Even though it was called bathing service, it wasn't really too much for me. The maids still brought me and Mercedes a chair each, and between us, a cloth curtain was erected to block the view.
“Uh…uh…!”
There's only one problem: him. He followed me here quite smoothly, but as soon as he heard the rattling sound of utensils, he clearly tensed up and cowered.
Take a bath. Refreshing behavior to remove long-lasting dust from the body. For me, bathing is always a joy. Using hot water means it's expensive.
During the days of wandering on the streets, even being able to shower felt like a luxury.
So, I never thought that there would be people who hate bathing.
A maid carrying a bucket of water approached him, step by step shyly.
"Hate!"
Immediately, an ear-splitting sound rang out.
He reacted violently, violently splitting the bucket of water in half. The hard wooden bucket was split into two pieces by the claw of his ferocious left hand.
I don't understand where that power comes from. Not only the bucket, but also the stone wall left long scratches; Of course the maid holding the bucket was also injured. Blood dripped through his sleeve.
“Ugh… damn, this kid!”
The maid cursed, regardless of whether we were present or not. Her hands shot up like she was about to rush at him.
At that moment, Mercedes jumped up and shouted loudly:
“Stop it!”
Her voice was sharp, hoarse and full of tension. Then she quickly turned back to look at me:
“Understood?”
"What?"
I had to ask again because I didn't understand what she meant. Even so, she still muttered in a panicked voice:
“Oh, he hates it so much…”
A feeling of foreboding passed over me. I quickly glanced at her face.
Mercedes paused, then picked up a linen sheet folded in a corner. She went behind the curtain and approached him.
“Uh…uh…”
She uttered the softest, sweetest voice in the world, covering him with a white linen cloth.
"Come here, Prince. Stop, go back to your room and play."
Stop? He hadn't finished showering yet, the dust on his back was still there. How could it end like that?
“Wait.”
I quickly called her back. Mercedes looked at me with triangular eyes:
“What's going on?”
“It can't end like that.”
There was a long silence. I don't understand why she is like that, I just see the corner of her mouth slightly tilted to one side.
“The prince hates it so much…”
Her hands trembled, clutching the linen tightly. She pursed her lips a few times, then blurted out in an annoyed voice:
“Do we really have to do that…?”
The voice drenched with emotion made me hold my breath.
Mercedes whispered to him. “The prince hates you so much, how dare you…” Those words seemed to drill straight into my eardrums.
The steam from the hot water covered everything, so thick that it was a bit suffocating. Their silhouettes through the hazy mist.
A feeling of unrest arose.
“The prince hates it like that, what do you really want to do?”
Mercedes' eyes lit up fiercely. That look was filled with determination or hatred, it was hard to tell. It's not easy to give in to it. I opened my eyes wide, sighed a bit, then shook my head, my voice firm:
“Cesar.”
Calling his name, his red eyes in the mist focused on me.
“……Cesar?”
Mercedes' voice was trembling and hoarse. Looking at that scene, I felt one thing: it was her love. But that love is distorted and distorted. A feeling so intense, so attached to the point of obsession.
Mercedes must have raised him like a child, giving him endless love without strings attached.
While most people rejected him, she accepted. Give him absolute love. I'm just not sure if that will have a good effect on him.
Maybe that's why he keeps shrinking and not growing up.
So I say it straight:
“Come here.”
He quickly left Mercedes' arms and ran towards me. Looking at her face, the pain was clear.
“What are you going to do?”
I answer directly:
“I promised the Queen that I would make him human-like.”
"Female…?"
Yes, become human. At least as the Queen wished. Therefore, I have to be strict.
Whatever the reason, he needs to change to live like a human. This situation is unacceptable. I have to believe that, and refuse to do what Mercedes wants is right.
“Cesar needs this now.”
Mercedes' face showed all kinds of emotions, then disappeared. After a moment of silence, she sighed:
“……It's up to you.”
Then he turned and left the bathroom, the maids also following.
Looking at her final expression, I was not happy at all. However, Mercedes was the only person in the palace who stood by my side and helped me.
If you object, I don't know how to win.
Mercedes is the person who took care of him since he was a child. That bond is hard to describe. Suddenly appearing like me, wanting to change him, might make you unhappy. So it was lucky that she gave way.
Still, after all, a human being must bathe. Isn't that right?
Finally, in the big bathtub, it was just me and him.
“So….”
I shook my head. Must be alert. Now is the time to do what needs to be done. First, find out the cause.
Looking at him cowering in a linen sheet in the corner, I asked:
“Why don't you want to take a bath?”
He just shook his head vigorously. I know he hates, but we have to understand exactly what he hates.
"Bathing makes the body comfortable. The body warms, feels refreshed, and smells good."
"YES…."
Still grimacing. I really hate it. I continue to explain:
“Look, soaking in warm water will relax your body to a wonderful extent.”
I dipped my hand into the water bath and stirred gently. He began to look after her, seeming a little concerned. Not completely indifferent.
“Do you hate it when the maids give you a bath?”
"YES."
Straight answer. Of course, he was once abused by a maid. I remember just now they were planning to make a move when Mercedes and I were present.
With that attitude, it's easy to understand that he hates being bathed by a maid.
“If you don't want to be served, you have to know how to bathe yourself.”
"YES…."
Bathing is a daily thing. We can't keep serving him like that. It's better to be able to bathe yourself. I decided to teach him. I don't know if it's difficult or easy, but at least I have to try.
I rolled up my sleeves.
“I can't bathe you all the time.”
"YES."
“Let's consider it self-bathing from now on… Understand?”
“Um.”
He still answered, but I was worried. Can he do it?
When I was about to dunk him in the tub, the problem arose.
"Hate."
He was determined not to enter the tub.
“But getting into the tub will help.”
He firmly shook his head, clearly objecting. It is indeed arduous work.
Then change tactics. First, let him get used to the water. I started to scoop water, gently splashing it on his arm.
“How?”
“Uh…”
He was startled when the water touched him, and what surprised me was that his left hand stretched out. The scales are thick and dark, each finger is longer than normal.
That hand was so dangerous that I felt cold down my spine. Like just now, the maid was injured because of him.
“It looks like she wasn't hurt by his blood.”
I thought to myself. If it was blood, she would definitely rush forward. Or just because he hates maids? Or… is there another reason?