「Haa～」
Staring at the fluffy steam rising gently… why does this make me feel so happy?
Ah～ it’s warm.
But it’s a little too mild, so I need to sink up to my shoulders or I’ll get chilly.
I stretch out fully in the open-air bath, arms and legs spread wide, letting my whole body soak in the heat.
I had no idea there was a hot spring so close to the capital.
「So warm～」
「Argusta-sama. How’s the temperature?」
「A bit lukewarm, maybe.」
「Then we’ll add more from the source. Please move away from the spout.」
「Okaaay～」
The gentle trickle suddenly turns into a powerful gush.
「Ah～. That’s perfect now.」
「Yes. Please call if you need anything.」
「Thanks～」
Fuuu. Pure bliss.
After the attack the other day left me injured, I was ordered to rest.
My left arm was snapped clean in half, several ribs were cracked, plus bruises, scrapes, and worst of all, a deep gash across my back.
The most dangerous part was one broken rib piercing my lung.
When I heard that, I genuinely thought 『Am I going to die?』 in panic…but Muscle Prince, who had just returned, had already arranged a doctor.
He said 「If it’s not a disease, we can handle it」 and introduced me to a shady-looking, eccentric mad-scientist type of physician.
Turns out he was actually a blessed genius healer.
Using some kind of spiritual surgery technique, he reattached my bones and sealed the lung wound.
The only problem?
His hands… went ‘deep’ straight into my body.
No tricks, no tools, just bare hands.
One session was enough to cause lifelong trauma, but at least the fractures and lung were fixed.
The rest was best left to natural healing, so they recommended this hot spring.
A private retreat reserved exclusively for members of the royal family.
Basically a vacation villa.
「Haa～. So haaaappy～」
I love the unique smell of hot springs.
Back on Earth, I lived in the countryside and had a hot spring nearby, so I went often.
Every time, I’d savor that scent and just soak it in.
I gaze up at the sky absentmindedly.
This is the true joy of an open-air bath.
Bathing elegantly at sunset, how luxurious can a noble get?
I’m a noble too, though.
Royalty, even.
Soft footsteps approach… and she steps in.
Noie.
Because of dragon slaying and other duties, this is the first night she’s staying here.
For the past three days while I’ve been here, we’ve been in a mini-separation.
Well… she basically can’t stay away from the capital for long, so she has to rush back morning and night at full speed anyway.
These past three days, she only came for brief greetings.
She rinses herself quickly with the ladle before slipping into the water.
But… ever since that day, there’s been an invisible wall between us.
I’m not the one putting it up.
Yet Noie naturally keeps a little distance from me.
「Noie.」
「Yes.」
If I call, she answers.
No… she’s always ready, tense and waiting, so she can respond the moment her name is called.
「Come here.」
「……Yes.」
She approaches hesitantly, step by tiny step.
I guide her to sit beside me, then gently rest my head on her shoulder.
She jolts with a tiny ‘bikun’, what kind of reaction is that?
「Hey, Noie.」
「Yes?」
「Lately… you’ve been keeping your distance.」
「……」
This is the perfect chance.
We’re husband and wife, we should talk openly, from the heart.
「Why do you pull away from me?」
「……」
「Noie?」
「……Because I’m scared.」
「Eh?」
The unexpected word genuinely startles me.
She really is trembling.
「I’m scared. I couldn’t protect Arg-sama. I broke my promise. I’m a bad girl. Bad girls disappear. Everyone disappeared… I’m scared.」
I lift my head from her quivering shoulder and gently turn to face her, taking both her hands in mine.
Her hands, used for dragon slaying today, are slender, with long, graceful fingers.
So that’s it.
Noie was scared.
That’s why she fought so desperately against the fear.
「Noie.」
「……」
「Thank you.」
「Eh?」
「Thank you for protecting me.」
At those words, tears spill from her eyes again.
She shakes her head desperately.
「I didn’t protect you. Arg-sama got hurt. I couldn’t do anything…」
「That’s not true, Noie. This injury is my fault.」
「But…!」
I pull her close with my good right arm, then press a soft kiss to the tip of her drooping ahoge.
「You didn’t break your promise.」
「……」
「You came to save me.」
「But」
「Yeah, I got hurt. But I’m still here. I’m right by your side and I’m not going anywhere. That’s why I can lean on you like this. Because you protected me.」
「……」
So please don’t cry, Noie.
I’m really, truly happy.
「Because you came that day, I’m here right now. Thank you, Noie. Thank you for protecting me.」
Her wandering gaze finally settles.
Those familiar red-black eyes look back at me.
「Noie. Promise me.」
「Promise?」
「Yes. Promise you’ll keep protecting me from now on.」
「Yes.」
「And… when something hurts, tell me everything.」
「Yes.」
She reaches out softly and hugs me, pressing her face against my chest.
「Arg-sama.」
「Hm?」
「I’m sorry.」
「Mhm.」
「……Thank you.」
「No… thank you.」
I hug her back tightly and give another light peck to the tip of her now-perky ahoge.
She lets out a tiny 「Hmm…」 breath and trembles.
Her soft chest, bare and warm, presses firmly against me.
「Arg-sama.」
She suddenly notices something and lifts her face.
「Do it?」
「The doctor said no. Nothing strenuous until the bones heal.」
「Understood. Then I’ll wait.」
She clenches her fist in determination, then snuggles closer, sweetly clinging to me.
Yeah.
Noie really is a natural cuddle bug at heart.
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