(WARNING: As requested by a reader, I put here a netori warning. If you can't stomach it, you know what to do.)

　　"Wait, stop!"

　　The third princess exclaimed and rushed to stop her father, arms outstretched to bar his path.

　　"What do you mean by this?"

　　The water alliance king asked, perplexed by his youngest's unusual behavior. The third princess wanted to say that she was saving him from the humiliation of a lifetime, but since such words couldn't leave her lips, she refrained.

　　Instead, opting for a more diplomatic approach.

　　"Mother specially instructed me that she didn't want anyone to disrupt her. Especially after today's debacle, she just wishes to relax without disturbances."

　　Hearing the words "today's debacle," Ernst floundered. On this day, he didn't just lose his power as monarch and his country's autonomy, most importantly, he lost his face as head of household.

　　Though he grieved the second prince's death, even his demise couldn't compare to that loss of face. Alas, in the hierarchy of the things he cherished, even face only ranked second.

　　The first would always be his life. Therefore, he had to cave in. And imagining the profound disappointment his actions must have elicited in his wife, he sighed and turned heels.

　　Now, Ernst also realized Konrad was the most likely culprit of the setup. However, even if he knew, what could he do? Only when the elders came out of seclusion could he have his revenge!

　　Determined to pull them out, he turned heels, and the third princess who saw his departing form heaved a sigh of relief.

　　Alas, she'd forgotten the efficiency of a Saint's senses.

　　Because of a short break caused by the mating group's change in positions, when Ernst arrived, he heard nothing alarming. But as he reached the door, the loud smacking sound resumed, and though the bathhouse was still far from him, his Saint-level hearing made it impossible to miss.

　　Clearly able to identify the sound of flesh meeting flesh, he stopped. Yet, he didn't immediately turn back, first letting his ears feed him information. Quickly, he identified another sound, that of messy fluid flying and tumbling onto the ground.

　　Then it came, the sound he absolutely didn't wish to register:

　　Moaning.

　　Two distinct female voices lost in reckless moans.

　　Ernst trembled and turned heels, his eyes bloodshot.

　　"Father…why are you not leaving?"

　　But as she saw the look in his eyes, the third princess realized that the shameful matter was no longer concealable. They were exposed!

　　Paying her no heed, Ernst walked by, and with a succession of large, angry steps, walked toward the bathhouse's door.

　　Seeing this, the third princess was alarmed.

　　"Wait, wait! You can't enter!"

　　As they approached the door, Ernst stopped, turning toward his daughter with his incensed look unchanged.

　　"Speak true, who is in there?"

　　Seeing the murderous look in his eyes, the third princess floundered. But since things had reached this point, she could only try on overt maneuver.

　　"Father, please have mercy! Eldest sister and her prime attendant are having an illicit relations.h.i.+p with the royal guard commander. To preserve her face and yours, please don't enter!"

　　The third princess proclaimed and fell on her knees. Knowing that concealing was impossible, she could only choose a setting her father would willingly avoid. The royal guard commander was his most loyal official and last trustworthy retainer in these chaotic times.

　　There was no difference between exposing him and asking him to join the oppressors.

　　And indeed, the water alliance king frowned. Not only did he not want to potentially antagonize his most loyal retainer, but he also profoundly wished that the third princess spoke true.