“Your Grace, forgive my presumption, but may I speak?”

Sylvester’s voice brought him back to reality. Rashid gave a small nod as permission.

“How about going to the hot springs at Terde with the lady?”

“Hot springs?”

Rashid frowned briefly before nodding as if remembering something.

“Ah, you mean the one in the north.”

“Yes. It’s where the ducal family has long maintained a villa for the elders’ recuperation. According to tradition, the hot spring waters there are good for muscle aches and fatigue recovery.”

“Is that so.”

“They say it’s also good for skin beauty, so for the lady it would be even more……”

“That’s enough.”

Rashid cut him off promptly. Embarrassed, Sylvester showed his compliance with his master’s will by slightly bowing his head.

Hot springs.

Rashid fell into deep thought. He had heard about the hot springs at Terde before. But it was a place forgotten for years now with no one using it.

“That would be fine. We can stay there for about ten days.”

“I will make preparations. When do you plan to depart?”

“This afternoon?”

“…Do you mean today?”

“Yes.”

It was noon now. Sylvester was flustered by the urgent schedule. Though he had recommended it, he hadn’t expected to leave right away. Even departing tomorrow would have been troublesome, but this afternoon?

“If I may, Your Grace. How about departing tomorrow?”

Rashid frowned. Sylvester quickly added,

“I think the lady might need time to prepare.”

“Ah, is that so.”

Rashid readily accepted and his expression softened.

Normally one wouldn’t dare add comments to the master’s decision. But Sylvester thought he might change his mind if the madam’s circumstances were used as a reason. That judgment proved correct.

‘For my lady’s sake.’

Worrying about her pain, deciding on the hot springs trip because of it, and giving time for her preparations when told she needed it. All of these were different from before.

The butler who had lived many long years made a quiet observation about his master’s attitude.

The subtle vitality in his eyes and his enthusiastic manner were things the butler had never seen before.

“Ah, and that.”

Following the direction Rashid pointed, Alisa’s portrait appeared. The Alisa in the painting smiled gently at them.

“Leave it in its place.”

“Understood, Your Grace.”

Sylvester bowed his head.

* * *

A midwinter outing was decided by Rashid’s sudden whim.

It was a day’s carriage ride to the destination.

“Why the sudden interest in hot springs?”

The magically treated carriage provided quite a comfortable ride. As I asked while leaning back against the soft cushions, Rashid, who had been quietly watching me until then, pulled open the curtain covering the window.

Outside, snow from a few days ago still lay piled up.

“You’re not going because of me, are you?”

“Why do you think not?”

“Because I think that’s exactly it.”

Rashid just stayed quiet. Though his expression hadn’t changed, he was clearly somewhat annoyed. This was his ‘why ask when you already know’ look. He was undoubtedly subtly sulking.

‘Now I can tell even without the sentences telling me.’

I felt like I had become an expert on Rashid.

I hummed a tune while following his gaze out the window.

The carriage that departed from Camelli early in the morning finally arrived at the villa on the foothills of Terde by nightfall.

“Thank you for enduring the long journey, Your Grace. And my lady.”

The villa’s caretakers, welcoming their master and mistress after a long time, had finished preparations with great enthusiasm.

The well-maintained villa created a cozy and peaceful atmosphere with its triangular roof and natural wood finish. I immediately liked the place.

It was midnight by the time we unpacked and finished a quick meal.

“Can I try the hot springs now?”

“It’s dark outside.”

“I’m tired from the long carriage ride. Are there any lights?”

When I asked the caretaker instead of Rashid, she kindly answered.

“We have magic lamps installed on the ground that provide soft lighting.”

I shrugged slightly as if to say ‘see?’, and Rashid shook his head. Though he was shaking his head, it meant ‘Well, do as you please.’

I headed to the hot springs humming, carrying a robe and towel. The maids offered to attend to me, but I declined. I wanted to enjoy some time alone.

The hot spring flowed in several layers like water cascading down wide steps. The edges were decorated prettily with attached stones, and the steaming spring water’s surface had a turquoise tint.

I carefully dipped my feet in first. The temperature felt slightly hot, but it was just right for soaking. The body would soon adjust once inside anyway.

“Ahh……”

This is too good.

A sigh of satisfaction escaped naturally as I immersed my whole body in the warm water.

Looking up while loosely leaning against the rocks in the spring, countless stars formed the Milky Way across the night sky. The stars twinkling like jewels scattered on black silk were beautiful.

“Sirius.”

I muttered, looking at the blue-shining star.

If that’s Sirius, would that area be Canis Major? I tried connecting the stars to make a dog shape but couldn’t manage it.

“Winter Triangle……”

Instead, it was easier to connect just the bright stars into a large triangle. Though since I connected whatever caught my eye arbitrarily, I wasn’t sure if I properly linked the actual Winter Triangle stars.

The night here is much darker than where I used to live, and the stars are much brighter.

‘Though they probably look the same.’

While gazing at those distant stars and sinking deeper into the water…

“You’ll fall in at this rate.”

Suddenly, a familiar voice rang out.

“Ra, Ra, Rashid?!”

I hurriedly pulled over the towel I had brought. Then pressed down the floating fabric with both hands while wrapping it tightly around my body.

“Why did you come in?”

“To take a bath.”

“No, I mean, that’s not……”

My body, already warm from the hot water, grew even hotter at this sudden situation.

Rashid was, naturally, undressed with just a towel wrapped around his waist. It was fortunate he showed at least that minimal consideration. If he hadn’t, I might have run away screaming.

“If you had said you wanted to come in, I would have left.”

“Was there any particular need for that?”

Rashid strode over and smoothly slipped into the same spring as me. Though it must be hot, there was no hesitation in his movements.

I said while glancing sideways,

“It’s a bit awkward, isn’t it?”

“We’re still married, aren’t we?”

“Well yes, but……”

“Are you embarrassed?”

I ducked my head so low I almost dunked it underwater, not knowing what to do.

Rashid chuckled.

“It’s not like it’s your first time seeing……”

No, for me it is the first time!

But I couldn’t say that.

“I’ll get out.”

“Just stay.”

“But… you must feel uncomfortable.”

“It would be more uncomfortable if you left.”

If I insist on leaving after he says that, would it seem like I’m running away? Though it does seem like a situation I could avoid.

Come to think of it, since Alisa and Rashid are married, they must have seen each other n*ked before. No, they definitely have.

So during their consummation too, he was that natural……”

“Ah!”

I gasped in shock, taking in a big breath. What am I thinking about?

“Alisa?”

Hearing my startled voice, Rashid moved a bit closer to me.

My hands shot out reflexively. It was a signal not to come any closer.

“I’m, I’m fine! Don’t worry about it.”

“Are you that embarrassed?”

He easily ignored the signal and came right next to me.

“You can’t see anything anyway.”

Though the spring water containing minerals was cloudy with a soft milky white color, and I had wrapped a large towel around myself to cover up, being embarrassed is still being embarrassed.

‘He must find teasing me amusing.’

When I glanced at him with reproachful eyes, he smiled and lightly stroked my cheek.

“After we’ve kissed so many times.”

“That’s……”

The fingers that were stroking my cheek slowly, lingeringly traced my lips.

Ah, he really must be made of fire. That’s why he’s so hot.

“To reject me like this.”

His eyes gazed at me intently. I leaned into his hand, letting him hold my face. I felt languid.

It’s hot. Too hot. The heat is rising to my face. My whole body was turning red hot.

Maybe Rashid is raising the spring water temperature. Because he’s fire. Then is he holding the moon within the fire that lights up the night?

Ah, it’s really too hot.

“……I think you should get out, Alisa.”

He gently squeezed my cheek, waking my gradually closing eyes.

“What?”

When I answered in a weak voice, he lifted my body and sat me on the edge of the spring. The cold night air instantly cooled the heat.

“Ah, yes!”

As I quickly stood up, he asked,

“Alisa, when do you think the good day will come?”

“The good day?”

I tried to think what that meant, but my exposed body was too cold in the winter weather.

“Isn’t today a good day?”

I hastily answered while running inside. Not forgetting to hold the towel tightly so it wouldn’t fall.

* * *

When I realized that ‘good day’ meant the good day I had talked about during the consummation, I wanted to die.

Worried that Rashid might misunderstand—though it was definitely a situation prone to misunderstanding—anyway, because he shouldn’t think wrongly, I very quickly corrected myself.

“Rashid.”

“Yes.”

The villa had only one bed. As soon as he lay down next to me after finishing his bath, I said,

“Though today is indeed a good day, it’s not that good day.”

Speaking with careful emphasis made it feel like I was transmitting some kind of code.

“I know.”

“Right?”

Rashid answered clearly. His attitude was very straightforward.

That’s a relief. I lay down with a much more comfortable mind. Because he said he understood, I also readily accepted when he took me in his arms. This is similar to hugging a teddy bear after all.

It’s natural to give a goodnight kiss to a teddy bear before falling asleep.

* * *