Chapter 36.
I immediately took Friedrich’s hand and headed to Rene Palace.
Friedrich’s hand felt as hot as if I were holding fire, and he didn’t say a word the entire way.
His massive body fluttered like a paper doll as he followed me.
“Shall I assist with your bath?”
Even seeing us return earlier than expected, Elsa asked calmly without a hint of surprise.
I nodded and released Friedrich’s hand.
At that, Friedrich flinched and looked at me.
“Go wash up and wait. I’ll come later.”
As I spoke while meeting his eyes, he nodded blankly.
I went straight to my room and let Elsa attend to my bath.
“You’re not asking why we’re back early.”
Elsa, in turn, looked at me as if I were the strange one.
“Were you expecting me to ask?”
“No, not really…”
“I actually thought you were late.”
Ha, Rene’s image is really something…
Well, considering what I did earlier, I can’t complain. Elsa probably nods as if she expected it.
‘…Where did that courage come from?’
Thinking back, my face burned. It was an impulsive act to prevent Rene’s image from worsening further.
It felt like I was bolder because of Rene’s body. Anyway, it really felt strange…
“Shall I apply some lip balm?”
“Huh?”
“You keep touching your lips.”
Only then did I realize my state and awkwardly lowered my hand.
Elsa stared at me steadily before changing the subject.
“Anyway, it’s fortunate you came when the preparations to receive Your Highness were complete.”
“As expected of Rene’s maid.”
I replied casually and soaked in the bath a few more minutes before standing up.
I dried my hair until it was fluffy with a towel and headed to Friedrich’s room feeling refreshed.
As usual, I skipped knocking and opened the door. But Friedrich wasn’t immediately visible.
“Friedrich?”
Puzzled, I stepped further inside, only for a bewildering sight to halt me in my tracks.
On the white bed, red rose petals were scattered in a heart shape, and atop them, Friedrich knelt, wearing only a robe.
I stood speechless for a moment before asking Friedrich.
“…What’s this?”
“It was like this when I came in.”
At that instant, Elsa’s earlier words came to mind.
“Anyway, it’s fortunate you came when the preparations to receive Your Highness were complete.”
Wait, was that what she meant by preparations? I gaped for a second, then furrowed my brow and asked.
“But why are you kneeling there? My maids wouldn’t have put you up there.”
“I thought you’d like it if I…”
Friedrich murmured, slightly bowing his head.
“…Like this.”
“…”
Elsa might be jumping ahead, but Friedrich was flying.
It was definitely Rene’s taste, but I pretended not to notice and sat down beside him.
Friedrich flinched and looked at me. I waved my hand and said.
“Sit comfortably. Your legs must hurt.”
“…”
“Hurry. It’s fine.”
In the end, Friedrich released his kneeling posture. I stared intently at his face.
His face was clean, with no trace of the earlier tears. Friedrich stubbornly stared at the floor, as if avoiding my gaze.
“Don’t you want to look at my face?”
At my playful remark, Friedrich startled and immediately lifted his head.
When I smiled as naturally as possible into his eyes, Friedrich hurriedly dropped his head again.
I couldn’t help but burst into laughter and teased him.
“You really don’t like it, huh?”
“…Don’t tease me.”
He murmured, bowing his head even lower.
“Why can’t I look? You know why.”
At those words, the smile on my lips vanished in an instant.
W-wait, how can he just drop that bombshell?
Flustered, I couldn’t hide my expression, and just then, Friedrich looked up at me again, forcing me to act nonchalant somehow.
“P-people kept saying weird things. They thought I was bullying you.”
I continued, trying hard to hide my embarrassment.
“Anyway, I’m sorry for doing it without consent. That was the only way I could think of to show we’re on good terms.”
“…”
“Were you really upset?”
“No.”
The answer came surprisingly quickly. But it wasn’t what I’d expected.
So I stared blankly, and Friedrich met my eyes straight on as he continued.
“It felt good.”
“Uh… really?”
My mind went blank, and I blurted out the first thing that came to mind.
“I’m glad you weren’t upset.”
“…So.”
Friedrich continued in a slightly husky voice.
“You can do it anytime.”
“…Huh?”
“I’ll learn if you teach me.”
…What? Did I hear that wrong?
I stared at Friedrich with wide eyes, but his face was too nonchalant. Unbelievably so for what I’d just heard.
“I learned knitting well, didn’t I?”
He said it so casually with that face.
“I’m not slow to learn.”
“Uh, well…”
W-what? Why is he suddenly so proactive?
‘Well, he probably wants to seem favored by me too.’
With Joachim catching my wedding bouquet and attending the reception, he must feel a sense of crisis.
Recalling Emperor Otto’s words about how Friedrich’s position would be quite awkward, it made sense, but it left a bitter taste.
‘I didn’t want him to try so hard like this.’
That feeling naturally drew my hand to his head.
As I gently stroked his hair, Friedrich stared at me intently.
“Friedrich, you don’t need to try so hard to please me.”
A sigh escaped at his appearance, like an abandoned dog desperate not to be discarded.
“I told you. Your life will be safe. I won’t abandon you.”
“Even after Prince Anton becomes crown prince?”
“Of course, your life will be safe then too.”
But Friedrich stared straight at me and persistently asked.
“Will I still be by Your Highness’s side then?”
“…”
I was about to ask if he didn’t want to be free even more, but Friedrich suddenly grabbed the hand that was on his head.
I flinched reflexively, and Friedrich brought my hand to his lips, slowly kissing it. The tickling sensation made my body tense.
“I’ll be fine however you use me.”
His hot breath made my skin quiver. As I furrowed my brow and looked at Friedrich, he wore an even more plaintive expression and pleaded with me.
“Please keep the vow you made today. Alright?”
This was the first time he’d demanded something so strongly from me. It was bewildering and puzzling.
“Why do you want to stay by my side so badly?”
Friedrich looked at me and answered as if it were the simplest thing.
“Because I like it.”
At the straightforward confession, I stared at him dumbfounded.
“I like being by Your Highness’s side.”
As if knowing I couldn’t believe it once, he repeated it while carefully kissing the back of my hand.
The kisses climbed higher. From the back of my hand to my wrist, up the inside of my arm, tickling me more.
I looked at him in confusion, and he finally kissed my shoulder, beginning to nibble gently at the dress strap.
“Fritz, wait…”
Feeling a sudden sense of danger, I grabbed his shoulders, but he seemed even more stimulated by it, kissing more devotedly.
“…Friedrich.”
When I called him like that, he faithfully stopped all actions and lifted his head to look at me.
Seeing his reddened eyes made my heart sink for a moment, though I didn’t know what that emotion was.
But Friedrich’s gaze revealed so clearly how much he craved me that just looking at it made it hard to breathe.
“Can I try it again?”
In the lengthening silence, Friedrich quietly spoke.
“What you taught me earlier.”
