Chapter 225: The bath

After recovering from the initial shock under the scrutinizing gaze of my mother. I nodded and started walking towards my chamber followed by him. 

My chamber was large enough, with a large bed, sofa set, office table and even playing area. It had an attached bath and all other facilities that even the duchess 's palace may not have. But it was all pink with flowers and other childish things. My father liked to keep it like that, and I never refused to make him happy and it gave me familial love and care.

But now Cassius was standing in the middle of it. He was looking like a sore thumb in the room.

He looked at the room, flabbergasted! Well it did not match my personality for now, but it used to in the past when I used to live in fairy tales.

It was looking like he wanted to say something but he kept his mouth shut. 

"I would like to take a bath first."

"Make yourself comfortable, i will go and take a bath first"

We both spoke simultaneously and then looked at each other with widened eyes.

"I want to take the bath first" 

"I want to take the bath first" 

All the nerves in my head popped when he again spoke the same sentence.

"I am still filled with dirt, your highness. I need to take a bath ``I said with all the patience I have.

"I am unkempt too. Your brother has left no stone unturned in hurting me" he said and the anger i was trying to suppress bubbled up.

"He.. if he wanted he could have beaten you and thrown you out of the palace. He just tore your clothes. And what have you done?!!! you have wounded him in the torso and even on his hand, do you have any dignity? Hurting the heir of the palace then living there?" I snarled as I moved, took my clothes and went to my personal bath, leaving him right there.

I walked and dropped my clothes, only leaving undergarments on my body. I entered the pool. The cold water made my burning mind a bit calm. I closed my eyes and took a few deep breaths as I started enjoying the soft aroma of lavender and magic of essential oils on my body.

I heard the footsteps and felt better. For a moment I thought that I had to take a bath myself when I forgot to call Daulla in. 

"I was about to call you. You took so much time in coming. Did not mother ask you to stay with me all the time?'' I chided softly as I moved and made some space for her.

"Oh really, and here I was worried that you would make an issue if entered in! '' I heard the voice and all the hairs of my body stood up. 

To say that I was shocked beyond my senses would be an understatement. Just how in the world!

My hands instinctively moved to my chest as my eyes shot open. I looked down and took a sigh of relief when I noticed there were sufficient petals of flowers to cover the whole bath. 

I moved to lower myself to cover my collar bones and upper body area further and then I looked towards the man who had entered as if it was an open garden area. When he clearly knew that I was taking a bath!! Damn you!

There he was standing casually as if he could not see me in the pool.

"What in the name of god are you doing there?'' I roared but in response he just raised a brow.

"Why, you are the one who said that I did not have any dignity then why should I care if you are in or not?" he replied ever so nonchalantly that I just wanted to move and smash something on his proud face.

But when I remembered my condition I closed my eyes and lowered further, leaving only my face out.

"Cassius, it is not at all funny. I request you to go out at this instant. I am taking a bath here ``I pleaded in a softer voice.

"Why? am I stopping you! This bath is big enough for four people let alone two. You can have the pool I will manage in the bathtub." he said with the same nonchalance as he walked towards the bathtub which i use when i have to take bath in the hot water.

"Cassius, if you want to take a bath first then at least give me five minutes, I will leave. Then you can have the whole room to yourself. ``I said, as I realised he was not fooling around but was serious." 

"Oh, how kind of you to leave the whole room for me and take a bath later. Sure, I am waiting for you to leave."

"Cassius i.. I am not wearing clothes. I beg you to leave the room." my whole body burned and shivered as the word left my mouth. My face was red with embarrassment.

I have never thought that he could do something like this! Finally he looked towards me and his Adam apple moved. A thin line of sweat was formed on his forehead.

When his eyes met mine I swear I felt that my whole body turned limp. My heart was beating so fast in my ribcage, it felt like my chest would burst open. What felt like an eternity, he just stood there and kept looking at me as if he was trying to look for more than there was to offer.

I truly wanted to dive my head in the water too as his gaze became more and more heated. Suddenly that cold water felt like sweltering my skin, as if burning me to the core.

"Cassius" I whispered as my throat had turned dry a long time ago. The voice came out with so much difficulty when finally he blinked and looked at the other side and I sighed.

[sorry i dont know how i fell asleep and forgot to post]