Chapter 25

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Chapter 25

While thinking about how amazed Baron Bergen would also be in this situation, another question popped up in my mind.

“If Your Highness changed your clothes, what about the clothes you were wearing before?”

“They were taken away and burned.”

“……”

Something like burning, that sounded a bit extreme. No, they might have thought that I placed some kind of spell on his clothes. Baron Bergen had yet to abandon the suspicion that I was a witch.

After talking about it, I became starkly aware of Baron Bergen’s virtue and simultaneous suspicion toward me. But thanks to this, I felt less tense.

Finally, I unclasped the last button safely.

“Prince, I’m done unbuttoning your shirt.”

As I spoke with a proud expression, Albert narrowed his eyes and muttered.

“Then now it’s time for the next step.”

“…Next step?”

…Huh?

Yeah, okay. The moment I thought I finished one thing, there lay a bigger hardship ahead.

But, right away—

“Now take off my shirt and have me change into a new one.”

It was time to change Albert into dry and soft clothes.

Unbuttoning his shirt seemed like nothing compared to this.

“Umm…”

I blanked out for a moment but subsequently pulled myself back together. The person in front of me is a patient. I’m just doing what I have to do.

The moment I realized that the eyes looking back at me were unfocused rather than how sharp they usually were, I came to my senses.

The cold sweat on his face bothered me.

Because of our sudden physical contact, I was thrown into confusion for a moment. But seeing him in his current condition anchored me back to reality.

I rose to my feet.

“Just a moment, Prince.”

Asking Albert for permission, I changed the water in the basin. I also brought two more towels next to the basin.

After preparing everything, I clenched my fist and took a deep breath. Then, I reached to grab the front of his unbuttoned shirt. A drop of sweat trickled down my neck and dropped to my fingers.

I gulped.

And he glanced up.

Lying still, Albert stared at me.

“Go ahead.”

Like a whispering spell, his voice was much too sweet.

As if he was trying to seduce me again.

As I held his shirt, my hand trembled for a moment. Albert’s gaze instantly narrowed.

Then, he leaned towards me, his face closer now.

When Albert breathed afterwards, I felt his hot breath on the back of my hand. In that strange atmosphere, I was barely able to hold back my gasp.

The corners of Albert’s lips went up slightly. It was a faint smile.

And he whispered in a low voice.

“I thought you weren’t nervous.”

What exactly did he expect from me? Wouldn’t it be weirder for someone not to get nervous in this kind of situation?

“Just what do you think of me, sire?”

With a languid expression, Albert answered.

“A loyal vassal who hides her inner thoughts and smiles insincerely.”

It felt like I was stabbed. I knew that the smile I reserved for Albert was a business smile, but I thought it wouldn’t matter…

“Even so, I like how you smile, Rosé.”

“……”

“I mean to say, I like how tactless you act.”

I had nothing to say to that.

Even when he was sick, he would still swoop in so suddenly. It felt like I was being subjected to a sneak attack. After that, I exhaled and schooled my features. As though nothing just happened.

As I looked at Albert, there was a light glare.

“…Your Highness is a genius in words. I could certainly fall victim to your bewitching words, sire.”

Albert furrowed his brows, the corners of his lips dropping.

“If you twist up my sincerity like that, Rosé, I’ll be very sad.”

To that, I asked with a serious expression.

“Why in the world would I not be nervous when you say things like that. Didn’t Your Highness intend for this to happen?”

Actually, it was more than he was teasing her, but Albert shrugged.

“Let’s just say it’s a half-truth.”

“What…”

The look in Albert’s eyes deepened as if he was recalling something.

The same was true of his voice.

“I thought you wouldn’t be nervous.”

He seemed to be recalling the old Rosé.

“Since you liked to touch me a lot from the moment we entered this tower.”

Rosé Artius before I possessed her body.

The novel started off with a narration of her evil deeds. And the scene that followed immediately after led to Albert brutally killing her.

I originally also thought she was a character who deserved to kick the bucket.

…But not anymore. And now I’m the one trying my best to clean up the crap that she left here.

Albert’s face leaned further into my hand. He stared at me as he muttered.

“Right now, you’ve changed to the extent that it feels as if you’re a different person.”

The way he said it was too heavy for it to be just brushed it off.

Hearing Albert’s words, I smiled.

“Thank you for the compliment.”

And I slipped my hand out from under Albert’s chin.

However, he continued to speak in his low voice and finally hit the final blow.

“No. You really might be someone else. But I don’t know how that’s possible.”

An awkward silence ensued.

“…Haha, what a funny joke, Prince. I guess I seem really different to you now.”

I dismissed it with a smile, but inwardly, I was sweating massively.

Did he notice? No, in the first place, was it even a common idea in this world to think that it’s possible for someone to possess another person’s body?

If so, then I really could be driven to the stake as a witch. And since I wasn’t even originally a person from this place, I wouldn’t ever be accepted as someone possessing someone’s body.

Because I’m a different existence from the get-go.

A thought came to me that this might be another one of Albert’s tests again.

It wasn’t easy for someone to come into possession of another person’s body, and it would be difficult to prove that I’m not Rosé.

I don’t even know where my own body is right now.

Confessing to me and accepting a fact like this were two entirely different stories. I couldn’t one hundred percent trust Albert because it hadn’t been long since we met.

…But if I get caught that I’m someone else, it’s also true that I’m curious about what would happen.

Will Albert be able to accept that I’m a person from another world?

No, in the first place, will he be able to understand?

As I kept thinking, I wondered what happened to Rosé Artius, the real owner of this body, and what happened to my current body.

Finally, the last of Rosé’s memory was a tilted view as though she was falling, and then after that, it’s blank.

Anyway, it was dangerous to continue this story further.

“Prince, it’s time to take off your clothes.”

Before he could reply, I grabbed the front of his shirt with both hands and undressed him. Not even giving a warning like this preceded my shame.

From his shoulders, his bare body became clearly revealed. I gulped dryly.

Even when Albert was exercising, I didn’t see him this close. All I had to do was sit at the desk and watch him exercise for just a bit.

His abs and forearms, which were clear from a distance, were such a sight to behold when seen closely. How elaborate his well-woven muscles were that it seemed as if I was looking at a statue.

Evident on his appearance was his daily lifestyle and routine because I couldn’t find any body fat at all.

With a handsome face and flawless body like this.

It’s clear that God gave Albert everything that’s needed for a male protagonist. No, even after giving him everything, those blessings continued to overflow.

Let’s calm down. I have to take care of him right now.

I stared at his body with my eyes wide open.

As expected, he was dripping with cold sweat as it soaked through his clothes.

Albert wasn’t in the capacity to go to the bathroom to wash himself, so I had to wipe his bare body.

I held a towel tightly in my hand.

“Prince, let me wipe you down.”

Ah, I forgot to ask for his consent. I hurriedly added the words.

“Um, I won’t do it if you don’t like it. You can do it yourself.”

At that moment, our eyes met. Albert looked back at me with an unreadable expression.

“Do you think I’ll reject you, Rosé?”

Whenever I’m with Albert, I often feel like I’m being put to test like this.

But at times like these, I’m quick to catch on.

I answered firmly.

“No.”

Whether or not my answer was the right one, Albert grinned. He nodded casually.

“Then why did you ask when you knew?”

“Because it’s right to ask for consent.”

Glancing at me, Albert put one hand over my head, gently stroking me.

“Good answer.”

“Thank you for the compliment.”

It felt like I’m a puppy in front of my owner. Still, it’s good that I got the answer right and got praised for it. I’m being recognized for my abilities.

Squeezing the towel I had soaked in water, I placed it on his body.

As I sat closer to Albert, I started wiping every inch starting with his neck.

From his throat, his wide shoulders, his collarbones.

Of course, just like when I was unclasping the last button earlier, my eyes were stuck only on the towel.

I’m holding the towel now, but how do I do this? The moment I touched his bare skin, my hands heated up as if they were on fire.

Emptying my mind as I continued to wipe him down, the task that seemed to go on forever finally ended.

But my conscience shouted that there was still the back left.

In fact, his back must have sweated the most, so I caught myself.

Eventually, I sighed and asked.

“Prince, can you turn around?”

“Sure.”

Albert nodded at what I said.

I didn’t know that the day would come that Albert would start obediently listening to me. I was deeply moved.

But then, for a moment, I almost stopped breathing.

“Uh…”

Because as I was already close to him while wiping his body, the distance between us suddenly narrowed and got close in an instant the moment he sat up.

All the nerves in my body were on edge.

I almost got buried right into Albert’s arms.

I knew Albert had a large physique, but knowing and experiencing it personally were two different things.

…I just want to finish this quickly so he can go back to sleep.

After slowly leaning back, I succeeded in keeping my distance from him.

Staring at me while he was half naked, Albert crossed his arms and chuckled.

“It’s my first time seeing you like this.”

There was a hint of mischief in this tone of voice.

With a smile, I replied.

“I don’t usually wipe Your Highness’ bare body.”

“I don’t think this kind of reaction is bad either.”

But at that, I protested at once.

“It’s bad. I don’t like it when you’re sick.”

“That makes me happy though. Are you worried for me?”

Was it so surprising that I’m worried about him?

No, has Albert received any such concern before? Why does it seem like my actions are unfamiliar to him?

As my lips turned into a frown, I expressed my honest thoughts.

“How can I not worry about you when you’re so ill like this?”

Albert tilted his head to the side. His brows became furrowed as his forehead wrinkled. In a low voice, he muttered.

“I don’t think I’m that ill.”

But I answered back with straight facts.

“Cold sweat and your high fever are enough to tell me everything.”

Even if a sick person says that he isn’t sick, it won’t work. This method doesn’t work anymore!

“This is in violation of the promise you made with me before, Prince.”

And with a gentle smile, I added.

“I firmly believe that Your Highness will not lie to me.”

Stroking his chin, Albert stared at me. I don’t know if he was affected by my words or if he couldn’t think of an answer.

“Let’s just finish this.”

Then Albert turned around to show his back. There was a smirk on his lips.

I have no idea whether it was him or me who won.

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