Time of the Blind Beast - Chapter 26

“I came here… it just happened to work out that way. Even if it wasn’t me, I’m sure the Major would have been fine.”

“Oh, don’t say that. Didn’t Master Ezekiel tell you? Even if he doesn’t show it, he surely considers you his savior. He’s a soldier, after all—someone who makes a clear distinction between debts and favors.”

The more Madam Serva praised her efforts, the heavier the weight of the unspoken guilt Rose carried. She didn’t deserve gratitude. Her actions were nothing more than desperate attempts to atone for sins that could never be shared with anyone else.

There were too many secrets she had to bear alone.

Just then, a report came from afar, announcing that the bath preparations were complete. Seizing the opportunity, Rose busied herself and turned away, eager to escape the prickly discomfort of the conversation.

Leaning against the warm tub, Ezekiel heard the soft rustling of Rose’s movements nearby. Though she had placed all the necessary items in their designated spots, she lingered near the bathroom, reluctant to stray too far. She must have been worried about something happening if she let her guard down. Throughout his ordeal with withdrawal symptoms, Rose had never left his side. She was a thoughtful woman.

He called out to the faint sound tickling his ears.

“Come in, Rose.”

“…Excuse me?”

Her voice, laden with surprise, revealed her hesitation.

“You’ve been cooped up in the room with me this whole time.”

When he couldn’t eat, she had gone hungry with him. When he couldn’t sleep, she had stayed awake with him. And when he had writhed in pain, she had endured it alongside him, physically restraining him. Naturally, her body must have been just as marred with sweat and bruises.

“I can use the communal bathroom later.”

Communal bathroom? Was there such a thing in this mansion?

Ezekiel rummaged through his vague memories. However, it had been so long since he had last seen this cold Derosa villa with his own eyes that nothing came to mind. Being the master of the house, he’d never had reason to concern himself with the servants’ quarters.

Still, based on what he remembered of the Valdemaira mansion in the capital, the servants’ communal areas were small and poorly equipped. Unless the timing was perfect, with fires lit for cooking or bath preparation, hot water would be hard to come by.

“It must be cold.”

“It’s not cold.”

“Do you boil water separately? Will you leave me alone in the meantime?”

“No, it doesn’t take me long.”

Ever since disguising her hair color, Rose had made a habit of sneaking baths at dawn or during quiet times when no one was around. Unlike other servants, who gathered at fixed times to start their chores, her role as his personal attendant allowed her some flexibility.

“Is there hot water in the laundry room? But at this hour, the laundry room must be closed.”

His series of questions was surprising. Normally, Ezekiel paid no attention to such details. A master wasn’t expected to concern himself with the servants’ circumstances.

Rose chose not to disclose the inconvenience of the laundry room and communal bathroom being far apart. Even if there was hot water in the laundry room, carrying heavy buckets around was tedious. The thought hadn’t even crossed her mind.

Besides, servants like her didn’t have the luxury of leisurely baths. Their lives revolved around meeting Ezekiel’s needs. Apart from Madam Serva, who deserved care due to her rank and age, the rest of the staff, including Rose, typically washed quickly with cold water to prepare for their day.

“I’ll be fine. Don’t worry about me.”

Her response was brief. Only then did Ezekiel realize that her “It’s not cold” had really meant “I’m used to enduring it.”

She was already frail, and her recent hardships had surely weakened her further. Was she planning to bathe in cold water and risk catching a cold?

“Come here, Rose,” he beckoned.

“Are you feeling uncomfortable?”

Rose walked toward him hesitantly. As her hand brushed the edge of the tub, he swiftly grabbed it.

“Get in.”

“……”

But once again, she didn’t comply so easily. She clung to the edge of the tub, resisting with all her strength.

Ezekiel tilted his head.

Last time, she had tried to sneak away in the middle of a kiss. Today, her hesitation lingered again.

Why was she still embarrassed after all they’d been through?

He deliberately added a provocative remark, “Why the modesty now? You’ve already seen every part of me, and I know you just as well.”

“Seen every part of you? Me?”

As he expected, Rose gasped in shock.

Anyone who overheard might think she’d attacked him—a mere maid daring to lay hands on her master.

Good heavens. Her cheeks flushed as she glanced around nervously, trying to calm her heated face.

The man, previously lounging with his back submerged in the water, suddenly straightened his upper body. Droplets slid down his skin, temporarily obscuring the brutal scars that normally stood out even in dim light.

Though he was just as bare as when she had nursed him, this felt different.

Back then, her sole focus had been on urgency—on cooling the delirium-inducing fever, on stopping the forceful thrashing that seemed ready to break him apart, and on soothing the sensory disturbances that drove him to scratch at imaginary insects, tearing his skin and drawing blood to find relief. There had been no room for other emotions. She had accepted him purely as a patient.

But now…

“This is different.”

It was the silhouette of a man—a stark contrast to her own.

“What’s different? We’ve rolled around naked dozens of times by now.”

“……”

“Oh, is it because my body is unsightly? I suppose it does look rather rough.”

“That’s not it! Not at all.”

Rose hastily denied it. She hated the thought of him misunderstanding. While his scarred body bore the aftermath of war, she had never found it repulsive.

“Then what? Are you afraid I’ll do something to you?”

Ezekiel’s voice dropped to a low murmur.

For a moment, she was speechless. She stood there, silently meeting his gaze, even as his grip on her hand showed no intention of letting go.

“…Would you?”

Her question prompted a crooked smile from Ezekiel. His expression made it clear he had already decided on his answer.

“Yes.”

Her heart thudded. Blood rushed through her veins in a dizzying rush.

“So, get in.”

It was strange. Just moments ago, everything had been fine, yet now the air felt suffocatingly thin, making it hard to breathe. She was at a loss for words, her thoughts swirling in confusion.

“How…”

“I’ll take care of the how.”

She rarely lost her composure, but Ezekiel found her current state endearing. With deliberate ease, he pulled her closer.

“Just don’t be afraid.”

The rich floral scent of the bathwater was dizzying. Dried flower oils floating atop the surface gave off a fragrance as vivid as fresh blooms. But the dizziness wasn’t just from the scent.

It was him.

She had barely managed to delay the inevitable by insisting she needed to fold her clothes. After neatly setting them aside, she had attempted to maintain some distance, but it was futile. He had an uncanny ability to pinpoint her location.

“Rose.”

His low voice brushed her ear unexpectedly. She stared down at the muscular arm that wrapped around her waist from behind, then looked up.

“You’re truly peculiar.”

The rippling water conveyed his words.

“You act so bold at times, yet suddenly become incredibly cautious. You’re the kindest person I know, yet at moments, you draw a line.”

Her heart thudded erratically. It refused to calm, pounding harder with each passing second. She held her breath, trying to still her racing chest.

“If I don’t touch you like this, it feels like you’re farther away than you really are.”

Her heart ached. Even with his vision gone, he sensed the contradictions within her. The courage she summoned only to retreat under the weight of her conscience. He didn’t know, but he had pinpointed it.

Was this the intuition he had honed on the battlefield?

“Rose, you came to this mansion for me, didn’t you?”

There was a deliberate intention behind his words.

Rose mulled over his question.

To say she had come solely for him felt insincere. Her motives hadn’t been entirely pure. Yet, despite the imperfect origin of her decision, she had abandoned her studies and chosen this unfamiliar land of Derosa as her second home. And the reason for that decision was him.

Was this unease, or was it trembling anticipation?

Pressing down on her wildly beating heart, Rose replied, “Yes, I came here to meet you, Major.”

“Then don’t leave me.”

Ezekiel tightened his arm around her, pressing her back firmly against his chest.

For a moment, Rose silently swallowed her breath.