Rinel suddenly changed his position.

Behind my back…

I couldn’t do anything as his position shifted within the tub.

It happened in a blink of an eye, but,

“You must be cold. I’ll stay still. I really will…”

Unable to resist his earnest plea, I couldn’t move.

“Are you uncomfortable?”

“It’s warm. Human beings make good insulating stones, plus they can talk, so I’m not bored.”

Rinel spoke with his chin resting on the top of my head.

“Do you feel uncomfortable?”

“Yes.”

“Why?”

“You know why. There’s no need to say it.”

He’s at least clothed.

“Ah, right.”

“But why bother asking?”

“I don’t know? Maybe I’m mad.”

As I agreed with his words, nodding my head, he laughed as if he was truly mad.

When his laughter subsided, I quietly asked a question that had been on my mind.

“Do you visit the training ground often?”

“Do you think an emperor famous for wielding a sword in war can afford to be lazy about visiting the training ground?”

“Have you… killed many people in wars?”

I couldn’t imagine what he’d be like on a battlefield.

At that moment, he was just my overly handsome husband who was clumsily soaking in a bathtub.

“I fight in wars thinking that the fewer enemies I kill, the greater the sacrifices of my people.”

After a moment of silence, he answered seriously.

“I’m not a murderer. Look, I became a national spirit because I thought that if the power of the Northern Continent increased, there would be less bloodshed during the war with the Southern Continent. Well, it was also to restrain the ministers.”

The low voice of Rinel from behind me and his calm laughter were pleasing to hear.

“Do you regret it?”

“What? Falling into the tub? Or becoming a national spirit?”

“As I thought… you purposely fell into the tub, didn’t you?”

I glanced at him, thinking about the precious soap that was sadly squashed on the floor.

“Was my acting good?”

He gently admitted while smirking.

I was surprised by his dewy, shining face and changed the subject.

“My treasured soap has been sacrificed.”

He gently brushed off my grumbling tone.

“I’ll buy you the same one.”

“……Really?”

“I have a lot of money.”

“Pfft.”

“Why are you laughing? It sounds like I’m lying because you’re laughing.”

“No, please do buy it.”

“Alright. Firstly, I don’t regret falling into the tub. I feel completely refreshed. Look, the water is still warm.”

Rinel was still fascinated by the steaming bathtub water as he scooped it up with his hands.

“But it’s really strange……”

He mumbled to himself, returning to the previous topic.

“And about becoming a national spirit. It’s fortunate that the empress is you. So I don’t regret it. I’ll try… to do well so you won’t regret it either.”

My heart fluttered at the sound of his shy confession.

“Don’t you believe me?”

When I didn’t say anything, he used his strong arms to choke my neck.

“Ah, if I don’t believe you, are you going to choke me to death right now?”

I pretended to be out of breath, clutching his strong arm.

Then, he loosened the arms that were about to choke my neck, laughing lightly.

“It’s nice to have a relaxed conversation since we’re both in the tub.”

“I’m not relaxed.”

“Why not?”

“We’re not in the same situation.”

“Ah, I’m sorry. I was inconsiderate.”

Rinel seemed repentant, and I heard a rustling sound from behind.

When I glanced back at him, he was unbuttoning his shirt.

“What are you doing right now……?”

“I’m making it fair.”

Even though his chest muscles were clearly visible as his shirt was already soaked, he took off his shirt and threw it on the floor.

“Zelda, move forward a bit.”

Ah, could it be……?

He grabbed my arms and slightly pushed me forward in the tub.

Then he knelt down on the floor of the tub, lifted his upper body a bit, and put his hands on the waistband of his pants.

I quickly turned my head forward and exclaimed.

“Aah, you don’t need to take off the lower part! Yyou feel the cold too much!”

“Is that so? Well, you have a point.”

He sat down straight in the tub again.

Phew, I thought he was really going to take it off.

After a while, Rinel whispered in a sinister voice in my ear.

“But, Empress.”

“Yes……”

“I’ve already taken it off.”

“!”

At his shocking words, I turned almost my entire body to look at him.

His moist blue eyes seemed so mysterious that this moment felt surreal.

“So you’re finally taking a proper look at me now that I’ve stripped everything?”

Didn’t I see anything at all?

I stared straight up at the ceiling.

The ceiling was painted with scenes of naked goddesses and gods bathing together, and cherubim pouring water from jars to the two deities.

Was he really completely undressed?

“Don’t worry. It was a joke.”

What?

I didn’t believe Rinel’s words and glanced down at the bathroom floor.

It seems to be true.

Thankfully, seeing nothing on the floor, it appeared his sanity was still functioning.

“I think it’s not appropriate if both of us are naked. At least one of us should be clothed.”

“What a polite couple you are.”

“Heh, hoho, hahaha!”