Beatrix rose from her chair and approached me. Her steps swayed precariously, but her eyes were oddly clear.
"Hey, I'm not joking. Watch yourself."
"……."
"If you had truly done well, Rose wouldn't be acting like that. Don't let your guard down!"
What on earth had those two talked about? I wanted to ask, but there were too many eyes around, so I held back.
"Betty, let's go before you take it too far. I'm embarrassed just watching."
Arikx intervened at just the right moment. He signaled the surrounding servants with his eyes.
"Escort them to the guest chambers. You're staying the night, aren't you, Dane?"
"Yeah."
There was a Schmaichel-owned estate in the capital, but not wanting to deal with needless assassination attempts, I had arranged lodging in the royal guest chambers instead.
"See you tomorrow, then."
Leaving Arikx and Beatrix behind, I moved with quick steps—discreetly and quietly, so as not to draw anyone's attention.
"This way, Your Excellency."
The servants escorted me as if deeply honored.
Meanwhile, Rose, who had been walking while leaning against me, began to whine.
"Your Excellency… are you angry?"
"No."
"You seem angry, though……."
"I said I'm not."
I wished it were just the two of us already.
With that thought, I strode forward with long steps.
"Attend to the Duchess."
The moment we arrived at the guest chambers, the waiting maids rushed over in a flurry.
The hairpins firmly secured in Rose's hair were removed, and the dress that had wrapped around her body like flower petals was taken off.
Before I knew it, she was whisked into the bathroom, and from bathing to drying her hair, it was all over in a flash.
*Sabak.*
A soft, fresh-smelling Rose was laid on the bed. Whether it was the alcohol or exhaustion, she had fallen asleep in no time.
'…Rose was upset.'
I stood before her for a moment and brushed her damp hair aside.
'Because of Voronov?'
Helena had told me what happened in the powder room earlier. But I didn't know what had transpired when she was alone with Beatrix.
"Your Excellency, shall I assist with your bath…."
"Everyone leave. I'll wash myself."
I dismissed the servants and entered the bathroom.
I didn't want anyone to learn about the injury on my arm. I was used to washing myself, but trying to do so with only one hand naturally slowed me down.
*Cheolbeuk.*
I was in the middle of rinsing off, splashing water over my body for the final time.
*Deolkeok.*
The sound of a door opening came from behind me.
"I believe I said I didn't need any assistance."
Feeling slightly annoyed, I raised my voice. Then I went back to washing.
"……."
But no reply came, nor was there the sound of the door closing.
"I said leave—"
"Your Excellency."
My body stiffened at the voice.
When I turned around, I saw Rose standing by the door.
"Rose? Why are you here."
"Why is it taking you so long…?"
Through the hazy steam filling the bathroom, Rose's face was flushed.
No—from her exposed nape to the skin visible through the opening of her gown, everything was flushed red.
"I was washing with one hand. Is something wrong?"
"It's not that……."
Rose's responses came a subtle half-beat slow. Her face showed clear signs of intoxication.
"Shall I… help you?"
Rose cast her languid, unfocused gaze at me. It took me a moment to understand her question.
"…Help with what?"
"You seem to be having trouble. I'll… help you wash."
Once she finished, Rose took a step forward as if to actually carry it out.
'This is bad.'
I concealed my fluster and quickly rose from the tub.
*Chwaak!*
I ducked behind the wooden partition and reached for the hanging robe.
"Stay there, Rose. You don't need to help."
Despite my protests, Rose continued to slowly approach me.
*Jeobeok, jeobeok.*
I had the illusion that her small footsteps echoed as loud as thunder.
'Damn it.'
There was no time to dry off. I frantically threw on the robe and had just grabbed the waist tie when—
"Your Excellency."
Rose's face appeared around the edge of the wooden partition.
"I'll help you… hmm? You're already done washing?"
"I told you, I don't need help."
Rose stared at my face, then slowly let her gaze drift downward.
It was merely an appraising look—a fresh gaze untainted by any sticky desire.
"……."
I felt a needless heat stir deep in my core.
"Do you… dislike it when I attend to you?"
"That's not it."
Despite my immediate reply, Rose seemed unsatisfied and continued to hesitate.
"Then… at least this."
She reached for the knot at my waist. I paused for a moment, then quietly let her do as she pleased.
"Mm……."
Her face, intensely focused on such a trivial task as tying a knot, was rather cute.
Eventually, an adorable ribbon formed at my waist, the kind one might use to wrap a gift box.
"There. All done."
"How cute."
"Isn't it?"
Did she not realize what I was calling cute?
"You should go now."
I swallowed a sigh that felt ready to burst and lightly grasped Rose's shoulders. Then, together with Rose, I stepped out of the bathroom.
"Why aren't you still asleep? What woke you up?"
"Because I was cold……."
"Cold?"
I glanced at the fireplace and walked toward it, intending to add more firewood.
"It's okay."
Rose suddenly hugged me tightly from behind.
"It's warm this way……."
Rose's characteristic sweet fragrance, her warm body heat, and her soft curves pressed against my back.
'Hah, really.'
I stopped in place for a moment and let out a sigh into the air.
Such pure seduction. Did she have any idea how maddening that innocent touch was?
'Why is she acting so cute.'
Earlier, when a tipsy Rose had been smiling dazedly, I had been furious to the tips of my hair.
Not because she hadn't listened to me, but because Arikx had seen that lovely face.
But now, my thoughts had shifted somewhat.
'Maybe it's not so bad.'
If alcohol was what loosened the latch on Rose's heart and let her show this unguarded side of herself.
I even found myself thinking I should get her drunk more often. Only when we were alone together, of course.
"It's late. Time to sleep."
Taking Rose by the shoulder, I moved toward the bed.
*Sabak.*
I sat side by side with Rose on the bed.
Rose's gaze fell on the wine bottle sitting on the bedside table.
"That wine… I want some."
"No. You're already drunk."
*Hing.*
Rose drooped her eyebrows and whined softly.
"Earlier in the bedroom… you told me to drink when you were there… so I kept holding back."
"Hm."
I understood why kings let themselves be bewitched by their concubines, casting aside state affairs and running their kingdoms into the ground.
When she pouted with such a cute face, how could anyone refuse? I wanted to stay in the bedroom all day.
"You get to drink all by yourself… that's stingy."
"Did she think I was holding back because I was being stingy with the wine?"
I grumbled quietly and, pretending to yield, poured a little wine into the glass.
"Only…? That's all…?"
Rose's expectant face turned to disappointment as she looked at the wine glass.
"Only? I might as well just take it away."
"Ah, n-no, it's fine!"
As I made to take the glass away, Rose hastily grabbed my arm.
"Just one glass. No more."
"Hmph, yes……."
I handed the glass to Rose but felt uneasy inside. Rose's body kept swaying slightly to the side.
Sure enough—
"…Mm."
The wine glass in Rose's hand wobbled, and spilled drops of wine scattered onto the floor.
*Tak.*
I snatched the wine glass from Rose's hand.
"I knew it. You shouldn't drink."
"Hiing, Your Excellency……."
"I said no."
I gazed intently at Rose and brought the wine glass to my lips. A look of betrayal washed over Rose's flushed face.
'That just makes me want to tease her more.'
*Pik.* I gave a soft chuckle and approached Rose with wine lingering in my mouth.
*Seuk.*
I cupped Rose's chin with my hand, and when I pressed with my thumb, her mouth naturally parted.
"Ah……."
Our lips met.
I sealed the gap with my lips, then moved my tongue slightly and let the wine flow into Rose's mouth.
"Mm……."
Rose's languid voice tickled my ear.
The wine wetting my mouth was excessively sweet. Or perhaps it was Rose's lips that were sweet.
"Haa……."
As I pulled my lips away, Rose gazed at me with hazy, unfocused eyes.
"How was it?"
"It's delicious…."
I hoped that wasn't her impression of the wine but of something else.
With that thought, I took another mouthful of wine. Rose was watching me with expectant eyes.
"Mm……."
I claimed Rose's lips once more. Rose's head tipped back naturally.
*Teop.*
I supported the back of her head and laid her down on the bed, then gradually let the wine trickle into Rose's mouth.
*Kkolkkak, kkolkkak.*
With a flushed face, Rose quietly accepted and drank the wine I passed to her.
While looking at that docile face, a violent impulse surged within me in stark contrast.
"Your Excellency……."
As I pulled my lips away, Rose scrunched her brow slightly and asked.
"Why are you so good at this…?"
"At what."
"…Never mind."
Rose pouted slightly.
It seemed she still couldn't remember what she'd drunk water from before. Nor did she know why I was so skilled at this.
"Mm… but I think this is the most delicious wine I've ever had."
Rose lightly traced her lips with her finger as if savoring the lingering aftertaste.
"Now I understand why you scolded me for opening the bottle."
"When did I ever scold you."
Rose ignored my grumbling and murmured.
"It really is delicious… maybe because the prince gave it to us……."
At those words, something in my mind seemed to snap.
"I can buy you ten bottles of this."
"What?"
"Arikx isn't the only one who can buy things for you."
I knew it was childish, but I hated hearing Rose talk about Arikx at all.
"I could just buy an entire vineyard. Hire some artisans too."
"……."
"If you want, I'll let you drink a bottle every day. It'll take some time to mature, though."
Aging wine took quite a long time. So it was also my way of saying—stay by my side until then.
"……."
Whether she caught the underlying meaning or not, Rose fell silent for a moment. Only her languid, green-tinted gaze traced across every part of my face.
"…Don't do that."
Eventually, an unfamiliar smile graced Rose's lips. She then raised herself and pushed against my chest with force.
"…?"
I wasn't someone who would be shoved back by that level of force.
But I wanted to see what she was doing, so I let myself be pushed.
*Teolssuk.*
This time it was my body that fell onto the bed. Rose climbed on top, draping herself over me.
"…Rose?"
"Shh, be still."
The way she spoke like a command was subtly coercive. But I didn't mind.
"Huu……."
Every time Rose shifted her body, the brushing against what could be a sensitive area was the only thing that bothered me slightly.
Other than that…….
'Nice.'
It was my first time looking up from beneath someone like this.
It could have been a humiliating position, but since it was Rose on top of me, I found myself thinking—what did it matter?
Rose's softly relaxed eyes, the scent of grapes scattering with her breath.
And beneath that, the generous weight of her breasts swaying intermittently.
"……."
I barely stopped my eyes from following instinctively. It was a devastatingly powerful sight.
'I should only look at her face.'
With that resolve, I met Rose's gaze. Rose, who happened to be gazing intently at me, moved her lips.
"Stroke… my hair."
Why was she acting like this today of all days? It seemed a bit strange to simply blame it on the alcohol.
I had my doubts, but Rose whining was so endearing, and this was the first time she had ever craved affection like this, so I couldn't think too deeply about it.
I simply followed Rose's not-quite-a-command as if entranced.
*Sarak.*
I reached out and brushed Rose's soft hair back.