Shared Bath (2)

The bathroom in the east wing was massive, with dim lighting across the room. Right there in the middle was this big pool, its surface shimmering, thanks to the candles casting their flickering glow. 

The sound of water being poured into the pool filled the spacious bathroom, giving a splash that resonated through. Steam rose from the water, enveloping the bathroom in a sensual mist. 

There were these busy servants all over the place, making sure the pool was filled with warm water, ready to wash away the day's tiredness. Among them was Leticia, ensuring the temperature of the water was neither too hot nor too cold.

Nicolaus sat on the steps of the pool, water up to his chest, his gaze steady as he watched the surface ripple with the addition of water. Meanwhile, the blood that once stained his skin gradually dissolved in the water, leaving a faint crimson hue.

Mikael, dressed in his nightgown, stood by the side of the pool, his gaze hesitant. He felt a twinge of discomfort as he watched the blood swirl and dissipate in the water.

"Are you going to take a bath, or are you just going to stand there like a statue?" Nicolaus asked. "And why are you wearing a nightgown? Take it off and join me."

'Take my clothes off? Is he being serious right now?' Mikael could not believe what he was hearing. 

His eyes stole a glance at the servants who were busily heating the water. The thought of undressing in front of them made him think twice about this whole situation.

Nicolaus, realizing what was going on, made a hand signal to the maids, telling them they could go since their presence wasn't needed any longer.

In response, every one of the servants gave a knowing nod and began to shuffle toward the exit. They rose from their positions and quietly headed for the door. 

As the last of them slipped out, they gently closed the door behind them, muffling the noise that might have leaked from the room.

However, Mikael stood there like a tree, his reluctance practically written all over his face.

Nicolaus, starting to feel a bit impatient, blurted out, "Quit just standing there and get in."

Mikael, letting out a resigned sigh, hesitated for a moment before dipping his feet into the warm water. His nightgown clung to his body as he inched his way into the pool, the attire sticking to him like a second skin.

But Nicolaus wasn't finished. With a mischievous tone still in his voice, he playfully threatened, "If you don't take that gown off, I might just have to do it myself."

Mikael's eyes widened at the cheeky threat, and he protested under his breath, "I can't just strip down here! I can't be seen naked!"

'Hm,' Nicolaus pondered for a moment.

Hold on. 

Nicolaus, who had cooled down a bit from his earlier burst of anger, suddenly picked up on something different in Mikael's voice. It had a softer, more feminine tone to it now.

'Seemed the potion was doing its job properly.'

Shrugging off this unexpected observation, Nicolaus furrowed his brows and said, "Isn't that why I told everyone to leave?"

However, Mikael didn't seem to be in the mood to listen to Nicolaus. Instead, he questioned the very idea of sharing a bath with him, asking, "Why am I taking a bath with you?"

Nicolaus remained impassive, his voice calm and measured as he replied, "Because we have to spend time together as a married couple."

Mikael was still a bit puzzled, not quite fathoming why they needed to put on an act. As if the whole marriage on paper was not enough. 

"What's there to act for?" he inquired. "Your mom already knew we were set up in this arranged marriage."

Nicolaus came to a sudden pause, his searching gaze locked onto Mikael's. Of course, he had always known that his mother, Madam Isabel, was sharp as a tack.

There was nothing he could keep secret from her.

His lips curved into a wry smile as he revealed the truth to Mikael. "I'm well aware that she knows. I can't fool her," he admitted, chuckling. "I wanted to be a good son for her, so I got married and will have a child."

He went on, saying, "And actually, it was getting annoying to keep receiving pesky marriage invitations from different noble families. So, in a way, I suppose this marriage is a solution to both her wishes and my own, killing two birds with one stone."

Mikael soaked in the warm bath, his nightgown flowing in the water. His mind drifted to the conversation.

In other words, Nicolaus had married Mikael for two reasons: to please his mother and to avoid the pressure to marry from other families.

Nicolaus spoke up, interrupting Mikael's thoughts. "And although my mother is aware of our marriage arrangement," he spoke in a stern voice, "the rest of society is not. So, play your role properly." 

He made sure to stress how important things were, staring right into Mikael's eyes. "Do you understand, my dear wife?"

Then, a little twinkle of amusement lit up on his face as he gently brought up the agreement they had made, saying, "And we already had a deal going back at the inn, didn't we?"

Mikael felt a wave of discomfort and looked away, clenching his fists so tight they trembled. The agreement they'd struck that night lingered clear in his mind. 

Nicolaus would stay away from Mikael's family while also helping his business get back on its feet. In return, Mikael would stick around in their marriage. It might sound simple, but it benefited both parties.

And if Nicolaus didn't stick to his side of the deal, that's when Mikael would pull out his card. He had made a firm promise to himself: if he ended up expecting a child, he would use the child to his advantage against Nicolaus.

If Nicolaus wanted to keep up the appearance of a happy marriage in public, then so be it. Mikael would play along, but only for as long as it suited his needs. 

However, that didn't mean he was going to pretend when they were alone.

"Wife, mind giving me a hand washing my back?" Nicolaus snapped him out of his reverie with a cheeky grin.

Out of nowhere, he whipped out a towel, a glint of mischief in his eyes. Mikael had no clue where he had snagged it from, but he figured it must have come from the basin next to the pool.