Bath Play

Haa…

I let out a deep sigh, hanging my head. It’s no wonder, given that I’ve been under constant surveillance from the balcony window every single day…

Such dedication.

Rain or shine, they never neglect their duty to watch over me. I suppose one could call them a faithful familiar.

Maybe Brad’s influence has rubbed off on me, making me utter such nonsense in my mind.

Even as I sighed, I could catch glimpses of the silver fur through the window frame. Miinya, doing her best to protect her master, Freesia.

It’s quite touching, really. But to me, destined to have my head bitten off by Miinya, she’s nothing but an enemy.

I need to avoid unnecessary contact with Freesia and refrain from any power harassment or abusive remarks… My goal is to keep Freesia’s goodwill towards me intact while avoiding any death flags.

Well, there’s no other choice…

If it’s just the fluffy Miinya watching, I suppose it’s no big deal for her to see me training.

With that thought, I removed the chest decoration jabot, unbuttoned my shirt, and tossed them onto the sofa.

Ideally, I wouldn’t want to train half-naked, but unfortunately, there’s no such thing as sleeveless shirts or T-shirts here. While sleeveless shirts are common among commoners, they’re considered lowly garments by the nobility.

Such a convenient piece of clothing, yet we don’t have it…

Half-naked, I took something out of a box. I had prepared a certain item for my training.

“Fuhahaha! Wonderful!!!”

The wheel was so perfectly round that it seemed to deceive the eye, with spokes that grew finer toward the edges, their lines beautifully crafted. The polished finish, done with meticulous care by a master craftsman, added a rich, varnished sheen. I couldn’t help but voice my admiration.

I had requested a coach builder—or rather, ordered him, in Brad’s commanding tone—to make this wheel. It was significantly smaller than those used for carriages.

I inserted an appropriately sized rod into the wheel’s axle and grasped the rod with both hands.

The ab roller was complete!

Although I had been training for a while, controlling this body was still far from perfect.

Kneeling on the floor, I extended my arms and threw my body forward.

Ugh!

Here it comes, here it comes, here it cooooooomes!!!

The load on my abs was excruciating, torturing my body. But this pain was strangely pleasurable, almost addicting.

Not enough! The load isn’t enough!!!

I widened the gap between my feet and extended my arms and hips straight, bringing my nose close to the floor. The strain on my abs intensified.

Sweat dripped down my upper body, and I thought through the pain in my abs: I will survive.

Disinherited, forbidden to wield a weapon, and banished to the frontier teeming with monstrous beasts, I secretly trained in preparation for the inevitable day.

Come to think of it, Freesia and the others had statuses and skills… Do I have them too?

Well, for now, more importantly!

――――Royal Family’s Private Grand Bath.

Kapoon. (sfx: dip in water)

Ahh~ This is rejuvenating~

Soaking in a hot bath after a workout is nothing short of heavenly. And having a bathhouse bigger than any public bath all to myself? It’s a luxury I could have never imagined in my previous life.

If only there were an open-air bath and a sauna, it would be perfect. Maybe I should request to have them built!

But a troubling image floated up in my mind.

‘Pay your taxes for Prince Brad! Anyone who refuses will be slaughtered!’

The tax collectors might as well have been shouting “Hyah-ha!” as they brandished their whips and slapped them against their palms. Others licked broad-bladed sabers, threatening the populace.

What kind of post-apocalyptic world is this…?

I remember doubting if this was really an otome game, often checking the package to make sure. The kingdom of Riebenracia was in financial ruin due to Brad’s profligacy, to the point where he was even considering selling out the country.

No wonder his half-brother Siegfried ended up stripping him of his right to the throne. 

Reflecting on this, I soaked deeper into the hot water, letting it soothe my aching muscles and my troubled mind. I couldn’t let history repeat itself. I had to find a way to manage the kingdom’s finances responsibly and prove I was more than just the tyrant they believed me to be. I needed to be a leader worthy of respect, not fear.

As I pondered these thoughts, the serene atmosphere of the bath helped me to focus on the path ahead.

As I was enjoying the luxurious bath, footsteps echoed on the wet marble floor. 

Pitter-patter pitter-patter

Unfortunately, the steam made visibility less than ideal.

Just then, Fressia appeared before me. Her silver hair glistened with the steam, enhancing her already beautiful appearance.

Fressia, seemingly affected by the warm steam, had a faint blush on her cheeks. She covered her front with a towel, modestly concealing her chest and lower body.

Yet, despite her supposed disdain for Brad, Fressia took an unexpected action.

She dropped her towel to the floor.

In contrast, I covered my eyes with my hands.

As a child with an adult’s mind, seeing Fressia’s naked body up close felt criminally inappropriate. When Megumi and I were kids, we used to take baths together. But now, the situation is entirely different.

As I was covering my eyes, Fressia spoke. 

“Lord Brad, When I look at you, my chest burns so hot that it hurts. Could you please touch and see how it feels?”

Stop! What the h*ll is this girl saying!

Fressia took one of my hands and starting pulling it towards her bre**ts, which are just starting to bud. 

Isn’t this a crime……

I ended up touching loli Fressia’s small bre**ts.