Moonlit Bath and the Duke's Gates
“I need to wash up once.”
Esilla's words were more declaration than suggestion.
She grabbed my wrist roughly before I could even respond, yanking me along.
“H-Hey, wait a sec! Wash up? Here? At night?”
“There's a stream nearby. I can hear the water, so it shouldn't be far.”
“No, even so, outdoors is kinda...”
“Then do you plan to sit in front of me reeking of blood all the way to the ducal lands?”
I protested as she dragged me out.
“No, but I don't even have a change of clothes!”
“There are spares in the carriage luggage. I'll fetch them.”
“What about a towel? Soap?”
“Everything's covered. Most of it can be handled with military supplies.”
Her response left me speechless.
We pushed through the bushes toward the sound of water.
Soon, a clearing opened up between the trees—a small stream sparkling silver under the moonlight.
It was only waist-deep at most, but the water was so clear I could see the bottom.
“We're here.”
Esilla released my wrist and scanned the surroundings.
“No signs of life nearby. It's safe.”
“Y-Yeah... safe, sure.”
I hesitated at the water's edge.
The night air was chilly, and dipping my fingers in felt like ice.
“It's too cold! I'll catch a cold like this.”
“Don't whine over something like this, my lady.”
Esilla set the bundle down on a rock.
“Now, undress.”
“Huh?”
“You have to take your clothes off to wash, don't you?”
She crossed her arms, staring as if it were the most obvious thing.
Her gaze was so bold that I felt like the weird one for being embarrassed.
I instinctively pressed my thighs together.
“No... that's true, but...”
Undressing with someone watching was mortifying.
Especially with this body.
“Shall I undress you myself?”
Her eyes roamed over my clothes.
“No... I'll do it.”
I fumbled with the buttons, hesitating. My fingers wouldn't cooperate—maybe from nerves, or the cold.
As I dawdled, Esilla sighed and stepped closer.
“If it's too hard, I'll help.”
“Eek! No! I can do it myself!”
I recoiled in panic, but she didn't stop.
“Stay still.”
Her hand reached for the buttons on my dress.
Pop.
One button undone.
“Stay still.”
Her voice was low and commanding; I froze like ice.
Pop, click.
With each button, my heartbeat thundered louder.
The dress slid down to my feet.
Cold night air prickled my bare skin, raising goosebumps—but where her gaze touched, it burned hot.
I turned my head in shame, but that didn't put any distance between us; her breath was still close.
Now, only a thin slip of underwear covered me.
“Th-the underwear... I don't have to take that off, right...?”
I asked, arms shielding as much exposed flesh as possible. Esilla eyed me up and down.
“Doesn't matter. It'll get wet either way.”
“What?”
“Get in.”
I couldn't withstand her stare and plunged into the water.
Splash!
Ice-cold water rose to my waist. The thin fabric clung instantly to my skin.
“Hah... so cold...”
Standing in winter water was insane.
My body shivered uncontrollably.
Then—
Splash. Splash.
Water parted behind me.
Turning, I saw Esilla entering the stream, armor shed, in a thin white shirt and pants.
The soaked shirt plastered to her body, revealing every curve starkly.
“Y-You're washing too?”
“If I left you alone, you'd just splash and bail.”
She nailed it.
I'd planned a quick rinse and out.
She approached with hands full of soap suds, her face annoyed and disgusted, but her eyes intense.
“Turn around.”
No chance to refuse—she spun me.
Slap.
Her wet-shirt-clad chest pressed against my bare back, clad only in thin underwear.
The squelch of wet fabric on fabric echoed.
In the frigid stream, her body heat was the only warmth.
“Ngh...”
Her hot palms glided from my shoulders down my back, slick with suds.
“Stay still.”
Her hands traced my spine, pressing firmly into the dip of my waist.
The touch over thin fabric felt stranger than bare skin.
“My lady.”
Her lips brushed my ear; hot breath tickled.
“Your body's too frail. It feels like it'd shatter in one grip.”
Her voice mixed contempt and doubt.
“To think this body committed such atrocities. Unbelievable. On the surface, you just seem...”
She trailed off.
Her hands slipped under my arms, reaching around front.
Sudsy fingers rubbed my collarbone, lingering over the soaked, translucent top of my underwear.
“Where do you hide that vicious nature? Under this thin skin... or deeper?”
“Esilla... not there...”
“Still dirty.”
She was resolute. Her fingers scooped water from my collarbone hollow, probing inside the restraint collar around my neck.
“Eek!”
Rough fingers scraped sensitive neck flesh.
She gripped the collar, yanking me back.
My head lolled against her shoulder.
“This collar... suits you perfectly.”
She buried her nose in my nape, inhaling deeply.
Sniff.
“Hey, what the hell...!”
“Checking the smell. If the blood lingers.”
Her wet hair tickled my cheek and neck as she sniffed my scent.
“Still... a bit left.”
She muttered dissatisfied, then turned me to face her.
Moonlight silhouetted her dark face, but her green eyes gleamed fiercely.
Her gaze swept my soaked underwear, clinging fully, outlining flesh and curves.
She herded me toward the rock.
Thud.
My back hit cold stone. No escape.
Esilla wedged her leg between my thighs.
“Ah?”
Firm thigh pressed in, creating pressure.
Wet pants' rough texture grazed my inner thighs' soft skin.
She gripped my chin, tilting it up.
“My lady.”
“Y-Yeah?”
“Looking at you... makes me angry.”
Her thumb rubbed between my chin and lips.
“Having the power of the duke's daughter, yet committing such vile acts.”
Her eyes trailed from my lips to my throat, then to my half-exposed cleavage.
Soon, her hand plunged underwater.
It wrapped my waist, sliding lower. Fingers groped blatantly over thin fabric.
“Esilla, wait, not there...!”
“I said stay still.”
She clamped my waist, pressing her thigh harder between my legs.
I couldn't move. The pressure on my core made my legs buckle.
As her hand crept inward—
Rustle!
A loud noise from the bushes.
“Who's there!”
Esilla's demeanor flipped instantly. The mood shattered like glass.
She snatched her sword from the rock.
“Come out! Hiding won't help!”
Her killing intent made someone burst from the bushes.
“P-Please spare me! I'm just the clueless coachman! Mercy, just my life!”
It was the coachman uncle, hands over his eyes.
I thought he was dead, but he'd fled and survived.
“I saw nothing!”
“...”
“...”
Silence.
Esilla slowly lowered her sword. Her ear tips flushed red.
“Let's go.”
She gruffly handed me a towel.
///
After that night, the four days to the ducal lands were surprisingly peaceful.
The coachman's skill got us there faster than expected.
And finally.
“We've arrived!”
The carriage halted with his shout.
I peered out the window.
Towering walls and beyond them, a grand mansion. An antique castle of black brick.
The main seat of the Bellaph Ducal Residence.