Kays Translations
Just another Isekai Lover~
Chapter 240: The Hot Spring, the Duke’s Daughter, and the Moon
“What can I say…? Rest-san, you’re quite adorable.”
After finishing the discussion about their engagement, Celestine let out a slow sigh.
The location was the same as before—the open-air hot spring.
Rest had turned bright red and hurriedly left the bath, likely now dressed and back in his room.
(He possesses enough strength to change the course of a battlefield single-handedly, and he has not just two but possibly three or more beautiful women devoted to him… Yet, he’s still so innocent. I can understand why Viola and the others love him.)
“Oh well… I suppose I don’t need this anymore.”
Celestine removed the towel that had been covering her body.
A voluptuous chest, a slender waist—her perfectly maintained, exquisite figure was now exposed beneath the night sky.
(Rest-san… you were staring at my body, weren’t you?)
With a soft chuckle, Celestine folded the wet towel and set it beside the bath.
Women are surprisingly sensitive to a man’s gaze.
Even though Rest tried not to look, she had noticed his eyes flickering toward her body more than once.
(If it had been Prince Rodel, he wouldn’t have bothered hiding his blatant, insolent stares. No… If I had been in this state in front of him, my chastity would have been lost already.)
Rest’s attempts to act indifferent despite his obvious interest made him seem rather endearing to Celestine.
He wasn’t a bad person, either. Considering how much Viola, Primula, and Yuri adored him, she found no reason to object to having him as a husband.
(If Rest-san were to refuse the marriage, I would have no other options… I must make sure he accepts me.)
With Rodel’s rebellion ending in his execution, Celestine was now without a fiancé.
As a duke’s daughter with royal blood, she couldn’t just marry anyone.
Her suitor had to be at least a count or, ideally, a member of another royal family.
(The crown prince is already married, and though it hasn’t been publicly announced yet, his child will be born soon. Taking a concubine now would only create political turmoil. Prince Andrew clearly has no interest in marriage, so the royal family is out of the question.)
Meanwhile, nearly all the high-ranking noblemen in the kingdom were already engaged.
If the Crocus house demanded a marriage, most would not refuse—but that would mean breaking an existing engagement.
And marrying into another country? Absolutely not.
Becoming a political pawn for the neighboring Geizel Empire might be advantageous diplomatically, but given the current tensions, it would be no different than being sent as a hostage.
(In other words… marrying Rest-san is the best option for me as well.)
Celestine didn’t expect a romantic, idealized marriage.
But if possible, she wanted to avoid someone like Rodel—a selfish, arrogant man—and instead marry someone kind and considerate.
Rest wasn’t exactly her dream partner, but he fit her conditions.
More than that, given the challenges he was bound to face, she believed they could share each other’s burdens.
“I doubt he’ll reject me… But maybe I should hold back for now?”
Celestine playfully pressed her fingers against her chest, testing its softness.
If her efforts in the hot spring had failed, she had even considered taking drastic measures—like sneaking into his room at night.
However, from what she observed earlier, Rest was unlikely to refuse.
“Besides, I wouldn’t want to upset Viola and Primula by cutting in too aggressively. I suppose I should behave myself for tonight.”
Whether that decision was a blessing or a missed opportunity for Rest…
Only the moon watching over the hot spring from the night sky knew the answer.