185 – Would You Rather Bathe or Sleep With Me?
Viktor observed the multitude of blueprints and Scarlett’s fatigued expression. He reached out and grabbed her arm, saying, “Rest for now. You’ve crossed the mountains.”
“Do I have time to rest?”
“Yes, you do. I heard that in Bastina, you’ve been busy assessing the situation due to the news of you building an aeroplane. Given that there have been no recent military provocations, you should take it even easier.”
“I see…”
Scarlett replied, then sat down in a chair and leaned back. Perhaps due to the numerous nights she spent staying up, she started feeling drowsy almost as soon as she sat down. She didn’t want to admit it, but being next to Viktor made her anxious and relieved her at the same time.
Seeing Scarlett’s dozing form, Viktor let out a small chuckle and ruffled her hair, saying, “Sleep on the bed.”
“I don’t want to… take a bath…”
“Just sleep.”
“I can’t just sleep in a new bed. I’ll bathe, change into pyjamas, and then sleep.”
Viktor let out a soft laugh, realising Scarlett’s insistence on her routines. He gave her a gentle push towards the direction of her accommodations. “Go then, and rest well. You deserve it.”
Viktor picked up the pyjamas Scarlett had unpacked and raised them, teasingly commenting, “Your pyjamas seem older than complaining about a new bed.”
He was teasing, and Scarlett, still partially asleep, clenched her fist and playfully struck Viktor’s arm. He pretended to block her attack and stepped back. As Scarlett swayed due to Viktor’s dodge, he swiftly pulled her into a hug.
“Then, sleep in my bed.”
“What are you talking about?”
“Or I can help you with a bath.”
Then, once again, she landed another hit on him.
Viktor chuckled, saying, “I’m not joking. I can handle such labour for valuable personnel.”
“Don’t say ridiculous things. What do you mean you’re not joking…”
“I’m telling you again. It’s not a joke. If you’re too bothered, I really meant I’d help you with a bath.”
“…”
Was he really not joking? Could that be possible?
Scarlett looked at Viktor in disbelief. He lowered his head and met her gaze, saying, “Hmm?”
As he looked closely, he realised she was awake now.
Scarlett averted her gaze and then spoke, “I’m awake now.”
“Oh, I see.”
“Do you want to go bathe?”
Scarlett hurriedly went to bed, retrieved her pyjamas, and then dashed towards the connected bathroom. After a moment, she returned to where Viktor was, standing by the door, and asked, “Shall we?”
“Viktor, by any chance… is this not a temptation?”
At her question, Viktor asked, “Are you so inexperienced that you need to ask that?”
“No…”
I was just worried that if I hesitated due to my feelings and mistook them for temptation, what would I do?
As Scarlett pondered, Viktor walked towards the bathroom and said, “And you?”
“Huh?”
“Why do you have such a worried expression? You’ll make me wait.”
His straightforward words made Scarlett pause. Then, her face reddened slightly, and she covered her cheek with her hand before speaking.
“Can’t I just take a bath normally?”
In response to her words, Viktor made a somewhat displeased expression and replied, “I suppose.”
“Then come in.”
With those words, Scarlett entered the bathroom.
They could immediately draw hot spring water, so there was no need to heat the water; she filled the bathtub with warm water. However, it was a bit too hot, so Viktor mixed in some cold water to adjust the temperature. Afterwards, he tested the water temperature with his forearm.
Scarlett watched in fascination as Viktor adjusted the temperature of her bathwater. It was such a mundane task that she had never thought Viktor would be involved in her life. After adding the bath salts she used back in Dumfelt, Viktor closed the curtain around the bathtub and said, “Go ahead and bathe.”
“Is the water temperature alright?” Scarlett asked, suspicious of whether the temperature was suitable.
At her apprehension, Viktor replied, “You think I can’t even manage to get the right bathwater temperature?”
“Considering how you managed to wrap bandages around me last time, I can see how that’s possible.”
“I’m learning from my mistakes and improving.”
“Is that so?”
“Yes.”
His response made Scarlett inadvertently smile a little, and she entered behind the curtain. After removing her gown and stepping into the bathtub, she found the water temperature to be perfect. She even hummed a tune that she liked while enjoying her bath.
When she finished bathing and came out wrapped in a large towel, Viktor approached. He carefully dried her body and helped her change into her clothes. Scarlett contemplated saying something, but she realised that she had fallen asleep a few times in Viktor’s presence, and he had seen her without clothes on a number of occasions, so her initial shyness lessened a bit. Yet, contrary to her initial thoughts, her embarrassment seemed to grow, and she found it hard to meet his gaze.
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