In the grand bath of Avana, hot water gushed over a rock ledge, pouring down like a waterfall and filling the spacious area.
「Never fails to impress.」
While the palace baths were luxurious, there was sothing special about these open-air baths that embraced the natural scenery. As usual, I was joined by my slave girls for this bath.
Even Roll, who tried to escape, was captured by Colette and the others and dragged here to join us.
After a long day, I was ready to relax and let the hot water soothe my tired muscles. As I poured the warm water over my back, I could hear Sherry fussing behind .
「Why are they here in the bath?」
「We’re King-sama’s knights, so naturally, we must accompany him.」
Berenice replied confidently.
Ah, just as I expected. I had a feeling this would happen, so I chid in from behind them.
「Sherry, it’s fine. They trained hard and worked up a sweat, so let them join us.」
「But, oniisama, are you sure about this? Look at how they’re dressed!」
「Whoa, why are you still in your workout clothes? Not that I’m telling you to undress! I’m not saying that!」
My flustered reaction made Berenice chuckle.
「Oh, King-sama would be uncomfortable if we were naked, right? So, we figured we’d just enter in our clothes. Clentine here seems to like the workout outfit too.」
「I’m not sure I really do…」
Clentine muttered, clearly uncomfortable, tugging at the hem of her tight shirt.
It was obvious the gym clothes didn’t fit them properly, and seeing grown won in them made the whole situation look even more ridiculous.
「Oniisama, are you really okay with this? I know they’ll try to ss with you.」
I sighed. I knew this was coming, but thanks to Roll, I now knew the dark fairy dwarves’ weakness, so I wasn’t worried.
「Berenice, Clentine, you’re just going to bathe quietly, right?」
Clentine hesitated with a soft ‘yes….’ while Berenice responded with a bright, ‘Of course!’
I didn’t trust them one bit, but honestly, I was almost daring them to try sothing this ti.
「Alright then, you can join.」
I had a trump card ready. If Berenice tried anything, I’d use the dark fairy dwarves’ weakness—rubbing the inside of her ears—to make sure she learned her lesson.
※※※
「Oniisama, can you pet a little more?」
As I soaked in the bath, Sherry started acting unusually clingy. With a sigh, I gave in and lifted her onto my lap.
This was strange. Sherry used to be too proud to act like this in front of others, but ever since we arrived on this island, she’d been sticking to constantly.
Still, she’s been working hard as my chief administrator, and she’s probably more stressed than usual. If this was the only ti I could reward her efforts, so be it. I stroked her wet, silver hair as she leaned against .
「There, there. You’ve been doing a great job, Sherry. I’m lucky to have you.」
「Thank you!」
「Ano, Master, too…」
「Alright, Viola, co here.」
Viola also sidled up to , and I began gently running my hand through her long blue hair. This girl, usually so shy and reserved, had also been unusually clingy lately.
It seed like everyone had grown a bit too attached since we arrived on this island. The only ones acting like their usual selves were Roll and Colette, who were happily splashing around in the waterfall, playing as they always did.
As Berenice and Clentine approached, Berenice’s usual playful tone rang out.
「My, my, King-sama, surrounded by your slave girls—things are getting steamy here.」
Before I could respond, Sherry cut in sharply, ‘There’s no room for you two to interfere.’
Viola, who was beside , wrapped her slender arms around my neck, hugging tightly.
Ah, I see. It’s competition. Since the newcor Berenice has been getting close to , Sherry and Viola have been sticking closer too.
Everything suddenly made sense.
「But seriously, you two… you’re really soaking in the bath while still in your gym clothes?」
「Is that a problem?」
「It’s fine, I guess…」
The gym clothes were light enough, so technically, they worked as makeshift bathing suits.
But from a Japanese perspective, seeing them in white shirts and blue shorts, soaking in the hot water, was pretty bizarre.
In the water, the way their shirts clung and lifted was… well, distracting.
Clentine’s figure, with her curvy chest and hips, and even Berenice’s more modest but still appealing form, made it hard not to glance.
It was the surrealness of the situation that made look, I told myself.
「Oh, I see how it is. King-sama clearly prefers this look. After all, I noticed how you were sneaking glances at Clentine during training earlier. Much more effective than being fully naked, wouldn’t you say?」
「Hey, I wasn’t looking at her like that!」
In fact, I’d been actively avoiding looking. But Berenice only laughed, making it clear she didn’t believe .
I get it now. They’re teasing for pretending not to look, which ans I am looking, according to them.
Sherry, still on my lap, squird and pressed herself closer.
「Don’t listen to them, oniisama. You’re above their gas.」
「R-right…」
「Oh, Clentine. Why don’t you show King-sama what you learned today? Let him see your progress.」
Without hesitation, both Berenice and Clentine stepped out of the hot spring. They positioned themselves right in front of and began doing push-ups.
「One, two….」
Clentine counted, her voice strained as droplets of water slid down her toned, curvy body, her soaked gym clothes clinging even tighter to her skin.
「Co on, King-sama, you should pay closer attention and give us your feedback.」
「Feedback on what exactly…?」
I muttered, trying to focus anywhere but on Clentine’s bouncing chest.
The wet fabric of her shirt clung so closely that her skin was visible underneath, making the sight almost too much.
And just when I thought it couldn’t get any worse, they started doing squats.
「Now, Clentine, swing your arms more. And really jump while you’re at it.」
「Yes… like this…!」
As Clentine followed Berenice’s instructions, her entire body jiggled with each movent, her well-toned muscles contrasting with the softness of her chest and hips. Every ti she jumped, her curves bounced and swayed in a way that seed almost exaggerated.
「Now, that’s not even a squat anymore.」
「King-sama, shall we show you another exercise we often do? It’s called the butt-kick jump. You’ll love it.」
Without waiting for my response, Berenice jumped up and kicked her heels towards her backside, her gym shorts clinging tight to her as water droplets scattered around her. The two of them began bouncing energetically, water splashing everywhere, filling the bathhouse with their lively movents.
I sighed, utterly bewildered by what I was witnessing.
「What’s the point of all this?」
I shrugged as I spoke, trying to act indifferent, but Berenice turned to Clentine with a frown.
「You’re not doing enough! If you don’t catch King-sama’s attention, you’ll lose to those girls over there.」
「B-but… what else am I supposed to do?」
「Slip or sothing, show a little skin!」
With perfect timing, Clentine let out a squeal, ‘Ahh!’ and slipped, falling dramatically as her shorts hiked up slightly.
I had a feeling this was going to turn into chaos.
Berenice mischievously tugged at Clentine’s shorts, pulling them down and baring her backside.
「Hey, Berenice, cut it out!」
I shouted, realizing things were about to go too far. I could already see the mole on Clentine’s butt—this was one step away from complete chaos.
If I didn’t stop this now, I knew things would escalate quickly. I hurriedly got out of the bath, wrapping a towel around my waist before stepping in to intervene.
I pulled Berenice away, stopping her from undressing Clentine any further.
「Clentine, you don’t have to do this.」
「No, it’s fine. Soone as useless as has no other way to be of help.」
She had completely lost her confidence, which is why she was going along with Berenice’s antics.
This wasn’t good.
I gently shook Clentine’s shoulders and spoke firmly.
「That’s not true, Clentine. You’re already skilled. If you train with , and learn to use firearms, you’ll beco an excellent knight.」
「Do you really think so?」
I hugged her tightly. This wasn’t a joke. It’s dangerous to send soone into battle with their confidence shattered.
「Of course. You’re talented, Clentine. As the Hero, I guarantee it. You’ve been dedicated to your training, and if you keep working hard, you’ll beco a fine knight.」
「T-thank you…」
She stamred, her voice catching as tears welled up in her eyes. I patted her shoulder reassuringly.
Berenice, watching us with her hands on her hips, nodded in approval.
「Looks like the storm has passed and things are solid again. I’m glad Clentine got the recognition she deserved. A happy ending, wouldn’t you say?」
「Not quite. Clentine isn’t a toy for your amusent. You deserve so punishnt for this.」
Without hesitation, I moved behind Berenice and jamd my fingers into the inside of her long ears, rubbing them vigorously.
I wasn’t about to let her get away with her constant teasing. It was ti to set so boundaries.
「Eek!」
She collapsed onto the floor, letting out a small scream.
「Hahaa, how’s that? Had enough?」
「UwaaAAaaaHhh」
But then, suddenly, Berenice cried out in a loud, panicked voice.
「King-sama proposed to ee!」
Her face, even with her dark complexion, was visibly flushed, and she looked up at with a mixture of shock and embarrassnt.
「W-wait a minute! I thought your ears were just a weak spot—」
「In our culture, rubbing soone’s ears like that is… it’s a proposal!」
「No way… Hey, Roll!」
I called out, turning toward the waterfall where Roll and Colette were playing. 「
Is that true?」
Roll tilted her head thoughtfully before answering,
「Hmm… I think I rember father talking about proposals and daikons or sothing like that. And yeah, touching ears is a big no-no unless you’re family.」
「Seriously? Why didn’t anyone tell that before? That’s a pretty important detail!」
Berenice, still blushing but now grinning slyly, sighed dramatically.
「Oh well, looks like you’ll have to take responsibility now, King-sama.」
「Responsibility? Look, I had no idea. I’m sorry, okay?」
「Just kidding. I’ll forgive you.」
「Oh… that’s a relief.」
I breathed out, feeling a weight lift off my shoulders. The last thing I needed was another marriage proposal. I was barely handling things as it was.
Besides, it’s way too soon to be thinking about marrying a knight I’ve only recently gotten to know.
「King-sama, you’re a strange one.」
「What do you an?」
「King-sama is the King-sama so no one can force you to take responsibility if you don’t want to. And if you really want to, you can just ask us to accompany you tonight.」
That had to be a joke, right?
「Look, I admit I ssed up, so I get why you’re teasing . But could you not say stuff like that in front of everyone? It sounds awful.」
「Of course, of course. I forgive you, King-sama. And I’ll let what happened earlier slide. Though I always thought only Clentine had a shot, it seems I might have a chance at luxury too.」
I had a sinking feeling she hadn’t truly forgiven . It seed like I’d intended to punish her, but now I was the one caught in her playful trap.
anwhile, Sherry, who had just erged from the bath, was glaring at .
「Why am I always the one left out? It feels like everyone’s always getting ahead of . Proposals, really? I’m not saying you can’t flirt, but at least keep things in order. I’m tired of being sidelined by all the new girls!」
Without warning, Sherry grabbed Berenice by the ears, making her squeal in surrender.
「Ahhh! Not the ears, please! Stop it!」
Watching Berenice fall apart, I realized I should have just asked Sherry to handle her punishnt from the start.
※※※
In the early hours before dawn, there was a sudden knock at my door, waking from my sleep.
「I’ve got it.」
I said, gently stopping Berenice from jumping up.
When I opened the door, I found Damons, pale and looking quite serious.
「Your Majesty King General, I apologize for disturbing you at such an early hour, but we’ve received word that a ship from Kingdom of Silesie has arrived in port!」
It seed the Silesie fleet had finally reached us. Drake’s fleet, sent to check on their delayed arrival, had sent a ssenger to inform us.
「We should prepare to greet them then.」
The news likely ant that so of their ships had been damaged or delayed due to rough conditions at sea, possibly from encountering sea monsters or storms. Our own journey to this island had been plagued by a similar encounter with a sea dragon.
As I began to ponder what had happened, Damons quickly bowed his head, embarrassed.
「What’s wrong? Oh, Berenice… Don’t co out like that.」
Berenice, ignoring my earlier warning, stepped out of the room, dressed in nothing but a thin robe barely covering the essentials. Her dark, glistening skin was on full display, catching the light.
Damons, a man with a wife and children back in his holand, averted his eyes, his face betraying his discomfort. As a proper military man, he wasn’t used to these kinds of antics.
Berenice stretched lazily, yawning as she ca closer, her robe barely hanging on.
「Last night was so intense, right King-sama?」
I shot her a warning glance.
「I didn’t do anything, so don’t get the wrong idea, Damons. Now, let’s get to the port.」
「Y-yes…..」
Damons stuttered, still off balance from the scene.
With a quick word, I urged Damons to follow as we headed for the harbor.
「Wait up, King-sama! Co on, Clentine. You’re King-sama’s guard! Get moving!」
「Mmm, no more stripping….」
As we approached the port, preparations were already underway to receive the Silesie fleet.
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