Me, the Weakest Member of the Hero’s Party? I’m the Villain Though? - Chapter 66

“On second thought, maybe I’ll just go back…”

“What, are you embarrassed to take your clothes off?”

Kyle jumped to his own conclusion about my hesitation. I almost said no but stopped.

I didn’t have a better reason not to undress. Maybe it was easier just to act shy.

“…I’ve never shown my body to anyone before.”

“What? To no one? Seriously?”

Kyle’s eyes went wide, like he’d just spotted a rare, protected species. His curious stare was so direct it actually did make me feel embarrassed this time.

“Y-Yeah.”

“So I’d be the first one ever to see Lysian’s body?”

Kyle’s voice lifted, faintly excited. For some reason, my instincts immediately screamed, Danger!

“Actually, I think I’ll just wipe down with a towel—”

“No way!”

I’d started to rebutton my shirt and turn away, but Kyle grabbed my wrist and pushed me back sharply.

My back hit the wall, and I looked up at him, dumbfounded.

“What the hell are you doing—”

“Soaking in warm water feels amazing. I checked earlier and there’s no one inside. I’ll go in first, so just put this robe on and come after.”

Kyle handed me a robe, no telling who it belonged to.

His clear eyes gleamed as he looked down at me. If I said no, I had the distinct feeling he’d rip my clothes off right here and now.

Pressed by his forceful attitude, and honestly wanting to get him and his half-naked body out of my personal space, I nodded.

“…Fine.”

“You have to come in. Don’t run away, got it?”

The way he said it, I could picture him chasing me down just to throw me in the bath.

“Yeah, yeah. Just back off a little.”

After Kyle went into the bath first, I reluctantly turned away and changed into the gown. I tightened the front securely, making sure the scar on my chest wouldn’t show, and finally felt a bit safer.

Inside, steam filled the room. I dipped my feet in first, flinching at the heat, then eased myself in bit by bit until I adjusted.

“How’s that? Feels good, doesn’t it?”

Kyle, already sitting in the water, waded closer. I instinctively backed up but hit the bath’s wall. No escape.

“Don’t come closer.”

“Why not? You’re all covered up.”

Kyle looked puzzled as he slid right next to me. Truly, an overbearing personality.

“Honestly, I’ve always wanted to enjoy a bath with my party members, but no one would join me. Finally got someone.”

So out of everyone, I was the unlucky one who got dragged into bathing with this guy.

“For someone so shy, you’ve got a good body. Why hide it?”

Kyle’s eyes swept over me. I immediately tightened the robe and leaned back, keeping distance.

“Just because it’s good doesn’t mean I should show it off.”

“I’m saying you don’t have to be embarrassed, that’s all.”

Kyle grinned warmly. Strange guy. Overly good-natured, or just meddlesome.

I gave a quiet snort and leaned against a raised edge of the bath.

Honestly, I’d been dragged here against my will, but sitting in the hot water really did melt the fatigue away. I finally understood why old men sigh out an Ahh, so good! in the bath.

“Yesterday I was wondering… if we’d met back when you were still the Great Sage, what kind of relationship would we have had?”

“What?”

Kyle’s sudden comment made me frown. But then again, it was an interesting thought.

“Kyle, you never met me back when I was the Great Sage?”

The Emperor and the Crown Prince had met me, so it felt odd that Kyle hadn’t.

“I was just a kid back then. Even if we had met, I probably wouldn’t remember.”

That’s when it hit me… Kyle’s age. He was only twenty-two, I think.

The Great Sage disappeared about ten years ago, so Kyle would’ve been, what, twelve? I couldn’t remember people I’d met when I was twelve either. Made sense.

Realizing he was only twenty-two made me see him differently. He might be leading the hero’s party now, but really, he was just a young man at the start of his life.

I felt a flicker of sympathy, and admiration too.

If Kyle and I hadn’t met as villain and hero… if, as he said, we’d met as Great Sage and prince instead… would things between us have been different? Would the way I saw him change?

A pointless question, but one that lingered anyway.