CHAPTER 15………………………………………………
Rosennelli quickly bowed and left the room. Soon after, male staff entered again to attend to Leonhardt. They were startled to see him bare-chested and immediately lowered their gazes.
The boss had clearly left in a foul mood—so why was the Crown Prince half-undressed?
They exchanged glances.
And what’s with his body… is he sick? Some kind of contagious disease?
Leonhardt, noticing their stares, quickly pulled his shirt back on.
“Your Highness, will you return to the hot spring?”
One servant cautiously asked.
For Leonhardt, soaking in hot water was something that should have been absolutely impossible.
But after seeing Rosennelli react with such shock at his lack of bathing habits, he felt something he couldn’t quite explain—half embarrassment, half confusion—and finally nodded.
Slowly, he stepped back into the hot spring.
To his surprise, his body did not melt. It didn’t hurt.
With his clothes off, his skin directly touched the water—and it was supposed to be dangerous, even terrifying. But…
It’s not as bad as I thought. Even this rotten smell… I’m getting used to it.
Normally, he would be working even during rest time. But now, his documents would get wet, so he had no choice but to sit still.
In other words—he was bored.
He could not endure silence. His thoughts grew louder.
He replayed his conversation with Rosennelli. And suddenly, irritation rose for no clear reason.
Something felt unpleasant. Sticky. Irritating.
But he couldn’t identify what exactly it was.
Is this a side effect?
He had suddenly immersed himself in hot water—maybe his body temperature had risen, affecting his brain.
If the brain was affected, emotions would be affected too.
Yes. That must be it.
Otherwise, he would understand his own feelings.
“Hey.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
“I think I’m experiencing side effects. Bring the boss.”
“P-pardon? Yes, Your Highness!”
The servants rushed out in panic.
Side effects of a hot spring? They had never heard of such a thing!
Meanwhile, Rosennelli had returned to her quarters.
She stretched her neck, poured herself a glass of wine, ate a few pieces of cheese, and prepared to soak in the hot spring wearing only a robe.
She felt strangely tired, even though she hadn’t done much.
Something kept nagging at her mind. A feeling she tried to ignore—but that only made her more exhausted.
It was obvious.
It was because of Leonhardt.
After all, a divorced relationship was basically worse than strangers. At least for her, it was.
Seeing him again brought back memories of that day.
“Thank you. For agreeing to the divorce without questions.”
“…There’s no need to thank me.”
“Then… take care of yourself, Leonhardt.”
They had walked down the courthouse steps after their divorce was finalized.
“Are you happy about divorcing me?”
He had asked from behind her.
“Not exactly happy. We just had different goals.”
“What goals?”
“Well… maybe they weren’t that different. I also want an ideal Lobea Empire.”
“Then why—”
“The palace is just too suffocating.”
That was all it was for her.
She only wanted to live somewhere with clean infrastructure and proper water systems.
“…If I had told you that I—no, never mind. Take care of yourself, Rosennelli.”
He had looked like he wanted to say more.
What had he been about to say back then?
Why was she thinking about it now?
Rosennelli shook her head hard like a dog shaking off water and slapped her cheeks lightly.
“Useless thoughts.”
She was finally off duty.
She was about to undo her robe and enter the hot spring when—
“Boss! Boss! His Highness the Crown Prince is requesting you urgently!”
A vein popped on Rosennelli’s forehead.
Just a moment ago she had almost felt something sentimental. But she already knew what this meant.
“What now?!”
She forced a smile, then opened the door.
Back in Room 7.
Leonhardt spoke calmly.
“I was bored.”
“…Excuse me?”
“I said I was bored, so I called you.”
Rosennelli fell silent.
“…Why are you bored?”
“There’s no work.”
“…Did you summon me like I’m here to perform tricks or something?”
“Just… came out of boredom. You may leave.”
Leonhardt waved his hand lazily while sitting in the hot spring.
Rosennelli felt a flicker of anger—but also a strange sense of pity.
He simply didn’t know how to rest.
So used to constant work and war that doing nothing made him uneasy.
“…Before I go.”
“Yes?”
“Are you still the same as before?”
“What do you mean?”
“…Never mind.”
Leonhardt looked strangely disappointed.
Rosennelli tilted her head, but didn’t press further.
“I’ll take my leave then.”
She bowed and left.
Leonhardt frowned as she disappeared.
Does she really not know… or is she pretending not to know?
Rosennelli’s inner thoughts, completely forgotten:
He’s handsome, sure, but not really my type.
I like strong, muscular men. He always looks wrapped in bandages like he’s fragile. Too thin. Like a swaying birch tree.
If anything, I prefer an old, sturdy tree.
Of course, I’m not saying he’s ugly. He’s definitely handsome. Just… only handsome.
Leonhardt sat in the hot water, frowning.
A birch tree… swaying in the wind…?
So that’s what she thought of him?
Somewhere in his mind, an image formed—
himself as a lonely birch tree trembling in winter wind.
And somehow, that felt disturbingly real.
Unlike all the compliments he had ever received—perfect, divine, untouchable—this was something else entirely.
An insult that didn’t even feel like an insult… but still stung.
He exhaled sharply.
The hot spring suddenly felt even hotter.
Like he was sitting inside a furnace.
And for the first time in a long time, Leonhardt felt an overwhelming urge:
He wanted to confront Rosennelli.
About the hot spring.
About her behavior.
About those words.
And most of all—
about why, even after three years, she acted like he was nothing at all.
