CHAPTER 128
The Empress's bathroom.
A small, plump figure quickly crossed the garden.
It was Sir George, the imperial physician, rushing to the Emperor’s quarters after hearing about the accident in the garden.
He hurried along, adjusting his attire, only to run into a messenger sent by the Emperor.
“His Majesty has said he will receive treatment in Her Majesty the Empress’s quarters.”
Though puzzled, he had no time to question it and changed his course to the Empress’s quarters.
Although it was said the injuries weren’t severe, the fact that treatment was necessary implied that the Emperor had been hurt.
Especially with the wedding tomorrow, any injury to the face would be a significant problem.
Just as he was nearing the Empress’s quarters, his assistants came running with medicinal herbs.
Sir George directed the palace attendants to mix herbs that would cleanse and numb the pain into the bathwater.
He prepared disinfecting alcohol made from strong spirits and began mixing the herbs to create a treatment.
When he finally crossed the threshold of the bedroom and saw the Emperor, he let out a sigh of relief.
He had heard the Emperor was attacked by two beasts, each one and a half times the size of a wolf.
Sir George’s buttonhole-sized eyes widened.
The Emperor looked surprisingly unscathed.
Sure, his clothes were torn, and there were minor wounds on his neck and shoulders, but with proper disinfection, there would be no complications.
As he exhaled in relief, his gaze inadvertently shifted to the Empress.
The Emperor was fine, but the Empress, on the other hand, looked pale.
Her large, tear-filled eyes seemed to be on the verge of spilling over.
Her small hand was holding his large one tightly, as if deeply concerned about him.
“Were you not seriously injured? Your clothes are so torn…”
“Do not worry. After a good night’s rest, I’ll be up and about by morning.”
To be honest, judging by his condition, he looked ready for a night hunt.
The Empress’s expression brightened considerably at Sir George’s words.
He felt a sense of pride at having reassured her.
But soon, the Emperor’s gaze caught him, and Sir George quickly averted his eyes.
The red eyes of the Emperor locked onto him with a silent signal.
Those crimson eyes demanded that the physician display his other talents.
“Ahem…”
Having showcased his acting skills a few times before, Sir George cleared his throat.
“However… nursing…”
One of the Emperor’s eyebrows arched slightly as he continued to maintain eye contact with Sir George, who quickly looked down.
“Close nursing care is necessary. Yes, you mustn’t leave His Majesty’s side even for a moment and monitor his condition closely.”
“Do not worry. I will be by his side to nurse him.”
Arabelle’s nostrils flared with determination.
The Emperor, still holding Sir George's gaze, tilted his chin ever so slightly toward the bath.
Sir George swallowed dryly and continued, “And after soaking in the bath…”
This time, both of the Emperor’s eyebrows lifted in unison. Sir George hastily added, “I mean… while soaking in the bath, with the herbs…?”
The Emperor’s sharp chin pointed toward the oil bottles prepared in the bathroom.
“Yes, oil… Oil massage will help relieve muscle pain.”
Though he was thrilled at deciphering the Emperor’s signals, Sir George’s expression soon turned bewildered again.
The Emperor’s raised chin seemed to demand more explanation.
Running out of things to say, Sir George began to stammer. His gaze caught the long fingers of the Emperor, which slid down his throat once before sweeping down.
“Ah! You must apply the prepared herbs and oils thoroughly, all over his body… Without missing a single spot… Must use your hands! Yes, hands, but not only hands… No? Yes, hands only… Or, not only hands, surely…? Ah, I suppose you’ll figure that out for yourselves, yes…”
Arabelle looked at Sir George with slightly worried eyes, as his prescribing seemed to involve some strange, incomprehensible dialogue with an unseen person.
She asked in a serious tone, “Should the herbs be applied even to the uninjured areas? As far as I could tell, the injuries seemed to be on his neck and shoulder…”
Surprisingly, Arabelle showed a sharpness in her observation.
Sir George’s eyes twitched slightly as if she had hit a nerve.
His conscience pricked him a little, but he didn’t have the courage to anger the bulging muscles beneath the torn uniform.
Sir George nodded vigorously. “Yes, Your Majesty. Even if the wounds are not visible, there could still be injuries. Moreover, the impact could cause muscle pain. It is essential to apply the treatment thoroughly, all over the body.”
“Thank you, Sir George. I will do as you say.”
Arabelle reached out to the bathwater to check its temperature.
Finally, the Emperor smiled at Sir George, a look of satisfaction on his face.
‘To remove his clothes… Attendants will be necessary…’
Sir George looked around. It was only then that he realized the bath attendants were nowhere to be seen, preoccupied with checking the Emperor’s condition.
He reached out for the long cord near the door, which was connected to the bell to summon the attendants, but then withdrew his hand.
He caught sight of the Emperor’s mouth, tilted slightly in displeasure.
“His Majesty does not want to appear weak… So I will assist him with the bath.”
Arabelle’s words nearly made Sir George choke.
How could anyone look at that body and think it was weak?
Perhaps it was due to the Emperor having exerted himself after a long time, but his muscles seemed to stand out even more today.
He looked extremely pleased.
Sir George was quite curious to know how the Emperor appeared through the Empress’s eyes.
His mouth, which had been twitching as if about to say something, snapped shut.
The Emperor’s red eyes shot a glance at the bathroom door.
Sir George quickly bowed and exited the bathroom.
Walking out into the cool night air, a smile crept across Sir George’s lips.
The Emperor’s demeanor was still sharp and formidable, as always. Yet, watching him struggle to receive care from his wife somehow made him seem endearing.
The thought struck Sir George, and he shuddered at the absurdity of it, hurrying his steps to shake off the notion.
***
As Sir George left the bathroom, the sound of fabric tearing echoed within.
The Emperor’s blue velvet uniform… was harshly torn apart.
The Empress's Bathroom
A plump, short figure quickly dashed across the garden. It was Sir George, the royal physician, hurrying towards the Emperor’s quarters after hearing about an accident in the garden.
As he ran, straightening his clothes, he bumped into a messenger sent by the Emperor.
"His Majesty has decided to receive treatment in Her Majesty's chambers," the messenger relayed.
With this news, Sir George had to change his course towards the Empress's quarters.
He was puzzled but had no time to ask questions. Although he was told the injury wasn’t serious, the mention of treatment implied that the Emperor had indeed been hurt. Worse still, tomorrow was the wedding, and any injury, especially to the face, would be a disaster.
As he neared the Empress's chambers, his assistants ran up with medicinal herbs. Sir George instructed the palace attendants to mix herbs that would eliminate germs and pain into the bathwater. He also prepared antiseptic alcohol made from strong spirits and mixed the herbs to create a remedy.
When the Emperor finally crossed the threshold into the bedchamber, Sir George let out a sigh of relief.
They said he had been attacked by two beasts, each one and a half times larger than a wolf.
Sir George’s buttonhole-like eyes widened in surprise.
The Emperor looked fine.
Sure, his clothes were torn, and there were small wounds on his neck and shoulders, but good disinfecting would prevent any complications.
As Sir George exhaled in relief, he glanced at the Empress and was taken aback. The Emperor was in good spirits, but the Empress appeared pale. Her large, teary eyes seemed like they were holding back tears.
Her small hands clasped the Emperor’s large ones as if worried.
"Were you hurt badly? Your clothes are quite torn…," she asked, her voice trembling.
“Do not worry, Your Majesty. With a good night's sleep, His Majesty will be fully recovered by morning,” Sir George reassured her.
In truth, the Emperor looked ready for a night hunt, even now.
Hearing Sir George's words, Arabelle’s expression brightened. Sir George felt a sense of pride, having relieved the Empress's concerns. But his gaze soon dropped when the Emperor’s eyes met his, silently signaling him.
The Emperor’s red eyes bore into him, urging him to display another of his skills beyond healing.
“Ahem…”
Having showcased his acting skills several times before, Sir George cleared his throat.
"However... close care is essential. You must not leave His Majesty’s side, not even for a moment," Sir George emphasized.
“Do not worry, I will stay by His Majesty's side and take care of him,” Arabelle said, her voice firm.
Still locking eyes with Sir George, the Emperor subtly nodded towards the bathtub. Sir George swallowed dryly before continuing.
“And after soaking in the bath…”
This time, both of the Emperor’s eyebrows rose, urging Sir George to add more.
“Uh, yes… while soaking in the bath, you should use herbs and…” The Emperor’s sharp chin pointed toward the oil bottles prepared in the bathroom.
“Yes, oil. You should massage His Majesty with oil. It will help reduce muscle pain,” Sir George said, finally grasping the Emperor’s signals.
But his relief was short-lived as the Emperor’s gaze demanded more.
He had no more words, yet the Emperor’s fingers subtly traced down his neck, signaling him again.
“Oh! You must apply the prepared herbs and oil all over His Majesty’s body... thoroughly, without leaving any spot untouched. And, um, use your hands! Yes, your hands, though… not only your hands…? Yes, of course, not just your hands… You’ll understand what I mean soon,” Sir George stammered, unsure of himself.
Arabelle looked at him with some concern. It seemed like he was half-awake, carrying on a conversation with someone invisible.
“Should I apply the herbs even on uninjured areas? I thought the injuries were only on his neck and shoulders?” she asked in a serious tone.
Unexpectedly, Arabelle showed a sharp side. Sir George’s eyes twitched slightly, feeling a bit guilty. But he wasn’t brave enough to argue with the muscles bulging from the Emperor’s torn uniform.
“Yes, Your Majesty. Even if you cannot see the injuries, there might be some, and there could be muscle pain from the shock. You must apply the treatment evenly over his entire body.”
“Thank you, Sir George. I will do as you say,” Arabelle replied, testing the temperature of the bathwater with her hand.
Finally, the Emperor flashed a satisfied smile at Sir George.
‘If His Majesty is to undress… attendants will be needed…’ Sir George thought, glancing around. It was only then that he realized the bathing attendants were nowhere to be seen, having been dismissed to allow the Emperor’s privacy.
Sir George reached for the long cord by the door, connected to a bell to summon the attendants. But he quickly withdrew his hand when he noticed the Emperor’s half-smiling lips.
“His Majesty did not want to show any weakness, so… I thought I might assist with the bath myself,” Arabelle explained.
Sir George nearly choked on the air that filled his throat. How was this man’s body showing any sign of weakness?
Perhaps due to the recent exertion, the Emperor’s muscles seemed even more prominent than usual. He seemed to be enjoying himself.
Sir George wondered how the Emperor appeared in the Empress's eyes.
Just as Sir George opened his mouth to speak, he caught the Emperor’s slanted red gaze toward the bathroom door.
Bowing quickly, Sir George left the room.
Breathing in the cool night air as he walked, a smile played on his lips. The Emperor's demeanor remained sharp and unapproachable, as always, yet something about his struggle to receive care from his wife seemed almost endearing.
Shaking off the absurd thought, Sir George quickened his pace, trying to clear his mind of the image.
Inside the bathroom, the sound of tearing fabric could be heard.
The Emperor's blue velvet uniform was being… ripped apart roughly.
The fingers moved swiftly, too impatient to unfasten the six golden buttons. The uniform jacket, already tattered by the beast’s sharp claws, was in no condition to be saved. In one swift motion, hands tore the velvet fabric through the hole over the Emperor’s chest.
The Emperor stood quietly in front of the cream-colored porcelain bathtub.
His arms hung calmly at his sides, not moving an inch. He watched the owner of the hands undressing him with slightly surprised eyes, though they soon softened into satisfaction.
Despite her innocent face, her hands were quite assertive.
Arabelle tore off the Emperor's jacket, letting it fall to the floor, and hastily removed the vest and shirt underneath.
On any other day, she would have blushed furiously just watching the Emperor undo the buttons on his shirt. But now, there was no time for embarrassment.
Her flared nostrils and slightly pouting lower lip showed just how focused she was.
Once she had stripped away his outer garments, only his undershirt remained.
Unlike the shirts that opened in front, the undershirt had to be pulled over his head, a challenging task for the Empress, who was significantly shorter than the Emperor.
Arabelle gripped the hem of the shirt, raising her arms high as she stretched to reach. Standing on her tiptoes and straining, she looked so adorable that the Emperor wanted to pick her up and carry her to bed.
But he had to resist for the sake of the future. He had no intention of only receiving care from her this one time. He needed to be a “good patient.”
The Emperor tried to lower his body to help her, but her efforts were still in vain.
The urgency wasn’t only on Arabelle’s side.
The fragrant scent of her skin teasing his nose and her soft body brushing against his chest were causing certain parts of his body great discomfort.
The injuries from the wolves were nothing. The sweet breath escaping from between Arabelle's lips was inflicting far greater torment on the Emperor’s body.
At this rate, dawn would break before he even got into the bath.
The Emperor decided to undress himself, spreading his fingers to take over.
But he wasn’t the only one who decided that time couldn’t be wasted.
Although for different reasons.
Arabelle's expression was filled with determination as she stared at the undershirt. She was completely focused on getting the Emperor into the bath to rest.
Suddenly, her large eyes sparkled as if she had found treasure.
She had spotted a slightly loose thread at the neck of the undershirt.
Without hesitation, her small hands grabbed the front of the shirt.
Rip—
The undershirt split in two and dropped to the floor in the blink of an eye.
The Emperor’s V-shaped upper body, covered in taut muscles, was exposed.
His sweat-drenched torso glistened dreamily under the light of the crystal chandelier.
Normally, Arabelle wouldn’t have dared to look at the sweat rolling down his chest, sliding between his sculpted abs. But this time, the situation was different.
Even as the thick beads of sweat dangerously trailed down to his navel, Arabelle didn’t blush.
Her mind was entirely focused on one goal:
To heal the injured Emperor.
As the Emperor had said, she was indeed “earnest and diligent” in all her tasks.
Having successfully removed the Emperor’s upper garments, she had no idea that her hands were far more destructive to his body than the beasts had been.
Just as Arabelle’s fingers landed on the button of his trousers,
“...
”
A hot breath fell on the crown of her head.
A stifled groan followed.
Arabelle tilted her head back as far as it would go.
Her hazel eyes, filled with worry, met the deepened red eyes of the Emperor.
“Your Majesty, are your injuries causing you much pain?”
The Emperor, gritting his teeth, nodded.
“Do not worry. I will take care of you,” Arabelle assured him with firm resolve.
As she moved to unfasten the button on his trousers,
“Ah!”
Arabelle let out a startled gasp as she was lifted off the ground.
Splash.
The Emperor, holding Arabelle in his arms, stepped into the bathtub.
“I suddenly felt a chill…”
The Emperor spoke weakly, trying to soften his sharp eyes.
Understanding his explanation, Arabelle wrapped her arms tightly around the Emperor's shoulders.
The Emperor pressed his lips to her neck as they both sank deeper into the water.
The moment the Emperor’s “good patient” act came to an end.
The Morning Before the Wedding
The day before the wedding, a guest arrived at the Empress's quarters late morning.
“Lady Tristiny!”
Arabelle greeted warmly as she tried on shoes for tomorrow’s reception.
With a gentle smile, Tristiny curtsied.
The room was filled with stunning dresses, all displayed along the walls. These were the dresses Arabelle would wear tomorrow.
“And the wedding dress…?” Tristiny asked, prompting Dina to respond excitedly.
“The wedding dress is kept separately in the dressing room. His Majesty visits often, so it would be troublesome if he happened to see it.”
As Vera adjusted the pleats of the dress Arabelle would wear for the carriage parade, she added, “You’ll be amazed tomorrow. I’ve never seen a wedding dress so beautiful in my life. Hundreds of pearls and crystal beads are sewn onto the fabric.”
As she watched the maids busily moving around, Tristiny turned to Arabelle.
“Your Majesty, I have something important to tell you.”
Arabelle looked at her curiously, meeting her gaze.
Tristiny's hand, clenched under her shawl, was damp with cold sweat.
She could see her own reflection in Arabelle’s hazel eyes, looking deceptively kind as she slowly began to speak.
“It’s about my mother. She is alive.”
Arabelle’s wide eyes grew even larger, like a full moon.
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