“Really? There’s only one room left?”

“That’s what I said.”

The two had just arrived in the village and entered the first inn they saw.

Lea couldn’t hide her dismay at the innkeeper’s claim that only one room was available.

He said this was the only inn in the village.

“We have a caravan passing through our village right now, so all the rooms are booked. The only room left is a double room. You two look like a couple, why don’t you just take it?”

“A couple? We are—”

Just as Lea was about to correct the innkeeper,

“Let’s take that room.”

Ackia answered before Lea could even open her mouth.

“You really want to share a room?”

Lea asked Ackia with a puzzled face. Judging by his utterly calm expression, it seemed he was serious.

“Why, planning to sleep on the streets? I have no intention of doing so.”

“But—”

“Why make a fuss about it? It’s not like it’s our first time sharing a bed.”

“No, what if someone hears you!”

Lea clenched her teeth at his response, which could easily be misconstrued. Unlike her dejected state, a sly smile crossed the count’s lips.

“That is—”

Lea found herself at a loss for words against the count’s argument.

As she looked back at the innkeeper, he was handing the key to the count, seemingly unsurprised.

“The room has warm water ready. Have a good night!”

And with that snide remark,

Ultimately, they climbed the stairs and stood in front of the room at the end of the corridor.

—Startled.

As they opened the designated room door, a surge of warm air greeted them.

“It’s fortunate. At least it’s warm here.”

However, Lea’s body was shivering faintly. They had waited for the carriage to be fixed in the pouring rain.

Furthermore, her wet dress was chilling to the bone.

“Count, you should shower first.”

Lea pointed to the bathroom, to which Ackia chuckled incredulously.

“You say that even after seeing your current state?”

The count pointed to the mirror on the dresser next to Lea. Her reflection in the mirror looked as pitiful as a drowned rat.

Her wet, red hair was strewn all over her white dress.

‘Well, it is a terrible sight.’

Lea shifted her gaze and saw that the count didn’t look much better. He had even given her his jacket; he must be cold as well.

“You’re also wet, Count.”

The count sighed softly, grabbed Lea’s wrist, and led her into the bathroom.

“If you don’t want to catch a cold again, shower first.”

The count pushed Lea into the bathroom and closed the door.

‘No choice then.’

Lea took off the jacket and the dress she was wearing and neatly placed them on the shelf.

Then, she submerged her body in the bathtub filled with warm water.

“It feels like I’m reviving…”

As warmth seeped into her cold body, her shivers ceased. She leaned on the tub and looked at the jacket that the count had taken off earlier.

“He must’ve been cold too.”

And to think he had even given her his jacket.

Her heart felt prickly at the count’s actions, which were like those toward a lover, as the innkeeper had implied.

Distracted, she remembered the count waiting outside.

“I should hurry up.”

Although he wouldn’t show it, thinking of the shivering count, she could no longer stay in the tub.

Just as she thought that and hurriedly rose,

“Huh?”

Whether due to haste or the slipperiness, her feet missed the ground, and she tilted.

—Crash!

With a loud noise, Lea slipped and fell onto the bathroom floor. The cold sensation ran up her spine for a moment.

“Ugh…”

Unable to get up, Lea could only let out a pained moan. She had barely come to her senses when—

—Bang bang!

The count began knocking on the door, alarmed by the sudden noise.
[Dash] What’s going on?!

“I’m fine……ugh.”

She tried to assure herself that she was alright, but a painful moan was all that escaped. Lea’s words did not reach Count Heidern who was on the other side of the bathroom door.

Growing anxious as she didn’t respond, Akkia forcefully turned the doorknob. Hearing the sound, Lea quickly looked down.

Her eyes caught sight of her clothes placed on a shelf far away, her body entirely bare.

‘What do I do…?’

Whether it was due to the shock of the fall, Lea could hardly move a single finger.

‘What if the door opens…’

Her mind blurred at the thought of Count Heidern entering the bathroom. That’s when she swallowed her saliva.

What she feared had finally happened.

“Lea! What on earth…”

Count Heidern, with a serious expression, entered the bathroom, pushing aside the halfbroken door. Soon, his gaze met with Lea, who was lying on the floor.

‘Ah. I’m ruined.’

Lea desperately wanted to turn back time—to before she entered the bathroom, or at least to before she left the tub.

A heavy silence hung between them.

What could Count Heidern be thinking, seeing her naked and lying on the bathroom floor?

With an unreadable expression, he looked down at her. Their eyes met briefly in the air.

His gaze, which had been fixed on her face, gradually moved downwards. The ensuing silence seemed to echo his awkwardness.

“……”

“……”