Crimson and Gold

When Lysandra and Saria left the washroom, a servant approached, but the moment she saw the latter completely drenched, all words had escaped her.

“I… slipped,” Saria giggled awkwardly and cleared her throat to mask the sudden wave of shyness. “I’ll go change again. I’ll be right back.”

Lysandra gave a questioning look to the girl, promptly reminding her of the reason she came to her in the first place.

“We have prepared the rooms for you, Your Highness. I can lead you there now, or we can wait for Lady Saria to return and show you your rooms,” the girl quickly reported.

“Separate rooms won’t be necessary. Move all Saria’s luggage to where I’m staying.” Lysandra’s words were clear as day, her tone polite, but firm.

And yet, the servant remained in the same spot, staring at the Princess as if she were some never-before-seen creature.

The other servants in ‘Charybdis’ already warned her that the relationship between the Princess and her daethri wasn’t ordinary, and should be seen more like a close friendship.

But what kinds of friends bathe together and sleep together in one room? These two were clearly lovers!

The servant wasn’t a child anymore. Out of her eighteen years in this world, ten she spent working in taverns and inns until finally she was hired in ‘Charybdis’. She had seen all kinds of relationships.

Men and women. Men with men. Women with women. That wasn’t anything out of the ordinary. Sometimes the couples were of different statuses, too.

A noble woman bringing in her thael or daethri lover wasn’t new to her either. However, the difference in hierarchy between them was always apparent. The seat arrangement was different, the dishes served were different, and even the wine they drank was different.

Seeing them share a bath or a room was unthinkable.

Meanwhile, a woman whose rank was shy only of an Empress, whose social status elevated her beyond simple nobility, did exactly that.

What was even more shocking to the girl was the expression on the Princess’ face when she was looking at Saria.

It was the first time the servant saw so much love and admiration in someone’s eyes, let alone seeing it being reciprocated with the same intensity.

If such love can exist between two people who seemed to be from two completely different worlds, what else was possible?

The girl never expected that a simple task she had done countless times could suddenly lead to her worldview being flipped on its head.

As the servant remained frozen, with an utterly dumbfounded expression, Lysandra grew impatient.

She raised her chin high and cast her blazing golden gaze at the girl. “Will that be a problem?” she asked, preparing herself for a confrontation.

It was painfully obvious what the girl was thinking.

“N-no, no, of course not. I’ll get right to it, Your Highness,” the girl finally stuttered out, and clumsily bowing down, she rushed to do as she was told.

She was in such a hurry that she nearly trampled over Eris, who so happened to enter the bathhouse at the very same moment. “Has something happened?” she asked, looking confused.

Lysandra sighed, her demeanor softening ever so slightly. “Just a misunderstanding.” She brushed a loose strand of hair off her shoulder and glanced at Eris.

It seemed that the girl also took the opportunity to refresh herself.

She changed from the dusty hooded robes to a less practical, but much more aesthetically pleasing olive dress, cinched with a braided leather belt at her waist.

The quality of the material and the craftsmanship couldn’t even compare to the outfits worn by Lysandra, but it was still an upgrade over the clothes most commoners wore in their day-to-day lives.

In fact, most people would wear it only a handful of times in their life, saving it for only the most formal and special occasions.

Eris’ hazel eyes were dusted ever so slightly with kohl for an emphasis, and her ashen blond hair was gathered in a loose, effortless braid and swept over one shoulder.

The overall look was mature and refined, yet casual and approachable at the same time.

Seemingly effortless, yet clearly thought through.

And Lysandra knew exactly the reason behind it…

“Where’s Saria?” Eris asked, looking around the hallway.

“She went to change,” the Princess answered. The corner of her lips curled upwards. “Her clothes were soaked after we finished… bathing,” she added nonchalantly.

Lysandra observed, with great pleasure, how her purposefully vague—and maybe just a little misleading—words reached Eris, made it through a quick analysis, and finally resulted in the wrong conclusion.

Fooled, Eris stiffened. Her blood rushed to her face, lighting it up like a glowing ember. She pressed her lips shut. Lysandra was certain, she even stopped breathing for a moment.

This reaction was so satisfying that even the Princess’ schooled expression crumbled from the amusement.

Was it petty?

Absolutely.

Was it wrong?

Perhaps.

Did Lysandra care?

Not even the slightest.

There was not a single doubt in her heart about Saria or her feelings. After confessing their love for one another and going as far as making plans for eternity, Lysandra’s trust in her was stronger than ever.

Jealousy, however, knows no reason.

Lysandra couldn’t fault Eris for admiring Saria. Nobody in their right mind would be able to resist her charm, the Princess believed. She was the best proof of that.

Had Eris stopped at admiring from afar, being content with stolen glances and occasional presence, Lysandra wouldn’t mind.

But Eris wasn’t content. She was willing to cross the chasm that separated them and strive for Saria’s attention.

That wasn’t something that the Princess would treat lightly.

The mood in the bathhouse’s hallway grew heavy, charged with unspoken yearning, jealousy, possessiveness, and heartbreak.

Just as it was becoming too uncomfortable to withstand, the door to the changing room opened.

“I’m sorry it took me so long, but it turned out your clothes were the only ones left, so I didn’t have much choice,” Saria said, walking over to Lysandra, as she continued to fiddle with the strap on her shoulder.

Having no other option, she had to take one of the outfits prepared for the Princess, which turned out to be a two-piece dress made out of soft, sheer fabric Saria couldn’t name.

The simple loose top was cut off right below the bust, leaving her toned abdomen exposed. It was paired with two wide detached sleeves, donning tasteful golden accents at the cuffs.

The bottom part was a two-layered dress with full-length slits on both sides.

Despite being made specifically for Lysandra, it seemed to fit the new owner even more.

Hearing no response, Saria raised her head from the accursed knot on her shoulder to look at the women.

“Why aren’t you saying anything? Did I do something wrong?” she asked, shifting her gaze from one face to the other, hoping for an answer.

Eris, who moments ago had just recovered from the embarrassment inflicted by the Princess, was left speechless once again. This time by the very person who stole her heart.

Lysandra, albeit in no better condition, was the first to return to her senses.

“You didn’t do anything wrong,” she said, helping Saria to finally fix the strap. “You look stunning, so I was speechless.”

Saria sighed in relief. “I was worried I shouldn’t have taken it. I’m sorry, I should have asked,” she said, laughing awkwardly.

Lysandra stepped closer and cupped her lover’s face, gazing into her eyes. “You don’t have to ask. What’s mine is yours. Take whatever you want.”

The declaration was sealed with a sweet kiss that followed.

Saria smiled roguishly, still clinging close to Lysandra. “Then it’s all good, because I am yours too,” she announced.

Who wouldn’t be moved by such words? The Princess certainly wasn’t the one. Driven by her fluttering heart, Lysandra leaned in for another kiss.

But just as they were about to lose themselves in each other’s embrace, they were interrupted by a court ‘ekhm’.

“Sorry to interrupt, but Mormo is asking to see you,” Eris said, her face making the best attempt at a polite smile she could muster at the moment.

Unable to keep her emotions under control anymore, as soon as she finished speaking, the girl spun on her heel and strode out of the bathhouse.

“I think I made her angry,” Saria said, looking towards where Eris had left. “I didn’t even thank her for saving us.”

Lysandra leaned against her lover and rested her head on the woman’s shoulder. “Mhm,” she hummed, “You should apologize,” she said, in her heart, adding that she should probably do the same.

Saria nodded and sighed.

She looked at the Princess and her cheeks still flushed from the kiss and smiled proudly. “It’s because I lose sight of everything else when I’m with you.”

Lysandra laughed, then forced herself to finally let go of Saria. “Let’s go see what Mormo wants, before you sweet-talk me out of what’s left of my reason,” she said, leading them to the exit.