CHAPTER 14…………………………………….
That evening, after finishing all her scheduled duties, Rosennelli was about to enjoy her well-earned rest after work.
“Boss… I’m sorry to bother you this late, but you need to come quickly…!”
One of the staff members arrived with a deeply apologetic expression.
“What is it?”
“The His Highness says there’s a problem with the hot springs.”
“The hot springs?”
“He told us to bring the boss immediately….”
The employee trailed off, glancing at her nervously. Rosennelli let out a small sigh and went with him toward the prince’s quarters.
Leonhardt’s lodging, Room 7, consisted of two large spaces. One served as a living room, and the other as a bedroom. Beyond the terrace, the backyard featured three open-air hot springs, spacious enough that they could not be considered smaller than the main bathhouse in the central hall.
All three outdoor baths were set within a garden-style courtyard, designed so they could be enjoyed at any time during a stroll.
It was one of the premium suites Rosennelli had poured her heart into—second only to Room 10, where she herself stayed.
Nobles who stayed here often said they would go to great lengths just to remain long-term.
Rosennelli and the staff arrived at Room 7.
When they entered, Leonhardt was wrapped tightly in layers of clothing, looking frightened, furious, and thoroughly flustered all at once.
“Your Highness, you said there was a problem?”
“There is. Very. Much so.”
The staff all kept their heads bowed, staring at the floor. They had been strictly ordered not to look at the prince’s bare body or even his undressed form, so they had no choice. Even in the palace, no one besides physicians had ever seen Leonhardt without clothing.
“Everyone, step outside.”
At Rosennelli’s words, the staff hesitantly began leaving the room. She turned back to Leonhardt.
“Please tell me what’s uncomfortable. I’ll do everything I can to resolve it.”
“…Th…too…hot…”
“I’m sorry?”
“The water is too hot. I put my foot in and it felt like my skin was melting. If I go in, won’t I melt? Is this some kind of torture?”
“……”
In fact, when the hot springs first opened, many nobles had reacted the same way.
People who barely bathed once a year often thought hot springs were boiling pits from hell.
“And the water color is strange, and the smell is even worse. Isn’t the water rotten?”
“That… is how it naturally is, so please don’t worry. It is indeed hot, but you will not melt. Otherwise, I would not be standing here after going in many times myself.”
Even so, it was somewhat amusing that the prince—such a large, imposing man—was saying such things.
“…Now that you mention it, that makes sense.”
Leonhardt said this, but still frowned and looked down at his reddened foot. He had only dipped it in briefly, yet it had been scalding.
How could such water possibly cure his illness? If anything, it would only make it worse.
“I’m not sure this will actually help my condition.”
He looked at Rosennelli with complete distrust.
Rosennelli stepped closer and stood right in front of him. Leonhardt instinctively leaned back a step, but she suddenly grabbed the front of his clothing near his chest, as if seizing him by the collar.
“What are you doing?”
She had the audacity to grab the prince like that? Was there still resentment from their divorce?
But unlike his surprise, Rosennelli’s eyes were calm. She looked at him silently, then began unbuttoning the collar of his shirt near his collarbone.
Startled, Leonhardt quickly grabbed her wrist.
“What are you doing?”
He had even switched to informal speech, clearly flustered.
Rosennelli simply looked at him again and smiled.
“When entering the water, you should remove those clothes.”
“Why?”
“So the water can directly touch your skin. Surely you haven’t been bathing while fully clothed all this time?”
“Of course I have. The imperial physician strictly instructed me. He said letting water directly touch the body is dangerous.”
It was such a ridiculous statement that Rosennelli pressed her fingers to her temples and shook her head.
“…When was the last time you bathed?”
“Let’s see… two weeks ago?”
“No chance you’ve showered.”
“What is a shower?”
The more he spoke, the more Rosennelli looked exhausted.
And yet… surprisingly, he didn’t smell bad.
She didn’t know whether that was impressive or horrifying.
Leonhardt narrowed his eyes.
“Why are you looking at me like that?”
“Your Highness.”
Rosennelli spoke with unusual seriousness.
“Would you please take off your clothes?”
“…What did you just say?”
“Take them off. I have a hypothesis about your condition, and I need to examine it properly.”
She suspected it was a skin condition—possibly atopic dermatitis. She had suffered from it herself before her reincarnation, so she knew it well.
Leonhardt immediately stepped back.
“How can you ask me to undress?”
“I already told you. I need to confirm your condition.”
“Even so. We are no longer married. We are strangers now.”
As if she didn’t already know that, Rosennelli sighed.
“I have no feelings toward you, so don’t worry and just take them off.”
“What if rumors spread?”
“What rumors? It’s just you and me right now. And seriously—what kind of thoughts do you think I’ll have looking at a man who hasn’t properly bathed in 22 years?”
“Don’t say you don’t want to see it.”
Rosennelli looked at him as if to say: then what are you going to do about it?
“If you’ve come to Rome, follow Roman law. This is my territory—property I purchased directly in this empire. No matter how much you are a prince, here you are only a patient on retreat. And I am the owner. So take it off.”
It was mostly nonsense she was pulling out of nowhere, but her reasoning strangely worked.
Leonhardt frowned.
“Where is this Rome you speak of?”
“It exists. Somewhere in another dimension.”
In the end, Leonhardt had no choice but to remove his upper clothing.
Because, in the end, he had come here to treat his illness.
And strangely, her argument was convincing.
It was the first time he had undressed in front of Rosennelli, and for some reason, he felt a strange sense of shame.
But what felt even more humiliating was that she showed absolutely no embarrassment at all.
As if seeing a man’s body meant nothing to her.
He turned around slowly and began unbuttoning his shirt, taking it off.
“Just as I thought.”
Rosennelli spoke briefly.
She showed no reaction even upon seeing his broad shoulders and muscular back.
Instead, she leaned in close behind him, examining his skin closely.
“How improper for royalty!”
Leonhardt felt mortified.
“Definitely atopic dermatitis. Goodness, you must have been scratching this a lot. Do you ever feel nasal congestion or difficulty breathing? Any wheezing sounds when you breathe?”
Leonhardt looked at her in shock.
Rosennelli nodded slightly, as if confirming her suspicion.
“I see.”
“What exactly do you see?”
“Your condition. Many people have both atopic dermatitis and asthma. It often starts in childhood and doesn’t improve even in adulthood. Stress or overwork makes it worse, right? You also get headaches.”
“No matter how knowledgeable a resort owner you are, are you really comparable to doctors?”
Leonhardt scoffed.
Rosennelli smiled her businesslike smile.
“Then think whatever you like, Your Highness. The one who needs help here is you.”
“If you’re mocking me—”
“Then let the hot water cool down by blowing on it or something.”
“That won’t cool boiling water.”
“Before entering the hot spring, you should wash yourself first. That is basic etiquette. Now that I’ve confirmed there are no other issues, I’ll be leaving.”
