized hazard!
“No… no way… I can’t…!”
“Gracie?”
I have to pick the least threatening person to bathe with!
Option 2! Joshua!
‘Invalid selection.’
‘Invalid selection.’
‘Invalid selection.’
‘Invalid selection.’
‘Invalid selection.’
‘Invalid selection.’
‘Invalid selection.’
‘Invalid selection.’
Oh come on, it’s one of those forced choices again!
Still, no way! Not Clayton! Look at that indecent chest!
My hand kept drifting toward option 1 despite myself, and I had to mentally slap it back into focus as I kept hammering 2 over and over.
‘Invalid selection.’
‘Invalid selection.’
‘Invalid selection.’
“Gracie?”
“D-don’t come any closer!”
The other two at least had the decency to throw on something light, but him?
What’s with that confidence?!
Well… fine, he has the body for it, but still—
“Why are you shirtless?!”
“I’m about to wash. Why?”
He looked at me strangely and then caught my hand.
I knew I should pull away, but his gaze—ugh, those eyes—made it impossible to look anywhere else.
My heart thudded so loud I swore I could hear it.
“Gracie.”
“…What?”
“Let’s bathe together. Hmm?”
He held my hand with one of his, his other brushing against my cheek. My heart nearly leapt out of my chest.
That handsome, dangerous smile—gentle voice, soft tone, and those pleading eyes—my mind went completely blank.
Right. Between him and that, I’ll take number 3!
“Three! Francis! I’ll bathe with Sir Francis!”
“What?”
I hadn’t clicked it, but the words slipped out.
“No.”
“Why not?”
“Absolutely not.”
The gentle smile vanished; his brows furrowed, and his grip tightened.
Weirdly, even when Clayton squeezed hard, it didn’t hurt—it was like he was restraining himself.
And that—made it even scarier.
Because who knew what would happen when that restraint snapped.
“Then all four of us will bathe.”
“Are you insane?!”
“Yeah.”
Wow. He really went nuclear just because I said I wouldn’t bathe with him?!
I should’ve refused, but my eyes kept drifting toward his chest again, my ears burning, face flushed. My thoughts turned fuzzy, my breathing quick. The heat from his hand spread up my arm.
‘There is no option for bathing with all four. Choosing this will trigger an additional quest. ▼’
Ugh. Great.
“If you try bathing with any other man, I’ll kill him.”
“Who? Me?”
“No.”
He didn’t say who, just looked back—Joshua and Francis were standing there, tense and wary.
“Just go.”
“I don’t want to.”
“Then can’t you just behave for once?”
“You’re the one being unreasonable. You’re saying you’ll bathe with another man right in front of me?”
Okay, fair. From Clayton’s perspective, that’s valid. He still has feelings for Princess Gracie.
But that won’t last forever, right?
Once I stopped looking at him, my sanity returned.
Still, I had to keep him here until morning—to clear the quest.
But bathing alone with him… was terrifying.
For me, not him!
I gulped and tapped the arrow.
‘▼Additional quest will be triggered tomorrow morning.’
“Ugh, whatever then.”
When Clayton pulled me close, I didn’t resist.
He was so near our noses almost touched—his eyes were red, like he’d been crying.
“Are you crying?”
“No.”
“Are you upset?”
“Yeah.”
‘Additional quest will proceed with a very angry Adrian Russell.’
…Fantastic. So that’s how they tell me option 3 is off-limits.
“Can I hug you?”
He asked softly. I didn’t answer, just stayed still.
He took that as permission and pulled me into his arms. His breath tickled my shoulder; the warmth of him was dizzying.
“Can you promise not to do anything?”
“What do you mean?”
“I mean, if I say I’ll bathe with you… can you promise not to do anything?”
“…”
Please. Just lie. So I can pick you.
“If not, I’ll go bathe with Francis.”
“…I’ll wear a blindfold.”
“What?”
“I’ll wear one. So it’s fine.”
The room once used by the emperor was, as always, massive—even the attached bath was absurdly huge.
Joshua had gone to his own palace to wash. Francis waited outside, which meant he might overhear us.
I didn’t like that. Who knew what he’d tattletale to my sister.
“Hold my hand.”
“You can walk fine by yourself. Why?”
“I can’t. I’ll trip. I can’t see anything.”
The lie was obvious, but I debated humoring him. The man claiming he’d fall somehow managed to follow perfectly when I sped up.
I tightened my towel; it felt like it could slip at any moment.
“I’m running out of hands here.”
“Then I’ll hold you.”
“No.”
At that, his hand froze midair.
He hesitated, creeping closer—it was so ridiculous I almost laughed.
“I said no.”
“Do you want me to fall?”
“Yes. Hit your head while you’re at it.”
He only had a towel around his waist.
God, he was so indecent. So shameless.
And so dangerously attractive that my heart couldn’t decide if it was anxiety or something else.
“Liar.”
“How do you know I’m lying?”
“I just do.”
Ignoring my protest, he intertwined our fingers.
I thought about shaking him off, but the blindfold seemed secure—his eyes really were covered.
“You really can’t see, right?”
“Mm-hm.”
I waved my hand in front of his face—no reaction. Okay, safe. I turned around—
Splat!
“Huh?”
“Gracie!”
The floor was slippery—I fell.
But nothing hurt. When I opened my eyes, Clayton was beneath me, half his blindfold undone.
“Are you okay?”
“Hey! Close your eyes!”
My towel had nearly slipped, so I hastily clapped both hands over his eyes.
He started to sit up, then stopped, lying still again.
“D-don’t open your eyes!”
“…Okay.”
His warmth covered my hands; he clasped them gently.
I should’ve stood, but couldn’t move.
Between my legs, his chest gleamed with water, every muscle sharply defined, skin taut and flawless.
A droplet slid down his collarbone, across his ribs—utterly mesmerizing.
“Gracie? Are you okay?”
“Huh? Y-yeah! Yeah!”
Panicking, I nearly let go—then realized if I did, he’d see everything.
That sculpted chest rose and fell with each breath, perfect like a marble statue.
Even his Adam’s apple moved elegantly when he swallowed.
No! Get a grip! He’s a devil in disguise!
“I—I’m letting go now, so don’t open your eyes!”
“Don’t worry. I won’t let anything happen that’ll make you regret this.”
He said calmly, squeezed my hands once more, and let go.
I snatched my towel, just as he sat up in one swift motion.
“Gracie.”
And then—he hugged me.
This time, I ended up pinned beneath him.
My pulse went wild; words caught in my throat.
“Gracie…”
His voice was low, rough, brushing my ear and scattering my thoughts.
He pulled me tight, resting his head against my shoulder; his damp hair tickled my skin.
“D-don’t…! S-stop that—ugh!”
He squeezed so tightly it almost hurt.
Then, just as suddenly, he pulled away—
Wrapped my towel properly for me, and stepped back.
“Put the blindfold on me again, Gracie.”
He smiled, handing it over—his heartbeat was loud enough for me to hear it.
That fake-innocent smile fooled no one.
“Come on, put it on.”
“You do it yourself.”
“Please, Gracie.”
I took a deep breath and tied it on for him.
To do it, I had to kneel close—his breath brushed my arm, warm and unsettling.
“Don’t worry,” he murmured, “I won’t do anything you don’t allow.”
Embarrassed he’d noticed my trembling, I hurried to finish and grabbed his hand.
“Come on. Quietly.”
“Mm.”
I led him toward the tub.
“Should I call the maids back in?”
“Why?”
“Otherwise we’ll have to wash each other.”
“You don’t want that?”
“No.”
His lips pressed tight, clearly sulking.
Then he bit the corner of his lip—licked it, slowly.
“Stop that! I said don’t!”
“What?”
Don’t play dumb!
The moisture made his silver hair glisten like spun thread. It was beautiful—so beautiful I almost reached out to touch it. Almost.
“The bath’s right ahead. Careful.”
“What about you?”
“You first.”
For someone supposedly blind, he stepped in confidently. Suspicious.
Still, I didn’t catch him peeking, so maybe he really couldn’t see.
“Don’t get too close to Francis Patel.”
“He can probably hear you, you know.”
“He can’t hear this much.”
He reached out a hand, inviting me in.
I sighed and followed.
Warm water rose to my shoulders as I sat beside him.
Our shoulders touched.
Damn it. My nose burned—I was seconds from a nosebleed.
“Why’d you say that?”
“You’ve been too close to him lately.”
“I’m closer to you right now.”
There’d been a faint clinking sound every time he moved before, but now—nothing.
No metallic noise at all once we entered the bath.
“Clayton.”
“Mm?”
“Do you… maybe have something between your legs?”
Could I really ask that?
“Did you… bring a sword into the bath?”
“Huh?”
“Why do I keep hearing metal noises?”
Perfect save, me. Smooth.
‘Quest! Duke de Lebois’ Secret!’
If you discover what’s hidden between the duke’s legs, your status window will become permanently available!
…What the actual hell kind of quest is that?!
