I Need a Bath
Before Regina had even registered the feel of Conrad’s large hand at the nape of her neck, her feet had already left the ground.
Startled, she braced herself against the table in the reception room and shoved at his shoulder, but he didn’t budge in the slightest.
The papers spread across the tabletop fluttered to the floor, the sharp clatter of writing instruments toppling over echoing through the room, yet the reception room door never opened.
The tongue that had forced its way between her lips moved with shameless familiarity, and his strong hand closed around her waist.
Only when Conrad finally released her mouth, standing between her parted legs, did Regina drag in a ragged breath.
“Haah… haah…”
Unlike the tender kiss from earlier, this one was searingly hot, the heat of it spreading through her entire body. Conrad pressed his mouth firmly against hers, and when he lifted his head, his lips glistened in the sunlight.
Entranced by that wicked sheen, Regina’s fingers tightened. The last of the papers still left on the table crumpled in her grip, and Conrad’s eyes shifted.
By then, Regina had only just managed to steady her breathing. Panting, she whispered, “Why all of a sudden…?”
“You’re hiding something from me.”
At his words, Regina’s body went rigid. It had been a reflex, impossible to conceal.
Conrad felt that response perfectly. He reached out and gently stroked her cheek.
As his face dipped closer, Regina found herself unable to move either forward or back. She wanted to look away, but if she did, she would only deepen his suspicion.
She couldn’t bring herself to say a word until his tightly shut lips parted again.
“Our contract is only just beginning, and if you’re already keeping secrets from me, that’s a problem.”
“Your Majes—”
“And I don’t like it when you call me that just because you’re flustered.”
Had she forgotten that they had agreed to call each other by name when they were alone? Conrad’s low voice brushed against her ear like a whisper.
“I’ll let it go this once. Don’t expect it again.”
At his permission to overlook it once, Regina’s wavering gaze finally settled.
“You said you need a great deal of mana, and I’d love nothing more than to strip that cloth off you right now, but….”
Conrad’s gaze lingered heavily on her, tracing every inch of her with obvious reluctance. Sweeping from the crown of her head to the tips of her toes, he let out a sigh of regret.
“I have another appointment, so I can’t do that just yet.”
The moment he finished speaking, Regina sprang up from the table. She rubbed at the ear he had kissed and smoothed down her rumpled clothes.
“Then you should be on your way, Conrad.”
She had nearly said Your Majesty, but the sparks that flashed in his eyes made her correct herself at once.
His mouth curved upward, as if naming him properly was the right answer.
“Then I’ll come back tonight.”
He cupped her cheek with unexpected gentleness and brushed a light kiss over Regina’s swollen lips.
Once he had left the reception room, the maids came in. Only after returning to the Emperor’s bedroom did Regina finally regain her senses, and she gave them an order.
“I need a bath.”
If she wanted to wash the tangled mess from her mind, the best thing was to soak herself in hot water.
***
“Your Majesty.”
As soon as Conrad stepped out of the reception room, Limutan approached his side.
He had apparently already carried the thick law tomes he’d been holding back to the Emperor’s bedroom, because his hands were now empty.
“Did you confirm it?”
“We confirmed that they left the Imperial Palace immediately.”
Limutan reported on the servants of the Madarin Barony he had been keeping under surveillance.
He added that the whereabouts of the other one were still unknown, and Conrad gave a faint snort.
“It won’t be easy to find out.”
“Pardon?”
Limutan asked again, not quite catching his meaning, but Conrad offered no further explanation.
It’s a group made up of mages. For knights, there are limits to what they can uncover.
Still, if he used the magical tools held by the intelligence guild he had secretly cultivated, perhaps they could pull out a little information.
“No one approached from elsewhere?”
“There were people watching from a distance.”
“Where?”
“The Grand Empress’s Palace and the Crown Prince’s Palace.”
“Hmm.”
So they were in a hurry after all.
Regina’s sudden appearance must have provoked the Grand Empress without question.
“This is getting a little more interesting.”
Though Conrad’s murmured words carried amusement, his eyes were cold as ice. Limutan, sensing the temperature drop around them, rubbed at his arm carefully.
Once the aura of a Swordmaster settled nearby, even the passing servants hunched their shoulders and moved more quickly.
“Keep watching for now.”
“Understood.”
At Conrad’s order to remain vigilant, Limutan bowed.
“And clear my afternoon schedule.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
He had intended to return to his office and keep going through the documents, but he changed his mind. He needed to check the magical tool Regina was hiding.
This was a relationship built on contract. He knew, at least until their needs had been satisfied, neither of them would betray the other.
And yet he couldn’t afford to let his guard down. Distrust was no different from the shackles of the throne.
One could not trust people easily, nor simply take their words at face value. The moment someone looked weak, those waiting to sink their teeth into his back would never stay still.
“Make a copy of the Madarin Barony’s ledgers and bring them to me as well.”
The order came out of nowhere, but Limutan didn’t question it.
After paying his respects and withdrawing, Conrad turned back once more.
***
Regina had been headed for a bath, but she never made it into the bathroom. It was because of a single letter delivered by the Grand Empress’s head maid.
The head maid from the Grand Empress’s Palace had watched Regina carefully, given a perfunctory bow, and then left.
Still as shameless as ever.
Regina muttered inwardly that she disliked the Grand Empress and the people beneath her equally.
At the same time, she sensed instinctively that the head maid of the Grand Empress’s Palace, who so openly borrowed power and flaunted her loyalty, would not live long.
After dismissing the maids with a wave, Regina unfolded the letter and furrowed her brow.
It was an invitation to a tea time at the Grand Empress’s Palace tomorrow, and it insisted she attend without fail.
“Just the two of us? No other noble ladies?”
At Chloe’s letter, saying not to bring anyone else and come alone, Regina couldn’t suppress a snort.
It was so blatant it was almost funny.
Since she can’t tear into the Empress openly in front of the nobility, she’s going to do it where no one can see.
Regina muttered the thought under her breath, her mouth twitching with amusement. Of course, things would not go as Chloe intended.
After spending a while thinking through how she would face this tea time, Regina only pulled the bell cord after some time had passed.
“The bath is ready, Your Majesty.”
As if waiting for her summons, the maids stepped forward and informed her. Regina smiled faintly and allowed herself to be attended as she headed for the bathroom.
***
When Conrad entered his bedroom, the maids waiting with towels and robes lowered themselves at once.
“We greet the highest sword of the Empire.”
“Where is the Empress?”
“Her Majesty entered the bathroom, Your Majesty.”
The maids answered his question immediately. With a light wave of his hand, Conrad sent them away, and they set down what they were carrying before leaving the room.
Thunk—
The heavy bedroom door shut with a deep, resonant sound.
Conrad let out a breath.
To be honest, ever since the Madarin Barony’s retainers had come and gone, something in his chest had been faintly unsettled.
Seeing Regina speaking in private with those Ferman bastards had brought on the absurd thought that she might vanish with them just like that.
It irritated him. Perhaps that might even have been the better choice for Regina.
“How unpleasant.”
In any case, there was nowhere Regina could run within the Fredericks Empire.
Why should she seek help from those bastards when she never asks me for any?
From the beginning, in a relationship formed by contract, neither side could simply escape.
When that thought reached him, he felt reassured, yet his emotions still roiled, and Conrad clenched his fist.
He stripped off his shirt and pushed open the door leading into the bathroom. It swung open soundlessly.
Voices drifted out from inside.
“Would this be enough water, Your Majesty?”
“Yes.”
Along with the splash of water, Regina’s voice rang out. Leaning against the bathroom doorframe, Conrad listened to their conversation.