Chapter 418. It Seems Like We’re Going To Have Some Role-Play...?

Chapter 418: 418. It Seems Like We’re Going To Have Some Role-Play...?

The bedroom’s heavy oak doors creaked open as they moved toward the en suite bathroom, a chamber that seemed less like a room and more like a private sanctuary carved from marble and gold.

As Catherine stepped inside, the playful teasing from moments before evaporated, replaced by genuine, childlike wonder. The space was cavernous; steam from a preheated bath already began to curl lazily around the vaulted ceiling, carrying with it the intoxicating aroma of sandalwood and crushed jasmine.

"Wow..." Catherine breathed, her hands flying to her mouth as she spun in a slow circle. "So this is a bathroom in a royal castle!"

"William, look at this place!"

"It’s absolutely massive; it’s like a temple." Her eyes darted from the clawfoot tub carved from a single piece of white quartz to the shelves lined with crystal vials of oils and enchanted waters. "It’s got everything!"

"How do people even wash themselves in something this big without getting lost?"

William followed behind her, his own breath hitching at the opulence, but his focus was entirely on the way the lamplight danced across Catherine’s shoulders. "I think the kingdom expects their royalty to bathe in luxury, even if it’s just for comfort."

Catherine turned to him, a sudden flush creeping up her neck that had nothing to do with the steam.

"Oh man," she laughed nervously, though her eyes were bright with mischief. "I’m supposed to be the vice headmaster."

"A woman of discipline and authority."

"And here I am, about to lose all that dignity in the kingdom’s private bathroom with my favorite troublemaker."

William didn’t hesitate. He stepped into her space, his hands finding hers, capturing them in his grip. His thumbs traced circles over her knuckles, his voice dropping to a husky growl.

"Then let’s not waste any more time talking about dignity!"

"Let’s lose it together."

Catherine’s breath hitched at his boldness.

"H-hang on a sec!" she squeaked, though she didn’t pull away. "I can’t just... I need to get prepared properly, William."

"I want this to be perfect. So wait just a bit longer, okay?"

"Just... give me a moment to set the mood."

She gave his hands one last squeeze before gently breaking free, leaving him standing in the warm, humid air. "Stay right here."

"Don’t you dare leave."

William laughed softly, leaning back against a marble pillar. "I’m not going anywhere."

As Catherine disappeared behind a frosted glass partition to prepare the oils and the bath, William began to explore the room.

His eyes landed on a raised platform near the center of the room, draped in thick, waterproofed velvet cushions and lined with warmed furs clearly designed for lounging after a bath, but in the charged atmosphere of the room, it felt far more intimate.

’Is she serious? She wants me to wait here? On this?’

A strange mix of impatience and anticipation swirled in his gut. When he heard Catherine’s voice call out from behind the screen,

"You there? Lay down on the platform like I told you!"

"I need you ready when I come out!" he found himself obeying almost instinctively.

He moved to the velvet cushions, lowering himself onto his stomach, the fur soft against his skin. The heat of the room was beginning to seep into his muscles, making him feel heavy and restless.

The silence that followed was broken only by the distant drip of water and the rustle of silk behind the partition. Then, the sound changed.

He heard the clink of crystal bottles, the splash of water being poured, and the soft hum of Catherine’s voice as she prepared.

"William?" her voice came again, lower now, almost shy. "Are you... are you waiting?"

"I’m here," he called back, his heart hammering against the cushions.

"Good."

Minutes stretched like taffy. The steam grew thicker, blurring the edges of the room. Then, the partition slid open with a soft whisper.

Catherine emerged, and William’s breath left him entirely. She had bathed in scented oils; her skin glistened like polished pearl under the lamplight, droplets of water clinging to the curve of her spine and the swell of her hips.

She wore nothing but a sheer, gossamer robe that clung to her damp skin, doing nothing to hide the invitation in her stance.

She approached the platform with a slow, deliberate sway. As she climbed onto the furs beside him, the mattress shifted under her weight, and the sudden contact of her warm, damp skin against his back sent a jolt through his entire body.

"You look... incredible," he managed to choke out.

"I wanted to make sure I smelled like jasmine for you," she whispered into his ear, her breath hot and damp.

Her hands began to roam over his shoulders, her nails lightly scraping against his skin.

The quiet of the room shattered as their hands met and their bodies pressed closer. The sounds of the bathroom transformed the soft wet slap of skin against skin, the ragged tearing of fabric, and then the first broken moan escaping Catherine’s lips as William turned to face her.

"William... oh gods, William..." she cried out, her head falling back as his mouth found the sensitive column of her throat.

Her fingers tangled in his hair, pulling him closer with desperate strength.

The intimacy escalated with terrifying speed. The marble walls seemed to amplify every sound: the wet, rhythmic sounds of their joining, the creak of the platform, and the increasingly loud, unrestrained sounds of Catherine’s pleasure.

Her moans turned into sharp, breathless gasps, echoing off the gilded ceiling.

"More... please, more!" she screamed softly when his movements became more urgent, her voice cracking with ecstasy. "Don’t stop, don’t you dare stop!"

In the haze of steam and sensation, the world outside the bathroom ceased to exist. There were no kingdoms, no magic, and no wars, only the overwhelming reality of each other and the raw, primal sounds of their passion filling the sacred space as they lost themselves completely in the heat of the night.

The frosted glass partition slid aside with a soft hiss, and Catherine stepped into the main chamber, completely unburdened by clothing. Her skin glowed like polished alabaster under the warm lamplight, slick with the oils she had prepared.

As her eyes landed on William, his powerful, muscular frame exposed and resting against the plush furs of the platform, a smile of pure, unadulterated triumph spread across her face.

"Welcome, my dear," she purred, her voice dripping with honeyed provocation. She walked toward him with the grace of a predator, each step deliberate. "And thank you for picking me... I feel honored."

William turned his head, his breath catching audibly at the sight of her. "Ohhh~!"

"What is all this?" he managed to gasp, his eyes roaming over every curve of her glistening body. "What exactly did you have planned?"

Catherine let out a throaty, melodic laugh hehe that echoed off the marble walls.

"I wanted to try this at least once in my life," she confessed, leaning over him so that her breasts nearly brushed his chest. "Consider this an experiment in royal luxury."

"Now, please... lie down and relax here, sir."

"You’ve earned this moment of surrender."

She moved toward a nearby carved crystal pedestal where several ornate bottles sat. William watched her through half-lidded eyes as she reached for a vial containing a viscous, shimmering liquid.

The scent that wafted from it was intoxicating, rare, ancient, and impossibly expensive.

"That soap..." William murmured, recognizing the faint magical aura clinging to the bottle. "That only exists in the inner sanctums of the High Kingdoms."

"You seem pretty familiar with something that rare."

Catherine uncorked the bottle with a practiced twist, a knowing smirk playing on her lips. "I did a lot of research, William."

"One must know how to properly appreciate the finer things before one consumes them."

’Research?’

’Is that what she calls it?’

’God, I wonder what she actually does when she’s not at the academy... she’s more dangerous than I ever imagined.’