Chapter 543: The Forbidden Sight ( 543 )

The next morning, soft early light seeped through the tall windows, casting golden streaks across the room.

A gentle knock sounded before the door slowly opened.

“Princess,” came a calm voice from one of her personal maids. “Your bath is ready.”

Felicia stirred from a light doze by the window—not from deep sleep, but from gentle waking.

She hadn’t gone back to bed.

The wooden chair beside the window creaked softly as she sat upright.

Her gaze lingered briefly on the distant wall where he had been the night before.

But now, it was empty.

She said nothing, only giving a small nod.

Her maids moved with practiced grace, helping her to stand without a word.

They took off the outer layer of her sleeping gown, folding it carefully, then guided her across the room to a large, round wooden tub.

It had been freshly filled; steam curled softly from the surface, carrying the faint scent of herbs.

Without a word, Felicia stepped in and gradually lowered herself into the warm water.

The heat wrapped her skin like a quiet embrace.

Her silver hair floated lightly at the surface.

She leaned back against the wooden rim, eyes half-closed.

Still silent.

Still unreadable.

But inside her chest…

That strange warmth hadn’t disappeared.

She didn’t question it.

Didn’t speak of it.

Not even when one of her maids offered to scrub her back.

She simply nodded.

Maintaining her calm, noble composure.

Yet as the water rippled gently around her shoulders, and sunlight touched her face, her thoughts drifted once more.

They wandered back to that wall.

To the boy sitting there.

To the words he had spoken—words he hadn’t intended anyone else to hear.

Felicia dipped her hand into the wooden tub again, slowly rinsing her hair.

She tilted her head back, letting the warm water run down her back.

Then, she exhaled softly.

“Can you two leave me alone for a moment?” she asked gently.

The maids exchanged a glance but said nothing.

“As you wish, Princess.”

They bowed politely and silently slipped out, closing the door behind them.

Now alone, Felicia resumed washing herself—calm, deliberate movements.

She scooped water and carefully poured it over her arms, her shoulders, her face.

Then she looked up at the wooden beams above her.

Still silent.

Still lost in thought.

That boy’s voice… those words…

Her fingertips brushed her cheek, unsure why her heart refused to settle.

Meanwhile…

Javier stirred under the morning sun.

He yawned, stretching lazily with one arm, still half-asleep.

His eyes were bleary as he slid down from the wall.

His feet dragged, hair tousled, shirt half-tucked.

He wandered toward a nearby house at the edge of the rebuilt district.

Without knocking, he pushed open the door and stepped inside.

Then he froze.

Felicia looked up.

Still standing in the tub.

The warm water gently rippled at her hips.

Her skin gleamed in the morning light; damp silver hair clung softly to her back and neck.

Javier blinked.

Felicia froze.

She didn’t gasp.

She didn’t scream.

Instead, she met his gaze calmly.

A faint blush colored her cheeks.

Javier’s eyes fixed on her, wide and unblinking—completely awake now.

She slowly leaned forward, graceful and effortless.

Water dripped from her skin as she reached for a nearby towel.

Every movement was elegant, precise.

No hurried flurry.

She simply wrapped the towel around herself with practiced ease and stepped out of the tub, droplets streaming down her legs.

Javier’s lips parted.

“…Wow.”

He hesitated, then slowly turned toward the door, placing his hand on the handle.

“Sorry… but—”

He glanced over his shoulder with a faint smirk.

“Nice body.”

And then, he quietly walked out, closing the door softly behind him.

The moment the door clicked shut, Felicia froze, counting exactly three seconds in her head.

Her breath hitched.

And then—

Her eyes widened.

Her cheeks flared bright red.

And without a second thought, she bolted toward the bed, water still dripping from her towel.

She threw herself onto the mattress, burying her face into the pillow.

She pulled the blanket over her head, wrapping herself in it like a trapped cocoon.

“He saw me…!!”

“He saw me!!”

Her legs kicked once under the sheets.

“Naked!! He saw me naked!!”

She rolled over once, then twice, shoving her face deeper into the pillow.

Her heartbeat thundered in her ears.

The image of his face—shock then smugness—refused to leave her mind.

“Why did he say that with a grin!? WHY!?”

“Nice body!? NICE!?”

She kicked the pillow again.

Quietly, furiously.

And screamed silently in her mind.

Meanwhile, outside…

Javier was sprinting—no longer like a warrior, no longer like a noble.

Like a man who had just stumbled into a volcano.

“Crap! Crap crap crap!!”

He darted across the dusty street toward the back waterway he’d built the day before.

He crouched over the edge, splashing cold water onto his face again and again.

“WHY was that door unlocked!?”

“Why didn’t I knock!?”

His heart pounded like it wanted to escape his chest.

His face? Absolutely crimson.

He dunked his whole head into the water, then surfaced gasping.

Then he froze.

“…Wait.”

He stared blankly ahead.

“She’s a princess.”

“A beastkin princess.”

“And I saw her… everything.”

His head turned slowly.

“…And I said ‘nice body.’ What the hell is wrong with me!?”

He dropped his face into his palms.

“This is bad. I’m going to die.”

A pause.

“I’m sure… I’m very sure…!!”

He slapped his cheeks with both hands.

“AHHH!! Damn it, damn it, damn it!!”

He splashed more water onto his face.

“I just saw her naked—a princess! A royal beastkin princess!!

He groaned.

“I’m so screwed. I’m really, really screwed.”

He leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees, eyes wide with panic.

“Father’s gonna kill me. Or worse… he’ll give me some serious talking line like… ‘Take responsibility, son.'”

He dropped his head between his arms.

“Why did I say ‘nice body’!? Why couldn’t I just walk out quietly like a normal person!?”

But even while panicking…Javier couldn’t shake the burning heat in his cheeks and the pounding of his heart.

He sat there shaken, water dripping from his hair as he bent forward, voice trembling with disbelief.

“Gods… I saw her… naked.”

A dangerous thought crept in, slow and subtle.

It whispered softly in his mind.

…She was beautiful.

Javier’s gaze drifted, lost in the memory.

“…She’s hot,” he said quietly to himself.

He nodded slightly, almost involuntarily.

“Really beautiful. That silver hair, those calm eyes—”

“Elegant, quiet, perfect skin, that—”

Then, reality hit him like a bucket of icy water.

He shook his head violently.

“No, no, no! Now is definitely not the time!”

He slapped the water again, trying to clear his thoughts.

“Focus! This is terrible. She might tell someone. If she reports it to her father… the King…”

He froze suddenly.

Whispered the terrifying truth.

“I’m dead.”

“Buried.”

“Probably before dinner.”

He slumped against the stone edge, staring blankly up at the sky.

His voice barely a whisper.

“…Why am I like this…”

( End Of Chapter )

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