Chapter 152

Chapter 152
The steam drifted in languid waves above the bath, twisting and curling as though it carried secrets in its hazy veil. The water lapped gently against the smooth stone edges, warm enough to soothe every tense muscle in Henriette’s body. She leaned back against the edge of the tub, her hair spilling loose behind her, her eyelids growing heavy from the comforting heat that seeped into her bones. For a moment, it felt as though the world outside did not exist, no kings, no battles, no burdens pressing down on her shoulders—only silence, water, and the soft hum of her own breath. Then, without warning, the water rippled with sudden force, breaking her fragile calm. A splash echoed like a clap of thunder in the chamber, and Henriette’s entire body jolted as if struck by lightning.

From beneath the surface, Thess broke through first, her head emerging with a sharp gasp that turned quickly into laughter. Droplets clung to her long hair and rolled down the curve of her shoulders, the water gleaming like molten silver on her skin under the flickering candlelight. A mischievous grin tugged at her lips as she wiped water from her eyes, looking far too pleased with herself for frightening someone so badly.

“You might want to get out and cover yourself,” Thess teased, her voice bubbling with amusement, the chuckle that followed light and taunting. She pushed herself up and out of the tub with ease, climbing gracefully onto the marble floor as if this had been her intention all along, water cascading from her figure in glittering streams.

Henriette’s heart still pounded from the shock, but instinct moved her quicker than thought. She scrambled from the bath, clutching at the towel Thess tossed toward her. The fabric slapped into her hands just in time, for the water stirred again with a deep surge. A larger presence broke through the surface, and King Avery’s head and shoulders rose from the depths. His dark hair plastered against his face, dripping rivulets down his broad frame. He exhaled sharply, as though surfacing from another world, shaking droplets from his hair with the careless ease of a man who thought himself invincible.

Henriette’s fingers tightened around the towel, pulling it firmly across her body. Her lips curved downward into a childish pout, her cheeks burning with defiance. “Nothing he hasn’t seen before,” she muttered, her tone meant to sound casual, though her eyes betrayed the storm of emotions swirling behind them—embarrassment, frustration, and perhaps a trace of bitterness.

Before Avery could form a reply, the sound of hurried footsteps thundered down the corridor, drawing closer with urgency. The heavy bathroom doors burst open, slamming against the stone walls with a crack that echoed like a strike of a whip. King Arin strode inside, his posture taut, his sharp eyes scanning the chamber in a flash of suspicion. His gaze landed first on his brother, then shifted to Thess, flickering between them both as though weighing the possibilities of what he had stumbled upon.

“Brother. Thess,” he greeted, his words curt but not without a pointed edge, his tone layered with restrained tension.

Avery, unconcerned, reached for another towel. He dragged the fabric roughly across his chest and shoulders, droplets of water still clinging stubbornly to his skin. His expression hardened as he leveled a sharp look at Arin. “What are you doing here? Queen Henriette has half her men searching the grounds for you.”

“Why?” Arin snapped, his voice thick with resentment, his shoulders stiff as he stood his ground. “I did exactly as she asked. I left, like a beaten dog with its tail between its legs.” His eyes narrowed, the bitterness behind his words sharp enough to cut.

“She changed her mind,” Thess interrupted smoothly, her tone flippant, as though the matter carried no weight at all. She slipped silently from the room, her footsteps fading quickly, leaving behind an air that felt far heavier without her presence.

“She did?” Arin’s head lifted abruptly, a flicker of light breaking across his features, a hope so raw it softened the sharpness of his stance. His face seemed to brighten all at once, like dawn spilling over a dark horizon. Yet, in his excitement, he failed to notice the subtle shift in Henriette’s eyes, the way their brightness dulled, how her gaze lowered to hide the sadness creeping into them.

“What are you waiting for? Go already!” Henriette urged, her voice pitched higher than she intended. She forced a smile, trying to inject brightness into her tone, but her heart betrayed her. A quiet ache pulsed beneath her ribs, each beat reminding her of the truth she dared not speak, that she had begun to fall for the man King Arin had become in her modern world. A man who was no longer bound only by the shadows of his past but by the hope of something more.

Arin hesitated, turning back to her. His eyes softened as he reached out, his hand extending toward her with a gesture both bold and vulnerable. “Come with me?” he asked, his voice low, filled with a plea that carried more than just the simple question.

Henriette blinked, startled, her breath catching at the sudden weight in his request. “What for?” she objected, though her tone lacked the steel she wanted it to hold.

“You’ve been pining over King Roberto every day,” Arin said, his gaze steady and unflinching. “Maybe he’s changed his mind as well?”