The Knight Commander of the Second Male Lead [Novel] Chapter 48

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Translator: Harry Potta

Chapter: 48

Chapter Title: A Soothing Bath

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"How's the water temperature?"

"It's fine."

"You should say something like, 'Perfect. How did you know my taste? Nina's the best.'"

"That's what I meant."

"Ah... really."

Nina squatted behind the partition, giggling.

Adrian touched the bathtub. It had been rubbed so diligently with sandpaper that the wooden tub gleamed smoothly.

The partitions and decorations in the bathroom were all meticulously crafted items.

Adrian leaned deeply back into the tub and let out a long sigh.

Nina smiled at the sound. She knew well that he liked water.

Everyone said the Duke, being a noble, took long baths, but Adrian simply loved water.

If there had been a lake in the Violet Forest one could enter, how many times would he have gone swimming?

That was why Nina had put special effort into the bathroom. She had even skimmed a bit from the budget for this.

And because she wanted to see his satisfied face, she had offered to attend him. Nina could pick up on his subtle satisfaction, which lifted her spirits.

"Nina."

"Yes."

"Thank you."

Adrian offered a small, quiet thanks. He had been surprised by her offer to attend his bath, but seeing the look on her face that said, 'Come on, praise me,' he realized she didn't actually want to serve him that way.

He had thought she might have something to brag about, but he hadn't imagined she would prepare a proper bathroom like this.

He couldn't remember the last time he had fully submerged himself in water.

His head felt a bit fuzzy, so he rested it on the edge of the tub.

The Rubaenu Ducal Family's grand estate, Silver Lake Castle, truly had a beautiful lake.

He had never entered it, but with Nina, it seemed like he could slip in easily.

Splash.

The light sound of water, the sensation of it pressing on his whole body, the strange floating feeling—as he held his breath and sank into the deep darkness...

"Uwaaaah, Young Master!!"

Nina's voice snapped him awake. She was pulling him out of the water.

"Nina, I'm fine."

He hadn't swallowed any water.

He chuckled at himself for holding his breath even while dozing off.

"Are you okay? You scared me. If you were that tired, you should have said so. I would have told you to take a nap first."

He glanced at her grumbling; she was squeezing her eyes shut with all her might, wrinkles forming between her brows.

"Nina, your clothes are getting soaked. You can let go."

At Adrian's words, Nina cautiously released her hand. As her wet hand slipped away, Adrian quickly pressed a kiss to it.

Nina, completely oblivious, fiddled with her damp sleeve and said,

"I think I need to go change. Don't fall into the tub again while I'm gone."

No reply came.

After enough time had passed for Nina to feel puzzled and anxious, a soft "Okay" finally came.

Even with her eyes closed, she easily found the exit.

As the bathroom door closed and Nina's light footsteps faded away, Adrian swept his hands over his face.

He was aware enough that it had been an embarrassing act.

His face heated up, making him dizzy, so he stayed in the tub a moment longer before standing. If he lingered like this, he might really collapse in the bathroom before Nina returned.

'What are you doing?'

He realized his own question was wrong.

'What do you want to do?'

Yes, that was the more accurate question.

He slipped on a robe and stepped out onto the balcony, opening the window. The cool air cooled his flushed body.

Though he couldn't see it, the Violet Forest lay far off in the distance. When he had first arrived in that gloomy purple forest, he had thought it was like his own future.

Darkness, sinking shadows.

Existing there yet without substance, impossible to grasp.

His mother had been an opera singer. Glittering performances, sparkling attire, a thrilling high voice ringing out.

Her white hands stroked gently, her humming songs flowed sweetly like from a harp. But he could never call her mother.

He had always been a shadow beyond the ornate curtains, behind the shining stage decorations.

So the moment he contracted with his long-time companion, the shadow, and the darkness spirit that seemed to pull him in.

'Ah, as expected,' he had convinced himself.

"Young Master, you'll catch a cold like that."

Nina, now changed into comfortable clothes, appeared out of nowhere as if dropping from the sky.

Golden eyes sparkled right in front of him.

Adrian was momentarily speechless, then pushed her away as he said,

"Stop using the windows to get around."

She had jumped from the next balcony over.

"It's the fastest way, so I'll stop. I'll restrain myself from now on."

Nina hopped down from the railing and said,

"It's my room next door."

When Adrian replied, "Walking is fast enough," Nina muttered softly, "But jumping balconies is even faster."

Nina cleared her throat and adopted a lecturing tone.

"You didn't even dry your hair, and stepping out into the cold wind with a wet body will get you sick."

"Dry it for me, Nina."

She paused at his words, then giggled and grabbed his arm, pulling him along.

"What's this? Acting spoiled all of a sudden? I'm thrilled."

While she sat him on the sofa and went to fetch a towel, Adrian slid down to the floor.

Nina didn't say anything and plopped down next to him on the sofa. When Adrian leaned against her leg, she began drying his hair.

At the feel of her soft hands rubbing his hair while humming a tune, Adrian let out a satisfied sound.

Nina smiled and started massaging his scalp over the towel covering his head.

When his hair was half-dry in the quiet room, he pressed his cheek to her thigh and whispered,

"I missed you."

Nina leaned forward and whispered back,

"I missed you too."

"I didn't expect you to fly in in the middle of the night."

"It was just my voice. And you called for me."

"True, my fault."

"Is missing someone a fault?"

"No, Nina's done nothing wrong."

Adrian grinned, stood up, and sat beside her. Then he scooped her up and sat her facing him on his lap.

"So, you're the Great Sage?"

Nina rubbed his hair again with a fresh, fluffy towel and said,

"I wondered if you'd really come, but here you are."

Nina began reporting everything that had happened since he left, in her bright and lively voice.

Adrian showed curiosity at points in her story.

"You fought a hundred people? I thought you were recruiting knights."

"Chara Viscount Family—I'll look into it."

"Great Sage..."

And at the end, he echoed, "A baldness cure?" in a strange tone before bursting into laughter.

'Huh?' Nina quickly lifted the towel, but he stopped as if he hadn't laughed, looking at her.

Adrian always smiled brightly, but rarely laughed out loud, so she wanted to watch.

Aw, she thought regretfully, tossing the towel aside. His hair was almost dry already.

Now she just needed to brush it neatly and style it.

"I think I need to contact the merchant guild. I mentioned it to Sir Lui too, but this person named Rorokomo seems decent."

"Got it."

Nina cupped his face with both hands as he answered. Leaning in close, she asked,

"What about you, Young Master?"

"I went to negotiate with Poko, and as you can see, it succeeded."

"I'm not an idiot."

Adrian met her sun-like eyes staring straight at him and apologized.

"Sorry. Habit."

"I forgive you."

Adrian mockingly bowed in thanks for her generosity and told his story.

Nina reacted eagerly to his words.

"Attacked three times?"

"Ah, you saw it too, Young Master. That tree's amazing, right? The seeds glow."

"Sir Lui's impressive. Using unarmed men like that. I should learn from him."

At the end, she chuckled lightly, "You made that kind of deal with Poko?"

Feeling her laughter and the vibration, Adrian narrowed his eyes contentedly.

"Hm, in a way, it's a bit sad."

"From the moment she left Karak Workshop, her future was set."

"She should have stayed and fought?"

"Yes."

Nina gave a wry smile at Adrian's words.

He had fought to hold his ground. It was something he could say because he had been in the same position.

'Not exactly the same, though.'

Nina tilted her head, then froze all her movements.

It was the motion of a hunting dog catching a scent.

Reflexively, Adrian reached for a weapon at his waist, then bit his lip realizing he was in a robe.

He remembered the dagger inside Nina's boot and slowly reached for it when she whispered,

"Doesn't seem like an enemy."

She hopped off the sofa and headed to the window. Opening it, there was a man engrossed in fiddling with the balcony.

"Who are you?"