Chapter 239: Rose Bath
As we walked down the white marble corridor, we arrived at the famed Rose Bath of the Presidio Royal Palace, the pride of the Abysspania Queendom.
「Wow, this is…」
I couldn’t help but let out a breath of admiration. The bath was breathtaking.
It was a large, semi-open bath facing the palace gardens. Just the sheer size of the pool, large enough to swim in, must have cost a fortune to fill with hot water.
And the roses—there were so many of them.
Red, white, yellow—vibrant roses covered the walls and ceiling.
The water in the bath was tinted a delicate pink, and the air was filled with the rich fragrance of roses. Just stepping inside, you were immediately enveloped in a sense of elegance and luxury.
Suzanne and Claudia, who had come along with me, let out gasps of delight.
「This is amazing, Master!」 「So extravagant!」
「Yeah, they really didn’t skimp on this. We don’t have anything this fancy back home; we could learn a thing or two.」 「Indeed, the view is impressive, but the scent… truly marvelous.」
Louise nodded in agreement, clearly pleased with the place.
One thing I’ve come to appreciate since marrying Louise is that she now accompanies me to the baths. Though she’s still a bit awkward with using soap, she’s gradually getting used to it.
By the way, here in the royal palace of Abysspania, they use a special rose-scented soap called Rose Soap. I was surprised that a country I once considered remote could have such luxuries.
Presidio is a coastal city.
They’ve developed their own method of making high-quality soap by using seashells and seaweed to produce caustic soda. It’s impressive how they’ve mastered such a technique.
Their craftsmanship is remarkable too—decorating the soap with rose fragrances and vivid colors. If trade opens between us and Abysspania, this Rose Soap could become a valuable commodity. The impressive pillars, glass doors, and the baroque-style carvings in the marble of the bath only added to the palace’s grandeur.
Though Abysspania’s military power may be somewhat inferior to the Kingdom of Silesie’s, their technological capabilities are far from lacking. In some respects, their culture seems more refined than ours, where ancient traditions have faded away.
Of course, soaking in this luxurious bath and using Rose Soap is likely a privilege reserved only for royalty and a select few nobles. As I strolled around the opulent bath with Suzanne and the others, marveling at the splendor, Louise’s voice called out to me.
「Hey, why aren’t you joining us?」
Louise, naturally, had already brought Berenice and Clementine into the bath. But was that really okay?
Suzanne and the others were one thing, but those two were proper ladies of high birth.
「Louise, is it really alright to have them bathe with us?」
「What are you talking about? They’re your bodyguards. How can they serve you properly if they don’t stay close? You need to be more generous, Takeru.」
I guess she had a point.
Even though we were bathing together, unlike Louise, Suzanne, and the others who were already comfortably naked, Berenice and Clementine were still modestly wrapped in towels.
Which, of course, was perfectly understandable.
If I told them to remove the towels, they’d be completely exposed. But, being the gentleman I am, I obviously wasn’t going to do that.
It’s not like I enjoy forcing shy girls to strip down (I swear!).
Compared to Berenice, who was calmly composed, noble-born Clementine was a different story. Even with the towel, she looked so flustered, hunching over and trying to hide her curvaceous figure. Her face was a bright shade of red—not from the heat, but from embarrassment.
Seeing her so overwhelmed, I couldn’t help but feel a little sorry for her. Maybe forcing her into the bath wasn’t the best idea…
「Hey, Berenice, Clementine. Why didn’t you wear the bathrobes?」
In the Queen’s Kingdom of Abysspania, it was customary to wear a bathrobe when entering the bath. The changing room had neatly provided white robes for this purpose.
Given how scarce fabrics are in Abysspania, offering them was a sign of the highest hospitality. So, why weren’t they wearing them?
「Wearing a bathrobe would be disrespectful to King-sama.」
「Disrespectful?」
I had no idea what she meant. Oh wait, could it be that Berenice persuaded Clementine to come with just a towel, as some kind of joke?
Berenice had a mischievous streak, always teasing the easily embarrassed Clementine. Sometimes, her pranks would go too far, and I’d end up getting caught in the crossfire. To avoid any further incidents, I considered telling them to relax somewhere out of sight.
Just as I thought that, Louise chimed in with something unexpected.
「Now, Takeru. You should give Clementine her punishment.」
「Eh? Uh… what?」
「What? Don’t you like stripping embarrassed knight girls?」
「When have I ever done that?」
It was annoying how casually she said it, as if stripping them was a given. I’m not into forcing people to undress!
「Strange. I seem to recall being forced into a bath with Suzanne and the others as part of some celebration. It was rather humiliating.」
「Oh yeah, I remember that.」
Wait, was Louise actually embarrassed back then? If she’d just told me, I wouldn’t have forced her.
「Not that I minded. I already liked you at that time, Takeru. It was just a little awkward, that’s all.」
「I liked you too, back then.」
To be precise, I liked her from the moment we met. Who would’ve thought we’d eventually get married? This conversation was starting to feel a bit embarrassing. Louise must’ve felt the same, as she cleared her throat.
「Well, in any case, you should at least strip her as punishment.」
「No, that’s definitely not happening!」
「Hmm, I thought you’d be quick to do it. So, what kind of punishment will you give Clementine?」
「So I really have to punish her, huh… Let me think.」
If I suggested something weird, it would just lead to Clementine being humiliated again. I’ve seen this play out three times already—I know the pattern by now.
Sure, Clementine did make a mistake, but she seems to have reflected on it enough. Giving her a severe punishment at this point felt a bit too harsh.
「How about running ten laps around the training grounds and doing 100 squats afterward? Though, I guess I should’ve had you do that before the bath since you’d get all sweaty.」
I couldn’t think of a better punishment. Clementine, who had been nervously awaiting her fate, blinked in confusion and asked,
「I’ve seen the training grounds at the military academy King-sama built, but what is a ‘squat’?」
Ah, right. Squats aren’t a thing in Silesie. Of course, they wouldn’t know about them.
「You ladies don’t even know what squats are?!」
「We’ll show you how it’s done!」
Since I’d already taught them, Suzanne and the others knew about squats. Proudly, they clasped their hands behind their heads and demonstrated the exercise. Wait a second. They’re still naked.
Their small chests bounced slightly with each movement. And the way their hips jutted out and their legs spread apart—it felt kind of… improper!
「Wait, you two!」
I quickly stopped them, and both Suzanne and Claudia gave me puzzled looks, while Clementine turned pale as a sheet.
「K-King-sama… you want me to perform such an indecent dance a hundred times… without a stitch of clothing?」
「No, no, that’s not what I meant at all.」
I never said they had to do it naked! But before I could explain further, Berenice, always the instigator, dramatically threw off her towel like a cape and started mimicking the squats in the nude.
「Look, I’ll take the punishment with you, Clementine! A king’s order is absolute, after all!」
「Hey! I said later! Not right now!」
Now the only one left with any modesty was Clementine, still clinging to her towel. Meanwhile, Berenice, her chest and backside bouncing freely, continued squatting, egging everyone on. Naturally, Suzanne and Claudia resumed their own squats, fully naked as well.
This whole situation was absurd.
Berenice had clearly made up her mind, eyes sparkling with playful mischief, her dark skin gleaming as she squatted enthusiastically. It was obvious she was doing this to put pressure on Clementine, enjoying her discomfort.
Clementine, however, was on the verge of a breakdown.
「I-I can’t do this! I’m not some tavern dancer! There’s no way, no way! Louise-sama, please!」
Louise just smiled, though somewhat apologetically.
「Maybe you’re just too rigid, Clementine. Loosening up a bit wouldn’t hurt.」
「Th-that’s impossible!」
Louise was unusually strict on Clementine today. Sure, doing squats would make her more flexible physically, but I had a feeling that wasn’t quite the point Louise was trying to make.
Meanwhile, Berenice and the others, still in their all-naked squats, kept teasing Clementine.
「Come on, Clementine! It’s your punishment! Are you really so useless that you can’t even manage this?」
「Yes, oneesama! You can do it!」 「One, two! Let’s go, let’s go!」
Faced with this ridiculous scene—everyone doing squats while their bodies jiggled—Clementine began to tremble. Finally, with a determined glare directed at me, she tossed aside her towel, revealing her full, curvy form.
Ah, great. Here we go again. I could already tell this was going to backfire on me.
Sensing disaster, I took a cautious step back.
「Wait, Clementine! You really don’t have to—what I meant was, you can do this later, fully dressed!」
「I will do it… If this is my punishment, I will bear it… even if it means enduring this shame.」
「No, seriously, there’s no need—」
「Aha, ahahahaha… I’ve been nothing but a disgrace all along, haven’t I? What does it even mean to be a proud daughter of the Mancine family? I’ve made a fool of myself on the battlefield, been captured and humiliated, dragged Louise-sama into my mess… Maybe this is all I’m good for now. Just shaking my oversized backside and chest, like a common tavern wench, for King-sama’s amusement.」
Clementine had snapped. Her once vibrant teal eyes were now dull, empty.
「That’s not what I meant at all! Seriously, listen to me!」
But no, none of them ever listened to me. Not really. I sighed.
Clementine, now fully resigned, began squatting with an air of desperation. It was honestly difficult to watch as she trembled through the motions, her voice cracking as she sought validation.
「King-sama… why won’t you look at me? Have I become so pitiful that I’m not even worth your gaze?」
Despite her request, I could only manage a quick glance over my shoulder. Her pale backside came into view, and sure enough, there was that large mole.
「Okay, I saw. We’re done now, right?」
「Ahh! No, don’t look at me!」
She screamed, her face flushed bright red as she charged at me.
Wait, what? She asked me to look! Why was she mad now?
「Clementine, hold on, you’re going to—」
Her sudden rush sent me and her both tumbling headfirst into the rose-scented bath, soaking us both. Beneath the surface, I could feel her soft, muscular body—a confusing contradiction of strength and gentleness.
As I sank deeper into the bath, I couldn’t help but think how unfair this was. I did what she asked, and now she was furious. I sighed under the water, taking comfort in the soothing warmth of the rose petals around me.
Ah, at least the bath is nice.
※※※
「I’m so sorry, King-sama. I… I got so embarrassed I just lost control of myself.」
「Yeah, it’s fine. You don’t need to apologize. I get it. I forgive you, really.」
Clementine, now fully calmed down, stood beside me, helping Berenice scrub my back. She seemed genuinely remorseful.
Berenice, evidently pleased with herself for successfully teasing Clementine, joined in.
「See? King-sama’s forgiven you!」
I couldn’t help but think that maybe Berenice would need her own punishment soon. But I wasn’t about to say it out loud—I knew how that would spiral into yet another ridiculous situation.
「You really know how to get yourself into trouble, don’t you?」
As they continued to wash me, I finally felt like the punishment ordeal was over. I could relax. Just as I was sinking into the warmth of the bath, Louise, ever the voice of reason, spoke up.
「Impressive as always, Takeru.」
「What? What are you talking about?」
「You handled Clementine well. She’s a proud noblewoman. Her mistake could have endangered me, and that would’ve haunted her. But now, she’s practically carefree.」
「I don’t think she was too worried about that anymore.」
Indeed, her embarrassment over the squats had pretty much eclipsed her earlier guilt.
「I know I spoke harshly of her earlier, but Clementine is still a promising knight. Her pride, though, is holding her back. I believe that under your guidance, she could break through that barrier.」
「I don’t know about that. I’m really not all that special.」
「You are, Takeru. At least to me.」
Louise’s words carried a rare warmth that made my chest tighten. As my wife, her affection was something I cherished deeply.
With a smile, she leaned in and wrapped her arms around me, her body pressing gently against mine. The rose-scented bath was intoxicating, but it was Louise’s natural scent that filled the air around us—a subtle, alluring fragrance that stirred something deep inside me.
「As a noble, even a baroness, there are duties I must uphold. And as your wife, I must fulfill mine as well.」
「Duties?」
「I’ve been hearing from my father as well. He keeps urging me to give the Carlson family an heir soon. A boy, preferably, to continue the family line.」
「Oh, that kind of duty…」
It wasn’t like I had any objections.
In the soothing warmth of the rose-scented bath, we quietly indulged in our shared sense of responsibility.