Chapter 37
Planning to Share?
On the stern deck terrace, where the sea breeze blew gently, the royal family’s cigar hour was underway.
Romeo, dressed impeccably in a black suit, sat with his legs crossed in a chair reserved for him, smoking a cigarette.
He had originally planned to meet Daphne here, but his cousin was long overdue.
Reports had already arrived in the form of a series of small check-sized notes, documenting everything Daphne had done in third class. Some of her words were downright hilarious.
Daphne Beaucater — accompanied by a man with black hair. That part, specifically, made him tilt his head in curiosity.
When did she start disguising identities? Or is there another reason?
Though Romeo rarely interfered with her antics, bringing a known traitor aboard was far from ideal behavior.
“My cousin really is something else…”
He rubbed his temple with his index finger, exhaling a slow breath.
“Still, you found her easily enough.”
A slow, intrigued smile spread across his face as he noticed members of his royal club emerging from the top deck.
Romeo flicked the ashes from his cigarette into the crystal ashtray, setting the burning stub alongside it. Smoke curled lazily into the air, mingling with the scent of charred paper as the small report burned to nothing.
“Hm. What to do about this…”
If Psyche found out, she’d undoubtedly blush, stare at the floor, and start murmuring those confusing half-sentences of hers. Meanwhile, his half-brother seemed to enjoy wielding that awkward influence over Romeo’s one and only love.
It’s irritating… but I admit, I’m curious.
Romeo wasn’t the type to trust gossip. He preferred to judge situations based on what he could see with his own eyes.
“Romeo, all alone? Where’s Daphne?”
Edwin, one of Secradion’s few young dukes, approached with a wave. Following him were three other infamous members of the Royal Club, notorious for their indulgent lifestyles.
“Ah, that face. I know that look. You’re thinking about Lady Psyche again, aren’t you?”
They each began cutting the thick cigars their attendants had brought, the rich scent of tobacco soon filling the air.
Romeo tilted his head back, gazing at the clear blue sky.
“The smell is dreadful.”
The stench, however, wasn’t just from the cigars.
If Daphne were here, she’d probably dump a whole bottle of wine on their heads.
The image made him smirk slightly.
“Hm? What was that?”
The fools didn’t even seem capable of catching his sarcasm. Romeo’s golden eyes narrowed, his smile turning sharp and dangerous.
“Nothing. I just think things are about to get… interesting.”
*****
Daphne’s private cabin was one of the smallest in first class.
“They need to sell the better rooms at a high price to others, after all.”
Still, she had been assured that one feature, the view, was truly exceptional and more beautiful than any other room. Daphne was about to draw the curtain away from the large window but stopped when she realized Celestian was still standing outside the door.
“Why aren’t you coming in?”
When she opened the iron door, Celestian was standing there as before, staring down at his hands.
“You’re always looking at your hands. Do you like them that much?”
Daphne placed her hand on top of his. Only then did Celestian seem to snap out of it, lifting his gaze to meet hers.
“Why aren’t you coming in? Are you feeling shy?”
“I was wondering if it’s okay to come in.”
He seemed oddly hesitant for someone like him.
“Why wouldn’t it be? Or do you plan to wash up and change out here? It might make for a good show, but it wouldn’t suit a former prince’s dignity.”
Daphne grabbed Celestian by the wrist and dragged him into the room.
Now that she had brought him in, her emotions felt strangely tangled. Daphne intentionally tucked her hair behind her ear and pointed at his hair with her finger.
“Your hair, that…”
She couldn’t bring herself to finish the sentence, fearing it might be dyed.
“It’s pigment.”
“Oh, you should’ve said that earlier.”
Without hesitation, she shoved him into the bathroom and all the way into the shower booth.
“Don’t complain that the bathtub is smaller than the one at the mansion. This is the biggest one they have.”
She muttered as she pressed the boiler button above the tub, heating the water before turning the faucet on. Celestian, still fully dressed, looked visibly uncomfortable.
“Daphne, I’m still wearing clothes.”
“Then do you want to undress in front of me?”
Daphne held the showerhead and aimed it at his head but hesitated. Something about the scene felt strange.
“Wash up.”
Her tone was firm as she issued the command. She turned away to give him privacy, but Celestian softly called her name. When she turned back, she saw his red eyes had become even redder, possibly from the warm water.
“Help me.”
“Can’t you wash yourself?”
Celestian averted his green eyes as if embarrassed.
“The pigment in my hair is… a bit unique.”
“And?”
“I don’t think I can wash it out on my own.”
“Oh, my.”
Daphne bit her lower lip, quickly lowering her gaze. She couldn’t help but feel like she was losing some invisible battle.
Romeo used to have attendants in the bathroom. During her brief time as his fiancée, Daphne had also experienced being tended to by maids from head to toe.
“It was convenient, sure.”
But Celestian, who had lived like a prince locked away in a gilded cage, probably wasn’t used to such personal attendants. At the mansion, Kisha had apparently helped him.
“What a high-maintenance man.”
“You’re only allowed here because of me.”
When Daphne didn’t respond, he leaned closer to her face.
“If you want, I can find a maid who’s even better at washing me than you.”
“I’m the one who allowed you here. Shouldn’t you fulfill this small favor?”
“Your Highness, forgive me, but I am a noble. Why should I serve someone?”
“You said you love me…”
Celestian pouted as he spoke.
The word “love,” uttered so casually by his lips, made every part of her body feel an overwhelming reaction.
“Oh, for heaven’s sake, love again!”
Daphne inwardly cursed her fate.
The warm water rose, filling the tub, steam swirling up and making the air feel stifling. Celestian looked as though he intended to persist until he got his way.
“If you’re okay with sharing me with others, then that’s fine too.”
It was a devastating blow to her possessiveness and need for exclusivity. For a brief moment, Daphne imagined another woman washing his hair.
She found herself speechless.
“Fine. I’ll wash you.”
She couldn’t fathom why this man was like this, but with a resigned sigh, she took his hand.
When she gestured toward the tub, Celestian frowned, clearly unwilling to soak in his clothes, but he didn’t argue.
Daphne lifted the showerhead and directed it over his jet-black hair.
“Sharing?”
As the water cascaded over his hair, it turned transparent, revealing a radiant platinum color.
“Your platinum blonde hair is rare even in Airen. If it had been dyed, I might have killed you.”
“Have you been to Airen?”
Airen was a romantic island far across the continent, past the empire’s borders—a place often depicted in romance novels as a must-see destination.
“No. But I will someday.”
Airen was one of the places on Daphne’s annual twelve-month travel plan. Of course, it was a dream unlikely to come true until she gained independence.
She perched on the edge of the round tub, letting out a sigh as she rinsed the bubbles and lathered up the soap again to continue washing his hair.
“I’m just washing his hair, nothing more.”
What she had missed most about him were his face and neck.
“Just hours ago, I was ready to have his head mounted for display…”
The drenched white shirt clung to his pale skin, emphasizing his long neck and broad shoulders.
By the third rinse, his platinum hair was finally revealed. Reflecting on what she was doing, she laughed to herself.
“Why am I even doing this?”
Her hands tightened, a mix of annoyance and complicated feelings bubbling inside her.
“Daphne, it hurts…”
Even as a prince, this man didn’t raise his voice, merely letting out a soft groan and gently placing his hand over hers.
“Oh, good. I’m glad it hurts.”
“You’re glad I’m in pain?”
“My side is killing me because of you. I saved your precious life, and you dared to run away?”
Celestian’s green eyes darted toward her, looking up with such innocence that she felt like the villain for clutching his hair.
“I didn’t run away,” he murmured softly.
“Ha…”
Those green eyes—she had truly thought she’d never see them again.
Daphne splashed water in his face, causing him to close his eyes slowly.
“Finish washing yourself. You’re so irritating. If your hair doesn’t turn back to gold…”
“And if it doesn’t?”
“Then I don’t know. They say there are crocodiles in this sea. I’ll toss you in as their meal.”
At the mention of crocodiles, the true ending of “Daphne Beaucater” came to mind. In the story, not her, but the character she wasn’t, dies on this very ship.
How brutal.
Romeo, enraged, was the one who threw her overboard.
