* * *
So Cedric, it seemed, had jumped to the extreme conclusion that just because I didn’t agree with Liette, I must be on his side.
“…Is that really how this works?”
“Of course it is. You disagreed with her, after all.”
Cedric, looking oddly triumphant, gestured subtly at Liette across from us.
Liette let out a dry laugh like she couldn’t believe what she was hearing.
“So, you’re siding with your partner, is that it?”
“Exactly. Eddy’s mine.”
Why the hell am I yours, you brat?
…I almost said it out loud, but stopped myself.
Cedric looked unusually excited today, and for some reason, I didn’t want to spoil the mood.
Then Liette leaned back with a long sigh and grumbled.
“Ugh, I wanna meet my partner already.”
The moment the word partner left her mouth, I found myself instinctively glancing at Cedric to gauge his reaction.
Just then, Cedric, who had been looking in her direction, muttered under his breath.
“That guy… Gareth or Race or whatever his name was.”
“Gareth Lionhart. He’s my friend’s partner, Cedric. The least you can do is remember his name.”
“So, he really made an impression on you, huh?”
“Oooh, curious, are we? Wanna hear about it?”
Liette’s tone suddenly changed, her eyes sparkling mischievously.
Cedric looked like he regLetted opening his mouth, but it was already too late.
Liette started chattering away about the day she spent with Gareth.
Thanks to that, we were all forced to listen to her romantic anecdotes until we passed out for a nap.
After a long carriage ride, evening had fallen by the time we finally arrived at the Glis estate.
The coachman and porter sitting up front pulled the carriage and horses into the designated stop and then helped unload our luggage.
‘Ugh. I’m sore all over.’
It had been a while since I’d been in a carriage for so long, and my whole body ached.
Still half-asleep, I got off the carriage in a daze and, out of habit, reached out my hand to help Liette down.
“Thanks, Eddy.”
She must’ve been tired too, but Liette’s bright, sunny smile hadn’t faded one bit.
I couldn’t help but smile back.
Then I felt someone’s gaze on me and turned my head—
‘Gasp. Wh-what the…’
I flinched.
Cedric was staring daggers at me, looking strangely grim.
…And then, without a word, he turned away and walked toward the coachman and porter.
“……”
Was he hoping to be the one to escort Liette?
Did I just steal that chance from him?
The thought made me feel oddly uneasy.
“Young sirs, young lady! We’ll escort you now!”
The coachman’s loud call snapped me out of my thoughts, and I followed the group to the inn with a lingering sense of unease.
The coachman and porter were shown to the standard rooms, separate from the higher-end ones.
Liette, Cedric, and I were each guided to our respective luxury rooms.
This inn catered only to nobles—no commoners or tourists—so it was quiet, and nearly everyone we passed in the halls was of noble birth.
‘Nice and clean room.’
I looked around and only unpacked the essentials in the corner of the room.
We were leaving again first thing in the morning anyway—no point in settling in fully.
Just as I was hanging my coat on the rack, I heard Liette’s voice through the open door.
“Eddy, let’s hit the hot springs.”
“Oh—hold on. Let me grab my stuff.”
“Okay! I’ll get Cedy too!”
I heard her footsteps fade down the hall and packed my bathing supplies and bathrobe.
As I stepped into the hallway, I saw Cedric exiting his room, seemingly having just heard Liette as well.
“Can’t wait to get in.”
“You really like them, huh?”
“Yup! Nothing better to relieve fatigue.”
We headed to the hot spring together.
The bathhouse had separate baths based on gender and secondary characteristics.
Liette, being a female Omega, went ahead to her section.
The male Alpha bath was fully operational too.
The problem was… me.
“The Beta bath is unavailable right now?”
Apparently, the Beta bath was closed temporarily due to maintenance issues.
“We sincerely apologize for the inconvenience.”
Considering how few Betas there were among the Empire’s noble population, I figured maintenance was just neglected.
“Hmmm.”
“We’re very sorry. You’re welcome to use either the mixed bath or one of the other male baths, depending on your preference.”
“……”
“The mixed bath is currently quite crowded. Honestly, it might be more comfortable and safer to accompany this young master here and use the Alpha male bath. There’s only one other guest in there right now.”
The attendant was gently nudging us toward the Alpha bath.
Even if I wore a robe, being the only one in a crowded mixed bath would be awkward.
And though I’m a Beta, going into the Omega bath—especially with male Omegas—would definitely make everyone uncomfortable.
With Cedric already there, the Alpha bath seemed like the best option.
“Let’s just go together.”
Cedric, who had been listening the whole time, gave me a firm nudge on the back.
…Yeah. It’d suck to come all this way and not enjoy the hot spring at all.
I made up my mind—no point in overthinking it. I’d go into the Alpha male bath with Cedric.
“Then please enjoy your soak! I’ll be in the control room if you need anything—just press the call bell or shout, and I’ll be right there!”
With that polite farewell, the attendant let us into the changing room.
As soon as we stepped in, the thick, steamy heat hit us like a wall, wrapping around our throats.
I was about to take off my vest, excited to get in, when—
“…Why are you staring like that?”
Cedric was blatantly staring at me.
“Can’t I look?”
“No, you can’t. It’s weird to watch someone undress.”
Cedric’s eyes curved mischievously.
“We’re gonna see everything once we’re in the bath anyway.”
Such a brat.
…Should’ve just chosen the mixed bath.
Tch.
That annoying smirk of his made me want to spite him, so I yanked off my vest and stripped my shirt off in one motion.
He looked like he was enjoying my hesitation too much.
I mean, we’re both guys.
What’s the big deal?
With that thought, I grabbed the waistband of my pants—when suddenly Cedric flinched like he’d been caught off guard and spun around entirely.
His reaction made me feel embarrassed.
“Hey! Didn’t you say we’re gonna see everything anyway?!”
“We’re going in with bathrobes on!”
…Fair enough.
“……”
“……”
We both quietly turned our backs to each other and changed in awkward silence.
The air was so thick with secondhand embarrassment, I thought I might die.
Once I got my robe on, I cautiously turned around.
Cedric was just tying his robe sash.
Without saying anything, I headed toward the bath entrance.
Hearing my footsteps, Cedric followed without a word.
“That must be the entrance.”
“Yeah.”
We spoke casually, like nothing had happened.
Under a stone arch stood a wooden door, made from old oak.
I grabbed the handle of the door with its engraved metal nameplate and pulled it open.
A wave of warm, soothing humidity instantly wrapped around my skin.
We passed through a short hallway and emerged into the open-air hot spring.
“Wow, it’s huge.”
“Do you think the water’s really hot?”
“No idea. You go in first.”
“You go in.”
I was bickering with Cedric over nothing in particular when I quietly turned my head.
The way the robe hung loosely around him felt different from usual—more striking, somehow.
“…Cedy, have you never been to a hot spring before?”
“Nope. It’s my first time actually coming to one like this.”
“Really?”
I stepped carefully across the cold stone floor toward the steaming hot spring.
Just as I crouched down to test the water with my hand—
“Hm? We keep running into each other in places like this.”
A rich, unfamiliar voice echoed nearby, carrying a hint of moisture.
I turned my head in surprise.
Between the mist, long red hair came into view.
So this must’ve been the guest who arrived before us.
But—
“Whoa!”
The figure tilted his head lazily when he noticed us, and as the steam thinned, his face came into sharp focus—and I was startled.
It was a face I knew all too well.
“His Highness, Prince Castian…”
Gleaming red hair wet from the water, and below it, piercing golden eyes.
He was Castian, the second prince of the Nemard Empire, one of the emperor’s legitimate sons, and famously known for having renounced his claim to the throne.
* * *
