TCBUP 55

Chapter 55

 Bath

“No.”

“Woof woof!”

Leonardo rubbed his head against Leon’s leg.

Leon glanced down at him, the corners of his lips faintly curving under the pale moonlight.

“Leonardo.”

Panting, Leonardo circled around Leon, drawing his attention, and then rose up on his front legs to greet him.

When Leon knelt on one knee, Leonardo immediately began licking his face.

“You brought him?”

Leon asked while roughly ruffling Leonardo’s head.

I sat down across from him, with Leonardo between us, and joined in petting him.

“Yes. I felt bad seeing him alone.”

“You managed to bring him? He doesn’t follow anyone else.”

“It wasn’t easy.”

“I’ve been thinking about him. Thanks.”

“You’re welcome. And to answer your earlier question—what made me late was bringing him along when he doesn’t follow others.”

“…”

Leonardo still between us, Leon got to his feet.

Moving with the ease of someone who had done it countless times, he lit the lamp and turned back to me.

“Siena, you…”

Leon’s eyes traveled up and down my figure, as if at a loss for words.

That’s when I remembered I was a complete mess. Embarrassed, I tried to fix my hair and brush the dirt off my skirt.

“Ah, I tumbled around catching Leonardo…”

“To the point of getting hurt like this?”

Leon strode over in long steps.

He grabbed my arm to check the injuries, his brows drawing together.

It was only then I noticed the scratches scattered along my arms under the short sleeves.

“Where did you get these?”

“I told you, I had a hard time catching Leonardo because he’s wary of strangers.”

His grip on my arm tightened.

Seeing he didn’t believe me, I hurried to add,

“It’s true. Leonardo was living in the Empress’s palace. It’s a closed-off place and dark, and to make it worse, the sun was setting so I couldn’t see well. That’s why I got scratched and tripped. Several times.”

“…”

“It’s nothing. These will heal quickly. I’m sure Joshua would say the same.”

Compared to the fear I’d felt there, these injuries were nothing.

Though I was startled to see them clearly in the light now, honestly, at the time I hadn’t even felt the pain.

“Fine, I understand. But Siena—don’t do reckless things when I’m not around.”

“Yes, I’ll be careful.”

“And don’t get hurt.”

For a moment, I wanted to ask—

Was it because if I got hurt, it would interfere with the Duke of Ortiz’s request?

“Do you understand?”

But Leon pressed for an answer, and I missed the chance to ask.

“Yes, Your Highness. I’ll try.”

“I told you not to call me that.”

“Oh, right. If it becomes a habit, I might slip without realizing.”

“…”

“I’ll be careful.”

Then… what should I call him?

I guess just Leon. After all, he lives as “Leon” most of the time outside the palace.

“Then, Leon. Outside the palace, you’re Leon, right?”

A name I used to say so casually suddenly felt unfamiliar.

Until now, I simply hadn’t known—but he’d always been both Leon and Aiden. Now that I knew the truth, calling him that felt oddly thrilling, like I was doing something I shouldn’t.

“Since you’re here, could I ask you a favor? It’s late, but…”

“What is it?”

“I need to bathe Leonardo. Can you help me?”

If I was going to have him sleep in my room starting tonight, I had to wash him first.

But judging from his size, there was no way I could manage alone.

I was too weak to even hold the leash properly when he resisted.

“Isn’t that too rude a request for a prince?”

“Of course not. Leonardo belonged to my parents. I’m already grateful you took care of him, so I’ll gladly help.”

“Ah! You’re getting me all wet!”

“Scold Leonardo. I can’t help it if he keeps squirming—hey, stay still, you rascal.”

Even grumbling, Leon was smiling.

With a broad-shouldered man and a dog bigger than me crammed together, the bathroom felt much smaller than when I used it alone.

“How much did you roll around in the dirt?”

He muttered as he worked up a thick lather and rubbed it into Leonardo’s fur.

Considering he’d been rolling on the grass and living in the dusty Empress’s palace, it made sense.

I suddenly felt bad that it seemed like I was blaming Leon, so I quickly added,

“I’m not blaming you, Your Highness.”

“There it is again—Your Highness?”

“Caring for Leonardo isn’t Leon’s job—it’s Prince Aiden’s.”

“Ah, I see.”

“I’m actually pretty good at keeping them separate. So you don’t need to worry about me slipping up. Oh, this part’s tangled.”

It took a while to gently work through his curly fur without hurting him.

After that, we had to rinse him multiple times to get all the dirt and loose fur out.

The thick foam turned gray as it rinsed away, and when I poured clean water over him again, Leonardo shook himself in displeasure.

“Ah! Leonardo!”

Another spray of water.

At this point my hair and clothes were completely soaked, so I just plopped down on the bathroom floor.

If anyone saw me, they’d probably scold me for being unladylike—but I couldn’t care less right now.

The way his fur became smooth and silky as we washed him was too satisfying.

“Some prince you are now, huh?”

Leon was a mess too.

When he’d walked in, his hair was neatly combed back. Now it was soaked, falling into his face.

His black shirt clung damply to his frame, covered in Leonardo’s fur—completely unwearable.

“What will you do without a change of clothes?”

“I’ll just dry off. It’s summer.”

Pushing the wet bangs from his eyes, he casually unbuttoned the top couple of buttons.

Since we’d used warm water so Leonardo wouldn’t catch a cold, the heat was probably getting to him.

When I picked up the wide-toothed comb again, Leonardo whimpered and wriggled.

“Leonardo, we have to do this, or you’ll stay uncomfortable.”

“Whine, whimper, woof!”

“Sit, Leonardo.”

I raised my hand sternly to stop him, but it didn’t work.

His big body tensed, ready to bolt out of the bathroom.

Ugh, this is exhausting. If holding him still is this hard, what will I do later?

“Sit.”

Ignoring me completely earlier, Leonardo plopped his butt down the moment Leon spoke.

Playing favorites, huh?

Sure, Leon had been family to him for years, but now I was your mom, so couldn’t you at least pretend to listen to me?

“Let’s finish this in one go, Leonardo. Ready?”

“Woof!”

“Good.”

Leon’s hands moved faster as he scrubbed Leonardo.

The muscles in his forearms stood out under his rolled-up sleeves, and Leonardo’s once-dirty fur turned snowy white.

“You’ve grown a lot, little guy.”

Once a tiny puppy that used to run around without knowing front from back…

It didn’t sound like he was talking to me or Leonardo.

More like he was lost in a memory, judging by the faint smile that appeared every time Leonardo licked his chin.

“Siena. Towel.”

“Oh, right.”

I pulled out the biggest towel I had and handed it to him.

Leon draped it over Leonardo’s head and gave him a playful shake.

Thinking it was a game, Leonardo jumped up on his front legs and bolted out of the bathroom.

“No, Leonardo!”

If he ran around the house like that, it would be a flood!

I was about to chase after him when my foot slipped on the soapy floor.

“Ah!”

Before I could hit the ground, Leon caught me in both arms, looking down at me upside-down.

“You really…”

“H-ha ha.”

“Can’t take my eyes off you for a second.”

He set me back on my feet and leaned against the bathroom doorway.

“Finish washing up. I’ll take care of Leonardo.”

“But…”

“You’re not much different from him right now.”

Ah. True—I’d rolled around in the grass and dust with him.

When I squeezed my skirt hem, water streamed out.

How ungraceful.

“And… change your clothes quickly.”

With that, Leon turned and left in a hurry.

What’s he embarrassed about? Doesn’t suit him.

I closed the bathroom door, but the mirror in front of me reflected my image.

“….”

Oh no. I looked worse than I thought.

The white blouse and pale blue skirt I’d worn carefully for entering the palace were torn and scratched in several places, smeared with dust and soot.

And now they were wet, clinging to me—clinging…

“Aaah, I can’t!”

I wrapped my arms around my chest and sank to the floor.

Did he see? He must have. No—he definitely did.

I’d shown him plenty of unladylike sides before, but this… this was too much.

I ruffled my already messy hair into a complete disaster.

Now, staring back from the mirror, I really did look like a crazy woman.