Princess, This is My Bed
Asella von Württemberg was sleeping peacefully in my arms under the blankets. Hmm, what the hell was this situation? My last memory was running with Asella and driving off the assassin. My head felt clear, so I must have slept deeply thanks to passing out.
“Princess?”
I called out tentatively, but there was no response. She seemed genuinely asleep. Wait, what? My body was clean, and I'd been changed into fresh clothes. The maids must have wiped me down. Asella was wearing pajamas—same design as the ones I'd seen during her X-ray exam, but black. But why was she in my bed? In my room?
“Princess.”
Still just soft, steady breathing from Asella.
“Hey, Asella.”
...She was really out. Thank goodness. If she'd been awake, I might've been hauled off for lèse-majesté.
As I observed Asella with her face buried against my chest, a strange impulse began to bubble up.
Comparing Neria and Asella's cheeks—which one's softer?
Even as her personal physician, I couldn't just touch her body needlessly. Only the parts required for an exam, strictly for professional reasons. It was also true that in ten years, Asella would be slim from head to toe, so there'd be no other chance to check.
Let's see.
I gently brushed the back of my hand against her cheek. She turned her head slightly, but no big reaction.
...Deep sleeper, huh? I hadn't done a sleep study, so I didn't know her habits.
Just a little more.
I ran my thumb over her cheek. The texture was similar to Neria's—like a luxury linen balloon stuffed full of flour. I gently pinched it fuller with my index finger too.
...Hmm. Comparison complete. Cushioning was way better on Neria. Still, the cool skin and how it molded to whatever shape I wanted had this weirdly addictive quality.
“Ung.”
Asella, sensing discomfort, buried her face completely into my chest. I nearly jumped. Thought I'd been caught.
Gazing at the back of her head—like she was digging a burrow for food—her protruding ear caught my eye next. Looked soft too.
The moment I lightly stroked her earlobe.
“Hiyak!”
With a bizarre yelp, Asella shrugged her shoulders sharply and clamped down on my side like she was pinching it.
Ow.
“Princess? You're awake?”
She was still twitching.
“Muscles don't stay contracted that long in sleep. If you're awake, just say so...”
Only then did Asella lift her tousled head, her brows furrowed deeply like something was seriously bothering her.
“Why'd you wake me.”
“You mistook where you were sleeping.”
“...This is my palace.”
“Fair enough. But did it have to be my bed?”
“...Thought it was Max's room.”
“Max?”
“Yeah. Sheila went off to bathe...”
“Who's Sheila?”
“My doll... You don't need to know!”
Asella threw a tantrum, kicking at the bed with her feet.
“Young master, why're you up so early.”
“I don't sleep long anyway. Though last night felt like a solid rest.”
“...Annoying. Was gonna sneak out before you woke up.”
“What?”
“Shut up.”
I noticed it every day, but Asella was always low-energy in the mornings. Probably her low blood pressure—had to cut her some slack.
“After yesterday, you should rest more, Princess. I'll get a read on the situation and handle it right away.”
As I tried to get up, she suddenly pressed down on my shoulder with her hand.
“You sleep more too.”
“Pardon? But...”
“Sleep.”
“Yes, ma'am.”
Experience told me letting Asella repeat an order three times never ended well. So I lay there with eyes wide open, counting the dots in the ceiling pattern instead.
“I have no face to show you.”
Tanya knelt before me, head bowed low.
“I failed in my duty as your escort knight. I couldn't even stay by your side while you were attacked by that assassin...!”
Tanya was shaking with clenched fists—she clearly felt crushing responsibility for the incident. I'd known it was coming and sent her off anyway. I could handle the assassin solo. Plus, Asella's orders, and catching the culprit was priority.
It was the first time she'd gone full deference like this, so I kinda wanted to tease her a bit.
I pressed an ice pack to my forehead and slumped back in the chair.
“Aigoo, my poor aching body. Captain, you see this wound on the back of my head? Banged it falling yesterday. Ran full tilt—everything hurts.”
“Ugh, all my fault...”
“Got trauma now too. Tremble at the sight of anything sharp and pointy.”
“Seppuku...! I'll atone with seppuku!”
Tanya squeezed her eyes shut and spat it out desperately. Better stop before she actually did it.
“Kidding—I'm fine. You caught the assassin disguised as a servant, right? Good work.”
“But I failed the mission...”
“Asella's orders, so it's fine. Neria's safe too—relief.”
“Huwing, I thought something terrible happened to you, oppa...”
Neria, still shaken from yesterday, kept sniffling into her handkerchief.
“Boris and Bruno got you to the guest quarters fast. Nice job.”
“We were just doing our duty, sir. You went through hell.”
“Should've smashed that assassin's skull.”
Bruno bumped his fists, his thick deltoids bulging menacingly.
“This assassin's a big deal. Infiltrated the palace targeting the duke and princess. Uncover the backer, and it's major merit. I can even guess who.”
“R-Really? Oppa, is the palace always this dangerous? I don't want you getting hurt...”
Neria trailed off. She'd realized being the imperial family's physician wasn't all upsides.
Couldn't quit now, so probably swirling worries.
“Not often—don't worry. I'll coordinate with Asella right away.”
“Yeah... Come back to the mansion sometimes.”
“Next vacation, promise.”
I stroked her head to reassure her. I want to too. But for now, plenty to smash.
“Captain, how long you gonna stay down there?”
Tanya had gone from kowtowing to full prostration. I hauled her up and headed off to examine Asella.
“The one who ordered the hit confessed?”
“Yeah. Some no-name baron who shouldn't even have been invited. Obvious decoy, bought off ahead. Execute him, case closed!”
Bang! Midway through her exam, Asella slammed the table in frustration.
“Don't get mad. Gotta remeasure now.”
“How can I not? We nearly died, and they're saying just roll over for the enemy's ploy.”
Asella clicked her tongue, eyes blazing.
“Two of our knights died. Young master, I show no mercy to enemies. Vengeance—”
“Tenfold, right?”
“How'd you know? Exactly. I'll tear them to shreds.”
Asella vented hard, but yeah, figured. Sometimes anger hits harder when you calmly replay it later in bed. The decoy news was the spark on her already frayed nerves.
She'd probably intuited Earth Palace as the real culprit.
If the duke was the target, other motives tangled in.
Could've been some noble or royal at the party. But Asella's assassins had always been limited to succession rivals so far.
“Can't let it slide. Declaring war on Earth Palace.”
Her heart rate and blood pressure were elevated. Pupils dilated—adrenalin overload.
I stroked her back soothingly.
“Hik, what're you doing?!”
“Bad for your health. Calm down. Remember that breathing technique I taught you?”
“Young master, you gotta vent anger when it counts.”
“Save it for the enemy. Right now, it's all allies around.”
“Allies...”
She took my advice, breathing slowly.
“Stretch too. Head up.”
“Fine. I'll handle it—don't touch me.”
Wasn't she hugging me this morning? Her personal space was weird.
“Need an attachment doll? One's right there.”
I pointed to the doll neatly placed on the bedside table. Asella panicked, licking her lips.
“Uh... young master, that's...”
She scratched her neck, glancing at me, mumbling.
“Doll... yeah. Told you I washed it? Not a lie...”
“Quick dry-clean?”
“Ah, right. Yeah. ...Why's it there!”
Instead of stretching, she hunched her neck and clicked her tongue.
Soon her fury ebbed, but the anger lingered.
“Anyway, it's war. Prep for armed clash with Earth Palace.”
“Not calm enough yet. As princess, you can judge cooler.”
“Defying my order? Can't swallow a preemptive strike.”
“Not defying. But full war—can we beat Earth Palace? They'd crush us with just the 2nd Regiment.”
“...Valid point.”
Asella wasn't bad at math; no comeback.
“Emperor personally closed it with the baron's execution, right? Big enough issue.”
“You're sharp only then. Yeah. He knows it's faction infighting.”
“No punishment?”
“Succession rivals competing? Normal. Assassinations are fair game.”
Normal, huh. Emperor set the norms. Gilded lion's den.
No wonder Asella and rivals built palaces and factions so fiercely. Current emperor had siblings in the palace, but no brothers—purged in succession. Repeating it with his kids.
“From His Majesty's view, exposing faction fight's bad. West duke'd demand reparations.”
“Right. Easier if duke was target—accepted baron as fall guy.”
“Yes. Best to hold back now. Charging in gets us eyed weird by all factions. No justification.”
“So tuck tail?”
Asella was dead serious. Gloss over the dragon incident and this? More hits incoming. Bad endings triggered, Moonlight Palace faction weakens. Time to clear Georg.
“Retaliation yes, Princess. But a way to flip the power gap.”
“How?”
I answered.
“Apply for trial by duel.”