The chambers assigned to us were spacious and comfortable, with soft carpets, canopy beds, and private balconies overlooking the palace gardens. But the true attraction—the promise that had brought us here—was the Royal Hot Springs.
A palace attendant, a young demi-human with cat ears and a striped tail, guided us through a smooth stone corridor that gently descended into the depths of the cliff. The air grew warmer and more humid, heavy with the mineral scent of sulfur and herbs.
"The baths are separated," the attendant explained with a kind smile. "Left for men, right for women. The waters are fed by natural geothermal springs and infused with healing herbs from our forest. Please, enjoy."
She bowed and departed. We stood before two arched entrances, each covered by a bamboo curtain.
"Finally," Liriel declared, pushing aside the curtain to the right without ceremony. "I shall judge the adequacy of these 'natural springs.'" She disappeared, and I heard her voice echo from the other side. "Acceptable. Almost worthy."
Vespera stretched her arms with a dramatic sigh. "Hot water, here I come! Don't wait for me, girls—I'm staying until I'm pruney!" She darted through the curtain.
Elara hesitated, giving me a quick, unreadable look. "I guess… I'll try as well." She followed the others, leaving me alone in the corridor.
I entered the men's area. The chamber was open, carved directly into the cliffside rock. Several pools of turquoise, steaming water were fed by natural waterfalls trickling down the walls. The ceiling was open, allowing the starlight and moonlight to bathe the area in a silvery glow. It was, without exaggeration, the most relaxing place I had seen since arriving in this world.
I stripped off my dirty travel clothes and, with a groan of pure pleasure, sank into the nearest pool. The water was perfect—hot enough to loosen every tense muscle but not scalding. The sensation was heavenly. I closed my eyes, letting the warm water wash away the grime and tension of the past days. For the first time in weeks, I felt truly at peace.
The sound of feminine voices and laughter drifted softly from the adjacent area. I could make out Vespera's carefree laugh and even a few contented sighs from Elara. Even Liriel seemed to have stopped complaining. A smile touched my lips. Maybe this was exactly what we needed.
After some time, I began to feel a bit dizzy from the heat. I decided to step out for a moment to cool down. Wrapping a soft towel provided by the palace around my waist, I left the pool and wandered through the chamber, admiring the natural architecture. There were several alcoves and passages, all leading to different pools or rest areas.
That was when I made my mistake.
I saw what I thought was another exit—a narrow passage with steam drifting through it, promising a cooler area. I pushed aside the bamboo curtain…
…and stepped directly into the women's section.
For a moment, my brain refused to process what my eyes were seeing.
Vespera stood at the edge of a pool, her back to me, drying her long, wet hair with a towel. She was completely naked. Moonlight illuminated the water running down her spine, across the curves of her hips, the smooth muscles of her back…
She must have felt my presence—or heard my strangled gasp. She turned.
Our eyes met.
The initial shock on her face lasted only a second. Then her eyes narrowed, and a slow, mischievous smile spread across her lips. Instead of covering herself, she placed her hands on her hips.
"Well, well, well," she purred, her voice a silky, teasing whisper. "Look who came for a little peek."
"I—I'm sorry!" I stammered, my face burning like fire. I spun around quickly, nearly tripping over my own towel. "The curtain—I thought it was an exit—it was an accident!"
My panicked shouting alerted the others.
"Takumi?" Elara's voice came from another pool, filled with shock and growing horror.
"What is happening?" Liriel demanded, her voice cutting through the air like a blade.
"Looks like we've got an intruder," Vespera announced, amused. "And he seems to be enjoying the view."
"GET OUT!" Elara screamed, and I heard a furious splash, imagining her crouching in the water to cover herself.
"Mortals," Liriel muttered disdainfully. "So predictably obsessed with ephemeral physical forms. Although," she added, with a touch of clinical curiosity, "I must admit, the physiological reaction of blushing is… fascinating."
I practically ran out, clutching my towel desperately around my waist, my heart pounding like a mad drum. I turned the corner and collided with the cat-eared attendant, who was holding a tray of herbal tea.
"Sir!" she exclaimed, eyes wide. "Are you all right? You look… distressed."
"I… the curtain… went into the wrong place," I panted, my dignity lying in shreds at my feet.
Her face lit with understanding, followed by an expression of sympathetic concern. "Ah. It happens. The curtains are a bit… ambiguous. Princess Lyra has already been summoned."
My blood ran cold. The princess had been summoned?
Minutes later, dressed and seated in a small adjoining room, I found myself facing not only the attendant but Princess Lyra herself, whose lips trembled slightly as if she were fighting the urge to laugh.
"So let me see if I understand," Lyra said, her fox tail swaying gently behind her. "You, unintentionally, violated the sanctity of the royal women's baths and… 'visually harassed' the adventurer Vespera?"
"IT WAS AN ACCIDENT!" I protested, my voice shrill. "I swear! The curtain was confusing!"
At that moment, the three women emerged, dressed and wearing varying expressions. Vespera looked utterly amused. Elara was furious, her arms crossed and her face still red with anger and embarrassment. Liriel looked bored with the entire ordeal.
"He was just looking," Vespera confirmed with a mischievous grin. "But looking a lot."
"It's completely unacceptable!" Elara exploded.
"It was a trivial transgression," Liriel declared with a dismissive wave. "Now, can we return to more important matters? My divine skin is beginning to wrinkle."
Lyra looked at us, her expression a mix of exasperation and amusement. "Well," she finally said. "The laws of Therasia are clear on such… intrusions. Even if accidental, a fine must be imposed."
She pulled a small book from a pocket in her kimono and flipped through the pages. "Let's see… violation of a gender-designated sacred space… visual harassment of a royal guest… yes." She looked at me. "The fine is fifteen silver coins. Payable to the royal treasury."
Fifteen coins. A significant amount. I could almost feel my wallet shrivel.
"In addition," Lyra continued, her gaze turning serious, "you owe a formal apology to Miss Vespera. And to Miss Elara, by extension, for the embarrassment caused."
I turned to the women. "Vespera. Elara. I… I'm sorry. Really. It was a stupid mistake."
Vespera took my hand with a wide grin. "It's fine, Takumi. Everyone makes mistakes. Some more entertaining than others."
Elara wasn't so easily appeased. She huffed and turned her face away. "Just don't let it happen again."
Lyra watched the exchange, her amber eyes glimmering. "Very well. I consider the matter resolved. Now, if you'll excuse me, the banquet will begin shortly. Try to… maintain composure." With one last meaningful glance in my direction, she turned and left, her tail swaying gracefully.
I stood there, feeling the weight of yet another debt—and Elara's furious stare burning a hole in the back of my head. The Royal Hot Springs of Therasia were indeed relaxing. Too bad my visit had just cost me fifteen silver coins and what little progress I'd made with Elara.
Vespera passed by, giving me a playful pat on the shoulder. "Don't worry, Takumi," she whispered. "It was worth every coin."
I groaned, burying my face in my hands. Our rest in Therasia had barely begun, and I had already managed to create another disaster. Some things, apparently, never change.