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AFTER dinner, I enjoyed the open-air bath before setting out on a stroll down the hallways to cool off. The carbonic acid gas of the Rhuddlan hot springs always left me feeling so refreshed.
I’d wanted Siraiya and Prince Adelberd to experience it, too, but they were forced to take normal baths since they couldn’t come out of their room now. They’d probably be in the two yukata left in the room—alongside the written instructions on how to wear them.
I couldn’t rid myself of the association between hot spring resorts and yukata now that I’d regained my past life’s memories. A seamstress in this world made them for me when I explained what I wanted. Yukata were much easier to recreate than tatami, fortunately.
But since I was raised as a noblewoman in this world, it felt immodest to walk around in a yukata where people could easily see me, so I was wearing mine over a blouse.
Perhaps that was why my body refused to cool down. I detoured around the engawa instead. That way, I could take in the sights of the courtyard garden before I went back to my room.
But that turned out to be the wrong decision. A man in a yukata had beaten me to the building’s outer deck. I knew exactly who he was once I spotted that dark skin glittering in the moonlight.
Once the second-born prince noticed I was there, ignoring him and turning around wasn’t an option.
“Did you enjoy the hot spring? Please ask the staff if there’s anything at all that you need.” I approached him as much as I could without acting too overfamiliar. To my surprise, Prince Rutherford was wearing the yukata correctly, though he didn’t seem to be wearing anything underneath.
“…It wasn’t terrible, I suppose. Now I see why the Rhuddlan territory is such a famous tourist destination in Elzeria.”
“You’re too kind.”
He was much less aggressive than he’d been in the lobby. Perhaps the hot spring had relaxed him.
“…Is my brother in bad shape?”
“I’m not allowed to speak of His Royal Highness’ condition.”
“Hmph.”
With a snort, the prince brought his eyes back to the garden. I wondered if it would be all right for me to leave. My much lower position in society made it almost unthinkable for me to interact with any prince in the first place, but I felt too awkward turning away now. As a viscount’s daughter, I probably needed His Highness’ permission to leave his presence, even though I could act a bit more freely in the company of royalty once I officially became a duchess.
“I could provide you with something lightweight to wear under the yukata, if you wish,” I offered.
“Am I wearing it wrong?”
“No, in fact, I’m the one who isn’t wearing it correctly. I was attempting to recreate a garment from a faraway country, but I didn’t think the nobles of Elzeria would adopt clothing that exposed so much skin.”
“Sanctoria has a traditional garment where we wrap our bodies in cloth, too. It’s considered holy since it’s an imitation of the garments worn in Heaven. This thing is much less revealing than that,” he explained.
I recalled how the people of Sanctoria wore garments that exposed a lot of their skin. Perhaps they would take to the yukata more naturally than those from Elzeria.
“…But it’s so lightweight, sick people probably shouldn’t be wearing these,” he muttered. “Knowing my brother, I’m sure he took the proper preparations, but I could loan him some of my clothes if he’s too chilly… although…”
Oh? Wait a minute…
“…You really care about Prince Adelberd, don’t you?”
Once my new impression of the second-born prince was out of my mouth, his eyes widened, and he gulped reflexively.
“N-No! You’re wrong…! I just…! I don’t want my older brother doing anything stupid!”
His panic confirmed my suspicions. All this time, I’d assumed they were rivals fighting to claim the same throne.
“I would be happy to bring your spare clothes to him…” I offered.
“…! Don’t play nice with me. You’re mocking me for showing sympathy to my enemy, just like everyone else does!”
I’d been trying to show respect for Prince Rutherford’s feelings, but he didn’t interpret it that way. It sounded as if he had experience being put down over this very subject. His reaction was understandable if someone had been cruel to him whenever he showed affection for his big brother.
“I promise you, I’m not mocking you whatsoever. I believe that those who show concern for others are wonderful, loving souls.”
“…! Love is something only weak people feel. How very…naive.”
“Is that what people often say to you?” I ventured.
Prince Rutherford didn’t respond. He merely scowled and looked away, glaring down at the courtyard in pain. He looked like a pouting child. His brash demeanor and large frame were deceptive, and it was easy to forget that this prince hadn’t even attended the academy yet. He was still quite young, and puberty was taking its toll on his emotions.
“I’ll bet it hurt to be put down just because you care about your brother. But that pain is proof that you’re a loving person. I can tell you’re strong, too. You still worry for him, even though it’s caused you to suffer in the past.”
“I’m…not strong…!” Those were his real, unguarded feelings. He squeezed his fists tight in a show of the tension affecting his entire body.
I could tell he was unnerved. He didn’t want to open up to someone only to get hurt again. Leaving him here might be like abandoning a frightened child. I moved closer to look at his face—like something a big sister would do.
But that surprised him, and I could see his bewildered expression when he recoiled.
“You don’t have to listen to people who insult you and call you weak. Please come and tell me if someone ever does that to you,” I said firmly.
“And what…are you going to do about it?”
“I’ll give them a grown-up scolding, of course.”
When I said that with a smile, the second-born prince’s expression softened to something innocent and childlike.
As he struggled to find his words, he finally grew embarrassed, blushed, and looked down at his feet. “I’m not a little kid…” he muttered, then left for his room.
Perhaps, despite my first impression, Prince Rutherford was actually an honest, well-behaved boy.