And back to the hot springs.
In the secluded bathhouse, Kira let out a warm breath as he soaked up to his shoulders.
“Phew...”
The hot water seemed to seep into him, calming his heart. Yesterday he’d only managed to wipe down his body, so he’d been longing for a proper cleansing. Even when he and Evelyn were making do in that alley back in the capital, they’d often wash away the sweat and fatigue of the day in public baths like this.
I wonder how Evelyn’s doing...
After they’d paid the attendant, she’d said something strange, and the easily frightened Evelyn had gone pale with fear. Evelyn had clung to him, pleading for him to come into the women’s bath with her, but he’d firmly shaken his head and told her that was completely out of the question. Dejected, she’d reluctantly acquiesced.
So he’d parted ways with a teary-eyed Evelyn at the entrance to the baths.
Maybe the curse the attendant mentioned is related to the legend Karin was talking about.
The lake had some kind of history. He’d really wanted to hear the details from the attendant, since he didn’t want anything to happen, but Evelyn wasn’t having it. In the end, he’d cut the conversation short and learned nothing.
I should’ve asked Karin for more info...
A low voice interrupted his thoughts. “Phew,” it said. “It’s practically soaking my bones.”
Kira looked over to see a large silhouette, hazy in the steam, with arms spread across the bathtub.
“This spring is a hidden gem. Glad we convinced Europa’s cousin to let us come here,” the voice muttered.
Kira had just been thinking that it was really nice and comfortable without other customers around. Now some guy was disrupting his peace and quiet.
Well, not some guy. A very specific guy, he realized when he caught a glimpse of the man’s face through the steam.
“Oh.” This is...
A solidly built, tanned young man with a rugged face—Igna, one of the princes of the Holy Kingdom of Snasile.
What’s a prince doing here?
Kira could only think of one reason.
“Are you looking for Evelyn?”
There was no reply. It seemed Igna hadn’t registered that someone was talking to him. He placed a towel on his head, closed both eyes, and hummed a tune poorly as he continued to soak.
“Hey. Igna,” Kira insisted. “Are you here looking for Evelyn?”
“Hmm?” Igna’s sharp eyes opened and fixed on Kira. “Who’s Evelyn?”
The prince’s brain shrank by the day, it seemed. His skull refused to admit any information not pertaining to his fiancée.
Igna scooped up water with both hands and splashed his face. “Now that you mention it, I might’ve come here to look for someone. But I can’t really remember.”
“Maybe you had another nosebleed.”
“No. I haven’t been able to see Europa in days. My blood volume is going up, not down,” he explained, then whispered mournfully, “A shame.”
It seemed even he had things to worry about.
“Wait! I remember!”
“What?”
“I came here looking for an ‘Eclair.’ That’s the name, I’m very sure.”
“Eclair,” Kira echoed, thinking back. “I don’t think I saw any for sale at the stalls. Besides, this is a hot spring resort. Shouldn’t you be going for sweet buns or something?”
Igna nodded at Kira’s apt advice. “True. Europa likes sweets, so sweet buns would be a good idea.”
“Hey! Kiraaa!” came a high-pitched voice from beyond the moist wall.
Hmm?
It was muffled but definitely Evelyn’s.
Kira made sure no one else was around, swallowed his embarrassment, and replied, “Whaaat?”
“Pleeease!” Evelyn shouted. “I’ll never ask you this agaaain! But could you come to the women’s baaath?”
Kira was stunned she’d ask again.
“See, right nooow,” she continued, “there’s no one else heeere! So it’s okaaay! Just for a biiit!”
“I told you no!” he snapped, holding his head.
He didn’t need a mirror to know his face was bright red. But Evelyn was completely oblivious to his feelings.
“Waaah! Why are you yelling at meee?! I’m scaaared! I’m all alooone!”
The empty bath must’ve made her fear spike. Kira wasn’t sure what to do—he could go and comfort her, but Igna was right there. He hesitated.
“Is she yours?” Igna asked, raising a finger.
Kira fell silent.
“Nice,” Igna said.
“What?” Kira asked, more confused by the second.
Igna shouted, “If you want, I can go to the women’s bath in your boyfriend’s plaaace!”
Kira was shocked the prince would say something so outlandish, even as a joke.
Evelyn must’ve been even more flustered now that an unknown man had suddenly offered to join her in the women’s bath. Well, technically not unknown, exactly.
“Wh-Who are yooou?” she asked.
“Just a random perveeert,” Igna replied.
Well, at least he’s self-aware, Kira mused.
“Um, Mr. Perveeert? You’re a bad influence, so please don’t talk to Kira anymore, okaaay?” Evelyn shouted.
And now Igna and Evelyn were having a bizarre argument through the wall. Great.
“Says the freak trying to invite a man into the women’s baaath!”
“F-F-Freeeak?!” Evelyn shrieked.
“Hmph. I would never enter a bath without my beloved fiancée anywaaay! Too bad, weirdooo!”
“What the heeeck?! He’s not just a pervert but a rude one toooo!”
Unconcerned with Evelyn’s indignation, Igna yawned and pressed a hand under his nose. “Damn. Nosebleed incoming.”
He seemed to be getting lightheaded. Slowly, he pushed himself to his feet, then turned to Kira and said, “I don’t know who that is, but make sure the blood doesn’t rush to your head too. I’m outta here.”
“Uh, okay.”
Igna walked out of the bath, not bothering to cover himself up.
A bewildered Kira called out to Evelyn, who was still huffing angrily. “Hey, Evelyn! Don’t say stuff like that!”
“Huh? What do you mean, Kira?”
“That pervert is obsessed with his fiancée, so it turned out okay, but what if he’d been a regular pervert? That could’ve ended badly.”
“Oh,” she murmured softly, then fell silent.
She must’ve realized she’d made quite the risky proposition. Indeed, had Igna been a regular pervert, he might’ve slipped into the women’s bath after hearing Evelyn tell Kira nobody else was there.
Though Kira had never thought the day would come when he was grateful for Igna’s unique brand of degeneracy, he was nevertheless concerned about Evelyn’s blind spots. She’d spent too long in the Grand Basilica, had no sense of danger, and trusted people too easily. There was no guarantee nobody would ever try to take advantage of that.
“You have to be careful!” he chided her.
Evelyn said, “Okay.”
He couldn’t see her through the wall, but he could practically see her smile.
“I understand, Kira. Thank you for worrying about me.”
Kira nodded and let out a sigh. But, you know, that side of her is also...
“Kira, did you just say something?”
“Nothing!” he snapped. Kira took a deep breath, then said, “I just said someone I know manages to be purer and more innocent than a newborn.”
“That doesn’t feel like a compliment!” Evelyn huffed indignantly.
Kira sank half his face into the water and spent some time blowing small bubbles from his mouth to calm himself.
Then he moved to the cold water—he needed to do something about his flushed face or Evelyn might think something was up later.
Come to think of it, why was Igna even here?
As Kira walked across the wet tiles, he tilted his head in puzzlement.