kscans

Chapter 37 - When I Treated the Tired Girl Like a Princess

"Wh, where is this...?" Finally, clarity returned to Mireille's eyes.

"Oh, so this does work. We were able to come here after all."

I answered, stroking my chest in relief. The ring could only be used by me. But if it was possible to move with luggage, then if I just picked Mireille up, it should work, right?

It was something I had thought of while moving all that luggage today, but I had hesitated to suggest it because of the resistance I felt to picking her up.

"This is my Townhouse in the Royal Capital. The caretaker isn't here right now, and no one knows about the connection between you and me. So you can relax. First, soak in a warm bath. You can't get rid of your fatigue at a watering hole where monsters might appear."

I helped her to a chair in the room and gently stroked her head.

I started preparing the bath. I dissolved a bath bomb I didn't normally use, and as I filled the tub, the scent of roses and bubbles gently spread with the steam.

"If there's any danger, I'll use the ring to transport us, even if you're naked. That's the one thing I need you to agree to. Other than that, you're free to relax until it's time to sleep."

Ultimately, it was safer to spend the night in the tower. There were no monsters here, but there were other 'enemies'.

"...Ah, but. The nighttime gathering... and the weapon modifications..." Mireille muttered vaguely.

"Not today. It's forbidden. You can do it tomorrow if you're feeling better. But today, your job is to rest."

"...O, okay."

Her limp nod was, in a way, endearing. As I watched her disappear into the bathroom, my mind was strangely clear.

I had touched her shoulder, her finger, her head, and held her... And all within these past few days. And I had fallen in love so easily.

...And here I was, putting a weakened girl into the bath at my own home, without even dating her.

I probably wouldn't do anything more daring than this for the rest of my life.

I let out a small sigh of relief as I listened to the sound of the water. It seemed she was properly warming herself up. If it helped lighten her mood even a little, that was enough.

I opened the cooling box and added some fruit wine and juice.

...That girl really is amazing. This cooling box was also alchemy.

It didn't matter about her master or the Supreme Commander. I wanted Mireille herself to be able to live with her head held high. That's what I thought.

--An hour later.

The bathroom door opened. With a faint blush on her cheeks, a towel over her shoulders, and her wet hair swaying, Mireille emerged.

"That was my first time in a bubble bath. I felt... like a princess."

...That's a cheap princess. I couldn't help but laugh.

"Alright, your highness. I shall dry your hair, so please come this way."

I sat Mireille down in a chair and picked up a drying tool. It was an electric dryer, so to speak, that ran on a lightning-attribute charged box.

As I blew the air, the scent of roses wafted from her wet hair. My fingertips naturally touched her hair, but Mireille let me, without resistance.

"...My master used to dry my hair like this when I was a child. Where did my master and I go wrong?"

She gently wiped away a tear with the end of the towel on her shoulder.

"At the very least, you didn't go wrong, Mireille. ...Your master made her disciple cry, so she and the Supreme Commander can have a nice long reflection session together."

I spoke in a light, joking tone as I dried her hair.

The quiet hum of the dryer echoed, and after her hair was dry, I combed it for her. Reflected in the mirror was a girl holding back tears, yet she was still beautiful.

"There. All beautiful now, your highness."

The words slipped out, and my heart skipped a beat. I hastily put the tool away and stood up.

"...I'll bring some fruit wine and snacks. There's juice too, so let's have a little and rest."

When I returned, Mireille accepted it with a small smile. Her face was shadowed with fatigue, yet there was a strange allure to it that took my breath away.

"Thank you." I found my gaze stolen by the sight of her sipping the fruit wine.

But her next words tightened my chest.

"...The arranged marriage Darius-san suggested. If that had happened... I wouldn't have been alone."

Tears streamed down her cheeks again.

I steeled myself and spoke.

"Then--if, when this is all over, and you're back to the cheerful Mireille, and you still think an older guy like me is better than someone your own age... then accept a marriage proposal from me."

"...You say that now. But won't you be the one to regret it later, Leonhard-san?"

"I won't. I'm so hopeless with women that people worry about me. In fact, there's no way I'd let an opportunity like this slip away."

Our eyes met, and we both couldn't help but laugh. Though she had tears in her eyes, Mireille's smile was somehow warm, and it squeezed my heart.