Supreme Spouse System.-Chapter 718: The King’s Bath

The King’s Bath

She clasped her hands together nervously. "You don’t regret it... what you gave us?"

The room quieted again.

This time the silence felt deeper.

It wasn’t just curiosity in her voice—it was sincerity. Uncertainty. Hope.

Leon met her gaze steadily.

"No," he answered simply.

He stepped forward a little, his voice calm but firm.

"I never regret my actions."

His golden eyes moved across the room, looking at each of them in turn.

"And from now on," he continued, "you all are mine."

The words settled into the room with quiet weight.

For a moment no one spoke.

Then Rias smiled.

Cynthia’s expression softened.

Nova shook her head again, though this time there was warmth in her eyes.

"Listen to him," she murmured. "Claiming everyone like that."

"Well," Rias said lightly, folding her arms, "he did warn us he was a king."

A few of the maids giggled.

The maid who had asked the question lowered her gaze slightly, but the worry that had been there before was gone. Something calmer had taken its place.

Gratitude, perhaps.

Or trust.

Syra stretched her arms and groaned dramatically. "Alright," she said. "Philosophy hour is over. I need a bath."

"Seconded," Nova added immediately.

Cynthia nodded once. "That sounds reasonable."

Rias glanced toward the rear garden. "The hot springs should still be warm."

With a small laugh, Leon glanced toward the others. What’s holding us back now?

A soft clap came from one of the maids. Bath time, then, she seemed to say without words

A giggle slipped through the air once more.

Out here, people drifted into small groups - some strolling two by two, a few laughing while stepping along. That tightness from before? Gone now. Instead, ease settled in, carried on the hum of known tones and bodies near.

Footsteps trailed off into the backyard, one after another. Hair hung free, catching light as the early warmth kissed bare arms. Quiet giggles curled through the air, soft between them.

Away from the house, a winding trail of stones slipped under leaning trees and blooming bushes. Overnight, petals dropped, dusting the earth in soft hues - like remnants of a party no one recalled. With each step, their bare soles skimmed the scattered blooms.

Out past the trail’s last turn, water waited, still. A secret held open by trees.

Water lay calm inside a rocky hollow, glassy under dawn’s first glow. Above it, thin fog curled and drifted without hurry. The stone cup held everything - sky, light, silence - in perfect balance.

Footsteps slowed as Leon reached the water’s edge.

He stood still, just looking. Then silence filled the space between breaths.

Without pausing, the women moved forward. They stepped ahead right away.

A hush fell when Rias moved forward, easing down with a slow exhale as the cold touched her skin. Water rose around her calves, smooth and silent. Then came Syra - sharp gasp, quick laugh - as she jumped in, reacting to the bite of temperature. Each person slipped into the pond afterward, small ripples cutting through calm. The air changed with every entry.

A soft breath slipped out when the chill of the water met their sun-touched arms. The relief came slow, quiet, like a hush after heat. Each ripple cooled what sunlight had warmed just moments before.

Into the lake she stepped, water climbing to mid-torso. A strand of wet red hair slipped off her shoulder as she turned slightly, eyes finding Leon behind her.

A hint of a smile played at her lips as she tilted her head slightly. Was I staying behind? Her eyebrow rose, just like it always did when she knew something I didn’t.

A hush left Leon’s lips as he moved ahead. Then came one step into the space before him.

Floating down, he felt the hush of water wrap his body, temperature even, much like peace arriving when shouting ends.

For a while, nobody spoke.

No teasing.

No arguments.

No games.

Just quiet.

Water lapped gently against the stones.

Birdsong drifted from the trees surrounding the garden, distant and soft. Sunlight filtered through the leaves overhead, catching strands of silver, crimson, and black hair as it moved across the surface of the pond.

For once, the world seemed content to breathe.

Syra was the first to break the silence.

She flicked water at Leon with a small splash.

"You’re thinking again," she said.

Leon looked at her, unimpressed.

"Of course I am."

"That’s the problem."

Rias laughed softly beside them. "He doesn’t know how to stop."

Syra folded her arms in the water. "Then learn."

Leon tilted his head slightly. "You’re ordering your king now?"

"Yes."

She didn’t even hesitate.

"For how long?" he asked.

Syra pointed toward the sun climbing above the trees.

"For this morning."

A few of the women chuckled quietly.

Leon considered it longer than necessary, his gaze drifting briefly over the peaceful garden, the quiet water, the relaxed expressions around him.

Then he let out a slow breath.

"...Fine."

A ripple of quiet satisfaction passed through them.

They drifted closer naturally in the water.

Not the chaotic closeness of teasing and provocation like earlier.

Something softer.

More grounded.

Rias rested an elbow lightly against his shoulder. Sona moved beside them, the water swirling around her as she leaned back and closed her eyes for a moment. Syra floated lazily nearby, letting the calm settle in.

Small gestures passed between them.

A hand brushing against another.

A quiet laugh when someone lost balance in the water.

Foreheads briefly touching before separating again.

Nothing rushed.

Nothing forced.

Just presence.

Behind them, the estate slowly returned to its quiet dignity after the long night. Servants would already be moving through the halls, repairing order piece by piece.

Beyond the garden walls, the kingdom still slept peacefully.

Unaware of how close chaos had come.

Leon’s gaze eventually lifted toward the distant horizon beyond the estate walls.

Peace like this never lasted.

War still burned in neighboring lands.

Skyfall still watched from the shadows.

Gary still breathed.

The weight returned slowly to his shoulders, settling there like armor he could never fully remove.

Sona noticed.

She had been watching him longer than the others.

"You’re leaving soon, aren’t you?" she asked softly.

Leon looked at her.

For a second, he didn’t answer.

"Not yet," he said.

But the tone in his voice carried something heavier than the words themselves.

Inevitability.

Sona gave a small nod.

She understood.

The water shimmered gently around them as sunlight climbed higher, warming the surface of the pond.

For now—

This was enough.

And somewhere beyond the barrier, Commander Black stood unmoving, guarding the silence of a king who would soon return to war.