Weeping Men: The Innocent Princess's Secret Delight - Chapter 2.26
“…Oh my!”
Jessie, while helping with the bath, covered her mouth in surprise.
Judith, lowering her gaze slightly, immediately knew what had startled Jessie.
‘When did that happen.’
A bruise mark remained on her neckline. With teeth marks visible around it, it couldn’t be passed off as an insect bite.
“…Your Highness. Could this be… from the knight?”
On top of that, the newly hired maid was quick-witted about such matters.
After a moment’s consideration, Judith nodded with her lips pursed and gaze lowered. There was no point in feigning ignorance.
“Oh my! Oh my goodness!”
“How did you know right away?”
“What other reason would there be for both of you to catch a cold together? Kyaa!” She’s making more of a fuss than the person who should be embarrassed.
‘Did she do it herself.’
While inwardly criticizing, outwardly she continued acting, rolling her eyes this way and that.
“You won’t tell anyone, will you?”
“Of course not!”
Hmm. I don’t believe you.
Judith smiled brightly. Her lips were already twitching. She had a feeling that if left alone, she’d be embroiled in a palace scandal within a day.
‘That won’t do.’
She needed to take action. And give her an errand while at it.
For now, Judith pretended to trust her completely. A secret relationship starts with unwavering trust.
“Haa… I feel so much better opening up to Jessie. It was a bit hard trying to hide it from everyone…”
“Secrets become lighter when shared! I’ll be Your Highness’s diary. Tell me anything!”
When she acted dependent, the response was more intense than expected. Judith’s eyebrows raised.
‘Is she selling information somewhere?’
People are usually this enthusiastic when there’s a reward, aren’t they?
She was about to test her but stopped. Jessie’s eyes were sparkling with pure interest.
‘She probably wants to sell it to her fellow maids for popularity…’
It didn’t seem necessary to put much effort into creating a smokescreen. Judith pretended to be troubled, rubbing her neckline as she brought up the main point.
“…Then I have a favor to ask Jessie. I…”
“Anything, just say the word!”
“I need… the root of Berrydrake. Could you get it for me?”
Jessie was well aware of the use of the plant Judith mentioned.
“…Gasp.”
She let out a small scream, at a loss for words.
Judith, as if to show her, plucked out the eye of the lion head ornament that spewed hot water from its mouth. The eye of the pure gold lion head was a large ruby.
She placed the jewel in Jessie’s arms.
“Don’t tell anyone and quietly… Okay? You can keep what’s left over.”
Judith added softly.
“…”
The reaction was as intended. Seeing the momentary greed in Jessie’s eyes, Judith secretly smiled.
‘Promises and vows can’t be trusted, but greed can be.’
Calculations must have already been made in her head. The naive Imperial Princess casually hands over such rubies as errand fees, so if she monopolizes the errands by keeping secrets, it could be quite profitable.
“…You can trust only me.”
And Jessie, affirming with determination, seemed to have worked it out in her head as expected.
“Please.”
Judith nodded, leaned back in the bathtub, and closed her eyes. The hands attending to her became more attentive.
“If there’s a lady you dislike, please tell me. I’ll pretend to be her maid and go buy it.”
Jessie even said such an audacious thing. Judith burst out laughing. It was amusing to see her suddenly become so loyal.
“There isn’t. Everyone is kind.”
While feigning modesty, Judith stored that suggestion in her mind. It sounded like quite a good idea.
Obtaining the root of Berrydrake is itself problematic for one’s reputation. Because that root has.
‘Contraceptive properties.’
When Kaizen finished inside, she acted nonchalant. It didn’t seem dangerous given her cycle. But Judith had no intention of being held back even at the slightest chance.
‘I’ll only enjoy myself with Kaizen.’
At the same time, in the knights’ quarters. Kaizen was lying on his bed in his room, still unable to fall asleep.
“So you’re saying you prefer playing with me over any future prospects?”
“Me too.”
The sweet words she had said kept circling in his mind.
“Heh…”
Even when lying still, he kept smiling, causing sleep to elude him just as it was about to come.
He finally gave up and lay straight, freely imagining Judith.
It was strange.
‘Normally, I wouldn’t be able to smile like this.’
If he had demanded the title of Margrave after being appointed governor, he could have improved his position. It was undeniably Judith’s fault for misunderstanding and blurting out, ruining the opportunity.
Yet he didn’t feel any resentment at all. Rather, he was glad. That she had willingly held onto him. That he could remain by her side.
Kaizen rubbed his face repeatedly. But then he smiled foolishly again. It was in contrast to Judith’s face in the bathtub, where the laughter had faded and coolness had settled.
***
Summoned, Kaizen stood in front of the heavy door of the Imperial Princess’s room, waiting for permission to enter.
As soon as the door opened, a white ball of fur rushed out from inside. It was the puppy that had been starving behind the warehouse but was now enjoying unprecedented luxury.
The scruffy and thin appearance from their first meeting was nowhere to be seen. Its fur was glossy, and it had gained a healthy amount of weight.
Kaizen sat down at the doorway and held out his palm. The puppy buried its head in his palm, its moist nose twitching for quite a while. Watching this, he couldn’t hide the softening of his expression.
Since they were outside, he couldn’t make cooing sounds, so instead he rubbed its neck and behind its ears. The puppy also wagged its tail, accepting the caress.
Even though it must be receiving plenty of love from its reunited owner, it still remembered him from their brief encounter and showed affection every time they met, which honestly made him happy.
After petting it for a while, Kaizen took out a treat bag. The puppy, unable to contain its joy, had been circling below, and now it snatched the entire bag and ran off with it in its mouth.
