Chapter 20: No, You Wouldn’t Dare

Fiora scrambled out of the water, snatched a bath towel, and wrapped it tightly around herself.

She crossed her arms over her chest and shouted with fury: “Leon, I’m going to expose you! You actually came here to peek?!”

But Leon didn’t react the way she expected. He just stood still in the water, his long bangs shadowing his eyes, calm and unflinching.

“Fiora, are you sure you want to do that? Maybe think this through first,” he said, his voice calm, almost too calm. To Fiora, it sounded like the voice of a man enjoying the chaos.

Now the tables had turned—she was the one being cornered.

“You… you’re not scared?”

“Of course I’m scared. If this gets out, I’ll be ruined.”

“Then why are you acting like it’s no big deal?! Don’t think I won’t go through with it!”

Leon didn’t even blink. “If everyone finds out, sure, I’ll be hated. No one will want anything to do with me. But that’s the thing, Fiora… you wouldn’t really do that, would you?”

He paused, then added in a quiet, pointed voice:

“…As my s*ave.”

Fiora’s blood ran cold.

Her breath caught in her throat as the meaning sank in. If Leon got exposed, then every woman around him would stay far away. And what would a man like him do when he had no other outlet?

He’d turn all that frustration on the one person he legally owned.

Oh no…

What kind of lunatic logic is that?! I’m the victim here! How did this flip so fast?!

Wait—there’s no way a body like mine could survive that kind of punishment!

Fiora’s legs began to shake. She couldn’t even look him in the eye anymore.

“Fiora,” Leon said, more quietly now. “Help me out, before Vivian comes back.”

Vivian.

The moment he said her name, Fiora’s brain caught up. If Vivian saw him here, the entire plan would blow up. And…

‘Wait a second. His tone… did he already know about me and Vivian?’

She narrowed her eyes. “You know… don’t you? About me and her.”

“Yeah. I’ve known for a while now. Since the first night you came to my place. What happened that night… I know all of it.”

Fiora’s heart dropped.

No wonder Leon had been acting so weird lately. So composed, so confident. That was why none of their tricks worked—he was already ten steps ahead.

She felt like she was shackled by invisible chains. Trapped.

“…I get it. I’ll help you,” she said softly.

‘Why am I the one helping him?! He’s the one who barged into the wrong bath!’

Completely defeated, Fiora looked like she’d just lost a war.

Leon stepped out of the hot spring. Fiora glanced over without thinking—and immediately turned bright red.

W-What the hell! That thing—why is it that big?!

She spun around and ducked behind the nearest wall, face burning.

Calm down! You were a guy in your last life! There’s nothing to be embarrassed about!

Leon casually tied on a bathrobe and said, “Let’s go. Sorry to trouble you.”

“O-oh, right… let’s go…”

Leon explained he had used an invisibility potion to sneak in. But because Fiora had detected him earlier, the effect had worn off prematurely. Now he couldn’t move freely anymore. That’s where Fiora came in—she’d scout ahead, make sure the coast was clear, and give him the signal to move.

Their destination: the wall dividing the baths, so Leon could climb back to the men’s side.

“What a bastard,” Fiora muttered as she peeked around a hallway corner. “Of all the garbage people I’ve met in two lives, this one takes the crown.”

“I’ll kill him. One of these days, I swear…”

“Fiora?” Leon’s voice called out quietly from behind her. “Anyone there?”

She turned around and waved a hand, signaling all clear.

Step by step, Fiora led him forward like a secret agent, clearing the path while Leon tiptoed behind her. They were almost there when—

“Crap, someone’s coming!”

Fiora took a few hurried steps back—and bumped right into Leon, landing on her rear.

She was just about to yell at him when she heard voices from behind. Several girls were approaching from the other end of the hallway, laughing and chatting.

They were trapped.

Fiora panicked.

Now she was his accomplice. If they were caught, there’d be no mercy for her either.

“Over here, quick!”

Leon opened a locker and dove in, motioning urgently for her to follow.

She didn’t hesitate. Fiora jumped inside, and Leon shut the door behind them.

“Whew, that was close.”

“Yeah… way too close…”

The locker was way too small.

They were practically pressed together from shoulder to knee. Fiora tried to push Leon away, but there was no room, and his scent was invading her senses.

Being this close to him was making her dizzy.

And then it hit her.

Wait a second. I didn’t even need to hide in here!

Leon’s voice broke the silence.

“Back in the hot spring… when you were scared. Did you… call out my name?”

“I, uh…” Fiora blinked, caught off guard.

‘That’s right. Why did I call his name?’

He’s the one who’s been making my life miserable! The last person I’d want help from should be him!

Then Leon spoke again—quietly, and this time, without his usual edge.

“…Sorry.”

Fiora blinked again.

This was the first time she’d heard his voice like that—low, soft, almost like a child who knew he’d done something wrong.

When she looked up, his usual coldness was gone too. There was guilt in his eyes. Actual guilt.

The fury she’d been holding onto just… fizzled out.

‘I really am hopeless,’ she thought bitterly. ‘Why do I always cave at the worst times?’

“…Don’t let it happen again,” she said, her voice barely above a whisper.

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