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Dahlia trudged toward the bathhouse, her eyes half-closed and her legs dragging with exhaustion. She had barely slept, and the abrupt departure from the rest house that morning to this secluded spot near the borders left her yearning for just a few more hours of rest.

"Why are they always in such a hurry?" she muttered under her breath as she entered the bathhouse, shutting the door behind her. "What's the point of leaving the palace if everything still has to be done on time?" she grumbled, starting to undress.

Unbeknownst to her, Sullivan was already inside, reclining in a large hot water bathtub hidden behind sheer white curtains. The sound of rustling clothes caught his attention, and he tilted his head slightly to investigate.

As he peered through the curtains, his eyes widened in shock. There, just beyond the thin fabric, stood Dahlia.