“Me?”
I asked for a bath? I did?
Was it something I said half-asleep and just can’t remember?
Brody tried to recall. Then,
[Ah…] Before someone gives me a bath, I can’t get up.She remembered saying that.
‘Um, that was… I meant I’d just go to sleep without bathing.’
But it seems that in this aristocratic world where ‘bath assistance’ exists, it didn’t come off that way.
While she was pondering what to say, Aidan set her down in front of the bathtub.
“Are you really going to bathe me?”
At Brody’s flustered words, Aidan sighed.
Of course. It didn’t seem like she would ask him for such a thing.
He turned away and spoke.
“I’ll just stay like this. I can’t distance myself from you anyway.”
“…”
Well, that makes sense. We haven’t passed the Ferdan Fortress yet.
Jax, or if not him, the reach of the princess, was still quite easily accessible.
Earlier, I didn’t want to bathe! But now, seeing the steaming hot water, the desire to bathe overcame her.
After leaving the South, she hadn’t even been able to properly bathe, let alone soak in a tub.
“Then I’ll bathe.”
She shamelessly decided to bathe.
‘He will surely not turn around.’
For some reason, she had that belief.
Brody quickly disrobed and sunk her body deep into the tub.
“Ah… it feels so good.”
As the warm water enveloped her, a sigh of relief naturally escaped her lips.
Had they poured rose water? A pleasant aroma wafted up.
From the tub, Brody covertly observed Aidan’s tense back.
Something felt unpleasant.
“Your Majesty, aren’t you tired?”
“Hmm. It’s nothing.”
“You don’t want to bathe?”
“I’ll bathe after you.”
So while Aidan bathes, she would have to wait for him? Because she had to be within arm’s reach?
If not, he would likely just hurriedly bathe or just wipe himself down with a wet towel.
That felt too regrettable.
Summoning courage, she asked, blushing.
“Should I assist you with your bath?”
It’s not like they were that close. And in this world, it wasn’t strange for nobles to receive assistance from those below them.
But Aidan’s shoulders tensed.
He quietly spat out the words after a moment of silence.
“Don’t… joke around.”
“I’m not… joking.”
His voice was a little shaky as he replied, still facing away.
“No, you must be tired. Never mind…”
“You’re tired too, Your Majesty. You hardly rested on the way.”
“It’s bearable. Bathing will only take 5 minutes, or even 3. Don’t worry about it.”
“…”
She had finally mustered the courage to ask, but more insistence would make even Brody uncomfortable.
After she comfortably finished her bath and was drying her hair, Aidan quickly washed up and groomed himself.
He looked perfectly fine, but Brody was washed over with drowsiness as her muscles relaxed. Without a second thought, she went to bed.
Tents, rough inns in the South, narrow ship beds, napping on horseback; since arriving in this world, she had slept in various places. These memories flashed through her mind.
A soft bed like this! How long had it been?
As if lying on a cloud, she felt cozy and fell into a deep sleep.
.
.
.
The next morning, sunlight pouring through the window made Brody blink her eyes open.
‘Is it morning?’
Judging from the color of the sunlight, it wasn’t early morning but around 10 a.m.
‘I bathed right after arriving last night, so I must have slept for over 12 hours.’
There was muscle pain, but her mind was clear.
Not wanting to get up immediately, she shifted her body, grunting, only to find the space next to her empty.
‘Did he get up already? After driving a horse for a day and a half without sleep?’
No, upon closer inspection, not only was it empty, but it was also neatly organized.
As if no one had ever lain there.
Brody rose from the bed, puzzled.
“Did you wake up?”
“…….”
Turning her head toward the source of the voice, the sunlight stabbed her eyes.
When she finally managed to open her eyes, she saw Aidan sitting neatly at the table.
He smiled as he saw Brody rubbing her eyes, squinting as if the light was too bright.
“Shall we eat?”
“Yes, I’m hungry.”
Aidan rang a bell to summon a servant and ordered a simple meal.
After the servant left, Brody sluggishly made her way from the bed to the table where Aidan sat.
The table was piled high with documents, and it seemed that Aidan was reviewing them while drinking tea.
“Did you get some sleep?”
He nodded awkwardly.
Judging by his response, it didn’t seem like he slept much.
Aidan took a blanket and placed it over Brody, who was sitting in a chair.
She was thankful for his consideration, especially since she was already feeling cold.
He returned to his seat and continued to peruse the documents.
Probably paperwork that had accumulated while he had River check in on Teddy.
The sunlight falling from behind him outlined his cheeks and neck in a silhouette of light.
Brody rested her chin on the table, silently observing him.
“Do you have a lot to do?”
“It’s self-inflicted.”
He momentarily looked up at Brody, only to quickly return his attention to the documents.
The Male lead Always Seduces Her with His Beauty (Matriarchy)
Xin Jiao Zhou is the leader of the world’s premier sect. She has just experienced betrayal from all sides, was poisoned in an assassination attempt, and faced death squad attacks while the poison was taking effect. After finally clearing out the scum from her sect, she was drugged again while trying to detoxify.
After waking up from a night of unconsciousness, she gained a “beautiful and kind-hearted” husband.
Xin Jiao Zhou: “???”
He fell ill.
She came to see him, bringing breakfast.
As she put down the breakfast and was about to leave, his hand slipped while holding the spoon. “Clank!”
She turned around upon hearing the noise.
He looked up at her, his eyebrows drooping: “My hand… has no strength.”
“Shall I… feed you?” she asked tentatively.
He opened his mouth cheerfully: “Ah—”
Thinking she was drowning, he jumped in without hesitation to save her, but nearly drowned himself. In the end, it was she who swam over to rescue him, giving him air underwater.
After emerging from the water, his ear tips turned red. He lightly brushed his cheek, tucking his sideburns behind his ear, revealing delicate, pink-tinged ear tips. He lowered his gaze, too embarrassed to look at her.
Xin Jiao Zhou: He’s truly beautiful, kind-hearted, and adorable.
A certain someone when disciplining subordinates behind the scenes: “If they don’t obey, just kill them.”
What’s that? She might already have someone she cares about in her heart? A certain someone: Find out who it is, kill them, and then there won’t be anyone.
What? She met a man by the riverside? What? That man even hurt her? A certain someone: Whichever hand hurt her, chop off his entire arm.
Love at first sight without realizing it, gradually falling in love, slowly getting closer…
Family and national grudges, schemes and desires, good and evil, crime and punishment, she and he face the future together, seeking justice with passion!
A naturally dark female lead who could accidentally destroy the world but is actually an honest person VS a weak, pitiful, and helpless but skilled fighter, beautiful white-cut black male lead
My heart is not of stone, how steadfast is your love? — Tao Yuanming “Imitating the Ancients (No. 3)”
— Reading Guide —
Cold female lead & dramatic black lotus with hidden yandere traits male lead
