Won’t You Come In With Me?

“Then shall we decide on the outfits? Roze-chan, you’ll help too, won’t you?”

Shitoen smiled brightly.

“O-Of course I will! Ah, but you know, my sister will be adjusting the sizes, so… should we just match the colors? What kind would you like, Lady Shitoen?”

Roze ran over to the garment racks and started pulling out several colors that seemed like ones Shitoen would like.

Yeah, you’ve got a good eye, Roze. Shitoen likes bluish shades, bluish shades.

“Let’s see. Prince Saryu, what do…”

“Me? Let’s see.”

Just as I replied, Mone glided closer and closer to Shitoen, then gathered up her long silver hair and twisted it together.

“Excuse me. I’d also like you to look at some accessories for around your neck.”

After saying that, she pinned it up into a bun with a hairpin, then slowly ran her fingers along the line of Shitoen’s neck.

“We’ll want something that brings out the beauty of the skin around here.”

Heh heh heh—she brought her mouth close to Shitoen’s neck and laughed, but…

There was just something about it…

There was just something about it…!

You’re too close to my wife!!!!!!

It was the look in her eyes! She looked like a snow leopard stalking prey!

Just because you’re both women doesn’t make that okay, does it!?

“I’d like you to try on several outfits in quick succession, so… could I have you remove everything you’re currently wearing first? That would make it easier to see your size too.”

“Hold it right thereee!”

Something inside me—some wild… something—sounded the alarm with fierce intensity.

“If you’re a professional, you ought to be able to tell even over her clothes!”

When I shouted at Mone, she gave a snort through her nose.

“More to the point, what I don’t understand is why there’s a man present in a place where ladies are changing clothes. Roze, take the prince outside with you.”

“As if I could leave Shitoen alone with a snow leopard like you! She’ll get eaten alive!”

“I’d rather not hear that from a winter bear. Aren’t you the one planning to devour Princess Shitoen before hibernation? Oh, how terrifying. Princess Shitoen, please be on your guard.”

She shot me a glare, but I glared right back at her.

Between us, Shitoen was looking this way and that in a panic, going, “Awa wa wa wa…,” but then

“I shall keep a close eye on things!”

The one who came hurrying over with a sharp raise of her hand was Eaton.

Ohhh, you were here!!!

I had no idea whether she’d actually be useful, but apparently this maid had sensed the danger too.

She moved right up beside Shitoen and stayed close.

“Well, do as you like. I only want the prince to leave. Roze.”

With a sigh mixed into her voice, Mone called her younger sister’s name.

“Why don’t you have the prince show you the hot springs? I wonder what hot springs bubbling up in such a grand residence are like.”

“U-Um… okay. Prince, let’s go. To see them.”

Though her face clearly said she wasn’t satisfied, Roze put the clothes back on the garment rack.

After that, for some reason she lost her usual energy, came over to my side, and tugged on my sleeve.

I was definitely thinking, What’s wrong, Roze?

If she had really wanted to stay here, she would surely have said, “Whaaat! I’m definitely staying too!” or “I’m helping my sister!” And in the end, Mone would have allowed it…

“Prince. Let’s go, come on.”

She muttered that under her breath.

Shitoen must have been concerned too. She met my eyes and urged me, “Please stay with her.”

“Then… Eaton. I’ll leave the rest to you.”

I was extremely uneasy, but I swallowed those words for the moment and left the room with Roze.

Then Roze absentmindedly started walking off to the left, so I hurriedly grabbed her hand.

“No, not that way. It’s this way. We’re going to see the hot springs, right?”

“…Yeah.”

She still seemed a little down, so I explained it to her in a slightly playful tone.

“They say the spring water flows straight from the source. It might be hot if you touch it.”

“Really…? Can we go inside and touch it?”

She asked that somewhat hesitantly.

That was unusual. I’d thought she’d come barreling right in.

“The women’s bath, yes. Shitoen probably won’t be using it yet…”

The leaders on the men’s side might already be using the men’s bath. I could throw them out and show it to her, but… well, that would be a bit pitiful too.

“There’s a women’s bath and a men’s bath? More importantly, what was this residence originally? An inn?”

Across the long corridor, one sliding door after another continued in a row.

If someone told me this was a lodging place, I’d definitely believe it.

“According to Lord Balimore, this place used to be a retreat where the royal family came for therapeutic hot spring stays. That’s why it’s close to the royal palace. It seems the current queen doesn’t visit it very often, but the queen before the last used to come here frequently.”

“Huh.”

“So there’s a women’s bath and a men’s bath. And today the members of my group will use it, but there is also a bath for attendants and personal staff, making three baths in total.”

As the two of us walked side by side down the corridor, we passed several members of the guard.

They were properly at their posts, which was excellent.

“Is the security this strict because we’ve left the royal palace after all?”

Roze asked me that while copying the salute she’d seen, and the members returned it with warm smiles. Roze’s mood seemed to be picking up considerably too. That was a bit of a relief.

“That’s part of it, but… more than that, Shitoen is being targeted for some reason.”

“I see…”

At Roze’s murmur, I twisted my mouth into a crooked line.

“I don’t know the reason, though. Well, things have been peaceful lately, but…”

You never knew when something might happen again. Especially now, when we were in Shitoen’s homeland. If anything happened to a daughter who was so treasured here…

People might start doubting the Tidros Kingdom’s whole security system.

“Here, this is it.”

At the end of the corridor, there were two fairly large sliding doors.

The one with blue frosted glass set into the upper part was the men’s bath. The one with red frosted glass was the women’s bath.

I put my hand on the sliding door of the women’s bath and slid it open.

At once, a distinctive sulfur smell drifted softly past my nose.

“…I hate this smell.”

Right beside me, Roze scrunched up her face dramatically. Laughing, I went in together with her.

The area right inside was the changing room… I guess.

But it was outdoors.

That surprised me a little.

I had assumed they drew the hot spring water indoors and filled up bathtubs with it, but apparently not.

It was what you’d call an open-air bath.

Wooden slats had been laid across the ground, and steam was rising from beyond a row of curtained partitions. The men’s bath seemed to be right next to it, separated only by a wall made from split bamboo.

It was tall enough that you probably couldn’t peek over it, but… you’d likely be able to hear voices.

There were several baskets woven from plant vines set on top of the slats, so I supposed clothes were put into those.

Roze and I walked forward together, making the slats clatter beneath our feet.

When we passed through the curtain partition, a thick cloud of steam brushed across our faces.

“Oh.”

“Wow.”

The two of us raised our voices at the same time.

There, enclosed on all sides by bamboo fencing, was a washing area paved with black granite, along with a bath built from marble and black granite.

The bath apparently connected to the men’s side.

There was a bamboo partition in between, but the stone edging continued right on into the next section.

At the very back was a dragon’s head carved from stone, and hot water came pouring out of its mouth in a roaring stream. That must have been the source spring. I mean, steam was rising from it and all.

“This would probably be beautiful at night. Taking a bath while looking at the stars—that’s luxurious.”

The surroundings were enclosed by bamboo fencing, but there was no roof above. The view must be spectacular. …Though since it was summer, maybe there’d be mosquitoes…?

“Hey, hey.”

While I was thinking that, someone tugged lightly on my sleeve.

“Hm?”

When I turned my head, it was Roze.

She had been crouching down to peer into the hot spring, but suddenly she straightened up and gave me a mischievous smile.

“I want to get into this hot spring.”

“Hm? …Ah… well, after Shitoen is done using it, I guess. Though come to think of it, won’t you two be leaving as soon as your business here is done?”

“In that case, why don’t we go in together right now? You and me, into this hot spring.”

“Huh? What’s that? You can’t wash your hair by yourself?”

She really was still a kid after all.

But instantly, her face turned bright red and she snapped at me.

“I can wash my hair by myself just fine! That’s not what I mean! I’m saying right now, while Lady Shitoen and everyone else aren’t here, let’s get into the hot spring together, just the two of us!”

“Why would I have to get in with you?”

Even though I answered that with complete sincerity because I genuinely had no idea what she meant, her face got even redder and she stamped her feet.

“I’m inviting you, you stupid bear! Why don’t you get it!? There are tons of people who say they want to bathe with Roze or sleep beside Roze! Some of them would even pay a lot of money for it!!”

“Uhh… Roze… don’t go around associating with people that dangerous. Besides, things like dating and all that are still too early for you. You’re just a kid to begin with.”

I understood that she was interested in romance between men and women, sure.

“I’ll show you whether I’m a kid or not! Honestly! Don’t look down on me!”

As she said that, she suddenly grabbed the skirt part of her clothing in both hands and tried to yank it up, which made me recoil in shock.

“Hey, Roze…”

Before I could say stop,

“All right, that’s far enough. Hands down, step away. Don’t do anything. There now, don’t touch the captain.”

The one who had come in without me noticing was Raul.

Like a guard, he strode right up to Roze and smacked the hand gripping her skirt from above.

“Oww! What was that for!?”

“That’s my line. What exactly were you trying to do? Get out.”

“Huh!?”

“Come on, out you go. Captain, you too.”

He shot me a sharp look, and I followed after Raul as he dragged Roze along with a “Yes, yes.”

“That’s what I told you, didn’t I? She’s dangerous.”

Raul said that to me in a low voice, but I frowned at him.

“Dangerous or not, she’s just a kid. More importantly, what bothers me is that the men’s bath is right next to the women’s bath. When Shitoen is in there, absolutely do not let anyone use it.”

When I ordered Raul that, he just brushed it off lightly with a, “Yes, yes.” It annoyed me.