"The Emperor told me about the new Holy Land for Lady Rheanne,"

"Are you serious about that?"

Brandon leaned back against the smooth stone edge of the pool, "Yes. I’m serious."

Scylla stared at him with a thoughtful look "Turning an entire kingdom into a holy nation dedicated to Lady Rheanne... that’s not a small declaration, Kael. That’s going to shake the entire continent."

"Both Cene and Eurasania have been eyeing Nacirfa for decades. Now you want to take it off the board completely and turn it into sacred ground?"

She let out a low whistle, running a hand through her wet black hair.

"If anyone else suggested it, I’d call them crazy."

She glanced at him again, "But coming from you... I can actually see it working. Especially with Lady Rheanne behind it."

"Still... it’s going to cause chaos at first. Religious factions, jealous nobles, pissed-off warlords who wanted a piece of Nacirfa. You ready for all that?"

"Or is this a long-term scheme of yours?"

Turning to her, he replied "What scheme? I am genuinely trying to do something good for Rheanne here."

She tilted her head slightly "Hmm, so you are doing this out of love for your Goddess huh."

Nodding his head, he replied "You can say that."

Scylla stared at him for a few seconds longer, then let out a quiet chuckle, "You’re really something else, Kael."

"Most men in your position would be looking for power, land, or influence. But you’re out here trying to build an entire holy nation just because you care about her."

She leaned her head back, looking up at the night sky above the courtyard.

"I respect that," she said sincerely.

"Well, if you need muscle when things get messy, you know where to find me," she said with a grin. "I’ll happily punch a few faces for a good cause."

"Sure."

After a few moments of comfortable silence, Scylla let out a satisfied sigh and slowly rose from the water.

Brandon’s gaze naturally followed her as she stood up.

The hot water cascaded down her powerful, athletic body.

Water droplets traced subtle paths over her broad shoulders, down the curve of her full breasts, across her defined abs, and lower, flowing smoothly over the firm, rounded shape of her ass and strong thighs.

Brandon was amazed ’She has better muscles than Naevora, especially her abs... looks better than Yve and Naevora.’

Thinking about them, a soft sigh escaped his lips ’Five hundred more years huh...’

Scylla stretched her arms high above her head and reached over to the stone ledge beside the pool and picked up a bar of fragrant soap.

She began lathering the soap between her hands.

Without turning away, she started running her soapy hands over her arms and shoulders as water continued to drip from her body as she moved.

Brandon watched quietly, leaning back against the stone edge of the pool.

Scylla noticed his gaze and let out a low chuckle.

"Still staring?" she teased, turning slightly so she was facing him more directly.

"You’re not exactly subtle about it," he replied dryly. "Most people would at least pretend to be modest."

Scylla laughed again and began washing her back and ass, "You don’t seem to mind the view."

Brandon didn’t deny it. He simply watched as she continued washing herself.

A bit later, she turned around and extended her hand "Want me to wash your back?"

Looking at the soap in her head, Brandon shook his head "No need. I just wanted to take a quick dip."

Also, he is not fond of the soaps in this era either, as they are made differently compared to the future.

"Will you help wash my back then?"

Hm? Brandon looked at the bar of soap in Scylla’s outstretched hand for a moment, then reached out and took it from her without a word.

"Turn around."

Scylla’s smile widened and she turned slowly in the water, presenting her muscular back to him.

She placed her hands on the stone edge of the pool and leaned forward slightly.

Brandon lathered the soap between his palms until thick, creamy foam formed.

He then placed his hands on her shoulders, pressing his fingers firmly into the dense muscle there.

Scylla let out a low, satisfied hum as he began washing her back.

His hands slid down the strong lines of her back, tracing the deep grooves of muscle along her spine and spreading the soap across her shoulder blades.

"Mm..." Scylla murmured. "Your hands are rougher than I expected."

Brandon pressed his thumbs into the tight spots near her spine, earning a deep groan from her as he eased out some of the residual tension from their earlier spar.

After a while, he rinsed her off with handfuls of hot water as the soap suds washed away.

Scylla turned around to face him again and her cheeks were slightly flushed from the heat of the spring "You’ve got good hands, Kael. Thank you."

Brandon gave her ass one sharp slap as she stood there.

PAK!

The loud, wet sound echoed through the courtyard. Scylla’s firm ass cheek jiggled from the impact and she gasped sharply.

Brandon stepped out of the spring and grabbed one of the towels from the side.

Scylla rubbed the stinging spot on her ass with one hand as she followed him out of the water.

"Ow... you really don’t hold back, do you?" she muttered, still rubbing her ass. The red handprint stood out vividly against her skin. "That one actually stung."

Brandon glanced at her, drying his hair with the towel.

Scylla picked up a towel but only draped it loosely over her shoulder instead of wrapping it around herself.

"Let’s have dinner together."

Brandon’s gaze lowered in thought ’Having dinner here? Well Rheanne will only get angry when I am not sleeping with her.’

Looking at his thoughtful face, she asked "What? You scared people will talk if they see the Goddess’s companion leaving my house at night?"

She stepped closer, still dripping, and poked his chest with a wet finger.

"Besides, I’m not the one who walked into a woman’s private hot spring. You don’t get to play innocent now."

Brandon chuckled softly and ran a hand through his damp hair "Fine. Dinner sounds good."

"But put some clothes on first. Or at least wrap that towel properly."