Kays Translations

Chapter 337: An Attempt

Fabienne waited for my answer, her face bright red.

“Very well. Shall we take a bath together? Nero, is the bath available?”

“I will check at once!”

Nero fled the room with remarkable speed. He was not merely hurrying; he was escaping. How could he abandon his master so easily?

I could not leave Fabienne standing in the corridor, so I invited her inside. Her personal attendant entered with her, which made the situation considerably less awkward.

There was no question of behaving improperly. We were both only ten, and the attendants would remain nearby.

“I am sorry about what I said earlier,” I began. “In my mind, I had already assumed that you would remain with me for the rest of our lives. I got ahead of myself.”

“Th-that is not a problem at all. I want to remain with you too!”

Fabienne's startled reply made me smile. I pretended not to notice how embarrassed we both were.

“When the snow melts, let us visit House Ambert. You must want to see your parents.”

“Yes. They will probably be surprised to learn that I may continue staying with House Heine after spring.”

“Do you think they will object?”

“I do not believe so, but they may feel lonely.”

Her voice softened.

Of course they would. Their only daughter was spending most of her time in another household. Baron and Baroness Ambert had welcomed our engagement, but that did not mean they would not miss her.

Baron Ambert also expected me to inherit his title one day. The arrangement benefited House Ambert, but I still felt as though I was taking their daughter away.

“Lord Julius, is something wrong?”

Fabienne looked up at me with concern. Saying that it was nothing would only worry her more.

“I was thinking that I may have been unfair to your parents.”

“That is not true. Father and Mother are delighted that I am with you.”

She clasped my hand firmly.

I was already devoted to her, yet she somehow made me fall for her again.

There was no use tormenting myself forever. I would become Baron Ambert, strengthen the house, and repay the trust her parents had placed in me. If possible, I would rise even further and make them proud of their decision.

“Fabienne…”

“Lord Julius…”

The doorbell rang before either of us could say more. Her attendant immediately went to answer it while keeping a careful eye on us.

For one reckless moment, I had wondered whether a kiss might be acceptable. The interruption made the question irrelevant.

“Lord Julius, the bath is ready,” Nero announced.

“Thank you. Fabienne, shall we go?”

“Y-yes.”

Nero looked between our flushed faces but wisely said nothing.

At the bathing room, I ordered an Occupied sign to be placed outside and asked the servants not to admit anyone else. Rosalia and Mira were the greatest risks; they might appear without warning.

“I will remain here and make sure no one disturbs you,” Nero said.

“Thank you. I am counting on you.”

“Leave it to me.”

His presence outside the door was reassuring.

Inside, attendants from both households remained available. I asked Fabienne to keep herself covered with a bathing towel until she entered the water, and I did the same. The arrangement was unusual, but it kept the shared bath innocent and comfortable.

“We are both ten years old,” I reminded myself. “There is no reason to panic.”

I began washing under the shower. A servant hurried over to help, as House Heine's customs required.

Old habits from Japan made me want to wash myself, but refusing assistance could make the servants fear that their work was unnecessary.

Once I was ready, I entered the bath and kept my attention firmly on the water and the conversation.

Fabienne joined me a little later, properly covered until she reached the bath.

Good. Everything was under control.

Even so, sharing a bath with my fiancée was far more nerve-racking than I had expected. I silently prayed that nothing embarrassing would happen.

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